Chapter 5
Dom paced back and forth in the small room of an abandoned home that he and String had taken refuge in. "Man String, I hope help gets here soon."
Stringfellow Hawke was sitting on a small cot in the corner of the room. He watched his friend repeatedly look out the adjacent window. "Dom, relax. I know we missed our contact, but Michael said he'd meet us here if that happened. Give him time."
"I'm trying, but this isn't the way this was all supposed to go. You know Michael can't come with the Lady alone, don't you?"
Hawke shrugged his shoulders. "We talked about that. In the event of an emergency, he said he'd contact Doc. So, quit worrying. If they aren't here soon, we'll find another way out."
Dom finally pulled a chair up to the window and sat down. He was exhausted and it was obvious to Hawke that the work they had done over the past year had taken a huge toll on his friend.
"I'll quit worrying when we get out of here," he replied. "This information we have is going to take down a lot of people. I just hope Michael keeps his side of the bargain when all is said and done."
String sat down on the cot and leaned back against the wall, pulling his legs up to his chest. "It's getting chilly in here," he said.
"Quit trying to change the subject, String," said Dom. "I swear Archangel had better not back down on this after all we've been through."
"Look Dom, I don't want him to back down on his promise either. I would have never gone through with this if he didn't swear to me that he could get access to more detailed information on St. John. But, the more we got involved down here, the more important all this became. Seeing the faces of those young girls and knowing that somehow I could help them made it worthwhile."
"I agree with you on that part String," Dom replied. "It's just shocking how high up in both governments that this human trafficking thing really is. I don't know how these people can live with themselves."
"Money," Hawke said flatly. "And power."
Dom got back up out of his chair and began pacing again. "What if we lose the gamble we took? What if she doesn't forgive us?"
Hawke closed his eyes and sighed. He'd thought of her everyday they were gone. He didn't realize how much he loved having her around until she no longer was. From the day Caitlin walked back into their lives, he knew she belonged with them. She just fit.
"If we hadn't done it that way, they'd have gone after her," he replied. "You know that making it look like she didn't mean anything to us was the only way. Hopefully, someday she'll understand that. Knowing that she's safe is the only thing that matters right now."
"Boy is she gonna be mad," replied Dom.
String opened his eyes and smiled at his friend. "I know."