Page 20 of Justice for Aleta

Jack almost dropped the phone when Dax yelled, “What? You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“No. I found her through a missing persons report the PikeCounty Sheriff’s Department took and connected the dots. They’d found email correspondence between her and somebody. Our techs translated it to something that indicates she agreed to cook for them for college money, and them making arrangements to pick her up.”

“So you think the emails were somebody from the Menendez crew?”

“I’d stake my life on it,” Jack answered.

“Holy shit. So she agreed to come and work for them. Where do her parents think she is?”

“They don’t know and I don’t think they really care. At least that’s the impression I got,” Jack answered.

“Wow. That’s just… wow.”

“Yeah. I sat back today and thought about all the components of this case. I have to admit, it sounds crazy, but it seems to me we’ve come to this conclusion with a lot of thought and consideration, so I’m inclined to believe we’re right.” He waited for a few seconds and then asked, “Any ideas how to proceed?”

“Yeah. I’m going to talk to my undercover guys, get them to press Menendez and see if he’ll give them information on her under the guises of looking for her. Maybe spying on Ortiz to see if she’s there. They need to bait the hook and see if Menendez bites.” Dax didn’t speak for a few seconds, but when he did, he asked, “You got a picture of her?”

“Yeah, just the one from the MP, but I’ll email it to you. Give me your addy.” Email address noted, Jack couldn’t think of anything else. “So let me know if you have any movement on your end.”

“Will do. Same. Thanks for calling me, Jack. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Thanks to you too. Bye.” He ended the call and sat there, then got on his laptop, took a screenshot of the girl’s report, and emailed it to Dax.

There was nothing else he could do from that end. He hoped Dax’s guys could get Menendez to move toward Ortiz. It sounded horrible, but getting Menendez to eliminate Moss was his only hope.

That and protective custody. He didn’t want to do that to Aleta. She was working too hard to rebuild her life. Jack wanted to be part of the rebuilding, not drag something to her doorstep that would tear her down, but he hadn’t done it. He was just the bearer of bad tidings.

And that knowledge didn’t make him feel one bit better about the whole mess.

He’d folded a load of towels and then one of clothes, and it was finally time to hit the hay. Jack thought about it for a couple of minutes before he finally decided,What the hell. Might as well. He picked up his phone and shot out a quick text:Hey, beautiful! Get some sleep.

In seconds, he got a return text.You too, handsome!

Can’t wait to see you Friday night.

She zinged one back.I can’t wait either. It’ll be so much fun!

What are you wearing?

It was a full minute before he got the next one back:Is this the beginning of sexting? Because I’ve never done that before.

Jack was horrified.God, no! I meant on Friday night! LOL

There were two emoticons with tears of laughter rolling down their faces prior to the next one.Good, because you use words that I can’t bring myself to type.It ended with the same two emoticons.

He retorted with,I hope you can bring yourself to say them eventually.

Oh, I can talk dirty. You just wait, she replied.

He laughed aloud there in his bedroom.Ooooo, can’t wait!

Haha, very funny. Goodnight, Jack. You need your beauty sleep.

Night, sugar.He put an emoticon heart at the end and sent it back, but she didn’t reply. Had he gone too far? He closed the email app and laid his phone on the nightstand.

In a couple of minutes, the phone pinged. He picked it up, opened the app, and damn near fell out. There was a picture she’d taken standing in front of a mirror. The way she was holding the phone, he couldn’t see her face, but he could sure see the rest of her.

Two beautiful, round breasts bubbled out the top of a lacy bra, its cups cut dangerously low. Below that, a pair of matching lace panties covered the apex of her thighs, and amazing thighs they were too. She was turned slightly sideways and he could see her ass, its gentle slope beckoning his hands to cup its cheeks. He was about to respond when she sent another text:You asked what I’m wearing Friday night. No matter what you can see, this is what will be under it.

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