XOXOXOXOXOXO
Chapter 28
James
Sofia jumped out of my arms and ran out the door.
"Sofia!" I called after her, but she was already speeding away, "Mom, give me your keys!"
I have to go after her!
She's going to end up getting hurt!
...or worse...
"James, we have to let her do this," Dad rested his hand on my shoulder, "She has every police officer in six states looking out for her safety,"
"We know you love her, James, we all do, and if we weren't sure she was going to be fine, we never would have agreed to this plan," Mom put her arm around my shoulders.
She's so confident this will work.
Why am I the one that's scared?
"I should be out there with her," I balled my fists, "She shouldn't have to do this alone!"
I shrugged out of my parents' hold and grabbed mom's keys off the hook.
I'm fucking going.
She's not getting on that bus!
"If you walk out that door, you're going to get her killed," Dad warned, blocking me with his arm.
My bracelet vibrated, and I threw the keys across the room, "Damnit!"
I know he's right.
If Sam finds out I'm following her, he'll kill her before I have a chance to get her back.
Why the fuck is this happening?!
Sofia is the sweetest girl in existence.
Why was this druggie asshole taking advantage of her?
"Sit down, James," Mom led me to the couch, "The sheriff is going to give us updates as soon as the bus leaves,"
I sat down and tapped my bracelet before grabbing my phone.
I know nothing I could have said would have kept her here
She was so quick to throw herself in harm's way for us.
I doubt locking her inside would have worked either.
This situation has been inevitable since the beginning.
She was always going to leave.
She cares about us more than she cares about herself.
She loves me enough to die for me.
I don't want her to die.
I want her to come back.
Mom's phone rang, and I jumped up to stand next to her as she put it on speaker.
"Hello?" Mom answered.
"Mrs. Talbert, the bus left, but there's no sign of Sam Hanson," the Sheriff explained.
GOD, YOU'RE USELESS!
"You mean you can't find him?" I asked angrily.
"I mean, he's not following her. We have three unmarked cars following the bus, and none of them have spotted him," he sighed.
"How does this guy keep getting away from you, sheriff?" Mom fumed.
"Honestly, I have no idea. We're thinking Sam is working with someone else, and if that's the case, then maybe they are following her, or worst-case scenario, they are on the bus with her,"
"You said you saw him on the camera printing off pictures!" Dad yelled.
"I did; I've had the footage analyzed. I'm not saying Sam wasn't here, but maybe he already left,"
"I'll be waiting at the destination,"
How would he know that Sofia got on if he was already gone?
Was someone else involved?
I asked her what would happen if someone else picked her up, but she ignored me.
She didn't want to think about it.
She just wanted to go.
She wants to end this so badly.
"What does that mean for Sofia?" I asked, running my hands through my hair.
"It means that she is going to Wyoming, and the police there are going to have to follow whoever takes her to Sam,"
If Sam is gone, then we can buy some more time before he comes back!
"NO!" I screamed, "Get her off that damn bus now!"
"I'm sorry, James, but if we want to catch Sam, we are going to have to let her get caught,"
Let her get caught?!
My girl isn't bait!
I'm going.
End of fucking discussion!
I glared at the phone and looked at my parents, "Then you call the cops in Casper and let them know I'm coming to help,"
"That's a bad idea. If you make one wrong move, you could blow the entire operation,"
"Don't underestimate James's love for Sofia, sheriff; he won't do anything to get her hurt," Dad defended me.
You're damn right I won't.
But I won't sit back and let Sam get his filthy fucking hands on her again!
"Alright," the Sheriff sighed, "But I'll have them hold you if you don't cooperate with them completely,"
Let them try.
"Fair enough," I nodded, retrieving mom's keys, "We're leaving now,"
"Can you fly to Wyoming instead of driving, in case someone is following her?"
"Yeah," dad pulled out his phone, "Call us immediately if anything happens,"
"I will have someone pick you up from the airport; text me your arrival time, and I will keep you updated," the Sheriff hung up.
"Let's go!" I pushed them out the door.
We don't have any time to waste.
Sofia is on a bus on her way right into this stupid trap.
She doesn't even know.
Sofia sent a vibration to the rhythm of our song as we drove to Cincinnati, and I held the bracelet to my chest.
I want to kill everyone who had a hand in putting Sofia in this shit situation.
She deserves to be happy, and she needs to be with me.
I know she's scared, and I can't even let her know I'm on my way.
We boarded the plane at six o'clock, and the Sheriff let us know she was still safe on the bus.
She'd better be.
I'm coming, baby.
I stared out the airplane window, wishing I knew morse code.
We really should have practiced something.
I wonder what's going on in her mind right now.
Is she scared?
Is she missing me?
I miss her.
We should be cuddling on the couch right now.
She should be safe in my arms.
There was a car waiting for us outside the airport, and we went straight to the Casper police department.
"Hello, welcome to Casper, I'm sheriff Wilson," The Sheriff shook our hands, "I wish your visit were under better circumstances,"
"I'm Roland Talbert; this is my wife Anne and my son James," Dad introduced us, "We just want to get our girl back,"
"We are preparing for the worst," he assured us, "I have all of my units stationed along the highway coming into Casper, and I have the S.W.A.T. team ready to deploy,"
At least these guys are prepared.
It's about time someone takes this situation seriously.
"Is the S.W.A.T. team necessary?" Mom asked, shocked.
"Sam Hanson has an extensive drug record, he was a big-time Meth producer in Missouri, he just got out of prison for possession and use, plus he attempted to murder his live-in girlfriend in 2008, and he was the prime suspect in the murder of a family back in 2007, including a ten-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl," Sheriff Wilson showed us his folder, "Needless to say, I am terrified for your daughter,"
Did Sofia know those kids?
Why is there no mention of Sofia in the attempted murder report?
She was there.
Sam tried to kill her too.
Did Miranda hide her from the cops?
From DFS more likely.
"Sofia was there when he attempted to murder Miranda Benton; he tried to kill her too," Mom informed him, "You might want to include that in the reports,"
"There was no mention of anyone else being there," He rustled through the paperwork, "Are you sure?"
Yeah.
I'm fucking sure.
Poor Sofia.
She could have gotten out.
"Very," I nodded.
"Well, we'll have to get the whole story when we get back then, eh?" he put the folder back down, "Miss Benton's bus won't be in 'till eight in the morning, and you folks are more than welcome to sleep in the lock-up,"
If you guys expect me to be able to sleep, you're fucking cracked.
"No," I shook my head, "I'm not sleeping until I get her back,"
"James," Dad put his hand on my shoulder, "You're going to need to be alert if you want to help in the morning,"
Is Sofia going to be able to sleep?
She hasn't vibrated the bracelet in a while...
Dad was right.
I need to be able to help tomorrow.
I don't want to sleep without her.
I'm just as reliant on her as she is on me.
"Fine, but you come get me at five," I demanded, following everyone to the back.
My alarm went off, and I jumped up to find the Sheriff.
I hadn't been able to sleep much.
I followed Sofia on the app and listening to the police radio for anything about her all night.
"Good morning, Mr. Talbert," Sheriff Wilson smiled, "Everything is going smoothly,"
Smoothly?
She'd be with me right now if any of this had gone smoothly.
This is a bumpy ride to hell.
"Where is she?" I asked, pulling out my phone.
"Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The bus is going to be on time," he smiled weakly.
"And you're sure she's still on it?"
"She hasn't gotten off for anything; Miss Benton is a smart girl,"
Good, baby.
Just stay on the bus.
You're going to be fine.
At least the driver is apparently keeping an eye on her.
"Yes, she is," I sighed, following her location on the app.
"We're going to the bus station at seven; everyone knows what to do. You and your parents will be riding with me,"
"Okay," I ran my hand across my face, "Where are my parents?"
"They went out to get breakfast with my deputy. They should be back soon,"
I nodded and sat down in a chair.
I hate not knowing what's going to happen.
Sofia vibrated my bracelet, and I gripped the arm of the chair hard.
There are so many ways this whole thing could go wrong.
Is Sam going to show up at the bus station, or will he send someone else?
Sofia said he's not smart, but he's obviously a sneaky fuck.
He'd have to be to keep what he did to her a secret so long.
"Here," Mom threw a bag at me, "Eat something,"
No.
I sat the bag beside me and stared at the floor.
"James?" Dad asked, "You need to eat, son,"
"Not until I get Sofia back," I shook my head.
"Starving yourself isn't going to speed this process up," Mom kneeled in front of me, "She would want you to take care of yourself,"
"I should be taking care of her!" I huffed, standing up, "We should never have let her do this!"
"We couldn't have stopped her; you know that. She would have ended up running away to save you," Dad frowned, "She wanted to take care of this, and now she is,"
"Sofia loves you, James," Mom continued, "I don't think I've ever seen two people as in love as you are,"
Because there haven't been, and there never will be.
I just found her.
I can't lose her.
"What if she dies?" I took a shaky breath, "I can't live without her, I won't,"
I don't have a life without her.
It wouldn't be worth living.
"She isn't going to die, James. But she is going to need your help with the aftermath of this," Dad hugged me, "Sofia has been through so much, and you need to be strong for her,"
Physical strength is something I've never had a problem with...but emotional?
I've never dealt with anything as emotionally devastating as this.
It's new territory.
Sofia is the emotionally strong one.
Her getting on the bus proved that.
I admire her so much.
Not many people could have had the courage to willingly fall back in the hands of an abuser.
But she did.
For me.
I nodded, wiping my eyes.
"S.W.A.T. is here; we need to get you geared up," Sheriff Wilson announced, motioning us to follow him.
"We don't expect you to need them, but here are your bulletproof vests," the Commander explained, "I don't need civilians getting in our way, understood?"
I'm not going to stand back and watch.
I'm going to be there when you find her.
I'm going to put my fist through that motherfucker's fucking face.
"I want to help," I set my jaw.
"No, you will stay back with the police officers and wait for retrieval," he shook his head, "If you don't think you can stay back, you can stay here,"
Sure, commander.
I'll pretend to comply.
"Fine," I sighed, "I'll stay with the sheriff,"
"Good, now, we've got an hour and a half before the bus is due. Is everyone up to date on the plan?"
"Yes, sir," the Sheriff nodded.
"Okay, let's roll out!"
We got in the Sheriff's off-duty car and headed to the bus station.
"She should be coming out any second," the Sheriff announced as we all watched the door.
Sofia's bright red hair came into view as she poked her head out the door and looked around.
SOFIA!
She's right there!
My hand flew to the door handle, but I pulled back.
Don't.
You can't ruin all her hard work.
Wait.
"There she is," Mom pointed, and the Sheriff announced that we had visual contact over his radio.
She sat on a bench, and I watched her tap her bracelet furiously.
Mine lit up, and I frowned.
"That's an S.O.S. signal," the Sheriff frowned, "Poor girl has no idea what's going on,"
I kept my eyes on her as she searched the parking lot when an insanely buff man in his early thirties sat next to her.
Who the fuck is that?!
"Potential suspect spotted," Sheriff Wilson informed everyone.
I cracked my knuckles and planted my feet, so I didn't involuntarily jump out of the car.
Stay, James.
The sheriff is right here.
She's surrounded by officers.
If he touches her, we'll get him.
A silver car parked by the sidewalk and someone pulled her inside, leaving the worried man behind.
NO!
FUCK!
"Miss Benton is in motion; the vehicle is a silver Nissan Maxima, license plate 4TF 95L," he announced, pulling slowly out of the parking lot.
GO, DAMNIT!
We followed far behind them, surrounded by at least ten other unmarked cars.
This better work.
Please don't lose her.
Mom held my hand tightly, staring straight ahead.
None of us were breathing as we watched Sofia being held in the back seat between two men.
Don't fucking touch her.
How far are they going?
How much longer does she have to put up with this bullshit?!
After an hour, the car turned onto a gravel road, and the Sheriff announced the road number but drove past.
"Where are you going? They turned!" I yelled, turning in my seat to look out the back window.
IDIOT!
GO BACK!
"I know the way around," he explained calmly, "S.W.A.T. will come in from the back,"
Then do it FASTER!
I can't help her if I'm not there!
We turned onto another gravel road, listening to the voices cutting across the radio.
They gave the address where the men had taken Sofia inside, and we parked in the tree line up the road.
She's inside...
With Sam?
What's he doing to her?
Will she fight, or pretend to be okay with what he wants?
She doesn't know we're here.
Does she think she's going to have to go back to being a-
NO!
FUCK NO!
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT!
THERE'S NO WAY SHE'S GOING BACK ON DRUGS!
I watched the S.W.A.T. team organize and creep up to the house.
"Suspect Sam Hanson has been spotted," the Commander whispered, and the sound of gunshots exploded around us.
"He went out the back!" someone yelled, and I looked out the window, spotting him running through the trees.
There you are!
I opened my door and launched myself out after him.
"JAMES!" Mom screamed, but I ignored her.
I ran as fast as I could, listening for Sam.
I heard a branch snap up ahead.
"COME HERE, YOU SICK FUCK!" I yelled, tackling Sam and pinning him underneath me.
"Oh, shit!" he yelled, trying to get away.
"YOU FUCKED WITH THE WRONG GIRL!" I growled, repeatedly slamming my fists into his face, feeling his bones break beneath my knuckles.
"Alright, that's enough!" the Commander pulled me off Sam's bloody body.
Dead wouldn't be enough.
At least he's in fucking pain.
Go find Sofia!
"Good job, kid!" the other S.W.A.T. members patted me on the back, but I ran back to the Sheriff.
"Where is Sofia?!" I yelled, ignoring the pain in my knuckles.
Sheriff Wilson pointed further up, and I saw my parents on the ground, holding her in their arms.
"BABY!" I choked, running to them.
"JAMES!" Sofia exclaimed, getting up and running to me.
I caught her as she jumped into my arms and buried my face in her neck.
"I was so worried about you," I whispered, letting the tears roll down my cheeks.
That was too close.
I will never let that happen again.
No one will take her from me again.
"I was too for a bit," she giggled, "I'm so glad you're here, baby,"
I pulled her face up to mine and kissed her as hard as I could.
"I'm so sorry, Sof," I cried, cradling her in my arms again.
"So are we, Miss Benton," Sheriff Wilson bowed his head, "It's never our intention to use minors as bait, especially without their knowledge,"
You all should be sorry.
Sofia looked over at him, put her forehead on my shoulder, and started laughing.
What?
Why is she laughing?
"Dad! You guys caught a catfish with a worm!" she smiled, motioning for mom and dad to come join us.
We all frowned at the laughing girl in my arms.
Why is she making jokes?
Nothing about this is funny.
Did she just call dad, dad?
"We definitely caught the catfish, Sofia, but you are so much more than a worm," Dad pulled her from my arms and took her in his, "You are an amazing young woman, and I'm proud to be your dad,"
When did that start?
When did she accept mom and dad as her parents?
"Sofia, your face!" Mom exclaimed, pulling her from dad and examining Sofia's cheek, "Did they hit you?"
SOMEONE HIT HER?!
I quickly spun her around and saw the bright red mark under her eye, "Was it Sam?"
"No," she shook her head, "Sam actually got super pissed when he saw it; one of the guys that took me tried to knock me out," she demonstrated with her elbow, "But I'm fine, it takes a lot more force than that. did they get him?"
How...noble of him?
I wish she didn't know how much force it takes to knock her out.
I'm sure she built up a tolerance to pain...
"I caught him, baby, and the S.W.A.T team took him," I picked her back up.
"Are you okay?" she asked, looking up at me.
Why are you asking if I'm okay?
Please focus on yourself.
"Yeah, don't worry about me," I kissed her forehead.
"That's impossible; I'll always worry about you," she whispered, kissing me.
We definitely make one hell of a pair.
"Miss Benton, we're going to need to take you back to the station and get your statement," Sheriff Wilson announced, and she jumped out of my arms.
"Okay, but can I eat first? I'm starving," she smiled, skipping to the car.
My parents and I shared concerned looks.
She's overcompensating.
"She's trying to make us think she's okay," mom whispered.
"I know," I frowned, "I'll talk to her,"
I got in the car next to Sofia and watched her stare blankly out the window.
"Talk to me, baby," I pulled her on my lap, "What are you thinking about?"
"He's gone," she smiled up at me, "Sam is going to prison, hopefully forever, and we can be a normal couple now,"
There's that word again.
"That may be true, but you went through so much today. You're allowed to be upset," I rested my forehead on hers.
"But I'm not upset, James," she wrapped her arms around my neck, "How could I be when I'm right back where I belong,"
I know she's going to break down later.
And I'll be right there to build her back up again.
She is where she belongs.
Right by my side.
I smiled, kissing her again, "I love you, Sofia,"
"I love you too, James," she sighed happily, "I'm never leaving your side ever again,"
I wish you didn't have to.
"Not like this anyway," I agreed, rubbing my nose on hers, "I was so afraid I was going to lose you,"
"I knew everything would be okay," she smiled, "There are still so many things you and I still have to do, and there is no way I am missing out on old us,"
"Old us?" I laughed.
"Yep, I'm going to be the grandma that swaps out the rice cakes you give our grandkids for chocolate chip cookies, and you're going to be the grandpa that yells at them to pick up their feet from the porch,"
She must have thought about us the whole time.
Me too, baby.
"You think you're going to teach our adopted kids to drag their feet, huh?" I laughed, tickling her.
I stopped, noticing how sparkly her eyes were as she looked up at me.
"I can't wait to grow old with you," she whispered, caressing my cheek.
Was it something I said?
Can I say it again?
She's never looked at me like this before.
"Sam is on his way to the station, and everything is wrapped here," the Sheriff announced as he and my parents slid in the car, "What would you like to eat, Sofia?"
She slid off my lap into the seat and placed her finger on her chin, "Biscuits and gravy,"
"We have a nice diner back in town; they have great biscuits and gravy," he smiled, putting the car in drive and taking us back to Casper.
I couldn't stop staring at my girl the whole way back.
I'm so glad she's safe.
I wish she'd open up to me more, though.
Does she not think I can handle it?
We walked into the police station after breakfast, and Sofia got a strange look on her face.
"What's wrong, baby?" I asked, squeezing her hand.
"This place smells like Sam," she frowned.
He must be here.
I can't smell anything, but I'm sure she's sensitive to whatever he smells like.
I led her back to the Sherrif's office and found a candle on his desk.
"Here," I smiled, holding it up to her nose.
"Thanks," she smiled weakly, taking it from me.
"Miss Benton, are you ready to tell us what happened back there?" Sheriff Wilson asked, and she nodded.
"Sure,"
Mom and Dad joined us before Sofia explained the car ride and what happened before the S.W.A.T team busted in.
"He said he was going to rent you out again?" the Sheriff frowned, "What did he mean by that?"
Sofia crossed her arms and glanced over at me sadly.
Don't hold back because of me.
Get him, baby.
"Sam used to let people pay to use me," she whispered, looking down at her thighs, "My biological dad, Patrick, used to abuse me sexually, so Sam thought it was a good idea to profit from it,"
Wait...WHAT?!
"How many men?" he asked gently.
"I was high most of the time, so I don't even know," she mumbled, "I'm missing chunks of my memory from the time I was nine until I was eleven,"
She was a...prostitute?
Sam forced her to get high and have sex with random men...
No.
Not sex.
He let men pay to rape her.
Oh, God, I feel sick.
That must be why she won't let me touch her.
Why didn't she tell me?
I would have understood.
"Anne mentioned that you were involved when Sam tried to kill Miranda. Is that true?"
"Yeah," she chuckled sourly, "I was there,"
"Why didn't the police find you when they arrested Sam?"
"I escaped and woke up a week later in the field behind their house,"
Did she blackout for a week?
And no one went looking for her?
"How did you escape?"
"We were all going through withdrawal after the Meth lab exploded, so I used his hallucinations to confuse him and jumped out the bedroom window,"
"You were gone for a week, and no one was looking for you?"
"No one cared that I was gone, Sheriff; Miranda locked me back in the closet when I crawled back into the house,"
You should have ran away.
You should have gone to the cops yourself!
Why would you go back to her?!
"And you never went to the police yourself? Or even called them?"
"No, not after what happened to Ryder and Natalie,"
Who?
"The kids he was accused of killing?"
"Yeah. They were my best friends after my brother died," she whispered so low it was almost inaudible.
"Why did he kill them?"
"Their parents did the same thing to them that Sam did to me; we were...entertainment to them. But Ryder knew it was wrong and told one of the teachers at school about it, so Sam-" she cried, burying her face in her arms and shaking her head.
Entertainment?
Drugging and raping children isn't fucking entertainment.
It's fucking sick.
Sam and Miranda better go to prison.
This alone should be enough to put them away.
Sam better be glad we're in a police station.
I'd murder him here and now.
"Sofia, we need to know. This could be what puts Sam away for life," the Sheriff explained.
"Sam drove me to their house and killed them in front of me as a warning and then set their house on fire with their parents inside," she gasped, curling herself into a ball, "He told me if I ever said anything he'd do the same to me,"
Oh, God.
He murdered her friends in front of her...
"I will burn your fucking house down and smoke you out!"
He knew how to get her to go.
No wonder she didn't leave.
I know why she's been so afraid now.
She's been trying to tell me, but I haven't listened.
"Are they the only people he's killed?" the Sheriff asked, putting his hand over his mouth.
"No," she shook her head, "I mean, he just shot Alex for jabbing me in the face,"
"How many people have you seen him kill or that you can remember?"
How many people have you seen die, baby?
How much pain are you in?
She started counting names on her fingers, and I put my hand to my head.
I should have killed him when I had the chance.
"Eight off the top of my head, but I wasn't with him all the time,"
"FIFI!" Sam sang through the station, "I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!"
Sofia rolled her misty eyes, "Please tell me you have enough to keep him,"
She gets so scared when she talks about him, but she acts slightly annoyed around him...
I don't understand.
Why isn't it the other way around?
"Yeah, I don't think he's going anywhere but a prison," the Sheriff nodded.
"Thank god, can we go home?" she continued to look at her thighs.
"Yeah, you go; I know how to get ahold of you if I need anything else,"
"Thank you for everything, Sheriff," Dad shook his hand.
"Yeah, Thank you so much," I shook his hand.
Thank you for being useful.
I wish we lived here.
"Miss Benton, I really would like to apologize again for what you went through today, and everything before as well,"
"It all worked out," she smiled, "And the other stuff wasn't your fault, it was Sam and Miranda, and now they're both in jail, so thank you,"
"I will be paying for your flight back to Ohio," he handed dad a card, "It's the least I can do to repay your bravery, yours too, James. If you hadn't chased Sam down, he probably would have gotten away,"
Over my dead fucking body was I going to let Sam fucking Hanson get away.
"I wasn't going to let that happen, sir," I took Sofia's hand and smiled.
"I'll drive you back to the airport," he stood up.
"Thank you," mom nodded.