Fate’s Unseen Shadow (Cager #1)

Chapter 5

5

“ S o, what do we want to talk about first?” Xavier asked Damon the moment he sat down. “Ella or the runaway case? My vote is for Ella. We’ve never had something like that come across our desk before. When the runaway is the fugitive and turns themselves in.”

“There’s nothing to talk about with Ella. Not today, at least. We need to focus on the runaway’s case first. That’s time-sensitive.” Because he didn’t know where his mind stood on Ella.

Xavier leaned back against the headrest briefly before asking, “Why did you take Ella a bottle of wine? I’ve never known you to give any of our other clients a housewarming gift. Especially that wine.”

“Because she cried.” And it killed him to see her break. He had no doubt the bottle would be empty in the morning. And it was good that he had another commitment and reason to force himself from her apartment. Lingering and sharing the bottle would not be a good idea. She was in a mess with the police, and someone was potentially out to kill her.

“Why is she working at Cager? If you’re giving her food and shelter…”

“Who the hell knows.” That bothered him. “I’m going to try and talk her out of it again. I get what she was saying, though. I couldn’t sit around and stare out a window for a month or longer.”

Xavier nodded. “Me neither, but she shouldn’t be in public like that. But why did you promise to be the one to escort her to and from Cager? If this is a team effort, we all can work to keep her safe. You know. Take turns.”

He didn’t bother to address that with Xavier. They’d known each other long enough that he’d spot any lie. “What happened to us not talking about Ella?”

“My curiosity got the better of me. Do you think she’ll do what you tell her to do to stay safe? Stay inside and out of sight?”

“For now.” Damon rested an arm on the door. “I don’t think she’s used to being told what to do. I have the odd suspicion she’ll only do what I tell her to do if she agrees with the decision. Enough talk about Ella. Please. We need to focus on this case.”

He merged onto the expressway, heading toward the hotel in North Charleston, where they were meeting Slater, Ryker, and the runaway’s mother.

Xavier held his hands up in surrender. “Fine. No more talk.” He turned up the air-conditioning. “One more thing”—he nudged Damon’s shoulder—“she’s really pretty.”

Damon stared out of the windshield, refusing to answer.

Xavier laughed, saying, “You’re screwed,” under his breath.

Maybe he was. But he was also a professional and could keep himself in check. Ella needed someone to help her, not hit on her. The last month had been hell for her. Going from being on top professionally to living in her car and hiding for her life. And for her own stepmother to think she was guilty. He flexed his hand on the wheel. Ella was alone and possibly in danger. He’d tried to downplay the danger, but she was right. If Theodore thought someone had stalked him before his death, too, then there was a strong chance it was the same man she’d seen. And he doubted they’d give up easily. But she was safe. While she lived there and had him, she’d stay safe.

“Is something bothering you?” Xavier asked, humor lacing his voice.

“No.” He caught a glimpse of his friend’s grin. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you just hit ninety-five miles an hour.”

Previously unaware of his speed, Damon let his foot off the accelerator. “Oh.”

“You didn’t reply when I mentioned she was pretty.”

He huffed. “Didn’t seem as though I needed to. Is she pretty? Yes. Anyone can see that. It doesn’t mean anything.” Except he had to stay centered on why she was in his life. Because he’d never been attracted to one of their clients before. Separating work and personal feelings had always been easy. From his time in the Marines to working cases for the runaways. Dedication to the mission wasn’t an issue for him. But something about her tugged at him. One fact was clear: she didn’t have to be on her own any longer. They’d take care of her until her world was safe to return.

“You’re back at ninety.”

“Dammit.” Damon laughed and ran a hand over his head. “Sorry. My mind keeps wandering. Tell me about the runaway. Jerry Livingstone, right? We need to get the facts together on that case and not talk about Ella.”

“His mom agreed to meet us at the hotel. Jerry took his mom’s car to go there. They live in Columbia. Nearly two hours away.”

“So it wasn’t some joy ride. More likely than not, he was headed there to meet someone.” Damon merged into traffic. “Maybe someone he met online.”

“That seems to be the trend. And on this side of town, it could’ve been for anything. Drugs. Sex. Weapons.”

“Is Slater going to call anyone on the force to see if he can get any information?”

“He said he wanted to talk to the mom first before he calls. After that last case, he’s a little hesitant to use police information as a starting point. We went down the same path, and it took us twice as long to find them. He wants us to create our own case. Or, in his words, let you do your thing.”

“More like let Ryker start with a clean slate.” Damon glanced at Xavier. “Has he gotten into this kid’s social media?”

“Let me ask our computer wizard.” Xavier shot off a text. “Unless the mom has the password, you know it can take a few hours to days for the police to get a judge to order the companies to give them access.”

“This is why families contact us when they can’t get anywhere with all the red tape.” Damon pulled off the expressway feeling more settled now that his mind was focused on something other than Ella back at the apartment. He’d check on her tonight if it wouldn’t be too late.

Xavier smiled as his phone vibrated. “Damn, he’s good.”

“Did he get in?”

“You know he did. He’s looking at the kid’s social media now.”

Damon picked up his speed. “We are only a few minutes away.” He drove through a rundown side of town, surveying his surroundings every second. He didn’t normally take his car for these cases. He would’ve taken Xavier’s massive truck, but it was still where he’d left it to drive Ella’s car.

“This is it,” Xavier announced. “Slater says to pull around back. That’s where they’re parked.”

“This is a wonderful negative-two-stars motel.” Damon maneuvered around what appeared to be broken glass and a few needles before spotting Slater’s car and the guys next. Slater and Ryker stood outside Slater’s vintage muscle car, with a woman who stood as tall as Slater. She wore black exercise pants and an old T-shirt. And she looked exhausted.

“That must be Mom.”

“I’m not sure the woman has slept since her son went missing.” Xavier let his head fall back against the headrest. “Can’t blame her.”

“I didn’t sleep when Hayley went missing.” Seventy-two hours without sleep until he’d found his niece. With that fresh memory, he climbed out of the car, focused. “Let’s go.”

“Ready.” Xavier moved ahead of him, holding out his hand. “Mrs. Livingstone, I’m Xavier. I spoke to you on the phone.”

“Hi. Thank you for helping.”

Ryker stood at the back of Slater’s car, his laptop open on the trunk, his fingers typing fast. “Have you found anything?” Damon asked.

“Just getting into it. Can’t say I don’t leave a little traumatized after looking through a teenager’s social media accounts and their DMs. I was into Dungeons & Dragons at fifteen. I didn’t even know girls existed.” He grimaced and looked at the sky. “The idea that all of these are teenagers makes me sick to look at.” Holding his breath, he searched

back through the direct messages.

Damon avoided the screen and looked at Mrs. Livingstone. “Your son had a very active social media.”

She shook her head. “I gave him too much freedom.”

“With some kids, even if you don’t give them the freedom, they still find a way around everything,” Slater said. “I’ve seen it most of my career.”

“Bingo.” Ryker pointed at the screen.

Damon leaned close as Mrs. Livingstone rushed around to look at the computer screen. “Did you find him?” She chewed on her fingernail. “Please say you found him.”

“No. But I did find who he met here. That’s step one.” Ryker pulled up a separate system. He hesitated and stared at Damon. “Did you have any more questions for Mrs. Livingstone?”

Got it. He needed her away from the computer screen for whatever he was about to do. “Can you show me some pictures of your son?”

They walked away, and she pulled out her phone. “Absolutely. I can’t tell you how hard it is to hear the police say they’re not going to keep looking for my son.”

Xavier crossed his arms, keeping an eye on their surroundings. “It’s not that they’re not going to keep looking, but for the active investigation, they’ve collected everything they can see to collect. His social media account would’ve been next on their list. They have certain steps to get to it legally. There’s no real set amount of time that will take. Remember, you called us for a reason. And that contract you signed includes an NDA. You can’t tell anyone how we found your son.”

“I know. Believe me, I don’t care how you find my son. I’m not telling a soul. I want him back.”

“Good,” Xavier said, with a firm nod.

Damon continued with various questions, most of which he didn’t need to know. He wanted to keep her busy and occupied. That was the best way to keep someone from losing hope and to distract them from Ryker.

Ryker cleared his throat. Xavier moved to stand beside him, his eyes meeting Damon a second later.

They’d gotten something.

But based on the looks on their faces, it wasn’t good news.

Slater crossed the parking lot from where he’d snooped around the complex.

“Hey, come see these other pictures of Jerry.” Passing her off to Slater, Damon went back to Ryker. “Shit. Again?”

“Seems to be,” Ryker said.

“Another fucking human trafficker.” Xavier shook his head. “What made Jerry come here?”

“Met the organizer in an online gaming room. What are we going to tell her?” Ryker lowered his voice. “We can only hope they haven’t sold him yet since he’s still listed on this website.”

Damon studied Jerry’s picture on the screen. “Do we have a location?”

Ryker pulled up a second window. “Yes. I know where the person who posted this is. I need to do some surveillance to see if the kids are at the same location.”

“We’re going to have to get the police involved.” He couldn’t avoid having Slater come over. “Slater, come here. Mrs. Livingstone, please give us a moment to talk.”

She looked torn between following Slater over there or staying put, but finally she turned and walked a few feet away.

Slater joined them at the car and set his hands on his hips. “For fuck’s sake,” he muttered, looking at the website. “I don’t know if I’m glad we found him or furious there’s another one.”

Damon shared his sentiment. “You’re gonna need to call Detective Moore.”

“I know. When do you want me to do it?”

Xavier rubbed the back of his neck, twisting it to the side. “Last time, he got pretty pissed we waited so long.”

Damon shook his head. “Well, go ahead and call him.” They wasted time standing there at this point. “I’m not waiting. We need to find the kids and not only her son. That’s our goal. How many kids are listed on this website?”

“Seven with Jerry. They’re all missing from South Carolina area based on the facial recognition program I used.” Ryker pinched the bridge of his nose. “The youngest is nine.”

Damon set his hand on Ryker’s shoulder, aware he fought with his own demons.

These were kids, but Ella was damn lucky nothing like this had happened to her while living out of her car the way she was. With a shake of his head, Damon stepped back away from the group. “Xavier, you hot?”

He leaned down and patted his calf. “Always.”

“Come with me.”

Ryker drummed his fingers on the back of the car. “I’m getting the address from that post. It’s near the docks.”

“Of course.” Half the shit they handled was on that side of town. “Text me the exact location. No time to waste. The police can catch up to us. Let’s go.”