“I’m assuming this was all brought to the local authorities?” I ask.
“Yes, the school counselor went to the police immediately.”
“Let me guess, they didn’t find anything that lined up with the girl’s story,” Stone says, anger now prominent in his tone.
“Right, and it’s not hard to discredit when the only allegation is from a troubled teen at a group home.”
“And now she’s missing,” I add.
Chief nods. “Now she’s missing.”
“So what about your friend? He obviously thinks there may be some truth here, or he wouldn’t have come to you,” Stone speaks up again.
“He started to question it. Some things just weren’t adding up, so when he started asking his own questions, and wanted to see the police report, he got a phone call telling him to stop and that he needed to let it go.”
I grunt, not that I had a hard time believing this story from the beginning, but if I did have any doubt I don’t now. “So what does he want from us?” I ask, wondering where he’s going with all of this.
“We are going to do some digging of our own, boys, or rather, I should say the two of you.” He pushes another file toward us and Stone grabs it first this time. “I want eyes on the Senator, while the other will investigate the group home, but this has to be handled delicately and quietly. I’m doing this for my friend. This isn’t our jurisdiction but, Jameson, you should be familiar with the area since it’s where you grew up.”
I falter, wondering if I just heard him right. “What?”
Stone hands me the file, and when I see the picture of the man staring back at me, my stomach bottoms out and my blood turns cold. “You’re going back to Georgia. I’m sure you recognize Senator Michaels; he is where our focus needs to be. I have a feeling he’s heading this, or at least is one of the top. Cassie’s statement talked about him being a real sadistic son of a bitch. The interesting thing about his involvement is his wife is a huge advocate against sex crimes and human trafficking. They host many charity functions to raise awareness and there is one coming up in a couple of weeks. I want in there.”
My heart pounds so loud in my ears it’s hard to comprehend anything the Chief is saying. Jesus, I knew the guy was manipulative, but this?
“According to Cassie the rapes were recorded. We need to find those tapes.”
“So who do you want where?” Stone asks.
Before the Chief has the chance to answer, I finally find my words. “I’m taking Michaels.”
I feel Stone’s eyes on me but I only watch the Chief. “You know him?”
“A little.”
“And from the little you know of him, would you say he’s capable of this?”
I think about his question and shrug. “Maybe. I’ve only met him one time. He’s a manipulative son of a bitch who likes to throw his power around.” A memory briefly flashes through my head. Governor Michaels is a ruthless man, more than you will ever know.
“How did you meet him?” he questions, suspicion now evident in his tone.
“I used to know his daughter.” Just thinking about Emily causes a storm of turbulent emotions to swirl inside of me.
“How well?” I don’t respond, knowing he won’t like to hear it, and I don’t want to get pulled from this. “If this is too personal for you, Jameson, you need to speak up now.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine, Chief. I can get into that charity function.”
He watches me for another moment, his eyes assessing before he finally gives in and nods. “All right, you take Michaels and, Stone, you dig more into the group home. Especially the past. If the allegations are true, which I think they are, then there has to be more somewhere. We trust no one, not even local authorities. Not until we know who’s all involved.” The Chief stands, signaling the end to the meeting. “You have twenty-four hours before you go in. Jameson, I’ll have a new cover for you by tonight. You’re going to be rich, let me know how it feels.”
I grunt in sarcasm, but it’s half-hearted. My mind elsewhere, or rather on someone else.
“Why us?” Stone asks before we walk out.
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you pick the two of us?”
I was wondering the same thing.
The Chief watches us for a moment and I wonder if we are about to get some bullshit answer, but he ends up surprising me with a detailed explanation. “There are two reasons. First, and most importantly, I believe I can trust you two. There are some pretty powerful people involved in this, people who will try to buy their way out of it. I’ve been doing this a long time, money can make people do stupid things, I’ve seen agents go rogue because of it. When trying to buy you off doesn’t work, they will try to intimidate you with their power, but I know the two of you are not easily intimidated.” He’s right, I am not someone who is easily intimidated, but I can’t stop myself from remembering six years ago and why I left the only girl who ever mattered to me. The thought has a slow rage building in the pit of my stomach.
“And reason two?” Stone asks when the Chief doesn’t offer it up.
He smirks. “Because only great things can come from pairing up two minds like the both of yours.”
I’m not sure what he means by that but I’m feeling the fucking pressure. Stone and I walk out of the office, and for the rest of the day I think about the only girl who has ever mattered to me, the one I was forced to leave and have never forgotten. I have a feeling this case is going to do more than change my career. It’s going to change my life.
Chapter 9
Ryder
Two days later, I pull up in front of the ritzy high-rise condominium building that resides in one of the most expensive areas in Atlanta Georgia. A city that is just a few miles away from the one town I loathe and never thought I would return to… Allendale.
I double check the address to make sure I’m at the right place before getting out of the SUV the agency rented for me. I was surprised to find out Emily lived on her own, not because of her disability, but for the simple fact that she was out from under her parent’s control.
When Pam, our field office assistant, looked her up I was fucking relieved to find out she wasn’t married or had any kids. I know it shouldn’t matter, I haven’t seen her in six years, but for some reason the thought of her with anyone else drives me fucking crazy. She’s pretty, Jameson, behave yourself now, Pam had lectured with a teasing smile. I never doubted for a minute that Emily wouldn’t still be beautiful, but I’m curious to see what she’s like after six years. Is she the same Emily I remember?
I walk into the building, taking note of the plush lobby and bypass the elevator, already knowing she’s on the main floor. As I make my way down the hall, toward her apartment, my heart starts pounding and my palms begin to sweat. Shit, I feel like I’m seventeen again.
I’ve thought of a thousand different ways on how to play this. I have no idea how she’s going to react to seeing me again after all this time. Especially considering the way I left. Will she be upset? Should I explain why? Will she even care? It has been six years. I often wondered what happened with her when I left. I wanted to say goodbye, I wanted to explain to her why I was leaving, but I couldn’t. I knew if I saw her again I wouldn’t leave, and who knew what her father would have done. Now knowing what I do about him, I know it was the right decision. It still fucking sucks but I was seventeen, I wouldn’t have been able to protect both Emily and Hector, but now is a different story. I am not the helpless kid from the wrong side of the tracks anymore. I made something of myself and now I have the opportunity for payback. If that son of a bitch is involved in this, which I have no doubt he is, I’m going to bring him down and bring him down hard.
Reaching her apartment, I shake myself from my thoughts and get my head in the game. I don’t want to lie to Emily but I can’t jeopardize this case, especially when I don’t know where I stand with her. I’ve decided I will keep my cover with her for now, then once I regain her trust and know where she stands I’ll decide from there.