Away From the Dark (The Light #2)(33)

He shrugged. “I’ve only been there for three years, but as a pilot I see more than most. After all, the women have to get to the Northern Light or Western Light somehow.”

My stomach rolled as I scrunched my nose and lowered my chin. “Oh, God.” My words sounded more like a cry. “Y-you transported them—us?”

“Micah and I.” He reached for my hands. “Sara, remember why. Remember my goal. I had to gain Father Gabriel’s trust. No follower has ever obtained the Assembly in as short of a time as I did. It was because, well”—he sighed—“I convinced them I had PTSD. I convinced them all that I reveled in the structure of The Light, and I thrived following and giving orders.”

My eyes narrowed. “But you knew what you were doing.” Suddenly cold, I released his hands and tightened the blanket around myself. “It’s human trafficking.”

He nodded.

No denial or even regret.

Shaking my head, I stood. “I’ve been struggling with what are real memories and what aren’t, but one thing I remember vividly, not only from what I’ve lived but also from what I believe I recall from my research of The Light, was”—I walked to the bed, turned on a lamp, and returned to Jacob. Then I deliberately held out my hand, fingertips up—“this. I was looking for something to tie everything together.” I rubbed the tips of my fingers against my thumb. “Women were showing up in the Wayne County Morgue, and their only connection was the burned fingertips. Actually, there were even a few men who had them.”

Jacob rolled his hands. I knew his were the same as mine. It was why when my eyes were covered I’d thought his hands were callused. They weren’t, not really. It was the roughness of his acid-burned fingertips. “What are you asking?”

“Were those people, those dead people, ones who were banished?”

He nodded. “Some of them. The Eastern Light is the entry point, the place for visitors’ assembly. There are also informational hubs that are set up around the country. The Assembly at the Eastern Light is proficient at follower acquisition. They decide who can and can’t join. Believe it or not, people are turned down.”

I shook my head. “Are there really that many willing to join?”

Jacob nodded. “That was why, when I approached The Light, I had to stand out as a good recruit. The FBI chose me for this assignment not only based on my success in other undercover missions but also based on my history and my lack of family commitment.”

I sank back to the bed.

Oh my God! I’d never considered that he might be married to someone else. Obviously my expression gave away my thoughts.

“You didn’t ask,” he said, “but I wanted you to know. I’m not married, as Jacoby McAlister. I never have been.”

I nodded, unable to do more.

“I was also chosen for the assignment,” he went on, “because of my real-life military experience. I handled my transition from military to law enforcement well, but I know of others, I have friends, or had them, that didn’t. I studied what they went through and like I said, I was able to become a veteran with PTSD. As Father Gabriel’s pilot, I had more access to him than others. I didn’t take advantage of that—on the surface. I never questioned—”

My brows rose.

He smiled. “Yes, in case you didn’t know, questioning is frowned upon in The Light.”

“Really?” I said in my best sarcastic voice.

This time his brows rose. “And so is being a smart-ass to your husband.”

“So I’ve been told.”

He went on, “I did what I was told to do by Father Gabriel, my overseer, members of the Commission, everyone. Eventually, Father Gabriel began asking me questions about my past. Slowly I wove the story I’d given at the Eastern Light, and it worked. With time I was given more and more responsibilities. Each step in the hierarchy of The Light was a test. At first I only flew with Micah, and then together we flew Father Gabriel from campus to campus. Then I was trusted alone to gather supplies, often coming here to Fairbanks. The first time I was told to transport acquired members, I expected it to be like when I was taken to the Northern Light. I was among seven individuals who’d all come willingly into The Light. Initially there were more in our group; however, only seven went to the Northern Light. We were told that some didn’t perform to The Light’s requirements and were banished. That term has always implied the ultimate punishment.

“We were also told some went to a different campus. Followers don’t know how many campuses exist, other than that the Eastern Light is the point of entry, and, of course, they learn about the campus where they’re assigned. Most people who come willingly are men or couples. Rarely do women join of their own accord. Yet some do.”

“Elizabeth,” I said.

Jacob nodded. “Luke told me that, but she joined before me, so I don’t know anything about that.”

I looked down.

“What?” he asked.

“I believe I know more about that, about her twin sister, but I’d rather hear what you have to say first. Please keep going.”

He took a deep breath. “The operations at the other campuses are different. Men are needed for physical labor. Women are needed for other tasks, but primarily to keep men content.”