Page 36 of Elusive Promise

"I ran a check on him, Parisa. He comes up as a freelance journalist. I located some news reports online with his byline."

"Really? I have to admit I'm a little surprised."

"Don't be that surprised. His life looks carefully orchestrated, very few details, and those details are difficult to trace. I found nothing on his family, nothing on his personal life, and he appears to live his life on cash. I think your first instinct was correct, that he's working for someone, but he's not working for us. What does he want from you?"

"Access to Ben Langdon. Jared believes that Ben may have information on the Paris bombing because of his relationship with Sara Pillai."

"I looked into the bombing as you requested. Isaac Naru and his stepsister Sara Pillai are persons of interest and are a high priority for questioning, but they have disappeared. There was no mention of Ben Langdon in the reports I read, but I have to admit I didn't get too deep into it."

"If Ben is tied to the terrorist group, then Jasmine's kidnapping could be as well. The group originated in Bezikstan. We can't overlook that tie. My next step is to talk to Ben, but I haven't been able to reach him. Did he give a statement to the bureau?"

"I'm sure he did, but I haven't personally read it."

"Since the Langdons are very close to the Kumars, Ben's statement might not have been scrutinized as carefully as it should be. I need to find Ben."

"If you do, let me know. And, be careful, Parisa. You're still a loose end."

"Believe me, I'm not going to forget that. Thanks, Damon. I'll be in touch."

She set the phone down and then flopped back on the bed, which was amazingly comfortable. Scooting toward the pillows, she stretched out on her back, and gazed up at the ceiling, thinking about what Damon had told her.

At least she knew that Jasmine was still alive. That was the most important thing. There was still hope, and she felt incredibly relieved by that. She suspected the Kumars were feeling the same way.

She still didn't know why Westley and Anika had had a secret meeting, but at the moment all she could care about was Jasmine and knowing that they had at least until Monday morning to find her and bring her home.

Drawing in several deep breaths, she felt suddenly exhausted. She'd gotten barely two hours of sleep the night before, and the adrenaline wave she'd been riding was starting to wane. Maybe she'd just rest her eyes for a minute…

* * *

"So, Jasmine is alive," Jared said, feeling a wave of relief at the report he'd just gotten from Gary, who was monitoring the police investigation through a personal contact. He'd decided to make his own phone call while Parisa was taking hers. "That's good news."

"Better than the alternative. But getting her back in good condition will still be tricky. I also picked up a lead on Sara Pillai."

His pulse jumped. "Seriously?" They'd been tracking Sara since the explosion and had come up with nothing.

"I've been monitoring flights into New York City for days, and a familiar name popped up yesterday—Melissa Holmes. She was one of Sara's former roommates in Paris, but unlike the others, she was an American student."

"I'm familiar with Miss Holmes. I talked to her, as well as Sara's other roommates, right after the explosion. Now, she's in New York City?"

"She's not, but her passport is. I reviewed JFK security cameras and caught a brunette coming off the plane with a New York Yankees baseball cap covering her head and her hair obscuring her features. It made me curious, so I had someone go by Melissa's apartment in Paris, and she's still in France. She looked for her passport and then appeared to be shocked that it was missing. She has very similar features to Sara, and I'm guessing Sara was able to use the passport to come to the United States."

His heart sped up. "If Sara is here, I'm betting Isaac is, too. And Sara arrived yesterday?"

"She got in just after nine a.m. However, that's where the trail goes cold. She hasn't checked in anywhere under her own name or Melissa's name, nor has she used any credit cards that can be traced to her."

"If Sara is in New York, then I have to believe that the Paris explosion and the consulate kidnapping are connected."

"My gut would agree. Any luck getting to Ben Langdon?"

"I'm still working on it."

"Work faster. Daphne called me this morning, asking me where you were. I lied and told her you were probably on a beach somewhere, working on your tan, like she suggested. I don't think she bought it."

"Thanks for the heads-up. Let me know if you get anything else."

"Will do."

As he set down his phone, he blew out a breath, his mind racing with the information he'd gotten from Gary.Sara was in New York. Was she with Ben?They really needed to find Ben.

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