Moon over Maalaea Bay by H. L. Wegley Page A

pried the two men apart, and she had probably saved him from doing something he would’ve regretted. What was he thinking? One didn’t assault an FBI agent, especially a good man like Peterson. Lee stepped back out of his reach.
    Peterson reciprocated, pulling his hands back into his own personal space. He focused on Katie. “We still have a few missing pieces to our trafficking-ring puzzle. If Anya cooperates and supplies them, maybe I can help her. But I can’t promise her Witness Protection. That’s a DOJ call made by people higher up than me. “
    A Maui police officer emerged from the house leading Anya.
    Peterson turned towards the officer. “I’m Special Agent Peterson, and I’d like a word with Anya.”
    As Peterson talked to Anya, Lee stood nearby listening and hoping something productive would come out of their conversation.
    Peterson introduced himself and skillfully opened the door for Anya to cooperate with the FBI. “Did the police tell you that you don’t have to answer any questions?”
    “They explained that, but I want to answer.”
    “You’ve made a wise decision, Anya. If you help us break the syndicate, I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
    Anya stared into the distance as if seeing everything, yet seeing nothing. “Nobody can help me once they come after me.”
    “You shouldn’t think that way. They’ve instilled a deep-seated fear in you. But these men aren’t invincible. We’ll get them. Then you’ll see that you don’t need to live in fear of them.” He paused and reached into his pocket, pulling out his cell. “But I want to ask you about some other people.”
    Peterson pulled a picture up on his cell and turned the display towards Anya.
    Lee stepped closer to peer around his shoulder.
    “Have you seen either of these men in the last twenty-four hours?”
    Anya drew in a sharp breath. She didn’t reply. Fear lurked in her wide eyes.
    Lee also saw the picture of two Middle Eastern looking men. The Iranian connection?
    Peterson moved the picture closer to Anya. “This is extremely important. These men may ask questions about Jennifer. If you have any information, anything at all, it will certainly help your cause if you tell me now.”
    Anya stared at the picture. Her mouth twitched, then slowly opened. “These men…aren’t just evil. They’re crazy.”
    Peterson’s body flinched at Anya’s words, like she had struck him. “Then you have seen them. When? Where?”
    “They said they would kill me too if I mentioned them to anyone. But I guess they’ll have to get in line.” She looked up into Peterson’s face and gave him a smile that contained more pain than anything else. “When I left the house early this morning to walk to the coffee shop at Piilani Center, they stopped me a couple blocks from the house. Began asking questions about a woman. Asked for the name of the person who owned her. I knew they were asking about Jennifer.”
    Peterson held Anya’s gaze. “But you said Jennifer was still at the house when you left.”
    “She was.” Anya’s face for the first time displayed a softer, more compassionate look. “Like I said, these guys were completely insane. You wouldn’t believe some of the things they threatened to do. I told them Jennifer had been moved to a boat.”
    Anya had lied to protect Jennifer. It was a small thing, given the fact she helped with Jennifer’s abduction, but it revealed a young, caring girl hidden somewhere inside this hardened young woman, the girl who existed before the traffickers stole her innocence and terrified her into submission. The good news Katie wanted to share with her was the only thing Lee believed could restore her innocence and provide the healing she needed from the abuses Anya had suffered.
    Peterson pulled out his notepad and pen. “What about the name they asked for?”
    “I heard a couple of names mentioned at the house, people I’d never met. Men I assumed were leaders in the trafficking ring. I