“Where to now?” Grace snapped her seat belt.
“You’re the only one beside me that Frog knows, although she figured out Jeff and Greg. She’d never seen Tag or Sam before. Got any ideas?”
“I think she’d go someplace where she knows we’d look.” The dash lights played across Grace’s face making her eyes almost colorless and her face pale. “She’s street smart, but since she knew about my horse, how about the stables?”
“Think I’d recognize her?” Tag said from the back seat. “I’ve only seen her on video.”
“She’s about five foot six and slender, athletic body, brown and brown in real time, but I’d bet she knows what you look like, Tag. She’s fast on computers, and you’re all over our website, the photos from the military,” Grace said. “They have a night watchman at the stable, so let me check in. Some of those horses are worth a lot of money.”
AJ parked and turned the engine and lights off. Grace was backlit by the office lights when she leaned inside the office and spoke to the man at the desk, then walked toward the stalls.
AJ and Tag took the other side of the building. Nothing stirred but the horses.
“AJ,” Grace called out into the darkness. “Over here.”
They stood in the middle of the stall, and she pointed at the small chest crammed into the corner. A drawing of a frog was taped to the front with duct tape. AJ went to her knees, studying the small sketch with a sigh of relief. The kid was alive. AJ stood and brushed the dirt off her knees. “Good. She was here, but where now? Any ideas?”
“How about the lighthouse? She’d be looking for cover but not too far.” Tag looked out into the arena.
AJ thought about that. “If I know her, she’s bedded down somewhere already. She has a huge start on us. I’d bet she left about the same time Donna Seesom went to meet us or even after Greg saw Tattoo Man drive away. Let’s go back to the suite so we’ll be in a place that she knows about.”
“Do I understand tomorrow right?” Grace looked at her. “Maddie has a group coming in and we’ll work with them?”
AJ nodded. “That’s the way I heard it.” She felt the weight of the moment and stopped, looking at Tag and Grace in the moonlight. Grace looked sick. “I’m going to check in with Greg and Jeff. Let’s go back to the suite. Tag, you drive and drop me off. I’ll hit my room first to see if Frog’s been there and then meet you in your suite.”
* * *
On the way up to her room, AJ considered the lighthouse. It was a possibility. She turned on the lights, half expecting to see Frog, but no one was there. She checked under the bed and in the closet, then the bathroom. There it was, another sketch of a Frog taped to the mirror with duct tape. Good, she was close by, somewhere.
She thought of Donna Seesom as she walked back to the suite. Nothing was as deeply silent as death. The night she’d shot Ariel, the seconds had been hours long. She couldn’t help herself. She kept listening for the next breath.
She entered the suite, but neither Tag nor Grace was there. Confused, she looked around the room. The suite was clean again. The resort staff had removed all the dishes and remaining food. They’d even left a fresh bouquet of flowers on the table. She started to walk toward the computers and then heard voices in Grace’s bedroom. Tag walked out and sat at the desk with a sigh.
“What’s up?” AJ said.
“She got sick, threw up. I forget that she hasn’t seen what I’ve seen…or you.”
AJ stared at the desk. She’d forgotten too.
“Should I go talk to her?”
“No.” Tag shook her head. “I talked her into taking a shower.” She swiveled in her chair. “Did you know she has that poster of me, the one I did for the Dragons, on her wall?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“And what’s that journal of hers, the doctors, their names and telephone numbers?”
AJ frowned. She hadn’t known that either. “Grace is private. You’d have to ask her. What is it again?”
“It’s a list of doctors’ names, all with dates up to fifteen years ago, right beside her bed. Is she sick and no one’s told me?”
AJ shook her head. “She’s not sick. That I would know. I’m responsible for the health information of my group, and there’s nothing there.”
Grace emerged from her room in pajama bottoms and a sleep shirt, her face pale. “I’m sorry,” she said, opening a can of clear soda. “That was a first.”
“We’ve all done that,” Tag said and scooted her chair next to her. “Remember my story about the day I decided to leave the army? My friends, the doctors, off base in Afghanistan? I tossed my cookies that day, right beside a bunch of others.”
Grace gave her a thin smile, but her hands shook as she took a drink of her soda.
Maddie walked into the suite right then and fished around in the refrigerator for a bottle of water. She told them it had gone pretty much as she thought it would. She’d sent Sam and Richard off to sleep.
“Nice setup, Grace,” Maddie said, pointing at the computers.
“She had this all done in less than twenty-four hours,” Tag said. “I think Tattoo Man killed Donna. I just put the timeline together, here, on the computer. He leaves the motel, Sam and AJ see him at Seesom’s house as they leave, and we see the other guy yelling at Greg and the girls on video.”
Maddie nodded. “The ME put the TOD right in that time period. Hopefully, we’ll have some DNA tomorrow. I take it you didn’t find your CI?”
AJ handed Maddie the two pieces of paper Frog had left. “Two notes from the kid. One at the stable and one in my room.”
“How old is she?”
“Nineteen. Chief Whiteaker and I would like to get her into the academy in Milwaukee and train her.”
Maddie looked at the two sketches and handed the papers back to AJ, rubbing her eyes. “This is good, but I need sleep. You were right. The sheriff’s department arrived first and you should have seen the ME and your Deputy Miller arguing.” Maddie grinned at Grace. “When the Niagara Police arrived with Lithscom, he all but stuffed his little cousin into the garbage.”
Grace looked up. “God, I hope he’s not mine.”
“I’m amazed he can tie his own shoes,” Maddie said. She stood and yawned. “Call me when you get up, AJ. We’ll have a quick meeting over breakfast and make sure we’re on the same page. See you in the morning.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The resort restaurant was busy the next morning. AJ searched the noisy crowd for Maddie. It was mostly families trying to enjoy the last of the great weather before winter came tromping into the north woods. Their enthusiasm felt good, and then Maddie was suddenly beside her.
“I reserved a table,” she said, pulling AJ along. Dressed in jeans, a classy, long-sleeved green sweater, and nice mid-calf boots, she led them to a table near the back and got a waiter’s attention for coffee. AJ smiled. Maddie’s energy was back.
“Bring me up to date,” AJ said, sitting across from her.
Maddie held up her finger, took a drink of coffee, closed her eyes, and smiled. “I needed that.” She handed AJ a thick envelope. “Here’s all the information on X-Girl, including copies of my notes from the very beginning, our progress, Richard’s data, and the conclusion. Also, the DNA results and the men involved. Destroy it when you finish. Deal?”
“Deal.” AJ nodded and stuffed the envelope into her bag. “Can we talk about Jay Yardly first? I don’t want to discuss him in front of Tag.”
“No, you don’t.” Maddie laughed a little. “Here’s the story. Jay and Pete have known each other since high school and worked together for the last ten years. It started with a group of white supremacists up here.” She drank more coffee. “Who found the connection between Jay’s office and Donna Seesom? Tag?”
“It was Grace when she was in Jay’s office yesterday, and that’s a problem. He told Tag and Grace he didn’t know her.”
Maddie looked surprised. “Here’s what I got from Pet
e. I don’t think he lied. Jay saw the girls at the motel by pure luck. He was on his way out to the house he’s building by the lighthouse and called Pete. Put that together with Clint Weeks and see what you have?” She waved at the waiter for more coffee. “He isn’t aware of your two men at the motel nor has he seen you, but he knows you’re in town. He’s never seen Sam either and doesn’t know he’s here. Also, you should know he and Clint Weeks are a million miles apart, politically. My advice to you is to trust Jay, but none of you should talk to him about anything you’ve done here. When Tag and Grace join us, let me handle it. I’ll talk them through it.”
AJ leaned back in her chair. “So what happens next?”
“Our first priority is the girls at the motel. Once they’re safe, we’ll go after the two men running the show. After breakfast, we’ll go up to the suite and I’ll show you our information on these two men on the computer. It’s unbelievable what they’ve done, but we’ve got them nailed. Richard and I need them alive, especially now that Seesom is dead.”
“What about the two women, the minders who watch them every day?”
“They were at John Owens’s house in Milwaukee with Seesom. In fact, the day you took that house down you almost had one of them, but she got away.”
AJ leaned forward. “I remember a woman there. Well, that answers that question, but how will you rescue the girls?”
“We have a unit that specializes in extractions, recovering victims. They’re on their way here right now, about eight of our best. They’ll go in SWAT style, so your group stays with me this afternoon. Once we have them, we’ll transport them to Hannah’s House in Milwaukee. Three of my agents are trained nurses and work there, specializing in recovery, and that’s where it gets dicey. It’s hard to believe, but some of these girls go willingly. They’re the ones you have to be careful with, but so far we’ve been able to handle the ones we’ve had. All except Sandra and Happy, of course.”
“Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack,” Maddie said with a deep breath.
“Will you need to talk to my CI, Frog, when we find her? And we will. Or she’ll find us.”
Maddie nodded. “Yes, and I thought of something last night. We could use her at Hannah’s House. I read her file that covered her time there, and we could use someone like her on the streets. I don’t want to steal her from you, but she appears smart and flexible. I’d be willing to put her through school and the academy and train her if you’d agree.”
AJ nodded. “All I want is for Frog to have a real life.” It was the truth, but she felt a little niggle of missing something and shifted in her chair.
“All right, let’s run with that. Another thing. I talked to Lawrence Kelly about using your group again. Would you be up to doing this somewhere else in the state or in Milwaukee?”
“Of course, but what did he say?”
“He said to run it by you and he’ll call sometime today. I just wanted this out there before you talked with him.”
“Thanks for warning me. Sometimes Kelly is…” AJ smiled, unsure she should finish that statement.
“The best part of all of this is solving the X-Girl murder. That really jolted me, and I know it did you too. The other night in the morgue with Clint Weeks was terrible. Standing in the room with him and the body, explaining all the information. Honestly, AJ, I thought he was going to faint. He looked about a thousand years old when I finished. Even Lawrence Kelly had to sit down, and by the way, he apologized to me.” Maddie stared out at the busy room. “I don’t know. I haven’t figured Clint out yet,” she said and then smiled.
AJ followed Maddie’s gaze and saw Tag and Grace at the door, hyperaware of each other but trying to look casual.
“I see things haven’t changed much since you’ve been up here,” she said.
“God.” AJ shook her head. “I’ve had several moments with both of them, but you should know Grace threw up when she got back to the suite last night. I forget she hasn’t had the fieldwork we have, but I’m really proud of how she’s handled herself here. I know it hasn’t been easy, watching those girls every day and someone shooting at her. I’m not sure what you’ll ask of our group would be a fit for her, but she’s done a terrific job on the computers. Tag doesn’t know about Grace’s background but is starting to ask questions.” She watched them start across the room toward a large booth, Tag’s hand on Grace’s back as usual. And Grace’s dazzling smile. As usual.
“Ah, love,” Maddie murmured and they got up to join them.
“Where’d you two come from?” Tag looked up, surprised.
“It’s an ambush.” AJ grinned, sitting beside Grace. “I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”
“My God.” Grace grabbed AJ’s arm, nodding toward the crowded hallway. “Look. It’s Frog.”
AJ sorted through the crowd. It certainly was Frog, leaning against the wall, looking at them. She’d styled her hair differently. Now it was her normal brown.
Maddie elbowed AJ. “What are you both staring at?”
“It’s my CI. That kid has given me more heart attacks than anyone I’ve ever worked with. Are you sure you want her?”
“What do you mean ‘want her’?” Grace frowned at them.
“I’ll need Frog’s testimony.” Maddie spoke before AJ. “The FBI will transport the girls back to Hannah’s House, and I asked AJ if I can use Frog. The girls have been with her over a month, and that’ll help us get through what’s next.”
“What is next?” Tag leaned toward them. “I’ve had experience with this, and I’m not seeing any trafficking here. Murder, yes. Trafficking, no. At least not yet.”
“Let’s talk upstairs after we eat,” Maddie said to Tag.
AJ’s brain still itched with the feeling that they were missing something as she got up. She walked toward the restrooms but took a quick right into the hallway.
“I found your sketches,” she said, standing next to Frog. “Smart move.”
“I think I’m safe here. Boy, that hair color really changes your face.”
AJ bumped her with her shoulder. “I could say the same to you. Look at your hair. Come on, let’s eat. Sit in the middle.” They walked to the booth, and Frog squeezed in beside Grace while AJ did the introductions.
They ordered their food just as AJ’s mind shifted gears. She had it, the thing that had been bothering her. Who were the “cops” that had hired Frog to come up here?
She waited until they’d finished breakfast. Frog teased Grace about her hair and asked Tag about serving overseas. It proved Grace’s point that Frog had read the group’s website. Maddie asked her lots of questions about her time at Hannah’s House.
Finally done with the food, AJ opened the conversation.
“Everyone, be patient with me for a minute. We’ll go upstairs for the answers on the video we want to show Frog, but here’s the question. First, Maddie, do you remember how all of this started? Why I called you in Milwaukee right at the beginning?”
Maddie frowned at AJ. “Yes. Clint Weeks and Lawrence Kelly.”
“No. The reason I took it to Pete was Frog stumbling into trafficking at the house, the one that burned. Then, the two ‘cops’ that paid her all that cash to come up here. Remember the money? You and I talked about that and my fight with Lawrence Kelly.”
Maddie carefully placed her fork on the table, thinking. “I remember. I showed you Clint’s email. As the evidence came in, I assumed the ‘cops’ were the motel men here that impersonated the police. They’ve impersonated everyone else.”
“Can’t be them. You would have known, Frog, and told Jeff.” AJ looked at everyone. “We all did what Maddie did. Assumed it was Tattoo Man and his buddy. Frog, you’re the only person who’s talked to everyone except Clint Weeks. Let’s go upstairs and look at our video.”
“Who’s Clint Weeks?” Frog said. “Jeff mentioned him too. And what house burned?”
They all looked at each other. They’d forgotten the house had burned
after Frog left.
* * *
“Where have you been?” Tag said to Frog, holding the door open to the suite.
“In the resort’s van, the one they use for back and forth to town.”
“Grace, notify Jeff and Greg that we have Frog here,” AJ said, moving chairs to the big desk and the computers. She brought up video of the gym with John Owens. “Watch this, Frog. Let me know if you recognize anyone.”
Frog turned with a disbelieving grin. “That’s the cop that contacted me.” She pointed at John Owens. “Are you guys playing with me? There’s his aide.” She touched the screen and Robert Owens. “This looks like a gym. Are they undercover?”
“No,” AJ said, reaching for her phone. “That’s Grace and me, undercover, trying to bait your so-called cop. He’s never been law enforcement. The chief has him under arrest in Milwaukee. I’ve got to call him.” She walked away when the chief answered and gave him Frog’s information.
Tag and Grace caught Frog up on what they’d found and what had happened in Milwaukee after she’d left. The two shootings and both fires.
Frog reached into her jeans back pocket when they were done. “You are going to fucking love me. Look what I’ve got.” She handed Maddie a piece of paper with a handwritten list of names and addresses.
Maddie looked stunned, reading the list. “You’ve got the motel girls’ names?”
“I was really close with them. I also helped Donna in the office, and the two women, the minders, even after the men came up from Milwaukee.”
AJ took a hard look at Frog. She’d lost weight and looked older, the softness gone from her face. “Whatever you can tell us is important, Frog. It’ll make a difference, like that list.”
Frog retied her shoelaces. “It was kind of fun when we first got up here and replaced the other group. We had plenty of food, TV when we wanted it, whatever. We were down at the stables once.” She looked at Grace. “I spotted Greg and Jeff right away and tried to make myself useful, to learn whatever I could and help those girls. They’re not bad, just young and scared.” She sat up and took a deep breath. “Everything changed when the two men came from Milwaukee, the ones in the black car. I got really tight with a couple of the younger kids, especially Lizzy. She was my favorite. Tattoo Man took a liking to her too. That bastard would take her into his room almost every night, and then he murdered her. Things got so scary that we all wrote our names and addresses down, just in case.” She swallowed hard. “I couldn’t believe that son of a bitch murdered her. He made me clean the floor in there after the cops and the ambulance had left. He knew I tried to protect her.” Frog wiped her eyes.
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