“I do,” the brunette said. “My name is Maria. Amy said you saved us.” She reached over and, crying softly, hugged Carrie. “I figured out what they were doing. I was planning to kill myself.”
“Oh, no.” Amy cried out. “I thought the same thing.”
“Let’s just thank God this is over. Now we can all get on with our lives.”
“You’re so calm and practical, Carrie. How do you do it?”
“Inside, I’m as wobbly as a wet noodle.” Carrie admitted. “Now, let’s change clothes. I, for one, don’t want to be seen in public like this.”
“Neither do I,” Amy agreed. “But all I have is a cheap shift they gave me when my clothes started to smell.”
“That will do for now. Let’s change. Maybe then we can get out of here and go home.”
Both women started crying again. “I thought I was cried out,” Amy sniffled as she went into the room where she had been held prisoner.
Carrie put her arms around the blonde whose eyes were red and swollen from her tears. “Your friend Lizzy will be so glad to see you. Can I give you a piece of advice?”
“You’ve earned the right to do more than that.”
“I’m sure your mom has told you the same thing, but I’m going to tell you again. Stay away from bars on the wrong side of town. If you want to party—find a nicer place. Wherever you are, don’t take a drink that doesn’t come from an unopened bottle. And don’t go with strangers to motel rooms. You’re better than that.”
Amy’s tears welled again. Would she ever stop? Amy threw her arms around Carrie. “I’ll heed your warning. So will Lizzy. From now on, I’m going to be a good girl.”
Carrie laughed and went to change back into her biker duds. She had a lot to do before she could leave. When she came out, Matt was there. “Where are your brothers?”
“Working with the FBI.”
“Then they are enjoying themselves.”
“Right.”
She looked into gray eyes and, for a brief moment was thrown off. “You really went all-out on your disguise. You don’t look at all like yourself.”
Matt took the gum out of his mouth and put it in his handkerchief. “I did all I could to change my appearance. I don’t know how you do it. I would hate to do this every day.”
“Not every day, but often.”
“Where did you get the contacts? And the hair? Yours has never been that long. It doesn’t look right.”
“You don’t want to know.”
“What does that mean?”
Matt had a guilty look.
“What?”
“Got this stuff from your closet.” He looked away.
“You did what?”
Matt shrugged. “It was Sunday. Nothing was open, and we were in a hurry.”
She tried to control the grin, but couldn’t. “I’ll forgive you this time.”
He cleared his throat.
“Is there something else?”
“Uh. Maybe.”
Carrie put her hands on her hips. “Tell me.”
“I broke your door down to get inside.” At the look on her face, he added, “I’ll get you a new one.”
Carrie had a hard time controlling her tears. Matt truly cared. “I want to hear the entire story, but it will have to be later.” She knew how worried the three brothers had been—knew they would do anything to help her. And did. She would be forever grateful. “They took my bike. Has anyone found it?”
“In the garage with the keys in it.”
“What about my guns? My phone? My ID? Though it’s a fake, I use it often. And I have to find my boots. I hate these slippers they gave me. It’s like being barefooted.”
“Relax. Sweeney has agents checking every room. They found an all-in-one portable jammer that jammed all GPS signals, which is why my FBI team lost me.”
“I thought those jammers took care of computers as well.”
“They do. But these guys were smart. They left a couple of frequencies open to receive bids. Sam hooked into their system and is feeding the FBI information on other sites where the slavers hold auctions, as well as the IP addresses of the bidders.”
“You mean he hacked into their system.”
“Hooked sounds better. If it weren’t for Sam, we might not have gotten here when we did.” He hugged her close. “Then again, I don’t think it mattered. You had things well under control.”
“Thor saved the day.”
Matt grabbed his cell phone and dialed. “I forgot. Doc,” he raised his voice. “Carrie is safe and well.”
He handed Carrie the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Carrie, I don’t want you going to that apartment and be alone. Not now. Have Matt bring you here.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m about to crash.” She gave Matt a look that hid a smile. “Besides, my door is ruined.” She hung up and handed Matt his phone.
“What sounds good?”
“My bed at Doc’s. But I don’t think I can drive my bike there. Not now.”
“You won’t have to. I’ll have one of the agents get it to you.”
“Thanks, Matt. Thanks to all of you. You were a wonderful sight to see.”
“I would do anything for you, Carrie. You know that.” His voice was so soft and low—so sincere, a lump rose in her throat.
“I know. I don’t know what I would do without my adopted family.”
Matt gave her a quizzical look and turned away.
Dirk came down the hall, a wide grin on his face, holding her boots up in triumph. “Look what I found.”
“Did you find my guns or my cell phone? They have my ID as well?”
He fished them out of his pocket. “Are you missing anything else?”
“Only thirty-some hours of my life.” She grabbed her cell phone and ID and put them in her pocket. Her guns and holster she held in her hand until she could put them where they belonged.
Coop came up to join them. “Your guys have it under control, Matt. We need to get Carrie home.”
“I’m going to Doc’s.”
“Give me a minute. I’m going to make sure the other two women are protected for the next twenty-four hours. Then I want them in my office for their statements. Be right back.”
Carrie looked at the two men who were her bosses. “Does the FBI know if Matt’s serial killer is one of these guys?”
“I overheard the fat man tell one of the agents who was taking his statement that he had to return three of the women because he wanted a woman with red hair, not one with dyed hair. He asked for and got a refund. Which surprised the hell out of me until I realized this operation is in the infant stages. Most likely, they wanted to maintain a good reputation. When Fat Man saw that all three were found murdered, he was stunned.”
“Yet he came back, still looking for that special woman. I hope Matt arrested him.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“That woman could have been me,” Carrie put in. “The thought makes me sick to my stomach.”
“All of the arrangements are made, so I’m free to take you to Doc’s,” Matt said as he walked up to them.
“We can take her,” Coop said.
Matt jammed his hat down further down on his head. “My case. My job. Let’s go. It’s almost morning and not one of us has had any sleep. By the way, did you guys call your wives? If you didn’t, you’re in a world of hurt.”
“Taken care of. The women want to give you a special dinner in celebration, Carrie. They’ll get with you later on it.”
Tears welled again. Now that the nightmare was over, was she going to be like Amy and never stop crying?
Nerves. What she needed was a long nap with no in-the-closet-nightmares and no erotic dreams.
She hugged Amy and Maria before she left and wished them good luck.
“How can we ever thank you? You saved our lives.”
“I was doing my job. Just be more careful from now on.”
“Are you kidding?” Amy
smiled. The first one Carrie had seen. The woman was beautiful. “I’ll probably be paranoid from now on.”
“So will I,” Maria agreed.
They parted with promises to get together at some point in the future. Carrie doubted it would happen. They would get on with their lives and forget about this episode. At least that’s what she hoped.
Coop and Dirk left in Dirk’s pickup after telling Carrie to take off as many days as she needed to recuperate. They took Thor with them. His job was done. Matt borrowed one of the FBI’s SUVs, helped her into the passenger seat, and after programing the GPS, took off.
“Where are we?”
“We’re halfway between Houston and Galveston. I was told the house sits on several acres. Since it’s back from the road, it’s isolated enough for what they wanted.”
She laid her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.
“How did they take you?”
“I tried not to make it easy, but there were three of them. I was on my bike at a red light. Now that I know Hank was involved, I realize he was the one who followed me all along. I tried to fight them off, but before I could even think, they gave me a shot that put me out. I woke up handcuffed, my feet tied, and in a place where I knew I was in more trouble than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He reached over and took her hand. It felt good.
“Not Hank, but Ason. At least we’re almost positive it’s him. He’s following in his father’s footsteps.”
“And they lead straight to the pen.”
“Right.”
Carrie felt herself fading. The safety of the SUV and Matt sitting close by with his hand wrapped around hers was bliss. “I’m so tired.”
“Why don’t you take a nap? I’ll wake you when we get to Doc’s.”
“It’s a deal.” Her words slurred and she drifted off, but not before she felt Matt bring her hand to his lips and kiss each finger.
She heaved a deep sigh of contentment.
This was where she wanted to be. Next to the man she loved. It was too bad it couldn’t be like this forever.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Matt called Doc when they were ten minutes out. When they pulled into her driveway, she was standing in the doorway waiting for them.
She rushed to the SUV the minute it stopped. “Is she all right?”
“Let’s not wake her.” He went around to the passenger side and picked Carrie up. She heaved a deep sigh, turned her head into his shoulder and didn’t wake up. Her soft breath on his neck sent lightning arrows of want through him. Doc held the door and led the way to Carrie’s room.
He thought she would awaken when he laid her down, took her boots off, placed her guns on the table, and pulled a cover over her, but she didn’t. He brushed strands of her beautiful red hair away from her face, kissed her gently on the lips, and stood.
When he turned, Doc was watching. “When are you going to tell her you love her?”
Matt ushered Doc out of the room and quietly shut the door. “Let’s not go there right now, Doc.”
“Why not?”
“Carrie’s not ready.”
He stalked to the kitchen, lifted his hat to take off the black wig that was driving him crazy and, popped out the contacts. “Could you clean them and give them back to Carrie?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“About what?”
“You know what I mean.” She frowned at him.
“I’m going to work.”
“I’m not talking about work. I’m talking about Carrie.”
“It’s complicated, Doc, but I’ll take care of it.”
“Don’t wait too long, Matt. Carrie needs you.”
“And I need her, but right now, I have a job waiting.”
“Where did they take her?”
“A house they had restructured for their means. They handcuffed Carrie, tied her feet, and put her in a small bedroom.”
Doc grabbed his hand. “How small? Like a closet?”
“Almost.”
“Carrie’s dad locked her in a closet for hours at a time when she was a kid.”
Matt rubbed a hand over his face as he remembered her story. “Carrie is the bravest person I know.”
Doc reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for bringing our girl home.”
“You should have seen her, Doc. She was absolutely amazing.”
“But you don’t have time to tell me about it right now.”
“No, I don’t, but later I’ll tell you everything.”
“I’m counting on it.” He started out the door. “Aren’t you going to change into your FBI uniform?”
Matt slammed his cowboy hat on his head and grinned. “I’m kinda getting used to this outfit. Besides, I don’t have time to change, but I’ll take my clothes with me. Call if Carrie needs anything. Tell her I called the apartment manager to fix her door. They’ll have it finished by noon.” He didn’t mention he had promised to pay for the damages and bribed the manager with a gift card to her favorite restaurant to get the job done ASAP.
He was at the door. “Don’t wait too long, Matt. Carrie is one in a million, and I wouldn’t want someone else stealing her away.”
His mouth tightened. “That isn’t going to happen.” But the thought sent a gnawing pain to his gut.
On his way to headquarters, he could only pray he was right. Carrie belonged with him and no one else.
His floor at the FBI was a beehive of activity. His friend and partner, Agent Sweeney, came over immediately.
“Fill me in.”
Sweeney grinned. “All three are lawyered up, as is the guy who was the driver. The best news is that the boss, as the other guys call him, is Bart Mallory’s son, Ason. Sam is feeding us so much information we can’t keep up with it.”
“Is Sam upstairs?”
“He is.”
“Then that’s where I’ll be.” Matt took the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator. When he opened the door, he stood there for a moment watching Sam dance from one computer to the next, his hands and arms moving as if he were conducting a symphony. One, then another printer spit out information. Cyber play. Sam was in his element.
“What have you got?”
“More than you asked for.”
“Such as?”
Sam stood in front of a computer, his arms and body still for the moment. “Look and see.”
Matt came over to see the screen covered with numbers. How did Sam make sense of all this? “Tell me what I’m looking at?”
“This guy, Bart Mallory, has an offshore bank account that a corporation by the name of Enatan, has been filtering money from. You can see the withdrawals and where they end up. Enatan has purchased bars in three cities: Houston, Austin, and Dallas. In those cities, the same corporation purchased houses. All isolated. All had renovations. You can see the money trail. Here. And here.”
“The Houston bar being Magee’s? How long has this been going on? And who are the principals in Enatan?”
Sam moved to another computer, brought up a page. “Enatan got their corporate papers a year ago. The purchases came shortly after.”
“So it’s fairly new.”
“Yes.”
“And the owner?”
“Buried under a dozen other entities, but they trace back to Ason Mallory.”
Sam almost danced to a third computer, pulled up another list. “I’ve just touched the surface, but here is a list of men who have made bids or purchases at other auctions.”
“Ironclad?”
“Take it to court. I’m into several black sites. I can get you all the information you need.”
“Are you kidding? Go for it. Send me everything.” There was nothing Matt would like better than to shut the sex-slavery trade down permanently. He couldn’t do that, of course. It was too widespread. What he could do, was make it really uncomfortable to set up a business in the state of Texas.
Matt slapped Sam on the ba
ck. “As you know, we rescued three women from a lifetime of sex-slavery. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“If I had been on the payroll when you took down Bart Mallory, his son wouldn’t have had the means to continue the family business.”
“It’s too bad we didn’t know you then, Sam. But we do now, and I thank you.”
“Are you really going to marry this Carrie person?”
Matt grinned. “If she’ll have me.”
“She must be special, so I wish you luck.”
“I need it.” And more. He turned to leave. “Thanks again.”
“I started digging into your personal problem.”
Matt turned and walked back to Sam. “What did you find?”
“I’ll send what I have to your computer. It may or may not help.”
“Thanks again, Sam. Send me a bill.”
Sam’s smile turned wicked. “Glad to.”
Matt went to his office and called Sweeney in. “Put the suspects in separate interrogation rooms. I want to talk to them.” He wanted to tie this case up and move on. He still had his Trust to protect. He tossed Sweeney the keys to his car. “Have someone get my clothes from the backseat and get them to me. Fast. I have interrogations to take care of.” It wouldn’t do to wear his cowboy duds and be recognized.
“They’ve lawyered up. I’m not sure you’ll get anything out of them.”
“We can try. I’ll be ready as soon as I change. And call Seton over at HPD. Tell him we very likely have the serial killer in custody. He and his partner might want to listen in.”
“I’ll make the call. You don’t look so good, Matt. When was the last time you slept?”
“Actually, I don’t remember. I can sleep later, right now we have a case to put to bed.”
Sweeney hurried out. Matt grabbed his electric shaver out of a drawer and ran it over his face. He didn’t want the suspects to put two and two together.
He brought up the information Sam sent him on his computer and forwarded a copy to Coop and Dirk before printing it out. There was no time to look at it, as Sweeney stuck his head in the door. “Detectives Seton and Hopkins are here. And the suspects are ready.” He handed Matt his suit, shirt, tie, and shoes.
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