Rafferty smiled. He liked the way Dan had fallen into conversation with him and had no trouble sharing information about this case. He wasn’t like other federal agents he’d worked with on the other assignments since joining the Lone Wolf Agency.
“Do you mind my asking why you decided to help Justus the way you did?” Rafferty asked.
There was a pause, but he could tell the call hadn’t dropped because he could hear the man breathing.
“She reminded me of my kid sister,” Dan finally said, “and all I could think about is I had to get her out of there. I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe, to keep her from harming herself, and to make sure she made it until she was rescued.”
“Did you think she might harm herself?” Rafferty asked. “Had she done something that led you to think she might?”
“No, Dan explained, “but I’ve heard horror stories from undercover agents who have witnessed girls in similar situations who have taken their own lives rather than suffer through.”
“Is that why you gave her the puppy you found?” he asked.
“That puppy wasn’t found,” Dan admitted. “It was purchased from a breeder and has a tracking chip in it. As long as she keptthat dog with her, I’d be able to locate her no matter where she was sold off to.”
Rafferty raked his fingers through his hair realizing it was getting a little longer than he liked. “Damn. You thought of everything, didn’t you?”
“I tried.”
“Listen, will there ever be a chance that you and Justus can meet up?” he asked. “I know she wants to see you.”
“Not at this time,” Dan told him. “It could put my cover in jeopardy. Besides, word has it that Leland has his men looking for me. My superiors are discussing whether to send me back in there or not. I’ll be in touch if I hear more about Leland or his men where Justus is concerned.”
“What about if you go back undercover?” Rafferty asked.
“Not sure there would be time to let you know that or if it would be wise,” Dan admitted. “Keep her safe.”
The call ended.
Rafferty put his phone on the nightstand and lay back on the bed. He stared up at the ceiling, replaying the call in his head. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Justus about Dan calling. She’d want to talk to him and that wasn’t possible right now. She’d also want to know what they talked about and he really didn’t want to have to make up something and he wasn’t sure if telling her the truth was a good idea either. Keeping quiet seemed like his best option right now.
One thing struck him from the call. Dan had said Minchin was a new player in the area, that meant that Warshafsky had new men working for him after the raid the night of the auction. Maybe that was the reason for the screw ups. Like those guys who had threatened the girls in the elevator and were arrested, now the attempted dognapping of For All that resulted in Minchin’s arrest. That had to have Warshafsky angry that hismen were finding themselves in difficult situations. Maybe this would all play out to their advantage.
He reached for his phone and checked the time. Then he sat up again and gave his brother a call. Rawlins answered on the second ring.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“I just heard from Dan the guy that helped Justus while she was abducted.”
“Wait. Wasn’t he working with Kurtis Nuchols to lure the girls away for abduction?”
“He was, but that was just a cover. Dan is really an undercover FBI agent. Didn’t I mention that to you already?” Rafferty said.
There was a pause. “No. I don’t believe you did,” Rawlins said. “Tell me more.”
Rafferty ran through the whole story with Dan and how he protected Justus while she was captive, all the way to giving her For All with the tracking chip inside. “Of course, I just found out about the chip today. She doesn’t even know that part yet.”
“So, he says he did it because she reminded him of his younger sister,” Rawlins said. “Do you buy that?”
“I do. He sounded sincere about it. Like a brother. Nothing more,” Rafferty said. “I admit, when Justus was talking about him, I was thinking the same thing you were, but she assured me Dan wasn’t like that and after talking to him today, those thoughts were put aside.”
“If you say so,” Rawlins said. “I’d hate for you to fall for the girl only to have this unforeseen love triangle going on there.”
“I hear you,” Rafferty said. “Anyway, the point of my call was that Dan wanted me to know that the man who attempted to steal For All was represented by the same attorney that represented the two guys from the elevator. Dan believes these men all work for Warshafsky and he’s working to prove it. He’shoping a paper trail of court documents, bail receipts, and cell phone records will confirm his theory. Which will in the end lead him to finding Warshafsky and bringing him down.”
“That will be good and let us know that Justus and Chaney are safe,” Rawlins said. “Do you think he will be able to do this before the case goes to trial?”
“Unsure. Dan might have to go back undercover to get close to Warshafsky again,” Rafferty explained. “Word on the street is that Warshafsky and his men are trying to locate Dan since he went missing after the raid the night of the auction. The FBI hasn’t decided whether to send him in or not.”
