Chapter 8
EIGHT
Hunched over in the blanket fort, Linc used the T.V. remote to scroll through the streaming options to find a show for Jalen. He hadn’t thought through bringing Kendra here with them. They didn’t have a change of clothes or toothbrushes. Maybe he could rustle up something to make Kendra more comfortable. Dev had dozens of books she could pick from, ranging from biographies, history, action, mysteries, and spy novels, if she wanted to read. The guy was always reading during his downtime on deployments, unless there was a game going. None of the team played poker with him anymore—at least not for money.
Jalen stretched out on his stomach absorbed from the moment the show started.
Before they reached the opening credits, Linc’s phone rang. Clara.
“I need to get this.” Linc made his escape, awkwardly climbing over Jalen, who didn’t budge.
“Did you find the van?” He settled on one of the chairs at the kitchen table.
“Do you have any idea how many white work vans are registered in Cumberland County? The partial plate came back as a match to a similar make, but the plate was stolen the other night. And I wouldn’t put it past them to steal another plate to make it harder to identify.”
“You’re right about that.”
“I know. They’re running the plates on every one patrol sees. They’re looking for the dent in the back right bumper you noticed. But I do have good news.”
Linc’s heart rate kicked up.
“We found a flight reservation in Brianne’s name. The seat next to her was for a Tawnya Fahey, spelled T-A-W-N-Y-A. Do you know her?”
“No. Where did they fly to?”
“Her last known address was in Atlanta. She’s not living there anymore. We don’t have a local address for her. No criminal records either. We’re trying to get her credit card records to see if we can locate a hotel reservation.”
“Where did the flight go?” he pressed after she ignored him the first time.
“Acapulco, this past Tuesday. We don’t have the resources to call all the hotels and rental condos in Acapulco.”
“Bri told her coworker it was an all-inclusive resort. That should narrow things down,” Linc suggested.
“We can start there, but don’t bank on that being true. Acapulco is typically safe, especially near the beaches. However, they grow poppies in the surrounding area, so you have major drug production. The government broke up the biggest syndicate, but now you’ve got smaller groups constantly fighting for control, and the region has some of Mexico’s highest crime rates.”
Clara wasn’t telling Linc anything he didn’t already know. Drugs, guns, human trafficking.
“The cartels are always looking for new ways to smuggle drugs in. Most couriers get caught because they know they’re carrying and act nervous. But, if they can get someone to transport it without their knowledge, they have a better shot of getting through security. They busted some guy in Charlotte a few weeks ago, coming back from a trip to Acapulco with his new girlfriend. Dogs alerted to his checked bag and found several kilos of cocaine in hidden compartments of his carry-on. He claimed the girlfriend had traded suitcases with him to bring back souvenirs and needed his bigger suitcase—and the trip was all her idea. Considering she disappeared after they pulled him in for an interview, they believe he was duped. It sounds like what could have happened with Bri.”
Bri wouldn’t have trusted a man wanting to take her on vacation, but a woman? Linc wanted to get his hands on this Tawnya. “When’s the return flight?”
“This Tuesday.”
That gave him a few days to get down there and find her. “You’ll let me know if you find out where they’re staying?”
“You are not going to Mexico.”
“It’s not like you can,” he countered.
“Not me personally, but federal agencies and agents will work with locals there to find your sister. Involvement by US military personnel is prohibited and could have serious political ramifications.”
He wouldn’t be going in a military capacity. He was officially on leave.
“We’re still reviewing footage to determine where the van came from or where it went after they took Mrs. Feldman. Right now, she is our priority. Other than the phone call you got from your sister, there’s no evidence of foul play regarding Bri. We’re trying to get Mexican authorities to provide the location of the last cell tower Bri’s phone connected with. We also have an alert set up if her phone turns on to try to trace it.”
Linc didn’t put much stock in that happening. If Bri called from Tawnya’s phone, it meant she couldn’t access hers. He’d bet money it had been destroyed. “What about Bri’s text messages and call log? Have you gotten anything from her provider?”
“They wouldn’t release anything without a court order, and it’s Friday?—”
“Are you saying you’re not going to get anything until Monday?”
“That’s a possibility unless we can find Mrs. Feldman and prove there was a crime. I’m leaving the office; however, I’ll be digging into this Tawnya woman, looking for anything that might help. You take care of Jalen and Kendra and let the police do our job.”
“Acknowledged, ma’am.”
“Which you said before and isn’t the same as agreeing.”
“If you find Mrs. Feldman or anything else on Tawnya, let me know.” He ended the call. If she thought he was going to sit around on his ass while his sister was in danger, she did not understand the mindset of a Special Forces operator. No one was more trained than him to get his sister back.