Smart move, he grudgingly thought, disgusted at the lack of progress. They needed confirmation Katz, Wendt, Blackmore, and Coleman were involved. It would be a gamble to obtain arrest warrants with the information already discovered.
A police officer, district attorney, state representative, and FBI agent. It wouldn’t just be a gamble. The odds were impossible until they had much more on the four men. However, they may have enough to install surveillance devices in their offices and homes. Tricky but more doable than arrest warrants.
“Sheriff?” His lead dispatcher ran toward him, her face marred in concern. “We have a report of a kidnapping.”
Frustrated with what wasn’t happening with the prisoners they’d brought in, he was about to wave her off when he saw the tightness around her mouth and eyes. “Who is it?”
“District Attorney Wendt.”
Raider had spent a scant fifteen minutes at his house to shower and change clothes before jumping into his truck for the short trip to Ghost’s. He’d already called Ali, letting her know he was on his way and his plan to return to his place with her and Timmy. She hadn’t argued.
Instead of going by her place for more clothes, he’d made the decision to stop at a discount store for jeans, tops, and underwear. He’d also purchased clothes for Timmy, including a new pair of pajamas.
Pulling down Ghost’s drive, he parked and jumped from the truck. He didn’t understand the anticipation at seeing Ali again. It hadn’t been that long, yet it seemed they’d been apart for weeks. He considered what it meant as he knocked on the door, then forgot about it when Dani opened the door.
Without a greeting, she stepped aside, indicating the hall. “She and Timmy are in the back yard.”
“Thanks, Dani.” Rushing past, anticipation grew at the sound of laughter coming through a slight opening in the sliding glass door. Stopping, he stared at the two tossing a Frisbee to each other, laughing whether they caught it or not.
An odd sensation passed through him at the antics outside. An emotion he’d only had before his father died or during his time with his grandparents. A sense of being a part of something—of being home.
Not liking the direction of his thoughts, he opened the door and stepped outside.
“Raider!” Timmy ran into his open arms. “Where have you been?”
Stepping away, he dropped his arms, gaze locked on Ali. “I do have to work sometimes.” He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face when she walked to him. “Hey.”
Her eyes flashed with warmth and another emotion he couldn’t quite decipher. “Hey, yourself.”
Dani watched through the glass doors. The three looked so much like a real family she felt a sense of longing. She and Ghost had a great life, wonderful friends, jobs they loved. Still, they’d been trying for months to get pregnant, with no luck.
Opening the door, Dani leaned outside. “If you guys are all right, I’m going to the office.”
She’d been at the office until close to midnight, handling comms with Jezzie. Ghost hadn’t arrived home until almost three in the morning, meaning she’d gotten a few scant hours of sleep. Ever since they’d gotten back together, she’d found it hard to sleep when Ghost’s arms weren’t wrapped around her.
Raider tore his gaze from Ali to look at Dani. “We’re good. I’ll set the alarm when we leave.”
“Thanks! See you later.”
Ali touched his arm, her face lined with worry. “She works sixty hours a week at WES, still goes to WETC one weekend a month, and to the north valley every other month to volunteer at a women’s center.”
Raider quirked a brow.
“She offers free self-defense classes, and is trying to find time to provide more. From what I can tell, Dani’s lost about ten pounds since I moved to Liberty Lake.”
Watching the lines on her face deepen, he waited for more.
“Did you know she and Ghost are trying to have a baby?”
His eyes widened for an instant before shaking his head. “It’s not something guys discuss until it’s a done deal.”
“For months, without luck. I’ve tried to tell her she needs to slow down and take time to relax.” She glanced at Timmy, who’d grabbed a mitt, tossing a ball into the air. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. There’s nothing either of us can do.”
“You’re worried about her, Ali. Nothing to be ashamed of. And you’re right, there’s nothing we can do about Dani and Ghost. They’ll work it out.”
He slipped a hand behind her neck, drawing her close for a deep, heated kiss. It was always the same with Ali. A brush of their lips turned hot and steamy within seconds. Raider didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her. Another thought caused him to hesitate.
A girlfriend had never been a part of his future, and certainly not a more committed relationship. Heidi had been the closest he’d ever come to being a part of a pair. It had lasted a few months before he’d become bored.
Raider had always suspected the decline in interest had been more on him than from anything Heidi had done. He and Ali had been together a few short weeks, and he was as hot for her now as in the beginning. Raider knew himself well enough not to expect it to last.
“Ew…” Timmy stood a few feet away, his face scrunched in disgust.
Placing a final kiss on the tip of Ali’s nose, he stepped back, missing the feel of her in his arms. “Are you ready to go to my place, buddy?”
“Yeah!” He grabbed the Frisbee, juggling it in his arms with the mitt and ball.
“Go get anything you brought with you and we’ll take off.” Raider put an arm around Ali, directing her into the house.
“We didn’t bring anything with us. There was barely time to get out of the house before the bikers came in through the back.” Her voice wasn’t angry as much as resolved. “I’m getting a security system.”
“Already ordered, babe.”
She stopped in the living room, gaping at him. “You ordered one for me?” There was an edge to her question.
Crossing his arms, he planted his feet shoulder width apart. “Since that’s part of what I do, yes, I ordered one and already paid for it. It’s done, Ali. Deal with it.”
Anger infused her features, eyes all but bugging out. “Deal with it? Don’t you think it should’ve been discussed with me?”
“Why? Are you an expert in security?” The hint of humor in his voice set her off even more.
“Of course not. Still, it’s my house.”
“And you’re my woman. I’ll do whatever I can to protect you.”
Her indignation slipped. Did he truly see her as his woman? As independent as she’d always been, it stunned Ali how much she wanted him to think of them as exclusive.
Raider’s face showed shock, as if the proprietary term had been unintentional. But he didn’t retract it.
Opening his mouth, he stopped, holding up a finger at the ringing of his phone. Seeing Wrath’s face, he answered.
“Yeah, Prez?”
“We have a problem, Raider.”
Turning away, he stepped into the hall. “Tell me.”
“Ethan called. District Attorney Wendt disappeared about an hour ago.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Raider arrived at the clubhouse an hour after securing Ali and Timmy inside his home, explaining the security settings before leaving. Wrath would be sending one of the Brethren to keep watch. They knew Hammer, Slider, and the longest members of the Devils were still free, capable of going after them again.
Walking into the conference room, he noticed everyone else was there. Nodding at them, he took the one empty chair.
Wrath handed out the data on Wendt, plus another sheet, waiting for the questions he knew would come. Sometimes it was better to get the initial queries out of the way before launching into details of the next op. Rock was the first to speak.
“What the hell? Junior is missing, too?”
“Ethan sent information on State Representative Blackmor
e thirty minutes ago. It’s estimated he went missing from his home about an hour after Wendt. Both houses had their security systems disabled, which gave Ethan approximate times of the abductions.”
Wrath picked up a lone piece of paper with several images, holding it up.
“Grayson’s team has been working nonstop on identifying the rogue FBI agent and clearing Agent Quentin Fraser’s name.” The relief Wrath felt at the knowledge his good friend hadn’t been involved was strong. In their hearts, he and the rest of the Posse had known the ex-SEAL would never turn rogue.
“The man who’d been spotted with Wendt, Blackmore, and Katz.” Wrath handed the image to Ghost. “Pass it around. The man you see is FBI Special Agent Calvin Coleman, known as Cal to his friends. He’s received numerous awards for meritorious performance. Coleman was on the fast-track until two years ago when his partner died under suspicious circumstances. Several of those interviewed suspected Coleman of going rogue, ending in the death of the agent.”
“Was he brought up on charges?” Rock studied the images.
“No. He has enough supporters that charges never materialized. According to Grayson, there wasn’t enough proof. The special agent in charge, a friend of Grayson’s, is not a supporter, but doesn’t want to transfer a problem to another branch. He’s chosen to keep him under surveillance.”
Raider took the paper from Rock, jaw tight. “This is him. The man Fuse and I saw at the cabin with Wendt, Junior, and Katz.” Standing, he passed the image to Fuse. “What do you think?”
Fuse focused on the side view of the man’s face, imagining a ball cap and slight scruff of beard. “If not, he’s the man’s twin.”
“For now, we’ll take the position Coleman is the fifth man.”
“Any word about Katz or Coleman being missing?” Ghost asked.
“Katz showed up at the police station for his shift, and Grayson’s contact in the FBI confirmed Coleman is on assignment in southern Arizona.”
Raider shifted in his chair, reviewing the data a second time. “Will the FBI be involved in the search for Wendt and Junior?”
“No way to keep them out of it if they want in,” Wrath said. “A state rep and district attorney. High profile, just what the FBI prefers. Grayson’s trying to find out if Coleman will be assigned to the cases.”
“If he is, it might make it easier to track his moves,” Rock said.
“Ethan is trying to get approval for listening devices at work and home for Katz and Coleman. It’s a long shot,” Wrath said. “The judge campaigned for Katz to become the police chief.” He picked up another file, holding it in the air. “Grayson didn’t give his approval for us to help with tracking down Wendt and Junior.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t do our own digging, Prez.” Raider folded the data about Junior into a paper plane, aiming at Wrangler and letting go.
“Knock it off, Master Chief,” Wrath barked, the rest of the room going eerily quiet. “Last night’s op was a win. Today, we start over. New targets. New risks. Are you all with me?”
Some nodded, others responded with a yes, sir before he proceeded.
“Two of five suspected criminals have been abducted, but three are still out there. This includes Mario. I’ve convinced Grayson it’s time we put men on the president of the Night Devils.”
“About damn time.” Tracker tapped the papers. “My guess is he and Coleman are the key players. We need to cut off the head of the snake.”
Moses leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “Both snakes.”
“At least skin them enough to get to the truth,” Fuse added.
Gunner rested an arm over the back of his chair. “What about Katz?”
A controlled grin formed on Wrath’s face. “We’ll cover him, too. One Brethren on each of the three, day and night in eight-hour shifts. There will also be men on Ali and Timmy.”
“I’ve got them.”
Wrath studied Raider. He’d made the decision to rotate him between working the comm center and surveilling Katz with Fuse and Moses.
“You’re too close to it, Raider.”
“That’s why I’m the best choice, sir. I’d give my life for either of them.”
Raider didn’t notice the others glancing between themselves. Whether he intended to or not, he’d made a declaration in front of all his brothers. It would be damn hard to pull back from it after this.
“All the more reason I need people who aren’t emotionally involved. You know the reasons for this, Raider. It would be the same if it was Wrangler and Becca, or Rock and Tessa.”
Wrangler cleared his throat. “Sorry, big bro, but I’m with Raider. We all know if it was Cara, you’d be on the front line with her. I’d insist on the same with Becca.”
Crossing his arms, Wrath narrowed his gaze at his younger brother. “But I’d follow Grayson’s orders, the same as you. The same as Raider will obey mine if he wants to stay with the team.”
“If that’s your order, I’ll carry it out.” Raider’s face showed none of the disappointment he felt, just firm resolve.
“How you choose to use your downtime is up to you, Raider.” Wrath noticed Raider’s shoulders relax. “Just remember, you’ll be handling two jobs. Following Katz and taking a shift in the dungeon.”
“No problem, sir.”
Grabbing a folder, he handed out their assignments. “Memorize and destroy, gentlemen. Those of you with current duty shifts have fifteen minutes to get the hell out of here.”
Raider’s fingers flew over the keys, his eyes following the images on the screen. He’d been searching financial records on Katz, Coleman, Wendt, and Junior, piecing together a trail of small payments to each. None were accounted for in their salaries or investments.
Over a span of one year, they’d each received about two hundred thousand dollars. Not a huge sum given the profits in human trafficking, but more than double what any of the men earned in their public jobs.
Gathering what he’d learned, Raider checked the time. Wrath would no doubt send the data to Grayson, who’d add it to the growing evidence against the men. All except Mario. It was as if the man didn’t exist.
It had taken some serious digging to discover Mario’s real name was Carlos Lopez Guzman. He’d been born in Guatemala, immigrating to the United States through Mexico as a child with his family. When his parents were deported, the then ten-year-old boy had escaped, changed his name, and disappeared off the radar.
Raider guessed the boy had taken the name from a cemetery, the social security number of a different deceased person. He’d probably lived in a series of homes, worked for cash, and joined a gang at a young age. Hence the lack of any identifying documentation.
No tax returns, bank statements, stock accounts. Raider was good at locating information on anyone, but Mario was a mystery. He found no ex-wives, children, mortgages, credit cards, or auto loans, as well as no paper trail between him and the other four.
Knocking on the door at the top of the dungeon stairs, he poked his head into Wrath’s office. “You got a minute?” It was a rhetorical question. The man always had time for his men.
Wrath continued to study something on his computer screen, absently pointing to a chair. “Take a seat.” Raider didn’t wait long before Wrath switched his attention to him. “What do you have?”
He handed the sheaf of paper to him. “Financial information on four of the men.”
“Summarize it.”
“I’ve been able to locate funds going into the bank accounts of Wendt, Junior, Coleman, and Katz. Each deposit is under ten thousand dollars, but enough to provide each with about two hundred thousand over the last year.”
“Source of the funds?”
“I’m still looking. It seems the deposits have come from more than one source. The origins are well-concealed with layers of security. It may take interrogating them to learn who’s paying them.”
Wrath picked up one of the documents, following the column of deposits Rai
der had highlighted in yellow. “Your best guess?”
“The sonsofbitches who take delivery on the merchandise pay them with cash. We know how this goes. They divide the children between several locations, clean them up, take pictures, and list them for sale on one of the black market online auctions. There’s a good possibility they’re paid a lot more than what shows up on those statements. Those numbers include deposits, not cash they may keep aside.”
“If they pay a couple hundred thousand to each. Assuming Mario’s cut is the same, that’s a million for deliveries over a year. Depending on the number of transfers, it’s not much.”
Raider agreed. “If we could get into their homes, I’d bet we’d find stacks of bills hidden away.”
Wrath considered the idea, certain Grayson wouldn’t approve. “I’ll send this to the admiral for his team to analyze. Anything else?”
“I can’t find a damn thing on Mario. My report on him is in there, but it won’t provide much. Maybe Grayson’s people can discover more.”
Wrath had assigned Rock, Ghost, and Fargo to shadow Mario. Rock had followed him home when he’d ridden out of the protection of the Night Devils compound. Driving a nondescript older, gray sedan, Mario hadn’t spared Rock a glance.
Ghost was on him until midnight, then Fargo would take over. The men would continue to rotate, the same with Coleman and Katz. The instant Mario returned to the clubhouse, Wrath would have one of his men deactivate the security cameras Rock had discovered and search his house. Wrath bet they’d find stacks of bills and records showing his current name. Although not able to be used as evidence, his man would install miniscule cameras and mics. Even one slip-up by the president of the Devils could help the investigation.
“Good work, Raider.”
“Unless you need me for something else, I’m heading home. Lane is back on duty at six in the morning.”
“You already know Wrangler has a modified comm center at his place. He’s available if something urgent comes up.”
Exposed (Eternal Brethren Military Romantic Suspense Book 7) Page 17