Page 6 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
"Oh sure, let me just use my totally legal access to the FBI's Combined DNA Index System." Maya rolls her eyes. "Sometimes I worry about you, chica."
I unpack my laptop. "Fine. I don't need CODIS. I've got other ways."
"Of course you do." Maya watches me set up, arms crossed. "This isn't just about the guy potentially connected to Steele. This is about Jenny, ¿verdad?"
The name hits like a punch to the gut. I swallow hard, focusing on connecting cables to hide my expression.
"Jenny was working with me to trace some financials that she uncovered about the high end escort service." I keep my voice steady. "Then suddenly, nothing. No response to my emails. Two days later, I see her face on the news."
Maya's expression softens. "Nessa..."
"The police called it a carjacking," I continue, plugging in the phone cloning device to download the captured data. "Buther laptop was missing. All her notes. Everything about Paradise Elite."
"So you're what? Continuing her investigation by hacking phones of suspicious customers?" Maya sighs.
I pull up my analysis program. "Not suspicious. Calculated. This guy was different. Too observant. Too controlled. And the timing…I can't ignore that."
"And handsome?" Maya smirks.
Heat rushes to my cheeks. "That's irrelevant data."
"Uh-huh." Maya watches the DNA extraction program initialize. "This will take at least an hour. I made tacos. Let's eat while your program stalks your mystery man."
I follow Maya into her kitchen area—a jumble of sleek metal fixtures and vibrant, unmatched pieces. The rich aromas of cumin, lime, and seared meat fill the air, making my stomach growl despite my anxiety.
"Sit, eat," Maya commands, sliding a loaded plate toward me. "You look like you haven't had an actual meal in days."
I drop into a chair with a faded yellow cushion, suddenly aware of my exhaustion. Photographs cover the wall behind us. Dozens of faces, mostly young women, some with Maya, others in groups.
All survivors.
"Jenny wasn't just sending me random questions." I scoop up salsa with a homemade tortilla chip. "She had a system. Every morning, 9 AM sharp, new financial records to decrypt. Every evening, follow-up questions based on what I found."
"She hired you because you're the best at what you do," Maya says gently. "Not because you could protect her."
"I should have known something was wrong when the messages stopped."
"¿Y qué habrías hecho? You're not psychic, mija."
I take a bite of perfectly seasoned carne asada, absently straightening the silverware.
"We're seeing a new pattern." Maya nods toward the wall of photos. "Last three months, five girls disappeared. All interns or new hires, all with similar profiles. All vanished after company events."
My stomach twists. "High-end clients demanding specific 'types'?"
"Exactly what Jenny was tracking." Maya pushes her plate away, her expression hardening. "Paradise Elite markets themselves as companions for wealthy businessmen. But Jenny found evidence they're supplying something darker."
"Human merchandise." The words taste bitter. "She had transaction records. Payments that didn't match the advertised services. I couldn't trace where the money ended up."
"But you didn't stop trying."
"I can't." I meet her eyes. "All those girls disappeared. I'm going to map that fucking hole and tear it open."
Maya reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. "So what's next?"
"I've got access to Jenny's cloud storage. Not everything, but enough to follow her digital footprints. And now—"
A high-pitched chime from the lab area interrupts me.
