“What did you tell her?” he asked.
“I told her we would check some things from our end first and if we had to make the trip to Ireland, we would. The boys are checking credit card charges, hotels, all the usual.”
“Broussard. Didn’t she marry?” frowned Luke.
“She did,” laughed Cam. “To a Broussard. Not related but still, very odd. He died of a heart attack or something about five years ago. Her daughter is mid-thirties, not married, no boyfriend, but has a successful career in day trading.”
“What the fuck is that?” frowned Luke.
“I don’t know all of it,” said Eric, “but according to Jean, day trading involvesopening and closing positions in stocks, options, futures, currencies, or cryptocurrencies within a single trading day, ensuring no positions are held overnight. I guess it makes it harder to play the system.”
“Again, what the fuck does that mean?” asked Luke.
“Honestly?” smirked Eric. “No damn clue. Ask your uncle. But Allison didn’t think it had anything to do with her disappearance.”
“Well, let’s check it all and we’ll find out,” said Luke.
“Hey, I have some preliminary information,” said Hiro. They all nodded as the other man took his seat.
“Aurora Broussard arrived in Dublin nine days ago, checking into the Sherbourne Hotel, very nice, very upscale. She paid with a credit card and was supposed to be there six nights. When the maid when to clear the room, all her things were still there. The hotel said they left her a message on her cell phone but she didn’t return the call.
“It’s their practice to leave the belongings in the room for up to forty-eight hours. If they don’t hear from the guest, they contact the authorities. Apparently the mother did that the very next day. She said Aurora called her like clockwork at 0700 her time. When she didn’t call and didn’t answer her own phone, she called the police.
“None of her credit cards have been used. I cannot find a location for her phone and there is no record of her having checked into any other hotel, bed and breakfast, hostel, or anything else in all of Ireland.”
“What did she do that last day the hotel saw her?” asked Hex.
“Hotel concierge said that he arranged a private tour for her on the western coast of Ireland. It’s a service they frequently do business with and they have a great reputation.”
“Has anyone spoken to them?” asked Hex.
“That’s where we start getting weird vibes. The police said they couldn’t find the driver, Eoghan Walsh. He’s fifty-nine, a widower, no children, no pets. He’s been an independent tour guide for almost twenty years with a stellar reputation.”
“What the fuck is happening?” muttered Eric. A phone rang and Hiro held up his finger.
“Hold on. Legacy. Yes, that’s right. I see. I see. And the body? Got it.” He ended the call and looked at the four men.
“We’re going to Ireland, aren’t we?” frowned Luke. Hiro nodded.
“Someone damn sure is.”
CHAPTER TWO
“The driver’s car was found in a shallow pond near Blackweir Bridge. The driver was still inside and the police said he had a look of terror on his face. Aurora’s purse, identification,passport, money, credit cards, everything were still in the back seat but she was not.”
“Window down?” asked Hex.
“No. Windows were up,” said Hiro.
“What the shit? Did she get out somehow?” asked Eric.
“I can’t answer any of that from here,” said Hiro. “I do think you’re going to need a few men for this. The local police are happy to answer your questions but they don’t want interference from the ‘yanks’. Their words, not mine.”
Joseph walked into the room, staring at Luke as if sending a subliminal message directly to his old friend.
“You want to go?” asked Luke.
“I don’t want to but Julia says she must and that means I will go with her.”
