Page 27

CHAPTER 27

Much later that same night

“Thinking about David?” Kristopher asked.

“Yeah,” Suzanne admitted. “It’s been almost five days since he vanished and there’s no sign or word about him. Those PSA’s are still running, so you think someone would have heard or seen something by now. Unless he’s de–”

“Stop,” Kristopher ordered. “We’re not going there again.” Despite his best efforts to help her put aside her guilt over everything that had happened, he could see she was still troubled.

They sat at the wide computer desk in the Safehouse office, searching the Internet for talk of events using young children. Even using Tor and the Invisible Internet Project to hover around the dark web, they’d found nothing, and Kristopher was unwilling to venture too far into that territory without identities that would guard their safety.

“If Griff Tyler were here, he’d be able to infiltrate them,” Kristopher told Suzanne. “He has a handful of identities he uses to go to chatrooms to learn stuff.”

“Glad he’s on our side,” Suzanne said. “Should we contact him?”

“I already did,” Kristopher told her. “If there’s something about to happen in Knoxville involving kids, he’ll find it. And about David,” Kristopher said, pushing the mouse aside. “I’ll bet someone is hiding him, keeping him safe. You know him. What do you think?”

“That he’s missing his mom,” Suzanne replied. “And he wants to come home.”

“Hey,” Bailey called, pushing open the door. “You guys should really keep your phones with you instead of leaving them on the dining room table.”

They exchanged glances, searched their pockets and issued a collective sigh. “Okay,” Kristopher said. “Guilty as charged, but we’ve been doing research. What’s up?”

“Grant Miller has been blowing up mine. Otherwise, I’d never know he needed to talk with us, and I mean like right now.”

“I wonder if that man ever sleeps,” Suzanne said. “He’s been on this case almost non-stop since it started. Wait! Is it about David? Has he been found?”

“Not yet, but it’s almost as good,” Bailey said. As disappointment covered her face, he added quickly, “But he’s found someone who says she knows something about all this mess. Or at least he thinks that’s what it is.”

“Does he need us to meet him at the precinct?” Kristopher started to stand but Bailey waved him back into his chair.

“Dude, I’ve got you beat and in spades,” Bailey boasted. “I went after them while you two were doing your research. They’re waiting in our smaller office even as we speak.”

“Damn, Bailey. That’s great!” Kristopher praised.

“Does BP allow people other than the police to come to the safehouse?” Suzanne asked. “Wouldn’t bringing someone else here compromise your secrecy

“Hey, she’s good,” Bailey praised.

“I’ve had some good teachers,” she said modestly, and the men laughed.

“But we better hurry,” Bailey urged. “The lady ain’t too happy.”

“And why is that?” Kristopher asked. “Did your Southern charm fail you?”

Bailey just laughed. “Come and see.

In the small office, they found Miller waiting at the table with a short blond woman wearing a blindfold and a definite pout.

“Can you take off the f’ing blindfold now?” she complained. “You know I’m not a talker, Miller. And you said you’d help me get out of town if I helped.”

“The less you know where you are, Mandy, the better,” Miller carefully removed the blindfold and put it aside. “Everyone, this is Mandy, and she may know something that will help us.”

He quickly introduced them, and they all sat. Mandy’s very short skirt, low-cut top and stilettos screamed ‘working girl’. Suzanne stared in fascination at the little woman who had to be almost her own age, but with heavy make-up it was hard to tell.

“Mandy hears all kinds of things in her work,” Miller began.

“But I don’t snitch,” Mandy insisted. “At least not on the other girls. Only if there’s a heist going down or someone moving drugs. Drugs killed my little sister, so I don’t play that game. But this?” She shuddered and a look of disgust spread over her face. “This is about using little kids. I’m not standing for that crap.”

For a minute, her amber-hued gaze inspected the room and then them. Bailey sat at the head of the table and Kristopher and Suzanne were across from her. Grant stood behind Mandy’s chair. “Nice place,” she said. “You guys own it?”

“Our company does,” Kristopher said. “We’re in the personal protection business. What have you heard, Miss Mandy?”

Her eyes glittered with interest. “Personal protection? You mean like those TV shows, The Enforcer and Leverage?”

“Something like,” Kristopher agreed. “What can you tell us?”

“I have this regular customer I’ll call Joe,” Mandy began after trading glances with Miller. “He’s a nice guy, but his wife has some medical problems, and he has some needs, so we’ve got a twice a month arrangement. Last Monday night, he showed up as usual, but he’s drunk, and I mean skunk drunk. Talks about how it’s not right to treat kids that way, and someone should do something. I got some coffee in him, and he sobered enough to tell him he’d found out a friend was a short-eyes.”

“Short eyes?” Bailey repeated.

“Prison slang for pedophiles,” Miller interpreted. “Go on, Mandy.”

“So, Joe starts talking about he overheard this so-called friend talking about some big party on New Year’ Eve with lots of catered food and live bands where lots of these short-eye types are coming because there’s gonna be some kind of kiddie swap or auction or something like that.”

“What else?” Kristopher asked. Beside him, Suzanne sat perfectly still.

“Joe found a list on his friend’s desk with all these initials with checks on it. Stupid prick left it right there for God and everyone to see.” Mandy’s tone turned scornful. “It was full of letters and numbers, some kind of code for whoever is coming, or is already here.”

“Did Joe show you the list?” Suzanne asked, leaning forward.

“He did.” Mandy took a small, zippered bag from her purse, opened it, and extracted a folded piece of paper. “When Joe passed out, I wrote all this down.” She handed it to Miller and said, “I don’t know if it will help, but maybe you guys know someone who can make sense of it?”

“Are folks on the street talking about it, Mandy?” Miller asked. His voice and expression were carefully neutral, but Kristopher could only imagine at his professional excitement.

“They sure are, but like real hush-hush,” Mandy said. “That most people going to this shindig think it’s just a fancy party. But the kids will be in a secret room that you can only get into by special invitation. Geez, that’s one party I’d hate to be at when the bust goes down. And that’s all I know.”

She swiveled in her chair to look at Miller. “Now. How soon can you get me out of town?”

“I’ve already spoken to someone at Operation Phoenix,” Miller said. “Soon as we’re done here, we’re moving you to a safe house in another part of the state. No one is going to find you.”

“Okay,” Mandy’s tone was doubtful.

“Operation Phoenix helps get women in trouble or danger out of town and start new lives,” Suzanne told her. “It’s a great program. I’ve traveled with them once or twice.”

“Honest?” Mandy demanded and grinned when Suzanne gave her two thumbs up.

“Just one more thing, Miss Mandy,” Kristopher said. “Have you heard any names mentioned about who’s behind this?”

“No, just that most of them are top dogs who think no one would ever suspect them ‘cause they’re high-powered folks who think their shit don’t stink. Using kids for pleasure makes me sick.”

“Us too,” Kristopher said quietly.

“Sergeant Miller, if you’ll let me have Miss Mandy’s piece of paper, I’m going to contact one of BP’s code breakers,” Bailey said. “Might save you some time.”

He started to leave but Mandy reached out and touched his arm. “Are you a Marine?”

“Yes ma’am,” he said.

“My daddy was a Marine,” she said wistfully. “Everything went to hell once he died in Iraq. Momma died, my little sister got put into state care and I hooked up with some freak which is why I’m where I am today.” She looked at Bailey again. “You kind of favor him. He was a good man and a good Marine.”

“We mourn when we lose one of our own, Miss Mandy,” Bailey said softly, taking her hand. “I’m sorry we weren’t there for you and your family after his sacrifice. The Marines are one, big family and we’re supposed to take care of our own. I’m sorry we failed you.”

Still holding his hand, Mandy rose and saluted. “Semper Fi, Marine,” she said.

Tears pricked Suzanne’s eyes as the now former Marine returned the woman’s salute. “Semper Fi, Miss Mandy.” He was clearing his throat as he left

“Anything else?” Miller asked.

Mandy stared at Kristopher and snapped her fingers and she said, “I know you! You’re that cop that busted Bobby, Harvey McClintock’s son about five years ago. The one who’s partner got killed in that shoot-out after that. What was his name? Sam or Simon–

“Sydney Phillips,” and Suzanne heard the pain in his voice.

“Yeah,” Mandy nodded. “I remember the both of you. Grant here too. Some cops are hard on us working girls, but you guys were always nice to us.” When Kristopher remained silent, Miller said, “Let’s go, Mandy.”

“Okay. Hope this helps.”

She stood and walked to where Miller had opened the door. Once she was gone, he said, “We’ve got them, Brower. It’s just a matter of time. You’ve done damn good work on this case. Sydney Phillips would be proud of you. And for the last time man, his death wasn’t your fault.”

After he was gone, they sat in silence until Suzanne asked, “What did he mean, Syd’s death wasn’t your fault?”

He closed his eyes and bowed his head and she watched the mix of emotions play across his handsome face. Then he looked at her, sat back and said, “It’s time I tell you about the night Sydney Phillips died.”