Mimi tilted her head, studying him for a moment, and then gestured to a collection of chairs in the corner. “Have a seat and give me a moment.”
She moved away from them, pulling a cell phone from her pocket. Dawson steered Peyton toward the chairs with a light touch.
“She’s cautious,” Peyton whispered.
“Mimi runs a women’s shelter. She won’t give out information about a client without verifying our identities. And even then, we may not get much out of her. It’s frustrating, but I understand it. The women she’s protecting have been abused, and many of them don’t trust law enforcement or the courts to protect them. I’d be more surprised if she wasn’t cautious.” Dawson claimed a chair next to Peyton. “She didn’t recognize your name.”
“No.” Worry clouded Peyton’s hazel eyes, and her shoulders were tense. “Do you think Lilia is hiding in the shelter?”
“Maybe. But if so, why hasn’t she called you?”
Dawson feared Lilia was dead. Or being held by someone. Maybe SSA Fallon’s intel wasn’t as thorough as he liked to believe. Or he could’ve been lying to them. Dawson didn’t like the idea that a federal agent was actively misleading them, but the Iron Serpents had connections in law enforcement. It explained how they’d been able to operate for so long without being shut down.
Mimi hung up and approached, her long dress swirling around her legs. Some of the tension in her posture was gone, and as she sat, her demeanor was more open and friendly. “Forgive me, Detective Graham. Special Agent Hughes. I hope you understand, but in my line of work, I can't afford to take people at their word. The women in my care depend on me to be their first line of defense. Chief Garcia confirmed your investigation, and I’d like to help in any way I can.”
“Do you know where Lilia is?” Peyton asked.
“No, I’m sorry, I don’t. She left our shelter last week and I haven’t heard from her since.” Worry creased the space between her brows. “It was my understanding she was taking Grace to stay with family. You, in fact.”
Surprise flickered through Dawson. So Mimi had recognized Peyton’s name after all. He prided himself on being able to read people, but in this case, Mimi could give lessons on hiding her true thoughts. “What day was this?”
“She left Thursday morning.”
“In her car?”
“Yes, a 1999 Toyota Camry. Light blue.” She frowned. “You said Lilia is missing? Since when?”
Peyton quickly detailed the desperate phone call from Lilia and the attack at the train depot. “As you can imagine, we’re very concerned for her safety. According to my aunt, Lilia was dating Cade Maddox, the leader of a biker gang.”
Mimi nodded. “She moved in with Cade last year, shortly after falling pregnant. Initially, Lilia didn’t know about Cade’s criminal activities, but it soon became clear that he was more than a bar owner. By then, he’d isolated her from everyone, and the abuse had begun. Lilia was scared for her life, and that of her unborn child.”
Peyton closed her eyes, her expression pained. “So Cade is Grace’s father?”
“Yes, and she was terrified he would find them. It took a lot of courage for Lilia to leave.”
Dawson could only imagine. “What made her decide to contact Peyton? Did Cade find her?”
“No.” Mimi clasped her hands in her lap. “When Lilia left, she stole money from Cade, along with evidence of his criminal activities. Initially, she’d intended to keep it as insurance, to prevent Cade from coming after her and Grace. But once her daughter was born, she had second thoughts.” Mimi looked directly at Peyton. “She wanted to do the right thing and come forward. We discussed the matter, and I offered to help her go to the police, but she didn’t want to make any moves without making sure Grace was taken care of first. It was my understanding that she was going to confess everything to you and ask you to protect her baby. That’s why she had the guardianship paperwork drawn up.”
“Something went wrong,” Peyton pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Somehow Cade—or someone else in the Iron Serpents—figured out what she was up to and ambushed her at the train depot before I arrived.” She dropped her hand. “Whoever is behind this wants the money and the evidence.”
Dawson nodded, placing a reassuring hand on her knee before turning back to Mimi. “Do you have a copy of the evidence Lilia stole? Or do you know where it is?”
“No, I don’t. She never showed it to me.”
“Can we see where she was staying?” Dawson wondered if Lilia had hidden some place in the women’s shelter.
“That would be impossible. Lilia cleaned out her room when she left, and someone else is living there now.”
Dawson and Peyton asked a few more questions, but it quickly became clear Mimi had told them everything she could. As the interview came to a close, Dawson handed her his card.“If you hear from Lilia, or think of anything that might help our investigation, please call me. Day or night.”
“I will.” Mimi stepped forward and embraced Peyton. When she pulled away, there were tears in her eyes. “Please, if you can, let me know what happens. Lilia and Grace have been in my prayers since they left, but I’ll ask God to guide the investigation as well.” She reached out to pat Dawson on the arm. “Stay safe. All of you.”
They thanked her. As they moved toward the exit of the church, two questions circled Dawson’s mind.
Where was Lilia?
And where was the evidence?
