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“It doesn’t matter.”

“Actually, it does. I think your boyfriend was involved in the abduction of children from Mexico, and the man he seized them from has taken it amiss. That man is a cartel boss named Blas Urrea. He’s filleddeserts with unmarked graves, and now he’s looking for Wyatt, which is why Wyatt left town without so much as a farewell kiss. Unfortunately for you, it’s well known at BrightBlown that you and Wyatt were an item, and I think BrightBlown is owned by the same person who hired Wyatt to take those kids. There’s a real danger that some unpleasant individuals are about to come knocking on doors up here, yours included, unless Wyatt does the right thing.”

Even then, I doubted it would save him, but it might protect Zetta. Her face, though, remained impassive.

“I’d like you to leave now,” she said. “I don’t want you to bother me again.”

“I can’t promise that, Zetta, and it’s not like you can call the police if I persist.”

I moved closer to the fence, so close that I could smell her sweat. I saw in her face that nothing I’d shared had come as a shock.

“He told you about the children, didn’t he? Was it before or after you hired me? Of course, it must have been after: you wouldn’t have asked me to look for him otherwise. You’d have been afraid of what I might discover.”

So Riggins had called her and admitted to some or all of what he’d done, but rather than cut him loose or persuade him to rectify matters, Zetta had doubled down. She was betting the house on Wyatt Riggins—and her life, too. I made one last push.

“Those children have to be returned, Zetta. Tell me who they are.”

“They’re none of your concern.”

“I’ve elected to make them my concern.”

“Then on your own head be it,” she said.

And Zetta stalked off.

CLASSIFIED

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

File Number:REDACTED

Requesting Official(s):REDACTED

Task Numbers and Date Completed:1000210, Work Request Number 1000210, 03/17/24

Source File Information/Name of Audio File:031724_0405_pm BERN_Phone_Call.wav

VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION

Participants:Aldo Bern B

Devin Vaughn V

031724_05_pm BERN_Phone_Call.wav

BERN:This Bible corporation, we’re struggling to locate a warehouse or workshop.

VAUGHN:Maybe it exists only on paper.

B:No, it ships product. I had someone track down one of its books. Nicely made, if that’s your thing. Our contact down there is doing his best, but I think I may have to deal with it myself. There’s a lonely old man I’d like to visit.

V:This guy, See—

B:Christ, no last names.

V:I think we’re beyond that now.

B:(Unintelligible)