Allison Brennan - Fatal Secrets

Sam said, “I’m concerned that if we start an open search we’ll spook them and they’ll run.”

“They’ll kill the women first,” Sonia said, glancing at Charlie for confirmation. He nodded. She continued, “Based on information Mr. Cammarata had from Jones, the women are likely being held in a secure facility in the foothills. It needs to be accessible to small planes or helicopters, as well as vehicle traffic. But it also needs to be remote and a place where a civilian wouldn’t stumble onto it by accident.”

Dean crossed the room and stood next to her. “It’s privately owned and most likely on Rio Diablo tribal lands.”

“Rio Diablo?” Sam said. “We can’t go there.”

“That’s exactly why it’s there,” Dean said. He gestured toward a whiteboard where he had columns of numbers under the headings of RIO DIABLO, WEBER, OMEGA, XCJ SECURITY, XCJ CONSULTING. “After we went further back into XCJ Consulting records, we came up with these large transactions. The statute of limitations has expired on this, but it shows a pattern that we were then able to overlay to current payments.” He quickly went through the list. “You can see that payments increased over a twelve-year period, from the time Jones opened his consulting firm. Secondarily, the three clients paid Jones’s security company for personnel and other security measures that are incredibly difficult to track or confirm. The lobbying activities are suspect as well, as the money paid to XCJ is far more than what similar companies would make from the same sort of clients.”

Charlie asked, “So what’s your point? They were paying Jones, probably paying him for protection or as a bribe. Big fucking deal. There is far more at stake here.”

Sonia cringed, realizing that she had thought something similar when she first learned of the racketeering and money laundering investigation. She said, “Charlie, the point is, Agent Hooper has figured out how Jones laundered his trafficking money.”

“He’s dead, so there’s no point. You can’t put him in prison, Eliot Ness,” Charlie said smugly.

Dean ignored Charlie and said, “We now believe that Jones was giving the three entities the money to pay his fees. There was two hundred fifty thousand the first year, three hundred the second year, and it’s gone up exponentially since-last year it topped fifteen million.”

Sam shook his head. “So he receives the money as legitimate income, pays taxes, and it’s clean.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t believe this,” Charlie rolled his eyes.

Sonia snapped. “I don’t care what you believe, Charlie. You’re missing the big picture. Rio Diablo is a recognized Native American tribe. We have no jurisdiction. We can’t go search their land or issue search warrants. We have to go through their tribal council-”

“Which will take time and cost us in leaks,” Dean finished for her.

“That’s it,” Sonia said. “They’re there, on that land.” She turned to the big map, took a red Sharpie, and traced the boundaries of Rio Diablo land. “That’s about a thousand acres.”

“I’ll go check it out,” Charlie said.

“No,” Sonia and Dean said simultaneously.

“We go in smart,” Dean said. “No mavericks in this. If we’re going to get a conviction we need to do it right.”

“What about the girls?” Charlie said. “You fucking Fibbies only care about your clearance rate. Do you even care about the fate of those China dolls?”

“Charlie!” Sonia said and crossed the room. “Don’t even go there. If we don’t catch the people responsible, they’ll keep doing it, and they’ll be smarter next time. The only reason we’re this close to nailing them is because ICE and the FBI are working together and sharing information. Something I know you have a hard time with. Either you help us or you can go back to jail.”

“So you drank the Kool-Aid,” Charlie mumbled.

“I don’t know you,” Sonia whispered, deep sadness spreading through her chest.

Charlie looked stunned. “Sonia, I am trying to help, which is why I need to go in alone. I know that area. I’ve been on Rio Diablo land. Jones went up there every week. He’s tight with the three leaders of the tribe. There’re only a dozen people in the tribe, I didn’t think much of it, but what a scam. They’re building a casino, great location, too.”

“Even if I trusted you, you’re not going up there alone. But if you really want to help, go over to that map”-she pointed-“and identify where those girls are being held.”

He wanted to say something; she saw it in his face, in the way his mouth opened slightly, then snapped shut. He walked past her and she breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed her forehead.

When she looked up, Dean was watching her. He gave her a half-smile and nod, and her headache faded to the background. He held her gaze for a moment, then followed Charlie to the map.

“This is all pretty heavily forested,” Charlie said.

Sam stood next to him. “I know this area fairly well. Not Rio Diablo land, but the Sierra Nevadas. This was all mining country, from Nevada County up north, down to past Calaveras. Gold, silver, copper. There’re roads all over … here, here, here.” He highlighted them. “All those can handle a good-sized truck.”

“Where’s the casino going?” Charlie asked.

Dean pointed to a green pin. “It’s almost complete. Supposed to open next spring.”

“I don’t see planes coming in and out of here,” Charlie said. They don’t need much room, but it’s hard to see if there’s a flat enough area to build a runway.”

“Can they land on a road?” Sam asked. “Here’s a straight stretch on Salamander Gulch Road, and the road ends here.”

“Definitely possible, especially if the road is in good shape,” Charlie said. “Though they’ll land just about anywhere as long as they have the clearance.”

“International private plane travel is heavily restricted and regulated,” Sonia said.

Charlie dismissed her comment with a wave. “They cross the border any number of places-no way we can cover every mile of border twenty-four/seven. They’re damn geniuses when money is involved, and they take physical risks on land, air, and sea. Low-flying planes, commercial vehicles, boats of all sizes. Jones flew into Mexico last week and it was a snap. No questions.”

“How?” Dean asked sharply.

Charlie didn’t want to tell him, more out of spite than to keep a secret, but he relented. “He has two planes. They flew into a small private airstrip near the border in the middle of the desert, drove through showing fake I.D. and passports, and picked up a plane in Alicia.”

“What was he doing in Mexico?” Dean asked.

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Charlie turned to the map and ignored Dean. Sonia put a hand on Dean’s arm, his muscles hard and tight. She squeezed.

Charlie said, “They need to be close. They won’t require much space, but they’ll need a place to wash.”

“Why?” Sam asked.

“Would you buy a woman who’d been sleeping in her clothes for a week and walking around in her own waste?”

“Charlie,” Sonia said sharply. “We’re on the same team right now, aren’t we?”

He glared at her, but lost his venom. Sonia was growing weary of the game.

“So water source,” Sonia said, “and shelter. Secure, so they don’t have any runners. Where no matter how loud the women were, no one would hear. Though they would be quiet, out of fear.”

Trace Anderson came into the room. “I got her in your interview room.” He stared at Charlie, stunned.

Sonia said simply, “He’s helping us.”