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“It’s possible there’s a third in the back, but it isn’t necessary,” Sandra said.
“It kills me that no one called nine-one-one,” Lakisha put in.
“People are too absorbed in their own lives to see what’s going on right around them.” It was a sad observation that Sandra had made over the years. “Can you go back to where the van pulled up?”
“Absolutely.” Lakisha did that, and they rewatched that part.
“Pause.” Sandra pointed at the screen. “If you zoom in, we have the driver’s profile. It might be enough to identify him through facial rec databases.”
“Worth a try.” Lakisha panned in and captured a closeup and got the system started on doing just as Sandra had asked. It would search through several linked databases for a photo showing similar characteristics. Sometimes the hits came back fast. Sometimes they took time. The only thing was a person needed a criminal record to be in the database.
“Can you replay the part where Novak pushes Olivia?” Sandra was just wishing for one split second that captured the man’s face. If they could prove this was Novak, they’d be well on their way to getting Olivia back.
Brice turned to her. “You sure you want to do that?”
Lakisha was watching her expectantly.
“I don’t have a choice if I want to save Olivia. Please play it in slow motion,” she added.
Neither of them said a word as Lakisha did just that, and they were rewarded. In the seconds after the man pushed Olivia into the van, he lifted his head, his face looking right into the camera.
“That’s not Novak,” Brice said.
Sandra’s stomach clenched. “Nope, but I know who he is.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
The moments following Sandra’s realization swelled and stretched. She couldn’t stop staring at the man’s face. She’d seen him for the first time a few days ago, but what possible reason could he have for taking Olivia? “We need to cut Novak loose,” she said. “And call off the agents Elwood would have dispatched.”
“I’ll call Rowe in a minute,” Brice said. “But you said you know him?”
She nodded while her mind tried to unravel the riddle. Why had he taken Olivia? What did he want from her?
“Sandra?” Brice prompted. “Who is he?”
Brice and Lakisha were watching her with eyes full of worry and expectation.
She saw her insecurities reflected in them and stiffened. She filled them in on her past, including mention of the recent parole hearing and its verdict. “This man’s a friend of Darrell Patton’s. He was at the hearing and spoke to his character.”
“His name?” Brice prompted.
Her mind was blank under the pressure. Despite the adrenaline coursing through her, the sound of her heartbeat in her ears, she was finding it hard to focus.
“We can call the parole board and find out.” Brice pulled his phone.
She held up a hand. “No, I know it. Just give me a minute to think…”
Brice and Lakisha shared a glance. She didn’t much like that it communicated their concerns over her welfare, her capabilities. It didn’t help that she felt their apprehension was valid in that moment. Her memory never let her down.
Focus, Vos…She snapped her fingers. “Lonnie Jennings.”
“Okay, good. We’ll look him up in the system, track him down,” Brice summarized, and Sandra could only hope it was that easy. “But why would he take Olivia?”
“To extract revenge for his friend not getting released?” Lakisha put in, leaning back in her chair and looking at Sandra.
Sandra shook her head. “But what does he expect me to do about that? And it can’t just be about revenge. Kidnapping is usually done for leverage. He wants something from me, but what?”
“Would he know you’re FBI?” Lakisha asked.