Page 64 of Merciless Obsession

“What do missing girls have to do with me exactly?”

“The fact that the police have yet to find out who is behind all of this and it’s been over a decade is alarming, don’t you think?”

Ryan’s eyes bounced around my face. “Again, what is it that you want from me?”

“The files on the cold cases. As commissioner you can get those, right?” Leaning down I grabbed the briefcase and set it on the table, pushing it forward. Ryan didn’t have to look because he already knew what was inside. We took care of those who helped us. Whenever we were in need of someone’s services, they were paid handsomely for it.

“I’ll see what I can do.” He went to grab the briefcase but I yanked it away.

“You won’t see, youwillget those files.”

“I will.” He nodded stiffly.

I pushed the case back toward him. “I need them right away. Everything The Sticks’ department has I want.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Good.” I grabbed my stuff and stood. “You know how to contact me. Let me know when you have it.”

Now that that was handled I needed to stop by my firm to grab a couple things. If I was going to take on the governor’s son’s case then I needed to have all the information. When I left my dad’s, I had my assistant reach out to his team, letting him know we’d take the case and had them send over anything I might need before I put my researchers on the case. I had closed out one of the other cases I was working on and my co-counsel was wrapping up the other. This case and Felix’s had my plate full. On top of the stuff with The Bloodline it might be overwhelming, but I worked better in chaos, and nothing was more chaotic than murder.

CHAPTER 16

ZIORA

“Thank you for meeting with me.” I stepped inside the family’s home, bypassing the father of the girl I was here to talk to.

“You some kind of private investigator?” he asked, closing the door behind me.

“Something like that.” I looked around the dining room.

I got notice about another kidnapping except this girl ended up getting away. She was the first girl to escape one of the abductions and I was eager to speak to her. Me and Emmet were still working on finding out who ran the site he located and we were searching every inch of the web to get information on The Veil or anyone who might be connected. Three days had passed since Ezra revealed the lead to me and in that time I’d been working around the clock to findsomethingto get our foot in the door.

Yesterday I woke up and found a message in myShadows of Silver Stoneemail about Sasha, the girl I was here to see today.

“You can take a seat.” He nodded toward the table.

“You’re investigating the kidnappings?” a woman, already sitting, asked, looking me up and down.

I pulled out a chair and took a seat. “I am. My name is Ashley,” I told her, using my alias. I didn’t like using my real name for safety reasons and to keep my identity hidden. “I’m sure you heard about the girls going missing, Mrs. Henry.”

“It’s Ms. Henry. We’re not married.”

“We’re not even together,” the dad mumbled.

“Excuse me, sorry, Ms. Henry, your daughter was the first to get away from her abductor.”

“I told you that defense kit would come in handy,” Ms. Henry boasted.

Her dad glared at her. “Maybe if you took time and actually mothered her she wouldn’t have been walking in the first place!”

“I have to work, Josh. That punk ass hundred and fifty you send every two weeks for child support barely helps with my light bill!”

“Yeah that’s why you’re always going to the damn court for an increase as if I don’t have other kids to provide for.”

“Not my damn problem.”

“Excuse me, Ms. Henry. Mr….” I cut in.