Page 86 of Enigma

“Is he alive?” Jason’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“He’s alive. But Jason . . . you need to get back here. Now.”

Elena finished unloading the van, and the loading dock doors rolled back down. Then she disappeared inside, and everything went quiet.

Twenty people were living whatever nightmare awaited them.

Olivehadto help them. Maybe not right at this moment.

The trafficking operation they’d just witnessed had at least eight armed guards that she’d counted, possibly more inside the building.

Three people—even highly trained investigators—couldn’t take down something that size without getting themselves and the victims killed.

But Olive wouldn’t rest knowing these people were being held captive. She would send backup to help them. It was the wisest choice.

“We have to go.” Jason’s voice carried the same helpless rage Olive felt.

“I know,” Olive said. “But we’re going to come back and help them.”

“We will,” Jason told her.

“And when we bring down this network, we’re going to make sure everyone involved pays for what they’ve done to those people.” Anger sliced her words.

“You’ll get no arguments from me.”

As Jason started the engine and began the drive back to the ranch house, Olive couldn’t shake the image of those defeated men and women being unloaded from Elena’s van like livestock.

Whatever answers they were about to get about Lloyd, she knew the cost of this investigation had just gotten much higher.

CHAPTER 56

As they drove away from the trafficking operation, Olive pulled out her phone and called Rex, her boss at Aegis. He’d been briefed on what they were doing—to an extent.

Olive told him the location of the trucking company and a description of what they’d witnessed.

“At least twenty victims were transported,” she continued. “There are armed guards. This is a professional operation, and we need federal intervention immediately. Please help.”

“What exactly is going on?” Rex’s voice was instantly alert. “I’m going to need more details than what Jason told me—especially if we’re bringing the feds in.”

“It’s a human trafficking ring with connections across multiple states. Financial crimes, money laundering, potentially hundreds of victims.” Olive rubbed her forehead, feeling the weight of everything they’d discovered.

“Are you safe?”

She glanced around. Everything appeared clear. “For now. But this network has serious resources, and they’re not afraid to use violence.”

“I’ll make some calls. FBI, DEA, anyone who could have jurisdiction over this kind of operation. I don’t know how long it will take to activate them. It could be several hours.”

“Just get them there as soon as you can. Please. I don’t know how long they plan on keeping those people at this location, and if we lose them here . . . who knows if we’ll find them again.”

Rex paused. “Olive, if this is as big as you’re saying, you need to be very careful. Organizations like this don’t leave witnesses.”

“I know. Just get us help as soon as you can. And I’m not sure the local police can be trusted. Our intel indicated at least one of them might be on the payroll for these people.”

“Got it.”

After ending the call, Olive turned toward Mitzi and Jason.

“Backup’s coming,” she told them. “But it’s going to take time.”