“I just found the two Russians,” she whispered in his ear, before taking her seat again.

“What was that?” asked Isaac. “What did you just say?”

“I just explained that they were missing,” said Randy, looking at Connie.

“Not anymore,” said Connie. “I just took a call from a Doctor Son, who works with Interpol in Vietnam. He said both Russians flew back to Hanoi.”

“They just came back from there three days ago,” said Randy. “This means they would have had to have turned around and gone back almost immediately. It doesn’t make sense.”

“There’s no doubt it’s them,” said Connie. “Whatever the reason, Doctor Son said the timing was perfect. The Vietnamese police had just raided and detained the ship in port that the Russians were using to smuggle people. The captain rolled and gave up the Russians. They’ve both been arrested. Doctor Son thinks with the sentences they will get, they’ll spend the rest of their lives in prison over there.”

“How did Doctor Son get your number?” asked Randy curiously.

“Uh ... apparently Jack gave it to him.” Connie looked at both Isaac and Randy and added, “The call was legit.”

“How do you know?” asked Isaac.

“I already called the airport and verified the Russians’ flight itinerary,” admitted Connie.

For a moment, silence descended upon the room. Eventually Randy said, “I guess that one theory I had has proven to be wrong.”

Isaac didn’t answer and leaned back in his chair as his eyes drifted toward the ceiling. His lips moved slightly before he leaned forward and absentmindedly straightened a picture and a Bible on his desk.

“Sir?” asked Randy, after what seemed an awkward silence.

Isaac looked up and said, “Corporal Crane, see to it that Bien and his daughter receive the necessary documentation to travel forthwith. Should you deem it absolutely necessary, you can request that Doctor Son follow up on any other questions you might have.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Connie.

“Good. Now, Corporal Crane, would you please leave. I have another matter to discuss with Staff Otto.”

Isaac waited until Connie left the room before saying, “It would appear that we both may have been jumping to conclusions. A real shame if we had levelled false and serious allegations over what turned out to be a simple coincidence. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, sir.”

“False conclusions about the torture, that is.”

“Yes, sir. That would have been awful.”

Isaac nodded thoughtfully, stared at Randy and said, “Regarding the death of Pops and Dúc—and the girl’s escape. With the Russians being arrested, do you now believe it happened as we were told?”

“No, sir. I don’t,” replied Randy nervously, looking at Isaac for a response.

“Me, neither,” said Isaac. He gave a wry smile and added, “I just wonder how the son of a bitch pulled it off.”

Jack walked into The Torn Twenty coffee shop with Bien and Linh. The tears flooded Jade’s eyes when Jack introduced her to them and she immediately gave them both a hug. Jack left the three of them at a table to talk in their native tongue while he went to the counter and talked with Holly.

“How is she making out?” he asked.

“Right after you called and told her what had happened, she started crying. She was really fond of that girl, Hang, who came with her on the ship.”

“I know. It took tremendous courage for her to agree to testify.”

“Will she have to go back to Vietnam as well?”

“No, I think they have a mountain of evidence against the people on that end. But with Jade’s help, we should be able to convict the remaining Tran brothers, along with other people in the gang ... including many of the men who raped her.”

“Any risk to her family?”

“The Vietnamese police say not. Their system is different than ours. The bad guys over there won’t be getting a slap on the wrist. Any retribution toward Jade’s family now would bring them even more severe repercussions. The bad guys know that.”

Jack watched Jade unconsciously massage Linh’s arm while talking to her. It was a common sign of affection amongst Asian people. “How is she doing as a nanny?” he asked.

Holly smiled. “Fantastic. She wanted to bring Jenny and Charlie to the restaurant, but I got a sitter. I thought this should be a private moment for the three of them.”

“So she’s working out okay?”

“The only complaint I could have is that she is too hard of a worker. It’s difficult trying to get her to take two days off and relax. She would rather play with Jenny and Charlie, or clean house. She’s really good with them. Acts like she’s their big sister.”

“I think she could use a family.”

“I like her. It’s also nice having another adult in the house. It makes me feel safer. She wrote a long letter to her mother telling her what happened and where she is working now. She hasn’t mailed it yet.”

“Why not?”

“She wants to ask your permission.”

“It’s a good idea. I think we should take some pictures of her with you and your family. It would be nice to include. People over there are too poor to have cameras. It would mean a lot.”

“She doesn’t know how her mother will respond when she finds out what happened.”

Jack reflected back on his own mother’s bitter response when she knew that Jack had discovered the “secret.” He sighed and said, “Jade has had a tough life, but if her mother is worthy of being a mother, she’ll respond the right way and not blame Jade. If she’s not worthy, she’s not worth worrying about.”

“I guess so,” replied Holly. “But my heart goes out to Jade. I hope it works out. She’s told me some things. I know life for her has been hell.”

“She’s still a good kid. It was her idea to meet Bien and Linh. They wanted to meet her, too. To thank her for having the courage to come forward and testify.”

Jack paused, wondering how many countless others would be saved by Jade having the courage to come forward.

“What will happen to Bien and Linh?” asked Holly, nodding her head toward their table.

“They’re heading back to Vietnam. Their flight leaves at around eleven tomorrow morning. I invited them to come over and meet Natasha and have dinner with us tonight. They declined and said they wanted to just be alone. They’re anxious to leave tomorrow.”

“Can’t say as I blame them.”

It was eight o’clock at night when Natasha heard Jack arrive home. She lit the candle on the dining room table just as he entered the room.

“What do you think?” she asked, doing a pirouette that allowed the silk fabric of her Vietnamese gown to flare out. “Last time I wore this, you went to sleep before seeing it,” she added.

Jack stared at her for a moment. Her hair flowed down to her shoulders and the snug-fitting gown revealed a figure that was absolutely stunning. Light from the candle flickered in her eyes.

“Believe me,” he said, “I won’t fall asleep tonight. You look incredible.”

“You like it?” she asked.

“It’s stunning. You’re beautiful ... and I really love you.”

“I love you, too. I feel like you’re back to your old self again. The guy I really love.”

“I’m not sure what you mean?”

“Yes, you do. It’s okay. Just make sure you always come home to me. Promise you won’t get yourself killed, or end up on the wrong side of the bars.”

Jack felt his eyes water. “I promise. There is one more thing. A very nice man gave me a gift for you today,” he said, handing her a silver chain with a large pearl dangling from the centre.

“Jack! It’s lovely! Huge!”

“I’m told that if you look at it, you can imagine the moon. He said if you’re lucky, and you look at it closely, you might even see an angel looking back at you.”

epilogue

1. Petya Globenko and Styopa Ghukov were each sentenced to eighteen years in jail for smuggling and are currently serving their time at Thanh Hoa prison in Vietnam.