Benjamin took a deep breath. “It’s up to me, like we told followers. Nothing was up to them, and I have the feeling that nothing’s really up to me now either.”
“It is. I’ll talk to my handler. I’ll do all I can to persuade them to allow you to stay with Raquel until she’s no longer critical. If you want more time than that—”
Benjamin looked away, his red-rimmed eyes downcast. “I want forever. Is that too much to ask?”
“No. I want the same thing. You just need to talk to the agents—be one hundred percent honest with them, be willing to turn state’s evidence and testify. That’s what you can do to get back to Raquel.” I patted his shoulder. “I’m behind you. I hope you know that you’ve got my support.”
We turned as paramedics made their way into the fuselage.
“What about Abraham?” Benjamin asked in a hushed tone.
I shook my head. “You should get a damn medal. You also saved my life. I’ll tell them what happened.”
“What about her?” he asked, looking at Raquel as the paramedics lifted their gurney. “Legally, I mean. Is there a case against her too?”
“It’s not up to me. It’s all up to the FBI, but I’ll tell them what I know, which is, as far as the Assembly wives are concerned, from my knowledge they were all blissfully unaware. They were never informed of the workings of the Assembly or Commission. I’ll be truthful in everything.”
“Sir, is this your wife?” the young female paramedic asked, looking to Benjamin.
Benjamin looked at the paramedic and again at me.
“We,” I said to Benjamin, “were married under The Light. I plan on using that legality to find Sara. Until it’s disproved, your answer is yes.”
Benjamin nodded and turned toward the young woman. “Yes, she is.”
The woman’s eyes widened as she scanned Raquel’s injuries and looked back to Benjamin, seeing his bloodstained shirt.
“Miss,” I said, attempting to derail her obvious train of thought. “I’m Agent McAlister of the FBI. This woman was attacked and beaten by someone who has been dealt with, not by her husband. I’ll testify to that.”
“Yes, Agent. Sir,” she said to Benjamin, “please come with us. They’re waiting for us at the medical center.”
“Miss”—I read her name tag—“Kellogg, this woman’s husband and another agent need to stay by her side.”
“Agent, they can follow—”
“No, they will be with you.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, tightening the restraint and securing Raquel on the gurney. Without another word she and the other paramedic wheeled Raquel down the stairs toward the ambulance.
I handed Benjamin the burner phone. “I’ll get one from the bureau and call you. I plan on heading east immediately.”
He nodded and tucked the phone in his pocket. “You know, the last time I accepted this phone . . .”
I shook my head. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“No, Raquel was right. She wanted to help. Just find Sara.”
I took a deep breath as Benjamin stepped through the doorway and followed his wife.
As I descended the steps, the weight of three years lifted from my shoulders. I’d done my part. The Light was behind me. Looking out at the sea of faces, I searched for ones I recognized. When my eyes met one man’s, that of an agent probably fifteen to twenty years my senior, a weary smile graced my lips. I’d spoken to him, but I hadn’t seen him in over three years.
When he nodded in my direction, my grin broadened toward Special Agent William Adler. While he’d grown a few more gray hairs and even gained a few pounds, I recognized my handler immediately. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, he met me and patted my shoulder.
“Agent McAlister, you’re a sight for sore eyes.” He scanned me up and down. “It doesn’t appear that you’re too much the worse for wear. Maybe you’d like to do another three years in The Light?”
“No, sir. Let’s flip that switch and move on.”
Adler’s welcoming expression faded. “Come with me, Jacoby. We need to talk.”
The four words we need to talk splintered my already frayed nerves, leaving them in shreds. Before I could speak and ask him what we needed to talk about, he ushered me away to a waiting vehicle. I tried to protest, letting him know I didn’t want to go to the field office. I couldn’t go to the field office. I needed to get on a plane to Detroit. Instead of listening or even acknowledging my protests, he and two other agents flanked me and herded me into the large black SUV.
Once we were safely away from listening ears, Special Agent Alder turned toward me. “Listen, Jacoby, you’re not authorized to leave, not yet.”
“What do you mean? I told you on the phone that Sara’s at the Eastern Light. I told you that you needed to get to her . . .” My shoulders drooped and words failed to form as the weight I thought I’d shed fell heavily back upon me.