My desire to simply go in and take her was vetoed. So many things could happen. Rabbit could get hurt or even worse. If we failed, we’d never get another chance. Trevor calmly pointed out that even though we had photos, none of them showed Rabbit’s face. Going to the police might start an investigation, but we needed Rabbit to be able to verify the claims. If Brian found out what was happening, Rabbit would be in a vulnerable position. Even more so than she was now. I couldn’t allow that. I couldn’t put her in more danger.
But Trevor and Frank’s idea of getting Rabbit out of Brian’s hands should work.
I knew the plan would work if everything was handled properly. If everyone played their part and we took it slowly and made sure that we covered all the bases.
Then Rabbit would come home and then we could go after James. But not until she was safe.
I had to believe that was what she wanted. Even if she didn’t remember now, I knew it was only a matter of time before she did. But she was still in danger. Something she did or said would push him over the edge and he would go after her. Of that fact I was certain.
Remembering the broken, battered woman I had found, I shuddered.
I had to make her safe. I needed her back with me. I prayed she would forgive me.
I stared into the flames, remembering the words Rabbit had spoken as she stood in front of me, defiant and angry by the truck.
‘You will beat this someday, I know you will. Something will finally be reason enough for you to overcome what those bastards did to you.’
She was the reason. For her I had to beat this.
Monday night I was unable to sleep again and paced around the house feeling unsettled and restless. Suddenly, breaking the quiet of the night, the computer speakers upstairs started up with a droning sound indicating a call had come through on the automated, private line I had installed.
The one I had encrypted on Rabbit’s card.
I stood listening, my hands gripping the back of the sofa.
She’d figured it out. She needed me. I could hear it from the little sharp intakes of air in the silence of the dark night. I didn’t need to hear her voice to know it was her. Her frightened gasps told me she was scared. I wished I could pick up the phone and comfort her. But there was no way to answer the line, only leave messages.
My head fell into my hands. “I’m coming, Rabbit,” I promised into the dark.
The days passed agonizingly slowly. Eating and sleeping were next to impossible. Especially after hearing the messages Rabbit left on the line the following days. Her frightened voice broke my heart and I wanted to go and get her right away. But Frank and Trevor convinced me we had to do this right. We now had people following Rabbit’s watchdogs and had even hacked into their email accounts and schedules so we already knew where she was going to be and when. Because of this information, we had the right day, the right time and the right location. She wasn’t as closely watched at the hospital. The layout made it impossible for her to walk out without being seen, so her watchdog would be sitting downstairs waiting for her. But we weren’t going out through the doors. We were going up. The helipad at the hospital would provide us with a quick way in and out.
I had argued with Trevor over using the helicopter. He thought we should cause a distraction and walk her out of the library’s back door and drive away. “The drive will only take a few hours. The helicopter will get noticed, Joshua. We need permission to land and there will be records; traceable records,” he had insisted. “You’re reacting to your pain. You need to step away, Joshua.” He stared at me. “We need to think this through, rationally.”
I had stood up, angry and frustrated, sending my chair flying and slamming my hand down on the table. I didn't care that I was yelling now.
“Yeah, I’m reacting to my feelings! I’m fucking done with thinking, Trevor! Last time I thought it through I sent her away and that was the fucking wrong decision! My gut is telling me to get her out fast and that’s what we’re going to do. I won’t risk being pulled over and her being taken away from us! The helicopter is the safest, fastest way. I don’t fucking care how much money it costs to change the records and get this done. Make them an offer they can’t refuse. Arrange for the helicopter to land—just fucking do it!”
Frank had to step in and calm us both down. He agreed with me and, grudgingly, Trevor went upstairs to make the arrangements while Frank and I sat with Cecilia going through the information we had on Rabbit’s schedule.
Rabbit’s life was very regimented and she was never alone. For weeks ahead, each day was planned out and there didn’t seem to be many variances from the daily schedule, aside from the functions they attended. Mondays and Thursdays were to be spent at the library. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings were to be spent with a trainer and the afternoons at the hospital.