Page 100 of Unspoken Promises

I still have my doubts that this father of hers is involved in trafficking. Ava thought he was a cartel member. Trafficking usually involves different methods of acquiring people. Was Ava kidnapped? Persuaded to enter the fold with the promise of some reward? Not according to her story. Was she abused physically or forced to do anything for criminal purposes? It seems not. All she told me about her time in Oregon, before college, was that she had to be homeschooled, never left the property on which she lived, and she had the impression getting good at hacking, coding, and anything and everything to do with computers seemed of importance to her father.

She was being used for sure. But not for the typical activities that come under trafficking.

Rio gives his last order. “More than anything, I gave you Ava Scott’s location. If it changes, it’s a code red. Call me immediately, no texts. I’ll check back in an hour.”

Rio ends the call and grabs a chip from the bag, dippingit in the pot of green guac, and stands over my hunched body.

“Bro, come on, you need to eat something if you want to keep your energy up.”

I don’t answer, just keep reading the most recent results of my first GhostEye crawl. Tonight, I’m using a new tool we’ve never used before. It’s still in beta version, developed only months ago, it uses face recognition and image match. I can enter Ava’s college ID photo. God, I hope it comes up with a result. Maybe there will be a match image of her and Anton in Southern California somewhere. A photo of her and her mother on the internet.Anything.

I should have taken this more seriously when I heard Ava’s story in the first place. Why didn’t I look for her father sooner? I should have been searching since that night at the fair when she told me about him.

I fell so hard I turned a blind eye to reality.

Rio sits in front of his computer. “We’ll keep her safe. We have a good record with these things. Plus Callum was SWAT in Boston. He’s already called up FBI to stand in for the sting. We’re covered. Anything we find out tonight is a preventative measure.”

“Exactly that, Rio. You think I want Ava to be bait?”

“Course you don’t.”

“Damn right I don’t. I know it’s a necessary evil in a lot of sting operations, but this time…” My chin drops, my head heavy with a list of reasons this is my fault. How I should have done better.

I scratch my stubble which has grown since this morning. It’s hard to believe that only hours ago I was swelling with the greatest joy.

I know he’s trying to reassure me, but to top off thefeeling we’re not on the right track searching for trafficking operations, I waited at Pen’s for Ava’s text before driving away and the one she sent was brief. Two words—here safe. It just didn’t seem like something she’d text.

Maybe I’m paranoid but I can’t shake it.

There’s no use hiding anything from a twin.

“Zo, if you’re worried about Ava just check up on her.”

Still wanting to make sure Ava feels I’m not trying to keep her on a leash, she asked me for freedom, I don’t want to blast her. She’s trying to have a moment to breathe, but still, my mind is reeling with her out of sight. I’ve seen a lot of things in my time and that makes me sometimes believe worst-case scenarios when everything is fine.

He’s right, though. I can hardly focus.

ME

Hey Scottie, just checking everything is okay. If you need a ride home, happy to pick you up.

I want to write that I love her. I miss her. I’m worried fucking sick and want to start this freedom bullshit after we get Anton in custody.

It takes a few minutes, but a held breath flows out of me when her response comes through.

AVA

All good here.

I’m glad to read it, but for some reason her text doesn’t offer the relief I was expecting.

Still, I work, because the best thing that could happen between now and the operation is figuring out who Ava’s father is. Where Anton is and close in on him without usingAva as bait. Our search for any Anton in Oregon or the surrounding states have been futile. He’s either not a criminal or never been caught.

Just then, Rio’s cell rings.

“What you got?” he asks.

The murmur of Chelsea’s voice comes through, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.

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