Page 3 of Tango
“I need help,” Frank says. “My nephew is missing.” His voice is strained, as though each and every word is a fight to get out. Because I know that sometimes the hardest parts of these conversations are getting through the beginning, I don’t ask any details—yet.
Frank removes an aged cowboy hat and runs a hand through his short, graying hair. “Ramiro is a good kid. He had some trouble here and there, but he’s been getting through it.” Tears brim in his eyes. “He works for Web Safe as a threat analysis expert.”
“The cybersecurity company?” I ask, mentally running through everything I know about the Los Angeles-based business. It was started up fifteen years ago and quickly gained a reputation for its intense security measures. Mainly because they hired a team of hackers to try and break into the system.
They all failed.
I didn’t, of course. But I wasn’t after prize money. I just did it to see if I could. And since I was able to, I anonymously submitted my findings. After waiting a month for them to fix it, I broke in again just to see if I still could.
“Yes. He’s been there for the past five years and is darn good at his job.” He closes his eyes for a moment then takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Come and have a seat.” I gesture toward my dining room table, so he and Bradyn take seats. After grabbing the notepad I keep on my counter for random thoughts, I sit as well. “Tell me what you need from me.”
“The last contact my sister had with him was three days ago. He said he was going to a trivia night at a local library with a friend of his. When he didn’t show up for their planned dinner the next night, she tried to call him. Went to his place, all of that, and—nothing. It’s like he vanished.”
“The friend?”
He clears his throat. “Alice Sterling. She also works for Web Safe, though she’s in a different department.”
“What department is that?”
“According to my sister, Ramiro used to joke that it was his job to break stuff and hers to fix it.”
“Got it.”
“My sister tried calling her too, but she’s not answering. I even called her folks, but they said they haven’t heard from her either and had filed a missing person’s report with the local police.”
“So we have two missing security experts and no clues,” I summarize, making a note on my notepad.
“You can see why I came here.”
“Any chance they just ran off together?” I hate asking it because, chances are, Frank has already investigated that angle, but it’s part of my job. I need all the facts before I can properly come to a conclusion.
“They weren’t romantic, as far as I could tell. And according to my sister, he took nothing with him. His suitcase is still in his closet, all his clothes—his car is even in the parking lot of his apartment building since the library is within walking distance.”
“It’s unlikely they ran off then,” Bradyn comments.
“Did you talk to Web Safe?” I ask.
He nods. “They were my first call, but all they said was the two of them hadn’t shown up for work or called in. They said they have no idea why, either. That both of them were good workers and Alice Sterling had never missed a day. They wouldn’t give me any other information.”
“Even if they knew something, it’s unlikely they would get involved without a warrant explicitly ordering them to,” I say, considering just how big of a panic it would cause if the clients discovered two high-level employees simply didn’t show up for work. Banks, billion-dollar companies…the list goes on and on. There’s even been talk about the government using them on a contract basis for certain situations.
“I’m flying out there tomorrow morning to be with my sister and see what I can find, but you guys are the best at finding something from nothing, and I really need help here.”
“I’ll take the case,” I tell Frank. Since my brothers and I all operate on a rotation, and Riley just got back from mission, I’m up next.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Frank. You know we’ll always support you in any way we can. You said you’re flying out tomorrow morning?” He nods. “Send me the flight information. I’d like to grab a ticket and join you—if that’s okay.”
“Of course. It’s on one of our company’s private planes, so there’s no need for a ticket. I’ll get your name on the flight log. Plane is wheels up at 0700. Same airport as always.”
“I’ll be there.”
He nods. “Thanks again. I-I’m really hoping for some good news here, guys, but I have this sinking feeling in my gut that something horrible happened. My sister’s barely spoken since she called me. She’s worried sick. In my line of work, I’ve seen some horrific things.” He shakes his head sadly. “But I never thought I’d experience this so close to home.”
Bradyn clasps a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find answers,” he assures Frank. “Do you know if Ramiro had any other friends who worked for the company?”
