I must apologise to everyone for not thanking you for the reviews; it makes my day when I receive everyone. See you at the bottom.
Chapter 41
Narrated by Shelly Cope.
"How did you find us?" Sparrow panicked.
"We just asked the right person," Izzy replied.
"We were in the neighborhood and thought we would drop in," Daisy said with a smile. "Don't you have a hug for your Auntie? I haven't seen you since you were a boy."
"Wow, you have changed since we were kids. What kind of clothes are you wearing? Are those Chinos? What the hell, Sparrow? " Serenity sniggered.
"My name is Bret now. Can you leave? You will scare my kids; my neighbors are here," Sparrow growled.
"Where is Saffron?" Izzy asked, looking around and giving a slight wave to the guests.
"It's not Saffron anymore; her name is Maddy," Sparrow snarled. "Now, will you leave? It looks like we are going to have to contact our handler and move. We have been settled here since we received protection."
"Daddy, who des people?" a little girl with blond hair in pigtails asked.
"Hello, little lady. What's your name?" Izzy asked as she crouched down.
"I called Sara, and I'm four," she replied, holding up four fingers. "I'm a foundling. Dad and Miss Apple said that. Our room is in da basement."
"Is that so? Well, my name is Izzy. This is Auntie Daisy and Serenity. They have known your daddy since he was small like you," Izzy said, affectionately tapping her on the nose.
"Bell, you better get out of here now. If you know what's good for you," Sparrow threatened.
"You have a pretty dress. I wonder if you have one of these on your shoulder?" Izzy asked, pulling her top down to show her the brand on her shoulder. "Your daddy did this to me when I was only seven."
"Yes, I got one. So has Jakey. But mine is a bit different picture," Sara smiled.
"Who's this little man?" Serenity asked, crouching down to his level.
"My name is Jacob," The boy answered.
"How lovely of you to name him after your dad, Sparrow. Let's hope he doesn't follow in his footsteps," Daisy gasped.
"Are your mommy and daddy here?" Serenity asked.
"No, day left us," Sara replied.
They looked at each other. They knew they were either kidnapped or their parents had been killed.
"Wow, Falcon, and there is Arlo. I'm surprised they are here as well," Izzy gasped.
"Who are they, Izzy?" Serenity asked.
"They were Woolf's helpers. Arlo held me down while Sparrow smashed my ankles so I couldn't run anymore. Falcon used to like us running in the woods so he could send the guard dogs after us. He laughed while they bit us.
Sparrow moved forward to grab Izzy. He didn't see Bobby until he snarled and bit him.
Serenity smiled. "She has a protector now, Sparrow."
"I'm sorry we didn't introduce ourselves to you all. My name is Daisy, and I'm from a commune set up after Woodstock based in New York," Daisy introduced herself, shouting so everyone could hear.
"I'm Serenity. I was a childhood friend of Sparrow here. He left to go to Texas with his dad. His dad opened his commune, which was more like a cult than anything else," Serenity added.
There was a gasp from a few people in the crowd attending the party.
"Sky, you should leave if you know what's good for you. Keep your mouth shut. We can soon find out where you live now, and I will personally shut you up for good. That includes your mutt and your boyfriend, Teddy. You've been on our radar for a while now," said Phoenix.
"What the hell, Phoenix? Why are you here with them? You were treated just like we were," Izzy said, confused.
"Sky, my dear girl. I was never one of you. I was there to give you a sense of security. How else did they know when you all planned to escape?" Phoenix laughed.
"It's Izzy, I told you and everyone who tried to make me answer to that name. For all the years we were held captive, you were as hungry as us," Izzy growled.
"You were always a pushover. I had three meals a day. I would only pretend to be in the basement for stealing food. You were always so gullible," Phoenix smirked.
"But you stopped Renee from beating me to death," Izzy replied.
"Yes, Woolf told me to keep an eye on things to make sure she never went too far," Phoenix replied as he got in Izzy's face.
It was then that Bobby lunged and bit him.
"Fucking Mutt," Phoenix yelled as he went to kick Bobby,
He never got anywhere near him as Izzy tackled him to the ground. She had been to a few football practices, helping with the girls' photography projects.
Falcon moved forward, pushing Izzy down and kicking her in the ribs like he did during her time in captivity.
"Get off her. You can't kick her like that. She's just a kid. What's with you, people? My wife and I will be leaving. This has nothing to do with helping save the planet," a man from the crowd said as he helped Izzy up.
"Could everyone please pay attention to what I will tell you? I've got a feeling they are trying to recruit you into a cult. Many of you will be killed," Serenity began.
"Shut your mouth, you bitch," Falcon said as he tried to grab her arm.
"Your friend Bret kidnapped me from my home when I was seven. He and two others from the cult ran by his father. He had his friends cut my hair, dress me as a boy, and take me to Texas. He then helped other people chain me and some other children together," Izzy continued as she lifted her top, showing the scars on her mid-drift.
"He and those two branded me with a picture of a Woolf like these two children have been branded with a bird. It's their way of making us their property."
Izzy showed everyone her shoulder and then the boy, Jacob's shoulders.
"I would always try to run away, as you have just heard. But to stop me. He got a hammer and a block of wood and smashed my feet so I could not run anymore."
Izzy took off her shoes to show everyone her feet.
"I was put into a small room by these two," Izzy said, pointing towards Falcon and Arlo. "I was starved. They intended to blow the building up to kill me. But Sparrow rescued me. I thought he did it to save me. But he hid me for two years with these lovely people. Knowing my dad and my friends, all thought I was dead. He did this to get himself and Saffron immunity from prosecution for all his crimes. In his interview with the FBI, he acted like a victim, like I was," Izzy began. "He managed to get immunity by giving all the information about where people and bodies could be found. If he hadn't, he would now be in prison for life like his father."
"Don't listen to her; she has mental problems. We have come across her before. We even got a restraining order against her," Apple shouted.
Izzy continued. "He got himself and Saffron a new identity and protection for the past eight years. He helped put his father in jail along with my mother and many of the people he called friends."
"Get out now," Sparrow shouted.
"But while we were trapped in a small part of the compound. A few of the girls who were over 15 years old were taken to another building. They were subjected to sexual assaults daily until they became pregnant. When they had their babies, Saffron, or as you call her, Maddy, would take the babies away and sell them."
"So, all of you with kids who are thinking of joining them, think of your children, especially if they are teenage girls," Daisy shouted.
"I hope you haven't handed your money over and signed anything you own over to these people because you will never see it again if you even survive," Serenity said.
"When you go missing, your family and friends try to find you. This guy, Phoenix, will answer any posts on the internet," Daisy began to say as she pointed to him.
"He will tell your loved ones that he believes you're dead. This makes them stop looking for you," Serenity added.
"He may have also told you he is the artist no one has ever seen, Phoenix. Let me reassure you that he isn't that person as I have met them. They have the same agent as me. But let me reassure you, he can't draw to save his life," Izzy snarled.
"Let me introduce you to two of my friends. This is Nicholas Berty and June Richardson. They are FBI agents," Daisy announced.
"Everybody, please could you listen to what I have to say. You will all be cuffed and taken to the police station. Don't try and pretend that you have nothing to do with the cult in Texas. We have surveillance pictures, and you have been identified by four different people you called foundlings," June shouted as police and FBI agents come into the garden.
"How are you feeling?" Daisy asked Izzy as an agent led them out of the garden.
"My ribs are sore. But I'm ready to start my life without always looking over my shoulder. I can't wait to get home to Teddy," Izzy smiled as she pulled Bobby to her side.
A Mercedes pulled up next to them. Getting out was a tall, broad man who looked a little intimidating.
"Daisy, Serenity, this is my friend, Marcus," Izzy introduced, smiling.
"Nice to meet you, ladies. Are you ready to leave Thumbelina?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, more than ready. Serenity, it has a few miles on it. The logbook is in the glove box. Please take the car for everything you have done for me. Sorry about the dog hairs," Izzy said, handing the keys over.
Then, she hugged them both as she turned towards Marcus's car.
"Wait, Izzy, I can't take this. It's worth so much money," Serenity said.
"You're doing me a favor. It was going to be sold anyway. I need to get another car, so people don't realize it's me," Izzy replied.
Waving, she put Bobby in the car and climbed in behind him. Blowing them both a kiss. As they stood in shock.
"We just have to do something about Phoenix announcing he is the artist. Have you considered how we can do that without me exposing myself?" Izzy asked. "I will never be able to paint again unless I change my identity."
"Don't worry, Thumbelina, we have it all taken care of," Marcus replied.
~T ~
A month earlier in Forks.
Things were moving forward in Forks. There was an election, and none of the original council members had been re-elected, which proved that no one trusted them.
Now, the Mayor was Henry Jackson, the retired head teacher at the high school.
Phil Freeman was voted deputy mayor and was also in charge of finances.
Jenny Webber, John Clapp, and Robert Yorkie were also on the council.
Panic became the norm for the town. The panic started with people trying to get their property back.
The biggest issue was when everyone started to withdraw their money from the bank and go to Port Angles to deposit it in an account there. This was all because someone started a rumor that if they left their money there, the bank would confiscate it like they had their businesses and homes.
That bank was forced to withdraw from the town. Another bank came to serve the people of Forks, with Samatha Richardson as the new bank manager. She had been cleared of all charges that the Stanleys had accused her of embezzlement.
Samatha also got all the benefits from the law enforcement once Royce was found guilty of murdering her husband, Steve.
She never got her house back, but she bought a small house in the middle of town with the money she recouped from the bank.
They worked hard to start putting the town together again. They all agreed to sell what Stanley called the spa to Walmart.
Walmart started work almost immediately. They turned what was called "the serenity garden" into a parking lot.
It would be one of their smallest stores, but they decided to turn the upstairs into a warehouse, which gave them more room on the main shop floor.
The council decided the town had the right to know what was happening with the mess left to be sorted out. It was agreed that plans would be available for any resident to see. If they objected, they would have twenty-eight days from the day the notice was put up. They have to explain why they object in writing. If they get no opposition, they will be given the go-ahead to change whatever the plans say.
So far, it has worked well.
The town had enough funds from the sale of the spa to begin to restore it to its former glory. They started with the park that Stanley had closed down.
The children's play area in the park had a new rubber floor—the playground equipment was removed from Newton's yard and put back into the park. With a few new things added. But instead of grassing the area the dogs used they laid Astro Turf. It was decided that a basketball court would be made where it had been concreted, and picnic tables would be placed near the playground.
The Newton house was turned into the library with a daycare room for pre-k children. The front had big new windows, so it no longer looked like a house. The rooms had been opened up so shelves could be installed.
The biggest problem was the Stanley house. It had been built on land belonging to the forestry commission.
The Austin brothers, who owned a building firm, decided to make one of their yards a reclamation area. They paid the council to salvage anything from Stanley's house that could be reclaimed.
~T ~
Teddy
"Em, are you nearly ready? We have to get down to that empty building. The locksmith will be there soon. Alice will also be there to see if the building could be split so they can use it for the girls and the scouts," Teddy yelled.
"I'll be there in a second. I want to get there before the pixie starts to dictate what we can have," Emmett chuckled.
Teddy drove silently across town, thinking of how he and Izzy could work together on the program.
"It looks like we are the last to arrive. Phil is already there with the locksmith," Teddy said, glaring at Emmett.
"Hi, Phil. How are you doing?" Teddy asked.
"I'm fine. Missing you and Izzy. AJ decided to go to Seattle not long after graduation to get settled. So, I won't have a house guest anymore to keep me company," Phil replied.
As they stopped speaking, they could hear the roar of several motorbikes.
"What the hell do they want!" Alice growled as the motor bikers club rode in from the trailer park.
"Hello, Mr. Jackson, how are you?" Emmett asked.
"We're Fine. I've brought my boy, JJ in today so you know he's innocent of what's in there. Newton accused him of shoplifting when he didn't do it. Newton said if he worked there, he wouldn't tell the law. But he never stole anything. He had never even been in his store. All he did was stand outside waiting for his girl. He knows the passwords for the computers and the alarm. I want to make sure he isn't accused of anything illegal there." Lee Jackson said.
"Why didn't you tell anyone, JJ? We could have sorted this out. I can guarantee Mr. Jackson that JJ will not be held accountable for anything in that building," Mark reassured.
"That woman Izzy has done good with our AJ, and I'm proud of him. I know JJ would be safe if she were here, but we heard that she isn't here anymore," Judy Jackson added.
"Can you get in here without us popping the lock?" Mark asked JJ.
JJ moved to the door, fiddled with a wooden panel, and brought out a key. He unlocked the door, flicked the light on, put the number in the alarm, and turned the key.
Everyone stood with their mouths open as they looked at boxes full of what looked like party supplies, stationery, silk flowers, and craft supplies. On the other side of the room were the library shelves, full of books.
"What the hell is this, JJ?" Mark asked.
"On that side of the room is what Jessica confiscated from all the shops she took over. She has a shop on eBay and also sells on Craigslist. That's her computer. I get the orders, pack them, and send them to whoever bought them. Then I change the quantity on the sites," JJ began to explain. "This side is what Mike calls a book Depository. It's a kind of store that buys and sells books. He advertises it as a book depository for books he says are rare. But he also trades as "The World of Books". That's where he sells books from the library and the elementary school. He also advertises for people to sell him their books which he resales for a profit. But he does say he buys ex-library books. People by them cheaply."
"The son of a bitch must have been the one who broke into the school and stole the books and art supplies," Riley growled.
"Do you know about that, JJ?" Mark asked.
"No, I don't know who broke into the school. But I did list everything on the shop website," JJ mumbled.
"Liam, have you heard of anyone in the trailer park who has done anything illegal for Newton? They would be protected from prosecution if he bribed them like he had JJ," Mark inquired.
"I haven't heard anything, but I'll ask around," Lee agreed.
"Sorry folks, but this is now officially a crime scene. You will have to find somewhere else to make as the scout base," Mark sighed. "I'll have to call the FBI. JJ, do you have the password for both the computers?"
"Yes," JJ mumbled.
"Liam, can you take him to the station to write a statement? If you don't want to be seen there, I'm sure one of his teachers or Phil will sit with him. But he is not in trouble. Please don't think this is some kind of trick. But the FBI might want to speak to him about whatever he was bribed about," Mark explained.
"Dad, Mr. Chaney will come with me. He's AJ's lawyer. He's a really nice guy," JJ said.
"That would be fine. I know he's seen AJ, right? Can you call him Chief? Let me know when you need to be picked up," Lee said as he walked towards the door.
"I will, Dad," JJ replied.
"Well, it looks like we are back to looking for a place as a base," Riley groaned.
"I know it's on forestry land, but do you think they will consider letting us use Stanley's pool house?" Alice said.
"We can ask them. It's not like we have many more options other than that old building on the school grounds that used to store sporting equipment," Emmett shrugged.
~T ~
The following weekend found Teddy, Emmett, Riley, and a few teenagers painting and clearing out the old building at the school, making it the storage space for all the scouts' equipment. The people who had taken over what was once called Newton's sporting shop gave the scouts old stock that hadn't sold and three canoes.
After the council meeting, it was decided that they could rent the premises once the FBI finished at the warehouse. Which meant if they were to use the building, hefty weekly subscriptions to attend the scouts would have to be paid by the kids. Teddy refused to ask Izzy for money when it was suggested. Alice added that if there was a hefty weekly subscription, many kids whose parents were on a low income wouldn't be able to join. Different fund-raising ideas were discussed. But April just told them they could maybe use the Elementary school as a place to meet and have activities as a short-term solution.
Teddy was in a better mood. He had heard from Izzy and was able to talk to her every day. He did what she asked and looked to see if anyone new or suspicious was in Forks.
~T ~
Emmett was glad to have a break from the kids. They were out of school with poison ivy blisters they had gotten from playing in the woods at the bottom of the garden. Getting childcare was difficult; they had to rely on family to help. With Teddy off, all the teaching staff had to cover his classes.
"Hi Em, I received a letter from the forestry commission. It's a reply from the head office. It says that once the Stanley house has been demolished, they are going to see if the pool house can be moved. But if not, they have agreed to build a one-floor wooden structure on the forest's edge for the scouting program," Teddy relayed.
"That's great," Em said.
"Yes, but mom said she has asked the library about using one of the rooms they rent out. They might not charge us if we are there after the library closes. We are just going to have to space the sessions out according to age," Teddy replied.
"That's all we can do. Teddy, have you heard from Izzy? It's only a few weeks until graduation. I thought she might have been back to at least see the twins graduate. I know there are quite a lot of seniors who wanted to see her before they leave town," Emmett asked.
"Well, I heard from Marcus. She is coming with him and his wife," Teddy answered. "She also asked me to look out for any strangers in town. I don't know what happened, but I've been asked twice now."
"There are few new people here, but they could have something to do with Walmart or collecting more evidence as it comes up," Emmett replied.
"That's true. But keep a lookout, will you?" Teddy asked.
"I will. Thanks for looking after the rug rats. One of us will come and collect them after school," Emmett said as he waved. You three be good for Uncle Teddy."
"Well, kids, do you have your schoolwork? Let's go into the dining room so we can get a start," Teddy instructed.
~T ~
There were a few strangers in town working on interviewing people for positions at Walmart. But not all the strangers had left the motel during the day. They left at night to look around town and talk to locals at the bar. They wanted to know if they knew about the whereabouts of certain residents.
Thanks to my friend Kellie (Klcivinski) for my pre-reading and encouraging me when I struggled.
Also, thank you to Donna (EdwardsFirstKiss) for her help and her editing skills.
Any mistakes are mine.