She explained her earlystage congestive heart failure to the medical team. They ran EKGs, took blood, monitored her carefully. The stress had indeed strained her heart, but she was stable. Hours later, as Helen lay in her hospital bed, Agent Dana Truit arrived with her partner. “The doctors updated us,” Dana said gently.
Edric Canvo died from massive blood loss, multiple gunshot wounds, and Zayn. Dana’s expression was grave. He’s alive, but in a coma. He flatlined twice during surgery, but they brought him back. He’s critical, but stable. He lost tremendous amounts of blood. Helen closed her eyes. Thank God he’s alive.
Ricky told us everything, Dana continued. He’s been completely cooperative. Do you want to know what happened in 1981? Helen nodded. My son never got the chance to explain. Dana pulled out her notes. According to Ricky, your husband Malcolm was their manager. He invited the band on what he called a celebration trip on a private jet.
Promised them a deal with an international distributor. She paused. But on board, they met Alex Sulofov. Malcolm revealed the true agenda. The band would launder drug money through tours, funneling cartel cash through ticket sales and merchandise. Helen felt sick. Malcolm planned this. When Zayn and Trent refused, Malcolm and two cartel enforcers pulled weapons.
A fight broke out. Trent was shot trying to fight back. Derek was executed for attempting to radio air traffic control. But Zayn spared because he was Malcolm’s son. Ricky agreed to cooperate if they protected his family. He mentioned he was always the cute one, a crowd favorite. Alec saw value in that for the laundering operation.
Dana continued, “Your husband convinced Zayn to work for Alec, threatening that they’d kill you if he refused.” After the murders, Alec needed to dispose of the evidence. The pilot, one of Alec’s men, set autopilot toward the Wanda Fuca Ridge. They parachuted out where Alex’s crew waited with transportation.
Why wasn’t it found for 19 years? The plane flew low, avoiding most radar. Coverage over the Pacific in 1981 had gaps. The emergency beacon was removed, and the crash site was too deep for recovery technology of that era. Helen wept openly. My son worked for Monsters for 19 years. I heard them talking about him taking lives, using women and children as mules.
Alec and Edric are dead, but Zayn and Ricky were just boys caught in my husband’s evil. What happens to them now? Dana sighed. Malcolm is being processed. The years he spent avoiding questioning under the guise of mental instability won’t protect him anymore. We’ll pursue charges. As for Zayn and Ricky, it’s complex.
Prosecutors could frame them as willing criminals, but we’re emphasizing they were coerced victims. The court will consider they were teenagers threatened with family deaths. Ricky’s cooperation helps immensely. With good representation, they might receive reduced sentences or even immunity for testifying against the organization.
Ricky’s parents died years ago, Helen said softly. He might not have known, isolated as he was. He’s at the station now giving a full statement. I want to talk to him when I’m better. That can be arranged, Dana stood. We’ll update you as things develop. After the agents left, Helen called for the nurse. I need to see my son.
They brought a wheelchair, helping her transfer from bed to seat. The nurse pushed her through quiet corridors to the ICU. Through glass doors, she saw him. Zayn lay motionless, connected to multiple machines. A ventilator breathed for him. Monitors tracked his vital signs. Bandages covered his chest. He looked so young, so vulnerable. The nurse wheeled her inside and gave her privacy.
Helen reached out with trembling fingers, touching Zayn’s hand. It was warm but unresponsive. “My baby,” she whispered. “My sweet boy.” Tears fell freely as she held his hand. 19 years of separation, of not knowing, of grief, all leading to this moment. Her son was alive but broken, shaped by circumstances no child should endure. I’m so sorry, she wept.
Sorry I couldn’t protect you. Sorry your father did this. But you saved me, Zayn. You took that bullet for me. She prayed then, pouring out her heart. God, please heal my son. I know he’s done terrible things, but you know his heart. You know he was just a boy trying to survive. Please be merciful. Let him wake up.
Let him have a chance at redemption. Helen squeezed Zayn’s hand gently. “I’ll fight for you,” she promised. “Your father should pay for his crimes, not you. You were a victim, my darling, my brave, lost boy, who did what he had to do.” The machines beeped steadily, marking time.
Zayn remained still, locked in his coma. But Helen stayed, holding his hand, finally reunited with her son. After 19 years of questions, she had answers. After 19 years of absence, she had presence. It wasn’t the reunion she dreamed of, but it was real. She would sit here as long as they let her, watching over the child she’d lost and found again, praying for one more miracle, that he would open his eyes and call her mother once more.