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Chapter 29 – Cruel to be kind

No One's POV

After storming out of the apartment, Jade took a walk; ranting drunkenly to herself as she went. It was only when she started to sober up, did she feel bad about yelling at Tori, but her inner drive to fix Tori was unyielding.

By the time she had returned home, Tori had already gone to bed, so Jade did the same. Falling asleep, she felt feeling pretty cruddy about the whole thing.

Sometime later she felt herself being nudged.

"Wake up!"

Opening her eyes she could see it was morning and Tori was sitting on the coffee table next to the couch. It was Friday so Tori was dressed for work at the bank. Jade however didn't have to work and her first hung-over thought was, why is she waking me?

"Jade." Tori said clearing her throat. "I want you to listen and not say a word; I do not want to be interrupted. Nod if you understand."

Jade reluctantly shook her pounding head.

"Good, for starters I want to apologize for having our discussion when we'd both been drinking, it was a terrible decision to speak of it then and only made things worse. I am sorry."

Jade nodded again in acknowledgement.

"OK, I've been thinking. You want to help Cat, as you see it helping me. I also know you're hell bent on doing this. You're frustrated, still somewhat traumatized and impatient. You also feel a uncontrollable urge to fix me. Perhaps you think I need to be fixed in order for us to proceed. I do not agree. I want to proceed and I know you do as well. I think both of us can be very happy together, I really do. The problem is, I think that, I don't know that. I'm being honest here, even the best of relationships go south sometimes. So a part of any relationship is compromise and sometimes doing things to please the other, even something you may not like. Are you following?"

"Yes."

Tori frowned. "I said no talking! Nod."

"So, to help you deal with your urge and to get my friend back, I will help you liberate Cat. But I will be in charge and we will do it under my conditions and rules. You look like you have a question. Speak?"

"What if I don't follow the conditions?"

Looking deadly serious Tori quipped. "I don't want to lose another friend, what we're doing is possibly quite illegal. It is something my father would not be pleased to hear about, one bit. All I need to do is make one phone call to my dad, where I let him know you're about to do something rash and 10 minutes later, the Boston Police will know to be expecting you. Am I being clear?"

Jade snarled. "You wouldn't dare…..That's blackmail?"

"Yes I would. Blackmail is such an ugly word, I prefer describe it as protecting my investment. You obviously think I'm being unfair, tough cookies. But think of this an exercise in compromise and cooperation, for the betterment of us. That and you being a good little girl and not going off half-cocked will please me. You want to please me, don't you? Someday the shoe will be on the other foot, where I'm sure you'll delight in putting the thumbscrews to me, but for now, I have the power. Got it?" Tori said, looking a little like she was enjoying having Jade on the spot.

With a sudden look of defeat on her face, Jade nodded.

"Ok, I'm in charge of this operation. I even looked up the proper terminology." Tori remarked proudly.

"Jade, If at any point I see danger of harm or possible arrest, I will abort the mission; then we will go home and leave Cat be. But to start, today when you get up, you will call Cat's parents. I believe you've known them for a while. You will talk to them and get permission for us to take her from the cult. I was told by Andre that Cat has cut off communication with her parents, so I think they will go along. We will only proceed, with their blessing. Understand so far?"

Jade nodded, but utterly hated having Tori dictate the terms and essentially blackmailing her to follow along.

"If Cat's parents ok this, then you will call Dr. Cortez and get the name of a cult deprogrammer here in New York, someone dependable. We'll worry about paying for it later. You and Barbie can come up with the plan, but I reserve the right to modify or cancel the plan at any time. Remember, our primary objective is to get Cat away from the cult and deprogrammed. Our secondary objective will be to take down this cult leader. But that will only and only be if our primary objective is completed and only if I give the go ahead. I also don't want anyone harmed. Is all this clear?"

Jade narrowed her eyes into a narrow glare, but nodded none the less.

"Good, as I see it, we should grab Cat and bring her to New York to be deprogrammed. I want her away from Boston, that college and the cult group. After you get off the phone with Dr. Cortez, you get back on that computer and dig up all the intelligence on this group and its members. Then you and Barbie work out your plan of attack and submit it to me for approval. I see her tonight at The Playpen, so I'm sure I can get her to play along with me and my rules. Also in your next session with Dr. Cortez, you will discuss your urge to fix me. I'm, not going to apologize for being a bitch about this, as I'm doing it not only for your own good, but us as well. Any questions?'

"Asshole!" Hissed Jade.

Ignoring Jade's insult, Tori smiled, leaned over and kissed Jade on the cheek. "I'm glad you're fine with it, see you later."

Tori then grabbed her bag and left for work, before Jade could protest or insult her any further.

Tori actually felt bad about forcing Jade to do it her way, but it was for the best. The last thing Tori wanted to see was a news report about an attempted kidnapping Boston with Jade under arrest or worse. Tori also was motivated by her concern for Cat. Seeing her once friend turned into a hatful religious bigot, caused Tori a lot of pain. In a way what she was doing was somewhat cruel, but she had to be to make sure Jade would be OK.

"If I can't stop this from happening, then I can at least try and control it. The things I do." Muttered Tori, as walked down the street, towards the subway.

A few hours later at work, Tori got an email from Jade.

Tori,

Spoke with Mr. & Mrs. Valentine, they have been greatly concerned about Cat for some time and wish to have their daughter back. They have reluctantly, given their blessing to our plan. They only reservations they have are, that they do not want to see us get hurt. I informed them that at the first sign of trouble, everything would be called off. They have also volunteered to pay for the services of a deprogrammer and any other expenses we have. So we can proceed. I'm calling Dr. Cortez next to get a cult deprogrammer. Then I will call Barbie.

Jade.

P.S. I hate you.

Tori responded moments later with a follow up email.

Jade,

I'm sure you will come up with a sound plan that will minimize risk. Let me know when you're plan is ready.

Tori

Later on that evening as Tori was arriving at The Playpen for her Friday night shift, she ran into Barbie.

"Hey Barbie, how's it going?"

The blonde flashed her perfect smile. "Great, I hear that Ace Decade's record company is now being sued by pretty much every client it ever had. It's a safe bet, the company is finished."

Tori shrugged and again the thought of Ace's death, gave her a bad feeling. "Oh well. Did Jade talk to you today?"

"And how. She's kind of steamed you forced her into playing by your rules. Nice play by the way."

"So you approve?" Tori said with a sigh of relief. She was worried what Barbie would say.

Barbie nodded. "Yeah, she's very determined, but not all that stable or prone to really thinking things out. We've got a few ideas already."

"So I did the right thing?"

Barbie put a hand on Tori's shoulder. "You really care for her and it shows. She's just a bit incensed right now, but she'll get over it. Come on, we got drinks to serve, let's get to work."

The next few days, Tori found Jade to be in a very unsociable and foul mood. Most of the time, Jade spent on the computer in the corner or on the phone with Barbie. She made little if any attempt to speak to Tori and the Latina gave her a lot of space.

Finally the following Thursday, when Tori arrived home, she found Jade impatiently waiting.

"Get changed, we're meeting Barbie at the local Thai place in 30 minutes." Jade said in a rather abrupt fashion.

"So you have a plan, for me to approve I take?"

"Just get going."

30 minutes later they were all sitting in a booth. Tori then looked to Barbie and Jade. "Ok then, Impress me."

It was Jade that started to speak. "The church is officially called the church of the light of God. Stupid name. It's website for the church is very old and pretty barren, giving only the address of the building and the hours of worship. In fact, I found little electronic imprint by any of its members. It seems that Reverend Mike has declared the internet to be the tool of evil and forbids the use of it."

"Helps keep them isolated from the community and their families." Noted Barbie.

Tori scratched her head. "Did you find anything?"

"Yes I did, I found a blog written by an ex-member, Jen Carlyle. She was in it for a while, until her boyfriend managed to get her out. I spoke to her a few days ago. Jen says the church has about 100 members and is run by Reverend Mike and is sort of wife, who calls herself Sister Alison. About half the members are college students, the rest adults from varying backgrounds. Jen says they lure people in by befriending them, getting to know them. Then ones they think are ready, are invited to their retreat for two weeks, all expenses paid. It's an old summer camp in New Hampshire. Jen says there, you're always with someone; they call it a bible buddy. That way you're never alone, you never have time to think, you're always under pressure to go along with them. , They allow no electronic devices, there is no phone and it's very isolated. That's on purpose. They have all kinds of activities, packed in one after another. They also make sure you get little sleep. Jen says they wear you down, physically and mentally. Then they hit you with the bible lessons and boy do they ever. Using dogma, fear and reward, they are essentially brainwashed. Jen said when she came out of the camp, she was so out of it, she didn't know which way was up. But it's all about Reverend Mike, who supposedly speaks directly to God. In fact the Reverend, says that sometimes god us using his own voice. They all believe it."

Tori silently cursed Reverend Mike for subjecting Cat to what amounts to brainwashing. "Ok, let's get to the plan."

"The student members are matched up with other church members and they are supposed to be with each other at all times. Jen says it's so they can protect each other from sinning. Cat lives with another church member named Annie, she's a freshman. Jen, the ex-member says, that life is very regimented and they have a very strict schedule. If a member misses or doesn't show up for something, the others quickly come looking for them. They can be very controlling, a lot like someone who's couch I'm sleeping on." Jade noted somewhat acidly.

"Great!" Tori said with a huff.

"We have that covered. Jen said the best time to get Cat is Sunday Evening. After Sunday morning services, the students have the afternoon to, relax and or study. They do have a bible study, they have to attend at 8:00 PM in the evening, it's mandatory. But before that, there is one of the very few optional events, they have. It's an open social at the church from 6-8 pm. If someone has more homework to finish they can skip the social and just go right to bible study at 8. Jen knew Cat and told us she and Annie always came together and nearly always arrived at the church, right at 6. Once and a while they could come later, but that was rare. We had thought of getting Cat directly from her apartment somehow, but some research revealed, the apartment building has 10 units and their all full of college students, too great of a chance to be seen. The park is more isolated. Do you follow?"

"Yes."

"Cat and Annie live less than a mile from the church and to get there, they have to go through a park. It's got some trees and cover from the pictures we've seen. Our plan, is when they head to the social and go through the park, to use some Bibble to lure Cat off the path. Brainwashed or not, she can't resist Bibble At the end of the trail of Bibble, she'll find me. Barbie will follow behind dressed like a student and will deal with Annie. We've got stun guns some other things to keep them out longer if needed."

"Ok, then what?"

"Barbie is going to get us an S-Mart furniture Delivery Van from a friend, who delivers from them. They have stores all over the east coast, so one of their vans will scarcely be noticed. We load Cat up in the van. You and I drive home and Barbie babysits Cat in the back. I've arranged it with the deprogrammer. She'll be waiting for us in a hotel in NYC."

"They will be missed Jade and the other church members, will then come looking for them."

"You're right, they will eventually be missed. But since the social is not mandatory, Cat and Annie will not be missed until at least 8:00, when the mandatory bible study begins. That will give us anywhere from 1-2 hours to put as much distance between us and Boston as possible. By the time they get their shit together, we'll be most of the way home."

"What about Annie? You can't just leave her in the park, nor can you allow her to sound the alarm."

"No, while you and Barbie take Cat to the Van, which will be parked nearby in the lot of an old food store, I'll take Annie back to her apartment. There, I'll give her something that will keep her asleep and place her safely in her bed. In case any church members show up, I forged a note in Cat's handwriting saying that Annie was sick and how Cat went to the pharmacy to get her some medicine. We're set for Sunday. So do you approve?" Jade said with a note of irritation in her voice.

"It sounds ok, but I still reserve the right to abort it, if it looks like anything will go wrong. Understand?"

Jade nodded, with a look that told Tori, she was still angry about blackmailed into doing it Tori's way.

Tori then looked to Barbie. "This isn't your fight; you don't have to do this?"

"Jade showed me her picture and in addition to being the cutest thing ever, I just couldn't stand the thought of that girl being used like that. I'm in."

Tori then looked to Cat and Jade. "Ok then, let's rescue Cat."

So they are going to rescue Cat, but Tori blackmailed Jade into doing it her way. Tori wanted a plan that will minimize risk and be one she can call off at any time.

Jade, having no choice, went along with it, but is pretty steamed about it.

The chapter title comes from the 1979 Nick Lowe, song of the same name.