on her way to Texas to interview him. I’m telling you for your information, but do not try to talk to him. I heard about the restraining order.”
“News travels fast,” she snapped.
“I understand what you’re going through, but you have to play by the rules.”
“I was. She followed me, Director. There’s a corrections officer from her juvenile detention facility who is missing. Erica Anderson. She canceled the last three visits with her kids. Her ex-husband is worried, and she was last seen three days ago by her neighbor. She’s acting out of character according to her neighbors and her family. I think she knows something and is hiding from Elise, or she’s working for Elise.”
“You have nothing to back up that accusation.”
“And no one else is looking! Houston PD has no idea that Elise Hunt is behind this, aren’t even looking for evidence because they’re convinced that Sean is guilty. Because of that, she’s walking around doing whatever the hell she wants with no consequences! You don’t know her like I do. We need to track her down and keep her under surveillance. She’ll lead us to the heart of this conspiracy, and until you and the powers that be recognize that, we’re all screwed. We’ll find Brad Donnelly’s dead body and Sean will be in prison for the rest of his life!”
She stopped, her heart racing, her face heated. She had never talked to a superior like that before in her life. A superior and a friend.
“There’re some choices I can’t protect you from, Agent Kincaid. I’ll call you once Megan has a report.”
He ended the call.
Lucy could barely contain her frustrated scream. Who was investigating Elise? Maybe if they followed her they’d find Brad, or find the people who took them.
This was all just too much. Rick was right—he couldn’t protect her. But she didn’t care. Saving Sean was more important than her career.
“Lucy,” Patrick said.
“Don’t say it.”
She sent Nate a text message.
Someone needs to find and covertly track Elise Hunt. She’s the key, she’ll lead us to answers.
“I know what’s going on here, Patrick. Elise followed me, set up the confrontation, and got the restraining order. I was firm in court, and Elise played the ‘woe is me, I’m an abused kid’ card. That kid was never abused. She was born bad, into a bad family, and she enjoys hurting people.”
“I’m not the enemy here. But if you’re not careful, you’ll lose your badge.”
“I don’t care!”
She looked out the window. They were not even halfway to Houston. She willed Patrick to drive faster, though he was already exceeding the speed limit.
Several minutes later, Nate called her. “I talked to Leo. He’s going to spend today here with Jesse. Aggie has a lead on the Merides brothers. And as soon as I find Elise Hunt, I’ll follow her.”
“Thank you. If you find Erica Anderson, you might find Elise.”
“Aggie has been doing some work on that angle. Brad kept detailed records of every one of Nicole’s contacts. Most are dead, in jail, or underground. But there are a few who slipped away on technicalities, and a few who are affiliated with some of her old contacts. Aggie wrote a probability program that ranked them as to most likely to be working with Elise Hunt.”
“I knew she was good.”
“She is,” Nate concurred. “The way she processes information and remembers details is a lot like Sean, actually.”
“Thank you for everything, Nate. I don’t know what Sean and I would do without you.”
“No thanks necessary, Lucy. I’ll keep you updated.”
Lucy ended the call and closed her eyes. Considered her options, which were becoming fewer by the minute.
She called Megan. Her sister-in-law answered immediately.
“I’m at the airport. I’ll be in Houston in a few hours,” Megan said.
“Have you heard from Jack?”
“Last night, briefly. He and Ranger are secure, tracking Kane.”
“Tracking Kane? How? Who has him?”
“Jack didn’t share details, just wanted me to know he was safe and tracking Kane. I honestly try not to think too much about what Jack and Kane do. Are you okay?”
“Not really. I just talked to Rick.”
“There are things going on at headquarters that have nothing to do with you or Sean or any of us. Rick has a lot to juggle.”
She knew that, and it was hard to put aside her anxiety and worry to remember that national headquarters was going through a major reorganization. “I don’t think he’s confident in Sean’s innocence. But that’s not why I called you. When you talk to Jimmy Hunt—tread very