Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 41

41

“ S o Simone has disappeared,” Chase said grimly. The men had regathered at the command center, the tension thick in the air. After hours of interviewing the remaining staff cleaning the venue and combing through footage, they had no new leads. Dex’s surveillance hadn’t picked up where Simone had gone. Her license plate wasn’t showing up on any cameras yet.

“I think it’s time to get Tex involved,” said Chase. “Liam has only given us thirty-six hours before he officially reports this.”

Ford groaned and leaned back in his chair. Thirty-six hours? That wasn’t just time, it was an eternity. And Tessa is out there, somewhere, alone, and afraid, while I’m stuck here waiting for answers.

The only time they asked Tex for help was when things got desperate. Despite never meeting him, he knew of the man’s reputation as a genius with computers, access to places Ford never heard about, and that Tex was friends with Chase and a few others in the Brotherhood.

“Ah, just got a hit on a toll booth,” hollered Dex, his fingers flying across the keyboard. “Her car passed through just a short time ago. It looks like she’s heading toward Atlanta.”

“I wonder why?” asked Finn. “Could be just a coincidence.”

Ford huffed and shook his head. “I don’t believe in coincidences,” he snapped.

“Remember, she hired Tessa because the original venue had a fire,” Finn asked. “What if that fire wasn’t an accident? What if someone set it intentionally?”

“Good question,” said Chase, rubbing his jaw. “Dex, can you pull up the fire marshal’s name in that town? I know it’s late, but maybe he’ll answer the phone.”

Dex nodded, and within minutes, Chase had the fire marshal on the line asking him about the fire.

Ford tapped his fingers on the table, his frustration building up. We’re wasting time here. Every second Tessa is gone means she is deeper in trouble.

The team sat in silence, only hearing snippets of the conversation before Chase thanked the man and hung up. They looked at him expectantly.

“Okay. The fire marshal is calling it arson,” said Chase. “He said signs indicated someone used an accelerant and tampered with the security system. They’re still investigating.”

“Well, that answers that,” Ford declared. “We need to know more about Simone.”

Chase dialed Tex and put the phone on speaker. “My man, how are you?”

“Doing fine,” came Tex’s calm voice. “But you’re not calling to shoot the shit. What happened?”

Chase quickly explained the situation—Tessa missing, Simone’s sudden departure, the fire at the historic house and the team’s need for answers. “We need you to investigate Simone Benedetto’s background.

“I’m guessing this needed to be done yesterday?” Tex said.

“You know it. Anything you can do will be helpful,” said Chase, pacing the room.

“Got it.” The line went dead.

“Okay, now we wait,” said Chase, turning to the group. “Dex, keep tracking Simone’s car.”

The room fell silent. Ford was anxious to do something, anything, but he had to be patient. Although waiting wasn’t his strong suit.

The clock on the wall ticked louder with every passing minute. It was now 9p.m. The event ended at six. They were losing time.

It didn’t take Tex long to get back to them. The phone buzzed, and Chase put him on speakerphone. “I gotta say, I dug down as far as I could go. Simone seems on the up and up.”

Ford groaned. Another dead end. He’d hoped that Tex would have something for them.

“Listen, can you send me a picture of her?” asked Tex. “Sometimes facial recognition triggers other information.”

“Dex, do we have pictures from the event?” asked Chase.

Dex shook his head. “No. But I know Isabelle and Naomi were taking a lot of them. I’ll reach out to Isabelle if you’ll touch base with Naomi.”

“Tex, I’ll get back to you ASAP on that,” said Chase. He hung up the phone.

Dex was on the phone with Isabelle immediately. Ford only heard his end of the conversation, but it sounded like she would email the pictures right over.

Chase had hung up the phone after talking with Naomi. “She’s going to look through her pictures to see if she has any of Simone and send them over.”

Within minutes, Dex’s computer pinged with incoming messages. “Ford, come here and help me pick out the best pictures to send to Tex,” Dex called out.

Ford stood behind Dex while they scrolled through the photos one by one. Pictures of a smiling Tessa standing next to Simone. Simone talking to guests.

Dex zoomed in on each, adjusting brightness and contrast. By the end, they had several really good shots of Simone.

“This one is good,” Ford said, pointing to an image of Simone with her face fully visible. He noticed the interesting pendant she wore. “She was rubbing that when we talked. I wonder if it has any significance?”

They sent several of the clearest shots to Tex. “Done.” Dex leaned back in his chair. “Now we wait.”

The wait was excruciating. The clock kept ticking.

Chase had ordered food to be delivered, which they devoured in silence. They were taking catnaps, not wanting to leave.

Ford stared at the clock on the wall. Eleven hours. Eleven hours had passed since Tessa vanished. Ford hoped Tex would find something soon that would help get Tessa back. It was already 5a.m.

Come on, Tex.

Just then, the phone rang, breaking the silence, and all eyes turned to it. Chase put it on speaker.

“You’re gonna want to hear this,” Tex said, his tone serious.

Ford’s heart thumped in his chest, a mixture of hope and dread washing over him. Hopefully, whatever Tex found would be the key to getting Tessa back.

Tex paused. “Simone isn’t who she says she is.”