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“The only thing I can think of is Ruby’s computer. I put it in my closet for safekeeping after she went missing. Top shelf.”
Sienna had been through Ruby’s computer once. Nothing in her social media accounts or search history appeared out of the ordinary, but there was a strong possibility she’d missed something during her initial scan. She hurried through the bathroom and went into the closet.
“Sienna.” Eli’s warning tone didn’t slow her steps. He followed her as far as the bathroom, keeping his weapon trained on Jesse. The criminal was sitting on the floor next to the dresser, his head between his legs. “We can’t remove evidence.”
She found the laptop right where Amelia said it would be. Sienna scooped it up and tucked the device into her jacket, zipping it closed. “No lectures, Eli. You’re already operating outside of the law. Taking Ruby’s computer before the police get here makes sense. Now help me slip out to the truck before someone notices.”
FOURTEEN
“Ruby suspected something illegal was happening at Fresh Start.”
Eli’s attention shot away from the background check he was currently conducting on Jesse O’Neal, the attacker from Amelia Morales’s home. It was illegal for him to use his ranger resources, but Sienna had access to a paid database that provided much of the same information. Jesse had a long rap sheet that included numerous drug charges, assaults, and thefts. He’d been court-ordered into rehab three months ago following a possession charge. His current address was Fresh Start.
Sienna tapped on the keyboard of Ruby’s laptop. They’d managed to smuggle it out of the house without any of the officers noticing. A pinprick of guilt stabbed Eli. He hated operating outside the boundaries of the law. Taking the laptop was a clear violation of protocol, but turning it over to the Sandalwood Police Department would’ve left them in the dark. Since Chief Ramirez made it clear he wouldn’t reopen Ruby’s missing person’s case, Eli was placed in an untenable position.
Having integrity meant doing the right thing, no matter the consequences. Based on everything Eli knew so far, Ruby was still alive but in grave trouble. If saving her meant breaking a few rules along the way… then so be it.
“How do you know she suspected something illegal was going on?” Eli rose from his chair and circled around to Sienna’s side of the table. It was littered with crumpled notes, loose-leaf papers, and discarded coffee mugs.
Her mane of curls was piled into a messy bun. An off-the-shoulder sweater revealed the delicate line of her collarbone and inches of soft skin. Without warning, Eli’s brain imagined walking up behind her and placing a kiss on the curve of her neck while his fingers trailed along the edges of that bare shoulder.
“Did you hear me?” Sienna glanced up from the laptop screen.
Belatedly, Eli realized she’d been talking, and he hadn’t heard a word. He dragged his attention away from her and focused on the laptop screen. “Sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. What did you say?”
“Ruby handled a lot of things at Fresh Start. She organized fundraisers, did some of the bookkeeping, scheduled the classes and teachers. Last year, Ruby noticed there was a lot of money coming in through anonymous donations. Then she started keeping track of the invoices for items the charity supposedly purchased for fundraising events. The numbers are inflated. It looks like someone was laundering money through Fresh Start.”
Eli pulled up a chair next to Sienna, his heart racing. Laundering money through charities wasn’t a new concept. Criminals had been doing it for years.
He scanned the documents on Sienna’s laptop. There were photographs of donations and invoices, along with a diary of sorts, cataloging the suspicious things Ruby had uncovered. “All of this was on her computer?”
“Yes. I screwed up. When I checked Ruby’s computer, I looked at her social media and search history. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, so I moved on to interviewing her friends. That was an oversight. I should’ve checked her documents as well.” Sienna gestured to the laptop screen. “This was tucked inside another file with a bunch of schoolwork.”
“She purposefully hid it.”
Sienna nodded. “This may have been what Ruby tried to tell her grandmother when she called last week.” Her mouth flattened. “I should’ve been more thorough.”
“Hindsight is always 20/20. Besides, you already had a suspect when Ruby’s friends told you about Dallas stalking her. I would’ve focused on him too.” He leaned back. “Who runs Fresh Start?”
Sienna clicked over to a website. A man with dark hair and a brilliant smile appeared on screen. “Meet Gideon Wade. Thirty years old. No criminal record. His father is on the city council, his mother is a judge. Gideon’s family is friendly with the mayor and the governor.” She flipped through a set of pictures, stopping at one of Gideon with Chief Ramirez. “He’s also friends with the police chief.”
Eli studied the photograph. It’d been taken at some kind of fundraising event. “I’m sure the police chief attends many functions. He is an important member of the community. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
Sienna sighed. “I know, but Chief Ramirez’s reluctance to pursue Ruby’s case is troubling. At this point, it also doesn’t make sense. Logically, he should be pursuing every lead, especially after the newspaper article that came out this morning and the attack against us at the marina. But he insists on keeping the Texas Rangers on a leash. It feels like he’s covering up something.”
He couldn’t argue with her logic, but jumping to conclusions without evidence was a terrible idea. “Right now, we don’t know if Gideon is involved in Ruby’s disappearance. Let’s follow the facts and see where they take us. We need to interview Gideon.”
“Agreed. We also need to check these invoices Ruby took photos of. I want to know if these companies are real, and if so, who owns them. Unfortunately, it’ll take time. Some of them are registered in states that hide the shareholders’ identity from the public. It’ll take subpoena power to discover who they are.”
“Good thing you know someone with subpoena power.” Ryker entered the dining room, carrying a mug of coffee and a plate of sandwiches. He set the food down on the table. “Sienna’s mom promised homemade brownies if we eat these first. I, for one, am taking her up on that offer.”
Eli’s stomach growled. He reached for a sub stuffed with turkey, lettuce, and tomato. Sienna’s mom could turn simple sandwiches into a gourmet treat. And her brownies were out of this world. “Where’s Cole?”
“I left him back at the police station, like you asked. He’d have a heart attack if he knew you’d stolen Ruby’s laptop.”
“We didn’t steal the laptop.” Sienna reached for her own sandwich and a napkin. “Borrowed is a more appropriate word. In fact, you’re welcome to take the computer with you when you go.” She grinned at Ryker. “I’ve copied everything onto another hard drive.”
He snorted. “I doubt the police chief—or Cole—will appreciate the distinction.”
