Chapter 1

"Deke, I wish you would reconsider leaving us. Man, you have been here so long we would even consider adding that stupid coffee you drink to the machine."

"You are not making this easy old man, but, I have had it. You know it's nothing personal. Money would be nice but I've been here since I was 17 and an OP for 5 years, like who else you got that has time here?"

"Yeah! You call me the old man! So what now?"

"I leased a decent enough place in Alexandria for now. My consulting fees should cover me if you remember who I am from time to time."

We left as friends, we had been friends a very long time and not much would change that, or so I thought.

I had leased the condo, I signed for a one year lease on an Audi Quattro. On April 1st I was on my own, finally.

The condo was one of those multi-level things, more like a town home. It was on the Potomac and there was an indoor pool within the complex. Costs here were pretty high for not that much space and even less land.

Not big but, it was in the middle of everything, at least in my old world it was. I had spent the better part of my life doing whatever it took for the Department of State. Not for the Foreign Service, or as an Embassy employee, I was the one they all called when 'the shit hit the fan'. In a way, if there was a 'book' about that, then I was the one who wrote it.

That and $1.49 plus tax got me coffee at Mickey D's.

That very first day. April Fool's, and I had to wonder about that day the rest of my life. I was free, free at last; free to do anything I wanted. I could ... could... ; I could do almost anything I wanted. I turned over and went back to sleep.

'Tap, tap ... then knock, knock sort of got my attention. Knock, knock again. I got up begrudgingly and noted it was 9:11 am.

I might have put on more than my underwear if I would have seen her when I looked out, but no one was there. No one under her 4 foot 3 inches would have been seen anyway. Knock, knock again.

My first mistake, I opened the door. My second mistake was to stand there, mouth opened and to listen to her spiel. Actually to read her message hand written on pieces of note paper.

It read: 'I am your news girl. I live in the complex with my sister and mother in building 3 B. My name is Anne and I am 12 years old. I also can also clean, wash windows, do your shopping and care for your place when you travel. I am reliable and trustworthy. I cannot speak, but if you have any questions for me you can say them and I can write out my answer. In addition to those things, I will do any 'personal things' you might want or need. Will you hire me to do things for you?'

I dropped to my knees to become more face to face to this little pixie.

"Anne, my name is Deke".

I was going to say something but it just would not come out of my mouth.

I, without thinking motioned her in and told her to sit on the couch. I went for a phone to have her call her mom or sister to come over.

She held the phone, looked at me, looked at the phone, turned her notepad to the page that had, 'I cannot speak' and smiled. If that smile could be immortalized, the 'Mona Lisa' would fall in rank.

Man, all 65 or so pounds of her, faded jeans, too small shirt and baseball cap now took on the new look some model might wear. If she was this cute at 12, I pitied the hearts she would break in a few years.

"Just dial the number Hon, I'll try to speak to one of them, if they are like most women though I may not get a word in."

That smile again. She called and handed me the phone.

"Hello!"

"Hello, may I please speak to Anne's mother or sister. This is Deke Carter in 201, Building 4-A."

"Is there a problem?"

"No, not at all, she has 'told' me about some things she..."

"Look, I'm on my way out. If you want her to do stuff, tell her, she can give you a price, just tell her what you want. I gotta go!"

I put the phone down and sat down on the floor next to Anne.

"Looks like somebody just sends her little slave out for 'rental', huh?"

I got a nod.

"Do you get to keep any money?"

A negative head shake.

A thought burst to the front of my mind.

"If I could find you a better place to live, one where you could just be a little girl, go to school and learn to become something you want, would you want me to do that?"

She started crying and kept nodding her head.

I picked the phone and made a call.

The non-descript voice that answered got a code, ID and a message to give. "I need a favour, ASAP" was the message.

I had seen young girls like this many times, not usually in the US though. They all had something to 'sell', if they were not to be used and abused then they either ran drugs, gambling slips or had to sell their services for money which went to someone else. In time they were either sold to a brothel or killed.

I was about to reach out my hand to this waif. The phone rang. I smiled to her instead and reached for the phone.

"Deke, here!"

"Well that didn't take long. Welcome back and I'll still see if we can add that coffee you like?"

"Close old buddy, I will trade you one favour for another, two maybe. I have a 'friend' with me that needs some help, maybe some surgery too. Her name is Anne and she is 12-years old. She needs to have her life back, like you did in Kuwait, you understand?"

At my term 'friend' her eyes brightened up.

"Deke, man, this is the US, we can't..."

"You got me for as long as you think is a fair exchange. This is not negotiable. We need it done today, now, right now, she is safe here with me and she is staying safe. Is there something I am saying you don't understand Sam? Remember I know where the bodies are buried if 'people' try to give you a bad time on this little favour."