Page 26 of Facing the Enemy

The man nearest the driver’s side of my car pointed to the door. “Get in, and don’t ever come back. We don’t need your kind here.”

“What kind is that?” I said.

“The kind who causes trouble.”

“What kind of trouble? We had lunch.”

“FBI. Come back here, and you’ll bleed out.”

“If we’re agents, it’s a federal offense to threaten one.”

“We’ll risk it.”

Three more men appeared behind the vehicles. From the corner of my eye, I saw guns. I didn’t mind a fight, but not with these odds. I sized them up again. No way. “Until next time. We will be back. Count on it.”

13

Although an illegal practice, some women got pregnant for the purpose of selling their babies. If a woman stooped that low, she didn’t care if her baby went to a loving home or a part of a trafficking ring. That angle made my and Jack’s investigation even harder. We interviewed the director of another maternity home who assisted low-income mothers and couples by providing free prenatal care, education, counseling, and job search opportunities. The only thing we accomplished was making sure the director understood the possibility of their residents being scoped out for a baby buy.

The Addingtons’ case fell under an organized baby-ring’s objective that centered on marketing babies. How they gained possession of the child didn’t matter—the cheaper the better. All pregnancy centers understood the prospect of their birth mothers facing an illegal scheme, and like Jack said, we resembled the FBI’s welcome wagon. But I still believed face-to-face interviews helped promote our cause and encouraged others to speak up against crime.

Our phones chimed with an alert. Jack read the incoming news report. “Huge fire at Vietnamese restaurant on southwest side of town. Fire department and ambulances at the scene. Fire believed to have started in the kitchen. At least three people dead and fiveinjured.” He glanced up. “Hold on while I confirm the address.” Jack swore. “Same restaurant we just had lunch—Saigon Sampler. We got too close to our subject’s territory.”

“Either someone is tailing us or suspected two white guys on the heels of one of their employees having her baby abducted,” I said. “I even mentioned Suzi and her sister.”

“Ms. Wright told us the women worked there and gave us the restaurant’s phone number. The owner lied. Anyway, Ms. Wright will help in any way she can, especially after she helped the FBI previously. But—”

“But what?”

“Someone must have tipped off the subjects about our case while we were in her office. I’m requesting a list of her staff and volunteers, not only the present employees and helpers but also those who were there during the previous case.”

“You think one of her staff is rear-deep in this?” I said.

Jack huffed. “Absolutely. How else can you explain the fire?”

“We have a number for Phan Suzi. Let’s see if she picks up.”

Jack pressed in the numbers and waited. “No answer and no voice mail.”

“Get Ms. Wright on the phone now. Ask for the list ASAP while we’re enroute to the last maternity home for the day.”

Jack made the call and placed it on speaker. “Ms. Wright, we have a critical situation. When we were at the Saigon Sampler, the owner denied Suzi and Hai worked there. Now the restaurant is on fire.”

She gasped. “Is everyone safe?”

“Initial report is three deaths and two hospitalizations. More may be injured.”

“That’s terrible. What caused the fire?” she said.

“Not confirmed but it’s believed it originated in the kitchen. Suzi doesn’t answer her phone. We’re concerned one or both Phan sisters were killed or injured.”

“Oh no.” The woman sobbed.

Jack continued with no comment on Ms. Wright’s emotionalreaction. “With the new development, Agent Patterson and I are requiring a list of your staff and volunteers with employment dates going back three years.”

“How can you suspect one of my trusted staff? They work for minimum wage because they believe in the ministry.” Her tone edged with anger. “Some of these women have been with me forever, and my driver is a man who’s like a father to these young women.”

Jack glanced at me and shook his head. “Yes, ma’am. Another problem occurred when we left the restaurant. Agent Patterson and I were confronted by Asian men with gang tats who knew we were FBI. Neither of us appreciated the threat, which is a federal offense. With both of those crimes, we need your list ASAP.”