AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is Natasha Bauer. I’ve got the interviews with the gang members lined up for five PM Eastern time.”
There was no need to question if there was a scheduling conflict. If talking with them could help find Katherine, it was a priority. Amanda would let Logan know she’d be home late, if at all, tonight. At the thought of Logan, a passing jab of guilt coursed through her. “Great. And it will take place via video?”
“You bet. This gives you the benefit of seeing their body and facial language. I’ll be there too.”
Amanda hadn’t expected any less.
“Are you having any luck so far in finding her? Have you heard from Kat’s abductor?” The personal toll nested in Natasha’s tone rang of both hope and desperation.
“We’re following one right now.” Amanda told her about the plates, Simon Wheable, and his shady dealings.
“Sounds like a strong lead. Let me know where it takes you.” There was a brief pause, then Natasha added, “Katherine’s a strong woman, resilient. We must believe she’ll be all right. They took her, so it tells me they want her alive for some reason.”
“Our thinking is the same.” Amanda briefly glanced at Trent, who nodded, but a dark thought creeped in. What if the person plans to torture Katherine first?
Before the call ended, Natasha said she’d have details for the video call sent over.
“Do you think we’re still looking at someone from New York when we’ve been led here?” Trent gestured toward the building for Eco-Friendly.
“I don’t think either are exclusive.”
“Suppose they don’t have to be.”
They left the car and went inside the building. No one was at the front desk.
“Helen,” Amanda called out. “PWCPD. We need to talk.”
“Don’t tell me she saw us coming and ran.” Trent stepped behind the counter, glanced left and right.
Helen emerged from a side room and stopped in front of Trent. “What are you doing back here?”
“Ma’am, we have questions pertaining to one of your clients. All we have is the first name Barry,” he told her. Despite the pleasant address, his tone was firm.
“I’ll need more context than that.” The woman hefted herself onto her chair at the front desk.
“I’m quite sure you have enough already,” Amanda said.
“I’ve heard the name before.”
Amanda smiled half-heartedly. “All right, I’ll put it into more context for you. Simon sells old pieces of crap for cash. Sometimes he throws in a plate. Sometimes it’s just the plates.” She ran with an assumption on that last bit.
“If he does that, it’s news to me.” Flatlined and unbelievable. “I’ve nothing to do with it either.”
Trent angled his head, softening his facial expression, exuding charm. “It doesn’t do you any favors to lie to us, because I’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing.”
Helen glanced away, shifting her gaze briefly to Amanda.
“There’s no reason for you to go to jail for Simon’s crimes,” she said. “You can talk to us.” The implication was there that if she did, she’d be free and clear. Amanda wasn’t going to disclose if she confessed knowledge about Simon’s dealings that made her an accessory.
Helen dramatically huffed. “As I said, I’ve heard of Barry. Simon dealt with him.”
It seemed she was already laying out her defense. Amanda would wager Helen was caught up in every bit of this.
“What can you tell us about Barry?” Trent asked.
“I shouldn’t say much. He is a repeat customer.”
Amanda raised her brows, trusting it would be enough to convey the implication the options were to start talking here or go with them to Central for a chat. Though the latter wasn’t Helen’s choice to make.
