Page 15 of S.O.S. Perk

“Oh, my God, Sloane! Oh, my God!”

Her friend’s panicked voice had Sloane slamming on the brakes and pulling over; every cell in her body immediately on alert.

“Whoa, Mel. Whoa. Slow down. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong.”

The horror in Mel’s voice was real. “It was supposed to be handled, or at least they said it was, and now it’s all blown up.”

“What is, hon? You’re not making any sense. Start at the beginning.”

Sloane could hear Melissa taking a deep breath, attempting to become her normal, rational self.

Mel started in. “About seven weeks ago, the administration here at school got wind from some of the kids that money had been disappearing from their bank accounts. When we notified the police, we found out that it was already on their radar, and that the theft wasn’t just happening to the kids, itwas also occurring with some adults.Ourparents to be exact,” she qualified. “The police had been notified by six couples that significant funds had been siphoned off their accounts.”

Sloane growled. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”

Melissa sighed. “Because we were told to keep it all hush-hush; that the police would have an easier time solving the crime if the thieves didn’t know they were being investigated.”

“Okay.” Sloane tried to steady herself. “I get it. Sort of. But why now, Mel? Why have you suddenly decided to tell me?”

“Because—” Mel’s voice broke, so she started over. “Because one of our students is missing.” There was pure fear in Melissa’s tone as she relayed the information.

Sloane immediately dropped into agent-mode, attempting to piece things together. “And their disappearance, you think, has something to do with the robberies?”

“I believe so,” Melissa sniffed. “Kaelyn came forward to our principal yesterday. She reportedly had some inkling of what might be going on with the thefts, and was offering to tell the cops what she knew, so our principal set up an appointment with the detectives for first thing this morning before classes started.”

Sloane bit back a groan. This sounded half-assed, and not good.

Melissa continued. “But yesterday, after Kaelyn’s initial meeting with the principal, she left school and went off everybody’s radar.”

Fuck.

“Nobody knew anything was wrong, right away. Her parents had received a text from someone saying that a bunch of girls were spending the night with Kaelyn’s friend, Bethany. Which wasn’t cause for alarm. But when they tried to call their daughter today after she didn’t come home from school again, they got no answer. That’s when they contacted Beth, and found out there’d neverbeena sleepover.”

“And now we have a missing person’s case,” Sloane growled, biting down on her lip. “Are the police going to turn things over to us?”

“I don’t know,” Melissa wailed. “But Kaelyn is a really good kid, and I’m so worried for her. That’s why I called you.”

“Okay. Sit tight,” Sloane told her best friend. “I’ll see what I can do. I’m going to bring this to my superiors, and see how we can become involved.”

“Thank you, Slo,” Melissa said, gulping back what Sloane knew were tears. Her friend was tough on the outside—just like Sloane—but soft on the inside where it counted. “I knew I could depend on you.”

“Don’t count your chickens yet, hon. I have to wait and see how my bosses want to play this out. I’m sure they’ll contact the detectives that have been working the case and offer our help—”

Melissa interrupted. “What if they don’t want the Bureau’s assistance?”

“Well, since it involves a minor… Kaelyn is a minor, correct?”

“Yes. She’s seventeen.”

“Good. That means—because we have reasonable belief that a crime has been committed against a child—we should be able to get jurisdiction. Other than that bit of info, do you have any idea how much money has been stolen?” If the amount was significant enough, or pointed to gang-related involvement, it wasalsomeans to get things onto the FBI’s agenda.

Melissa mentioned a sum that was large. Very large.

Sloane was ninety-nine percent sure her office would sink their teeth into this case.

“Okay, Melissa. Try to stay calm. I’ll meet with my people and get back to you.”

“Thank you, Sloane.” Melissa was breathing easier now. “I love you, girl.”

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