Chapter 60
With a warrant in hand, we stormed the Theta house.
Let me tell you, there were a lot of terrified faces.
It took some doing, but the girls finally told us which room was Rachel's. We searched the place and confiscated her laptop, tablet, and other devices.
Rachel was still in the hospital in a coma.
Lauren had told me the password to Rachel's laptop and her cell phone. I sat at Rachel’s desk in her bedroom and accessed the device, then searched for the abusive videos.
Lauren had told me what directory they would be in.
They were all in a folder named Study Guides.
Meticulously arranged and chronicled, subfolders sorted everything by incoming pledge class and date.
Within those subfolders, each file was labeled with the participant’s name and the date of occurrence.
Rachel was pretty OCD about this kind of thing. Her room was organized to perfection. Everything in its place. It was quaint and cozy, with pastel walls and homey appointments. There was a large flatscreen display, plenty of jewelry, and a wardrobe beyond the means of most college students.
I clicked on a random folder and viewed one of the video clips.
Indeed, it contained an explicit act between an older gentleman and a young coed who was blindfolded and tied to the bed.
Many of these encounters had happened here at the sorority house.
There were some videos that had been taken in a hotel room or some other place.
The potential new members were forced to set up hidden cameras to capture the events. The scope of it was mind-boggling.
The text chain between Rachel and Jenna was damning.
The two had coordinated the whole endeavor. There was a clear electronic trail.
Deputies arrested Kendall.
Somebody must have called Jenna because she showed up at the sorority house. In a blustery voice, she asked, "What is going on here?"
"Jenna Miller, you're under arrest for human trafficking, compelling prostitution, extortion, blackmail, and a host of other felonies. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
The girls shrieked with horror and looked on with slack jaws.
"I’ve done no such thing,” Jenna said, puffing up. “Where are you getting your information from?”
"Turn around and put your hands behind your back. You're under arrest. If you fail to do so, you will be resisting. You don't want to resist."
Jenna cringed and swallowed hard. She complied, and I ratcheted the cuffs around her wrists.
"You have the right to remain silent…”
I escorted her out of the house and stuffed her into the back of a patrol car.
Deputies bagged and tagged the evidence. We returned to the station, logged everything in, and I filled out an after-action report.
After Jenna had time to stew in the interrogation room, I took a seat across from her. Those tawny eyes blazed into me.
"I'm not sure how you could think I had some involvement in something like this," she said, like the notion was absurd.
"Save it. I’ve seen the videos and read the texts between you and Rachel.”
"I want a lawyer."
I shrugged. "Suit yourself. It's not going to do you any good. Not with the evidence we have."
The color drained from her face, and she trembled with nerves.
I pushed away from the table, moved to the door, and a guard buzzed me out. I talked to the sheriff in the hallway afterward.
"The computer forensic guys are going through those files now. That's going to keep us busy with arrests for the next several months."
He was probably right. Dean Montgomery would be picked up in the morning.
My phone buzzed with a call from Jack. "Where the hell are you?"
"Long story. I'll tell you all about it. I'm on my way back up to the club."
I left the station, picked Jack up at Vibe, and as usual, there was a small afterparty aboard the boat. I told Jack about everything, and he was a little disappointed he missed the action.
After watching all these people betray one another, I was doubly thankful for a friend like Jack.
Daniels called the next day and told me Kenzie was getting discharged. She’d be transferred to the jail and processed. “I talked to Audrey. Doug is out of his coma and alert. Looks like he’s going to pull through. Audrey says he’s going to pay for his daughter’s criminal defense and stand by her.”
“Maybe all of this will make them closer,” I said. “I hope Kenzie gets her priorities straight.”
“She’ll have a long time to think about things,” Daniels said. “By the way, your friend is getting processed out today. The state’s attorney dismissed the charges, and the dagger has been returned to its rightful owner.” Then he added, “I hope she keeps her ass out of trouble.”
“Time will tell, I suppose.”
It wasn’t long after I talked to the sheriff when I got a collect call from an “Inmate at the Coconut County Jail. Will you accept the charges?”
“Yes.”
After a beat, the line cleared, “Hey, it’s your favorite person.”
“Who?”
“Shut up. Listen, I’m getting sprung.”
“I heard.”
“Thank you. I owe it all to you.”
“I think we’re even.”
“Not really,” she said in a mischievous voice. “How about you pick me up? I’ll buy you a drink.”
“I could be tempted.”
“Good. I’ll see you on the outside.”
I figured, why the hell not?
Before I left, I got a call from Hendrick. He was the last person I expected to hear from.
“I wanted to give you a heads up,” he said. “The Codex has come onto the market. I’ve acquired it from a Russian collector who will remain nameless. I will be returning it to Douglas, where it belongs.”
“That’s mighty kind of you.”
“I just want to make clear that I had no involvement in the book’s theft.”
I tended to believe him. “I’m sure Douglas will appreciate its return. I hear he’s recovering well now.”
“Prayerfully that continues.”
It was a felony in Florida to purchase stolen merchandise, but Hendrick’s intentions seemed noble. As long as the book actually got back to Douglas, he’d be in the clear. No prosecutor would take that case. I told Hendrick as much.
“What I want is the name of the collector you bought the book from.”
“The reason I have the book now and can give it back to Douglas, at substantial cost to me, I might add, is because I made certain assurances.”
This was a can of worms. “Just make sure Douglas gets the book ASAP.”
“I’m on my way to the hospital now.” He paused. “Are we good, or do I need to lawyer up?”
After a beat, I said, “I’m no longer on the case. It’s wrapped up as far as I’m concerned.”
“Thank you, Deputy. All the best.”
“Likewise.”
I went down to the jail on my sportbike and picked Daphne up. She strutted out of lockup with a beaming smile. I handed her a helmet, and she climbed onto the back of my bike and held on tight.
“Where to?” I asked.
“First thing I want to do is take a shower.”
“Mine’s big enough for two.”
“I know,” she said in a hungry voice.
I revved the throttle, eased out the clutch, and headed back to the Avventura.
We steamed up the shower stall, then wrecked the mattress. It was a divine experience.
We’d no sooner finished the deed when the sheriff called.
I didn’t want to answer, but I did anyway.
“I hate to interrupt.” He knew damn good and well what I was up to. “But we’ve got another situation. I need you and that numbskull to get over here.”
“What happened now?”