Page 32 of Glory

“Nova was explaining to me that they have about ten different coordinates that might be where Oscar and the brotherhood are hanging out. It may also be where he has stashed Lilly. So, they are going to check each one out and will get back to us if they find anything. And no, he doesn’t want or need our help.”

“Not sure I like that we have no option to tag along. This is actually my—no our—bullshit to deal with, even though Tank called you in for some assistance, Nova. What gives you the right to take over?”

“Glory, the U.S. government gives me that right. And since this involves that motherfucking racist group responsible for too many horrendous crimes, I have the authority to do just about anything. Now, like I was explaining to Yoggie, I’ll keep ya in the loop. Glad to hear Tank is gonna pull through. He’s a tough old bird, that’s for sure. Tell him I’m around if he needs anything. Get some rest, Glory, been a trying day, that’s for sure. Oh, on a separate note, you don’t have to worry about Oscar any longer, that threat has been neutralized permanently.”

With that he turns and walks away. Wait, did I hear him correctly? What did he say, they neutralized Oscar? What about Lilly? I run after him and call his name. He turns to face me.

“Nova, if you neutralized, as you call it, Oscar, what about my daughter Lilly and her daughter, my granddaughter?”

“Oh shit, sorry, Glory. We have three locations that we’ve been given so they are top priority. I’ll let you know after we search each one. Don’t get your hopes up just yet, let us do our jobs. Okay?”

I nod and he again turns and walks away. I watch for a minute or two, then walk back into the hospital to tell Yoggie what Nova just shared. Is it even possible that I might be able to hold my daughter Lilly soon? I can’t even conceive that thought.

THIRTY-ONE

‘GLORY’

NORA

It’s been four days since Nova told me they had a lead on Lilly. Then radio silence. Tank is back home under the watchful eyes of Momma Diane. When Yoggie, Olivia, and I went to visit him, thought he’d jump out of his skin. Everyone was warned no sweets or snacks, no chew and no booze. I mean, what does that leave us to bring Tank? So Yoggie came up with the idea that he and Olivia worked on for a couple of hours last night. Watching Tank’s face when he opened the handmade card from our family was priceless.

Olivia was so proud and had to show her ‘Grandpa’ all the different things she drew on the five-page get well card. There were his dogs and his bike. Him and Grammy. The entire family, which turned into a bunch of stick figures because there are way too many of us. Though her heart was in the right place. I acted like I didn’t see Yoggie sneak in Tank’s favorite, a bag of plain M&M’s, in. That brought a huge smile to his face.

Now Olivia is at Taz’s so she and Teddy can plan their wedding. Not going there today. Yoggie got pulled into an Intruder meeting to discuss what’s gonna go on with Tank out for a couple of weeks. Yes, that was also Momma Diane’s demand. She told her husband either he take the time off or just take off. He obviously picked the right choice.

I’m sitting in the family room, my Kindle to my right and the television on low, drinking a cup of coffee. I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve already cleaned the house, done laundry, and have dinner started. Been online looking in the shelters for a puppy or dog for Olivia. Ollie told me to stop by the Blue Sky Sanctuary if I want, as they just had two litters of puppies dropped on them. And literally he means they drop the boxes off and left. Total assholes.

Just as I take another swallow of coffee my phone rings, and I don’t know the number. Usually, I let it go to voicemail but since Nova and his team are still out there looking, I grab the phone, engaging it.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Glory, it’s Nova. How ya doing?”

“Fine, Nova, any news yet?”

I hear him sigh, which tells me no good news for me. So, I wait to see why he’s called.

“Not yet, Glory, we kinda got our hands full. Was calling to see if we could get some help from your club. The first location was filled with victims who were just left. We’re thinking word got out about the grocery store attempt and the brotherhood pulled back from there. We need somewhere to place these women and children. Can you check with Tink and let me know, please. Tomorrow, we go to the second location. I hope to God we don’t find this again. Glory, we found a shed that was filled with bodies. I mean, I’ve seen shit from all over the world, but in our own country? Shit, sorry, just tired, I guess. Again, just let me know, please.”

Nova sounds beat to shit. If you’re not used to the atrocities that occur in our world, especially here in the States, it can mentally and physically exhaust you. That’s what he sounds like. War atrocities are much different than what is being done to women and children in our own country.

“Nova, don’t hang up, man. Damn, are you direct and right to the point. Yeah, we can help out, bunkhouses aren’t even close to being full. Let me check with my sisters, can you give an idea of how many and how bad they are?”

As he starts describing the conditions he found these folks in my heart starts to break. Here we go again, because when people are taken this low there are times we can’t bring them back. That’s the hardest thing the Devil’s Handmaidens can’t accept, but we’re learning we can’t fix everything, even though we try to. The thought also crosses my mind that I hope and pray Lilly isn’t living like this.

* * *

It’s another two days before I hear from Nova again. This time in person because his entire team is at the ranch dropping off thirty-five women and fourteen children from the first prison the brotherhood was running. It’s all-hands-on-deck as we start our long intake process. To protect not only the survivors but ourselves, each person is carefully interviewed so we can obtain information. Then they are given a full physical exam and now we can add the emotional and mental exam, thanks to Ollie’s therapist, Joan. Finally, we get everyone set up in the correct bunkhouse. With residents in them now, between Cynthia and the prospects, someone needs to be present in there at all times. We can also use Ollie’s military folks who are waiting to get into Blue Sky Sanctuary. They are staying in the farthest one as guards.

It’s taking twice as long because these folks have been in a form of isolation and they are scared, tired, and don’t want to believe they are finally free. We have to be patient and give them time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Since we do this often, every time we bust a trafficking circuit, we’re like a fine-oiled machine.

Yoggie, Olivia, and Teddy are helping with the food, watching some of the women and children crying when they are handed a sandwich or a piece of fruit. One little boy looked at Teddy like he was a superhero when he gave him a carton of chocolate milk.

“Bae, how you doing? My God, I had no idea all that your club does to help people through the next steps.”

“Sebastian, this is just the beginning. Once a person is settled and has started therapy, we talk to them about what they think they want to do. We pull in experts from across the country to help them learn to live on their own. Now, some don’t want to and elect to stay here and make the ranch their home. Then they are trained on whatever job they want to do. How to receive a paycheck and live within their boundaries. Budgets and checkbooks. Personal hygiene, washing clothes, and going to a doctor or dentist. Things we all take for granted. When people are made victims, they lose all of these skills and have to relearn them to be part of society. Sorry, didn’t mean to babble on and on. Oh, thanks for your help today. We are going to have some long weeks ahead of us, but I’m glad we’re giving Nova some assistance. I mean, what would happen to these people if we didn’t step up?”

“Bae, come here. I’m so very proud of what you women do. And everyone who comes through here will be a better person because of the Devil’s Handmaidens’ care. Now I was going to take Olivia and Teddy back home and get started on dinner. You need anything before I go? We might even go sneak in a visit to Tank. I hear he’s being a beast, doesn’t want to sit around wasting his life. Those are his words. Maybe seeing the kids will mellow him out for the rest of the night.”

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