skin on her cheeks sting, bringing tears to her eyes.
Unless she developed a new plan, she would never escape. With that realization, she factored risk out of the equation as she sought a new approach.
Footsteps sounded outside the window of the cabin. Was someone about to enter?
Other footsteps came from the opposite direction. When the footsteps stopped, she heard the muffled sounds of voices. Jennifer strained to understand the words.
“…forget the girl…” The voice was Cookie’s.
“The prince has three hours,” Snake’s hiss said, “then we bail.”
The voices stopped and footsteps sounded again, growing faint as the two men walked away from the door.
If they planned to sell her to the prince as they mentioned once before, she had less than three hours to escape. If the prince got his filthy hands on her, she would have to—she couldn’t let that happen. If James and his men bailed, they would kill her. Of that she was certain.
This isn’t working. Please God, show me something else to try.
20
Like a wild animal in a zoo, Lee paced back and forth on the sidewalk outside the house near Granddad and Katie. On his fifth pass, Peterson’s car rolled to a stop on Laumakani Loop. He was much later than he said. More time wasted, precious time.
Since Lee had talked with the FBI agent, more Maui police officers had arrived, including the crime-scene technicians who were conferring with Anya. Detective Ramirez had finally arrived, and he took the last available parking spot within a block of the house.
Peterson’s window was down. Lee locked gazes with him. “Good luck finding a parking place.”
After parking, Peterson sought out Ramirez. The two talked for a couple of minutes. Precious minutes.
Katie and Granddad joined Lee on the sidewalk.
When the tall FBI agent finally approached them, Lee confronted him. “Peterson, Anya told us the goons took Jennifer to some yacht before sunrise this morning. What are you doing to find it?”
Peterson stopped, hands on hips. “We have a lot of leads, Lee. And we’re pursuing the most promising ones.”
“But this lead is—
“Listen for a second, because that’s about all I’ve got right now. We think one of the leaders of the trafficking ring is on the island. If we find him, we’ll find Jennifer.”
If Peterson insisted on that approach instead of looking for a yacht, either he was holding back information or he had another agenda, one that didn’t place Jennifer’s safety as the highest priority. At that thought, Lee’s emotions became a vial of smoking nitro. “Are you sure about that? Do you realize what happens if you’re wrong?”
“All right, if it will get you to shut up.” Peterson stared sequentially at Lee, Katie and Granddad. “We’ve assembled information from the Coast Guard, our field agents, Interpol and the FBI’s intelligence group. It tells us the big boss is on the island. He is the one who would capture Jennifer to make a statement. That’s how we know.” He paused. “I can’t tell you any more than that, Lee. You’ll have to trust that we know what we’re doing.”
Lee returned Peterson’s stare. “Then you’ll have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Peterson pulled a hand from his hip and poked his index finger into Lee’s chest. “If you pull any more stunts like you and Jennifer did at Rialto Beach, I’ll have you arrested.”
Lee knocked the tall FBI agent’s hand away. Lee was on the verge of an explosion and he really didn’t care. “The little stunt you’re referring to saved three girls’ lives and wiped out most of the trafficking ring…without any help from you and your snail-paced response.”
Katie wedged her body between the two men. “I talked with Anya, Peterson. She’s a victim, too. And the men in the organization will kill her for what she’s already told us. Is there any way you can keep her safe?”
Katie had changed the subject. She had
Unless she developed a new plan, she would never escape. With that realization, she factored risk out of the equation as she sought a new approach.
Footsteps sounded outside the window of the cabin. Was someone about to enter?
Other footsteps came from the opposite direction. When the footsteps stopped, she heard the muffled sounds of voices. Jennifer strained to understand the words.
“…forget the girl…” The voice was Cookie’s.
“The prince has three hours,” Snake’s hiss said, “then we bail.”
The voices stopped and footsteps sounded again, growing faint as the two men walked away from the door.
If they planned to sell her to the prince as they mentioned once before, she had less than three hours to escape. If the prince got his filthy hands on her, she would have to—she couldn’t let that happen. If James and his men bailed, they would kill her. Of that she was certain.
This isn’t working. Please God, show me something else to try.
20
Like a wild animal in a zoo, Lee paced back and forth on the sidewalk outside the house near Granddad and Katie. On his fifth pass, Peterson’s car rolled to a stop on Laumakani Loop. He was much later than he said. More time wasted, precious time.
Since Lee had talked with the FBI agent, more Maui police officers had arrived, including the crime-scene technicians who were conferring with Anya. Detective Ramirez had finally arrived, and he took the last available parking spot within a block of the house.
Peterson’s window was down. Lee locked gazes with him. “Good luck finding a parking place.”
After parking, Peterson sought out Ramirez. The two talked for a couple of minutes. Precious minutes.
Katie and Granddad joined Lee on the sidewalk.
When the tall FBI agent finally approached them, Lee confronted him. “Peterson, Anya told us the goons took Jennifer to some yacht before sunrise this morning. What are you doing to find it?”
Peterson stopped, hands on hips. “We have a lot of leads, Lee. And we’re pursuing the most promising ones.”
“But this lead is—
“Listen for a second, because that’s about all I’ve got right now. We think one of the leaders of the trafficking ring is on the island. If we find him, we’ll find Jennifer.”
If Peterson insisted on that approach instead of looking for a yacht, either he was holding back information or he had another agenda, one that didn’t place Jennifer’s safety as the highest priority. At that thought, Lee’s emotions became a vial of smoking nitro. “Are you sure about that? Do you realize what happens if you’re wrong?”
“All right, if it will get you to shut up.” Peterson stared sequentially at Lee, Katie and Granddad. “We’ve assembled information from the Coast Guard, our field agents, Interpol and the FBI’s intelligence group. It tells us the big boss is on the island. He is the one who would capture Jennifer to make a statement. That’s how we know.” He paused. “I can’t tell you any more than that, Lee. You’ll have to trust that we know what we’re doing.”
Lee returned Peterson’s stare. “Then you’ll have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Peterson pulled a hand from his hip and poked his index finger into Lee’s chest. “If you pull any more stunts like you and Jennifer did at Rialto Beach, I’ll have you arrested.”
Lee knocked the tall FBI agent’s hand away. Lee was on the verge of an explosion and he really didn’t care. “The little stunt you’re referring to saved three girls’ lives and wiped out most of the trafficking ring…without any help from you and your snail-paced response.”
Katie wedged her body between the two men. “I talked with Anya, Peterson. She’s a victim, too. And the men in the organization will kill her for what she’s already told us. Is there any way you can keep her safe?”
Katie had changed the subject. She had
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