Relentless (Option Zero 2)

Who do you share your research with?

What do you hope to gain by going on a rescue?

Who is involved in the making of your film? Has everyone been vetted? How were they vetted? By whom? What do they know?

Both women asked questions, but Serena took the lead, and Jazz often followed up with additional ones. It was a good routine and Aubrey got the idea they did this a lot.

Though the questions were exhaustingly thorough, she had no problem answering. Most of her team had been with her for years. She trusted them with her life. They were as dedicated as she was to shining the light on the dark vileness of human trafficking. However, they had no idea what she had uncovered about Ferante. She was the only one who knew, or at least she’d thought she was.

By the time the initial questions had been asked and answered, Aubrey had consumed two full glasses of water and felt as if she’d been drained of all energy.

“Okay, let’s take a break for a while. Jazz, why don’t you see if Pippa has lunch ready yet? And Aubrey, why don’t you go freshen up?”

Aubrey wasn’t going to argue. Not only did she need time to herself, she needed to rid herself of all the water she’d consumed. Relieved to have some privacy, Aubrey gratefully headed to the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror, she had to grimace. Not her best look. Shock and stress had bleached her face of color.

She splashed her face with water, pinched her cheeks and took a breath. Whether they knew it or not, she was through with their questions. She had some of her own and she wasn’t going to respond to any more of theirs until hers were answered.

She returned to the main cabin in time to see a flight attendant placing plates filled with sandwiches and salad on a pullout table.

Serena gave her a searching look. “Feel better?”

“Yes, but I have some—”

“Come eat. That’ll make you feel even better.”

Though her stomach knotted at the thought of putting food in it, Aubrey knew Serena was right. She hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch yesterday afternoon. Without nourishment, she couldn’t think straight.

As if an invisible barrier had been broken, Jazz gave her a genuine smile. “I think we’ve all worked up an appetite.”

They sat around the table and were silent for a few moments. The chicken salad sandwich was delicious, and Aubrey felt her normal appetite return. Within minutes, she was feeling calmer and more in control. These people weren’t out to hurt her, and if she were honest with herself, she could use their help and advice.

Munching on a carrot stick, Jazz asked, “Your bio says that you studied acting. Why did you change to documentaries? You were in a couple of movies and TV shows, weren’t you?”

“Yes. Though the movies were just bit parts. And I liked acting well enough, but it lost its magic early on.”

“How’s that?” Serena asked.

“Nothing ever felt authentic. An entertainer has to be on 24/7. Always in the public eye, always being watched. That wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. I thought about directing movies, but dealing with all the egos didn’t appeal to me either. Filming documentaries didn’t interest me until I started reading up on human trafficking. It’s everywhere, in areas people could never fathom. I wanted to reveal those lies and truths.”

That wasn’t the biggest reason she’d chosen human trafficking as her first film and main focus. However, talking about her abduction and assault, as well as her near miss of being trafficked? No. Not with everything else going on. It would be just too much.

“I saw your first documentary,” Serena said. “It was excellent.”

“Thank you.”

“This new one you’re going to do—Kate said it’s a follow-up?” Jazz said.

“Yes. Some of the victims I featured in the first film will give updates on their lives, where they are now. We still won’t reveal their identities, but I think people will be interested in seeing what kind of impact their trauma has had on them and the people they love.

“But I also want to go into more depth, not only about the rescuers, but the traffickers themselves. How each got into their line of work, why they do what they do.”

“You know you won’t be able to identify us either. Right?” Jazz said.

“That’s not a problem. I just want to get into the mind-set of a rescuer. What makes him or her tick.”

“We can definitely help you with that. But we still need some answers.”

Aubrey shook her head. “I’ve answered your questions. I think it’s time I get to ask my own questions.”