Page 16 of Complicated Past

“The cartels are always looking for new ways to smuggle drugs in. Most couriers get caught because they know they’recarrying and act nervous. But, if they can get someone to transport it without their knowledge, they have a better shot of getting through security. They busted some guy in Charlotte a few weeks ago, coming back from a trip to Acapulco with his new girlfriend. Dogs alerted to his checked bag and found several kilos of cocaine in hidden compartments of his carry-on. He claimed the girlfriend had traded suitcases with him to bring back souvenirs and needed his bigger suitcase—and the trip was all her idea. Considering she disappeared after they pulled him in for an interview, they believe he was duped. It sounds like what could have happened with Bri.”

Bri wouldn’t have trusted a man wanting to take her on vacation, but a woman? Linc wanted to get his hands on this Tawnya. “When’s the return flight?”

“This Tuesday.”

That gave him a few days to get down there and find her. “You’ll let me know if you find out where they’re staying?”

“You are not going to Mexico.”

“It’s not likeyoucan,” he countered.

“Not me personally, but federal agencies and agents will work with locals there to find your sister. Involvement by US military personnel is prohibited and could have serious political ramifications.”

He wouldn’t be going in a military capacity. He was officially on leave.

“We’re still reviewing footage to determine where the van came from or where it went after they took Mrs. Feldman. Right now, she is our priority. Other than the phone call you got from your sister, there’s no evidence of foul play regarding Bri. We’re trying to get Mexican authorities to provide the location of the last cell tower Bri’s phone connected with. We also have an alert set up if her phone turns on to try to trace it.”

Linc didn’t put much stock in that happening. If Bri called from Tawnya’s phone, it meant she couldn’t access hers. He’d bet money it had been destroyed. “What about Bri’s text messages and call log? Have you gotten anything from her provider?”

“They wouldn’t release anything without a court order, and it’s Friday?—”

“Are you saying you’re not going to get anything until Monday?”

“That’s a possibility unless we can find Mrs. Feldman and prove there was a crime. I’m leaving the office; however, I’ll be digging into this Tawnya woman, looking for anything that might help. You take care of Jalen and Kendra and let the police do our job.”

“Acknowledged, ma’am.”

“Which you said before and isn’t the same as agreeing.”

“If you find Mrs. Feldman or anything else on Tawnya, let me know.” He ended the call. If she thought he was going to sit around on his ass while his sister was in danger, she did not understand the mindset of a Special Forces operator. No one was more trained than him to get his sister back.

NINE

After Linc ended the call with Clara, he disappeared into the main bedroom. Kendra debated with herself before following him.

“What are you doing?” she asked when she found him rummaging through a vanity drawer. An empty shoe box and a small black hard-shell case with a combination lock sat on the counter.

“Looking to see if Dev has any spare toothbrushes.”

“What’s in that case?”

Linc hesitated and pushed the case further from her. “Dev’s personal weapon. It might not be safe to go to my house to get mine since I can’t rule out Tawnya having more than the one accomplice who snatched Regina. I’m not taking any chances with Jalen or you.”

“Either keep it locked up or unloaded with Jalen in the house. Kids his age don’t understand the danger.”

“I know that.”

She shrank back at his tone. “I am not your enemy, Linc.” And it was going to make being together harder if they treated each other like adversaries. “We both want the same thing—Brihome safely and what’s best for Jalen. Maybe we should address the elephant in the room.”

“What’s that?” He put the top on the shoe box and placed it on the highest shelf in the closet.

He was going to act like it hadn’t happened or didn’t mean anything? Or maybe he had an ulterior motive in trying to help Bri back then too. “That you asked me out, and I had to turn you down.”

“That was a long time ago, and whatever. You had your reasons.” He picked up the gun case and started to move past her.

“Whatever?”She didn’t expect him to be mooning over her, but they needed to get along while they were stuck together.

He raised an eyebrow. “I understood the girls in high school not wanting to go out with me when I was a foster kid, but that’s my past. I turned out all right. I thought you’d be the last person to?—”

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