by Barb Han
“Sounds like a plan,” she said, turning to plate the eggs.
The smell of bacon replaced the scent of her shampoo, a mix of citrus, flowers and the sun. As much as he loved bacon, and he did love bacon, her scent was so much better.
He made coffee before fishing his cell from his pocket and placing it on the table alongside two steaming mugs.
“What do we do now?” She plunged her fork into her omelet.
“We eat.”
Chapter Ten
Joshua’s cell phone buzzed and Alice’s heart jumped into her throat. She glanced at the clock. It was half past one and they’d just sat down to lunch, which she had no appetite for.
“It’s Tommy,” he said, glancing up from the screen.
Alice set her glass of water on the table as he answered the call.
“I’m putting you on speaker with me and Alice,” Joshua said into the receiver.
After perfunctory greetings, Tommy said, “I’ll share everything I know. The raid went down two hours ago after the task force received a tip that an empty semi was on its way to the compound for a pickup. The team mobilized quickly into their white minivan two miles from the site. A chopper full of feds took to the air. The plan was to drop in from above while ground troops engaged. There were a dozen law enforcement officers on scene, two of which were my deputies and another pair from our neighbors in Hampstead County. There were four agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and another four from the FBI.”
“Sounds like they brought enough firepower to the fight,” Joshua said as Alice held her breath waiting for the news she desperately wanted to hear. Alice also thought about the fact that so much could go wrong when officers from varying agencies pulled together so quickly without time to rehearse and get to know each other’s habits when going on a raid. It was a fact that could prove fatal when the pressure was on. Knowing each other intimately, who went right and who went left on instinct could mean the difference between walking out alive and mistakes being made, critical mistakes like an officer being shot by another officer. It was always a risk with task forces but especially ones that didn’t have a chance to get to know each other and rehearse. Yes, there were fail-safes in place with plans made accordingly, but under pressure people tended to revert to their comfort zone.
“Eighteen girls with an estimated age range of twelve to sixteen years old were found inside the residence and the primary barn. Ziploc bags containing pills or a powdery material were also discovered and the substance inside is believed to be ketamine.”
Alice’s heart pounded against her ribs and sadness pushed through. So many lives affected. So much innocence lost. In order to be able to deal with situations like this and still do her job well, Alice had learned to compartmentalize her emotions, to hold them at bay. She’d learned to deal with them after her adrenaline spike was a distant memory and she was alone in her bed. The avalanche came when the rest of the world was quiet. And, sometimes, the weight was crushing.
Rather than allow herself to be sucked under, she refocused her energy on the girls, on Isabel, and how all of them needed everyone in law enforcement to keep a clear head. “Do any of the girls match Isabel’s description?”
There was a pause, which pretty much gave Alice her answer.
“I’m sorry,” Tommy said quietly.
Joshua was already standing behind her. His hands on her shoulders were the only things keeping her from unraveling.
“What about the computers? Surely, they can track her if the records were kept up to date like you said before.” She couldn’t suppress the panicked feelings engulfing her so she didn’t try. Instead, she channeled them into crystal-clear thinking and pure determination. Perez would pay. She didn’t know how or when, but he would not be allowed to hurt other innocent children.
“That’s the hope,” Tommy said and she could tell he was trying not to get her hopes up in case the files were too encrypted. “The FBI has them on a plane to Quantico, but then you already know that.”
“And Perez? Any chance he was around during the raid?” Joshua asked.
“He disappeared without a trace, but the feds have a couple of his men,” Tommy said. “Garcia got a visual on Perez. There was heavy gunfire and he disappeared in the chaos.”
“Were any of our guys hurt?” Alice immediately asked.
“An agent and one of my deputies volunteered to go in first. Both were injured in the hailstorm. They’ve been taken to Bluff General Hospital for treatment.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Joshua said and Alice was about to say the same thing. Again, her heart hurt but she couldn’t allow the emotions to take center stage. Not with so many other lives at stake.
“Garcia is in critical but stable condition for now. The federal officer was treated and released,” Tommy said.
There was a moment of silence on the line in a show of respect.
Hopelessness was settling over Alice. Two good men were down, her informant was gone, and Perez was free. Isabel was still out there and most likely had been sold given that she wasn’t at the compound. Of course, this might not be the only holding place. Although, given the number of girls being kept there it probably was. Finding Isabel just got a thousand times more complicated.
“What about Hammond? Did you get him?” Alice asked, praying they picked up the guy who was believed to be ready to roll on Perez.
Tommy’s delay in answering was another blow.
“He was shot.”
“Fatally?” she asked.
“I don’t want to give you false hope. He’s still in surgery and the doctor won’t have answers until he’s out.”
So, no Perez. No Isabel. And the only person the feds had a decent chance of rolling might not make it out of surgery.
“What else?” Joshua said when Alice was unable to keep probing.
“That’s all the bad news, and it’s a lot,” Tommy said. “Here’s some good news. Teams are combing the site and they have all been briefed on what Isabel looks like.”
Not exactly good news but Alice would take what she could get. At least law enforcement was working on her side again.
“I offered my interrogation room and holding cells for the few men who were placed under arrest. And the task force is taking me up on it,” Tommy added.
That was better. At least Tommy would be in the loop now. And Alice had every intention of being in the adjoining room, staring through that one-way mirror during those interviews.
Joshua squeezed her shoulders so he must’ve been thinking the same thing.
“And the best news is that we have two still-sedated but coherent girls who have been treated and who are being brought in for questioning. Again, I offered my private office.”
Alice jumped to her feet and shot a look at Joshua that said she was going down to that station no matter who tried to stop her.
He nodded.
“We’ll be right there, Sheriff,” Alice said.
“That’s not advi—”
“Either way, I’m coming,” she said matter-of-factly. He could argue until the cows came home but she was going to be in that room.
“Perez is still out there,” Tommy started.
“I’ll bring her, Tommy. I can get her there safely,” Joshua said.
“Need I remind you that he and his men will shoot both of you on sight?” There was genuine concern in Tommy’s voice and Alice appreciated there being two people she could count on to have her back. She missed the camaraderie since going out on her own.
“He won’t get anywhere near the town right now,” Joshua reasoned. “Not with all this heat.”
“Normally, I’d agree with you but this guy is trouble. It would be exactly like him to set up near the station just to make sure his g
uys don’t talk,” Tommy said. “I have all my people on extra alert but you need to stay put and wait for me to get back to you. Plus, I don’t have a guarantee the feds won’t arrest Alice for obstruction. I’m working on it.”
“I understand,” Alice acquiesced, ignoring the what-the-heck look from Joshua.
“Good. Thank you. I’m not looking to make any of this worse. I’ll share everything that I can from the interviews,” Tommy said.
Joshua thanked his friend before ending the call. He turned his full attention to Alice. “You want to tell me what the heck that was about?”
She was already starting toward the bedroom to get dressed. “There’s no use arguing with a man whose mind is already made up. Plus, I can’t be sure his phone lines are secure. It’s best if no one expects us, especially Perez.”
“What about the possibility of being arrested?” Joshua asked.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
* * *
“WHAT ARE YOU doing here?” Tommy asked as Joshua ushered Alice through the metal detector in the lobby area of the sheriff’s office.
Joshua knew the layout well given that Tommy was like family and all the brothers had spent considerable time with their friend around town and visiting him in his office.
“I didn’t want to explain myself over the phone but I’ve been tracking this case exclusively for more than six weeks now and I might be able to shed light on comments the girls make during the interview process,” Alice explained. Her jaw was set and determination sparked in her eyes. “I’m here to offer my expertise as a professional consultant, that’s all. You can take or leave my thoughts but I deserve to see what’s going on for myself.”
One of the federal agents stepped into the hallway and into view. He was short with a sturdy build. His red hair was combed to one side and almost too perfectly parted. His gaze shifted from Alice back to Joshua before narrowing. “That won’t be necessary, Alice.”
Joshua noted the man’s posture change as he crossed his arms over his puffed-out chest. At least he wasn’t reaching for handcuffs.
“I can see that you still undervalue the presence of a woman, Special Agent Fischer,” Alice shot back. “What the hell are you doing here?”
What was that all about? Joshua gathered that the two already knew each other but this seemed personal. Tommy must’ve picked up on the animosity, too, because he excused himself to get a cup of coffee.
“This is my investigation now,” Fischer said with another glance toward Joshua, and it was really more like a glare. He focused on Alice. “I need to speak to you in the other room.”
“I’m here as an off-duty cop. The only people I want to listen to are beyond those walls.” Alice motioned toward the back of the building where Tommy’s office would be, standing her ground as she crossed her arms.
“Do I need to remind you that you aren’t supposed to be involved in this investigation?” Fischer asked, his temper flaring. “All I have to do is make one phone call and you’re out of a job and in jail.”
“You want to arrest me? Then do it,” Alice shot back as she put her arms out, taking a page from his book. Joshua hid his smirk.
“Would you excuse us?” Fischer said to Joshua.
Before Joshua could answer, which was going to be negative unless Alice said otherwise, she was already shaking her head.
“This is not a good time, Fischer,” Alice said. “We can play catch-up later. Right now, all I care about is finding out what happened to those girls.”
Alice brushed past him and stalked down the hall.
“You got a problem with me?” Joshua asked Fischer directly as the man stared him down. Joshua always was one to face forward and take the bull by the horns.
“Should I?” Fischer countered.
“I don’t have an issue with you unless you give me a reason,” Joshua said, holding his position. Fischer had tensed and Joshua would be ready should the guy decide to throw a punch.
“You’ll never be as important to her life as I will,” Fischer said.
If that was true Joshua had to believe he would’ve known by now. And yet, her initial reaction to Fischer and their exchange sat like hot nails in Joshua’s stomach. As far as Joshua could tell Fischer had no designs on Alice. Her reaction said there’d been something more than work between them. Joshua didn’t like it even though he had no right to be jealous.
“That may well be but she actually wants to talk to me.” Joshua walked past Fischer and straight to Tommy’s office where Alice sat across from the victims. One was huddled in the other’s arms with her head down. The other teen glanced up at him and immediately tensed, so he took a seat near the door as Alice offered reassurances.
Erin looked like she hadn’t had a shower in days. Her long blond hair clung together in clumps against her neck, her pale blue eyes wide and frightened. She sat hunched over, avoiding eye contact with any of the males in the room. Her clothes were dirty and smelled exactly like she’d been in a barn for days. Fischer strode in still strapped to his High Horse. He stood at his full height next to where Alice sat, which was maybe five foot ten inches.
“Can you describe the men who kept you captive?” Fischer asked without a hint of empathy in his voice.
Erin’s gaze dropped to the floor. She was closing up and that wasn’t good. Maybe Fischer had skipped the day in witness interview techniques where they taught compassion because he was going about this all wrong. Anyone could see that Erin was intimidated by every male presence in the room, so standing over her was likely to have the exact opposite of the desired result. She closed up on his first question and he didn’t seem to notice when he repeated it, louder and slower.
Then again, maybe the man wasn’t thinking clearly after Alice’s rebuke. Joshua got Tommy’s attention and motioned for him to meet in the hallway.
“This guy isn’t going to get anywhere with his tactics and he’s going to hurt the investigation,” Joshua started but Tommy’s hand immediately came up.
“I can’t interfere if that’s what you’re about to ask. This case belongs to the feds and if I stick my nose in they’ll only cut me out.” Tommy had a point.
“Granted. I know you’re right but did you see her? The girl went silent the minute he stood in front of her with his chest puffed out. I don’t care what’s going on between him and Alice. This interview is too important to let personal...entanglements, for lack of a better word, taint it.”
“You’re right and I agree with you one hundred percent,” Tommy said. “And yet my hands are still tied.”
“Well, mine aren’t,” Joshua said, stepping into the doorway fully aware that he was most likely about to kill his own career prospects. Seeing Erin about to cry was more than he could stand by and watch. “Special Agent Fischer, I need to speak to you in the hallway. Now.”
Fischer whirled around. “If you can’t see, I’m in the middle of something...”
Alice stood and placed her body in between Fischer and the girls. “I think that’s a great idea. I believe the rest of these men could use a break as well. Gentlemen...”
The look Fischer shot Joshua could’ve covered the Sahara in a thick blanket of ice. After a quick glance at Alice, Fischer stalked toward the hall, crashing his shoulder into Joshua as he walked by. His men filed out behind him, two of whom thanked Joshua quietly on the way out. As it turned out not everyone had missed sensitivity training.
Fischer, on the other hand, was all fire and fury as he whirled around. “You pull another stunt like that and I’ll make sure your SO has a full incident report for your jacket.”
Joshua didn’t want to think about what this might do to his current application. Even though he didn’t need someone with the FBI on a hunt for his blood while he was trying to get a job with the agency, Erin didn’t deserve
to be placed in the middle of a different fight. Shutting the door to give Alice and the girls privacy was probably another nail in his coffin but Joshua decided to go all in at this point.
Agents and officers lined the walls of the hallway. The two who had thanked Joshua were the only ones standing on the same side.
Twenty minutes later, Alice emerged. “I need to go to the site.”
Chapter Eleven
“There’s no way I’m letting you stomp all over my crime scene,” Fischer said, blocking her path. Alice was not thrilled at seeing the father of her twins. “You got your way with my witnesses now I expect a full debriefing.”
“Then you can ask me anything you want at the compound because that’s where I’m going,” she said before turning to Tommy. “Thank you for the use of your office. The girls are exhausted so I told them to curl up on your couch and get some rest. They need to be with a woman until their parents arrive.”
“I’ll take care of them,” an older woman with a kind face said as she stepped into the hallway. “I’m Abigail and I work for Tommy.”
“I’m Alice.” She quickly found herself on the receiving end of a warm hug.
“I know,” Abigail said with a quick smile.
“The girls are fragile right now. They need someone like you by their side,” Alice said to Abigail. She straightened her shoulders to address the men again. “Someone called both of their parents, right?”
“It was the first thing I did after we positively ID’d each of them,” Tommy said.
Alice didn’t want to get into why it wasn’t Fischer who’d made the calls but she figured it was pretty typical of him. He didn’t “do” family stuff. Isn’t that what he’d told her after he all but accused her of getting pregnant on purpose to derail his promotion?
