THEY ARRIVED IN Soledad as a dusky steel blue sky faded to black like a movie that had come to an end.
Loren had done a lot of thinking along the way. Melissa fell asleep in Amy’s lap. Amy stared out the window at the inky landscape, not knowing what the future would hold.
Keller occasionally checked in with Loren to see if he could be of some help. “Run some ideas off me,” he said as they approached the exit.
“There’s no perfect solution,” Loren said.
Keller laughed. “There never is. But how do you define perfect?”
Loren held out her hand and raised a finger with each point. “Amy is not prosecuted. Melissa doesn’t end up in an abusive environment—” she glanced over the seatback to make sure the girl was still asleep—“and her parents do time for all the crimes they committed, including arson, insurance fraud, and theft of personal property. I remain an agent in good standing. And you get your money.”
Keller shook his head. “Nope. No one solution that’ll accomplish all that.”
“And I have to somehow get that car I left in SLO to Señor Gomez,” Loren said.
“You’ve got more important things to deal with,” Keller said. “The police will find it—if they haven’t already—and will be returning it to Gomez once they’re done processing it.”
Loren pointed toward the freeway. “Get off here.”
As Keller looped around and followed her directions to the disabled BuCar, Loren turned on her Samsung.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to salvage my career.” She called Hill and waited while it rang.
“Jesus Christ, Loren. That you?”
“Yeah. Been a hell of a day. Got a flat when I pulled off the freeway for lunch, then fell in a ditch and, I dunno, I think I hit my head and lost consciousness. Just came to, it’s dark out.”
There was a pause of hesitation. Then, Tran’s voice: “Your phones were off all day, Loren.”
“Left my iPhone at home. Samsung battery must’ve died. Not sure. I got back in the car and plugged the thing in. It booted up and I called you.”
An awkward silence ensued.
“You guys still there?”
“Yeah,” Minh said. “Here. You, uh, you okay?”
“I’m—probably could use some food and water. Got a splitting headache. And I’ve still gotta change the flat. Or call road service.”
“Where are you?”
“Soledad.”
“We’re only about forty-five minutes off your twenty. Get in the car and rest. We’ll change the tire.”
Forty-five minutes? Holy crap. “Thanks guys.”
She hung up and let her head fall back against the headrest. “That did not go the way I planned.”
Keller chuckled. “What has?”
“My colleagues will be here in forty-five minutes. Maybe less.”
“Then we’ll be long gone by then.” He pulled in front of her Ford and Loren and Keller got out.
She sighed deeply and looked out into the darkness. Fields were out there somewhere, but at this time of night the topography was formless.
She swung her gaze to Keller and saw that he was holding a handgun. And it was pointed in her direction.
Loren looked over at Amy, whose view was blocked by the BuCar.
“Mickey, what the fuck?”
“Loren. I’m real sorry. I respect you a lot, despite our differences over the years. Everything I said earlier was sincere. But I have to take the kid. It’s my job.”
Loren snorted. “Seriously? You’d bring the girl back to an abusive mother?”
“Not the way I want this to go down, but there are other considerations. Personally, I don’t think the parents are gonna be around. Like you said, both will be going to prison.”
“And then what?”
“Amy could petition the court, or however it’s gotta happen, to adopt her.”
“Amy. Adopt a child? Given her history of mental illness? There’s no way a judge would go along with that. They don’t know her like I know her. She’s a fantastic mother. Melissa—Melissa saved her life. If there was one thing that could heal the pain she’s experienced, it was another little girl that she and Dan created.”
“Look,” Keller said. “I’m not a judge, I’m not a jury. Hell, I’m not even an officer of the court anymore. I’ve got a private client. And my job isn’t to hold a trial out here in the middle of freakin’ nowhere.”
“Don’t forget who I am,” Loren said. “I’m a federal agent and you’re holding a gun on me.”
“Yeah, well, I’d never forget that. But don’t you forget how this goes. It cuts both ways. Anything happens to me, there’s always Tarzana.”
Loren ground her molars. “So I let you ruin my sister-in-law’s life. Or I arrest you—and we both lose our jobs.”
“You’d do time. A lot of it. Me?” He shrugged. “Who knows. My boss has a lot of money and even more contacts in the federal government.”
“Mickey, you’re still under arrest. And my partners will be here very soon.”
She held up her right hand and exposed her Glock. “Looks like we’ve gotta make a deal. Let Amy and the kid go and I’ll let you go, look the other way.”
“You don’t know how to do that. Pardon the expression, but it’s not in your DNA.”
“It’s my idea. As hard as it is for me to do this, I made the offer. Take it or leave it.”
Keller’s gaze roamed her face.
“Please. Mickey, I’m asking you as a sister-in-law. As a mother. As a former colleague. I’m asking you for a favor.”
“A favor?” He laughed. “That’s a five-million-dollar ask.”
They locked eyes. Loren swallowed hard. “A what?”
“A lot more, if it costs me my job.”
“No one will ever know you had her and let her go.”
Keller bit his bottom lip so hard he drew blood.
Loren reholstered her Glock. “I trust you.”
“Then you’re crazy.”
“I know who you are at your core. And I know you’re going to do the right thing here.”
Keller closed his eyes. “Dammit.”
“Obviously I can’t ever replace the money you’ll be out. And my god, is it really five million?”
“My cut’s fifty percent, but yeah. That’s what they paid.” Keller took a deep breath. “Actually, it started at five. Christine Ellis upped it to fifty.”
“Million?”
“Provided I bring Melissa back safely and kill your sister-in-law.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“When I said I ended up working for the bad guys, I wasn’t kidding.”
Loren studied his face. “Do this for me and I’ll forever be indebted to you.”
Keller scoffed.
“C’mon, Mickey. Assuming I keep my job, that’s worth a lot.”
He holstered his sidearm. “Even if I fail here, my boss won’t give up. They’ll send in someone else. They will get the girl back. And take out Amy in the process. Christine put the hit out on Amy.” He waited a beat. “She paid. It’s not rescindable.”
“Then I need your help.”
Keller laughed. “That’s—that can’t happen. If I have any hope of keeping my job, I can get away—maybe—with walking away. But aid and abet you? Today was…inexcusable. I let my emotions and feelings get in the way of doing my job. Whether it’s you or me, cop or agent, that can’t happen.”
“She’ll have to disappear.”
“Amy? With a young girl?” Keller shook his head. “Even the Marshals Service has difficulty with witness protection when children are involved. How’s Amy gonna do it by herself?”
“She’ll have to make it work.”
He snapped his finger
s. “Unless…Butch Thurston. WITSEC.”
“WITSEC? No way would—”
“He retired from the Service. He owes me. Might be willing to get Amy and Melissa new identities, place them in a small town somewhere under assumed names. Faux WITSEC. Maybe even better than real witness protection. No paperwork. But no monthly stipend, either.”
“Zach and I can take care of that. We’ll hire Butch, pay him a salary to look after them. A few years, who knows?”
“It’d have to be untraceable. Cash, small amounts.”
“Of course.”
He thought a moment. “The Bureau will never let this go.”
“No,” Loren said. “Probably not. What about your boss?”
“Once the IPO goes through—or falls through because they’re arrested and convicted—Tait may let the whole thing drop.”
Loren glanced at her watch. “We need to reach some kind of deal here.”
Keller lifted his brow. “If you’re willing to foot the bill and if Butch is willing and able to do it, it could work.”
“Call him. Ask.”
“And the rest?”
“We’ll figure it out. But we’re running out of time. Call Butch. If he’s not on board we’re screwed. No way around it.”
Keller pulled out his phone and dialed.
80
Ten minutes later, Loren opened the Lincoln’s rear passenger door. “Hey sis. How you doin’?”
“What was that all about?”
“Nothing. Nothing to worry about.”
Amy squinted disbelief.
Loren placed a hand on Amy’s forearm. “Everything’s gonna work out.”
“What does that mean?” Amy asked, studying Loren’s face. “How?”
“Barring a major flub by the assistant US Attorney, Melissa’s parents are going to prison. They’ll be out of the picture. Melissa would go to a foster home. She has no next of kin.” Loren laughed. “Except that’s not really true, is it? She’s got you.”
“What are you saying?”
Loren looked at the sleeping girl, her head comfortably resting in Amy’s lap. She was in that kind of very deep slumber when kids can sleep through almost anything. “We’re arranging for you to be given new identities. Someone who used to do this for the Marshals Service will be relocating you. We’ll get you set up at a hotel tonight. Tomorrow a man named Butch Thurston will come and pick you up. Listen to everything he says. Do whatever he says. Don’t question it. You and Melissa will start new lives together.”
Amy’s eye began twitching uncontrollably. “Where?”
“Don’t know. And I can’t know. Somewhere safe.”
“But what about you? And Zach, and the boys?”
Loren pursed her lips. “There’s a cost for this, sis. And that’s the price. No contact with us. For a while. How long, I don’t know. The statute of limitations in California for kidnapping a child younger than fourteen is six years.
“But kidnapping on a federal level is much more serious—there’s no statute of limitations. Charges can be filed at any time following the crime.”
“That means I can never come home, can never see you guys again.”
“We don’t know that. Using intermediaries, Zach and I will try to find a way out of this for you. Maybe an attorney somewhere will have a novel approach. But that’s—”
“Wishful thinking.”
Loren moved her hand over Amy’s. “We won’t give up hope. And you shouldn’t either.” She gave a squeeze. “In the meantime, you get to make a life with your daughter.” Loren laughed quietly. “Never thought I’d ever get to say that to you.”
Amy allowed a smile to spread her lips. “I know.” The grin evaporated. “But the Ellises? You really think they’re going to prison?”
“I do. But Christine is a vindictive bitch. I’m not sure she’ll admit defeat. That’s another reason why I want to make sure you’re safe.”
“If the feds can’t find me, I doubt anyone Christine hired could, either.”
Loren looked into Amy’s eyes with intensity. “I would not make that assumption, sis. That’s why no contact means no contact. No emails. No text messages. No photos in the mail. No social media posts. Don’t log into any of your existing accounts. Nothing. One mistake could be all it takes, because people will be listening. It’s too risky. Your cover gets blown, if you’re lucky enough to escape, you and Melissa will have to uproot and leave, start over again.”
Amy wiped a tear from her cheek. “Okay.”
“When things calm down, I’ll get in touch with Butch and he’ll get word to you. It could be a year, probably more before you hear from us.” Loren touched the side of Amy’s face, then gave her a hug. “You’ve gotta go now. My partners are on the way and they can’t find you here. Mickey’s gonna take you to a safe place.”
She looked left, out the window. “He’s—are you sure I can trust him?”
Loren could not help but laugh. “Yeah, I trust him. I’ve known him a long time. It’s complicated. He’s complicated. But at his core, he’s a good guy.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. You take care. I love you.” She dug out the burner and gave it to her. “I’ll have Zach call you on this sometime tonight. Then give it to Butch to get rid of.”
Amy nodded. Loren stole one last look at Melissa—at the niece she might never get to know—and closed the door.
81
Loren had removed the wig and contact lenses. Keller would dispose of the former, while she tossed the latter into the adjacent farmland. She had done some good work with that disguise, but the time had come to retire it and part company.
Because Loren had told Hill and Minh that she had fallen into a ditch and lost consciousness, she had to make it look believable. After Keller drove off, Loren bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it into her blouse and pants. She mixed a little with saliva and smeared it on her cheek and then gathered some branches off the adjacent field and scraped them across her face and neck to increase the believability of her story.
She capped it off by smashing a rock against the side of her skull. It hurt and raised only a modest bump…but it was enough to bolster her depiction of the intervening “lost” hours after going off the grid.
Loren had just gotten into the Ford when her Samsung rang. It was Hill. “Ryder.”
“Where you at?”
She gave him instructions on how to get to the road. “I’m on the left shoulder. The car with the busted back tire.”
Two minutes later, their BuCar pulled up alongside hers.
Loren got out to greet them.
“Man, you look like shit.”
She managed a smile. “Do me a favor. My head’s killing me. You see anything?”
Hill parted her disheveled hair and turned on his phone’s flashlight. “Yeah. Looks like—” he touched the spot and she jumped— “a nasty little bump.”
“Must’ve gotten it when I fell. Now I know what a bruised apple feels like.” She nodded at her disabled vehicle. “How long you think it’ll take to change the tire?”
“Ten minutes,” Minh said as he pulled the jack out of the trunk.
“Would one of you mind driving my car? I don’t think I should be behind the wheel.”
“You wanna go to the hospital?” Hill asked.
“Honestly, I just want to go home. See my husband. I have any problems, he can run me over to the ER.”
“Okay, have it your way.”
Loren lay down in the back and tried to clear her mind while Minh and Hill worked their magic.
They were on the road shortly thereafter, Hill chauffeuring Loren and Minh driving his own vehicle.
“So did I miss anything in the office today?”
“Just your sister-in-law.”
“S
he came by the office?” Loren pushed herself up. “What’d she want?”
Hill glanced at her—but in the darkness Loren could not make out his expression.
“You don’t know?” he said.
“Know what?”
“San Luis Obispo PD had her and the girl in custody, but Santa Ma—”
“Hang on a second. What girl? San Luis—what’re you talking about?”
Hill pulled over and swiveled in his seat to face her. “The five-year-old she kidnapped.”
Loren looked at him, doing her best to register confusion—and shock. Not having any acting experience, she had no idea if she was being convincing—or overdoing it. She tried to keep her focus, determined to play a role, while not letting her face betray her. “Jimmy, if this is a joke, it’s not funny. My sister-in-law has been—”
“A fugitive.”
He proceeded to explain what they knew, Loren dropping her chin to her chest as she absorbed the information. She subtly shook her head a few times in disbelief.
When he finished, Loren made eye contact. “She’s suffered terrible emotional and mental anguish ever since her husband and daughter were killed in that accident, but this doesn’t sound like her.”
“She never said anything to you about Melissa Ellis? About planning to…take her?”
“She never said anything to me about even thinking about doing something like this. I—I would’ve talked her out of it. Obviously.” She looked out the side window. “My god, Amy…”
“Santa Maria RA sent a couple of agents, but when they arrived on scene, Amy and the girl were gone.” Hill looked hard at her. “Story I got was that two individuals impersonating federal agents took custody.”
“Two people? What—how—”
“One of ’em had creds and a badge. And knowledge of FBI procedure.”
“Who was it?”
Hill chuckled. “He didn’t read the name on the creds, but the woman identified—”
“Woman? A female agent?”
“Yep. Said her name was something like Maureen Rader.”
“Do we know who that is?”
“No one in the Bureau, that’s for sure.”
The Lost Girl (A Mickey Keller Thriller Book 1) Page 27
