JJ Young opened the door before they knocked.
“Ginny has something she would like to tell you,” he said.
Lucy should have guessed that JJ would talk to his daughter, considering she’d given him the idea that Ginny, not Joe, knew what happened to Ricky.
They walked in behind JJ, and Ginny was sitting at the dining-room table, her hands clasped in front of her. Joe was nowhere to be seen, and Jill stood in the doorway, her hands on her large stomach and her expression concerned.
Ginny wasn’t crying, but her eyes were rimmed-red and she stared at her fingers. When her father cleared his throat she looked up and met his eyes. This was a strong girl, Lucy thought.
Nate sat across from Ginny and said, “Your dad says you have something to tell us.”
She took a deep breath. “Yes,” she said, looking him in the eye. Brave, as well as tough. Her voice was a squeak. She cleared her throat and said, “I know where Ricky is and I know why he left.”
“That’s good. Let’s start at the beginning, okay? Ricky left your house that Friday at six to go home.”
She nodded. “The next morning I went out to feed the chickens and collect eggs, that’s one of my chores. I saw Ricky’s bike behind the chicken hutch. I got mad thinking he came over to talk to Joe and not me, we were all supposed to go see the puppies together. Then I heard something but didn’t see him. I went up to the tree house and he was there. He’d slept there all night and he’d been crying.” She paused and bit her lip.
“Ginny, it’s very important that you tell us everything,” Nate said. “You’re not going to get in trouble from us, I promise you that. We want to find Ricky. We know that he’s called his grandparents on Christmas every year for the last three years. He didn’t say anything, but a private investigator traced the call to a specific region in Mexico. Since we know his parents are dead, we think he made the call.”
Ginny said, “Ricky went home that night and no one was there. He waited, played games, and then four men came into the house. They had the keys. His dad’s keys. He hid in a closet downstairs and heard them talking about his mom. He didn’t tell me everything they said, but he heard them say his whole family was dead and one of the men was a policeman. He didn’t know what to do, and he didn’t want to go to the police. I said we could talk to my dad, and Ricky was really scared that what happened to his family would happen to my family. And I got scared, because I couldn’t even think about how I would feel if my mom and dad and Joe were … were … were dead. So I didn’t say anything.”
She paused, bit her lip. “I’m really sorry.”
Lucy said, “You were scared, we all understand how that feels. Why did Ricky go to Mexico?”
“We decided to get a bus ticket to Austin because we thought that was far away enough and he could trust the police there. One of our friends moved there, and we went to his birthday party the summer before, so it just, I don’t know, it just felt right. And it’s a whole different police department. But getting to the bus station would be hard, it would take hours on his bike, and I knew my uncle Javi—he’s not a real uncle, he’s my mom’s cousin, but we call him Uncle—he was coming to visit the next week. I said maybe Ricky could hide in his truck, then get out when he got to town. He could take a bus to Austin, or go to the police in San Antonio or another town that Javi stopped in.
“So Ricky slept in the tree house at night, and during the day he stayed in the woods. He kept out of sight. I brought him food. And he said maybe he should talk to my dad. So we were going to, on Tuesday, when Dad got home from work. But then the two detectives came and Ricky got scared again. Because one of them was the man in his house.” Ginny’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t tell them this. You really can’t. Ricky wasn’t lying about the men in the house. He said they shredded all his mom’s papers and two of the men went upstairs and got suitcases to make it look like everyone just left. Ricky said they’d kill us all if he said anything and he didn’t have anything anymore because his family was dead and he didn’t want my family to be dead, too.”
Now Ginny was crying, and so was Jill, who sat down next to her and put her arm around her daughter. “Honey, no one is going to hurt us.”
“But they killed them, Mom! They did, and … and it just made sense that they would h-hurt us if they knew that Ricky was here. They told us that Ricky’s mom took a lot of money and disappeared with her family to Mexico, and I know they didn’t, and Ricky knew they didn’t, and so did the police! They lied to us, and so when Uncle Javi left, Ricky said he was going all the way to Mexico with him and just disappear. I thought maybe when Javi found out Ricky was in the truck that he would come back, but he didn’t. And— Well, I got this a couple months later.”
She pulled a worn, tightly folded piece of notebook paper from her pocket and slid it over to Nate. Lucy read over his shoulder:
G: I’m okay. Javier is very smart and teaching me everything he knows about cars and fixing things. He said I can stay as long as I want. He’s teaching me Spanish. It’s very quiet here and he has a dog. I don’t have a family anymore and I can’t trust the police. Be careful. Never, ever, ever tell them you know where I am because they might hurt your family like they hurt mine. I miss you and Joe. But you can’t tell Joe anything because he can’t lie. R.
“Can I keep this?” Nate asked. “I’ll make a copy and give it back to you.”
“Is Javi going to get in trouble?”
“No,” Nate said. “He didn’t know Ricky was in his truck, right?”
Ginny shook her head. “Not until they got all the way to his house.”
“He might not be in trouble with you folks,” JJ said, “but he and I are going to have a word.”
“Dad—” Then Ginny looked down when JJ gave her a stern look.
“We just want Ricky home safe,” Lucy said. “He has an aunt and grandparents who are worried about him.”
“Can you even do that? Keep him safe?” Jill asked.
Lucy opened her folder and showed Ginny photos of Detectives Chavez and Douglas. “Which detective interviewed you?”
“They were both here,” Ginny said.
“Who was Ricky scared of?”
She frowned. “He didn’t say. He just said that one of them was at his house and shredded all his mother’s papers and found what he was looking for.”
“Found what?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know. Something. A folder or papers or something like that. Ricky didn’t know what it was, but it was in his mom’s office.”
“So both of these men could have been there.”
“I guess. I don’t know.”
“Okay,” Nate said. “This is a big help.” He turned to JJ. “Do you have Javi’s address?”
“Yes. I’ll take you.”
“Sir, I think you should let us handle this.”
“First, you have no jurisdiction down in Mexico. You might be able to handle yourself, but even I know you can’t be a federal agent down there. Second, Javi doesn’t have an address. I’ve been there, you would never find his place. And if Javi thought you were a threat to Ricky, he would never let you near him. I don’t want you or Javi dead.”
Lucy motioned for Nate to follow her to the living room. “Nate, what if you and Mr. Young go get Ricky. Ricky trusts him, he doesn’t know you. As far as Ricky knows, you’re a cop like the cop who killed his family. But Ricky trusts Javi and Mr. Young.”
“I’m not asking for permission,” Nate said.
“I’ll run interference with Rachel, but we have to tell her.”
He nodded. “I’ll deal with the fallout.”
“Don’t take your badge. Just in case. I’d call Kane to help, but he’s still out of the area.”
“I’m good. I’ll take a sick day. It shouldn’t take long.”
“Take the pictures. Get confirmation and then call me. And stop by my house and grab some equipment. Sat phone, an unregistered gun, whatever you need.”
&n
bsp; Nate smiled. He didn’t smile often enough, Lucy realized. “What makes you think I don’t have my own go-bag?”
They went back to the dining room. “Mr. Young, if you don’t mind, I would like to join you,” Nate said. “We don’t know what we’ll encounter down there, and it’s my responsibility to make sure Ricky gets home safe. But you’re right, I could use your guidance and backup.”
“Let me pack an overnight bag. And what about you? San Antonio is on the way if you need to go home and get anything.”
“I have a bag in the trunk. Never leave home without it.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, Nate and JJ Young left. It was an eight-hour drive straight through, but they already talked about finding a place to camp before they crossed the border, then getting an early start in the morning.
Lucy waited until they left and then turned to Jill and said, “Do you feel safe here? Do you want me to help you find a place to stay?”
“I’m okay. Those policemen don’t know anything, do they? About what Ginny knows?”
“No. We were suspicious about something else, so we haven’t kept them in the loop. Now we know our suspicions were well founded. But if you need anything, call me.” She handed her a card. “I put my cell phone on the back. You can call me day or night.”
“Thank you.”
Lucy looked at Ginny. “I’m glad you came clean.”
“I’m grounded.”
“I would have been, too,” Lucy said. “My dad was a colonel in the Army and he had strict rules, including no lying. But I understand. We all do. Fear is very powerful.”
“I should have said something, but when they came to the house and were so mean to Joe, and what they said about Mrs. Albright when I knew it wasn’t true, I just wanted nothing to do with them. And Ricky was really, really terrified.”
Jill walked Lucy to the door. “Are you really okay?” Lucy asked. “You’re not going into labor anytime soon, are you?”
“I still have four weeks. I have a lot of friends and family in the area. Javi is my cousin. A good man, truly. We have the same grandfather, he was born here but went back to Mexico for family. He’s a brilliant mechanic, JJ would hire him if he wanted to come back—but he’s a quiet soul. A very religious man who doesn’t want anything more than to work with his hands and help his neighbors. I don’t know what Ricky said to him to convince him not to bring him back, but Ricky’s safe with him.”
“That’s good to know. And Ricky probably had some healing of his own to do.” Though three years … had Ricky not left, would they have been able to stop this conspiracy, whatever it was? Or would he have been killed like his family?
The important thing now was not only bringing Ricky home but also keeping him safe.
* * *
As Lucy was driving back to San Antonio, her brother Dillon called. She smiled as she answered, his soothing voice coming through the car speakers.
“I was going to text you, but I wanted to hear your voice,” Dillon said. “And I’m stuck in traffic.”
“Where?”
“Coming home from Haynesville. Drove down early this morning to assess an inmate.” Dillon was a forensic psychiatrist who consulted for a variety of legal entities. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No, I’m also driving, heading back to town. I hope you’re not calling to tell me you and Kate are canceling Thanksgiving. You’re the only ones who’ve confirmed. Jack and Megan are staying in Sacramento with Megan’s brother, and Carina’s in her last trimester, I knew traveling would be difficult for her. Connor bowed out for no real reason, though I think he would rather stay home close to Carina, and Patrick doesn’t think he can come because of something going on with Elle.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“And then Sean’s family is just as bad. Kane will probably be here with Siobhan, but getting him to confirm anything is impossible. He’ll just show up. Duke and Nora are thinking about coming but won’t commit.”
“Most people are not as organized as you are, Lucy.”
“I just want to know, one way or the other.”
“Next year, our house. You, Sean, and Jesse will stay with us. Your room is still your room, and we have the guest room for Jesse.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Not to change the subject, but I heard Maxine was in San Antonio.”
“Word travels fast.”
“Ryan and Kate bonded over bad guys,” Dillon said. “They’ve been working on a new database to better track stolen art. Ryan mentioned Max hired Sean.”
“Yes,” Lucy said. She had been completely supportive of it initially, but now that Max was here, she was torn. Well, truth be told, she was torn now because they had merged the two cases and juggling a criminal investigation with what Max was doing was difficult at best. And could get Lucy in a lot of hot water.
“And … I take it you’re not happy about that?”
“Sean and Max? That’s fine. It’s an interesting case, nothing is cut-and-dried, and it’s local. He doesn’t want to travel right now as Jesse’s getting adjusted to his new situation.”
“Understandable.”
“It’s just that Max’s case has collided with my investigation.”
Lucy took the opportunity to explain everything to Dillon. Her brother, more than anyone else, could assess the complexities of motive better than anyone she knew. She told him everything, including a civilian joining Nate to retrieve Ricky Albright.
“Are you worried about Nate?”
“He’s a federal agent in Mexico. I have his badge and service weapon with me, but it’s sensitive.”
“I’m aware, but Nate knows what he’s doing.”
“I’m not really worried about them—I’m worried about Ricky. And not just because he lost his family. He’s a witness, and if the killers know that not only is he alive, but he was in the house at the same time they were— Nate and I already agreed that we’re putting him in protective custody. At least until we get this case resolved. Ricky can identify a corrupt cop—a cop who may have killed his parents. But I can hear the defense now. That he was scared and mistaken. He was hiding in a closet. He didn’t see what he thought he saw. I need to find solid evidence before they return.”
“Do you think he’s safer in Mexico?”
She hadn’t thought of it that way, but as soon as Dillon said it she realized that she was more worried about Ricky’s safety than she thought. “He’s been there for three years, and while on the one hand I want him home, because he has family who are worried about him, I don’t want to put him in danger. We have a lot of questions and no answers. Even Max connecting the cases is just a theory with no hard proof. Any judge would laugh us out of his courtroom because it’s a fishing expedition. To pull something like this off with so many people knowing parts of their plan—the bank manager, a cop, everyone surrounding Victoria Mills—they need lots of moving parts.”
“Slow down, Lucy. You’re talking about a large conspiracy, but not about the endgame. What were they doing? What was their goal?”
She was about to say, I don’t know, except they did know some things. “Denise was an accountant. Her best friend was Victoria Mills, who was a Realtor who primarily handled large land transactions. Before Stanley Grant was killed, he told Max that Victoria was working with Harrison Monroe, but he specifically said he didn’t know who he was. Yet we learned that Monroe went to college with Stan and the others, so of course he’d know him. My guess is that it’s some sort of money laundering, but how and why? I don’t know anything about land fraud, but there would have to be a paper trail.”
“Only if someone is looking. And with people on the inside knowing how to report information, how to set up the taxes and deeds—it would be extremely difficult to uncover a crime unless someone came forward.”
“They killed an entire family, Dillon. For what? Money. It sickens me.”
“Use it, don’t let it eat you up. And th
at’s the key: Follow the money.”
“And we’re at a dead end. The money that Denise Albright allegedly embezzled is gone, and the money Stan embezzled— Oh. Oh! There is a paper trail on Stan’s embezzlement, and it’s much newer.”
“Provided he didn’t actually do it.”
“We have a trail of the Albright embezzlement up until we lost it overseas. I need someone really good to compare them.”
“Max’s boyfriend Ryan is an SSA of White Collar in New York. And you can always call Dean in Sacramento.”
“That’s going over everyone’s head in my office, but maybe. Sean pulled all the recent land transactions that Victoria’s company was involved with, but we haven’t been able to make heads or tails of the information. It all seems standard. Maybe the gambling was a red herring, so to speak.”
“Whoa, what? Gambling? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Grant’s motive for embezzling money from his own company was that he went back to gambling. He had a problem in college. But Sean couldn’t find any recent gambling debts. We think he used that as a motive that people would buy, because of his past. But everyone Max talked to said Grant hasn’t gambled since college.”
“You said he had a problem in college—high-stakes illegal gambling is a huge business. It’s not really under the purview of the Violent Crimes Squad, but Kate’s been working on a project with national headquarters related to illegal gambling on the dark web. And while Internet gaming—legal and illegal—has exploded, old-school gamblers prefer face-to-face games. Poker, blackjack, things like that. High stakes.”
“This is completely out of my comfort zone. I’ve never investigated illegal gambling.”
“I bring it up because land would be a good way to wash the money. Eventually, someone might ask where the money came from, but a good accountant can show it came from other sources—and I mean a really good accountant. That’s a bit over my head as well. You really should talk to Ryan. He might see something other people miss.”
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