After Anna(115)

‘No, I’m fine.’

Maggie touched his hand. ‘That was scary at the house, huh?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I’m so proud of you, Caleb. You saved our lives, do you realize that?’

‘Yes.’ Caleb grinned.

‘I love you very much.’ Maggie gave him a hug and a kiss.

‘I love you, too, Mag.’ Caleb looked up with a smile. ‘And I said emergency!’

‘You sure did!’ Maggie smiled, proud of him.

‘Remember when I fell and cut my knee at school? It was an emergency?’

‘Yes. You said it perfectly. You were amazing.’

Kathy looked over, her eyes shining. ‘I agree, one hundred percent. Caleb, you were incredibly brave. You saved us.’

Caleb grinned. ‘Mag shot the guy!’

Kathy flared her eyes, with a half-smile. ‘Yes, she did. Who knew?’

‘Not me.’ Maggie shuddered inwardly. ‘And Kath, you tackled him.’

Kathy winked. ‘Right? The boys taught me that. Lacrosse in the spring, and football in the fall. Go, team!’

Caleb grinned up at Maggie. ‘Did you ever shoot anybody before, Mag?’

‘No, and I don’t want to ever again. I wasn’t trying to kill him, you know. I didn’t want to.’ Maggie managed a smile, knowing she’d have some processing of her own to do, later.

Kathy put her hand on Caleb’s. ‘Your mom shot only because he was going to hurt you.’

‘I know.’ Caleb looked up at Maggie. ‘You’re a great mom.’

‘Aw, thanks, honey,’ Maggie said, feeling her heart melt. She knew he loved her, but he’d never said that to her before this very moment.

Suddenly, there was new activity in the squad room. The door to the interview room was opening, and men in suits were spilling out with laptops and legal files. The FBI types were putting on jackets, the lawyers their trenchcoats, and the police were donning bulletproof vests and leaving by the back entrance to the parking lot behind the station.

Maggie found herself on her feet. ‘They’re going somewhere.’

Kathy stood up. ‘Looks that way.’

Caleb jumped up. ‘Here comes the Chief.’

Maggie waved to Chief Vogel of the Congreve Police, who caught her eye as he threaded his way to the waiting room, zipping the blue insulated jacket over his uniform and putting on his blue cap. They had met earlier tonight, and she liked him. Vogel was a taciturn Mainer in his fifties, but he’d been concerned about Anna’s case. He opened the door to the waiting room with a tense smile.

‘Hello, folks,’ Chief Vogel said, shutting the door behind him

‘Chief, what’s going on?’ Maggie met him at the door with Kathy and Caleb. ‘Is Anna okay?’

‘I have some answers, but not all. I’m authorized to tell you only what you need to know. It’s confidential police business, and we don’t have much time to talk now.’

‘I understand.’

‘We are engaged in an ongoing police investigation. I’m telling you only because you are a victim’s parent. One of the victims.’

Maggie swallowed hard. Her heart started to thud in her chest. She prayed Anna was alive.

‘A plea agreement is being finalized with Connie, full name Konstantine Rogolyi. Under its terms, Konstantine Rogolyi will be spared the death penalty and he will be spending life in prison without possibility of parole. In return, he agrees to plead guilty to the first-degree murders of Elma Tenderly, Patti “PG” Tenderly, and Roy Watson of Tipton. In addition, Konstantine Rogolyi is pleading guilty to several other charges, including numerous federal counts of sex trafficking.’

‘Sex trafficking?’ Maggie’s stomach turned over. She felt Kathy hold her arm, supporting her. She didn’t know how much Caleb understood, but this wasn’t the time or the place to explain.

‘Yes. According to his statement, Konstantine Rogolyi was engaged with Roy Watson and others in a sex-trafficking conspiracy, in violation of the TVPA, or the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and other laws. Patti Tenderly, whom you know as PG, was an integral part of the criminal conspiracy. Patti Tenderly’s role was to recruit victims like your daughter and lure them into meeting with Konstantine Rogolyi, Roy Watson, and others, who kidnapped and trafficked them.’ Chief Vogel’s mouth set grimly. ‘Konstantine Rogolyi told authorities that there are seven victims being forced into prostitution, coerced under threat of violence. You may be unaware of this, but not all sex trafficking is international. On the contrary, domestic sex trafficking is on the rise in remote regions of the country like ours. In fact, state and federal law enforcement coordinate with many anti-trafficking groups, including women’s groups and Truckers Against Trafficking.’

‘So does that mean Anna is alive?’ Maggie felt a flicker of hope, setting aside her revulsion. ‘And you know where she is?’

‘We have a reasonable basis to believe that she and the others are at a nearby location, but we cannot be certain. Konstantine Rogolyi told us that Patti Tenderly recruited Jamie Covington and your daughter Anna Desroches at Congreve. Patti Tenderly learned that your daughter was to inherit a trust fund at age eighteen. Seeing the similarity in her appearance with your daughter, Patti Tenderly befriended your daughter, trafficked her, and took the opportunity to steal your daughter’s identity and move to Pennsylvania.’