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“Don’t worry about it, son. I recognize that look. Not a day goes by that I don’t see your mother and think that I’m a lucky son of a bitch. I know everything there is to know about that woman and I love her just as much now as I did on our wedding day. In fact, I can tell you that she and your sister are over there making wedding plans.” He used his beer to point to the corner of the room where Winnie and my mother were deep in conversation, Winnie held her phone up and flipped through the screen as my mother and Jo nodded excitedly. I groaned, knowing the James women well enough to know that they were probably looking at Pinterest. I’d been involved in way too many family texts that included a link to the site.
“I just convinced Lily to live with me. I don’t want them freaking her out about a wedding before I can even get my ring on her finger.”
“Let me see if I can run some interference.” He pulled me in for a quick hug, surprising me. “I’m proud of you, son, Lily’s the perfect addition to our family.” He let me go and aimed for my meddling mother and sister, leaving me uncharacteristically emotional.
My parents have always been supportive of my choices in life. From enlisting in the Marines, to starting my own business, they even took becoming grandparents sooner than they expected all in stride. I was grateful to have them and it felt incredible to know they loved Lily, too.
I started to make my way over to her, when my path was blocked by my giant of a best friend. The seriousness on Kane’s face said he had something important to tell me and he didn’t want to do it here. He gestured down the hall to where my office was and I looked at my girls again to reassure myself they were both all right.
We slipped from the party and I wasn’t surprised to find the rest of the team already waiting for us. After closing the door, I crossed my arms on my chest and leaned against it, waiting for whatever they’d found.
Roe was typing quickly on my computer; it wasn’t unexpected that he was able to override my passwords but it was annoying as hell that I’d have to change them again.
“We’ve got an ID on the suspect who purchased the burner.” Kane started. “Guy’s name is Jacob Lucas. His record reads like a how to book on becoming a lifelong criminal. Burglary, credit card fraud, aggravated assault, identity theft, another aggravated assault.”
Roe turned the screen toward me and I looked at the mugshot for Lucas. It was definitely the same man who’d purchased the burner. Even though, in the photo he looked younger and not as put together as he had in the security footage.
“How does someone like that suddenly have a ten thousand dollar watch and designer clothing? And why is he stalking Lily?”
According to her, she’d seen Lucas maybe a handful of times and he never paid her much attention. It didn’t make any sense as to why he’d suddenly show up after all these years.
“Dude’s a bad guy for sure but he isn’t anything more than your average henchman. It’s who he works for that’s your real villain.” Roe’s fingers flew over the keys again and a new image appeared.
The man on the screen was older, if I had to guess late fifties. His hair was streaked with silver and slicked back from his face. Deep grooves indented his cheeks and forehead, and he had a slight gut but his expensive clothing did an immaculate job of hiding the extra weight.
The tuxedo that he was wearing looked custom, shiny cufflinks peeked out of the jacket sleeves and a priceless watch took up most of his left wrist. The picture must have been taken at some rich ass party for people that had a tax bracket much higher than anything I could imagine. He was surrounded by other men in tuxes and women wearing long gowns with faces that had been stretched and tucked until the skin looked anything but natural.
“Meet Charles Ashwood, CEO of Ashwood Enterprises, fifty-eight years old, widower, father, philanthropist and all-around saint amongst men. At least that’s what his lawyers, public relations consultants and board of trustees would have you believe. Ashwood is well known for being an intimidating asshole in the business world. His specialty is buying up smaller companies for a steal when they mysteriously get into financial trouble. There are some murmurings about Ashwood starting that trouble but nothing’s ever been proven. He has a phenomenal record of being able to settle disputes outside of court. Rich assholes always think they can buy what they want.”
Roe was staring at the image on the screen, hate and disgust clear in every line of his face. He knew the kind of circles someone like Ashwood would run in better than anyone else in this room. He’d grown up in a world just like this and hadn’t gone back since he’d turned eighteen.
“Ashwood, why the fuck does that sound so familiar?” I squinted at the image, trying to make the connection.
“Charles Ashwood has one son, Carter, ring any bells?” Roe questioned.
“That piece of shit drunk driver?” I said, surprise clear in my voice.
“The one and only,” Sam confirmed. “I watched that idiot for weeks before he up and disappeared. We stopped investigating when the victim’s family decided to drop the lawsuit. They’d signed a non-disclosure agreement and gave us no reason for why they were dropping our services. Pretty clear now that Daddy Warbucks is the reason.”
“All seems a little too coincidental, doesn’t it?” Kane voiced my exact thoughts.
“We’re thinking the sudden disappearance of his son and the hush money to the family were to keep the heat off his own back. Turns out Ashwood senior has a predilection for young girls. Some whispers in his circles say that he uses his money to acquire them.”
“You think this is who was going to buy Lily from her father?” My jaw clenched tight enough to crack my teeth.
“That’s our working theory. We don’t know how he found her, considering she’s done a damn good job of hiding for the last couple of years but this could definitely be our guy. How do we handle this? He isn’t some small-time perp that we can waltz into the sheriff’s office. Ashwood probably has dozens of cops and judges ready to do his bidding. If he really is buying women, he hasn’t been caught yet and that’s because he has deep fucking pockets.”
Rage and unease swam through me in equal measure. Ashwood was elite enough to be untouchable, at least by our usual methods. But I knew someone that might be able to help us, someone might be outside of Ashwood’s reach.
I made eye contact with Kane, who was already watching me in that resigned way that said he’d come to the same conclusion. “He could help, Gray. I know he’s a dick and I hate to say it but I think we can trust him with this.”
“God damnit,” I muttered under my breath as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I scrolled until I found his number and checked with each of my team members one last time before I hit dial.
“James, didn’t expect to be hearing from you.” Special Agent Greggs’ voice was just as unwelcoming and gruff as the last time we’d talked.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect to be calling. I could use your help.”
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