“I’ll keep trying to find a list of where the missing kids were sent.” Luna added, “Fingers crossed that they even kept track of that information.”
“Great work, Luna,” Cole said.
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” She ended the call.
“Cole, we have to get to those locations before the buses leave with the kids.” Charlotte would at least like to be at one of the sites to help, but she would just get in the way of what the team was doing.
“We will,” he said. “We’ll let them leave with the kids—”
“No, you can’t—”
“Charlotte, it’s the only way to find out where they’re taking them,” Cole said. “Don’t worry. We’ll be tracking them.”
“We’re going to need help.” Hawk moved around behind her and rubbed her tense shoulders.
Bless him and his magical hands.
“As soon as we’re done talking, I’m going to call Beck and Jonathan to see if some of their people can back us up on this,” Cole reminded him. “Andi’s already here, and once she finds out what’s going on, she’ll insist on being a part of it.”
“We need to bring Everett in before he gets wind of what’s happening.” Hawk’s thumbs circled the tight muscles at the base of her neck.
Charlotte tilted her head forward until her chin rested on her chest.
“Eddie and Viking are already on their way to Everett’s house.” Hawk told them about the text they sent from Kimball’s phone.
“What about Pennington and the other people on that list?” Charlotte wanted every single person involved to be punished.
“We can’t make a move on them just yet.” Cole explained, “In order to take them down, we’re going to need irrefutable, rock-solid evidence.”
“What kind of evidence?” Hawk asked the question before she could.
“Testimony from Helene, Everett, Kimball, and the drivers, along with the information we’ve already gathered, should be enough.” Cole added, “But a confession from Pennington or one of the other people on the list would go a long way toward taking them all down.”
“I have an idea.” Charlotte knew Hawk was going to hate it. “You guys can put a wire on me and—”
“Absolutely not.” He swiveled her stool to face him.
“Just hear me out, please. You can put a microphone or whatever on me, then I’ll go into the office and talk to Pennington.” Charlotte warmed up to the idea. “I can tell him about the list, that Helene created it, and that I know all about his disgusting proclivities. Then we can just see what he says.”
“No.” Hawk shook his head. “I do not want you anywhere near that asshole.”
“I’ll meet him at the office.” She set her hand on his chest—that always seemed to calm him. “He’s not going to do anything with all of those people around.”
“I understand you wanting to protect her, Hawk, believe me, I do. But she’s got a point.” She couldn’t believe Cole agreed with her. “You could go with her but just stay out of sight.”
“Trust me, Pennington’s not going to do anything to me.” Charlotte huffed. “The man can’t even pick up his own dry cleaning.”
“Shit.” Hawk rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you sure Pennington will even be in the office?”
“Yes, he’s in the office two days a week.” On the days leading up to a board meeting. “Today is one of those days.”
Hawk wasn’t happy about the plan, but he knew it was their best hope for ending this horrible situation.
“I know you’ll keep me safe.” She’d never been more certain of anything in her life.
The three of them spent several minutes walking through the plan. It was fascinating, the way they came up with backup plans, just in case things fell through.
The plan was for Charlotte to contact Pennington and tell him she wanted to meet with him in his office. Of course, he would agree. She and Hawk would then head to the HRA building, where Hawk would wait in her office and listen in on their conversation.
