Page 79 of Cooper’s Passion

“Don’t beat yourself up, José. Anita is a strong woman, maybe because of what she went through. All that matters is that you believe her now.”

“Hmm. Those are very wise words for somebody so young.”

Cooper’s cellphone suddenly chimed with an alert, and a corresponding message flashed on the screen. He tapped on it and read the message.

“Fuck!” Cooper slammed his hand on the steering wheel.

“What?” Panic infused Diaz’s question. “Is it Anita?”

Cooper quickly shook his head, then tapped on his mic. “Abort mission. The suspect was seen abducting a blonde woman near the Ferry Building. He got away in a white van.”

Several curses came through the earpiece.

“Who’s closest to Anita?” Cooper asked.

“I am,” Yvette said, “I’ll escort her back to your car.”

“Thanks, Mom.” He tapped on his cellphone, connecting to the command center at Scanguards.

“Coop?” Sebastian answered.

“Got your alert. What other details do you have? I’m with Sheriff Diaz. You’re on speaker.”

“An administrative assistant working for the SFPD recognized the suspect when she came out of a restaurant across the street from the Ferry Building and was walking to her car on Steuart Street. She saw him drag a blonde woman into a white van and drive off.”

“Did she get the license plate?”

“No, she had to duck down between two cars so the perp wouldn’t see her. But she noticed that the woman had dropped something. She picked it up. It was her handbag, so we have an ID on the victim.”

“And the van? Did she see which direction it went?”

“No, by the time she felt safe to look around, the van was gone. But around that area it’s mostly one-way streets. There aren’t that many directions he could have gone.”

“Okay, get Thomas and Eddie and their team to comb through the traffic cams in the area. See if they can pick up the van and figure out where it went. We have a good chance to catch him before he has a chance to hurt the woman.”

“I’m already on it.”

“Good. Samson and the others will be heading back to HQ in a few minutes. I’ll drive Anita and her father back home. Expect me at HQ in about an hour. It will take IT longer than that anyway to get any leads on the van. If you need me before that, call me.”

“Okay. See you later.”

Cooper disconnected the call just as Yvette opened the side door to the van. He looked over his shoulder. Anita got into the van.

“He got another woman? Are they sure it was him?” Anita asked.

“I’m afraid so. But we have a lead. We’ll find him. I’ll take you and your father back to Wesley’s.” He cast a grateful smile at his mother. “Thanks, Mom.”

“I’ll see you at HQ shortly,” she said, nodding, and closed the door.

“I’ll come to HQ with you,” Diaz said.

Cooper shook his head and started the van. “No. You’ve had a long day. You drove all the way from Nevada this morning. It’s best if you and Anita stay at the house and rest. We’ve got this.”

“But—”

“He’s right, Dad.” Anita leaned forward between the seats and put her hand on her father’s shoulder. “You’re probably dead tired. Let them do this. There’s nothing you can do right now anyway. Once they find where he’s taking the woman, we’ll see if you’re needed.”

He looked over his shoulder, remaining silent for a few long moments, before he finally nodded, “Fine. I’ll grab a couple of hours of sleep.”