Rescued

Finally! A real day off. Eve exhaled happily as she boarded the Amtrack in L.A., on her way to enjoy a beachfront house that she rented in San Diego for the weekend. She was running late as usual, and of course she barely made the train before the doors closed. Everyone on the train was already seated and seemed to be completely oblivious to Eve, just the way she wanted it. Hmmm, a teenager with no cell phone or ear pods? Now that’s a rare sighting, Eve thought as she spotted the disheveled youth.

The darkhaired teen was seated next to a burly man and she didn’t look like she wanted to be with him. Her long tussled hair framed both sides of her sallow face. I think I’ll sit behind these two, since they probably won’t be talking much. As Eve passed them the teen locked eyes with Eve. Suddenly Eve felt unsettled, something was wrong. Eve glanced at the burly man who smiled at Eve when he noticed her looking at the teen. He was bald, with kind eyes. Eve smiled back and the burly bald man went back to reading his newspaper. The skinny teen kept her eyes on Eve until she passed. Eve wondered why she felt unsettled. Something in the teenager’s eyes; this was no care-free kid.

Eve sat by the window and placed her small suitcase in the aisle seat, hoping that no one would ask to sit next to her. She was so excited not to talk to a single soul all weekend. She would read, enjoy the sunsets, and walk on the beach in the morning before the world was awake. Almost there, she thought. Eve opened her little black notebook to make a list of the things she was looking forward to this weekend, even though she knew there was good chance that she would spend the engrossed in TikTok videos. She made the list anyway: order food from her favorite San Diego restaurant, binge watch Netflix, shop online for summer dresses and a bathing suit, call her Dad in North Carolina, and tour by the Carlsbad Flower Fields. As she was writing her list, she realized that this unsettled feeling was not going away.

“I need to use the restroom,” the teen said.

“Again,” the man replied in a cool tone. The teen did not move. It struck Eve as odd that the teen did not get up. Something was wrong here. Eve got up to beat the teen to the restroom.

As she passed, she heard the man say, “Fine, in just a minute.” Eve entered the restroom and pulled out her little black notebook from her pocket. She had seen this in a movie before. Hopefully it works, she thought. I hope I’m wrong, but I just need to know that this girl is safe. Eve wrote on the first page of the notebook. Put your hood on if you are not safe, and I will get help. Eve left the notebook behind the tiny sink’s faucet, praying that the girl would read the note on the inside. Eve exited the restroom.

“Oh!” The burly man was directly in front of her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“No problem,” Eve replied as she rushed by him and went to her seat. As soon she sat down, Eve’s face fell as she saw the man heading toward her, with her little black notebook. “Miss, is this yours?”

Crap! Eve screamed inside of her head. “Oh thank you,” Eve stammered.

He handed her the notebook with a smirk, and turned to the girl, “The restroom is free now.” She got up in silence to use the restroom. The burly man sat back down, seemingly satisfied with himself.

I lost my chance, Eve thought, but I know something isn’t right.

“Excuse me,” Eve said trying to sound light. The burly turned his head and shifted in his seat to face Eve.

“Yes?”

“Your daughter’s hair is beautiful; does she take after her mother?”

“Yes, she is the spitting image of her mother.”

“Are you both headed to San Diego?”

“Yes, to see her mother.”

“Well, enjoy your trip.”

“Thank you.” And with that, the burly man turned away and went back to reading his newspaper.

Hmm. There’s no way this guy is her dad, Eve surmised. Eve Googled, what to do if you suspect human trafficking. The state.gov article was helpful. She needed to call 911. What if I’m wrong? What if I’m right? Can he sue me if I’m wrong? Typical Californian, always leery of a lawsuit. Just then, the girl quickly glanced at Eve again before she sat down. That’s it. I have to get help. Eve got up swiftly and to her surprise so did the burly man.

She walked as quickly down the narrow aisle as she could toward the next car, hoping to find a conductor. He was right behind her and no one on the train seemed to notice. Eve entered the next car and spotted the conductor. As soon as Eve opened her mouth to speak to the conductor the burly man grabbed her waist tightly and sweetly said, “Honey let’s talk about this.”

“No!” Eve tried to jerk away but he wouldn’t let go.

Eve slapped him and yelled, “Let go of me!” as loud as she could. For a brief moment every passenger stared at her as the burly man still held Eve’s waist.

“Hey!” the conductor yelled. Simmer down or you’ll both be escorted off at the next stop. “Miss are you ok?” The burly man finally loosed Eve’s waist and Eve squeezed by the

conductor so that the conductor was now between her and the burly man.

“Sir, I believe this man has kidnapped the young teen that is sitting next him. He called

me sweety just now, but I don’t know him.” Suddenly the man’s demeaner softened and his kind eyes returned.

“I am traveling with my daughter to see her mother in San Diego. This young woman and I were talking earlier, and I just wanted to ask her to join us for dinner in San Diego. I can see she’s no longer interested, so I’ll just return to my seat.” The burly man made his way back to the other car, leaving Eve with the conductor.

“Sir, this man is obviously not her father.”

“What makes you believe that?”

“She does not want to speak with him or be with him, and she was too afraid to use the restroom without getting his permission first. Plus, what teenager do you know that travels without their cell phone, ear pods, or tablet? Something is wrong I know it. Please do something!”

“OK miss. Please have a seat here, I’ll alert the police, and they’ll need to speak with you.” Eve took a seat next to a college-aged student.

“Miss, you’re shaking. Are you ok?”

“I am now.” Eve grasped her knees tightly to stop quivering and prayed silently in her seat. Lord please protect this girl. I can’t believe that man grabbed me. Eve started to wonder how the man had kidnapped this girl? Was the girl even safe in her own home? Maybe that’s why she left home and somehow ended up with this man? Regardless, she would not be forced to stay with him anymore.

The train was coming to a stop in Fullerton and to Eve’s relief, she saw police officers waiting on the platform. She watched from the window as the burly man and the girl were the first people to leave the train. He tried to walk by the police but they stopped him as the conductor pointed him out. Eve raced to grab her suitcase from the next car and exit the train as well. As Eve stepped off the train, the conductor escorted her over to the police and explained that she had reported the burly man.

“Miss, please come with us to give your statement,” one of the officer directed Eve.The police station was freezing cold and as much as Eve wanted to get back on the train to San Diego, she needed to know that the young teen would be ok. An officer joined Eve in the cold room. Miss, thank you for speaking up. It looks as though this young girl was being trafficked to San Diego when you stepped in. California has the highest number of reported trafficking cases in the U.S. Over 1500 cases are reported every year, and of course, those are just the reported numbers. What made you alert the conductor?”

“Well most teens are glued to their phone or listening to music, or maybe even daydreaming. But this girl seemed anxious, like she didn’t want to be with that man. And when I realized that he probably wasn’t her father, I had to say something.

“I’m so glad you did Miss Williams. Because of you, she’ll get to go home tonight.”

Thank God. Eve began to cry as thoughts of what could have happened flooded her mind. The officer offered her a tissue.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t believe it. I’m so glad she’s safe.”

“Yes. Miss, thank you for coming in. We have your contact information in the report in case there are additional questions. You are free to go.”

“Thank you officer.” Eve left the station, grateful yet still in shock about all that had happened.

3 MONTHS LATER

Dear Good Samaritan, Thank you for following your instincts and getting the police involved. Because of you, my granddaughter is now safe at home with me and her grandfather. She is doing well and she will never forget how you saved her life. Since our granddaughter has been home, we’ve begun funding several anti-human trafficking, and anti-slavery organizations. We wanted to send you a small token of our appreciation. We are so grateful for you and your bravery that day.

Love,

Her Grandparents

Eve stared at the typed anonymous note and the cashier’s check for $20,000 on her desk. She was in awe with tears in her eyes.

9 MONTHS LATER

Eve brought her first home. The $20,000 coupled with her savings afforded her the down payment for a quaint three-bedroom home in L.A.