by Jeff Shelby
Of all the things she could’ve said to me, that was absolutely the last thing I expected to hear. I wasn’t sure what to say because it was like being hit in the face with a brick and being asked if you were okay.
“Okay,” I said. “You’re pregnant.”
“I didn’t want to tell you right now,” she said quickly. “That’s why I didn’t say anything. I mean, we’re so close to finding Elizabeth. She’s the one we need to focus on. Finding her. Finding the child we already have.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I was going to tell you. When the time was right.”
I didn’t know if there would have ever been a right time.
She wiped a stray tear that had trickled down her cheek. “Part of me wanted to tell you now. You always think there’ll be time but we know better. We know how time gets taken away. “ She sighed. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m sorry.”
I nodded, slowly, trying to process. “Yeah. Right. No. I mean, I’m glad I know. And we’ll figure it out.”
“I won’t ask for you to help or support or decide or anything,” she said. “I’m not trying to trap you.”
“Lauren. Come on. I know that.”
She shrugged.
I put my arms around her and hugged her because I wasn’t sure what else to do. It wasn’t the right time to address it, not with Elizabeth so close. Not with Elizabeth in danger.
“We’ll figure it out,” I whispered, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “I promise.”
She nodded. I opened the door and she climbed into the car, clutching her purse. I followed her in.
“We’re still going?” Anchor asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s go.”
“Ellis believes we have a tail again,” Anchor said. “We’re going to do a little maneuver here just to find out if he’s correct. Just so you know we aren’t lost or going the wrong way.”
Instinctively, I turned around to look out the back window. The parking lot was mostly empty.
“Car’s back on the street,” Kitting said, glancing in the rearview mirror and catching my eye. “Late model sedan. Gray. He’s actually pretty good. Think he was there for awhile before I saw him.”
Lauren sighed and shook her head, like she couldn’t believe all of this was still going on, like she just wanted to be done with it. I couldn’t blame her. We were sleep deprived and a thousand miles away from where we started.
But we were close. I had to keep reminding myself of that. We were closer than ever and we needed to get her back.
We were going to get her back.
Kitting got us out of the lot and we did a slow crawl through a four-block area in downtown. I didn’t see the car at first as we worked our way in a square through the gridded streets. When we took our third right, I caught a glance of the gray sedan, just turning right two blocks behind us.
“I see him,” I said.
Kitting nodded. “Yeah. He’s on us.”
“We’re going to let him tail for a bit,” Anchor said. “Then we’ll see what he wants.”
We headed east through downtown, past the high rises. A few pedestrians milled about but the sidewalks were mostly empty. We reached the edge of downtown and then turned south. We cut under the interstate and weaved our way through neighborhoods that seemed to fall apart as we drove. We were moving from civilization into gang territory and knowing Elizabeth might be somewhere in that area kept me shifting uncomfortably in my seat.
We stopped at a red light, the car idling quietly.
And then all hell broke loose.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Blue and red lights converged on us from all sides, seemingly pouring out of every single street that we could see. Two police cars blocked our path, another parked alongside of us and two more wedged in behind us, effectively boxing us in. Officers emptied out of the vehicles, weapons still holstered, their hands hovering at their hips. All eyes were trained on us.
“Well, this is interesting,” Anchor said, as if we’d just pulled up to an ice cream shop we didn’t know about.
One officer stepped forward and rapped on the driver’s window. Kitting pressed a button and dropped the window halfway.
“We’re going to need all of you to exit the vehicle,” the officer said.
Anchor leaned over. “Why’s that, sir?”
“Because I said so,” he growled. “Now.”
“Can you tell us why we were stopped?” Anchor asked.
“When you get out, sure,” the cop said, glancing at the backseat. “All of you.”
Anchor considered that for a moment. “Are we under arrest?”
“You need to get out of…”
“You are required to notify us if we are under arrest,” Anchor said sharply.
Lauren gripped my arm.
The officer stepped from the window for just a moment, then came back. “You are not under arrest. But you all need to exit the vehicle right now or…”
“Can you tell us why we’ve been stopped, Officer?” Anchor asked, smiling. “And I’m sure you understand that you’re required to answer that as well, if you’d like us to vacate the vehicle.”
The officer’s face tightened. He stepped away from the window again, then returned. “This vehicle has been stopped because it’s been reported to be involved with an active AMBER Alert in the area. Exit the vehicle. Now.” He stepped back from the window before Anchor could say anything else.
“Close the doors after you get out,” Anchor said. “Do not leave them open.”
“Why?” Lauren asked.
“Leaving them open is an invitation to search,” Anchor said. “Closing them means they have to ask to search.” He smiled. “And I will say no. Let’s go.”
I pushed the door open and was immediately greeted by another unsmiling officer. I didn’t say anything and quickly shut the door behind me. The cop directed me to the back of the vehicle.
By my count, I saw seven cars, plus the gray unmarked sedan that had been following us, and ten cops. Their lights were still on and it looked to me as if the side streets had been blocked off with traffic being redirected.
They separated us and I was directed toward the sidewalk, where I was patted down thoroughly. I saw Lauren getting the same treatment across the street, with Kitting and Anchor down the street about twenty-five yards on opposite sides of the road. I wasn’t worried about any of them. Lauren knew enough as a lawyer to give as little info as possible and it seemed that this absolutely wasn’t the first time Kitting and Anchor had been pulled over.
“You got I.D.?” a short, squat officer wearing mirrored shades and named Lasko asked me.
“Rear pocket, right side,” I said.
He stepped around me and pulled out my wallet. He unfolded it. “Joseph Tyler?”
I nodded.
“Any idea why you’ve been stopped?”
“I heard what the officer who approached the car said,” I responded. “That’s all I know.”
“Mind if we take a look in the vehicle?”
“Not mine. Can’t give you permission.”
“And who does it belong to?”
“Have to ask one of those two guys,” I said, nodding toward Kitting and Anchor.
The officer flicked his chin in that direction and two of the officers behind him trotted down that way.
He stared at me from behind the glasses. “So.”
I didn’t say anything.
“We have an active AMBER Alert for this area,” he said. “This vehicle was seen in the area where the missing child disappeared from. Know anything about that?”
“Who reported the vehicle?” I asked.
“I asked you about the alert, Mr. Tyler,” he said. “Please answer the question.”
“I know about the alert, yes.”
“Know anything about the missing child?”
“More than you.”
That caught him off guard and he stood a little straighter. “Excuse me?”
“
The missing girl is my daughter,” I said. “She’s been gone for almost ten years. Elizabeth Tyler, currently going by Ellie Corzine. So I know more than you.”
Lasko started to say something, then closed his mouth.
“And this stop on us?” I said, shaking my head. “It’s total bullshit. Whoever called it in is trying to keep me from her. We’ve been on her trail for two days. So think carefully about what you do here, Officer. Because I’m not lying to you. You can verify my name and hers in about forty-five seconds with a call. But this is a bullshit stop. You’re being played.”
Lasko adjusted the sunglasses and looked away for a moment. I looked across the street. Lauren’s arms were folded across her chest and she was stone-facing the officer questioning her.
Lasko looked at my license again, stared at it for a long moment.
“Check it,” I said. “My name should be somewhere in the alert. I’m former Coronado P.D. Woman across the street is my ex-wife and our daughter’s mother. Other two are helping us look for her.” I paused. “Look it up.”
“Be right back,” Lasko said, then walked briskly to his car. He leaned in the window, pulled out his radio and turned away from me.
I knew what he was doing. He was calling in my I.D. He’d see that everything I’d just told him was true. Then he’d wonder just what the hell was going on.
I had a pretty good idea, but I wasn’t going to take the time to explain it to him.
I stood at the curb and waited. Watching the other conversations, I could see that the same confusion that I’d thrown at Lasko was making its way through the rest of the officers. Several walked down and joined Lasko at his vehicle, glancing at me when they got there.
I stood and waited.
After a few minutes on the radio and some words with the other officers, Lasko made his way back to me.
He held out my wallet. I took it and shoved it back in my pocket.
“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Lasko said. “But you check out.”
“I know I do,” I said. “And I don’t know what’s going on either.”
“We got a call,” he said. “Your vehicle was identified with the girl in it.”
“She’s not.”
He nodded. “Got that. Just not sure what’s going on.”
I had a fair idea, but again, I wasn’t going to hash it out with him.
“We free to go?” I asked.
He adjusted the glasses, then turned around, put his fingers to his lips and cut loose a whistle. Everyone turned.
“Cut ‘em loose,” he yelled. “They are free to go.”
There were some exchanged glances and a few confused looks.
“Now!” Lasko yelled.
Anchor and Kitting headed back toward me and Lauren was already crossing the street.
“Anything else pop on the alert?” I asked. “Besides the I.D. on our car?”
Lasko shook his head. “Nothing. This was it. Said the girl was spotted getting into your vehicle leaving the train station and we got a head on your location. Called in all available units to make the stop.”
“Not your fault,” I said.
“I’m aware of that,” Lasko said. “But I don’t like anyone pulling my chain.”
“You know Bazer? Coronado P.D.?” I asked.
Lasko thought for a moment, then shook his head.
Lauren was at the car and Anchor and Kitting walked past us, ready to go.
“Look him up,” I said, turning and heading for the car. “Pretty sure he’s the chain puller.”
THIRTY-NINE
I grabbed my phone as soon as we got back in the car.
“Who are you calling?” Lauren asked.
I punched the screen, but didn’t answer her.
“Should we wait?” Anchor asked.
I nodded.
Mike Lorenzo answered on the first ring. “Joe. Where…”
“Listen to me,” I said, cutting him off. “Bazer issued the alert, correct?”
“Yeah, but…”
“Can you find out if he just put out a stop on a white Escalade, east side of downtown?” I said. “Supposedly I.D.’d with Elizabeth?”
“What are…”
“Can you find out, Mike?” I asked, my patience gone. “Yes or no?”
The line buzzed for a moment. “Yeah. I can find out.”
“How long will it take?”
“Gimme a few minutes.”
“Call me back when you find out.”
“Okay, but…”
I hung up.
“You think Mike’s clean then?” Lauren asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know what I think, but it’s irrelevant now. One of them is not right, but at this point, they both know we’re here. If Mike calls back, then we’ll assume he’s on our side. If he doesn’t, we won’t.”
And that was about all we could do. If either of them were involved, then they were just as close as we were and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I couldn’t stop them. They were police officers and could do nearly anything they wanted.
We just needed to find her first.
“My guess is we’re going to be tailed from here on out,” I said.
“We’re already on it,” Anchor said. “We’ve called in a little help.”
“A little help?”
“Just a couple cars that might inadvertently get in the way,” Anchor said smiling.
I nodded and the phone vibrated on my leg.
I grabbed it without looking at the screen. “Who called it in, Mike?”
The line hummed for a few seconds. “I need help.”
The female voice surprised me.
The fact that it was Elizabeth’s floored me.
I glanced at the screen, saw Morgan’s Colorado number and put the phone back to my ear. I tapped Anchor’s seat and pointed at the phone frantically. He nodded and he and Kitting immediately started working their phones.
“Elizabeth?” I asked. “Where are you?”
“No, Ellie. I mean, yes,” she whispered. “It’s me.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice shaky and it sounded like she was crying. “I’m scared.”
“Are you alone?” I asked.
“I’m in a bathroom,” she said. “I only have a second. Help me. Please.”
“You’re with a girl named Netty, right?”
“How did you…”
“Don’t say more than you need to,” I said, banging on Anchor’s seat, begging him to grab the locale.
He made a motion to keep talking.
“And a guy named Alex?” I said. “Yes or no?”
“Yes.”
“Did you drive far from the train station?”
“No.”
There was some rustling in the background. “They know you have your phone?”
“No. Don’t think so.”
“Are there other people there?”
“Yes. Five maybe? Six? I don’t know. I’m scared.”
“I know you are. I’m coming for you, though, okay? So you need to stay calm.” I took a deep breath and realized that Lauren was pressed up against me, trying to listen. “Any idea what they want with you? Are they taking you anywhere?”
“I don’t know,” she said. There was a loud knocking through the phone and a muffled voice. “I have to go.”
“I’m coming, Elizabeth. I’m coming.”
“Please, hurry,” she said and there was no doubt she was crying. “Please. I’m so…”
The line went dead.
FORTY
“Think we got it,” Kitting said. “About ten minutes away.”
“Go,” I said. “It doesn’t sound good.”
“Any idea of what we’re looking at?” Anchor said.
“She said five, maybe six other people there,” I told him. “But she didn’t sound certain.”
Anchor nodded and stared straight ahead as we drove.
I looked
at Lauren. “I should’ve put her on speaker. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Lauren said, her voice tight and hoarse. “She’s scared.”
I nodded.
The phone vibrated again. I looked at the screen first this time before I answered. “Mike.”
“Joe, I don’t know where it came from,” Mike said. “It was an anonymous number.”
I stared at the window, watching the drab houses go by. “No idea who the caller was or where they called in from?”
“Blocked number,” he said. “I’ve got someone working on it but it’s gonna take awhile to find the origin.”
“Okay. Where’s Bazer?”
“Bazer? I don’t know. Why? You want his help?”
“Hell no,” I said. “Just curious.”
“Last I knew, he was out patrolling. He rolled all units into San Diego, based on the alert.”
I nodded.
“Where are you?” Mike asked. “Why aren’t you telling me what’s going on?”
“Because I don’t know.”
“But you know where you are, right?”
“A neighborhood in Southeast,” I said. “Not exactly sure where. We may have a location.”
“A location?”
“On Elizabeth. Where she’s at.”
“Tell me where. I’ll get there.”
“It’s complicated, Mike,” I said. “I’m not sure of anything at the moment.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I’ll call you when I know more.” I hung up.
“Location’s a warehouse,” Kitting said over his shoulder, holding steady on the wheel.
I nodded.
Anchor turned around. “I assume you aren’t adverse to going in armed?”
“Whatever we need to do to get my daughter.”
Anchor shifted his gaze to Lauren. “Ma’am?”
“I’ve never fired a gun,” Lauren said.
“Not a problem,” Anchor answered. “We’re going to park the car a ways away. We’ll rely on you to keep it at the ready and stay in communication with you.”
“So I’m like the getaway driver?” she asked, looking at me and then him.