Malia held the twins by their hands.

"What are their names? Do you know?" I asked. It would help my search to reconnect them to family if they had any.

"Bessie and Bree. I haven't heard them speak since before the men got hold of them for the first time. They told me they are five-years-old. That's all I know. I can't get them to talk."

"That's good enough. The ambulances will take you all to the hospital once you leave here. Then there will be safe places for all of you to stay afterward." I walked over to where Ella still hid her face against Chayton's shoulder. "Are you going with her?"

He nodded. "I have to. If the police come in asking questions, I need to be there. I want to make sure we catch the ones who are part of the problem."

"I'm staying here." Malia insisted. "I want the children to know I'm here, waiting for them to come back. I'll move into our great grandfather's place on the reserve. One of the girls belongs here in any case. The rest need to know I will always be there for them. I promised and they need me to keep that promise."

Five heads nodded in agreement. I couldn't break their trust.

Malia continued, "If anyone needs to talk to me, take a statement, or anything else, they can come here. Or find me on the reserve. Alyana knows the address."

"Come with me, Malia." Chayton's statement didn't broke and argument. "I'll make sure the young ones stay together and get you to the healing center. Your family's home is still there waiting for you. You need to be assessed for injuries as well."

"If I stay here, I can make the phone calls and get the ball rolling to keep these girls together through their initial treatment," I said. "The band will welcome them. You know it as well as I do. Social services will NOT," I stressed the word forcefully, "get their hands on these children."

I watch Malia mull my proposal over, and she dropped her chin, once.

"Let's see if we can get the EMT's out there to arrange for a small bus to take you in. None of you require emergency first aid. I can tell you, all the other women escaped shortly after you left."

Malia pumped her fist. Maya's eyes lit up and I wondered if one of them was more than a fellow captive.

"You have my number," Chayton said, "Text me the details when you figure everything out. I'll be back as soon as I finish up at the hospital. If needed, do you have room for Ella?"

"Of course. Whatever you need to do for her, we'll make it happen." I walked over to him hugging Ella between us as I kissed him.

"Come on, let's get you taken care of." I led them around to the front of my hooghan.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I leaned back in my office chair, pushing to the limits of the strong springs. Looking at the clock on my computer screen I realized why my stomach was growling. My bad habit of ignoring everything when I was working caught up with me again.

A long conference call with my staff at the Nevada office set the beginnings for evidence gathering in motion. The red tapes were just the first step of many. I warned them, the videos were disgusting and heartbreaking. It turned out the raid discovered another forty new victims. Some of them went back over thirty years.

Slipping my phone into my back pocket, I stood up and stretched, I had nearly fifty text messages on it, all of which needed to be recorded into case records as well. Chayton stayed with Ella through the entire ordeal of examination for evidence.

Malia called me from one of the hospital courtesy phones, letting me know she would be at our ancestral family home. I knew the healers well, having volunteered with them and enjoyed several of their rites.

"How many of the girls are going with you?" I asked.

"I'll have all of them. Ella pointed out three cops. Chayton arrested one and made a call for help. The other two never made it out of the ER. I'm surprised how fast the troopers can move when they want to."

"They've been in on this for over a year, Malia. Good guys, all of them. The local cops from town were suspects on part of this, whether they were getting kickbacks or in even deeper, we didn't know. I do know most of them were clean. It's a mess they will have to clean up now. The Chief of Police wasn't very smart, letting this continue right under his nose."

"Okay, so what about social services?" Bitterness oozed over the phone.

"I opened investigations on three case workers. Audits are tracing fraudulent claims. I can't believe what we've discovered. I'll have warrants for their arrests by tomorrow."

I made sure to get food supplies delivered to great grandfather's home. I knew there were enough rooms for everyone. I doubted Malia would be able to separate the twins. Therapy for all of them would start immediately. At least our band understood urgent needs unlike the vast government web of services.

Ravenous, I went to the fridge and scooped a large serving of cold pasta into a serving bowl. Grabbing water, I sat at the table and stuffed my face. The spaghetti was better cold a day later than when I served it freshly cooked. Finally sated, I went out to check on Bingo and Star.

The horses were standing nose to tail with their heads laying on each other's rumps. I had no doubt Bingo did his duty with Star again. I was sure we would have a foal in another eleven months. Filling the feeding trough with a mix of oats and barley, I made sure the water supply was functioning properly before I took a moment to stroke Star's muzzle. She butted my chest, as was her habit, before returning to stand beside her mate.

A black Tahoe was approaching from town. I hurried inside, grabbing the extra loaded magazine for my handgun. Around here, anything and anyone could be trouble. Chayton hadn't messaged me he was heading back. Locking the door, I shut down my computer, and turned the monitors off.

It was sunset. Glare was in my favor. My phone rang, and I picked it up. Unknown number. I didn't have time for this right now. It was probably a reporter. Let them get an earful. I slid my finger across and opened the connection. That didn't look like any cop car unmarked or otherwise I had ever seen in my life. Who was tearing into my yard, raising a cloud of dust?