Page 60 of Shattered Hope

“Oh, yes… and you knew it.”

“Why tell me now?” I asked.

She shrugged. “This time you actually asked,” she clenched her hands into fists as if bracing herself. “I thought it was time for you to know the truth.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but my cell phone interrupted us. It was the PI.

“I’ve just tracked Hudson’s moves since he arrived in Seattle,” he said, after a quick greeting. “He rented a car at the airport, and the police were able to place that same car near Spade’s house around the time the woman went missing. They have sent out an APB on the car, but so far, nothing. He had a few hours ahead of us, so he could be anywhere.”

“He might try to leave the state,” I pointed out.

“Yes, but he won’t use the highways. He’s too smart for that,” the PI pointed out.

“Has he rented a house, hotel, or cabin in the area?” I asked, running my fingers through my hair.

“Not in his name.”

“Check the company. See if they own any property in the area or has made any recent transactions,” I asked him. “Check his partner as well and the name Anne Johnson. He could be using her alias to hide his moves.”

“On it,” he assured me. “The police are reaching out for the FBI since this might cross state borders,” the PI warned me.

“The more, the merrier, right?”

“I’ll let you know if I have any news.”

I put away the phone and looked at my mother. She looked worried.

“No news?”

“Nothing yet.”

“What do you think will happen?” she asked, wriggling her hands.

“I’m trying not to think about it, or I’ll go insane. I should have listened to her… I should have protected her…” I scolded myself.

“You couldn’t know… don’t waste time blaming yourself. Go down to the police station, help them track her down. Who better than you? You won’t miss the smallest detail. I’m sure you’ll be able to find the bastard’s car.”

My mother was right. But I didn’t need the police for that. Picking up my cell phone, I called one of my most valued employers: the best hacker I’ve ever known.

25

“Brad… sorry to bother you, but I need your assistance.”

“Sure thing, boss. What can I do for you?” he replied, immediately, no questions asked.

“Are you at the office?”

“Just parked my car.”

“I’ll meet you there,” I told him, ending the call before I turned to look at my mother. “Thank you. I’ll let you know if we find anything.”

“I’ll be home.”

I rushed to Brad’s office, and a few minutes later, we were hacking every single camera we found near Jonathan’s house.

It didn’t take Brad long to find the car leaving the area. Following it wasn’t easy, but not impossible.

At some point, I called the police and told them I had a possible location. It was up north, near the Canadian border, so the man in charge offered to send a few officers with me on the helicopter as I flew to the nearest town where the car had been spotted.