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“If you have someone in mind who can be tapped without getting Hannah in more hot water it might help.”
Rick glanced from Eva to Ross. “Our own joint task force?”
“Hey, it’s part of our mission statement,” Ross said, spreading his hands wide. “We facilitate an exchange of information between agencies.”
“Usually only when those agencies ask,” Rick said.
“But always when our friends are in need,” Ross countered.
“Not arguing, just doing my job as devil’s advocate. What can go wrong often does.”
“That’s what worries me here. Maybe your sources will have something better than mine. All I’m getting is she left for a delayed honeymoon after she was busted to desk duty for losing a witness.”
Rick frowned. “Losing meaning what exactly?”
“She’d convinced a Baltimore gang leader’s pregnant girlfriend to give up information in exchange for safety and a new life for her and the kid.”
Rick’s face went blank and Ross knew what he was thinking. The same dark thoughts had rolled through his mind too. Some situations were automatic non-targets, but the criminal mind rarely strayed toward compassion or pity. If something was in the way of the goal, it was eliminated. Anyone willing to turn on the gang would be an obstacle quickly removed.
Unflinching loyalty and devotion were part of gang culture. Breaking out wasn’t meant to be easy and it rarely went well. But killing a pregnant woman?
“I’ll see what I can do. When do you want a commitment?”
“I’ve got the overhead views,” Eva interrupted them, “With any excuse for a landmark tagged already.”
Ross and Rick came around the desk to stand behind Eva.
“How can he stand living in the middle of nowhere?” Rick mused.
Eva gestured toward the window. “Look around. Haleswood isn’t much different.”
“We’re a metropolis compared to that,” Rick leaned in. “Your ten mile radius doesn’t even catch that office park to the northwest.”
“What are you thinking, boss?” Eva used her mouse to trace circles around the truck stop.
“Choke points. If the cartel is using Bart’s place to transfer raw materials, people, or something else, they aren’t dropping in from the sky.”
“There’s only one real way in and out. Patriot Plaza is the only thing at that exit.”
“Other than whatever that is,” Ross said, pointing to the office complex just outside of the radius Eva had pulled up.
“I’ll dig deeper,” Eva said.
“Thanks.” Ross rocked back on his heels. “The cartel is in an urban business and the intel says they’re determined to carve their piece out of the D.C. market. What do they need with Bart’s truck stop?”
The team went quiet, reviewing connections and angles.
“I’ve combed hours of security footage in the parking lot and scanned faces in and out of the store. So far nothing too helpful has popped up.”
“Could it be they just want Hannah?”
Ross turned to stare at Rick. “What do you mean?”
“They’ve been dating, right? She’s in and out of there on a consistent basis.”
“Hannah isn’t dirty,” Eva said.
“Relax.” Rick patted her shoulder. “That’s not my point. If she was the problem you’d have found it by now.”
