Page 24 of Wild Temple
"I'm on the next plane out.”
"Do you want to talk to the cop?”
"I’d like to talk to the local police. But right now, I'll talk to whoever I can."
Brooke handed me the phone.
"Margaret, this is Deputy Wild with Coconut County. I know this news is upsetting.”
“Upsetting!?”
I told her about our experience at the police station and the consular agency. "Local authorities have been less than helpful, but I can assure you, I’m doing everything I can. I've handled a number of these cases before and am currently working on another missing persons case right now.”
It was of little comfort to Margaret. "What good can you possibly do!? You have no jurisdiction.”
"Maybe I have failed to communicate the situation,” I said in a calm voice. "The local authorities will do nothing. There is no cavalry coming. If I can't find Hannah, nobody will even bother to look.”
Margaret went silent for a moment.
"I don't mean to upset you, but that's the reality of the situation. Now, you're more than welcome to hop on a plane and come out here, but I don't think it's going to do any good. It may even complicate the situation. You can ruffle feathers and raise hell at the consular agency, but that's not going to get you very far. Your resources are better spent pressuring officials back home. Contact the State Department and the FBI. They can put pressure on local officials. Just sit tight. I'm on top of it. Brooke will keep you updated as information develops."
I handed the phone back to Brooke.
I didn’t need to babysit Margaret if she flew out here. There was a good chance she’d get herself in trouble if she knocked on the wrong doors.
Brooke talked to her for a while longer.
I planned on having Brooke speak to a sketch artist at the department during normal business hours. I had gotten a brief glimpse of Bayu, but having a rendering of the two dirtbags might come in handy.
My phone buzzed with a call from Jack.
“Where are you?"
"I just touched down,” he said. “I'm heading your way now.”
I filled him in on the situation.
"Well, that complicates things, doesn't it?”
"Just a little.”
"Don’t get distracted. Isabella is your prime objective."
"I understand," I said. "But if somebody doesn't help, this girl is long gone."
Jack sighed. "I hear you. I'll be there shortly.”
I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket. I told Brooke I'd be back to check on her.
Her face wrinkled with distress. "No! You can't leave me. I can't be alone right now.”
I understood her fear. "Okay. Come with me. Stay close, and do exactly as I say.”
Brooke nodded.
She gathered her things. We left her suite and made our way up to the third floor. I slipped the card into the slot, and we pushed into my hotel room. "Make yourself at home. Help yourself to the minibar. Just don't go crazy. You hungry? You want room service?"
She nodded. "I'm starving.”
