Page 53 of Pain
"She is, but that's all we know. We don't know her condition or what has happened to her." Bryon smiled. "But, we've confirmed it's her."
"Where?" Matt's hands shook.
Xander reached over and braced a hand on Matt's back, needing to support him somehow, though he doubted Matt even noticed.
"There are two other children with her. We were able to use some of our government programs to look at heat sources. It looks like two adults and three children. The building is alarmed and secure, but we can gain entry."
"Just call the police on this one, Bry," Becca spoke up.
"We've thought about that, but they won't act on a random call. They'll send out officers to investigate the home, but they won't be able to get a warrant or anything without solid information. We could give them that, but then we put the team at risk when they try to figure out where it all came from. That's why I wanted you all in for this meeting. Faith is Matt's daughter, and if we need to get the police out there now, we can, but it's going to be a slower process than if we act on our own as if this was just another sting." Bryon stepped toward Matt. "If you want us to call the police we can, but I honestly think us going in is faster, but there are conditions if we go in."
Matt was shaking so badly Xander thought he was going to collapse. Xander looked up, speaking for Matt. "What conditions?"
"We do it tonight, just like we do any other sting. I'll send two in, you take care of the perps and call the police. You don't bring Faith or the other children out. We leave them for the police just like we do with any other case. We let the police call you to meet them at the hospital. You act like you had no idea this was going to happen."
"You can't leave her—" Matt started.
Xander stood up, turning to Matt. "She'll be safe. We'll make sure. If they are in danger we'll get them out, I promise, but it's better for the case if the police deal with the children and not us."
Matt shook his head.
"If we let the police do this, we give them information, and we have to wait for them to verify it all before they will act on it. They may send a detective out to ask questions, but this will just give the perps warning that something is up, or someone is on to them. I'm sorry, Matt, but I can't go in and change up how we do things for even one case. It puts all of us at risk, not to mention the future of the team. I won't do that, even for your daughter. If she was in danger between the time we handle the perps and the time the cops get there, we would do everything we could to get her out, but this way, the team stays safe. The cops are used to how we work, there won't be any surprises if we stick to our M.O., and I promise we will have the house under surveillance until the police arrive."
Matt sank back down onto the couch. "How do you know for sure it's Faith?"
Bryon glanced at Carter, but it was Trenton who spoke. "We have hacked into the computers on site and they have uploaded photos of Faith and the other girls they are holding."
"Fuck," Dyson cursed.
Xander sat back down beside Matt, his hand going to his back. "One step at a time. Let's get her home, then we can deal with the rest, okay?"
Tears fell down Matt's cheeks as he nodded. "How soon can we go in?"
"Eleven tonight." Bryon glanced at his watch. "That will give the guys eleven hours to learn the layout of the house and everything they need to know about the perps. I'll send Dyson and Kasey in the moment it's safe. I don't dare go any earlier."
"I want Xander to go." Matt reached for Xander's hand. "He needs to be the one."
"I don't think—" Bryon started.
"This once, don't think, Bry, let Xander go in my place. I'll stay here with Matt." Dyson glanced over at Xander. "If Matt wants Xander to handle this, he has his reasons."
"Can you disconnect your personal feelings on this, Xan?" Bryon narrowed his eyes as he stared at Matt holding Xander's hand.
Xander fought back his anger. "The same way I disconnect with every case, Bry. The same way we all find a way to keep from feeding the perps their own balls every time we go in, knowing what they've done to the children."
"Bry, you know we are always professional. Give Xander a break. Today is not the time to hound him on whatever is going on between the two of them." Kasey smiled at Xander and Matt.
"Thanks, guys." Xander glanced back at Bryon. "I've got this. If Matt wants me in, then I'm in, if he wants me here with him, I'll stay."
"I want you to go." Matt turned to him, wiping tears with the back of his hand. "Make sure she's safe. Make sure you get them all, so they can't hurt her anymore."
"I promise. Kase and I will make sure it's secure before we walk out. We won't leave anyone there to hurt her. We'll wait outside until we know the police are there, then I'm coming right back to wait with you for that phone call, okay?"
Matt nodded. "I'll really get to see her tonight, won't I?" He buried his face in his arms and sobbed.
Xander couldn't imagine what Matt was feeling. His emotions had to be all over the place. As much as Xander hated waiting the long hours to go in and get her, it was for the best. There was no way that the police would act as fast as they could, and the police wouldn't make sure that the perps never hurt another child again.
"Here." Becca was suddenly in front of them, handing Xander a box of tissue and two bottles of water. "We're behind you no matter what you need."
