Jade: The Guardian: Windy Haven Trilogy-Book 3

By Diane Chartrand

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DESTROY WINDY HAVEN, AND ALL INVOLVED?  FIND OUT NOW.

 

Jade agrees to meet Sia in Detroit at the Hazen S. Pingree Monument in Grand Circus Park.  Sia indicated it was urgent, and she must come alone.

Sia hands Jade a document as they sit on a nearby bench.  It was proof of a shocking betrayal that occurred in Windy Haven fourteen years prior.

At that moment, Jade's life changed forever.

Desperate to find out more, Jade breaks into her husband's office.  Files document written and photographic records of unimaginable horrors relating to Windy Haven over several decades.

Jade, determined to end the atrocities in Windy Haven, and free the girls entrapped, teams up with Sia.  The two devise a dangerous plan.

Getting caught means absolute death.

Can they bring those responsible to justice?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane Chartrand
• Release date: May 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393911333

Book preview

Jade

The Guardian

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Windy Haven Trilogy - Book 3

Diane Chartrand

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my daughter Elizabeth.  Throughout your life, you have been a guardian watching over others.  First, your two sisters, when I couldn’t be there. Then your own children and grandchildren.

You are a special person who also became my guardian many years ago, giving love without reservation.  I am grateful and love you with all my heart.

Copyright Page

JADE deals with sensitive matters.

READER discretion is advised

Copyright © 2020  Diane Chartrand

All rights reserved. This book or any portion of it may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Cover Design by Diane Chartrand

Paperback  ISBN:  13-979-8601801997

Chapter One

Life-Changing Meeting

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After the long all-night search for Willow when she bolted from the house in Franklin, Jade woke up just past noon.  She knocked on the bedroom door where Sia had gone earlier to rest.  No answer.

She knocked several more times, louder.  Still no answer.  Opening the door, it became clear Sia had left and taken all of their things with her.

Jade ran downstairs. Oscar, Andrew, Sia’s not upstairs, and all of hers and Willow’s belonging are missing.  What are we going to do?  How will we find them?

Agent Madison spoke up first.  Knowing Sia over the past four years, I’m sure she went to search for Willow alone.

Why do you say that, Andrew? Oscar asked.

Because that has always been her mission since hearing Willow’s screams one night in Albuquerque.  I believe nothing will stop her now until she’s sure the girl is safe.

So, how do we find them? Jade asked.

Sia has my cell number.  When things got difficult for her in the past and needed help, she would call me.

Well, Andrew, I hope she does that this time.  They could be anywhere by now and in danger.  I’m so worried about both of them.

After Agent Madison assured Jade that Sia would be fine, he left for Windy Haven.  Oscar told him he would catch up with him there later in the day.

Oscar informed his wife that once Daniel knew they were both gone from the house, he would more than likely turn Sia’s microchip back on.  If he hadn’t already done that.  Oscar implied that Daniel had recognized her a while back at the house in Windy Haven.

What? Her microchip?  What are you talking about, Oscar?

Melanie has a microchip implanted into every working girl.  If they run, she can find them and bring them back.

I thought the authorities would have found and  removed Sia’s years ago.

I’m sure no one was even aware she had one.  Daniel turned it off long before she went into Witness Protection.

I’m so glad you got permission to have mine removed right after we got married.

****

During the following week, Oscar called to let Jade know Sia had gotten a lead on Willow. She teamed up with him and Agent Madison for a few days with no results.  She left again, going off on her own.  Until Sia called Jade yesterday, no one had seen or heard from either of them in several weeks.

There had been one previous sighting of Willow.  Ethan had tracked her down and even grabbed her by the arm, but she covered him with pepper spray,  kneed him, and ran away.

After two weeks of searching, Oscar came home for the weekend.  He told her that Sia and Willow abducted baby Serenity from his brother’s backyard, and Daniel was having all three of them tracked.

Why does the baby have a microchip?  Jade asked.

Oscar just shrugged his shoulders and never gave her an answer.  He walked into his office and shut the door.

Jade had a feeling that something was definitely wrong.  Why would Melanie and Daniel’s baby have a microchip implanted in her?  She would never become one of the working girls.

Oscar spent most of the weekend in his office.  When she went to see if he wanted something to eat, his door wouldn’t open.  He must have it locked.  Sunday night, after watching a movie together with only a little conversation, they retired.

****

Jade, I have to return to Daniel’s now and will be away for several days.

Jade never heard Oscar talking to her because she had drifted off, remembering her conversation with Sia.  Sia implied she had urgent information they needed to discuss that involved her.  Although Jade tried to find out what it was, Sia never budged.

Jade promised Sia she would meet her tomorrow afternoon in Detroit.  After getting Jade’s cell number, Sia told her she would text the meeting location once she knew Jade was at the edge of the city.

Sia emphasized.  Under no circumstances, Jade, can you let anyone know where  you’re going or why.

Jade’s mind wandered back to the first time she met Stephanie Johnson.  Effie, as she went by during those days.  All she saw was a wisp of a girl, barely past her fourteenth birthday and terrified.

Jade, Jade. Where did you go?

Sorry.  I was just thinking about the first time I met Effie in New York.  I mean, Sia.  What were you saying, Oscar?

I have to drive up to Windy Haven for a morning meeting with Daniel.  He wants to discuss how to find Sia, Willow, and the baby now that the GPS signals on their microchips seemed to have stopped working after they reached Chicago.  I’ll  be away for the rest of the week.

That’s okay.  I have shopping plans for most of the day tomorrow.  If you need to reach me, call my cell.  I hope all goes well and you figure out where they are and if they’re okay.

Oscar kissed her goodbye and left.  Once sure he wouldn’t come back having forgotten something, Jade went upstairs and packed an overnight bag and set her alarm.  At four the next morning, she got in her car, put her suitcase in the trunk, and drove off.

She was heading to meet with Sia at some unknown location in Detroit.  The estimated time was eight hours, according to her GPS.

Jade couldn’t imagine what urgent information Sia had that involved her.  Making her way up the highway, she wondered if Willow and Serenity would be with her, or would she be alone?

When she stopped part-way to Detroit for coffee, Jade got a text message from Sia.  It said to meet her at three o’clock near the statue of Hazen S. Pingree in the Grand Circus Park.  The address is 40 East Adams Street.

Jade had put a map of Detroit on her cell and now looked at it to find out where this Grand Circus Park was from the highway.  It was easy to locate and looked like a large area allowing Sia to see her from several locations once she entered the park.

Jade would put the address into her GPS upon returning to her car.  Making good traveling time, she should arrive at the edge of the city just past noon.  This would give her plenty of time to get some lunch before going to check out the park and find the statue Sia quoted where they would meet.

As she drove, Jade thought about all those years ago when she first became one of them.  It wasn’t a pleasant time after they took her from the mall while shopping with her mother.  She was only twelve and terrified.  She continuously begged to go home during those first few weeks, but that didn’t happen.

Once she married Oscar, Jade asked if she could contact her parents and let them know she was alive and okay.  When her husband inquired about her doing that, Daniel threatened Oscar.  He said that if he found out Jade had talked to either of her parents, both of them would die.

She could still picture that awful house near the lake, those metal chains, and the terrible things they made her do.  When she married Oscar, all those memories of Windy Haven went to a safe place in her mind.  Now, with all that is going on with Sia and Willow, they have surfaced once more.

Jade shook her head as she saw the sign for the ramp to Detroit City Center.  Telling herself to let it go, turned on the GPS so she could find the park and a place nearby to get something to eat.  The clock on the dash said it was twelve thirty-five.

From the interstate, the GPS directed her to take Exit 50 off Interstate 75 N toward Grand River Avenue and stay straight to go onto W Fisher Freeway, turn right onto Woodward Avenue, left onto Witherell Street, and left onto E Adams Avenue.  Jade located the underground parking for the Grand Circus Park and entered.

Making her way to the street, Jade walked into the park to find the statue before going to eat.  Time was now close to two o’clock, giving her an hour before she had to meet Sia.  The park had a variety of trees, statues, and fountains, giving off a sense of relaxation.

While eating lunch Jade’s thoughts went to what could be so urgent for Sia to talk to her about.  And alone.  She made her way to the statue, sat on a bench nearby, and waited.  Looking at her watch, Jade noted Sia was late and wasn’t sure why.  She sent her a text asking where she was but got no response.

Jade waited until it was almost four o’clock.  If she didn’t either see Sia or hear by text, she would leave the park and look for a hotel nearby to stay for the night.  As Jade got up off the bench, Sia was walking towards her.  She seemed to look all around and was tense.

Sia, Sia.  It’s okay.  There is no one else with me.  I have come alone.

Sia made her way over.  They both sat down on the bench in front of the statue to talk.

I’m glad you followed my instructions and came alone.  Where does Oscar think you are?  There is something you need to know about, but first, I have a few questions.

You made it sound urgent, so I came alone as I had agreed.  Oscar left last night to go back to Windy Haven to see Daniel.  They don’t understand why yours, Willow’s, and Serenity’s microchips aren’t working.  Can you tell me where Willow and Serenity are?

For now, I will keep their location to myself.  First, we have to speak about why I needed to meet with you.  As for the microchips, we figured out how to shut them down and soon will have them removed.

Jade, confused about all the secrecy, agreed to hear her out.

I was about to leave because you were so late and didn’t answer my text.

Sorry about that.  It took me longer than expected to get to this area.  I keep my phone off most of the time.  I haven’t seen the text.

So.  Fire away with the questions.

First, have you ever given birth to a little girl?  Seeing Jade about to speak, Sia motioned for her to wait. Second, if so, what year was that?

Why are you asking me such a question? Jade had told no one, not even Oscar, about the child she gave birth to had died the same day.

Because I have some information regarding a child who was born fourteen years ago to one of Daniel’s girls.  I believe this specific baby was yours, and Melanie Jeffries raised her.

Jade sat quietly for a few moments fidgeting with her hair, not knowing if she could tell Sia the truth.  What revelation did she have about what happened that night?  Jade decided she had to hear what Sia was talking about.

I have never told this to anyone, although the organization was aware.  Yes, I gave birth to a little girl fourteen years ago.  I named her Sarah, but she died right after being born.  After that, they sterilized me to make sure it would never happen again.

Sia took out the paper with the information she had about Sarah Jade Teagan Jeffries and showed it to Jade.

I believe this may be your daughter, and she is very much alive.

What is it you are trying to tell me?  Are you saying my daughter didn’t die back then?

Sia stood up and motioned Jade to do the same and walk with her while they spoke.  The two made their way to an area where there were a few tables and chairs on the other side of the park and sat down.

Willow and I found out the organization was doing something unthinkable with any babies born to the working girls.  The girl babies were being put in Melanie’s charge until they became old enough to work for her.  The boy babies were being groomed to become minders.

Oh, my God.  That is awful, if true.  Do you have real proof of this going on?

Yes, but that can wait until another time.  For now, you need to know I believe Willow is actually the daughter you gave birth to.  Serenity is the daughter she gave birth to just months before her fourteenth birthday.

How do we prove it's the truth, and Willow is my daughter?

You must take a paternity test along with Willow and Serenity.  I brought a kit to collect yours and will do the same when I get back to the other two.

Can I see them?

For now, let’s just do your test.  Afterward, return to Franklin and don’t let on anything about this, especially to Oscar or Agent Madison.  I will keep in touch and let you know the results before going forward to make any arrangements for you to see your daughter and granddaughter.

Jade agreed.  She let Sia do the swab of her cheek and watched while Sia carefully placed the long Q-Tip into the sterile plastic tube.  After Sia left, Jade got a hotel room for the night before driving back to Franklin.

The shock of everything she learned about the possibility her daughter was alive, and that she may also have a granddaughter caused Jade to second guess everything.

Jade needed time to absorb every detail, and if it were true, what to do next.  How would she be able to care for a fourteen-year-old and her infant daughter?  All of this