Page 118 of Fatal Betrayal

"The store was owned by an LLC, but digging down we were able to tie it to Sergio Molina," Flynn said. "The manager, Veronica Kuchova, came over from Belarus twenty years ago as one of the pregnant girls. Unfortunately, she lost her baby and feeling sorry for her, Kim and Joan let her work at the store. Veronica is the one who took Hannah in when she was too sick to be adopted. When it was time to sell Hannah, Veronica put her foot down, and said she was keeping her. I guess they decided to go along with her, mostly because there wasn't as much demand for two-year-old children. The family that originally wanted a toddler had gotten another child."

"Anotherstolenchild?" she asked.

"We're looking into that," Flynn said grimly. "Getting back to Veronica, she became an important part of the organization and managed the store, which was also used to move money and to provide supplies needed for the pregnant women and their babies."

"What about Daniel Guerrero and Kristine Rozic?" Cooper asked. "Was Daniel on the plane? Has Kristine woken up yet?"

"Daniel was on the plane and is talking," Flynn answered. "He took Elisa out of the house and hid her in the home that was for sale behind the Benedict's house as you suggested. He was part of a crew of hired muscle, although he was lower level. Daniel was driving the car that almost ran you down. His friend, Tyler, panicked when he heard we were at the gym looking for him. He was beaten to scare him into not talking."

"By Daniel?" she asked.

Flynn shook his head. "The organization had several hit men on the payroll, the ones who attacked the safehouse and planted the explosives at your townhouse and in the warehouse. They were also on the plane and have lengthy criminal records."

"How long has this all been going on?" Cooper asked.

"More than twenty years," Damon replied. "And Agent Burnett was a part of it. I had no idea that he was dirty when I took the case away from him. I just didn't want a conflict with him and Mr. Benedict. But he was a big part of their scheme. Burnett helped them secure fake identities. He protected them when they had to steal a child to fulfill a contract, as in the case of Hannah Montgomery and Elisa Benedict." Damon turned to Cooper. "That's why Agent Burnett focused on your brother, Mr. Bradford. He needed a scapegoat to take the heat until the news died down."

Andi looked at Cooper. He already knew that, but she suspected it still felt good for him to hear someone from the FBI admit what he'd known all along.

"I'm sorry about that," Damon continued.

Cooper nodded. "Me, too."

"At any rate, Agent Burnett was planning to take over the investigation into Elisa's disappearance until I took him off it. That's when he got nervous and desperate. He must have figured if he could get rid of you, Andi, that I'd have no choice but to put someone from this office on the case. Then he'd have more access."

"Kim Lassiter told me he wanted to rescue Elisa and take the credit to allay what he thought were your suspicions," she told Damon. "That's why she killed him."

"Ms. Lassiter hasn't done any talking, but that makes sense," Damon said. "The group's biggest mistake was letting Hannah jump out of that van. If that hadn't happened, they'd be on the other side of the world by now and dispersed throughout Europe."

"How is Hannah doing?" she asked.

"We got her a few hours of sleep in a safehouse last night," Damon said. "We also checked her DNA. She's Hannah Montgomery."

Andi blew out a breath of relief. "I knew she was, but I'm glad the test came out that way. I would have felt horrible if I had convinced her she was kidnapped and adopted by a criminal family if it wasn't true."

"She wants to see her family today, but she'd like you to go with her."

"I would love to go with her. I don't know what her legal jeopardy is…"

"It will be minimal," Damon answered. "She's been very cooperative in providing us information and evidence. Because she was a victim of this operation, too, I think she'll be able to walk away and get her life back."

"What about her parents?" she asked. "Have you told them you found Hannah?"

"Not yet. But I'm happy to make the call now, if you're ready to take her home."

"I'm ready," she said, knowing she'd learn even more in the upcoming days. But getting Hannah back to her parents seemed like the only thing she needed to do right now.

* * *

As Cooper drove her and Hannah back to their old neighborhood, Andi felt nervous, and she could feel the same tension coming from Cooper and Hannah. All three of them were going back in time, and she wasn't sure any of them were prepared.

She didn't know how the call had gone from Damon to the Montgomerys, because they'd left as soon as he'd told them that her parents were home and waiting to see her.

"Do you think they'll recognize me?" Hannah asked, breaking the taut silence. "I was only two years old when I was taken away. I'm sure I don't look like their baby."

She turned in her seat, to meet the uncertain look in Hannah's eyes. "They'll know you, and you'll know them."

"It's been a long time, almost my entire life," Hannah said worriedly. "I hope it's not too late to go back."

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