She punched a button and an image came up on the second screen.
“This is Juliet Prince, the former wife of Nicholas Prince, a wealthy businessman on the Gulf Coast. And by wealthy, I mean Forbes-worthy. Guy owns a chain of casinos and hotels.”
The details were simply white noise, his focus on learning who the woman was, because from where he was standing, there was most definitely a resemblance to the grainy image they had. “You said former wife?”
“As in recently divorced because Mr. Prince evidently decided he required a more updated version and he has since sent Juliet on her way, replacing her with the recently divorced, and decidedly younger, Andrea Nolan, whom he met at … drum roll, please … Alluring Indulgence.”
Brantley frowned. “You’re tellin’ me that this woman might’ve kidnapped Travis’s daughter because she’s pissed that her husband left her?”
“If only it were that easy.” JJ frowned. “Not only did he leave her for a woman he met at Travis’s resort, the prenup she signed left her with absolutely nothing. No houses, no cars, nothing. How he managed to slight her like that, I don’t know, but she got fucked in the deal. Royally.
“But that’s not the worst part. The husband also got sole custody of … wait for it”—she tapped another key on the screen, pulling up another image—“their five-year-old daughter, Lani. Mr. Prince accused Juliet of being an unfit mother and he used his millions and a handful of ruthless lawyers to ensure the courts saw it his way, too. So much so, she’s been reduced to supervised visitations only.”
Brantley did not like the direction this was taking. If the divorce was true, Juliet might have taken Kate as revenge against who she saw as the one responsible for her failed marriage. But if Juliet was hurting because the relationship she had with her child had been destroyed… That complicated matters. It meant there would be no ransom because Juliet wasn’t looking for Travis to financially atone for what she would see as his transgression. She would be looking to replace the daughter she’d lost.
“As for the unfit claim,” JJ continued, “there wasn’t much in that.”
Brantley frowned.
“I’m tellin’ you this to reassure you. If Juliet is the one who took Kate, I don’t think she’ll hurt her.”
At least they hoped not.
“Do you have an address for this woman?” he asked.
“Not a current one, no. I found her parents, called them last night, and pretended to be an old friend from high school. Juliet’s mother said her daughter didn’t live there, but she would pass on a message next time she talked to her. And yes, before you ask, I gave her my real phone number. Figured what the hell. Maybe she’ll call. If she does, we can locate her that way.” JJ took a deep breath. “I was able to get several addresses for the ex-husband.”
“I need to pay this guy a visit.”
“Easier said than done. He resides in Mississippi near the casinos he owns, but he’s got houses all over the country. One in Denver, another in Atlantic City, two in California, and an apartment in New York. Oh, and one right here in Austin. Might make more sense to loop in the local police in each of the cities.”
Brantley shook his head. “Right now, the only person who needs to be brought up to speed is Travis.” Leaning over, he kissed the top of her head. “Send that info to my phone, please.”
“Will do. And while you’re doin’ that, I’ll see if I can get a lock on Mr. Prince’s whereabouts.”
Without wasting any more time, Brantley hurried back to the house. He grabbed his keys and his sunglasses and was in his truck within minutes. He had Siri transcribe a text to Reese, letting him know what JJ had discovered.
Before he’d made it to the main road that would take him to Travis’s, his phone was ringing.
“Hey,” he greeted Reese. “I’m headin’ to my cousin’s. JJ’s tryin’ to get a bead on the ex. The guy does have a house here in Austin. Figured I’d head over there, see if maybe Juliet Prince is holed up there without her husband’s knowledge.”
“I’ll meet you there, and I’ll go with you.”
It wasn’t like he was going to decline the assistance. While Brantley could easily handle it himself, he was looking forward to working alongside Reese. He wasn’t sure what it was about the man, but the more time Brantley spent with him, the more he was drawn into his orbit.
“See you in a few,” he said before disconnecting the call.
***
Travis was sitting on his front porch, watching Kylie pace nervously back and forth. She’d been out here for the better part of the last hour, her anxiety level rising with every passing minute. Unable to soothe her with words and promises, Travis had opted to keep her company instead, hoping against hope that his fucking phone would ring, and he’d get some information. Any information, being that he had a couple dozen people looking into his daughter’s disappearance, along with the police and the local sheriff. No one was giving him any answers and it was all he could do not to lose his fucking mind.
