Page 38 of Concealed

“What about as a person? What was she like?”

“She was hilarious, outgoing, and genuinely kind. She was the life of the party and was always dancing, laughing, and making a joke. She wasanimated. One of those people who made you smile just from being around her. But I hate talking about her in past tense, man. She still is all those things deep down, I know it.”

“That’s the girl who I keep getting glimpses of, so I agree with you – she’ll be back after she fully heals from what happened. She was always planning to leave. It was just a matter of waiting for the right opportunity. It’s no small feat to leave a man who has the capacity to kill you. That’s my take.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I miss my friend, and I know Darren misses his sister. Her parents are heartbroken and devastated with no way to help her or even reach out to her. I don’t know when she’s going to feel comfortable seeing them, but I’m guessing now is way too soon.”

“She needs a restraining order.”

We both know there isn’t a perfect way to keep Rebecca safe, but at least it’s the necessary foundation to help build a case. Something needs to be done, and I’m hoping she’ll let me and Gabe help her when the time is right. The last thing I want is for her to run.

“I agree,” Gabe returns. “I’m so glad to hear this Matt asshole didn’t completely destroy her and who she was.”

“No, he didn’t,” I say firmly. “She was skittish as fuck when she first arrived, and I’m sure the adrenaline crash didn’t help. But she’s made it clear she wasn’t invested in a relationship with him anymore and was well beyond the point of trying to fix him.

“She wanted out but didn’t know how to safely get away. And then the last time he hit her, she was forced to make a change because something clicked in her mind that he could actually kill her.”

“So, the real Rebecca was always there.”

“Yeah. And I think even a few years ago, we would be talking about a very different person. I’m sure she loved him and wanted to fix him at one point. But she was already moving beyond blaming herself, even while she was still living with him. I’m sure that made it easier to leave, and things will only get better now that she’s in a different state.”

“Time and distance always make things easier. I have a few exes I wouldn’t mind sending to Timbuktu.”

“Ditto, man,” I say, with a chuckle. “Anyway, I have to head inside. Talk soon.”

I’ve arrived at work on autopilot and am somehow pulling into the parking lot without clearly remembering the drive.

Thoughts of Rebecca will do that to a man.

Grant is probably testing me, but he took me up on my offer of pounding pavement. He has me scheduled to knock on doors all day before starting my night shift with Wallace. It’s going to be boring as hell and likely lead to nothing, but hey, at least it’s nice outside, and I’m slowly getting involved on the task force.

The sun on my face while I walk toward the station brings an image of Rebecca in her neon bikini to my mind’s eye. Now miles of gorgeous tanned skin are preoccupying my thoughts when I should be thinking about how to make today worthwhile.

Well, damn.

“Harrison.” Grant is waiting for me in the bullpen, and if he’s not a bucket of cold water to the face that gets my mind back on track, then I don’t know what is.

“Morning.”

“Check in with me before your night shift starts.”

“Yes, sir, sounds good,” I reply.

We have plenty of investigative work ahead of us. What we know so far is that girls fitting a certain profile – low income and seeking a better life – are being targeted both in online chat rooms and in-person, whether at a small-time drug deal or while turning a trick.

These are invisible girls who won’t be missed.

They’re the ones we’re not supposed to look for.

If they’re not drugged to oblivion and rotated between brothels stateside, then they are often sent to foreign hell holes, too scared to speak up against their smugglers in addition to not knowing the language or having any resources.

And if the girls are transported overseas, they disappear without a trace. Unspeakable things are done to them by men who don’t care how old they are, what their names are, or if they stay alive.

And American men are some of their best customers.

But then a rich girl got mixed up in it, and her parents made noise. Now, the pieces are all coming together. It’s not that we didn’t care before, but you can’t search for someone who you don’t know is missing.

So even though it likely won’t do me any good to spend the day talking to all the registered sex offenders in the area, that’s exactly what I’m going to do because human trafficking needs to fucking stop.

---