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Aaron jumps in. “Right, so I doubt we have time to put a pin in the law enforcement thing. The hospital is duty-bound to report something like that, so the girls have probably already started talking to the cops.”
“And to the feds. Dammit,” Mia fumes, her fist softly pounding on the table. “I want justice for those girls. But I’m not confident they’ll get it until we expose the rat.”
Boss cricks his neck to face me. “Check the web for media stories and monitor that for a few days. That many girls dropped at a hospital might make the news. Perhaps media pressure could hold the feds accountable for prosecution.”
“Should we tip them off?” Shep asks.
“Let’s wait on that,” Boss decides. “I want to see what else we find out about the investigation first.”
Mia scoffs, shaking her head. “Even if the media applies pressure, that only lasts until the next news cycle. The FBI might give the public some lip service, but by the time it goes to trial, no one will remember. And there are a million ways a case can be botched after arrests are made.”
“Not to add on to the shit pile,” Jonesy interjects. “But an investigation already on the books might make protecting Savin a bigger challenge since some of those girls have likely already described him or mentioned the other guys from the abduction part of the ring.”
“They’re calledlover boys,” Mia explains. “They’re the men who go out and find girls, flirting and pretending to be romantic interests, then abduct them.”
My mind whirls, but one thought breaks through clearer than the others. “Although I’m grateful for Savin’s help and sensitive to his complicated predicament with the Bratva having his sister, if we can’t save him, then so be it. We can’t fix all this shit. The courts will need to sort his situation out.”
My opinion is met with somber nods from the team.
After a few tense seconds, Boss asks, “What law enforcement jurisdiction is the hospital in? That’s who would have responded to a call from the hospital.”
On my laptop, I perform a quick search. “This is lucky. It’s CPD.”
Boss calls Peg on his cell phone. “Get the chief on the line for me ASAP. If he’s not available, get me Patterson.”
“Anything else critical before we break?” Boss asks the group.
“The reason I brought up the girls originally was because my angel recommended we look into some counseling and resources for them to help them get their lives back together. We have extended family with a vast philanthropic agency, a big part of which involves battered women, trafficked women, and the like. Can I contact them to see if they’d be willing to take this on? Now that we’ve saved these girls, maybe we can facilitate the next step. Rescue— check. Justice— we’re working on it. But what about recovery? Sue and I would like to take that on.”
“That’s why Sue asked if we could find the girls,” Mia whispers, her tone reflecting awe of Leo’s tenderhearted wife.
“Yes,” Boss decides without hesitation. “I like that. Not something we’re obligated to do, but if you have the contacts, by all means, use them.”
“Who’s the extended family?” Mia asks, eyes narrowed thoughtfully at Lionheart.
“The owners of Langley S&D— Hudson and Amber— have a foundation. Sue’s brother Nick is married into the family. We’re all at a lot of functions together. Game nights and whatnot.” He leans forward. “Pro tip. Don’t play Monopoly with Cort Amos.”
Jonesy cackles. “I guarded that dude for a minute during that stalker op a few years ago. He’s a nut job. Kept feeling my biceps and trying to prove his were bigger.” His laughter grows louder. “Great guy, though. Tiny biceps. His wife Amber is as sweet as cotton candy.”
“Leo, can you get me their contact information by the end of the day? I’ll pay a visit to Tomer and his girl this evening. Aside from chewing his ass for not trusting me with this, I’d like to make sure she gets some help.”
Another wave of guilt socks me in the gut, making my breakfast threaten to revolt. I don’t want him to pin all this on Tomer.
But then again, maybe that’s where it belongs. He’s clearly known Lettie the longest.
Fuck. I’m so confused.
“Okay, all of you can fuck off to do your jobs.”
He stands, rapping his knuckles on the table. “And be careful out there.”
Chapter36
Yeah, I got issues
MIA
With Big Al’s decree that those involved in the rescue op avoid staying alone, Klein’s idea that I sleep at his place isn’t something I can object to any longer.
