Page 56 of Enigma (Pros and Cons Mysteries #6)
A s 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.”
“I hate that we had to leave those people.” Jason’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, regret saturating his voice.
“So do I. But we can’t help them if we’re dead.” Olive looked at him, noting the tension in his jaw. “How are you doing? About your father?”
“I have no idea what we’re going to find,” Jason admitted. “Trick sounded . . . I don’t know. Urgent, but not panicked. I can’t tell if that’s good or bad.”
As they turned onto the county road that led to the ranch house, Olive’s stomach clenched with apprehension.
The house appeared just ahead.
But as they approached, Olive realized something was wrong.
The house was completely dark, and she didn’t see any vehicles in the driveway.
What had happened since they’d last talked to Trick?
A sick feeling swirled in her stomach.
“Where is everyone?” Jason pulled to a stop where they’d left the other team members.
Their vehicle was gone, and the house looked abandoned.
No lights, no movement, no sign that Trick, Tevin, and Nova had ever been there.
“This doesn’t feel right.” Olive’s hand moved instinctively to her weapon.
Jason tried his radio. “Trick, Tevin, Nova, do you copy?”
Nothing but static.
“Maybe they moved inside when they found Lloyd,” Mitzi suggested, but her voice carried doubt.
Olive stared at the house, a bad feeling brewing in her gut. In the space of an hour, they’d witnessed a horrific trafficking operation and now their teammates had vanished without explanation.
“You guys,” she started. “I think we need to consider the possibility that the radio call was a trap.”
“You think someone forced Trick to make that call?”
“I think we need to assume the worst and hope for the best.” Olive checked her weapon. “Which means we’re going into that house expecting trouble.”