Chapter 76: Sharing Stories

The deputy was the first to get out; it looked like the trooper was using his radio.

“Where’s the citizen who called in the complaint?” the deputy asked.

“That would be Bobby Davies, on the roof there,” Tamara said. “Would it be better if we wait till the trooper gets here so we don’t have to repeat?”

The deputy didn’t look that happy about it, but agreed.

“To orient you, deputy, ah...” she looked at his name tag, “Wymers, the guy trussed up over there is a kidnapper...”

“Wait, that’s a person? I thought it was a few feed bags. Is he injured?”

“Just his pride,” Tamara reassured him as the trooper came over to them.

“Howdy, Mark, you got this run?” the trooper greeted the deputy.

“Yep, Hank, this’ll be one fer th’ books.”

The trooper looked at Tamara and Winnie. “Y’all the complainants?”

“I guess she is. Winnie, here. I’m Tamara Alexandre; I helped Winnie get to safety.”

“Okay, folks, I’m Trooper Laringer and y’all met Deputy Wymers. Did I miss anything important, Mark?”

“Just a suspected kidnapping perp hog-tied over there. Well, he’s actually wrapped in a net,” Wymers pointed. “They say that he’s undamaged and he’ll keep till we’re done.”

“Jesus. Okay, if y’all say so. Are we still even in Virginia? My GPS shows the line’s right smack dab here.”

“The cabin over there’s in Virginia fer sure. The line is...” he looked to the north.

“The owner told me it’s just past the tree line,” Tamara offered, pointing to a spot about fifty feet away. “Running east and west. And I have that guy’s confession recorded on my cell that he kidnapped Winnie here; that’s why I restrained him like that, but Winnie can tell you more about what happened.”

The trooper shook his head. “This is one for the books. Okay, y’all want the lead here, Mark? It’s yer county.”

“Lead for this shit, Hank? Excuse me, ladies, but this is really weird. I’d normally say yes but we have a suspected kidnapping that was claimed to have occurred in an adjoining state and the suspected perp is in ours...” He looked at Winnie. “And you say that he abducted you?”

Winnie nodded. “Yes.”

“I think that the lead needs to be the state, then, Hank,” Wymers told him. “This investigation’ll cross state lines so the AG’s office will need t’handle this fer sure.”

“Thanks, buddy, I owe y’all. Hope it’s a simple writeup. Heard that a guy phoned the complaint in, though. Is it one of them...?” He pointed to the cabin where the men were working.

Tamara interrupted, “I mentioned this to the deputy; it was the son of the owner here. With no cell service out here, we sent him to find a land line when they arrived this morning. He has no other knowledge of what happened here yesterday, though. Winnie can tell you what happened to her ‘cause, unfortunately, it is complicated. We think that a sex ring is trafficking orphaned girls and she got caught up in that.”

Both officers were startled at hearing that and Winnie began.

“I think that Tamara’s right; they were selling the girls. My name’s Awinita Nelsey and before the group home, I lived in Randall County, maybe five miles out of Betsley. That’s West Virginia.”

She went on to tell them about her time in the group home, her sale, and her escape, ending with Tamara’s finding her.

“Damn, this one’s above my pay grade but it sounds like that there county has some garbage they need to clean up,” Laringer commented. “Okay, Tamara is it? Y’all were hiking in West Virginia and y’all came across Winnie hiding in some bushes. In y’r own words, tell us what y’all did.”

Tamara nodded and told them how she had led Winnie to safety and about the following day when they heard the tracking hounds.

“So the perp got a tracker?” the deputy asked.

“Yep. I’m convinced he had nothing to do with her kidnapping since when some of his hounds ran off, he left to go round them up.”

“Y’all mean that them hounds just left the track and run off?” Laringer wondered. “Now that’s somethin’ weird in itself ... So y’all were here when the perp came to the cabin?”

“Correct. He demanded that his property be returned. I had my phone with me and when he showed up, I started the voice recorder. Let me play the recording.”

She did, and Laringer told her to hang onto the phone but that he would need to take it for evidence before he left.

“The perp sure did incriminate his self there, I’d say. But I think that the evidence from the group home would be essential,” Wymers offered.

“True. Glad it’ll be out of my hands then,” Laringer grunted. “Let’s go unwrap the perp.”

When they got to him, the kidnapper began shouting at them that he was being held prisoner and being tortured. Both officers ignored him while they checked out the net.

“Damn, how the hell did y’all do this? A snare trap or something? How...?” Laringer wondered.

“I have a large-size net gun I’ve been developing,” Tamara told them. “It’s basically like a popgun but shoots a big net out.”

“I’ve seen them but them nets’re very lightweight,” Wymers commented. “CO2 cartridge?”

“No, it’s electromagnetic. Something like a magnet propels the net,” she replied. “Oh yeah, almost forgot. He had a gun and knife on him. Don—the owner here—cut them off of him. We didn’t touch the holster or knife sheath with our bare hands. They’re sitting over there on the top of that box.” She pointed.

“Excellent, thank you,” Wymers said.

“Okay then, sir,” Laringer said to the kidnapper. “What’s y’all’s name?”

“Not saying and you can’t hold me. I haven’t done anything.”

“Fine. Call yuh John Doe then for the purpose of this statement. Y’all are under arrest for suspicion of kidnapping of a minor, possession of a lethal weapon during the commission of a felony, and other crimes to be specified later as our investigation progresses...”

Laringer continued to Mirandize the kidnapper.

When he finished, Tamara spoke. “Hey, make it easier to get him untangled. Just cut the net off him; that’s fine with me.”

“Good idea, Ma’am. Hey Mark. Help me roll this guy over to get the cuffs on him,” Laringer asked Wymers. “And pat him down for any other weapons. Since he fails to identify his self, check for a wallet and ID. Okay? I’ll start cutting off the net ... thanks, Ma’am.”

She had brought him an auto rescue knife tool from her SUV’s emergency kit.

“I actually have a knife like this in my Batman utility belt here, but I’ll use yers, since it’s yer net,” Laringer grinned at her. “I’d like to see yer popgun, too, after we undo this gift wrapping.”

It took several minutes to cut the net free. Wymers found the kidnapper’s wallet and ID; he had a Virginia address. He then called his post by radio and learned that the man was a serial sex offender and the deputy knew at once that a legitimate adoption would have never been approved by a court in any jurisdiction.

Just before the two officers frog-marched their arrestee to the trooper’s car, he stopped his complaining and whining long enough to tell them that he needed to urinate.

“Damn, I don’t wanna have to clean up piss in my vehicle,” Laringer muttered. “Hey Mark. I got a set of belly chain cuffs in my vehicle. Let’s switch him to those so he can use that outhouse to take a leak.”

While their prisoner was using the privy, Tamara showed the officers the propelling section of the net gun. She had picked up the plastic launching cylinder and showed them that too. Laringer had grabbed a few evidence bags and secured the weapons, then took Tamara’s phone. He looked at it and then at her.

“This is a pay-as-y’-go phone, right?” he asked. “Why ... if it’s not too personal...?”

“I don’t mind,” Tamara said. “I use burner phones when I don’t want to be contacted, like here. I was on a personal retreat to recharge myself after a very busy spring and summer. I needed to get away from everything for a week. I don’t need it back—oh wait. I have the receipt for the phone with my name. That’s useful, right?”

“For sure. Otherwise the legal guys would be contacting y’all for yer ownership proof, so thanks.”

She dug the receipt out of her knapsack and gave it to Laringer and he popped that into the evidence bag with the phone.

“Y’all said y’don’t need it back,” he confirmed.

“Yep. Want it in writing?”

“Y’all don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Let’s see.”

She grabbed a pad out of her backpack and jotted a quick note. Looking at the phone’s receipt in the evidence bag, she copied the phone’s MEID and signed the note, including her driver’s license number. She gave the note to Laringer who gave her a big smile as he sealed the note in with the phone. Then he gave her his card with the complaint number marked on it.

“Y’all are makin’ my job lots easier, so thanks,” he told her as he opened the SUV’s back hatch and locked the evidence bags in the safe box there. “Y’all’ll be hearin’ from the AG’s office soon, I ‘spect. And note that I didn’t tell y’all that y’needed t’ get Winnie back t’ West Virginia. But she needs t’git lawyered up real quick, y’hear? Legal Aid helps folks who have no resources, like Winnie.”

“Thanks for everything, Trooper Laringer,” Tamara said. “I’ll make sure she has the best representation possible.”

“Y’all are good people. Now stay safe and best of luck.”

Deputy Wymers had already left after saying his goodbyes and then with a wave, Laringer pulled out and headed for the trail down the hill.

Winnie turned to Tamara and hugged her. “Tamara, thank you, thank you. I’m so relieved. But what happens now?” she said, looking a little uncertain.

“First, let’s check with Don. If all’s well here, we pack and head out. The first stop, you need clothes and everything else. Did you have any possessions when you were put in foster care?”

“Just a few clothes and I outgrew a lot. See how short these jeans are?”

“Any stuff from your home?”

“They wouldn’t let me take anything...” The tears began again.

“We’ll see what we can do about that. It seems to me that there must be some kind of judicial process needed to settle the estate of a minor orphan. Anyway, clothes and any other stuff you need.”

“Tamara, I have no money...”

“Hush. I do, and the only purpose for money, as far as I’m concerned, is to do good deeds for people. Let’s ask Don if everything’s okay. Hey, Don,” she called.

He was still working on the roof, replacing shingles.

“I see y’all’re done and we’re rid o’ that piece a’ shit,” he called back. “Everything square now?”

“For now. I’m gonna get Winnie home and settled and then the legal crap starts. Also taking down that crooked operation over yonder.”

“Good fer y’all. Hey, everythin’s just fine here so y’all can head out when y’want. Thanks fer y’business and hope y’all recommend my little palace here,” he chuckled.

“I had an amazing time here, Don, and I’ll never forget the things I learned about myself this week. So thanks.”

She went inside. “Help me get this stuff back in my SUV, okay?” Tamara asked Winnie.

Together the two of them loaded Tamara’s vehicle and with a wave to her hosts, she pulled out.

When they reached the paved road, Tamara asked, “Winnie, please don’t be offended, but I noticed that you don’t seem to have much of the local speech mannerisms. I hear just a little of the local lilt when you speak. How come it’s different?”

“Ah ... I speak like Papa did, I guess. And he would correct me if I got sloppy. He told me that he worked hard, by listening to the TV, to speak ‘properly,’” she made finger-quotes, ‘‘cause he said it helped in his state job.”

“Oh, that’s impressive. So when your papa became your guardian, you were about three years old?”

“Uh huh. Gramma was alive then and I remember an elderly aunt too. But Gramma was sick; I think it was diabetes, and she died when I was seven. That’s when Papa retired from the state. My aunt had died earlier and I never knew any other relatives.”

“That’s so sad, losing everyone you know,” Tamara said gently. “I hope that things will be much better for you now—I’m sure they will. So we’re headed home now, but I don’t plan to phone anyone until we get closer to home tomorrow. I’m loving this electronic silence.”

“Tamara, you gave away your cell phone...” Winnie began, but Tamara popped open the console between them and took out a phone.

Winnie’s eyes almost popped out when she saw two more cell phones in there.

Tamara laughed, “I got into the habit of keeping several burner phones for off-the-grid use. Long story, but I find having them useful. You take this one till I get you a regular account. The bigger one in there is my main phone, but the one you have has all my contacts loaded too.”

“Tamara, this is...” and the tears threatened to flow again.

“Hush again, sweetie. Life dealt you some of the worst hands ever so far. Consider that Lady Luck is sitting in your lap now. While we drive, tell me about your schools and where you are academically.”

“I’m a year behind, basically, but in elementary I was a top student. I lost a year in the foster system and ‘cause the witch would sometimes keep us from going to school. We had to do housekeeping.”

“How much housekeeping ... what were there? Six girls?”

“Sometimes eight or nine. She had a side business. A fleabag motel. She made us clean the rooms and stuff.”

“Oh jeez, slave labor. This gets worse with every telling. Okay, do you mind talking about school? The subjects you took, what you liked, how far you got?”

“Sure. School was the bright spot of my days. Let’s see. Last fall I was fourteen years old and in eighth grade...”

They spent the next hour and a half talking about Winnie’s school progress and that’s when they reached Interstate 81, after a brief stop for lunch at a fast-food place. It was 2:30 pm.

“Let me check the car’s GPS to find some shops. We’re about 200 miles now from where I live and that’s four hours’ drive, at least, with the traffic and construction now. Add three hours to shop—now stop shaking your head, Winnie, you’re getting a nice wardrobe. Especially if you’re gonna be seen in public with me.”

Winnie frowned, then giggled.

“And a nice sit-down dinner. Okay, I was planning to get home on Sunday anyway and was gonna sight-see on the way, so I did plan for an overnight stop. So here’s the plan. We’ll go to Harrisonburg now. There’s a nice little college there, James Madison University, so there should be some cool trendy shops...”

“Tamara? Don’t you need to let someone know you’re bringing me home with you?” Winnie asked timidly.

“I told everyone that I was incommunicado until Sunday afternoon and I’m sticking with that. You have no idea how free a feeling this is without having a dozen people call me every hour to get my decision or opinion...”

Winnie was looking at her, eyes wide and mouth open. “Are ... are you important?” she whispered.

Tamara laughed. “It seems some people think so, but no; I’m just me. Winnie, I’m just a grad student. I have a few inventions, but there are lots of people who do. Anyway, I told everyone who matters not to dare to try to contact me unless, god forbid, someone was in the hospital.”

“You said you have money, though...”

“Yeah, I did. Some people think having money makes them important, but money is just a tool for me to improve other people’s lives. The disadvantaged. Let’s talk about nice stuff, not boring stuff. We’ll stop and find some cool shops, have a nice dinner, and stay at a nice hotel. Tomorrow morning I want to go to Luray Caverns; it’s not far off our route and I’ve heard wonderful things about it. Then we’ll head home.”

“What’s those caverns?”

“Many millions of years of water moving through the underground limestone layers of rock carved out a huge cave system, their flyer says. They even have an organ down there that plays music on the stalactites.”

“Ooo. That sounds rad. Okay, that should be fun.”