“Okay well I think before we take this any higher we need to see if this is genuine. I don’t want to go to them with this only for someone to make me look like a muppet by telling me it’s a fake.”
Lexi checked her watch. “He won’t be there now, he works days, but we should be able to grab him first thing in the morning.”
“Looks like we’re done for the day then unless you’ve got anything else you need to do back at the farm?”
“Nope. I did all the paperwork on that gas station robbery that you keep nagging me about and all the other stuff can wait.”
“Fancy a beer then?” He hadn’t been able to shake yesterday’s phone call and he really didn’t want to be stuck at home with his own thoughts again that night.
“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll just make a call.”
Elliot tried not to listen to the conversation but it was impossible when you were sitting in a car with someone.
“Mom? Yeah, sorry I gotta work late. Mmmmm. Yeah, something came up. Oh really? Oh, I completely forgot. Tell him I’m sorry and we’ll do it another time. Yeah. Okay, bye Mom.” She grinned as she put the phone down.
“Why do I get the feeling that I’ve just been used? Again?”
“Because you have. Thanks to you I no longer have to go on another one of mom’s blind dates. I’ve been trying to think of a way of getting out of it all day.”
“Glad I can be of some help,” he said, trying to look hurt.
“Yeah, that look won’t work on me, mister. Now, you buying me that beer or what?”
Twenty-One
Boy that girl could drink. He’d only planned on having a couple of beers but then a few of the uniform guys had arrived and drinking games had quickly followed. Lexi had put him to shame though, out drinking him easily. She laughed as she walked him to a cab and poured him in, giving the driver his address, and he knew that it was going to be a while before he was able to live that one down.
Getting to the office the next morning, every step sent jackhammers of pain shooting through his skull.
“How’s your head?” she smiled as he walked into the office after her for a change.
“Ugh.”
“Oh dear.” she reached into her desk drawer. “Here you go.” she handed him a couple of tablets that he quickly dry swallowed.
“I thought it was the Irish who were supposed to be able to drink like that,” he muttered as he gently lowered himself into his chair.
“The Greeks do a pretty good job, too.” She was smiling widely and showing no ill effects from the night before. “Did you remember to bring the laptop?”
“Yeah,” he pointed to the bag he’d put down by his desk. “You want to go now?”
“Might as well. Sid tends to get very focused and if we don’t catch him early he’ll get engrossed in something else.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
***
“Yeah, it’s the real deal all right. This is some sick shit.” Sid wasn’t what he’d been expecting at all. He’d envisioned a nerdy guy, all pale skin and glasses. In fact, he was blond, tanned and looked like he’d spent the morning surfing. Admittedly a difficult feat with the nearest sea shore several hundred miles away but still, that’s what he looked like.
“So can you tell us anything more about it? Like a name and address for the person running this site?”
Sid laughed at his clear ignorance. “No, it’s not as simple as that. Ever. I’ll look into it and see what I can find out but these guys are usually pretty slick.”
“Okay. Do you need us to leave you the laptop?”
“Nah, I’ve got everything I need. I’ll give you a call when I get something.”
“So, what now?” Lexi asked as they left Sid’s office and headed back downstairs to their own floor.
“I think we have to take it to the boss.”
“Agreed. It’ll have to be Jenkins, though, the Captain’s on vacation for a couple of weeks.”
Oh great. He’d only met Jenkins a couple of times but he didn’t like the man. He was more politician than policeman and was just as slippery.
“Shit, I forgot. Okay, well, Jenkins it is then.”
Jenkins’ office was just down the corridor from the detectives’ room. The door was closed as usual. Not a believer in an ‘open door’ policy, Elliot thought as he raised his hand to knock. In all the time since he’d joined the unit he didn’t think he could ever remember seeing it open.
“Come,” a voice boomed, inviting them in.
“Boss,” Elliot said as he walked in, closely followed by Lexi.
“Ah, Mitchell, Constantinou,” Jenkins looked up briefly from the papers he was reading on his desk and waved at them both to sit. “Be with you in just a second.”
Elliot looked round the room as they waited. On one wall there were several picture frames featuring Jenkins shaking hands with various important and, in a couple, famous people. On the opposite wall were framed diplomas. No pictures of any family as far as he could see.
“So,” Jenkins looked up and slid his reading glasses off his nose. “What can I do for you both?”
Elliot looked at Lexi who nodded at him to take the lead. Starting from the beginning, Elliot explained everything they knew so far. Jenkins didn’t interrupt and just sat back, listening intently.
“And that’s where we are now?” he asked as Elliot finished speaking.
“Yes,” Elliot nodded. “As you can see, this could potentially be huge. We have no idea how many women could be held in captivity or by whom.”
Jenkins eyes lit up at the mention of the word ‘huge’ and Elliot could almost see him figuring out how this could advance his career.
“So, what do you propose?” he leaned forward, his elbows on his desk.
“We need to call in the FBI.”
Lexi was nodding her agreement.
He continued. “They have the resources to deal with this and the intelligence networks. We don’t. And, it involves at least two kidnappings that we’re aware of, so this is squarely in their jurisdiction.”
Jenkins was nodding. “Yes, but do we actually know that? We haven’t actually verified that any of this is true.”
Elliot couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “We’ve just seen Sid and he confirms that the website is real.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t actually mean anything does it? Anyone can put a website up.”
“What?” Elliot was struggling to keep his voice calm. “What about all the women that were supposed to have been killed in these wrecks that are now on there?”
Jenkins held his hand up. “All of whom were positively identified by their dental records. Listen, I’m not saying that there isn’t anything going on here, but I think we need a bit more before we go running to the feds.”
“Sir, with respect, we need to move fast on this and we just don’t have the resources,” Lexi jumped in. “The FBI could be all over this and fast. To be honest, I don’t know where we’d start.”
“Well it seems to me that the first thing we do is confirm whether the women in those wrecks are who they’re supposed to be. If we’re doubting the dental records, then we’ll need to run DNA.”
“That’s going to take time, sir. If we’re talking checking all the victims we’re going to need to arrange to get bodies exhumed, permission for the exhumations, DNA samples from relatives …” he tailed off.
“I’m aware of that detective,” his tone was firm. “But that is what is going to be done before we take this any further. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” Elliot turned and walked out of the office without another word. It was all he could do not to slam the door behind him.
“Prick!”
“Keep your voice down, at least until we’re out of earshot,” Lexi cautioned with a quick look back to see if he’d been overheard. “You don’t know him very well but I’m telling you, he doesn’t take disrespect well.”
“It’s true, though,” he mutte
red as they walked back into the detective’s room.
“I know it is,” she sighed as she sat down at her desk. “What do we do now?”
“We go and tell Michael and Sarah that it’s being looked in to. What else can we do?”
“Well, I might have an idea.”
“Go on.”
“My eldest brother, Alexander, he’s a hacker.”
Oh great. He tried not to roll his eyes but Lexi could read his expression.
“Let me finish,” she snapped. “Alexander is great. He wanted to join the police tech department but he couldn’t, he has a bad knee from playing college football and couldn’t pass the physical. He’s really good, Elliot. He’s not into bad hacking. He does good stuff with his skills.”
“Bad hacking? You do know that it’s illegal in any form, right?”
“Yes of course I do and I’m only telling you this because I trust you to keep it to yourself.”
He could see that he’d upset her. “And you think he can help us?”
“It’s got to be worth a try. He can do things that Sid can’t.”
He held up his hand. “Stop there, I don’t think you need to tell me any more about that, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear.”
“So what do you think?”
“I think it can’t hurt to speak to him.” he wasn’t going to just let those women rot because his boss wanted to look good by having his own department solve it without providing them with the resources to do it. “Can you set it up?”
She beamed. “Leave it with me.”
Twenty-Two
Lexi laughed as Mama Constantinou welcomed Elliot as if he were a long lost son, throwing her arms around him and giving him a big squeeze.
“Elliot! So good to see you again?” She held him at arm’s length and looked him over. “You eating? You look skinny.”
He laughed. “I’m eating. I promise.”
“Mom, put him down.”
“What? I can’t say hello to your friends?”
Lexi just smiled. It didn’t look like Elliot minded. “Is Alexander here yet?”
Her mom didn’t get a chance to answer as a squeal pierced the air and a blur of pink appeared and wrapped itself around her legs. “Hey pumpkin,” Lexi reached down and picked the little girl up. “How’s my favorite niece?”
“Auntie Lexi!” the girl wrapped her arms tightly around her neck.
“There you are monster,” Alexander appeared in the hallway. “Come here,” he grabbed the little girl and pried her fingers from around Lexi’s neck. “Let Aunty Lexi and her friend get inside.”
“Hi Elliot, good to see you again,” he held out his hand and they shook.
“Thanks for coming over at short notice, Alex.”
“No problem. I had to bring Trina though, it’s my weekend to have her.”
“You know I love to see her anytime.” She turned to Elliot to explain. “Alex is divorced.”
“She’s a beautiful girl, you’re a very lucky man.” Elliot smiled but there was something about it that seemed sad and she made a note to ask him about it later.
“Anyway, what did you need me for?”
“Mom, do you mind watching Trina for a bit? We need to talk in private.” Lexi knew that she wouldn’t mind in the slightest.
“Of course, off you go,” she waved them off and took Trina by the hand.
“We’ve got a case at work that we need your help with,” Lexi started.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“It’s a website, on the dark web. We think the people responsible for it are kidnapping women and selling their ‘services’ through it.”
“What? Oh my God, that’s awful.”
Lexi nodded. “Yes, it is. That’s why we need your help. Our guy has his hands tied but you don’t. Would you take a look?”
Alexander looked from Lexi to Elliot. “Er…”
“It’s okay, you can trust Elliot,” Lexi immediately reassured him, sensing his hesitation.
“Your secret is safe with me,” Elliot confirmed.
“Okay, I’ll take a look. I can’t promise anything though, these dark web guys are incredibly skilled.”
“Thanks Alexander.” Elliot handed him Sarah’s laptop. “Right, I’d better get off.” He stood up. “Nice to see you again.” He shook Alexander’s hand.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Lexi said as she saw him out.
“Such a nice young man,” Lexi jumped as she closed the front door, she hadn’t heard her mom come up behind her.
“Mom, not again.”
She shrugged. “I just want you to be happy, darling.”
“I know that.” She gave her mom a hug. “But it won’t be with him. Okay?”
“Well, you know best,” she patted her on the cheek and walked off towards the kitchen.
“Mom, still trying to set you up, eh?” Alexander was leaning against the door to the living room.
Lexi sighed. “Yeah.”
“Come on, come and spend a bit of time with your niece,” he said, as he turned and went back inside.
Trina was playing with a couple of Barbie dolls on the carpet and Lexi just stood and watched her for a moment. She was beautiful with a head of dark curls, just like her father. “She’s getting so big.”
“Yeah I know. Hard to believe she’ll be four next month.” Alex came and stood next to her and put an arm around her shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being such a good auntie. I know it must be hard.”
“Don’t be silly.” She moved away and went to sit on the couch. He was right though. It was hard. She came from a big family and had always imagined that she would have her own one day. She’d even decided that she wanted to have four kids, two boys and two girls. All she needed to do was find the perfect man to have them with.
“How is Jane?” She’d always gotten on fine with Alex’s ex-wife and she’d been as shocked as anyone when she’d found out about the affair.
“She’s fine. I found out yesterday that Trina is going to have a new little brother or sister.” He didn’t look at her and kept his eyes on Trina and she could tell that the news had hurt him. Jane had left him for her lover and as soon as the divorce had been made final, she’d married him.
“I’m sorry, Alex.” She put her hand over his and squeezed.
“Enough about me,” he turned to face her. “Have you thought any more about adoption?”
She hadn’t. The idea that she could never have kids of her own hadn’t sunk in yet and she still had that picture of her perfect family in her mind. Until she learned to accept that it was never going to become a reality, she couldn’t think about alternatives. “Not yet.”
Alex opened his mouth but she stopped him. “Not now, Alex, okay?”
He smiled. “Okay, Sis, but you know where I am if you need to talk.”
“So,” she changed the subject. “Do you think you’ll be able to help us?”
He frowned. “I honestly don’t know but I’ll take a look, see what I can come up with.”
“Thanks, Alex.”
Twenty-Three
Mike felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had no doubt that they did the right thing in telling the detectives what they found, he just wished they had done it when they first found Jennifer’s picture.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, he thought wryly. Still, it was in their hands now and his mind turned to thoughts of his father. Sarah hadn’t stayed long after the detectives left and once he was alone he retrieved the business card with his father’s number on it. Turning it over in his hand he picked up the phone.
“Mike.” His father answered almost immediately. “I’m so glad you called back.”
“I said I would.”
“I know, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Listen, I think we should meet but is that even possible? You could be in Alaska, for all I know.”
His father chuckled. “I’m not. I’m a couple of hours away and I’d love to meet.” He continued. “How about tomorrow?”
Mike was slightly taken aback, it was all happening so fast. “Er…okay. Yes, why not.” He made up his mind. It was time.
They made arrangements to meet the following day and Mike put the phone down, noticing that his hand was shaking.
I’m finally going to meet my father. It didn’t seem possible.
***
The warm air enveloped him as he opened the door and stepped inside, providing a sharp contrast to the frigid air outside. He could smell the coffee in the air, and the sound of the coffee machine behind the counter and the conversation of the patrons made the atmosphere a welcoming one.
Mike had got here early intentionally. They’d arranged to meet at 2 p.m., and it was now just after 1:30 p.m. Unwrapping his scarf from around his neck his looked around for a place to sit, spotting an empty table at the back of the room. Making his way over he took off his coat and placed it with the scarf on the back of a chair. May as well grab a coffee while I’m waiting.
After a short wait he carried his cappuccino over to the table and took a seat facing the door. He was incredibly nervous. It was a moment that he dreamt of as a child. Even after his mother had told him that she didn’t know who his father was, it had never stopped him dreaming. And now he was going to finally meet him. He was suddenly gripped by fear that he wouldn’t know what to say. Let’s face it, he could be a bum for all you know. He didn’t think so, though. His voice on the phone had been educated, polished, and he’d sounded intelligent.
A sudden gust of cold air made him look up from his cup nervously but it wasn’t him, just a couple with their arms around each other with eyes for no one else. He was just about to look away when they stopped and held the door for someone coming in behind them.
The man smiled and thanked them before looking around the interior. Michael knew immediately it was him and raised his hand in a small awkward wave. The man smiled and made his way through the tables over to him. He was tall, over 6ft, and slim under his long dark overcoat. As he got closer, Michael could see that the coat was an expensive one and that underneath he wore a pair of dark chino’s and a white shirt. His shoes looked like they may have been handmade and they just added to the aura of wealth that exuded from him.
True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) Page 9
