Shan listened while Ally read the words the young woman had written. With each sentence, tears filled Shan’s eyes, until they ran down her cheeks and she bowed her head.
“You’re one of the many young women who have been kidnapped and brought to this country. The police have videos of the man who has enslaved you, bringing you to work and taking you back to the spa every night. If you’ll come with me right now, I’ll take you to my house, where the man you saw me with last week will talk to you.
“He’s a Texas Ranger and will take you and the other young women to safety, where you’ll never have to worry again. My father will arrange for another helper to replace you here. By tonight the spa will be closed down and the men involved put in prison. It’s your choice if you want freedom. I’m going out to my car. I’ll wait fifteen minutes, then I’ll be gone. I’m here to help you, but you have to want it.”
Ally sent up more prayers as she left the orphanage and walked out to her car. She didn’t know what was going to happen. Shan had to be frightened out of her mind.
After fifteen minutes had passed Ally decided the young woman wasn’t going to come. She started the car, but as she put it in gear, Shan came running out of the house. She opened the door and got into the front seat.
Ally squeezed her hand. “You’re very brave, Shan. In ten minutes you’re going to be free.”
Knowing that her handler had been taken care of by the Rangers, she backed out of the driveway and they took off for the ranch. Behind her she could see the car tailing her, and fought tears to think Shan was one of the lucky few who was able to escape. There were years—probably a lifetime—of rehabilitation ahead of her, but she would now be able to live her own life. Depending on where she’d been kidnapped in China, maybe she could return and be united with her loved ones. Maybe not.
When Ally saw Luckey standing on the porch with her parents, her heart jumped into her throat. She hadn’t seen his vehicle. Someone from the bureau must have driven him over. “You’re safe now, Shan. Let us take care of you.”
The three of them moved toward the car. Ally’s mom drew Shan out and put her arms around her. Speaking to her in Chinese, she walked her up the steps into the house.
Her father hugged Ally hard. “My brave girl. Thank God you’re safe.”
“Shan’s the brave one.”
Over his shoulder her gaze fused with Luckey’s. After her father let her go and went into the house, Luckey enveloped her in his arms. “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he murmured.
“It worked!” she cried softly.
He kissed her face and hair. “How did you convince her so fast?”
“I showed her the secret writing and translated what was written. That got to her.”
“You’re brilliant and wonderful and so many things, I don’t know where to begin.” For a minute the world stood still as his mouth closed over hers and they attempted to express their feelings for each other. Ally groaned when at last he pulled away from her. “We’re going to spend all Saturday together,” he whispered against her lips. “But until then I’ll be wrapped up in business.”
“I know that’s what you have to do.”
“A crew of special agents will be coming to get Shan in a minute, but I’d like to learn what I can from her before they arrive.”
Ally met his lips one more time in an explosive response of need. She couldn’t bear to let him go, but she had to. He eased her away, but kept hold of her hand as they walked inside the house. The others were in the living room. Ally took a seat on the couch next to Shan and her mother. Luckey found a chair near her father, opposite them.
Beatrice reached in front of Shan to grasp Ally’s hand. “We’ve found out Shan lived in Loudi.”
Ally’s gaze shot to Luckey. “That’s only about a hundred miles from Changsha.”
“Ask her to tell you what happened.”
Once Shan had finished explaining in Mandarin, Ally translated what the young woman had revealed. “Her parents ran a flower shop and lived above it with her younger brother. She was seventeen when someone grabbed her from behind while she was leaving her gymnastics class after school.”
Luckey’s jaw hardened. “She’s from Hunan Province, too, and is a gymnast. Her story sounds like what happened to Yu Tan.”
“That’s what I’m thinking. All Shan remembers is that when she woke up, it was in a horrible place where men used her and she couldn’t get away. She was moved around for a long time. One Chinese man told her he would take h
er to America and get her a good job, but she’d have to pay him back by working. If she didn’t cooperate, he’d hurt her brother.
“He showed her a picture of him, so she knew the threat was real and signed the contract. She doesn’t know where the man moved her. She was never left alone for a second. The next thing she knew, another man was in charge of her here and told her she had to work at the orphanage to earn extra money. But he kept her wages. She tried to run away, but he beat her.”
Luckey leaned forward. “Ask her for a description of the man who first kidnapped her.”
Ally did his bidding. Shan shook her head and muttered a string of words Ally translated. “She only remembers he had funny hair.”
“What does that mean?”