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“What’d they…is she okay?” My dad has been working with law enforcement for decades. He has a vast firsthand knowledge of the bad things that can happen.
“She’s okay. She was bound, captive. Possibly raped. Drugged. We don’t know everything yet.”
“Human trafficking?” he asks.
The drugs and possible rape would fall in line with standard human trafficking. Get them addicted, then they become compliant, desperate for the next fix, willing to do anything. But Sophia is an odd target for human trafficking. Typically, human traffickers target young girls from broken families, the kinds of girls who won’t be missed. Or whose families won’t have the means to conduct a thorough search.
“I don’t think so. It doesn’t fit.” Dad understands me. He knows what I’m saying.
“Tell me about the man who took her.”
“Business executive. Hispanic. Mid-thirties. Divorced. Frequent business traveler.”
“Mmmm.” Dad mulls it over.
“They did find evidence he’s been tracking her.”
“You think it was all for a ransom?”
“Maybe. But why hold on to her for so long if it’s all for a ransom? Wouldn’t you want to relay the ransom before the feds were called in? Before there’s national media attention?”
“Are you going to get some time with him?”
“I doubt it. He lawyered up immediately.”
“Well, when things calm down. After a few days have passed. See if you can get in to meet with him. You aren’t affiliated with the FBI. If he’s got a high-powered attorney, he might not let you in. But, if you play your cards right, he might. If you get some time with him, he might want to talk about what he did and why. Could be an excellent opportunity to publish a study on him. And on the case. Turning the ransom around, it’s a strong-arm tactic. And clearly it caused someone he hired to rat him out. Whose idea was that? FBI?”
“It was my idea.”
A familiar deep chuckle crosses the line. I’m smiling, because my dad’s laugh is one of the best sounds in the world. He’s practically halfway around the world, but his familiar belly roll wraps around me. I wish I could bury my face into his neck, just like Sophia did with her dad.
“That’s my lass. Good work.”
“I don’t know, Dad. It doesn’t feel right to me.” I’ve heard my dad say things like that before when working a case. There’s an instinctual element to cases as you piece together the details.
“Well, like I’ve told you before, you’re dealing with a mind that works differently than your own. You are going to need to find a way to spend some time with him. To understand his thought process. What he ultimately wanted to get out of this. If he’s ever done anything like this before, and if not, what was his trigger event.”
Ryan’s light blue eyes flash across the courtyard. His head is bent, in a continued discussion with Agent Ryland, but he’s watching out for me.
CHAPTER22
Ryan
“The missing persons aspect of the case is resolved. But the case will remain open.” Agent Ryland answers my question as I keep Alex in my field of vision. “The District Attorney prosecuting Larry Reyes is going to need more information on who his accomplices were and what happened. The DEA has also expressed interest. You can’t involve a couple of known Cartel affiliates and not stir up multiple federal agencies.”
“Understand.”
“Will you still be involved?”
“Jack asked for my help finding Sophia. And when he asked, the FBI wasn’t yet involved. I assume he won’t need additional assistance. Arrow will be taking over his personal security.”
“Smart. After that reward he paid, he and his daughter will need security for the rest of their lives.”
“He needed better security before this happened.” Jack Sullivan attempted to fly under the radar and out of the public eye, but he didn’t succeed.
“Are you heading home tomorrow?”
It’s almost two in the morning. I’ll get some shuteye before I contemplate flying a helicopter home. Alex is still on the phone, off to the side, away from the commotion. There’s a softness to her expression that has me suspecting her call is a personal one.
