Chapter One
Friday night, Stonefield, North Carolina, August 2018
Paradise Retreat, the faded wooden sign read. More like Nightmare on Elm Street. Except it wasn’t elms, it was maple and fir trees that covered the lot where the rundown cabin sat like a rotten tooth. Ben Cooper stopped at the bottom of the driveway, got out of his truck, and pulled the sign off the leaning post. No need for a marker; nobody came to the cabin anyway.
Except him. As the property manager for Heavenly Vacations, Cooper maintained the place, made sure the water was run and toilets flushed on a regular basis, and mowed the scraggly patch of grass out front. The owners had let the place go, but insisted they’d get it back in shape soon. Some kind of legal crap holding up the sale, they said. Whatever. Cooper did his job, got paid, didn’t need to know all the details.
Why the hell Mark McCurdy wanted to meet him here, Cooper had no idea. That the guy even remembered the place was weird. He’d had Mark come out one day and help remove the remains of an old shed, and that was the only time he’d been there. When Mark texted, told him to meet him at the cabin, Cooper texted back and asked what the hell he was doing on the property. Mark said he had a way they could both make a pile of money, and if Cooper was interested, he’d stop bitching and show up.
Since he started dating Dawn, Cooper wanted a pile of money. Dawn was not the kind of woman you took to the local steakhouse every Saturday night, then bowling afterward. Women like her deserved the best, and he intended to give it to her. Meals in first-class restaurants, shows at classy theatres, get her one of those Goody purses she always talked about, or whatever the hell they were called. She was his woman now, and he’d take care of her right.
The owner of Heavenly Vacations appreciated him, a guy who showed up and did his job well. The young kids they hired didn’t even want to work; they just wanted to play around on their phones all day, party all night. So Cooper had a secure job, but you could only make so much money as a property manager. He kept his eyes open for opportunities, even if they came via sleazy guys like McCurdy.
Speak of the devil. McCurdy pulled up, and Cooper got out of his truck.
“Hey man, come over here.” McCurdy leaned out the window and motioned.
Cooper opened the door of McCurdy’s Impala. McCurdy said it had a souped-up engine, and he raced the car, but from the outside, it was a piece of junk.
“Shit man, it smells like cheeseburgers and ass in here. You ever clean this thing?”
“I clean it. I’m busy, and I gotta eat on the run sometimes. Check this out.” McCurdy waved a cellophane baggie. “It’s a new kind of meth. Doesn’t give you the teeth-grinding jitters like the other stuff does. Real popular with the high school kids.”
“That’s what you called me out her for? I don’t do drugs, and I’m sure the hell not selling drugs. I already told you that.”
When Cooper first started using McCurdy to help out with work on the properties he managed, the idiot had hinted around that he’d bring Cooper in on his “evening job”. Said there was enough business to keep them both busy. Cooper refused, and told the man he better keep his illegal activities to himself. Dealing to high school kids. Fuckin’ degenerate.
“No, not selling drugs. I got something else lined up.” McCurdy grinned.
The guy looked like a Halloween pumpkin. Teeth missing, more of them rotted and black.
“Try this, man; it’s good shit.”
“I don’t do drugs.” All the doctors, and his therapist, told Cooper he’d do well to stay away from chemicals. Especially uppers, since his brain reacted differently than normal people.
Cooper had to agree. The past five years being clean were the most productive of his life. And since he’d met Dawn, he intended to stay on the upward path. Make enough money to buy a decent house, a new car, take vacations, and give his angel the life she deserved.
But hell, he had a lot of paperwork on his desk, overdue paperwork. Since dating Dawn, he’d picked up a few early-morning shifts at the home improvement store for extra cash, which meant he had to stay up later to finish the day job, and he’d already screwed up a few things from being tired. Couldn’t work those long-ass hours like he used to. The boss was complaining, told him to keep up or he’d lose out on his bonus for the year, a big one.
“Just a small hit. It doesn’t mess you up, I swear, and only lasts a few hours,” McCurdy said. “Have a beer later, and it’ll take the edge right off, and you go to sleep when you’re ready.”
It’d be nice to get his desk cleared off and maybe catch up on some housecleaning, too. The grime in his shower was starting to gross him out.
“You better not be dealing when you’re working on my properties.”
“Don’t worry, I’m way smarter than the law around here. I don’t get caught. Come on, man, one dose won’t turn you into an addict. You’d be a fool to pass up a taste of this shit. Might not be around much longer.” McCurdy waved the baggie again.
He could smell it, right through the plastic, Cooper swore, as his pulse sped up. One hit wouldn’t hurt, and it wasn’t like he’d get addicted. He couldn’t even get it again if he wanted, because he sure as hell wasn’t buying from McCurdy, or anyone else.
“A small one,” Cooper said, took the rolled bill McCurdy handed him and snorted the line of white powder McCurdy tapped out onto the dashboard.
The rush grabbed him instantly, speeding his heart into high gear and clearing his mind.
“Good stuff, huh?”
Damn right it was. Cooper closed his eyes and bit back an audible moan. It had been so long, he’d almost forgotten the mind-blowing power that shit had.
“Want another?”
Hell yes, he wanted another, wanted a huge fucking mountain of that white pleasure. He opened his eyes and focused on McCurdy, on the guy’s acne-dotted skin and jack-o-lantern leer. “No. Show me this big pile of money opportunity. I’ve got shit to do tonight.”
“You’re going to like this.” McCurdy climbed out of the car and headed to the cabin.
Cooper followed as McCurdy pushed the front door open and, using his phone as a flashlight, led them to one of the bedrooms.
“Hold this.” McCurdy handed Cooper his phone, fished in his pocket, pulled out a key ring, and started unlocking the two padlocks that were threaded through hasp locks on the door.
“What the fuck did you do to this door? And how did you even get in here?” Cooper’s pulse raced faster. McCurdy had no reason to be on this property. Vacant or not, no one should be trespassing.
“Your back door lock isn’t worth a shit. You’re lucky no one’s broke in before. Okay, look.” McCurdy swung the bedroom door open and, grabbing his phone back from Cooper, shone it inside the room.
Cooper stared at a girl lying on the floor of the cabin. “Who’s that?”
“That’s a lot of cash.” McCurdy bounced on his toes.
“Is she dead?” Cooper took a step forward.
“Nah.” McCurdy walked into the bedroom and nudged her with his foot. “She’s alive and fine. I gave her a dose of reds. Plus, she had a couple of drinks. She’s in la-la land. Here, wait.” He switched on a small lamp that stood on the floor.
Now Cooper could see a pile of blankets, a bag of chips, and a water bottle. No furniture, nothing else except the lamp occupied the room. He studied the girl. In her mid to late teens, dressed in shorts and a tank top. She had long hair that appeared clean and, from what he could see in the low light, decent skin. Not a junkie.
“And why the hell did you drug a woman and bring her to my place?”
“Okay, see, here’s the plan.” McCurdy rubbed his thumb and index finger together, like he always did when he got wound up. “This is Jessica Bowen. Her dad is some big shot politician, has a bunch of money. Their family is here on vacation. I’m going to get him to pay to get her back.”
Cooper stared at McCurdy. “Are you insane? Kidnapping. That’s called kidnapping. It’s illegal and you go to prison when you get caught.”
“I don’t get caught.” McCurdy grabbed Cooper’s shoulder. “See, most kidnappers, they do it wrong. They’re greedy and stupid. Not me. I don’t ask for much money, so Daddy can get it quick. A couple hundred thousand, he can come up with that, no problem.”
“How do you know?” Cooper shook McCurdy’s hand off. “Lots of these guys only look rich, and they’re up to their ass in debt. No one saw you bring her here, did they?”
“Hell, no. And I got her daddy’s number, then pulled out the card on her phone and dumped it in the river so they can’t track her. I’m smart; I know how to be cool. All you got to do is let me keep her at the cabin for a few days. I’ll do everything else, and I’ll give you a cut. Say, five percent?”
“I don’t want any part of this. Get her the hell out of here, and you stay off my properties.” Cooper walked out of the room and into the kitchen area.
Jesus. Kidnapping. Bad enough the dumb fuck sold drugs. This was the last time he dealt with McCurdy. He did not need that kind of trouble in the decent life he’d worked all these years to build.
“Come on.” McCurdy followed Cooper. “This is an easy way to make a few bucks. The locks I put on are good.” McCurdy pointed to the outside of the bedroom door. “The window in there is busted and already boarded up. It’s tight, I checked. I broke off the valves so there’s no water from the bathroom sink. She’ll have to drink bottled water, and I put drugs in it. Between what I gave her in the bar and the bottle in there now, she’ll be knocked out till tomorrow late. I won’t hurt her, and it will only be for a couple of days. Nobody will come looking for me after they get her back, because I don’t ask for a bunch of money, see?”
“Are you an idiot? Of course they’ll look for you. Kidnapping is a felony.”
“Man, this is easy money. What’s the matter with you?”
“You’re a fucking moron, and I’m not getting involved in this.”
“Don’t call me a moron.” McCurdy narrowed his eyes. “You’re the dumbass who’s letting some bitch pussy-whip him. You don’t want to go out drinking, or do anything fun anymore since she came along.”
Cooper took a step toward McCurdy and smiled when the weasel backed up. “Shut your mouth. Dawn is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. This is a stupid idea, and you need to get that girl back home before we both get in trouble.”
“Fuck you. This is too a good idea. If you had any balls, you’d jump on it.”
Cooper’s heart sped up faster, the meth pumping through his blood. He had to end this right now.
“Put that woman in your trashy car and get out of here.”
“Or what? You going to call the cops?” McCurdy stuck his chin out. “You do, and I’ll tell Dawn I saw you playing around with that waitress at the coffee shop.”
“I wasn’t doing any such thing.”
“You think Dawn will believe that? Much time as you spend at that coffee shop, you could real easily be tapping that cute thing. I see the way she smiles at you and sticks her tits in your face.”
“You fucker.” Cooper balled his fists. “You better keep your mouth shut.”
“If you don’t let me keep this girl here for a couple of days, I’ll talk to Dawn and tell her what you’re up to. I’ll tell you’re snorting meth, too. How do think your sweet little gal will like that?”
Cooper shook his head as a buzzing started in his ears, a warning he was about to lose control.
“I’m leaving for an hour and when I come back, this place better be empty. No girl, nothing. You,” he shoved McCurdy’s shoulder, “lose my number and don’t contact me again.”
“Keep your hands off me.” McCurdy shoved back, smacking Cooper in the chest.
The buzzing intensified, and Cooper tried to slow his racing heart. Don’t let it get out of control.
“You hear me?” McCurdy shoved again. “Nobody pushes me around.”
Cooper swung at McCurdy and punched him in the face.
“Cocksucker.” McCurdy put his hand to his nose and pulled it away. “I’m bleeding.” He rushed at Cooper.
But Cooper glanced around the cabin and spied a wrench on the kitchen counter. He grabbed it, and when McCurdy came at him, stepped to the side and swung it to the back of McCurdy’s head.
McCurdy went down. And stayed down.
Cooper stood over him, his breath coming in ragged pants. The buzzing intensified to the point of pain, and he dropped the wrench and covered his ears with his hands.
Blood pooled around McCurdy’s head. A lot of blood. Cooper forced himself to kneel next to the man and check his wrist for a pulse. Nothing. He rolled the body slightly and fought down nausea when he saw the back of his head. Blood, hair, and grey matter were mashed in with pieces of skull.
Hell. Cooper stood and sucked in a breath. He hadn’t meant to kill the guy. Stupid fucker, coming at him like that. It was McCurdy’s fault.
He knelt again, looked at the crushed skull. A memory stirred, and the buzzing changed to a low hum. He poked the grey matter. Sure didn’t take much to smash a skull, and it shut a person up real quick.
A noise, like a groan, made him stand again. He hurried to the bedroom and saw the woman roll over. A smell of piss reached his nostrils. Damn it all to hell. He had to deal with this situation. He entered the room and knelt by the girl. Pretty thing. He caressed her hair. She moaned again and he jumped to his feet, and hurried from the room.
He shut and secured the door. At least the idiot did a decent job on the locks, and McCurdy said the water in the room was drugged, enough to keep the girl asleep until the next day. Unless the girl was stronger than she looked, she wasn’t going anywhere.
First things first. Get rid of McCurdy’s body. Shove it in the guy’s trunk, drive the car somewhere. No one would connect Cooper with the asshole. The man just got to town six months ago, and he hung around with plenty of other people. McCurdy had been in trouble before, so him getting killed wouldn’t be a big surprise.
Then, get that girl, what was her name? Jessica. Get her home without anyone finding out she’d been here.
Not a problem. He could do it. Cooper pulled the car keys from McCurdy’s pocket and a cellophane baggie fell out. Cooper held the baggie up. He’d have one more little hit, clear his mind, give him a boost. He’d have to wipe down McCurdy’s car, and he’d be walking back from wherever he parked it, and he’d need a shot of energy for that. Cleaning up a dead body would require more nerve than he possessed on his own.
As Cooper rolled a dollar bill and poured out a line, he heard his therapist’s voice shout a warning. No drugs. They make you do bad things.
He could handle it this time. He was stronger than before. He could stop whenever he needed to. When the rush came over him, Cooper closed his eyes. Fuckin’ good. Yeah, he could handle this, no problem.
Chapter Two
Saturday morning
Lily raised her hand to pound the screen door of the cabin.
“My daughter Jessica did not take off with some local boy for the night.” A deep voice, full of anger, and touched with fear.
She lowered her hand and leaned in. Not enough light to see, but she could listen. Eavesdropping often revealed more truth than asking questions.
“Now Mr. Bowen, that’s not what I said.” This voice meant to pacify.
“That’s Congressman Bowen, and it sure as hell is what you implied. Jessica is a good girl and has a boyfriend back home. She wouldn’t go running around with some …”
“With some what?” The question carried a warning. “You got something to say about our local boys?”
Although Lily had only viewed photos of the men inside, she could vividly picture Chief of Police Wayne Haladar standing with his meaty chest puffed out, ready to defend his town. Congressman Gordon Bowen ... Lily pulled in a deep breath.
The photo of Bowen showed a tall, muscular man, with blond hair and blue eyes, handsome in an all-American-guy way. His smile was the kind that made people smile back and trust him. He looked a whole lot like her ex-partner at DART, a guy she’d trusted but shouldn’t have.
“With some stranger,” Congressman Bowen said. “She wouldn’t just take off with a stranger. Jessie knows better.”
“Could be it wasn’t a stranger. Your family comes here often on vacation. Maybe she met a guy and they hooked up.”
“Are you implying my daughter is some kind of slut?”
Time to add a federal agent to the party. Lily knocked, and when the yelling continued and no one answered after a moment, she pulled the door open and walked into the well-appointed house.
Just as she’d thought, the men stood less than a foot from each other. Haladar had his hands on his ample hips, and Bowen leaned into the shorter man’s space. The tension in the room was as thick as the convenience store coffee she’d chugged down while driving into Stonefield that morning.
“Chief. Congressman. I’m Agent Blume from DART.”
Both men stopped talking and turned to her.
“You’re who?” Haladar asked.
“From where?” Bowen said.
“Agent Blume. From DART. Damage Avert and Rescue Team. Your county Sheriff, Larry Sutherland, was notified that I’d be coming and was instructed to pass that along to you, Chief.”
Haladar glanced at his phone. “He sent me a text, told me some agent would be by. But seeing as how I’ve been busy dealing with this situation since two o’clock this morning, I haven’t had a lot of time to chat.” He put his phone back in his pocket. “I don’t think the FBI is necessary at this point. The young woman has only been missing since last night and we don’t know if there’s been foul play.”
“She’s been taken or is lying hurt somewhere. Jessica would not worry her mother and me like this by staying out all night on purpose.” Bowen glared at Lily. “Who did you say you’re with?”
“DART, a subset of the FBI.” She turned on her best trust-me smile and addressed the congressman. “I’ll need to talk with your wife, Sara and other daughter, Cassandra.”
Bowen moved toward her, planting his large body in her personal space. “Let me see your badge.”
Her ex-partner used to use that maneuver to make people cower. Lily grit her teeth, but did not cower. She took the badge from her pocket and handed it to him, kept her expression neutral, and waited for it.
He looked down his nose, way down, at her five-foot-one-inch frame and snorted. “Lily Blume. That’s real sweet. Is this a fucking joke? I don’t need some puny girl getting in my business.” He dropped the badge back into her open palm and turned back to Haladar. “Why don’t you have your dogs out searching for her?”
“The sheriff is mobilizing his K-9 team and will be along shortly and my men have been patrolling the streets searching for Jessica since you called. Congressman, we’re on it and if she really has gone missing, we’ll stay on it, I swear.”
“You damn well will stay on it, and I’ll stay on your ass until she’s found.”
Chief Haladar responded, but Lily tuned out the argument momentarily, stepped a few feet away from the men. Bowen was scared and angry, and scared, angry people got offensive and said rude things. She’d let that “puny girl” remark slide. For now.
Lily surveyed the cabin. Not a cabin, more like a luxury vacation home. Gleaming, polished wood floors blended with the wood-paneled walls, creating a warm feeling, even though the room was huge and the ceilings high. A massive stone fireplace and built-in bookshelves accented the living room, which flowed into a spacious dining area. Both rooms took up about the same space as her small apartment and smelled the kind of antiseptic fresh that said cleaning service. Rich people’s idea of roughing it.
“Congressman, would you please ask your wife and daughter to come here?” Lily interrupted the two men. Try it again, see if the man would be more agreeable, since he’d put her in her place.
“No. They don’t need to be upset anymore,” Bowen said. “My wife and I already talked to this man.” Bowen jerked his head in Haladar’s direction. “You get whatever you need from him. I don’t know you or your agency.”
“I’ll be happy to have my supervisor contact you ...”
“Are you specialists in search and rescue? Can you get a helicopter out here?”
“The sheriff’s office has a helicopter. We’ll coordinate with him and ...”
“Then do it. Now. I’m calling a private detective, from Asheville, not from around here. One who knows what he’s doing.” Emphasis on the “he.”
Bowen’s tomato-red face was slicked with sweat. The guy was one beat away from a heart attack. Much as she wanted to argue, time to dial it down a notch. “You do that,” she said, her tone slow and even. “But since I’m here, maybe you can tell me where Jessica likes to go when your family comes here to Stonefield on vacation.”
“She goes to dinner with us, goes shopping, hiking, and sometimes I talk her into fishing with me. We’re friends with a few families in town; I’ve already called them.”
“Does she go anywhere unsupervised?” Lily heard a sound from what appeared to be the kitchen, and glanced in that direction. The door cracked open slightly, and a scent of coffee wafted out.
“What do you mean unsupervised? Jessica is eighteen. She goes out by herself.”
“She’s nineteen.”
Lily glanced up to the top of the staircase where the voice came from. A girl sat cross-legged on the floor, peering down at them through the posts on the balcony railing.
“She had a birthday last month. We went to the country club for her party, remember?”
Bowen waved his hand dismissively. “Nineteen then, not a child.”
“She does stupid stuff sometimes, though.” Anxiety colored the voice, and the fingers wrapped around the posts had white knuckles.
“That’s enough, Cassandra. We don’t need your opinion. You are still a child. Keep quiet.”
“I’m thirteen.” Cassandra stuck out her lower lip, but didn’t speak further.
Thirteen. The judge she’d failed to protect in Italy had a granddaughter that age. Lily had watched her at his funeral, had seen the pain in her eyes. Tears poked suddenly behind Lily’s eyes.
“Jessie is allowed out on her own and doesn’t get into trouble,” Bowen insisted.
Lily cleared her throat. “That’s not exactly true.” She ducked her head and unsnapped her canvas field bag, blinking furiously, glad for the momentary distraction.
DART agents didn’t cry on the job. The agency therapist had warned her she’d have moments of unexpected grief, a normal reaction after watching a man die violently. Not only watching, but being a cause of his death.
Don’t go there. Focus on this mission. She pulled her tablet out, and tapped the screen. When she looked up, a woman stood in the kitchen doorway.
Sara Bowen. She glided into the living room area, not making a sound. The woman was almost as tall as her husband, skeletal-thin, and wearing leggings and a matching tunic top. Even this early in the morning her hair was smartly styled, but her eyes were red and puffy, and tight lines pulled her mouth.
The Bowens would not like Lily airing their dirty laundry in front of Chief Haladar. Too bad. Bowen might be a congressman, but the same rules applied to everyone she dealt with on a mission. The chief needed to know details about the missing girl, and Lily needed to find out everything she could about the family.
“Back at your home in Shreveport Jessica has had a DUI, was taken in for shoplifting and questioned about a vandalism incident, all in the past two years.” Voice strong, no tremble. Weepy moment passed.
Bowen’s face turned even redder. “Where did you get that information on a minor?”
“Jessica is no longer a minor. And my agency has access to those records.” And to so much more.
“She only got in trouble like that when she hung out with those public school kids. She’s been in private school the last semester and doing fine. Her grades are up, and she doesn’t misbehave at all.”
Sure she didn’t. Lily pursed her lips but said nothing. Maybe that was true, maybe not. Just because Bowen had no respect for women and looked like her lying, asshole ex-partner didn’t mean he was a lying asshole. Even if he was, it didn’t matter. Her job as a DART agent, a job she desperately wanted to keep, wasn’t to judge moral character.
“Don’t you come in here, into my house, and accuse my daughter of being a criminal, whoever the hell you are.” Bowen stepped closer to her again.
Be professional. Don’t screw up this assignment. Or she might not get another one ever again.
Turning the trust-me smile back on, Lily stepped back a pace and pushed down the anger threatening to take hold of her and make her say something that would end her career. “I’m not accusing Jessica of anything. I’m only saying, it appears your daughter is bit unruly. It’s possible she went out, partied with some people, and is still out. She didn’t have plans to go anywhere last night?”
Bowen crossed his arms. “Sara and I went to dinner for our anniversary. Cassie and Jessie stayed home. Were supposed to stay home. I’ve already told the chief everything I know. Whatever agency you’re with, you get your people out here and find her.”
The last words were delivered as a shout. The man had obviously reached his limit. She’d talk to the police chief, see what he had, and get with the two women later, if needed. Best-case scenario, Jessica would arrive in a cab or car service in an hour, do her walk of shame, and this trip would be for nothing. Lily could hop on a plane and be back home in Atlanta in time for dinner.
“Yes, sir, I’ll do that.” Lily debated holding her hand out to shake, kept it at her side. Bowen would likely crush her bones to dust at this point. “Here’s my number, if you think of anything else.” She pulled a card from her pocket, then put it on a side table when Bowen didn’t take it. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Get in touch when you have answers.” Bowen turned his back to her and the chief and walked away, catching his wife’s arm and guiding her into the kitchen.
Another noise from the top of the stairs where Cassandra still sat. Cute girl, with long, wavy hair and worried eyes. Lily took another card, held it up and waved it, then placed it on a stair. She turned to Haladar. “Can we talk outside?”
“Damn straight we will.” He stomped out the front door.
Lily pushed out a breath. She wanted to prowl around and get a feel for the place, inside and out, but needed to talk to the police chief before he blew a gasket. She tucked her tablet back into her field bag and followed Haladar.
This was why she preferred straight rescue missions. Get in, get the subject, get out. No arguments, no bullshit politics. Lily walked down the driveway to where the chief’s car was parked.
“What the hell do you mean barging in on my investigation?”
Haladar stood with his back to the rising sun, forcing her to shade her eyes with her palm to see him. Lily patted her front pocket but realized she’d left her sunglasses in the car.
“I’m sorry you didn’t read the message from your sheriff. As I said, I’m with Damage Avert and Rescue Team. We handle sensitive situations like this one.”
“This is not a sensitive situation. Girl went out partying, got drunk, passed out at her friend’s house or with some guy. She’ll come home any minute.”
“Which is what I sincerely hope happens. But if not, it’s my job to make sure this doesn’t turn into an incident.”
“You’re FBI?”
“Yes, DART is a subset of the FBI. We work with you, and the Blane county sheriff, and everyone else in law enforcement. But we’re the lead.” Lily took a step to the side. Better. Now a tree blocked the rising sun. “Part of our mission is to ensure national security by making sure that if a kidnapping occurs, the family is not subjected to blackmail, or other type of coercive threat, and that sensitive information is not leaked to external sources that could harm the family.”
“I never heard of you.”
“Most people haven’t. We fly under the radar.”
“What’s the other part of your mission?” He sneered at the last word.
“To bring in persons in danger. Call your sheriff he’ll fill you in. I’m going to finish my coffee.” Lily walked to her car which was parked behind his, opened the door, and sat. Let Haladar cool his jets, talk to Sheriff Sutherland. She sipped, thankful for the double shot of caffeine she’d had the good sense to order.
DART had called her at home at four o’clock that morning, and she’d been dressed and out the door by five. The agency’s private plane made the one-hour trip from Atlanta to Asheville Regional Airport, and she’d hopped in the rental car the agency had ready for her and come straight to Bowen’s vacation house. Her only stop was a trip to a quickie mart for nourishment, a coffee, light sugar, heavy cream, and a brownie that tasted months past its expiration date. She ate it anyway, fueling for a long day ahead.
Congressman Bowen was being groomed as a presidential candidate, and any kind of activity around him had to be monitored. If his daughter had been taken, it could involve his enemies, of which he had many. His stance on foreign trade policy was controversial and, if he made it to the higher office, would spark radical change in the country. The congressman was also a key player in a top-secret anti-terror initiative, and vulnerable to blackmail. If kidnappers held his daughter, they could demand more than money for ransom.
Lily’s orders had been to tread lightly and, the minute the situation turned into a kidnapping, to notify her supervisor. If that happened, she’d stick around and assist the specialty team that would arrive. But if it was just a case of girl misbehaving, DART would protect the congressman and his family from anyone who wanted to exploit the situation. They’d safeguard the “subject,” their name for the focal person of the assignment, and his family, from potential blackmailers.
They’d had a similar situation the previous year, when the daughter of a brigadier general posed for one of those exhibitionist movies on spring break. The producer had a release form from the girl and swore she’d given consent, but the girl swore she didn’t. Using cameras from the beach town area and DARTs enhanced imaging program, they picked up footage of a guy slipping something into her drink. The guy worked for the sleaze ball “male entertainment videos” company, and DART got the guy arrested, and the shots of the young woman deleted from the film.
DART was relatively new, and an experiment in keeping a division of a federal agency under the radar. The government knew, enemies of the United States had far more access to information than they claimed. By implementing top-secret strategies from the start, the goal was to keep the existence of DART unknown for as long as possible, and allow the agency to do their job of defending the country. A job they did well.
A job she did well.
When Haladar stepped out of his car, Lily did the same and joined him. He leaned on the hood and folded his arms over his chest. Instead of adopting the same defensive posture, Lily stood with arms relaxed at her side, an attempt to put the infuriated man at ease.
“Sheriff says you work for some super-secret group. Says I’m supposed do what you ask.” The chief all but spit out the words, his forehead creased in a deep scowl. “I have my own way to deal with trouble around here, trust me.”
No. Trust got a bullet in her shoulder and a man killed on her last mission. It would be a long time before she trusted anyone again.
“We prefer to call it a classified agency, not a super-secret group. I’m sure you do a fine job with law enforcement in Stonefield, and I’ll need your assistance on this case. But I take the lead. Anything you plan to do, you run by me first. How well do you know Congressman Bowen?” Stay on track. Don’t get in a pissing match.
“Not very well. He and his family have been vacationing here for years. Never had any trouble from them. A couple of noise complaints he called in on the neighbors, that’s about it. Tell me more about this classified agency.” Still a sneer in his tone, but Haladar’s eyes held a twinge of interest.
Since Haladar was law enforcement, Lily was authorized to give him slightly more information.
“When certain individuals are in danger, we get them out, and we contain situations that could threaten national security, like this one. The congressman is an important political figure, and he and his family need to be protected from anyone wanting to exploit them. My job here is to assess what’s going on, first of all. If Jessica has been kidnapped we’ll call in the FBI specialists, but if this is something else, you and I, and the sheriff, will handle it. Discreetly. What have you learned so far?”
Apparently her explanation satisfied Haladar, enough to have him unfold his arms, push off his car, and pull out his pocket notebook. “Not much more than he told you. Bowen and his wife went out, around six o’clock to dinner then to a movie. Both daughters were supposed to stay home. When the Bowens got back around eleven, Cassandra was in bed and Jessica was gone. Sara texted to find out where she was and to remind her that her curfew is midnight. Jessie texted back and said she was with a friend and she’d be home by twelve. When Bowen woke up around two o’clock to pee, he checked in her room and she wasn’t home. Got on the phone with me right after that.”
“Cassandra is thirteen?”
Haladar flipped a page. “Yes. Bowen didn’t let me talk to her much, and she said she didn’t know anything.”
“What do you think?”
“Cassie seemed scared about something, but her dad was pitching such a fit, getting the kid and the wife riled up, that might have been why.”
Well. Lily reassessed. The chief was more perceptive than she thought. A buzzing sound near her ear made her slap at her neck. This conversation needed to wrap up so she could get indoors. Mosquitos pissed Lily off. She preferred to deal with enemies she could see.
“I assume Bowen called the friend she was supposed to be with?”
“Yep. The friend’s parents said the whole family had been home all night, and Jessie hadn’t been by. Bowen got no answer on Jessica’s cell phone.”
“You tracing that?”
“Working on it.”
“Sheriff Sutherland is coming with his K-9 team?”
Stonefield was a small town and in situations like this, Lily knew, small town law enforcement worked with the county sheriff’s office to utilize their more considerable resources.
“Should be here soon. He thinks the same—the girl is holed up with some guy or a friend. But when a congressman wants you to search, you do it.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped sweat from his forehead. “What are you going to do?”
Before she could answer, his phone rang.
“Haladar. Yeah? Where at? Male or female? Text me the address. I’m on my way.”
“What?” Lily asked.
Haladar squinted at her. “Guy found a body in a trunk, at his car repair shop.”
Lily’s pulse sped up, remembering Cassie’s worried eyes. “Female?”
“No, male.”
“You’re headed there now?”
“Yes. Sutherland is going to meet me. He’ll send the K-9 team here without him.”
“I’m following you. This could be related.” Lily fished her keys from her pocket.
“Might not be.”
“You get a lot of dead bodies in car trunks around here? Put my number in your phone.” Lily rattled it off. “Text me the address. I’m right behind you.”
She spun around and strode to her car before he could argue, let out a breath when her phone pinged with his text. Haladar might be pissed, but apparently, he’d work with her. Congressman Bowen—her jaw tightened. He’d be a battle all the way.
But Lily had been in battles before, and she always won.
*****
A sign announced that Jason’s Auto Repair was the most honest, reliable auto shop in the county. The place didn’t look bad, with oak trees offering shade, and a couple of trimmed bushes bordering a recently paved lot. A bay door on the building stood open, revealing two cars inside, and five cars occupied the outside parking area. One of the outside vehicles, a dirty Impala that had seen better days, had its trunk partially open. A man in overalls stood nearby, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Haladar got out of his car, strode toward the man and shook his hand. “Jason. How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain, Chief.” Jason glanced at Lily, who stepped up to join them.
Jason seemed young to be the owner of a shop, but his freckles and curly hair gave him a boyish appearance, so maybe he was Jason the second. Lily never understood why parents gave children their own name, but it seemed to be a popular practice and since she had no children, she refrained from making judgments on those who did.
“Agent Blume.” Jason gave her a sweaty handshake also, then she turned to Haladar and took a step back. Let the chief take point with this one.
“What happened here?” Haladar asked.
“I come in about seven like I always do, and when I let Rufus out of my truck, she goes running to this car and starts barking like crazy.” Jason pointed to the Impala. “She’s real well behaved and never does that. I wasn’t in yesterday and don’t know where the car came from. Thought maybe my part-time mechanic took it in, so I go to the office to check the appointment book. No record there. I call my guy, get no answer, and Rufus was still barking and whining. I, uh, know how to open a trunk without a key, so I did.”
Lily glanced at the office of the building where a large dog, a Doberman, it looked like, pawed at the glass door.
Jason turned away and coughed. “I’ve never seen a dead body before, outside a casket, you know. I touched his neck to make sure, didn’t feel a pulse. His head’s bashed in real good. I figured he was dead so I skipped the ambulance and called you.” Jason lifted the trunk lid.
Lily moved forward and joined Haladar to view inside. An odor of gasoline and grease wafted up her nose. The August heat hadn’t had a chance to work on the body yet, thank the Lord, so he must not have been in the trunk long. “Do you know him?” she asked.
“Looks familiar. I think I’ve seen him around.” Haladar leaned into the trunk, nudged the body slightly, and patted the back pockets. Reaching into one, he pulled out a wallet. “License says his name is Mark McCurdy. Got a Georgia address.”
“Have you got people to work a homicide?” He didn’t, and she knew it.
“Sheriff does. He’s got a Criminal Investigations Division. A good one.” Haladar pulled out his phone. “I’ll update him. He should be along soon, and he’ll contact the medical examiner.”
Lily took out her own phone. “I’ll just get a few pictures.” She stepped to the side of Haladar and leaned against him slightly as she angled her phone.
He jerked away at the contact, like she knew he would, giving her a wider view. She snapped a few photos, but knew the CID team would get better ones and she would have access to them.
When her phone rang, she checked the number. Not one she recognized.
“Agent Blume. Can I help you?”
“Is this the lady that was at our house this morning?” a female voice whispered.
Lily moved away from the men, toward the front door of the shop. “Yes, is this Cassandra Bowen?” The Doberman snarled and pawed at the glass, so she moved along past the office. Rufus had had enough excitement for one morning.
“Yes. Something happened last night. Dad says the sheriff wants to talk to me today, in person, and I guess I have to tell him. Will you come too?”
“Can you tell me now?”
A small sigh. “I can. But you’ll still come, when the sheriff is here, right? Dad’s going to be really mad, and if you’re here, he won’t ...”
“Won’t what?”
“Won’t be as mad,” Cassie said.
Lily doubted her presence would make a difference in the congressman’s anger level, but maybe that anger escalated to violence when the family was alone. She’d be there. “I will. Go ahead, tell me what happened.”
“We went out last night, Jessie and me. She called an Uber to go to this bowling alley that has a bar. If you wear a low-cut shirt, the bartender doesn’t card. I heard her and told her I wanted to go along too. They’ve got video games there and an old pinball machine. Told her if she didn’t let me come, I’d tell Mom and Dad.”
The men continued to talk. Haladar glanced at Lily, and she turned her back to him.
“We were only going to stay for two hours and get back home before our parents did. I was playing pinball, and Jessie came out from the bar and said she called me an Uber and I should go home. Her friends were coming. I told her I wanted to stay and she said no. Said if Mom and Dad got home before her and asked, I should say she was at her friend’s house.” Cassie’s voice caught. “I shouldn’t have left her there. Now something bad has happened.”
“Cassandra, it’s not your fault. We’ll find Jessie. Tell me everything you know.” The girl would have to repeat the story for the sheriff and the chief, but Lily wanted to hear it first, while she was the only audience.
“I don’t know much else. I was outside waiting for the car, and I went back in to the bar to ask Jessie to give me money for a soda. It was hot. She was talking to this guy and laughing, and I hung around the side of the wall to listen. The guy came around the corner to go to the bathroom, so I ducked out.”
“Did you see his face?”
“No, but he had a big tattoo on his arm. A bird flying, with claws out.”
A chill shuddered down Lily’s spine. She’d just seen that bird. “I’m sending you a picture of a tattoo. Call me right back if it’s the same one.”
As she texted the picture of the dead man’s arm, a Blane County Sheriff’s car pulled up. She watched Sheriff Sutherland get out. Tall, lanky, he looked to be in his early forties and he moved slow and deliberate. Haladar shook hands with the man. The Chief pointed to the Impala, then to her. The sheriff stared, like he was sizing her up. Lily stared back. The men turned to the trunk as her phone rang again.
“That’s the same tattoo I saw. Did you find the guy?”
Much as she hated to add horror to Cassie’s day, Lily knew the girl would find out about the murder soon enough.
“The man with this tattoo is dead. Chief Haladar, Sheriff Sutherland and I are headed back to your house now. Are your mom and dad both home?”
“Yes.” Cassie let loose a shaky sob.
“One of the men will call your dad and tell him we’re coming.”
“You’ll be there too, right?”
“I will. Don’t worry. If your dad gets mad, it’s because he’s afraid. He won’t be mad at you for long. We’re going to figure out where Jessie went and get her back.”
“Promise?”
Lily’s heart clenched. She wanted to assure the frightened girl that they’d find her sister, alive and well. But that didn’t always happen.
“I promise to do my very best to get Jessie home to you. We’ll be there soon.”
Lily walked to the Impala. “Sheriff Sutherland, I’m Agent Blume with Damage Avert and Rescue Team. You got a call from my boss, Miguel Estrada, and were told I’d be heading up this investigation, correct?”
The way his face tightened and his eyes went cold, Sutherland had gotten the call and wasn’t pleased. Probably he didn’t like her take-command tone either. Too bad. Lily knew she had to go in tough or she’d be stomped on like a welcome mat.
The sheriff ignored her outstretched hand. “He told me you’d be working on this investigation.”
“DART is the lead agency, but I’m deeply appreciative of all the help you and your people can give me. Sheriff, I guess the chief has filled you in, but the situation just changed. I got a call from the younger daughter, Cassandra. She and her sister snuck out and went to a bowling alley last night. Jessica was seen by Cassandra in the bar, talking to a man with a tattoo. I sent her the picture of this guy’s arm.” Lily pointed to the body in the trunk. “And she said that’s the one. I told her we’d be out to her house to talk to her immediately. Will one of you call her father on the way there?”
Both men glared at her, and Lily kept the firm, professional, non-threatening look on her face. A look that promised to get the job done but refused to take any crap.
Sheriff Sutherland narrowed his eyes at her, then turned to the chief. “I’ll call the congressman. Guy is pretty wound up, huh?”
“Sure is,” Haladar said. “Is your K-9 team at his place?”
“Yes. My officer with the patrol dog has been to the house and collected a scent from Jessica. They’re out in the field now.” Sutherland faced Lily. “We’ll be fine without you on this run.”
“Cassandra specifically requested I be there. I believe she’s somewhat fearful of her father. I’ll be happy to have you both question her while I provide support.”
Sutherland turned his head abruptly and spit a stream of brown tobacco juice an inch from her shoe.
Lily didn’t move. “You’ll have your CID out here to process this scene?”
“They’re on their way.” Sutherland studied her a moment, then grunted, apparently not able to find a good enough reason to tell her to stay away. “See you at Bowen’s place.”
*****
Talking to Cassie with her parents and the chief and sheriff around was as difficult as Lily imagined it would be. Cassie tearfully repeated the story she’d told Lily. The Congressman yelled, but Sara Bowen shushed him, took sobbing Cassie in her arms, and assured their younger daughter she wasn’t to blame for whatever happened to her sister. Both lawmen swore they’d use every available resource to find Jessie quickly. Lily kept quiet and took notes.
Jessie could still be sleeping off a hangover, Sheriff Sutherland suggested, or be too scared or embarrassed to come home yet. The dead man could be a stranger in town who just happened to be talking to Jessie. They’d know more once they found out who he was.
The sheriff had a smooth, quiet way of talking and despite him spitting at her feet, Lily was impressed with his handling of the Bowen family. Chief Haladar seemed genuinely concerned about the missing girl also, but his blustering manner clashed with Gordon Bowen, a guy used to people treating him with more submissiveness than Haladar could apparently muster up.
Another good reason to keep quiet. Lily would have to watch herself around the congressman. Not only did he look like her ex-partner, he acted a lot like him too. In control, comfortable giving orders and expecting them to be followed. Lily had gotten along fine with her partner, once he realized she was competent, and in turn, had started treating her as an equal. Gordon Bowen likely didn’t have too many people in his sphere he considered an equal, and she would certainly never reach that status.
Doesn’t matter. Work the case. Never lay eyes on the man again.
Though Lily dearly wanted to talk to Sara Bowen alone, the congressman and Sara both refused, stating they’d been through enough for the morning. She caught the sheriff’s eye and motioned him to the side, leaving Haladar to wrap up with the congressman.
“We’ll alert the telephone companies if a ransom call comes in, have it traced. Please inform Bowen to call me immediately if that happens.”
“We’re perfectly capable of handling that.” Sutherland crossed his arms and shifted the wad of tobacco in his mouth.
Don’t let him spit again. She’d have to punch him if he did. “The FBI has more pull than your office and we can get the trace done faster. They need to call me. Are you going to place an officer here?”
He shifted the wad again. “Doubt they’ll put up with anyone in their home,” he said. “There’s no real need to do all that right now.”
DART would make that decision.
Since there was little else she could do at the Bowen house, Lily said her goodbyes, and headed to the nearest convenience store gas station. She had to pee, and the sugar rush from the stale brownie she’d snagged for breakfast was long gone. And she had to check in with Miguel. She’d sent her boss a brief text with the status of the case, but he’d want a more detailed report.
Seated in her car with a burrito, a Coke, and a bag of pretzels, she cranked the air conditioner to full blast and called Miguel with an update.
“No ransom demand yet, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Sounds like this could be more than a teenage night out,” Miguel said.
“I agree. I think the murder and Jessica disappearing are connected.”
“You’re trained for homicide investigation. You up to looking into that murder?”
“I am.” Thank God. Miguel wasn’t going to insist she do nothing until the situation changed. He would let her get to work.
“Then do it, but do it quietly. With an older child, the FBI is only there to assist unless there’s interstate travel involved.”
“We have the lead, in any case we work,” Lily said.
“Sheriff Sutherland technically has the lead with the homicide, and with the kidnapping. Yes, our agency has the final say, but we need to keep a low profile when working with other law enforcement.”
Politics. Lily rolled her eyes.
“And remember, the Bowen family and potential kidnapping is our main priority, not the murder. There’s a man living nearby in Newboro, Dillon Hurst. He’s got a military background, and he’s smart. I want you to contact him for assistance on this case.”
Lily gritted her teeth, then unclenched and took a breath. “Thanks for the offer, but there are enough people involved already. The sheriff has a decent CID, from what I read, and if it turns out to be a kidnapping, I’ll notify you immediately to send in the specialty team. I don’t need help looking into the murder.”
“The sheriff’s Investigation Division is adequate, but with Congressman Bowen, we need to be highly alert. Hurst is from there. He knows the area.”
“Miguel, come on. Sutherland and Haladar already think I’m interfering. They’re not going to be happy about another outsider sniffing around.”
“He’s not totally an outsider, and he’s a man. That’s going to make a difference. Don’t argue; you know I’m right. And this guy has knowledge of the area and the people.”
“So why didn’t you just send him in the first place?”
“He’s not agency. He’s a friend who owes me a favor. I’m sending you his address and bio. In fact, you might have met him at my Christmas party last year. Those damn parties have gotten so big, I don’t even know who my wife invites anymore. He’s not far from where you are and he’s home. Go see him now.”
“I’m supposed to be working alone, remember? That’s why I requested this assignment.” She rubbed her shoulder, remembering. “I’ve been cleared by the docs to return to work. I’m fine all by myself.”
“Bullet wounds take time to heal,” Miguel said. “I know because ...”
“You have the scars to prove it. Yes, you’ve told me that.”
But he didn’t say what they both knew; she might not be mentally fit to be back on the job so soon. Having a partner betray her left a different kind of scar, one that would take much longer to mend. And worse, Lily now doubted her abilities. She was supposed to be so smart, yet her own partner went bad, and she didn’t even see it, and hesitated when she should have acted.
“Hurst is going to be willing to work with me?” One last effort.
“He’ll do it if I ask. It won’t be like working with another agent. Hurst will be a consultant; you’ll call the shots. I’m texting him now. Send me a report after you talk to him.” Miguel disconnected.
Lily cranked up the air and groaned out loud. Hellfire. Sucking hard on the straw, she drained the soda. She was lucky to be working in the field at all. Miguel could insist she continue taking sick leave and do more rehab, or stick her in a cubicle. The very thought of a desk job with endless paperwork made her shudder. He was a decent boss and knew she needed to get back to work in the field, doing what she did best. Letting her go on this assignment proved that, and she’d better not screw it up.
So she’d follow orders and talk to Dillon Hurst. As long as the guy behaved, he could tag along as back-up. Her phone pinged with an address, and an email with a file that contained details on Hurst.
All right, time to get to work. Lily pulled out her tablet and clicked to download the file on Hurst.
Her agency was the good guys. They helped keep balance in a world that was getting more unhinged every day. The people they rescued and protected, their subjects, were pivotal to keeping order.
During their training, all agents were shown examples of past cases, top secret information that she was sworn to keep quiet. DART worked hard to avert what they called “damage” by blocking potential blackmailers and other sources that could cause harm by leaking sensitive information, and also by rescuing subjects in jeopardy.
Satisfying work, knowing she was making her country a safer place to live. Lily might not trust another person for a good long while, but she did trust her agency and would make every effort to remain with them.
While the file on Hurst downloaded, she headed back into the convenience store. One burrito would not be enough fuel for this afternoon.
Friday night, Stonefield, North Carolina, August 2018
Paradise Retreat, the faded wooden sign read. More like Nightmare on Elm Street. Except it wasn’t elms, it was maple and fir trees that covered the lot where the rundown cabin sat like a rotten tooth. Ben Cooper stopped at the bottom of the driveway, got out of his truck, and pulled the sign off the leaning post. No need for a marker; nobody came to the cabin anyway.
Except him. As the property manager for Heavenly Vacations, Cooper maintained the place, made sure the water was run and toilets flushed on a regular basis, and mowed the scraggly patch of grass out front. The owners had let the place go, but insisted they’d get it back in shape soon. Some kind of legal crap holding up the sale, they said. Whatever. Cooper did his job, got paid, didn’t need to know all the details.
Why the hell Mark McCurdy wanted to meet him here, Cooper had no idea. That the guy even remembered the place was weird. He’d had Mark come out one day and help remove the remains of an old shed, and that was the only time he’d been there. When Mark texted, told him to meet him at the cabin, Cooper texted back and asked what the hell he was doing on the property. Mark said he had a way they could both make a pile of money, and if Cooper was interested, he’d stop bitching and show up.
Since he started dating Dawn, Cooper wanted a pile of money. Dawn was not the kind of woman you took to the local steakhouse every Saturday night, then bowling afterward. Women like her deserved the best, and he intended to give it to her. Meals in first-class restaurants, shows at classy theatres, get her one of those Goody purses she always talked about, or whatever the hell they were called. She was his woman now, and he’d take care of her right.
The owner of Heavenly Vacations appreciated him, a guy who showed up and did his job well. The young kids they hired didn’t even want to work; they just wanted to play around on their phones all day, party all night. So Cooper had a secure job, but you could only make so much money as a property manager. He kept his eyes open for opportunities, even if they came via sleazy guys like McCurdy.
Speak of the devil. McCurdy pulled up, and Cooper got out of his truck.
“Hey man, come over here.” McCurdy leaned out the window and motioned.
Cooper opened the door of McCurdy’s Impala. McCurdy said it had a souped-up engine, and he raced the car, but from the outside, it was a piece of junk.
“Shit man, it smells like cheeseburgers and ass in here. You ever clean this thing?”
“I clean it. I’m busy, and I gotta eat on the run sometimes. Check this out.” McCurdy waved a cellophane baggie. “It’s a new kind of meth. Doesn’t give you the teeth-grinding jitters like the other stuff does. Real popular with the high school kids.”
“That’s what you called me out her for? I don’t do drugs, and I’m sure the hell not selling drugs. I already told you that.”
When Cooper first started using McCurdy to help out with work on the properties he managed, the idiot had hinted around that he’d bring Cooper in on his “evening job”. Said there was enough business to keep them both busy. Cooper refused, and told the man he better keep his illegal activities to himself. Dealing to high school kids. Fuckin’ degenerate.
“No, not selling drugs. I got something else lined up.” McCurdy grinned.
The guy looked like a Halloween pumpkin. Teeth missing, more of them rotted and black.
“Try this, man; it’s good shit.”
“I don’t do drugs.” All the doctors, and his therapist, told Cooper he’d do well to stay away from chemicals. Especially uppers, since his brain reacted differently than normal people.
Cooper had to agree. The past five years being clean were the most productive of his life. And since he’d met Dawn, he intended to stay on the upward path. Make enough money to buy a decent house, a new car, take vacations, and give his angel the life she deserved.
But hell, he had a lot of paperwork on his desk, overdue paperwork. Since dating Dawn, he’d picked up a few early-morning shifts at the home improvement store for extra cash, which meant he had to stay up later to finish the day job, and he’d already screwed up a few things from being tired. Couldn’t work those long-ass hours like he used to. The boss was complaining, told him to keep up or he’d lose out on his bonus for the year, a big one.
“Just a small hit. It doesn’t mess you up, I swear, and only lasts a few hours,” McCurdy said. “Have a beer later, and it’ll take the edge right off, and you go to sleep when you’re ready.”
It’d be nice to get his desk cleared off and maybe catch up on some housecleaning, too. The grime in his shower was starting to gross him out.
“You better not be dealing when you’re working on my properties.”
“Don’t worry, I’m way smarter than the law around here. I don’t get caught. Come on, man, one dose won’t turn you into an addict. You’d be a fool to pass up a taste of this shit. Might not be around much longer.” McCurdy waved the baggie again.
He could smell it, right through the plastic, Cooper swore, as his pulse sped up. One hit wouldn’t hurt, and it wasn’t like he’d get addicted. He couldn’t even get it again if he wanted, because he sure as hell wasn’t buying from McCurdy, or anyone else.
“A small one,” Cooper said, took the rolled bill McCurdy handed him and snorted the line of white powder McCurdy tapped out onto the dashboard.
The rush grabbed him instantly, speeding his heart into high gear and clearing his mind.
“Good stuff, huh?”
Damn right it was. Cooper closed his eyes and bit back an audible moan. It had been so long, he’d almost forgotten the mind-blowing power that shit had.
“Want another?”
Hell yes, he wanted another, wanted a huge fucking mountain of that white pleasure. He opened his eyes and focused on McCurdy, on the guy’s acne-dotted skin and jack-o-lantern leer. “No. Show me this big pile of money opportunity. I’ve got shit to do tonight.”
“You’re going to like this.” McCurdy climbed out of the car and headed to the cabin.
Cooper followed as McCurdy pushed the front door open and, using his phone as a flashlight, led them to one of the bedrooms.
“Hold this.” McCurdy handed Cooper his phone, fished in his pocket, pulled out a key ring, and started unlocking the two padlocks that were threaded through hasp locks on the door.
“What the fuck did you do to this door? And how did you even get in here?” Cooper’s pulse raced faster. McCurdy had no reason to be on this property. Vacant or not, no one should be trespassing.
“Your back door lock isn’t worth a shit. You’re lucky no one’s broke in before. Okay, look.” McCurdy swung the bedroom door open and, grabbing his phone back from Cooper, shone it inside the room.
Cooper stared at a girl lying on the floor of the cabin. “Who’s that?”
“That’s a lot of cash.” McCurdy bounced on his toes.
“Is she dead?” Cooper took a step forward.
“Nah.” McCurdy walked into the bedroom and nudged her with his foot. “She’s alive and fine. I gave her a dose of reds. Plus, she had a couple of drinks. She’s in la-la land. Here, wait.” He switched on a small lamp that stood on the floor.
Now Cooper could see a pile of blankets, a bag of chips, and a water bottle. No furniture, nothing else except the lamp occupied the room. He studied the girl. In her mid to late teens, dressed in shorts and a tank top. She had long hair that appeared clean and, from what he could see in the low light, decent skin. Not a junkie.
“And why the hell did you drug a woman and bring her to my place?”
“Okay, see, here’s the plan.” McCurdy rubbed his thumb and index finger together, like he always did when he got wound up. “This is Jessica Bowen. Her dad is some big shot politician, has a bunch of money. Their family is here on vacation. I’m going to get him to pay to get her back.”
Cooper stared at McCurdy. “Are you insane? Kidnapping. That’s called kidnapping. It’s illegal and you go to prison when you get caught.”
“I don’t get caught.” McCurdy grabbed Cooper’s shoulder. “See, most kidnappers, they do it wrong. They’re greedy and stupid. Not me. I don’t ask for much money, so Daddy can get it quick. A couple hundred thousand, he can come up with that, no problem.”
“How do you know?” Cooper shook McCurdy’s hand off. “Lots of these guys only look rich, and they’re up to their ass in debt. No one saw you bring her here, did they?”
“Hell, no. And I got her daddy’s number, then pulled out the card on her phone and dumped it in the river so they can’t track her. I’m smart; I know how to be cool. All you got to do is let me keep her at the cabin for a few days. I’ll do everything else, and I’ll give you a cut. Say, five percent?”
“I don’t want any part of this. Get her the hell out of here, and you stay off my properties.” Cooper walked out of the room and into the kitchen area.
Jesus. Kidnapping. Bad enough the dumb fuck sold drugs. This was the last time he dealt with McCurdy. He did not need that kind of trouble in the decent life he’d worked all these years to build.
“Come on.” McCurdy followed Cooper. “This is an easy way to make a few bucks. The locks I put on are good.” McCurdy pointed to the outside of the bedroom door. “The window in there is busted and already boarded up. It’s tight, I checked. I broke off the valves so there’s no water from the bathroom sink. She’ll have to drink bottled water, and I put drugs in it. Between what I gave her in the bar and the bottle in there now, she’ll be knocked out till tomorrow late. I won’t hurt her, and it will only be for a couple of days. Nobody will come looking for me after they get her back, because I don’t ask for a bunch of money, see?”
“Are you an idiot? Of course they’ll look for you. Kidnapping is a felony.”
“Man, this is easy money. What’s the matter with you?”
“You’re a fucking moron, and I’m not getting involved in this.”
“Don’t call me a moron.” McCurdy narrowed his eyes. “You’re the dumbass who’s letting some bitch pussy-whip him. You don’t want to go out drinking, or do anything fun anymore since she came along.”
Cooper took a step toward McCurdy and smiled when the weasel backed up. “Shut your mouth. Dawn is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. This is a stupid idea, and you need to get that girl back home before we both get in trouble.”
“Fuck you. This is too a good idea. If you had any balls, you’d jump on it.”
Cooper’s heart sped up faster, the meth pumping through his blood. He had to end this right now.
“Put that woman in your trashy car and get out of here.”
“Or what? You going to call the cops?” McCurdy stuck his chin out. “You do, and I’ll tell Dawn I saw you playing around with that waitress at the coffee shop.”
“I wasn’t doing any such thing.”
“You think Dawn will believe that? Much time as you spend at that coffee shop, you could real easily be tapping that cute thing. I see the way she smiles at you and sticks her tits in your face.”
“You fucker.” Cooper balled his fists. “You better keep your mouth shut.”
“If you don’t let me keep this girl here for a couple of days, I’ll talk to Dawn and tell her what you’re up to. I’ll tell you’re snorting meth, too. How do think your sweet little gal will like that?”
Cooper shook his head as a buzzing started in his ears, a warning he was about to lose control.
“I’m leaving for an hour and when I come back, this place better be empty. No girl, nothing. You,” he shoved McCurdy’s shoulder, “lose my number and don’t contact me again.”
“Keep your hands off me.” McCurdy shoved back, smacking Cooper in the chest.
The buzzing intensified, and Cooper tried to slow his racing heart. Don’t let it get out of control.
“You hear me?” McCurdy shoved again. “Nobody pushes me around.”
Cooper swung at McCurdy and punched him in the face.
“Cocksucker.” McCurdy put his hand to his nose and pulled it away. “I’m bleeding.” He rushed at Cooper.
But Cooper glanced around the cabin and spied a wrench on the kitchen counter. He grabbed it, and when McCurdy came at him, stepped to the side and swung it to the back of McCurdy’s head.
McCurdy went down. And stayed down.
Cooper stood over him, his breath coming in ragged pants. The buzzing intensified to the point of pain, and he dropped the wrench and covered his ears with his hands.
Blood pooled around McCurdy’s head. A lot of blood. Cooper forced himself to kneel next to the man and check his wrist for a pulse. Nothing. He rolled the body slightly and fought down nausea when he saw the back of his head. Blood, hair, and grey matter were mashed in with pieces of skull.
Hell. Cooper stood and sucked in a breath. He hadn’t meant to kill the guy. Stupid fucker, coming at him like that. It was McCurdy’s fault.
He knelt again, looked at the crushed skull. A memory stirred, and the buzzing changed to a low hum. He poked the grey matter. Sure didn’t take much to smash a skull, and it shut a person up real quick.
A noise, like a groan, made him stand again. He hurried to the bedroom and saw the woman roll over. A smell of piss reached his nostrils. Damn it all to hell. He had to deal with this situation. He entered the room and knelt by the girl. Pretty thing. He caressed her hair. She moaned again and he jumped to his feet, and hurried from the room.
He shut and secured the door. At least the idiot did a decent job on the locks, and McCurdy said the water in the room was drugged, enough to keep the girl asleep until the next day. Unless the girl was stronger than she looked, she wasn’t going anywhere.
First things first. Get rid of McCurdy’s body. Shove it in the guy’s trunk, drive the car somewhere. No one would connect Cooper with the asshole. The man just got to town six months ago, and he hung around with plenty of other people. McCurdy had been in trouble before, so him getting killed wouldn’t be a big surprise.
Then, get that girl, what was her name? Jessica. Get her home without anyone finding out she’d been here.
Not a problem. He could do it. Cooper pulled the car keys from McCurdy’s pocket and a cellophane baggie fell out. Cooper held the baggie up. He’d have one more little hit, clear his mind, give him a boost. He’d have to wipe down McCurdy’s car, and he’d be walking back from wherever he parked it, and he’d need a shot of energy for that. Cleaning up a dead body would require more nerve than he possessed on his own.
As Cooper rolled a dollar bill and poured out a line, he heard his therapist’s voice shout a warning. No drugs. They make you do bad things.
He could handle it this time. He was stronger than before. He could stop whenever he needed to. When the rush came over him, Cooper closed his eyes. Fuckin’ good. Yeah, he could handle this, no problem.
Chapter Two
Saturday morning
Lily raised her hand to pound the screen door of the cabin.
“My daughter Jessica did not take off with some local boy for the night.” A deep voice, full of anger, and touched with fear.
She lowered her hand and leaned in. Not enough light to see, but she could listen. Eavesdropping often revealed more truth than asking questions.
“Now Mr. Bowen, that’s not what I said.” This voice meant to pacify.
“That’s Congressman Bowen, and it sure as hell is what you implied. Jessica is a good girl and has a boyfriend back home. She wouldn’t go running around with some …”
“With some what?” The question carried a warning. “You got something to say about our local boys?”
Although Lily had only viewed photos of the men inside, she could vividly picture Chief of Police Wayne Haladar standing with his meaty chest puffed out, ready to defend his town. Congressman Gordon Bowen ... Lily pulled in a deep breath.
The photo of Bowen showed a tall, muscular man, with blond hair and blue eyes, handsome in an all-American-guy way. His smile was the kind that made people smile back and trust him. He looked a whole lot like her ex-partner at DART, a guy she’d trusted but shouldn’t have.
“With some stranger,” Congressman Bowen said. “She wouldn’t just take off with a stranger. Jessie knows better.”
“Could be it wasn’t a stranger. Your family comes here often on vacation. Maybe she met a guy and they hooked up.”
“Are you implying my daughter is some kind of slut?”
Time to add a federal agent to the party. Lily knocked, and when the yelling continued and no one answered after a moment, she pulled the door open and walked into the well-appointed house.
Just as she’d thought, the men stood less than a foot from each other. Haladar had his hands on his ample hips, and Bowen leaned into the shorter man’s space. The tension in the room was as thick as the convenience store coffee she’d chugged down while driving into Stonefield that morning.
“Chief. Congressman. I’m Agent Blume from DART.”
Both men stopped talking and turned to her.
“You’re who?” Haladar asked.
“From where?” Bowen said.
“Agent Blume. From DART. Damage Avert and Rescue Team. Your county Sheriff, Larry Sutherland, was notified that I’d be coming and was instructed to pass that along to you, Chief.”
Haladar glanced at his phone. “He sent me a text, told me some agent would be by. But seeing as how I’ve been busy dealing with this situation since two o’clock this morning, I haven’t had a lot of time to chat.” He put his phone back in his pocket. “I don’t think the FBI is necessary at this point. The young woman has only been missing since last night and we don’t know if there’s been foul play.”
“She’s been taken or is lying hurt somewhere. Jessica would not worry her mother and me like this by staying out all night on purpose.” Bowen glared at Lily. “Who did you say you’re with?”
“DART, a subset of the FBI.” She turned on her best trust-me smile and addressed the congressman. “I’ll need to talk with your wife, Sara and other daughter, Cassandra.”
Bowen moved toward her, planting his large body in her personal space. “Let me see your badge.”
Her ex-partner used to use that maneuver to make people cower. Lily grit her teeth, but did not cower. She took the badge from her pocket and handed it to him, kept her expression neutral, and waited for it.
He looked down his nose, way down, at her five-foot-one-inch frame and snorted. “Lily Blume. That’s real sweet. Is this a fucking joke? I don’t need some puny girl getting in my business.” He dropped the badge back into her open palm and turned back to Haladar. “Why don’t you have your dogs out searching for her?”
“The sheriff is mobilizing his K-9 team and will be along shortly and my men have been patrolling the streets searching for Jessica since you called. Congressman, we’re on it and if she really has gone missing, we’ll stay on it, I swear.”
“You damn well will stay on it, and I’ll stay on your ass until she’s found.”
Chief Haladar responded, but Lily tuned out the argument momentarily, stepped a few feet away from the men. Bowen was scared and angry, and scared, angry people got offensive and said rude things. She’d let that “puny girl” remark slide. For now.
Lily surveyed the cabin. Not a cabin, more like a luxury vacation home. Gleaming, polished wood floors blended with the wood-paneled walls, creating a warm feeling, even though the room was huge and the ceilings high. A massive stone fireplace and built-in bookshelves accented the living room, which flowed into a spacious dining area. Both rooms took up about the same space as her small apartment and smelled the kind of antiseptic fresh that said cleaning service. Rich people’s idea of roughing it.
“Congressman, would you please ask your wife and daughter to come here?” Lily interrupted the two men. Try it again, see if the man would be more agreeable, since he’d put her in her place.
“No. They don’t need to be upset anymore,” Bowen said. “My wife and I already talked to this man.” Bowen jerked his head in Haladar’s direction. “You get whatever you need from him. I don’t know you or your agency.”
“I’ll be happy to have my supervisor contact you ...”
“Are you specialists in search and rescue? Can you get a helicopter out here?”
“The sheriff’s office has a helicopter. We’ll coordinate with him and ...”
“Then do it. Now. I’m calling a private detective, from Asheville, not from around here. One who knows what he’s doing.” Emphasis on the “he.”
Bowen’s tomato-red face was slicked with sweat. The guy was one beat away from a heart attack. Much as she wanted to argue, time to dial it down a notch. “You do that,” she said, her tone slow and even. “But since I’m here, maybe you can tell me where Jessica likes to go when your family comes here to Stonefield on vacation.”
“She goes to dinner with us, goes shopping, hiking, and sometimes I talk her into fishing with me. We’re friends with a few families in town; I’ve already called them.”
“Does she go anywhere unsupervised?” Lily heard a sound from what appeared to be the kitchen, and glanced in that direction. The door cracked open slightly, and a scent of coffee wafted out.
“What do you mean unsupervised? Jessica is eighteen. She goes out by herself.”
“She’s nineteen.”
Lily glanced up to the top of the staircase where the voice came from. A girl sat cross-legged on the floor, peering down at them through the posts on the balcony railing.
“She had a birthday last month. We went to the country club for her party, remember?”
Bowen waved his hand dismissively. “Nineteen then, not a child.”
“She does stupid stuff sometimes, though.” Anxiety colored the voice, and the fingers wrapped around the posts had white knuckles.
“That’s enough, Cassandra. We don’t need your opinion. You are still a child. Keep quiet.”
“I’m thirteen.” Cassandra stuck out her lower lip, but didn’t speak further.
Thirteen. The judge she’d failed to protect in Italy had a granddaughter that age. Lily had watched her at his funeral, had seen the pain in her eyes. Tears poked suddenly behind Lily’s eyes.
“Jessie is allowed out on her own and doesn’t get into trouble,” Bowen insisted.
Lily cleared her throat. “That’s not exactly true.” She ducked her head and unsnapped her canvas field bag, blinking furiously, glad for the momentary distraction.
DART agents didn’t cry on the job. The agency therapist had warned her she’d have moments of unexpected grief, a normal reaction after watching a man die violently. Not only watching, but being a cause of his death.
Don’t go there. Focus on this mission. She pulled her tablet out, and tapped the screen. When she looked up, a woman stood in the kitchen doorway.
Sara Bowen. She glided into the living room area, not making a sound. The woman was almost as tall as her husband, skeletal-thin, and wearing leggings and a matching tunic top. Even this early in the morning her hair was smartly styled, but her eyes were red and puffy, and tight lines pulled her mouth.
The Bowens would not like Lily airing their dirty laundry in front of Chief Haladar. Too bad. Bowen might be a congressman, but the same rules applied to everyone she dealt with on a mission. The chief needed to know details about the missing girl, and Lily needed to find out everything she could about the family.
“Back at your home in Shreveport Jessica has had a DUI, was taken in for shoplifting and questioned about a vandalism incident, all in the past two years.” Voice strong, no tremble. Weepy moment passed.
Bowen’s face turned even redder. “Where did you get that information on a minor?”
“Jessica is no longer a minor. And my agency has access to those records.” And to so much more.
“She only got in trouble like that when she hung out with those public school kids. She’s been in private school the last semester and doing fine. Her grades are up, and she doesn’t misbehave at all.”
Sure she didn’t. Lily pursed her lips but said nothing. Maybe that was true, maybe not. Just because Bowen had no respect for women and looked like her lying, asshole ex-partner didn’t mean he was a lying asshole. Even if he was, it didn’t matter. Her job as a DART agent, a job she desperately wanted to keep, wasn’t to judge moral character.
“Don’t you come in here, into my house, and accuse my daughter of being a criminal, whoever the hell you are.” Bowen stepped closer to her again.
Be professional. Don’t screw up this assignment. Or she might not get another one ever again.
Turning the trust-me smile back on, Lily stepped back a pace and pushed down the anger threatening to take hold of her and make her say something that would end her career. “I’m not accusing Jessica of anything. I’m only saying, it appears your daughter is bit unruly. It’s possible she went out, partied with some people, and is still out. She didn’t have plans to go anywhere last night?”
Bowen crossed his arms. “Sara and I went to dinner for our anniversary. Cassie and Jessie stayed home. Were supposed to stay home. I’ve already told the chief everything I know. Whatever agency you’re with, you get your people out here and find her.”
The last words were delivered as a shout. The man had obviously reached his limit. She’d talk to the police chief, see what he had, and get with the two women later, if needed. Best-case scenario, Jessica would arrive in a cab or car service in an hour, do her walk of shame, and this trip would be for nothing. Lily could hop on a plane and be back home in Atlanta in time for dinner.
“Yes, sir, I’ll do that.” Lily debated holding her hand out to shake, kept it at her side. Bowen would likely crush her bones to dust at this point. “Here’s my number, if you think of anything else.” She pulled a card from her pocket, then put it on a side table when Bowen didn’t take it. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Get in touch when you have answers.” Bowen turned his back to her and the chief and walked away, catching his wife’s arm and guiding her into the kitchen.
Another noise from the top of the stairs where Cassandra still sat. Cute girl, with long, wavy hair and worried eyes. Lily took another card, held it up and waved it, then placed it on a stair. She turned to Haladar. “Can we talk outside?”
“Damn straight we will.” He stomped out the front door.
Lily pushed out a breath. She wanted to prowl around and get a feel for the place, inside and out, but needed to talk to the police chief before he blew a gasket. She tucked her tablet back into her field bag and followed Haladar.
This was why she preferred straight rescue missions. Get in, get the subject, get out. No arguments, no bullshit politics. Lily walked down the driveway to where the chief’s car was parked.
“What the hell do you mean barging in on my investigation?”
Haladar stood with his back to the rising sun, forcing her to shade her eyes with her palm to see him. Lily patted her front pocket but realized she’d left her sunglasses in the car.
“I’m sorry you didn’t read the message from your sheriff. As I said, I’m with Damage Avert and Rescue Team. We handle sensitive situations like this one.”
“This is not a sensitive situation. Girl went out partying, got drunk, passed out at her friend’s house or with some guy. She’ll come home any minute.”
“Which is what I sincerely hope happens. But if not, it’s my job to make sure this doesn’t turn into an incident.”
“You’re FBI?”
“Yes, DART is a subset of the FBI. We work with you, and the Blane county sheriff, and everyone else in law enforcement. But we’re the lead.” Lily took a step to the side. Better. Now a tree blocked the rising sun. “Part of our mission is to ensure national security by making sure that if a kidnapping occurs, the family is not subjected to blackmail, or other type of coercive threat, and that sensitive information is not leaked to external sources that could harm the family.”
“I never heard of you.”
“Most people haven’t. We fly under the radar.”
“What’s the other part of your mission?” He sneered at the last word.
“To bring in persons in danger. Call your sheriff he’ll fill you in. I’m going to finish my coffee.” Lily walked to her car which was parked behind his, opened the door, and sat. Let Haladar cool his jets, talk to Sheriff Sutherland. She sipped, thankful for the double shot of caffeine she’d had the good sense to order.
DART had called her at home at four o’clock that morning, and she’d been dressed and out the door by five. The agency’s private plane made the one-hour trip from Atlanta to Asheville Regional Airport, and she’d hopped in the rental car the agency had ready for her and come straight to Bowen’s vacation house. Her only stop was a trip to a quickie mart for nourishment, a coffee, light sugar, heavy cream, and a brownie that tasted months past its expiration date. She ate it anyway, fueling for a long day ahead.
Congressman Bowen was being groomed as a presidential candidate, and any kind of activity around him had to be monitored. If his daughter had been taken, it could involve his enemies, of which he had many. His stance on foreign trade policy was controversial and, if he made it to the higher office, would spark radical change in the country. The congressman was also a key player in a top-secret anti-terror initiative, and vulnerable to blackmail. If kidnappers held his daughter, they could demand more than money for ransom.
Lily’s orders had been to tread lightly and, the minute the situation turned into a kidnapping, to notify her supervisor. If that happened, she’d stick around and assist the specialty team that would arrive. But if it was just a case of girl misbehaving, DART would protect the congressman and his family from anyone who wanted to exploit the situation. They’d safeguard the “subject,” their name for the focal person of the assignment, and his family, from potential blackmailers.
They’d had a similar situation the previous year, when the daughter of a brigadier general posed for one of those exhibitionist movies on spring break. The producer had a release form from the girl and swore she’d given consent, but the girl swore she didn’t. Using cameras from the beach town area and DARTs enhanced imaging program, they picked up footage of a guy slipping something into her drink. The guy worked for the sleaze ball “male entertainment videos” company, and DART got the guy arrested, and the shots of the young woman deleted from the film.
DART was relatively new, and an experiment in keeping a division of a federal agency under the radar. The government knew, enemies of the United States had far more access to information than they claimed. By implementing top-secret strategies from the start, the goal was to keep the existence of DART unknown for as long as possible, and allow the agency to do their job of defending the country. A job they did well.
A job she did well.
When Haladar stepped out of his car, Lily did the same and joined him. He leaned on the hood and folded his arms over his chest. Instead of adopting the same defensive posture, Lily stood with arms relaxed at her side, an attempt to put the infuriated man at ease.
“Sheriff says you work for some super-secret group. Says I’m supposed do what you ask.” The chief all but spit out the words, his forehead creased in a deep scowl. “I have my own way to deal with trouble around here, trust me.”
No. Trust got a bullet in her shoulder and a man killed on her last mission. It would be a long time before she trusted anyone again.
“We prefer to call it a classified agency, not a super-secret group. I’m sure you do a fine job with law enforcement in Stonefield, and I’ll need your assistance on this case. But I take the lead. Anything you plan to do, you run by me first. How well do you know Congressman Bowen?” Stay on track. Don’t get in a pissing match.
“Not very well. He and his family have been vacationing here for years. Never had any trouble from them. A couple of noise complaints he called in on the neighbors, that’s about it. Tell me more about this classified agency.” Still a sneer in his tone, but Haladar’s eyes held a twinge of interest.
Since Haladar was law enforcement, Lily was authorized to give him slightly more information.
“When certain individuals are in danger, we get them out, and we contain situations that could threaten national security, like this one. The congressman is an important political figure, and he and his family need to be protected from anyone wanting to exploit them. My job here is to assess what’s going on, first of all. If Jessica has been kidnapped we’ll call in the FBI specialists, but if this is something else, you and I, and the sheriff, will handle it. Discreetly. What have you learned so far?”
Apparently her explanation satisfied Haladar, enough to have him unfold his arms, push off his car, and pull out his pocket notebook. “Not much more than he told you. Bowen and his wife went out, around six o’clock to dinner then to a movie. Both daughters were supposed to stay home. When the Bowens got back around eleven, Cassandra was in bed and Jessica was gone. Sara texted to find out where she was and to remind her that her curfew is midnight. Jessie texted back and said she was with a friend and she’d be home by twelve. When Bowen woke up around two o’clock to pee, he checked in her room and she wasn’t home. Got on the phone with me right after that.”
“Cassandra is thirteen?”
Haladar flipped a page. “Yes. Bowen didn’t let me talk to her much, and she said she didn’t know anything.”
“What do you think?”
“Cassie seemed scared about something, but her dad was pitching such a fit, getting the kid and the wife riled up, that might have been why.”
Well. Lily reassessed. The chief was more perceptive than she thought. A buzzing sound near her ear made her slap at her neck. This conversation needed to wrap up so she could get indoors. Mosquitos pissed Lily off. She preferred to deal with enemies she could see.
“I assume Bowen called the friend she was supposed to be with?”
“Yep. The friend’s parents said the whole family had been home all night, and Jessie hadn’t been by. Bowen got no answer on Jessica’s cell phone.”
“You tracing that?”
“Working on it.”
“Sheriff Sutherland is coming with his K-9 team?”
Stonefield was a small town and in situations like this, Lily knew, small town law enforcement worked with the county sheriff’s office to utilize their more considerable resources.
“Should be here soon. He thinks the same—the girl is holed up with some guy or a friend. But when a congressman wants you to search, you do it.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped sweat from his forehead. “What are you going to do?”
Before she could answer, his phone rang.
“Haladar. Yeah? Where at? Male or female? Text me the address. I’m on my way.”
“What?” Lily asked.
Haladar squinted at her. “Guy found a body in a trunk, at his car repair shop.”
Lily’s pulse sped up, remembering Cassie’s worried eyes. “Female?”
“No, male.”
“You’re headed there now?”
“Yes. Sutherland is going to meet me. He’ll send the K-9 team here without him.”
“I’m following you. This could be related.” Lily fished her keys from her pocket.
“Might not be.”
“You get a lot of dead bodies in car trunks around here? Put my number in your phone.” Lily rattled it off. “Text me the address. I’m right behind you.”
She spun around and strode to her car before he could argue, let out a breath when her phone pinged with his text. Haladar might be pissed, but apparently, he’d work with her. Congressman Bowen—her jaw tightened. He’d be a battle all the way.
But Lily had been in battles before, and she always won.
*****
A sign announced that Jason’s Auto Repair was the most honest, reliable auto shop in the county. The place didn’t look bad, with oak trees offering shade, and a couple of trimmed bushes bordering a recently paved lot. A bay door on the building stood open, revealing two cars inside, and five cars occupied the outside parking area. One of the outside vehicles, a dirty Impala that had seen better days, had its trunk partially open. A man in overalls stood nearby, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Haladar got out of his car, strode toward the man and shook his hand. “Jason. How’s it going?”
“Can’t complain, Chief.” Jason glanced at Lily, who stepped up to join them.
Jason seemed young to be the owner of a shop, but his freckles and curly hair gave him a boyish appearance, so maybe he was Jason the second. Lily never understood why parents gave children their own name, but it seemed to be a popular practice and since she had no children, she refrained from making judgments on those who did.
“Agent Blume.” Jason gave her a sweaty handshake also, then she turned to Haladar and took a step back. Let the chief take point with this one.
“What happened here?” Haladar asked.
“I come in about seven like I always do, and when I let Rufus out of my truck, she goes running to this car and starts barking like crazy.” Jason pointed to the Impala. “She’s real well behaved and never does that. I wasn’t in yesterday and don’t know where the car came from. Thought maybe my part-time mechanic took it in, so I go to the office to check the appointment book. No record there. I call my guy, get no answer, and Rufus was still barking and whining. I, uh, know how to open a trunk without a key, so I did.”
Lily glanced at the office of the building where a large dog, a Doberman, it looked like, pawed at the glass door.
Jason turned away and coughed. “I’ve never seen a dead body before, outside a casket, you know. I touched his neck to make sure, didn’t feel a pulse. His head’s bashed in real good. I figured he was dead so I skipped the ambulance and called you.” Jason lifted the trunk lid.
Lily moved forward and joined Haladar to view inside. An odor of gasoline and grease wafted up her nose. The August heat hadn’t had a chance to work on the body yet, thank the Lord, so he must not have been in the trunk long. “Do you know him?” she asked.
“Looks familiar. I think I’ve seen him around.” Haladar leaned into the trunk, nudged the body slightly, and patted the back pockets. Reaching into one, he pulled out a wallet. “License says his name is Mark McCurdy. Got a Georgia address.”
“Have you got people to work a homicide?” He didn’t, and she knew it.
“Sheriff does. He’s got a Criminal Investigations Division. A good one.” Haladar pulled out his phone. “I’ll update him. He should be along soon, and he’ll contact the medical examiner.”
Lily took out her own phone. “I’ll just get a few pictures.” She stepped to the side of Haladar and leaned against him slightly as she angled her phone.
He jerked away at the contact, like she knew he would, giving her a wider view. She snapped a few photos, but knew the CID team would get better ones and she would have access to them.
When her phone rang, she checked the number. Not one she recognized.
“Agent Blume. Can I help you?”
“Is this the lady that was at our house this morning?” a female voice whispered.
Lily moved away from the men, toward the front door of the shop. “Yes, is this Cassandra Bowen?” The Doberman snarled and pawed at the glass, so she moved along past the office. Rufus had had enough excitement for one morning.
“Yes. Something happened last night. Dad says the sheriff wants to talk to me today, in person, and I guess I have to tell him. Will you come too?”
“Can you tell me now?”
A small sigh. “I can. But you’ll still come, when the sheriff is here, right? Dad’s going to be really mad, and if you’re here, he won’t ...”
“Won’t what?”
“Won’t be as mad,” Cassie said.
Lily doubted her presence would make a difference in the congressman’s anger level, but maybe that anger escalated to violence when the family was alone. She’d be there. “I will. Go ahead, tell me what happened.”
“We went out last night, Jessie and me. She called an Uber to go to this bowling alley that has a bar. If you wear a low-cut shirt, the bartender doesn’t card. I heard her and told her I wanted to go along too. They’ve got video games there and an old pinball machine. Told her if she didn’t let me come, I’d tell Mom and Dad.”
The men continued to talk. Haladar glanced at Lily, and she turned her back to him.
“We were only going to stay for two hours and get back home before our parents did. I was playing pinball, and Jessie came out from the bar and said she called me an Uber and I should go home. Her friends were coming. I told her I wanted to stay and she said no. Said if Mom and Dad got home before her and asked, I should say she was at her friend’s house.” Cassie’s voice caught. “I shouldn’t have left her there. Now something bad has happened.”
“Cassandra, it’s not your fault. We’ll find Jessie. Tell me everything you know.” The girl would have to repeat the story for the sheriff and the chief, but Lily wanted to hear it first, while she was the only audience.
“I don’t know much else. I was outside waiting for the car, and I went back in to the bar to ask Jessie to give me money for a soda. It was hot. She was talking to this guy and laughing, and I hung around the side of the wall to listen. The guy came around the corner to go to the bathroom, so I ducked out.”
“Did you see his face?”
“No, but he had a big tattoo on his arm. A bird flying, with claws out.”
A chill shuddered down Lily’s spine. She’d just seen that bird. “I’m sending you a picture of a tattoo. Call me right back if it’s the same one.”
As she texted the picture of the dead man’s arm, a Blane County Sheriff’s car pulled up. She watched Sheriff Sutherland get out. Tall, lanky, he looked to be in his early forties and he moved slow and deliberate. Haladar shook hands with the man. The Chief pointed to the Impala, then to her. The sheriff stared, like he was sizing her up. Lily stared back. The men turned to the trunk as her phone rang again.
“That’s the same tattoo I saw. Did you find the guy?”
Much as she hated to add horror to Cassie’s day, Lily knew the girl would find out about the murder soon enough.
“The man with this tattoo is dead. Chief Haladar, Sheriff Sutherland and I are headed back to your house now. Are your mom and dad both home?”
“Yes.” Cassie let loose a shaky sob.
“One of the men will call your dad and tell him we’re coming.”
“You’ll be there too, right?”
“I will. Don’t worry. If your dad gets mad, it’s because he’s afraid. He won’t be mad at you for long. We’re going to figure out where Jessie went and get her back.”
“Promise?”
Lily’s heart clenched. She wanted to assure the frightened girl that they’d find her sister, alive and well. But that didn’t always happen.
“I promise to do my very best to get Jessie home to you. We’ll be there soon.”
Lily walked to the Impala. “Sheriff Sutherland, I’m Agent Blume with Damage Avert and Rescue Team. You got a call from my boss, Miguel Estrada, and were told I’d be heading up this investigation, correct?”
The way his face tightened and his eyes went cold, Sutherland had gotten the call and wasn’t pleased. Probably he didn’t like her take-command tone either. Too bad. Lily knew she had to go in tough or she’d be stomped on like a welcome mat.
The sheriff ignored her outstretched hand. “He told me you’d be working on this investigation.”
“DART is the lead agency, but I’m deeply appreciative of all the help you and your people can give me. Sheriff, I guess the chief has filled you in, but the situation just changed. I got a call from the younger daughter, Cassandra. She and her sister snuck out and went to a bowling alley last night. Jessica was seen by Cassandra in the bar, talking to a man with a tattoo. I sent her the picture of this guy’s arm.” Lily pointed to the body in the trunk. “And she said that’s the one. I told her we’d be out to her house to talk to her immediately. Will one of you call her father on the way there?”
Both men glared at her, and Lily kept the firm, professional, non-threatening look on her face. A look that promised to get the job done but refused to take any crap.
Sheriff Sutherland narrowed his eyes at her, then turned to the chief. “I’ll call the congressman. Guy is pretty wound up, huh?”
“Sure is,” Haladar said. “Is your K-9 team at his place?”
“Yes. My officer with the patrol dog has been to the house and collected a scent from Jessica. They’re out in the field now.” Sutherland faced Lily. “We’ll be fine without you on this run.”
“Cassandra specifically requested I be there. I believe she’s somewhat fearful of her father. I’ll be happy to have you both question her while I provide support.”
Sutherland turned his head abruptly and spit a stream of brown tobacco juice an inch from her shoe.
Lily didn’t move. “You’ll have your CID out here to process this scene?”
“They’re on their way.” Sutherland studied her a moment, then grunted, apparently not able to find a good enough reason to tell her to stay away. “See you at Bowen’s place.”
*****
Talking to Cassie with her parents and the chief and sheriff around was as difficult as Lily imagined it would be. Cassie tearfully repeated the story she’d told Lily. The Congressman yelled, but Sara Bowen shushed him, took sobbing Cassie in her arms, and assured their younger daughter she wasn’t to blame for whatever happened to her sister. Both lawmen swore they’d use every available resource to find Jessie quickly. Lily kept quiet and took notes.
Jessie could still be sleeping off a hangover, Sheriff Sutherland suggested, or be too scared or embarrassed to come home yet. The dead man could be a stranger in town who just happened to be talking to Jessie. They’d know more once they found out who he was.
The sheriff had a smooth, quiet way of talking and despite him spitting at her feet, Lily was impressed with his handling of the Bowen family. Chief Haladar seemed genuinely concerned about the missing girl also, but his blustering manner clashed with Gordon Bowen, a guy used to people treating him with more submissiveness than Haladar could apparently muster up.
Another good reason to keep quiet. Lily would have to watch herself around the congressman. Not only did he look like her ex-partner, he acted a lot like him too. In control, comfortable giving orders and expecting them to be followed. Lily had gotten along fine with her partner, once he realized she was competent, and in turn, had started treating her as an equal. Gordon Bowen likely didn’t have too many people in his sphere he considered an equal, and she would certainly never reach that status.
Doesn’t matter. Work the case. Never lay eyes on the man again.
Though Lily dearly wanted to talk to Sara Bowen alone, the congressman and Sara both refused, stating they’d been through enough for the morning. She caught the sheriff’s eye and motioned him to the side, leaving Haladar to wrap up with the congressman.
“We’ll alert the telephone companies if a ransom call comes in, have it traced. Please inform Bowen to call me immediately if that happens.”
“We’re perfectly capable of handling that.” Sutherland crossed his arms and shifted the wad of tobacco in his mouth.
Don’t let him spit again. She’d have to punch him if he did. “The FBI has more pull than your office and we can get the trace done faster. They need to call me. Are you going to place an officer here?”
He shifted the wad again. “Doubt they’ll put up with anyone in their home,” he said. “There’s no real need to do all that right now.”
DART would make that decision.
Since there was little else she could do at the Bowen house, Lily said her goodbyes, and headed to the nearest convenience store gas station. She had to pee, and the sugar rush from the stale brownie she’d snagged for breakfast was long gone. And she had to check in with Miguel. She’d sent her boss a brief text with the status of the case, but he’d want a more detailed report.
Seated in her car with a burrito, a Coke, and a bag of pretzels, she cranked the air conditioner to full blast and called Miguel with an update.
“No ransom demand yet, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Sounds like this could be more than a teenage night out,” Miguel said.
“I agree. I think the murder and Jessica disappearing are connected.”
“You’re trained for homicide investigation. You up to looking into that murder?”
“I am.” Thank God. Miguel wasn’t going to insist she do nothing until the situation changed. He would let her get to work.
“Then do it, but do it quietly. With an older child, the FBI is only there to assist unless there’s interstate travel involved.”
“We have the lead, in any case we work,” Lily said.
“Sheriff Sutherland technically has the lead with the homicide, and with the kidnapping. Yes, our agency has the final say, but we need to keep a low profile when working with other law enforcement.”
Politics. Lily rolled her eyes.
“And remember, the Bowen family and potential kidnapping is our main priority, not the murder. There’s a man living nearby in Newboro, Dillon Hurst. He’s got a military background, and he’s smart. I want you to contact him for assistance on this case.”
Lily gritted her teeth, then unclenched and took a breath. “Thanks for the offer, but there are enough people involved already. The sheriff has a decent CID, from what I read, and if it turns out to be a kidnapping, I’ll notify you immediately to send in the specialty team. I don’t need help looking into the murder.”
“The sheriff’s Investigation Division is adequate, but with Congressman Bowen, we need to be highly alert. Hurst is from there. He knows the area.”
“Miguel, come on. Sutherland and Haladar already think I’m interfering. They’re not going to be happy about another outsider sniffing around.”
“He’s not totally an outsider, and he’s a man. That’s going to make a difference. Don’t argue; you know I’m right. And this guy has knowledge of the area and the people.”
“So why didn’t you just send him in the first place?”
“He’s not agency. He’s a friend who owes me a favor. I’m sending you his address and bio. In fact, you might have met him at my Christmas party last year. Those damn parties have gotten so big, I don’t even know who my wife invites anymore. He’s not far from where you are and he’s home. Go see him now.”
“I’m supposed to be working alone, remember? That’s why I requested this assignment.” She rubbed her shoulder, remembering. “I’ve been cleared by the docs to return to work. I’m fine all by myself.”
“Bullet wounds take time to heal,” Miguel said. “I know because ...”
“You have the scars to prove it. Yes, you’ve told me that.”
But he didn’t say what they both knew; she might not be mentally fit to be back on the job so soon. Having a partner betray her left a different kind of scar, one that would take much longer to mend. And worse, Lily now doubted her abilities. She was supposed to be so smart, yet her own partner went bad, and she didn’t even see it, and hesitated when she should have acted.
“Hurst is going to be willing to work with me?” One last effort.
“He’ll do it if I ask. It won’t be like working with another agent. Hurst will be a consultant; you’ll call the shots. I’m texting him now. Send me a report after you talk to him.” Miguel disconnected.
Lily cranked up the air and groaned out loud. Hellfire. Sucking hard on the straw, she drained the soda. She was lucky to be working in the field at all. Miguel could insist she continue taking sick leave and do more rehab, or stick her in a cubicle. The very thought of a desk job with endless paperwork made her shudder. He was a decent boss and knew she needed to get back to work in the field, doing what she did best. Letting her go on this assignment proved that, and she’d better not screw it up.
So she’d follow orders and talk to Dillon Hurst. As long as the guy behaved, he could tag along as back-up. Her phone pinged with an address, and an email with a file that contained details on Hurst.
All right, time to get to work. Lily pulled out her tablet and clicked to download the file on Hurst.
Her agency was the good guys. They helped keep balance in a world that was getting more unhinged every day. The people they rescued and protected, their subjects, were pivotal to keeping order.
During their training, all agents were shown examples of past cases, top secret information that she was sworn to keep quiet. DART worked hard to avert what they called “damage” by blocking potential blackmailers and other sources that could cause harm by leaking sensitive information, and also by rescuing subjects in jeopardy.
Satisfying work, knowing she was making her country a safer place to live. Lily might not trust another person for a good long while, but she did trust her agency and would make every effort to remain with them.
While the file on Hurst downloaded, she headed back into the convenience store. One burrito would not be enough fuel for this afternoon.