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“First of all, how long do you plan to stay in New York?” Casey inquired. “Because ideally I’d like you here until this case is solved so we can better keep an eye on you.”
“I took a two-week break for a family emergency. So I’m not going anywhere.” Dani frowned. “In which case, how will I get you the things you need?”
“Easy,” Ryan replied. “You’ll give us your apartment key. We’ll put together a list of what we need, and you’ll tell us where we can find them. One, probably two of us will be flying to Minneapolis to talk to your parents. We’ll stop at your place and collect the necessary items.”
“Do you both have passports?” Casey asked. “Because that’s one of the things we’ll need. Also your adoptive birth certificates.”
“I have both at home,” Gia replied.
“Me, too.” Dani nodded. “I’ll tell you where they are so you can add them to the list.”
“Good. In the meantime, what county were you each born in?” Casey omitted the word presumably.
“New York. Manhattan.”
“Same here.”
“That’s a good start.”
Patrick interrupted to answer their question about the security angle of things. “For now, I won’t do anything drastic to disrupt your lives. No in-home surveillance. Just a couple of my guys alternating their watch on Gia’s place and a couple of others who’ll follow each of you when you go out. I’ll introduce all of them to you. After that, you won’t even know they’re around. But you’ll be able to reach them at the touch of an iPhone button, even though they’ll probably beat you to the punch.”
“Oh.” More and more, Dani was realizing the magnitude of what they were facing. “Under the circumstances, I think that will make us both feel better.”
“I hope so,” Patrick replied. “Because it means cooperation on your part, including supplying me with a list of your schedules and where you plan to be when. Dani, I realize you don’t have a regular routine in New York. We’ll have to sit down and figure something out. And it goes without saying, there’ll be rules about both your activities. No stupid risks. No taking off without giving my guys a heads-up. And no discussing any part of this with anyone, not friends, co-workers, no one. Are we clear on that?”
Both girls nodded.
“Good.” Patrick studied their faces and was satisfied with what he saw. “Then let’s get the necessary information from you so we can start doing our jobs.”
The next hour was filled with every scrap of information that Dani and Gia could provide on the assaults—including photos of the fire that Gia had taken, in addition to the DNA testing process, the security measures provided by the DNA testing center—which Ryan would follow up on anyway—and the best way to approach their parents. Dani wrote up a list of everything Claire and Ryan needed, each for their own purposes, and sketched out a floor plan indicating where each item could be found.
“Gia, I want to talk to your mom and dad tomorrow,” Casey said. “I’ll call first, tell them who we are, and say we have some questions about a case we’re working on. There’s no point in scaring them off by revealing the whole truth on the phone. When is the best time to reach them?”
“Call them tonight and make arrangements,” Gia replied, worry written all over her face. “They’re up with the sun. And they’ll see you before they leave for work if you can get to their place by eight.” A pause. “Please don’t freak them out. Ask what you need to, but please be gentle. This is going to tear them up. Maybe I should be there.”
Casey was already shaking her head. “That will throw things into emotional chaos. Trust me, Gia. I’ll handle the situation, including making sure they know why you left this in our hands. My expertise is in reading people. I’ll only push as far as I can, and I’ll make sure to ask my questions with respect and care. They’ll be shocked and on emotional overload, but once I tell them how much you love them and that you’ll be coming by tomorrow night—with Dani, just so you can introduce her to them and bring her into your circle—they’ll be okay. Also, Claire will be accompanying me to the meeting. She has an innate way of calming people, and she’ll soften the meeting and the outcome. Everything will be fine.”
Gia had been listening intently, although she still looked concerned. “Will you call me the minute you’re finished and fill me in on everything?”
“Absolutely.”
“What about my parents?” Dani asked. “Which of you is going to talk to them, and when?”
“I’ll go,” Patrick said immediately. “I’ll take the first available flight to Minneapolis, tonight if possible. I’m a parent, too, and my kids are in their twenties. I feel for what your folks will be going through. I’ll ease them through it.” He turned to Marc. “You come with me. You can take care of things at Dani’s apartment while I’m meeting with her parents. That will cut down on our time away.”
“Done.” Marc nodded. “We’ll undoubtedly have to make at least one other trip there. But first things first. Let’s call Dani’s parents now and try to catch a night flight out.” He glanced at his watch.
“Seven o’clock. We’re pushing it.”
The glowing lights that arced across the wall—and the voice that accompanied them—told the team that an answer was near.
“Sun Country has a nonstop flight tonight that departs at nine o’clock from JFK and lands in Minneapolis at 11:11 p.m. central time,” Yoda supplied. “The aircraft is a Boeing seven-thirty-seven. Five coach seats are still available—seats nineteen A and B, seats twenty-four B and C, and seat twenty-five F.”
“Good,” Casey replied. “Book two tickets right away, Yoda.”
“And the return date and time?”
“Late tomorrow evening,” Casey supplied. “That will give Patrick flexibility to talk to Dani’s parents at a time that’s most convenient for them, Marc time to collect everything we need, and more than enough time to get them back home in one day.”
