Primary Valor by Jack Mars (booksvooks TXT) 📗

with other pretty,popular girls. Someone in her circle, or more likely someone close to hercircle, was aware there was going to be a party. That person was aware thatCharlotte, or other girls like her, were going to be at the party, and wouldlikely be impaired. The ferocity of the attack on the Haskins boy suggests aplanned assault. Someone knew that Haskins was large and had to beincapacitated instantly. Someone followed the two of them onto the beach,stalked them, and then attacked.”

She looked around the room. “Sincethere appear to be no leads at the moment, I would suggest widening the searchto family members, associates, and most importantly, enemies of the kids at theparty. I would look especially closely at men or boys who frequent bodybuildinggyms or are involved in fighting activities like boxing or mixed martial arts. Iwould look closely at men who have records of violent crime, or have beeninvolved in law enforcement or the military. I don’t believe the attack was acoincidence, or a crime of opportunity. Nothing like that. One or more men justhappen upon two young lovers on the beach during a pitch-dark night, quicklyoverwhelm the male, and abduct the female without a trace? That sounds planned.”

“It’s a kidnapping, in otherwords?” Ed said.

Ed was looking at Trudy intently. Lukehadn’t connected with Ed before the meeting today, but that look in his eyes—theintensity of it—Luke had only seen Ed that way a few times. Generally, when hewas angry, and in danger of boiling over. Or right before combat.

Trudy nodded. “Yes, I think so.”

“Is she alive or dead?” Don said.

“Alive,” Trudy said withouthesitating. “That may be because I want her to be alive, but I think there’smore here. If she were dead then we’d probably be looking at a serial killer. Thereare no serial killers thought to be active in that region at this time, and themodus operandi doesn’t fit your typical serial killer. Serial killers rarelyattack women who are accompanied by large males. Not that it doesn’t happen,but it’s rare. Usually they go for women who are isolated. In fact, the classicvictim of a serial killer is a poor, drug-addicted prostitute, who no one willmiss right away. It is definitely not a well-to-do teenage girl who is supposedto be at school in the morning. I think someone wanted Charlotte specifically,and is holding her captive. It may be that they are holding her for their ownpurposes, or it may be that they took her with the idea of trafficking her. Ayoung, fresh face, fresh body…”

Trudy shrugged again, looking downat her computer screen as if she didn’t want to face them. Everyone in the roomknew the implications of what she was telling them.

“I’d say there’s also an outsidechance they’re planning to hold her for ransom, considering that she is MilesRichmond’s granddaughter. But as of this morning, no one in the family hasadmitted being contacted by kidnappers. The more time that passes withoutcontact, the less likely a ransom scenario becomes.”

Don looked around the room now.

“I want to tell you all something.I think most of us have either been touched by something like this in ourlifetimes, or have known someone who has. For the loved ones, it is horriblebeyond words. I nearly lost my Margaret some months ago, and got her back bythe grace of God, and by the efforts of the people in this room. Because ofthat experience, I’ve agreed to look into this situation. I won’t get into thedetails of who asked me to do so. But you know the reason why—because we have areputation for getting things done. We have an opportunity to do a good thinghere. Maybe. And if it’s possible, that’s what I want to do.”

“Have the local police called inthe FBI?” Luke said.

Don shook his head. “Not so far. Andeven if they did, you know the Bureau wouldn’t give it to us. We’re on a shortleash. All we’re doing right now is quietly feeling around, with the emphasison quietly. We have no official capacity.”

“Clandestine,” Swann said.

“Yes. If the basic questions willget this done, the local police will do it. We’re going to ask the questions noone else is asking. We’ll approach the people no one is approaching. If wethink all the way outside the box—and I believe that creative thinking is oneof the most powerful tools this organization has—we might be able to come atthe bad guys from a direction they’re not expecting.”

“Where do we even start, if we’renot supposed to step on the toes of the local police?” Ed said.

“Trudy?” Don said.

She shrugged. “We could work thefamily, friends, and enemies angle I mentioned earlier. Start close and workoutwards. That’s a little bit of snooping, maybe pulling down text and emailmessages. I imagine Swann could start to put those relationships together in aday or two.”

“I can have some early concentriccircles by close of business tomorrow, in all likelihood,” Swann said. “Myhunch is we’ll find something pretty close to the middle. If not, as the daysgo by, we can sweep it all in. Everyone in that city, if need be.”

Don raised a hand like a STOPsign. “That’s enough, Swann. Do what you do, but don’t incriminate yourcolleagues.”

Swann nodded. “Understood.”

“What about cameras?” Ed said. “Yousaid it’s a rich neighborhood. Would there be security cameras in thecommunity, and would that footage be processed somewhere in particular? A localhome security firm, say? Maybe it picked something up, a car, a van…”

“Two guys walking down the street,carrying a girl,” Luke said.

Ed looked at him. Ed’s eyes werestill hot, practically on fire.

“I’ll see what I can get,” Swannsaid. “I’m guessing that if the local cops are doing their jobs, they alreadyhave it. If we were officially on this case…”

He looked at Don.

Don shook his head. “We’re not.”

“We can also work the traffickingangle,” Trudy said. “Charlotte is a very specific kind of girl, who wouldprobably appeal to a specific clientele. It was a high-risk move to take her. Thereare people with histories of committing these kinds of crimes, and such aperson may know something about the who, what, and where.”

“What are you saying?”