Noah and Sami met 21 days ago.

ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:

"When Myra's rescued, she won't have anywhere to go."

"That's true." He exhaled. "I hope you understand she'll probably be hooked on drugs. Adjusting back into normal life will be difficult. We won't know what emotional issues she'll have until she's rescued."

Sami dried an escaped tear. "I know. I'll help her." After a long pause, she asked, "Do you think you'll be available to help?"

"If you want me to." He opened his arms. "You look like you could use a hug."

"It's not allowed."

"We'll make it short." Sami went into Noah's arms, and he drew her to his chest. "I don't like seeing you upset. I hope this helps."

Stepping back, she said, "It does. Thank you." She swallowed before she asked, "Is there anything else you overheard on my Fitbit I should know about?"

"Not that I can think of right now. If there is, I'm not keeping it a secret on purpose."

"Okay."

They headed toward the house. After goodnights were said, everyone went to their rooms.

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 16 A

As Sami and Jasper left her bedroom early Sunday morning, Noah walked in the front door and called over his shoulder, "Jose, get some sleep. We'll meet around noon."

He stopped and studied Jasper. "He wants out, doesn't he?"

Sarah and Bob came from their room, and Sarah said, "You and Bob get some sleep. Since Bob was on the computer all night, I slept on the couch. I'll walk with Sami and Jasper."

"But..." said Noah.

"Go. You guys are dead tired," interrupted Sarah. "I got this." Sarah smiled at Sami. "Ready?"

"That sounds dangerous, but I'm too tired to argue. Be safe, ladies." Noah turned to his room.

*****
During the walk, Sarah said, "I'm sure you're wondering about last night." When Sami nodded, she continued, "The escort service Mateo went to belonged to Chen."

"Did they find Myra?" blurted Sami.

Shaking her head, Sarah said, "No. Chen had left before our guys arrived. Mateo did the same as he did the previous night, getting the owner there and checking the girls before he chose one." She bit her bottom lip. "Noah sent in the team because most of the girls were minors. The youngest I know about Mateo chose for his date."

"I don't believe that," interrupted Sami.

Sarah touched Sami's arm and then continued, "Mateo did it to protect her. He took her to a restaurant and kept her safe until a female agent arrived. She was taken to the hospital."

"How old was she?"

"Just turned fourteen a few weeks ago."

"How many girls were rescued?"

"Fifteen total. Twelve were under sixteen. We arrested eight of Chen's men."

As they headed toward the house, Sami said, "Thank you for telling me."

Inside, Sarah said, "I think it's just you and me for breakfast."

Sami nodded as she walked into her room. "I'll shower and then fix us something to eat."

*****
After Sami cleaned the kitchen from breakfast, she noticed Sarah sitting and staring at an empty coffee cup. "Would you like some more? I made a full pot and since it was only you and me, there's plenty."

"No. I've probably had enough."

"I've only known you for a few weeks, but I'm pretty sure something's on your mind. Would it help to talk about it? I'm a good listener."

"Maybe, but there's nothing that can be done."

Sami sat beside her. "Talking often helps."

Sarah pointed to the ceiling. "We can't here. I don't want Bob to hear."

"Where?"

"Noah may not like it, but let's sit on the front porch. Jasper can come."

"He'll like that."

After sitting in silence for a while, Sarah asked, "Remember when I told you our baby, Lila, died?" When Sami indicated she did, she continued, "Months passed before Bob and I could discuss the future. When we did, we decided to wait a few years before trying to have another baby."

"I'm sure losing her had to be devastating. I can't imagine the pain."

"It was. I only held her for a month before she died." Tears flowed down Sarah's cheeks. "It's only been eighteen months since we buried her. She was so tiny."

"I'm sure it still hurts."

Sarah dried tears and blew her nose. "Until we decided to try again, we wanted to save our money. That way when I got pregnant, I could stay home and be a fulltime mom."

"That sounds like a great idea."

Tears spilt from her eyes. "I think I'm pregnant. I don't know how it happened. We were careful, but..."

"Babies have a way of coming in God's timing, not our timing."

"Bob may not see it that way." Sarah studied her hands. "I'm afraid to tell him. What if he gets angry?"

"It's obvious Bob loves you. He'll be happy. I know it."

"Before I tell him, I need to be sure. I can't ask him to get a pregnancy test when he goes to the store. He'd wonder why."

"True. We'll figure it out."

"Thank you."

"Your secret's safe with me."

Bob opened the front door. "What are you two doing out here?"

Sami smiled. "Girl talk. Would you like to know which actor's butt looks best in blue jeans?"

Sarah smiled.

"I don't care." Bob glanced toward the living room. "Headquarters called and Chief's on his way. They said he's upset. I've already awakened Noah. You'll probably want to be inside. He may not be happy knowing you're out here. With the lack of sleep and a surprise visit from Baldwin, things won't go well."

Sami stood. "I'll throw a few things together so you guys can eat and make a fresh pot of coffee."

Before Galvin Baldwin arrived, the team had eaten and assembled in the computer room. Sami remained in her room.

*****
Chief Baldwin addressed the team before he yelled, "Ms. Martinez, I need you out here."

"Just a minute," called Sami. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. All he's done is yell. I wonder why he wants me. She put on her Fitbit, inhaled a deep breath and opened her bedroom door. "Hello, Mr. Baldwin. I didn't know you were visiting. Will you be joining us for a late lunch?"

"No, as soon as we talk, I'm leaving. This is supposed to be my day off." He pointed toward the team standing in Sarah and Bob's bedroom doorway. "Since this team's incompetent, I was forced to come out." He pointed toward the door. "Let's go for a walk."

Sami's eyes met Noah's as she raised her arm showing him her Fitbit. After he nodded, she followed Galvin.

Jose rushed over and opened the door for them.

*****
Noah exhaled. "That was fun. Bob..."

"I've already hooked into Sami's Fitbit. I wonder what he wants with her." Bob pointed to the ceiling. "She heard everything."

"I'm sure she's angry. I can't believe he accused her of using her bewitching eyes to put us under her spell. Is that even a thing?"

Jose chuckled. "I can honestly say it wasn't her eyes that caught my attention. I guess I'm not under her spell."

Shaking his head, Bob said, "We already know what you were attracted to."

Noah ran his hand through his short hair. "I didn't get chance to discuss last night's events with her."

Sarah walked toward the kitchen. "I'll get you guys some more coffee." Halfway to the kitchen, she added, "On our walk this morning, I gave her the highlights. I hope it's all right."

"Maybe it'll prepare her for this interrogation."

*****
They headed toward the pond, and Galvin asked, "Ms. Martinez, what do you know about last night?"

"I know Mateo went to an escort service and Jose and Noah left sometime during the night. I noticed they returned about the time Jasper needed out around six o'clock. Why?"

"You don't know anything else?"

"No. Why would I?"

*****
Noah cheered, "Good girl, Sami. Make him play his hand."

Jose nodded. "She's good."

"That she is."

*****
Galvin glanced at Sami and then faced the pond. "Your friend, Aguilar de Pereira, did go to an escort service that Chen owned. He allowed Chen to get away and then left with a fourteen-year-old girl."

"I know Mateo very well. I'm sure there's more to the story. What's the rest of it?"

"Don't you get it? He didn't report Chen until it was too late to arrest him, and your friend's a pedophile."

"How about another point-of-view? Maybe Mateo notified the team as soon as possible. As for leaving with the minor, he took her to protect her."

"Or maybe he's working with Noah."

"What?"

"If Noah doesn't arrest Chen, you can't leave. The opportunity to arrest Chen was just blown."

"Mateo wants me to have my freedom so he can propose again. I'm sure there'll be other chances to arrest Chen. Noah had good reasons for doing this. Did you ask him? Why would Noah want to remain here? He prefers being in the field. I'm sure he's bored hanging around here."

"You think Noah's good at what he does?"

"Noah's a stickler for rules. He expects his team to do their job. He never asks anything of them he's not willing to help with or do himself. Noah and the entire team are constantly working. I've no idea how often they've been up all night." Sami faced him.

As her eyes met his, Galvin said, "Look away. I'm not falling victim of your bewitching eyes."

"What?"

"You use your eyes to trap men under your spell."

"Unless you have serious questions, I'm going inside." Sami paused. "If you ever make comments like that again, I'm reporting you to your supervisor."

Sami took a few steps before she faced him. "You're jealous of Noah, aren't you? You didn't ask my impression of you. I'd like to tell you. You can't make your own decisions. You wait until something happens and then you second guess your staff."

*****
Chuckling Jose said, "She didn't say that, did she?"

Bob exhaled. "She sure did."

Noah pointed at the computer. "You got resume builders on that thing. I'm going to be looking for a job."

*****
Galvin headed toward his car. "I'm done here."

Sami called after him. "You can't leave. I'm in protective custody. You need to make sure I'm safely inside. It's a rule, remember? You don't even follow policy unless it suits you. Go figure."

He stomped to the front door and pulled the handle. The alarm sounded. "They'll know you're there." He hurried, again, to his car.


~~~~~
CHARACTERS:

Sami Martinez - Twenty-five-year-old high school teacher, who's working to find a kidnapped teenage girl.

Noah Taylor. - Homeland Security team leader, who works in the Human Trafficking department. Alias - Trey Morgan

Jose, Bob, & Sarah - Agents who work under Noah. Bob and Sarah are married.

Laura Martinez - Sami's mom.

Jasper - Sami's Great Dane, a large breed dog.

Myra Rodriguez - Kidnapped teenage girl whom Sami was close to.

Julia - Teenage girl, who was friends with Myra and Sami works with.

Big T - Neighborhood pimp; not a friendly person

Numerous Team Members - They will show up periodically but not really important to the story, except they're there.

Chen - Charles Henry Edward Nichols - Human trafficker and into some really bad stuff.

Chief Galvin Baldwin - Noah's supervisor.

Ryan Brown - All around jerk. He thinks highly of himself.

Marc - Sami's old boyfriend.

Mateo Enrique Aguilar de Pereira - a very close friend of Sami's; a rich playboy

Juan Pablo Enrique Aguilar de Pereira - Mateo's father