The track led across the gravel road toward a field. He followed the trail, stopping at the road leading to Hope House.
Had Trina gone here? To this street?
He stepped into the center of the road and paused.
At the very end of the road, a car sped away.
The only place down here was Hope House.
Someone was leaving.
Most likely with Trina.
“What do you mean someone left with Trina?” Mallory kept her voice low so she wouldn’t frighten any of the residents, even though her undertones clearly sounded panicked.
They stood in foyer, all in a tight circle: Mallory, Tennyson, Logan, Kori, and Savannah.
“The car had too much of a head start,” Tennyson said. “There was no way for me to catch up. I couldn’t even see the license plate.”
Mallory rubbed her temples, determined to think this through. Her gaze met each person’s in the circle.
“Who would have picked her up? Who knew she was here even?”
Certainly someone had an answer. Or did they? Who really knew Trina? The woman had seemed like a closed book.
Savannah shrugged, worry written in the fine lines that had appeared across her face. “No one. No one should have known. More than that, Trina didn’t have anyone to pick her up. She was literally all alone in the world.”
“Something must have happened.” Tennyson stepped back from their huddle and glanced around. “Has anyone seen Grant yet? I thought he was making a phone call.”
At that moment, Grant stepped out of Savannah’s office. A wrinkle formed between his eyes as he stopped in the doorway and noticed everyone staring at him.
“What’s going on?” He must have sensed their tension because the usual sparkle left his eyes.
Mallory stepped toward him, finding it suspicious that he’d missed all the commotion. “Where have you been?”
“I was calling Ashley and wanted some privacy. Savannah said I could use her office. Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” He sounded more irritated than apologetic.
“One of the residents here is missing,” Tennyson said.
“What do you mean missing?” Grant’s eyes crinkled at the edges as if he were truly surprised.
“She’s gone,” Mallory said. “She went outside and disappeared.”
“Maybe she left,” Grant said. “We all know the women here have been through a lot. It’s left many of them unstable, to say the least.”
“That’s not really a fair assessment.” Anger rose in Mallory at the generalization. She thought Grant had understood the plight of these women more than the average person. Had she been wrong about him this whole time? Maybe Tennyson was right when he had an issue with him.
Grant raised a hand. “That’s not how I meant it.”
“We don’t have time to argue about this now. We need to find Trina and figure out what happened.” Tennyson turned to Savannah. “Was anything said in your session that could have triggered this?”
Savannah’s eyes traveled to the left, to the right, and then back, before she finally shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. We’d really only just begun when she slipped out.”
“Where are the rest of the women now?” Grant said.
“They’re still in the study,” Savannah said.
“Is there a way we could question a few?” Tennyson asked.
“You tell me the questions, and I’ll ask them,” Savannah said. “They’re still fragile.”
“Of course,” Tennyson said. “The only purpose in questioning them is to find Trina. That’s it.”
Logan lifted his chin. “What do you want me to do?”
“Call Agent Turner. Let him know what’s going on.”
He nodded and pulled out his phone as he stepped away.
“Kori, stay with Mallory,” Tennyson continued.
Mallory shook her head. “I’m helping.”
“I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”
She could handle this, and she wasn’t going to let anyone tell her any different. “Of course it is. If something happened to upset her, I want to know what. It could have been me, for all I know. I could have upset her. I was the last person who spoke with her.”
He stared at her a moment before nodding. “Okay then.”
Savannah spent the next hour questioning the women, but no one had seen anything. All their stories matched: one minute, everyone was sitting in the session. The next minute, Trina excused herself and fled the building.
So how had the car known when to pull up? How had Trina known it was here or that it was time to leave?
The pieces weren’t fitting together, Mallory realized. They were missing something . . .
Mallory stood in the middle of the study, where the women had been meeting when Trina ran out. Had something in here triggered the reaction? If so, what could it be? It was an old study, full of chairs . . . the same room Mallory had spoken in at the beginning of her tour.
She sensed someone behind her and turned. Tennyson. Her pulse skyrocketed before coming back down to a normal level. Why did it always do that when Tennyson was around?
She rubbed her throat, hoping Tennyson didn’t see her affection for him in her gaze. “Anything?”
He joined her. “No, nothing. It’s strange.”
Mallory fought back a sigh. “I agree that it’s strange. It would be one thing if Trina got up and walked away alone. But the fact that there was a car . . . that’s what bothers me. It was like she planned it. Or someone planned it.”
“I agree.”
Mallory wandered down the row of seats and paused. Where had Trina been sitting?
She noticed a lone folder on one of the chairs. Each woman had entered the room with one of those folders. Could this one have been Trina’s?
Her heart stammered as she opened it up. On top was a note that read:
MEET ME OUTSIDE OR I’LL GUN DOWN EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE.
CHAPTER 33
Mallory sank into the seat, trying to process what she’d just read. “It’s Nameless.”
Tennyson sat down hard beside her, peering at the note in the folder. “Why would you say that?”
“It’s written in all caps just like he sends my e-mails.” A sick feeling gurgled in her stomach.
“That could be a coincidence.”
A bigger question hammered at her thoughts. She turned toward Tennyson, not liking any of the conclusions she drew. “How did that note get there, Tennyson? Was Nameless in the house? How would he have gotten here?”
He frowned. “We need to talk to Savannah. Maybe she can help fill in some of the gaps.”
At that moment, Savannah appeared at the door, and Tennyson waved her over.
“What’s wrong? You found something, didn’t you?” Savannah asked.
Tennyson showed her the note.
As she read the words, her face paled. “Where . . . ? How . . . ?”
“That’s what I was hoping you could tell us,” Tennyson said. “When were these folders put together?”
Savannah’s face grew paler by the moment. “I put them together last night and laid them out on the table this morning.”
“So someone put this note in here between last night and the meeting,” Tennyson said.
“I suppose . . . but no one has come and gone. It’s just been us. And who knew Trina was here? No one. It doesn’t make sense.” Savannah’s hand went over her mouth.
“No one else has come and gone?” Tennyson clarified.
Savannah shook her head. “No one except you all.”
Mallory didn’t like the sound of that. But no one on her team would do this. Somehow, that note had gotten here another way. It didn’t make sense.
“Do you have any type of video surveillance?” Tennyson continued.
Savannah’s eyes lit up. “We do. Kade and Jack insisted that it was a good idea. As usual, they were right.”
“Can I see it?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
They all gathered around a computer in Savannah’s office. Tennyson scrolled through the footage there. But everything from today was just static. It was gone. Erased.
“It’s almost like someone used some kind of jammer.” Tennyson leaned back in the chair, his face all tight lines. “All the video footage from last night and today has been erased.”
“Do any of the women have access to this computer?” Mallory asked.
Savannah shook her head. “No, I keep this door locked at all times.”
“I think we should check the browsing history. Just to be safe,” Mallory said quietly.
“Of course.”
As Tennyson pulled up the internet, Mallory took a deep breath. She could do this. She could find answers. She had to do something. Because the conclusions she’d started to draw for herself were overwhelming, made her feel like she was drowning.
Tennyson hit the history drop-down list. Most of the websites that popped up seemed common: the bank, search engines, e-mail, a shopping site.
Had Trina sneaked in here and alerted someone to where she was staying? Why would she do that?
Mallory knew that some women came to depend on their pimps, began to feel like they were family. These women began to believe the lies that were fed to them day after day about how they couldn’t survive without their pimps, without their captors.
Mallory knew better. But she also knew what it was like to be desperate. Changes were so hard to make. Sometimes it was easier to stay in a bad situation than it was to face the unknown.
There was nothing here, she realized. If Trina really had come in here and tried to make contact with someone, Mallory hadn’t seen any evidence of it.
What was going on?
Despite everything that had happened, they’d had no choice but to head back to the Trident headquarters a couple of hours later. A visit that was supposed to bring peace to Mallory had only served to do the opposite.
Grant knocked on Tennyson’s door and cracked it open after Tennyson hollered for him to come in.
“I’ve got to go run a quick errand,” Grant said, sticking his head inside. “You’ll keep an eye on Mallory?”
“Of course,” Tennyson said.
Where could Grant be going at a time like this? Everyone was tightly wound. Mallory was worried out of her mind.
And he was doing errands?
All Grant’s whispered phone conversations nagged at Tennyson. Plus, there was that cloak-and-dagger visit to the restaurant in Atlanta. Had Grant put that note in Trina’s folder when they arrived?
Grant was hiding something. Tennyson couldn’t deny it any longer.
As Grant disappeared, Tennyson stood and grabbed his car keys. If he was going to do this, he didn’t have much time.
He motioned to Logan as he headed down the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Logan’s gaze flickered with curiosity.
“I need you to keep an eye on Mallory. I have to run somewhere.”
His piercing eyes studied Tennyson as he said, “Of course.”
Tennyson took another step away, knowing that time was of the essence right now. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
Tennyson peered out one of the windows near the stairway in time to see Grant slip into his car. As soon as he took off down the road, Tennyson rushed outside to his own car. He got behind the wheel and followed Grant from a far distance.
He shadowed him onto the main highway, past the miles of crops and fields that had just been planted. Finally, Grant pulled off the road in the neighboring town of Cape Charles. He found a parking space along the quaint main street of the downtown area.
Tennyson slowed so he wouldn’t be spotted.
He found a dark parking lot on the opposite side of the street and pulled into it. For now, he had an unobstructed view of Grant.
Grant stepped from his vehicle, looked around, and then hurried to the sidewalk.
He walked several feet before stopping near a man wearing an overcoat and sunglasses. The two leaned together and whispered.
What was this about? Was Grant selling information on Mallory? Giving away the secret of her location?
The man reached into his pocket and handed something to Grant.
Wasting no time, Tennyson climbed from his car and strode toward Grant’s vehicle. He leaned against the driver’s side door, waiting for Grant to return. There was no way he was walking away from this without an explanation.
Grant started back down the sidewalk, his steps brisk.
Until he looked up and saw Tennyson standing there.
His eyes widened. He slowed before stopping in front of Tennyson.
Guilt stained his eyes. He knew he’d been caught.
“I can explain,” Grant said, running a hand over his face.
“Then start talking.”
CHAPTER 34
“It’s not what it looks like.” Grant raked a hand through his hair.
“All of your secret phone calls and excuses for doing errands that you’re not really doing—it looks suspicious, especially in light of everything that’s happened recently.”
“I know. Believe me, I know.” He let out a long sigh. “I’ve been trying to get my financial affairs in order.”
Tennyson crossed his arms. “Why?”
He lowered his gaze. “My daughter . . . she’s wonderful. A delightful child. So full of life and curiosity. But she has a rare genetic disorder. There’s not even a name for it yet. I found a treatment, but insurance doesn’t cover it because it’s still considered experimental.”
That wasn’t what Tennyson had expected to hear. “I’ve always taken you as someone who’s well paid. You certainly act like it.”
“I am well paid. But my bills suck up all of my income. Bigger paychecks mean bigger houses and a better car. That equals less cash flow.”
“Okay . . .” That made sense, he supposed, but it still didn’t explain everything.
“So I’ve been trying to sell my stocks, and cash out some savings. I’ve even put my home on the market.”
“How much is this treatment?”
Grant raised his eyebrows. “It’s a lot. Two hundred thousand minimum. And that’s only if nothing goes wrong.”
“That’s a lot of money. Why are you being so secretive about it?”
“I like to keep my personal life private. Mallory has enough on her mind as it is. She doesn’t need to be bothered with this.”
“People desperate for money can do desperate things.”
Grant frowned. “I am doing desperate things—but they’re desperate things that are within my means. If this doesn’t work, a friend has offered to help us with fund-raising.”
Tennyson stared him down another moment, trying to ascertain the truth in his words. Was he telling the truth? Or was he a great liar?
“Please, Tennyson. I know the two of us don’t see eye to eye, but it’s only because we’re both trying to look out for Mallory’s best interests.”
He wasn’t letting him off the hook that easily. “Who was that man you were just meeting?”
“He’s interested in purchasing one of my cars. He e-mailed me about it this morning.”
“You don’t even have your car with you.”
“He purchased it sight unseen.” Grant stepped closer. “Tennyson, Ashley—my daughter—is everything to me. I need this job with Mallory—yes, that’s true. But I also care about Mallory, and I care about the cause she’s promoting.”
Something about the look in Grant’s eyes sold him on his story. Maybe he didn’t always agree with the man or approve of his methods, but right now, he seemed sincere.
Tennyson nodded and stepped away from the car. “I’ll keep this quiet. For now.”
Mallory anxiously waited for Tennyson and Grant to return.
Where had they gone? Was something wrong?
She’d lit a few candles. It probably seemed strange, but she alwa
ys carried a few with her in her suitcase. Her therapist said they would help her relax and unwind, offering a tangible visual to focus on. Right now, she was glad she’d listened to his advice, especially as she watched the lightning in the distance.
She tried to keep herself occupied. She read her Bible. She prayed for Trina. She tried to cast her cares on the Lord.
As she said amen, her phone rang.
It was Philip, Jason’s best friend. She’d left a message for him an hour earlier.
“Hi, Philip. Thank you for calling me back.”
“It’s been a long time,” he said. “To be honest, I really wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”
Philip sounded older now, and somehow wiser. Mallory had never particularly liked him. He’d mostly enjoyed getting drunk and finding his flavor-of-the-month to date and showcase. But if anyone knew Jason, it was Philip.
“I have a question for you,” she started, rehashing the spiel she’d developed in her mind.
“Shoot.”
“It’s about Jason.”
“You know the two of us don’t talk anymore, right?”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“We haven’t been friends for a couple of years now. Honestly, when you disappeared, it was a huge wake-up call. Not just for me, but for other people in our circle. We grew up after that, you know? I think we were all embarrassed, too. Didn’t know what to say to you. So we didn’t say anything. That’s worse, isn’t it?”
That was the least of her worries at the moment. “Don’t worry about it, Philip. But you could do me a favor and answer a question for me. I can’t go into details, but I’m trying to find out some information about Jasmine.”
“Who’s Jasmine?”
“Jasmine Reynolds, the girl that Jason was with on the night I was abducted.”
Silence stretched. “That Jasmine.”
Curiosity flickered inside her at his tone. “Why do you say it like that?”
“You want the truth?”
“Of course.”
“With Jasmine, it wasn’t what you think it was.”
An ache darted through her heart. “What do you mean?”
“Jason paid to be with a girl that night. Maybe her name really was Jasmine. No one really knows.”
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