“She said she’d be back in an hour, so we only have to wait until then,” Peter said, checking his watch. “Another twenty-three minutes or so.”
“You do realize she’ll be expecting to see the man she left outside your door?” Ellis pointed out. “You better come up with a plan quick to deal with that.”
“Already thought of it and have it covered.” Emily walked over to the young girl and settled on the edge of the bed next to her. She slipped off her cardigan and pulled the sweater around the girl’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, sweetie, we’re here to help you. Do you understand?”
She nodded, fear still pooling in her dark eyes.
“Her name is Maliwan,” Peter informed Emily.
“I need you to help me, too.”
The girl stared silently into Emily’s eyes.
“Will you help me, Maliwan?” Emily returned her gaze and looked kindly into the girl’s face, hoping to allay her fears.
She nodded again, her eyes brightening a bit.
~*~
After her brief talk with Maliwan, Emily returned to Colin and Peter. She began to tell them that the girl thought she may have caught sight of Molly that very morning at the house.
“You forget you’re mic’d, Emily,” Ellis cut in. “We all heard the whole thing.”
“Then you must have heard her say she saw a girl with long red hair lying on a mattress in the upstairs bonus room.”
“We hope to God one of those four heat spots is Molly.”
Ellis typically sounded professional and by the book, but every once in awhile Emily swore she could hear his voice quiver as he spoke of Molly. “As soon as you have the madam in custody, I’ll give the signal to move on the house and the spa. If we move too soon, someone could text her a short one-word warning and she’s in the wind, guys.”
“One word?” Emily asked.
“Like run.”
“Got it.” Emily looked from Colin to Peter. “Now, we don’t have much time, fellas, let’s all get in position. You heard the plan.”
“We’re on it,” Peter replied.
“Maliwan,” she said, casting a glance over her shoulder, “you know what to do, right?”
“Yes,” she replied in a small, nervous voice.
Colin stepped into the closet and Emily went down the hall, just past the elevators, and waited around the corner in a small alcove. “We’re all in place, Ellis.” She reached back and felt her gun snuggly fitted in the back of her waistband, under her shirt.
“Ellis, is my video feed coming through okay?” Emily heard Peter ask.
“A-Okay.”
“The elevator just dinged,” Emily informed everyone. “Open the door, Peter. Cue Maliwan.”
The doors glided open and the madam stepped out, turning toward Peter’s room. She only took a few steps before she halted abruptly. Emily crept out of the alcove and tiptoed behind her, watching as the madam realized the man she’d left there was gone. The woman spun around and took a couple of steps toward the elevator, but Emily stood between Ratana and her escape.
“Oh, I’m so glad I found you,” Emily gasped, her arms spread out to keep the woman from going around her. “There’s a girl in the room down there that’s been crying for her mother.” Emily pointed toward the room. “She looks a lot like you, so I’m assuming that it’s you she’s been calling for?”
“That stupid girl,” the woman spat under her breath, looking down at the floor. Then she raised her head and her expression softened. “Yes, I am her mother. Where is she?”
“Right down here.” Emily laid one hand on the woman’s shoulder and motioned down the hall with the other. She walked her to the room where Peter held the door open.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” Peter said. “Your girl has been crying her eyes out ever since you left.”
The woman marched into the room, past the bathroom and closet. The girl was resting on the edge of the bed, her head bent down, weeping.
“There, that’s the girl,” Emily exclaimed, following the woman into the hotel room. Maliwan lifted her head as Ratana approached her.
Ratana barked something to the girl in Thai, motioning for her to leave with her. The girl replied something in her language, shaking her head no. The woman grabbed the girl by the arm and yelled at her again, yanking her to her feet.
Maliwan looked at Emily, pleading for help with her eyes.
Peter leaned against the dresser, watching the events unfold. “Are you getting this?” he whispered.
“Loud and clear,” Ellis responded.
“Let her go!” Emily hollered, stepping toward the woman. “You’re hurting