She updated him on the situation with Luna. “Do you have someone you can send over here to review a family computer?”
“Have you reported this to Ruiz?”
“No.”
His deep sigh said it all.
“The thing is, I know I should be working with her, but I don’t entirely trust her. You can feel free to say no. I’ll understand.”
“I’m not saying no. I’m just… not wanting to get caught up in, you know, bullshit.”
“I’m sorry to ask this of you. I never would if it didn’t feel as urgent as anything ever has.”
“I get it. Text me the address. I’ll call in Walters,” Archie said, referring to his second-in-command, a sergeant.
“Great, thanks. Anything new at Tracy’s?”
“Still wading through the messages and emails and following the browser history.”
“Thanks for your help, Archie.”
“I wish I could do more.”
“You’re doing what I need right now.”
“I’m on it. I’ll call you if anything new pops.”
She slapped her phone closed and then opened it again to text him Luna’s home address to pass on to Walters.
Freddie came in through the front door as she stood in the hallway.
“I need a permission form for the family computer, too.”
“I’ll send it to the dad.” He used his phone to see to it. “What else?”
“Walters is on his way over to dump the family computer that Luna has access to. The parents haven’t checked it in a while because she’s given them no reason to be concerned about her activity.”
Freddie winced. “I’m keeping my kids offline until they’re adults.”
“Good luck with that. It’s easier said than done.”
“I’m sure it is, but I’ll hang over them like a mad stalker.”
“Also easier said than done.” Sam checked her watch to find it was inching closer to midnight. She shuddered to think of where and how Ethan might be spending the night. If he was still alive.
Chapter Seven
Tracy had never been happier to see her eldest child. She hadn’t wanted Brooke to come running home but was glad she had. Her presence—and Nate’s—was comforting.
“What’s the latest?” Brooke asked.
“Nothing new. Sam and her colleagues are working the case. Her friend Archie from IT has been working on the computer at our house for hours. They’ve put out an alert to be on the lookout for Ethan and his friend Tomas. We’re trying to figure out who this other kid, Brecken, is. We know he doesn’t go to school with the boys and could be a homeschooled kid who’s a few years older, but we don’t know for sure that he’s the Brecken we’re looking for.”
“So you haven’t met his new friends?”
“We’ve asked to meet them, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
“But he’s still been allowed to go out with them?”
