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My stomach knots in fear as I wait for him to continue. My heart gallops like a racehorse, faster than ever before, because if it’s bad news about Kaye, I don’t want to hear it. I force myself to take a few calming breaths before CJ starts speaking again.
“When your team came up empty-handed at Deadwood, I asked Mitzy to locate the other students who lodged complaints against Scott.”
“And?”
“They were all reported missing after they graduated from UCSF. Within days of going home.”
“I thought we checked that?”
“No. That’s the thing.” Sam rubs the back of his neck. “We asked Mitzy if any other complaints were filed. She found them. Each girl stayed in his class, passed with flying colors, then graduated. We stopped there because it appeared there was no retaliation against any of the women. Each complaint was rescinded a week before finals, and as I said, all the girls passed his class. We didn’t take it further.”
“Until last night.” CJ paces up and down the length of the room.
“What happened last night?”
“When Deadwood didn’t pan out, Mitzy tried contacting the women to see if Scott might have taken them someplace other than Deadwood.” CJ stops at the foot of my bed. His knuckles turn white as he grips the hard plastic of the footboard.
“When she couldn’t get a hold ofanyof them, she went digging.” Sam grabs the metal rim of the stool and rocks forward. “Like I said, they were all reported missing less than a week after graduation.” He leans back with a stony expression.
“How are we just discovering this now?” It’s a major fail for Mitzy and her team, if true. “Wouldn’t there be a report filed? How was this missed by the authorities?”
“None of the women are locals.” The muscles of Sam’s jaw bunch. “Their disappearances were reported, but only to local officials. None of the girls lived near each other. Three were out of state. One was from Crescent City, near the Oregon border. Another from San Diego. The last from Needles near the Arizona border. That’s six disappearances. All reported. None linked together…” Sam pauses and looks toward me.
“Until now.” I don’t need him to finish his sentence. I do it for him.
“Mitzy’s piecing together what she can from their disappearances, but this looks exactly how it sounds.” Sam’s lips twist.
“I don’t believe in coincidences. We have every reason to believe these men are responsible for the disappearances. We’ve contacted the FBI to assist.”
“I take it that means the BAU is involved?” It’s the obvious next step.
The Behavioral Analysis Unit is a division within the FBI focused on serial murders, sexual assaults, kidnappings, and other criminal acts targeting adult victims.
“Correct.” Sam nods.
“Where does this leave us?” I don’t like the direction this is taking one bit.
“As of an hour ago, a joint task force was formed. Guardian HRS will be acting in an ancillary role, serving as deputy US Marshalls on the task force.”
I feel a bit relieved with this news. Although, it solves nothing. Kaye’s still out there. This won’t be the first time the Guardians assisted the FBI, and our collaborations are always top-notch. Delta team works with the FBI almost exclusively, taking on missions the FBI can’t take on directly, or simply assisting where our unique skillsets come in handy.
“So where does this leave us?” I sit up in bed, needing to move. To do something, and suddenly realize the tether attaching me to the wall is gone.
The chest tube is still stuck in me, but it’s attached to a Heimlich valve: a portable device used for transport.
“There’s something else.” Sam exchanges a look with CJ; it’s one of those looks you never want your bosses to share.
“What?”
“Alec’s missing.” CJ pauses to let that sink in.
“What do you mean—missing?”
Missing is impossible, unless you’re like Hayes, who lost both of the embedded trackers every Guardian is implanted with before being allowed to operate.
“He’s not the only one.” Sam swivels on the stool, expression grim, gaze cast down at the floor.
It’s as if he doesn’t want to look me in the eye. Which means whatever it is, isn’t good. But what could that be…
