Protecting Her(110)

I shudder at the thought. “Why? Why would they hurt them?”

“To punish you for their plan not working.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“The organization has spent years planning this plane crash and they’d be livid if they found out it was all for nothing, especially the members on the planning committee. One of those members might take their anger out on Pearce or Garret.” Jack gazes off to the side, rubbing his chin. “If Pearce doesn’t do this exactly right…if anything goes wrong in his attempt to get you back…”

“What?” I ask, my eyes glued to him. “What is it, Jack? What would they do?”

He looks back at me. “They might decide to punish both of you.”

“How? How would they punish us?”

“By taking Garret. Doing so would hurt both you and Pearce more than anything else.”

“What do you mean they’d take him?” I’m shaking now, as more tears fall from my eyes.

“Rachel.” His tone is soft yet still very serious. “This is just one of many possibilities. I’m not saying it would happen, but when people are out for revenge, all bets are off. These people..the members…they’re ruthless bastards.”

“Just tell me.” I hiccup a breath. “Tell me what you meant when you said they’d take him.”

He nods. “I meant they might…kill him.”

“No!” I squeeze my eyes shut and more tears spill down my face.

“If they wanted to get back at you and Pearce—”

“What is WRONG with these people?” I scream. “They’d really do that? To an innocent little boy?”

“They tried to kill you. That’s all the answer you need.”

“But if they want Garret as a member why would they—”

“I didn’t say the organization itself would do this. I said someone from the planning committee might. Someone who’s angry that they wasted time on something that didn’t work. Maybe that wouldn’t happen, but it’s a definite possibility. And as much as it hurts me to even bring that up, you need to know what could happen. You need to know what they’re capable of.”

I nod, and wipe my face.

“This is why you can’t go back there. It’s too dangerous. For you, but also for Pearce and Garret. You need to get far away from here and let Pearce figure this out.”

“What if he can’t?”

“He will. Just give him time.”

I swallow past the burn in my throat and take as deep a breath as I can. “So where am I going?”

“That’s up to you. I wanted you to be able to pick the location, but it needs to be someplace remote. A small town. A place they’d never look.”

I pause to think. “I know where to go.” I tell him the location and he says he’ll tell Pearce.

“We need to hurry.” He gets up from the table. “We’re behind schedule. I’ll give you ten minutes to look over that folder. After that, I need you to cut your hair and change your clothes. I’ll bring you new clothes and a new wig and some glasses. You need to cut your hair short, so it doesn’t show under the wig.”

My vision’s blurring and I feel lightheaded. I close my eyes and wait for the feeling to pass.

Jack touches my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“Rachel, you need to be strong or you’ll never survive this. You need to become someone new and live your life as if nothing has happened. If you act nervous or anxious, people will suspect something’s up with you, and if that happens, you risk being found out.”

“Yes. I understand.”

He leaves the room and I’m left with the folder. Inside are sheets of paper outlining who I am. My likes, dislikes, where I grew up, what sports I played, what schools I went to. It’s all very detailed and I’m sure I’ll never remember it all. I see my passport and look inside at the photo. It’s my face but the hair is so different that it doesn’t look like me.

My name is one that’s very common. I’m sure Jack did that on purpose so if anyone tried to find something out about me, it would be difficult. There must be thousands of people with this name. Probably more.

After I read through the folder, I shove it aside and sob, grieving the loss of my son and my husband. My former life. I imagine the pain that Garret and Pearce are feeling now, thinking I’m gone, and I sob even more.