“I’m back. What about my boss?”
“I can’t go into any details, but he’s involved. To what degree, I’m not certain. I can tell you several of the girls have been identified.”
“Does that mean you found Reese Murphy?”
“It’s better you don’t know.” I pulled out two additional weapons and a duffle bag, loading several magazines as well.
“Goddamn it, Kendrick. I left several messages on your cellphone and while you’ve always been an asshole, not to that degree. Not after the way you reacted about Denise Taylor. I tried you at work and Misty told me you were on vacation. That’s not like you. What did you get yourself into?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. I will send you several photographs and sketches of some of the girls being used by this club. While some are runaways and I’ve yet to discover their identities, others could be victims of kidnapping.” Eying a selection of knives, I grabbed my favorite hunting knife, a gift from my father years before. It did the job, although I wouldn’t be hunting deer this time.
Or gutting them either.
“You’re not making any sense,” Jackie insisted. “What are you involved in? You’re not a cop.”
“You’re right. Which means I can fly under the radar. One of the victims is Janey Devonshire. Ring a bell?”
When Jackie didn’t accost me or challenge me in any way, I knew something was wrong. “Yes, I know who she is.” Her tone was hollow.
“What the hell happened, Jackie?”
“You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
“This is an FBI case, a friend of mine leading the investigation, but it was all over the news this morning anyway. Marvin Devonshire committed suicide. Janey’s father.”
“How?” I bristled with anger all over again.
“The reports haven’t been released. I do know he was very distraught. It was his only child.”
I slumped against the wall. “He didn’t kill himself.” I wasn’t asking. I was informing her.
“What the hell are you talking about? How would you know?”
“Trust me. You need to tell your friend to open an investigation. That man was murdered.”
“And what am I supposed to say to her?”
“That justice needs to be served.”
Her sigh was heavy. “I don’t know what you’re into, but if I discover you’re playing an officer of the law, I will arrest you myself.”
“Just do what I ask. I’ll send you what I can including an updated picture of Briana Murphy. She was likely purchased by a man at one of the auctions. If so, we need to find her quickly. The members could be international. If she leaves the country, there’s a good chance we won’t find her.”
“What are you doing, Kendrick? Going undercover?”
“I already told you. I’m doing everything necessary to bring justice.”
“You’re insane.”
“You came to me. Remember?”
“Call me when you have something. And for God’s sake, be careful. You could ruin your career.”
What she didn’t understand was that I was past the point of caring.
As soon as I ended the call, I dialed Maverick. “Hey, buddy. I don’t like that you’re hanging out at your house.”
