Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Sunday night before the fire
Dennis Holdcraft acknowledged his guest as he brushed the snow from his heavy coat.
Arrow nodded. “I got your message. Is this about the boy?”
It wasn’t, but Dennis had information. “All the evidence is pointing to a professional. They nabbed him quicker than his mother could report him missing. I was so fucking close with the Jensen girl.”
“Bratva?” Arrow asked.
Dennis shook his head. “I’m working on another theory. Remember Crossroads Network?”
Arrow nodded.
“This feels the same. It feels deep. I think the network is transporting kids up to Nova Scotia via yacht. There’s a lot of money involved. The question is who’s controlling the local law enforcement, not just in Foxborough, but all over New England?”
Arrow was listening.
“We’ve known for a while that this operation caters to the oligarchs in Russia with deep pockets. It was my belief that the network facilitated the transportation of the children, either to Russia or Saudi Arabia. They take them north to where they can fly the victims over Russian airspace.
“I’ve been watching the marinas and shipyards. There was a yacht docked at Hingham Shipyard Marinas that caught my attention. It’s called Dayushchiy—Russian for The Giver. I’ve been watching it for weeks. Yesterday, a two-man crew took off, reportedly for Nova Scotia.”
“Any sign of the Wells boy?”
Dennis shrugged off his heavy coat and sat on the chair before multiple keyboards. “Here’s the video of the crew preparing The Giver.” He slowed the video footage. “See those large containers?”
Arrow inhaled. “Big enough for an eight-year-old boy.”
“If he’s in there, he’s alive. Probably drugged. It’s a two-and-a-half or three-day sail to Nova Scotia. With this nor’easter, I’d say three days is generous.”
“Did they file a destination port?”
Dennis shook his head. “No, but there are a number of privately held marinas capable of docking The Giver. And from there—”
“They’re a plane ride away from Russia,” Arrow said, interrupting. “Fuck, this is just like the Jensen girl.”
“Hannah,” Dennis said. “We were so fucking close to getting her before she was flown away. I think the storm might help us with Timothy. I’ve contacted headquarters.
Peterson sent a team to Nova Scotia. They’re in agreement that The Giver will head for a southern marina.
There’s one in Shelburne that’s privately owned and less crowded than others.
It would make sense for them to dock there.
There’s also a private airfield in the hamlet of Deerfield. ”
Arrow crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against another desk. “You’ve reported this to Peterson. Why did you want to meet with me?”
“A couple of reasons. Perkins has been acting stranger than normal lately. I heard a rumor in town that he’s making cash on the side.”
“Security?”
“Not the kind you put on the books. He’s been out to my house a couple of times for bullshit reasons.
Gloria at the diner said he was asking questions about me.
I even got a call from a colleague back at IMPD saying that the sheriff called for information on my tenure.
My old colleague thought I was getting back into law enforcement.
” Dennis stood. “I’m not. There’s no reason for Ralph to be asking those questions unless… ”
“He suspects you. Why would he do that? He can’t know about the agency.”
“He doesn’t. I’m still afraid I fucked up.”
Arrow’s dark gaze narrowed. “What the hell did you do?”
Dennis stood and inhaled. “A few weeks ago…” He ran his hand over his gray hair. “I was following a lead. Our software is top of the line. I should have been able to pass through firewalls like a damn ghost.”
“What happened?”
“I came across chatter about an evacuation. I had hoped to find the details so we could preemptively warn security. A contact going by the handle of @Recon729_Adam kept appearing. It hit me as a connection to “Code Adam.”
Arrow nodded.
“All of a sudden, Patrick Lehman’s name appeared.”
“Lehman?” Arrow groaned. “The Massachusetts senator? Did you take that information to Peterson?”
“Yes, I did. But first, alarms went off and the transmission disappeared. I shielded my end, but I’m afraid that I let someone know I was looking into their shit.”
“What did the transmission say?” Arrow asked.
Denny shook his head. “It was there and then disappeared. I didn’t get the chance to read or copy it.” He shrugged. “All I have is my word. And Perkins’s sudden interest in me isn’t reassuring.”
“You’re absolutely sure it was Senator Lehman.”
“I am.”
“And you think the Iron Falls sheriff is connected?”
“Feels like Crossroads. They have people in all levels. Fuck, if Lehman is in it, he’s got some big money behind him.
” Denny shook his head. “Just seems damn coincidental. I told Peterson about the breach. He was pissed and said that our IT people would find out what happened. I’ve got a bad feeling. ”
Arrow’s nostrils flared as he looked around. “Who knows about this place?”
“This back shed? The agency knows I’ve built something. No one from the complex has been here to inspect it. That leaves you, me, and Leo. If they were able to trace me, they won’t find anything in the house.”
“You think there’s a network that includes law enforcement and elected officials?”
“Small-town cop goes dirty. It’s not exactly an original story.” Dennis sighed. “I’m not saying that Ralph’s involved with the kids, but he could be part of a network that makes transporting them easier. All I know is that he smells dirty. I’m not sure Iron Falls is where I should stay.”
Arrow looked around. “Shit, you’ve put a lot of work into this place to pull up stakes.”
“I have. I’ve moved before. I can move again.
Bringing down monsters who deal in people as commodities is my repentance.
I’m not ready to stop. Lehman could be our link.
I don’t think he’s the top. He’s not smart enough or rich enough.
But he needs to be watched. He has contacts and we need to find them. ”
“I’d like to be part of that.”
Denny sighed. “Hey, there’s something else—someone.” Arrow didn’t respond. “When I reported the information on the Wells boy to Peterson, he told me you and Leo were close by. You’ve helped me with my daughter in the past.”
Arrow set up some security in Michelle’s home for Dennis to watch. It gave him peace of mind to see that she’s safe without him seeming overprotective.
Arrow stood taller, pulling himself from the desk. “Shelly? What about her?”
“She’s here.”
“Here?”
“At my house. She surprised me.” Dennis stood and turned in a circle.
“I’m fucking surprised. The thing is, I wanted her to get back on the road but the damn snow.
She stayed for dinner and now she can’t leave until the roads are safe.
She was up in the guest room working on her laptop when I snuck out. If anything would happen…”
“Shit, Denny, what do you think will happen?”
Dennis scrunched his face, making his wrinkles turn into caverns. “It’s a gut feeling. I don’t want anything to happen to Shelly.”
“You want me to drive her out of here in this blizzard?”
“No. If I thought the roads were safe, I would have already done that. I’m asking you to continue to keep an eye on her.
If I’m right and Ralph comes after me, he was told to do it by someone else.
That someone else could know my history and Tracy’s.
Shelly’s books have some information in them that I wish she wouldn’t have shared.
Fuck, she doesn’t realize it’s factual, but if the wrong people. ..”
Arrow stood taller. “You have my word.”
“If I’m reading the clues wrong and a week from now Ralph Perkins has a new obsession, then chalk this conversation up to a paranoid old man.”
“You know what they say about paranoia?” Arrow answered his own question. “Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get you.”
“Get her home and back to her own life. I’ve worked to atone for things I can’t undo. I lost too much to the agency. I’m not losing Shelly.”