“Human trafficking is not getting better,” Makani said. “There are more people in slavery in the world today than there were before the Civil War.”
Noelani continued. “The slaveholders just hide it better. Sex workers, maids, factory workers, farm labor; around the world, there are millions of slaves, mostly women, with no future and no hope. They are nothing but commodities to buy and sell to the evil people who exploit them. They prey on runaways, immigrants, the poor, and the vulnerable.”
“I’ve talked to the FBI about what might have happened to us,” Amy continued. “Sold at auction, hooked on drugs, raped repeatedly, and used up before ending in a shallow grave somewhere. I’m lucky I avoided that fate and made it home with my husband and family.”
“What do you think can be done to stop this,” the reporter asked.
“We have to change in here,” I said as I pointed to my heart. “It’s not all right, and it’s happening all around us. That man paying for a prostitute is creating the market for sex trafficking. The cartels and organized crime traffic women for a simple reason; there is a profit in it. How difficult is it to understand that one human should not own another?”
“Are you going to become an advocate for these women,” she asked.
“I already am,” I answered evenly. “And you can be an advocate as well. Keep your eyes open and report suspicious behaviors. It only took one person to call in the tip to the police that led to our freedom. Perhaps one of you can do that for a girl who has given up hope of things ever getting better.”
“Can one person do that much?”
“We’re going to find out. The four of us are putting up a million dollars for the fight against child sex trafficking. Bodyglove Sportswear is matching our donation, and we’re seeking other partners. This money will kick-start a reward fund to go after these predators. The National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, that’s 1-888-GET-HELP, will be taking anonymous tips. (Author’s Note: This is a REAL NUMBER.) If your information leads to the arrest and conviction of a child sex trafficker, you’ll get a ten thousand dollar reward.”
“That’s very generous of you.”
“Any person who wants to add their money to the fight can do that,” I said after giving out the website. I also mentioned two charities who helped sex trafficking victims who got free. I knew the phone number and site would be on the screen and on the Dateline website later on. “Wouldn’t it be great if instead of the victims, it was the TRAFFICKERS who had sleepless nights, wondering if they would ever be free again?”
“That would be a change,” she said.
“We can make it happen if we decide it is important enough.”
The rest of the interview was much lighter, talking about our new show on the Discovery Channel, stories from the tour, and our personal lives. “You girls are all engaged or married, aren’t you?” We all smiled and showed our rings to the camera. “Do you think people will watch a reality show about teenagers who aren’t having sex all the time, taking drugs, and partying?”
“I’m married and having sex all the time, at least when my man is home,” Amy said with a laugh. “I think there is a market for a show that is smarter and more wholesome than what reality shows have become. We’ve put a lot of time into this project.”
I smiled. “It’s a reality show about our lives, and our lives are exciting. I can’t wait for everyone to see the places we’ve gone to and the things we’ve done.”
“And you can watch us with your parents and not be embarrassed,” Makani said.
“Mostly,” Noelani said with a giggle.
“What are you girls doing next?”
Amy rolled her eyes. “We have to spend thirty hours in an airplane to see Vicki get married,” she said. “Really? You couldn’t have found a man in San Diego like the rest of us?”
I laughed at them. “Look at the bright side, it’s summer down under, and you can finally wear a swimsuit!”
**********
It was great seeing my friends in the Three Sisters Pack, but we couldn’t stay long after the funeral.
It would be a full flight. I was flying out with Leo, Adrienne, Nicholas, Amy, Kai, Linda, Brent, and Olivia. My younger brothers, Mark and Chance, were flying out of Minneapolis with Midwest Chairman Lewis Wolfe, his mate Carolyn, Alpha Ivan, Luna Karen, and Amy’s younger brother, Luke. The twins stayed behind in Oregon; their boyfriends only had four more leave days, so flying to Australia was out. Alpha Steven wanted them to spend more time with the Pack before they could make the change. “We’ll have a big party when we’re back in the States again,” I told them. “Linda is going to have it on a private Internet channel. Honestly, with the date change, the cost, and the distance, I’ll be happy if anyone shows up.”
“We should be there for you,” Makani said.
“You have been there for me; after what just happens, I can’t take you away from your mates.” We had a teary goodby that night with them and the others.
Very early the next morning, we took our last flight in our borrowed aircraft to Los Angeles, and from there, it was a direct flight to Sydney. The business class seats were worth every penny. “Mom, you’ve been pretty quiet about the wedding plans,” I said as we sat waiting for takeoff.
“It’s all under control. After all, you ran off to the beaches and left Dorothy and me in charge!”
Uh oh. “We haven’t even had a fitting for my dress! And what about the bridesmaids?”
“It’s all under control.”
“Fine.” It was a little weird, me stressing about a wedding. I’d wanted to do everything BUT get mated when I came of age, so I hadn’t given it much thought. I nudged Nicholas. “What do you know about the wedding?”
“What Dad told me. Show up on time and sober, don’t screw up the vows, and give you a night to remember when we get to our room.”
I snorted. “So, nothing.”
He shrugged. “I’m still trying to figure out where our honeymoon is. Leo told me it was their gift to us, so don’t worry.”
Was there ANY part of this wedding I’d know about before I got there? I texted Amy, who was two rows behind me. “What does my matron of honor know about the wedding plans? Have you seen your dress?”
“Show up and make sure you’re wearing waterproof mascara and no.”
“You’re no help.” I pulled out my computer and went to work. I had a TON of things in my inbox and on my phone; the Dateline interview had premiered late last night during the funeral. My publicist had proclaimed it a success, including links and excerpts from news stories and websites about it. Mercedes was very happy; the CEO’s decision to match my donation paid for itself in publicity and sales. The reward fund had grown to over ten million dollars already, as everyone from hourly workers to Hollywood elite donated to it and the other charities mentioned.
I watched the video stream of the interview, then read some of the stories about it. The feedback was almost all positive, and tips were flowing in.
I read a report Lynette sent to the Sharkbait Foundation Leadership. The Sea Scout was ready to go for the next season, with all the improvements we needed to film in the spring. Overhauled engines, revamped berthing, installed cameras, video editing capabilities, powerful computers, new electronics; it was like a brand-new boat. She had taken the survey vessel out for a shakedown in mid-December, taking along some of the researchers and advisors we had targeted for shows. They were all excited for the opportunity to work on the Sea Scout, praising its speed, stability, work area, and davit capacity. Now that they knew what our boat could do, they were going back to adjust their research plans accordingly. I sent her a response, telling her how thrilled I was with it, and asking the Foundation to see what the boat could help with until we could start filming in a few months. After the New Year, we’d have some videoconferences to plan out the next year.
I needed some time before the next Sharkbait World Tour.
I called a few other people while I was flying south. Stan Greenberg had been a busy man between the Discovery Channel contract and all the spending I’d been doing. “You might have told me you were donating a million dollars,” my accountant said. “Your donation is coming from Sharkbait Production Company, which you own. That way, we can deduct the full amount, and we aren’t taxed on the business income and again on your income. Plus, on personal income taxes, the deduction’s limited by the alternative minimum tax. At least you told me what you were doing instead of writing a check!”