CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE TINA
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
T INA
After the elevator doors to Lionel Rothman’s penthouse close, Tina turns to Agent Pratt. “You think Jack and Makayla Rossi staged their son’s kidnapping to cover up his fraud?”
“It would explain the look on Rossi’s face when we asked about anything unusual happening at work. Also, why they can’t find the kid on that plane.” Pratt folds a stick of gum into his mouth without offering one to Tina. “I got the warrant for Makayla’s father’s home in Anchorage while you were getting the account access from Rothman. We’ll find out soon if they’re hiding the kid there.”
“Although,” Tina thinks aloud when the doors open to the opulent lobby, “wouldn’t Jack realize that staging a kidnapping and a fake ransom would draw the FBI’s attention to his accounts?”
Pratt motions for her to go first. “People do irrational things when they fear they’re about to get caught. Maybe Rossi got scared after his boss confronted him about the fraud and hatched up a plan.”
“A ransom would give Rossi an excuse if his clients raised an alarm over their account deficits,” Pratt adds as they move side by side through the quiet Upper East Side lobby.
“I still don’t see how Rossi could’ve planned to get away with it. We can trace the transfer.”
Pratt shrugs. “Maybe he didn’t think it through. Or he could be planning to transfer funds into his personal account and then withdraw a large sum of cash. If we hadn’t got wind of Rossi’s alleged fraud, we wouldn’t be looking that deeply into his accounts aside from the ‘ransom.’”
She thinks about the Rossis’ water-view Tribeca condo. If he gets caught, Jack has a lot to lose, not to mention facing a potentially lifelong prison sentence.
“I’m going to need help from one of our forensic accountants to go through everything,” Tina says. “I’ll call Special Agent Castillo on our way back to the office.”
After Rothman’s accusations, they’ll have to launch a separate investigation into the firm’s accounts to determine whether Jack Rossi has been committing fraud, but tonight, they need to focus on finding Liam.
Tina’s phone vibrates in her purse. She digs it out, thinking of Isabel and the call she still hasn’t returned. It’s a text from Felicity. Everything’s fine but if you can, call me when you get this.
Tina calls her back without listening to the voicemail as the doorman wearing a bespoke suit opens the door for them. The muggy outside air is a stark contrast to the overly air-conditioned lobby.
Felicity answers after the first ring. “Sorry to call you. I know you’re at work. And everything’s okay, but Isabel had a nightmare. She woke up crying, and she’s having trouble falling back asleep. She seems pretty upset, and I was wondering what you normally do to help her?”
Tina’s heart drops into her stomach. She should be there with Isabel, not her neighbor. Isabel has gotten these night terrors since she was little. They started right after Jason left.
“I normally let her come sleep in my bed. And I tell her a story while rubbing her back.”
“I’ll try that.”
“Thanks.” Except the only stories that seem to soothe her are memories of fun times she and Isabel have had together, Tina thinks.
Pratt casts her a look before moving around to the driver’s side of the SUV, apparently realizing she’s on a personal call.
Tina opens the passenger-side door and climbs inside. “Can I talk to her?”
“Yes, hang on.”
Tina hears the creak of a door opening. There’s a pause before Felicity speaks in a whisper.
“It looks like she finally fell back asleep.”
“Okay, good.” But her relief is muddled by the thought of Isabel crying herself back to sleep without her. For the second time that night.
“All good,” Felicity adds. “Sorry to bother you. We’ll see you when you get home.”
“Thanks, Felicity.”
Tina puts on her seat belt after ending the call.
“Everything all right?” Pratt asks, making a turn for the financial district.
His question comes out as a mixture of annoyance and concern.
“Yeah. Fine.”
He shoots her an inquisitive look. “You sure?”
“It’s my daughter. I had to leave her with my neighbor tonight.” Tina swallows the large lump that’s formed in her throat. “She was supposed to be with her dad this weekend, but he ...” He bailed, breaking her heart and ignoring his responsibility as her father. “Canceled last minute.”
“That’s tough.”
Tina turns to him, surprised by the warmth in his tone.
“My wife passed away when my kids were eight and ten.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.” He keeps his eyes on the road. “It was a long time ago. My kids are grown now. But I remember those days of juggling the demands of work as a single parent. Somehow, they turned out to be a couple of pretty well-rounded adults.”
“Right now, I think my daughter’s growing up to be someone who’s getting used to disappointment.” The last word sticks in her throat, and the welling up of emotion takes her by surprise.
“I know it’s hard, but you’ll get through it too.” Pratt meets Tina’s gaze after stopping at a red light. “I’m sure your little girl will grow up to be a strong woman like her mother.”
Tina nods, blinking back the tears that spring to her eyes. The light turns green, and Pratt accelerates through the intersection. She studies him for a moment before looking out her side window at the buildings speeding past.