Without Trace Read online

  “I’m not acting,” Corrigan insisted.

  Willie snorted, and said, “Glyn, keep that wheel over Corrigan’s body, just so we can keep track of him till Reese arrives.

  Violeta said, “I’m due at the hospital at eight. Rosie’s helicopter ambulance is landing then.”

  Henry said, “Looks to me like I’m driving all three of you to the hospital as soon as Captain Reese takes over here.”

  At that moment, policemen whirled through the stair doors at each end of the hall.

  When Captain Reese saw Corrigan and Rylant on the floor, he bent over, gasping for air.

  Willie said, “Eight floors in record time. Reese, you’re in pretty good shape.”

  Epilogue

  Eight months later, the Ancient Nation held a show at the Roseland Theater. They were such a success that two weeks after that, on a starry evening, the band re-opened in the larger venue at the Burnside Barns, where there was room for dancing and a stage big enough to contain Trace and Leneld’s moves.

  Danny came to rehearsals direct from anger management classes, where he told the others, “I’m learning to put a cork in it, and breathe through my Irish nose.”

  Leneld laughed. “Glad to know that. Can you rap around cork?”

  Dan laughed, and pretended to talk with cork in his mouth.

  “It’s a hit,” Leneld announced.

  On the night of the second opening, as Willie and Henry arrived at the Burnside Barns, a cheer went up from all who knew the story of the hunt and the rescues.

  Willie lifted her walker and did a brief dance. The crowd roared its approval.

  Augusto and Camelia danced in a circle with their arms around their two daughters.

  Susan and Merlyn danced over to Willie. Susan laughed, “Act your age, Mom.”

  “Glad to oblige,” Willie said, and did another shimmy.

  In the crowd, acting as a “Big Band Bouncer”, Artimus Alliteration was two months out of the “Federal Fun Fiesta at the Sheridan Summer School” as he called it. He had a day job in the Holly Hill kitchen.

  George Wilson now enjoyed a new life outside the walls, helping encourage kids to exit their drug life. Willie and George Wilson had helped Artimus write his exit papers.

  His parole officer had learned the word alliteration. He hoped Artimus had some other more saleable skills up his sleeves.

  Artimus laughed at that request, saying. “Saleable Skills in Sleeves, indeed.”

  And then he had plunked down a ‘Righteous Resume’ of the skills Willie and George had unearthed from his long, life story.

  Both men had a letter of recommendation in their files thanking them for material help to the police and the families as they figured out how to locate missing people.

  Small pants, AKA Heinrich Strauss, awaited trial on drug dealing, kidnapping and human trafficking. His skinny associates were in a jail drug rehab program that was new and very needed.

  The three companies involved in the ‘Relocation Services’ were now shut down. In the hall of Holly Hill, Leneld had recognized Rylant as the man who claimed to own the building at 199 SE Second Avenue. He’d also recognized Corrigan as the second man at that building who told him to be gone.

  Rylant and Corrigan owned the Second Avenue warehouse and other buildings including the one in Chico where the girls had been held.

  The court had ordered that Rylant and Corrigan’s employees who worked only in the legal portions of each business, should be able to receive all benefits. Geneva and other good workers were made whole. Geneva’s 401K was vested, and now, she could access it without fear of those who were in jail.

  Elmore’s Vet was sold to a more business-like veterinarian. Doctor Vanly now attended classes in better business practices, such as keeping track of what his colleagues did while he took care of the cute puppies. His receptionist Charles sat in a prison on a charge of selling drugs, and conspiracy to aid in the kidnapping and selling of humans. Charles was Chuck, the ‘boyfriend’ who had abducted Liza and then met Rosaria in the Tigard bus station.

  Liza had been able to tell the police that Chuck had tied her up soon after they left her home for the university, and then he had stopped at the transit center and knocked out Rosaria as she crossed from one bus to another. Rosaria had never seen who grabbed her until they were both thrown into a cell in the building on Second Avenue.

  Out of the three buildings known to belong to Relocation, sixty-three girls and boys were rescued. Many needed long-term psychiatric and health care. This care was also part of the settlement with the companies.

  But, Officer Reese also learned about other young women and men who had been sold further down the chain. He and Detective Sidney O. Seneca worked with other police departments to investigate such evil businesses, and hunt for more victims of trafficking up and down the west coast.

  Corrigan was not able to convince the judge of his Alzheimers diagnosis. His last effort to get at Geneva’s papers, threatening Violeta with a gun, made a clear case against him.

  Rosaria, and her friend Liza, enrolled at George Fox with little fanfare. The school kept their names out of its warnings to students and parents about dating and about travel.

  Rosaria recovered with many long weekends at home with her sister and parents.

  The van driver in Portland died of his injuries three weeks after rolling his vehicle, but the information he had provided meant the Leapfrog Bus company lost most of its bus drivers to prison. Its CEO sat in Sheridan prison. Leapfrog’s name became synonymous with sleaze, and it, too, was ordered to pay for the recovery and support of its victims.

  Once freed of fear for Felipe and Anita’s Chevron family, Ancient Nation organized a fix-it-up weekend, filling bullet holes and repainting the station along with Felipe and his family and friends.

  Geneva Oppenheim returned to Holly Hill, and in court, was able to set out very clearly how she had discovered the plot against children. These days, she often spoke at schools about her experiences in Mittle-Bau Dora and her life as an orphaned survivor after the war.

  Doctor Sartan accompanied her on the first few of these school days, but soon realized that Geneva was once again her bright and determined self.

  Geneva and Willie returned to their friendship. The band wrote a rap, celebrating Geneva’s discovery and the lives her discovery had saved.

  Geneva came down to the rehearsals of the Ancient Nation band but didn’t want to be at the concerts with so many people. Crowds brought up too many memories.

  The Ancient Nation families attended the Burnside Barn show, along with Captain Reese, Augusto, Camelia and Violeta and even Chef Judson.

  Toward the evening’s end, Sidney Seneca could be seen on crutches dancing in a circle around a laughing Arwain, while Claudia and Javier urged him on.

  By closing time, the ticket office announced that Ancient Nations had sold out the Burnside Barns for the next six Fridays.

  As the lights were about to go out in the Barns, Glyn and Violeta found Willie, asleep on a couch in one of the lounges. Henry sat nearby, smiling and reading a booklet about how to use the Square to take credit card payment from his taxi customers.

  Thank you!

  Thank you to the Truckers Against Trafficking for your efforts on behalf of stolen and trafficked human beings. Your trainings of other truckers for how to spot trafficking and how to involve the law in stopping it are a light in the deep darkness that is this evil trade.

  Thank you to my family for inspiring the idea that old people and young – a grandmother and her grandchildren might work together to solve mysteries and create a safer world.

  The characters herein, and their actions are fiction, but of course, they are based on the personalities, delights and foibles of people I know. So, Readers who know me, start guessing . . . Maybe someone in here is partly you.

  Working to Stop Human Trafficking

  Sheriff Mendez mentions that he has had calls from Truckers Against Trafficking.
Here is a description of their work.

  Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) began in 2011. Between its beginning and December 2019, 2,496 calls to the hotline had been made about 663 incidences of human trafficking. 1,230 victims were involved. All 50 state trucking associations have now partnered with TAT and they are beginning work with the provinces of Canada.

  Anyone can join in the fight against human trafficking. ... If you are in the United States and believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, call the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or report an emergency to law enforcement by calling 911.

  Charity Navigator evaluates non-profits working against human trafficking. Here is a link to their work: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=8361. You can donate toward their mission or become a volunteer.

  What you can do for yourself and your neighbors: Be alert and aware of what is happening around you. Keep yourself safe and be willing to call for help if you believe someone is being forced to work without freedom to leave their workplace or their job.

  About the Author

  Rae Richen is author of adventures for adults and young adults, of romantic suspense and of the newest Glyn Jones and Grandma Willie mystery series. Join Rae Richen as we explore fear and power, greed and human need in short stories and novels, articles, interviews and essays.

  Using family relationships and the backdrop of historical events, Rae Richen writes to bring focus to the themes that drive our human race. The characters in these stories face a confusing world of hypocrisy with courageous honesty. The humor, friendships, and caring they bring to these situations help them forge new solutions to age-old problems.

  Learn more about this author at www.raerichen.com or contact her at [email protected] .

  Other books by Rae Richen

  Uncharted Territory – A father and son nearly die during a mountain climb. Can they rescue each other and learn to live with the consequences of their choices? Learn more and read a free first chapter at www.raerichen.com

  Scapegoat: The Price of Freedom – a teen and his friends struggle with a culture of easy accusation during the McCarthy Anti-Communist era. Learn more by reading a first chapter at https://www.raerichen.com/guest-area

  Scapegoat: The Hounded – after September 11, 2001, a grandfather and grandson work to create safety and freedom for friends falsely accused of treason. Learn more by reading a first chapter at https://www.raerichen.com/guest-area

  In Concert – A novel of suspense and romance when a famous musician is stalked by a vicious man who wants to own her and her son. Visit https://www.raerichen.com/guest-are and read the first chapter for free.

  Frozen Trust – a novel of espionage and romance within the United States during World War II. Visit https://www.raerichen.com/guest-area and read the first chapter for free.

  Sentinels of Solitude – a novel of suspense and love during a murderous land grab in the lush Willamette Valley of Oregon. Visit www.raerichen/guest-area for the stories behind the story. You can also read a first chapter for free.

  A Fool’s Gold, a novel of treachery and romance in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado during the mining fever of the 1880s. Visit www.raerichen.com/guest-area for info and a free first chapter.

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