Page 60 of Lost Truth
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Cady barely saw the landscape outside her window as their vehicle raced toward Palmer’s house. She could hardly hold her tears back either. They’d survived. They were alive! Uninjured. Too many bullets to count had been fired at them. The outside of the vehicle probably looked like it had been through a war zone—riddled with holes.
She reached up to smooth wayward hair back into place, but her hand shook, making it worse. Her heart rate continued to beat at an urgent rate and adrenaline raced through her body.
She needed a distraction. Needed one badly. She picked up the documents and started to read. The papers shook under her trembling hands, but laying the documents on shaky legs wasn’t any better. Still, she read on. By the time she reached the third page, she had to share what she’d discovered. “This report details a recent covert plan to traffic women. It was conceived by the Emerald Scorpion Group.”
“Never heard of them.” Hayden’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “But if they’re behind the trafficking, they’re not likely a legit business.”
“Agreed, but that’s not the worst thing. There’s a sinister twist.” She braced herself before revealing the next part. “The money to fund the plan was funneled through Kai’s shop.”
He flashed her a wide-eyed look. “Kai? Can’t be, can it? Not when he helped rescue the women we discovered in the cave.”
He had a good point. One she hadn’t considered yet. “Maybe he was involved in the beginning, but then had a change of heart and was trying to make up for his part in the operation.”
“Or maybe they had something on him, and he was funneling the money against his will. Could be why he’s missing.” Hayden shook his head. “If I’m right, that doesn’t bode well for his safety.”
If he’s even still alive.Hayden didn’t say it, but he had to be thinking it just as she was. She wouldn’t say it either.
“Let me see what else I can find out before we get to Palmer’s place.” She turned her attention back to the documents, but her phone rang. “It’s Fletcher Jarvis, the reporter I emailed about Emei Gau.”
“Answer. Find out what he knows.” The vehicle seemed to come alive with the energy behind Hayden’s reply.
She accepted the call and chose speaker so Hayden could listen. “Thanks for getting back to me, Fletcher.”
“You wanted information on Emei.” His professional, no-nonsense tone gave her a moment’s pause. Would he actually share information he had most likely painstakingly gathered?
She had to be careful and watch every word. Starting with flattery. “I read your article on human trafficking. Great job.”
He didn’t speak at first, but then a breath sounding like the hiss of a snake came through the phone. “I don’t respond well to compliments when someone wants something from me.”
Oops.“Itwaswell written, and I wouldn’t say that if it wasn’t true. But I can understand you calling my motives into question.” She paused to gather her thoughts and to make sure she didn’t sound desperate for information. “I wondered if you had additional background information you didn’t use in the article. Maybe something you couldn’t confirm with a source.”
That silence filled the phone again. Had she stepped on his toes for a second time? Could be, but she wouldn’t say anything to pressure him. Waiting him out seemed like the best course of action.
“Before I share,” his sharp voice cut through the stillness, “I need to know the reason for your question.”
Not a surprising response. If someone called her and wanted the research she didn’t publish behind an article, she would be hard-pressed to share the information. Her best approach was to be totally honest with him and let him know what they were facing. She explained about the women they’d located in the cave. “So, if Emei is somehow linked to these other women, and you share your resources, we might be able to find the traffickers.”
“What’s in it for me?”
Ooh, selfish much?Cady gritted her teeth. People’s lives were on the line, and his behavior was unacceptable. Still, it wasn’t unusual in her profession to find people trying to get to the top of their game, whatever the cost. “If you’re hoping for an exclusive on this story, we can allow that to some extent after the perpetrators have been found and jailed.”
“What does ‘to some extent’ mean?” He obviously was suspicious of every little detail and questioning until he had an answer. Perfect qualities and approach for a reporter.
At least that’s the way she did the job. “We’ll have to get agreement from all parties to allow you to publish the story.”
“I don’t know.” A heavy sigh passed through the speaker. “Odds are good one of them will say no.”
She was starting to lose her patience. “You do know we can turn this over to law enforcement, who can subpoena the information from you.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to give it to them.”
“Are you really willing to take a stand over this story? To go to jail for contempt?” She tried to remain calm but her voice rose, revealing her full-blown irritation.
“Nah, probably not.”
She drew in a lungful of air, steadying her nerves, and let it slip out silently. “So, did you discover the identity of the people behind the trafficking but couldn’t prove it?”
