Cut and Run (Lucy Kincaid #16) - Allison Brennan Page 0,121
Ricky Albright now?”
“They are on their way to San Antonio. ETA two this afternoon.”
“I’ll contact CPS and have them take the boy into custody.”
“Ma’am, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“He’ll be safe, receive medical attention and a psychiatric evaluation. He’s been missing for three years. We don’t know what condition he’s in.”
“He knew his family was murdered and he’s terrified of anyone in authority because he knew that at least one cop was responsible. He didn’t want to come home.”
“He’s a minor child who needs to be protected.”
“I agree, which is why putting him immediately into the system is the worst thing we can do.”
“It’s the law, Agent Kincaid.”
Lucy hadn’t met Ricky yet, but Nate had been clear that he was extremely distrustful. “The law couldn’t foresee these specific circumstances. We always have to do what’s in the best interests of the child, right? He’s felt safe for three years because no one knew where he was.”
“And the man who took him?”
“The man didn’t knowingly take him out of the country. Ricky hid in his truck and didn’t expose himself until after they crossed the border.”
“And you don’t think it’s odd that an expatriate kept Ricky Albright in Mexico for the last three years.”
Abigail knew more about the case than Lucy thought.
“It may be, but in this situation I don’t think so—and neither does Nate.”
“I don’t like this, Lucy. If anything happens to that boy while he is in our care, there will be hell to pay—and jobs on the line. Are you willing to risk your entire career? Are you willing to risk Nate’s career?”
“I’m just asking for a day or two. Just until we can apprehend Chavez. If he learns that Ricky is alive and can identify him, then Ricky is in immediate danger.”
“Therefore he would be better off in protective custody.”
“If we can provide that safe house, with our people protecting him as if he were a witness, then yes, I agree, but you know as soon as we bring him in CPS will take him and we don’t know what would happen to him. If Chavez gets even an inkling that Ricky’s alive then we put him in more danger.”
Abigail was thinking.
“There’s a larger conspiracy here, ma’am,” Lucy said. “Multiple people are involved. They may not all have been involved with murdering Denise Albright’s family, but at least four men were there, and that means Chavez isn’t the only person worried about being caught. I know this is against protocol, but until we can get him to a safe house and put him into our protective custody I want to keep him completely out of the system, even if it means skirting the letter of the law for the spirit of the law.”
“I’ll work on the safe house,” Abigail said. “Where are you taking him?”
Lucy didn’t want to tell her, but she had to. “Saint Catherine’s Boys Home.”
Abigail stared at her, thinking.
Lucy mentally crossed her fingers and prayed. She couldn’t openly defy her boss. But she hoped Abigail came around to her way of thinking.
“Tonight, Saint Catherine’s. Tomorrow morning I will reach out to our liaison with CPS. I know her personally, she’s a sharp woman. We’ll decide together what is in Ricky’s best interests—and that may not be staying at Saint Catherine’s. I’ll also run a threat assessment and expedite a safe house. While Saint Catherine’s is prepared to handle a boy like Ricky and they are licensed, we can’t make this decision unilaterally.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Next time, I need to know before you make these decisions. There are a dozen other things I need to take into consideration, to protect my agents, this agency, and the people we are sworn to protect. Go, and copy me into every memo you send to Rachel for the duration of this case.”
Lucy left, the reprimand stinging.
She’d bought time, but not much. They needed to solve this case, but Lucy feared they were weeks—if not longer—away from the truth.
* * *
Lucy met Jennifer at the district attorney’s office. While they were waiting for Mike to call them in, she said, “Sean is concerned about Mitch Corta.”
“What for?” Jen sipped her coffee. Lucy wished she’d picked up another cup on her way over.
“He left his office yesterday at noon and hasn’t been seen since. Right before that, he called Stan’s sister and told her that Stan didn’t kill Victoria, then something cryptic, like he was a fall guy. I’m not quite sure, I heard this thirdhand