“Okay, fine.” Mack scowled at Cam. “A cold case we’re working in our own time.”
“You know,” Cam said, looking at Evan, “one of those you don’t solve and can’t let go.”
Evan nodded. “Sounds like a rough one.”
Sean nodded. “Three girls went missing in Montgomery, Alabama. We failed to bring them home. As Cam said, we keep working new leads, but they quickly dry up.”
The same sadness he’d seen inching into Kiley’s eyes all day darkened them again. “We have a ton of resources at our disposal.A ton.So how could three girls just vanish and we can’t find them?”
Evan totally got her angst. “I’ve had several cases where women went missing and we never found them. Mine were all cartel-related, though. Unfortunately not an unusual occurrence.”
“At least knowing who did it gives some closure,” Sean said.
Did it?“I suppose, but I also know how brutal these cartels are and the fate the young women probably met.”
Kiley frowned, and he wanted to press out the wrinkles forming on her forehead and tell her everything in life would be okay. It wouldn’t make a difference if he did. As a law-enforcement officer, she would know he was spouting a platitude they told themselves to get through tough days. Sure, she believed in God and knew He was ultimately in control. So did Evan, but when faced with senseless killing after killing, holding on to that belief was a struggle at times.
She shook her head. “I don’t know how you deal with the cartels, but I’m thankful you’re willing to do so.”
Her respect for his work warmed him clear through. “I could take a look at your Montgomery case files if you have them with you. Not that I think I’m a better investigator than any of you, but fresh eyes and all that.”
Kiley shook her head hard. The pencil flew from her hair, and glossy waves tumbled down to her shoulders. “No need—”
“Great,” Sean interrupted. “Kiley’s scanned everything and can give you a flash drive with all the information on it.”
She slowly picked up the pencil, and Evan had to keep his gaze pointed straight ahead not to look at how the yoga pants fit her curves. She gathered her hair in a tight twist and jabbed in the pencil like she might be envisioning slamming it into Evan’s chest for interfering in yet another area of her life.
She ran her gaze over her team. “Everyone in agreement on this?”
“Can’t hurt,” Mack said.
“Might help,” Cam added.
“Okay fine.” She turned to Evan. “I’ll give you the file before you go, but don’t let it distract you from the case at hand.”
He didn’t acknowledge her warning, as he had to believe she’d based it on their past, and their personal connection wasn’t anyone else’s business.
“There are a few things I want to follow up on before we eat and get back to work.” She jotted downDark Webon the whiteboard under Leads.
Cam sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I checked in with D.C. and there’s been some chatter suggesting something’s coming. Nothing specific, but hints that it will happen on the anniversary of 9/11.”
Kiley sucked in a breath. “Just like we suspected, and now we have a ticking clock to battle.”
Evan did the math—a little more than four days to find and stop these terrorists.
“They’re working twenty-four seven to try to track the logins to real people,” Cam added. “But you know how the dark web works.”
Kiley nodded. “Pretty much guarantees anonymity.”
“They’ll keep watching and will alert me of anything concrete,” Cam said.
Kiley wrote downFollow Up on Forensics, then turned back to the team.
Mack took a long pull on a can of Red Bull. “I can call the lab tomorrow and light a fire under them, but you know forensic testing often can’t be rushed.”
“No, but it can be prioritized.” She noted his name next to the item and wroteReview Scene Photos. “I looked them over, but nothing stood out at me. Anyone else see anything unusual in them?”
“It’s hard to know what’s normal at a dock scene,” Sean said and looked at Evan. “But you’ve had quite a bit of experience with ports, right?”
