Page 122 of Gone Too Far

“That’s a good question,” Falco said, “for you, Mayor.”

She blinked once, twice. “I’m here with Mr.Cortez.”

Cortez stared but kept his mouth shut.

“He believes Alice has run away from home, and since she is the student I’m personally mentoring, I felt compelled to assist him. She’s been very upset since the Myers tragedy.”

Falco glanced around the parking area. “Where’s your driver? Your security?”

Warren’s perfectly polished facade cracked just a little, showed a flash of frustration. “Again, why are you two here?”

Sykes’s car rolled into the lot. Cross followed in the yellow Beetle.

“My daughter, Tori, is missing,” Kerri said. “She was last seen with Alice Cortez. An Uber driver brought them here.”

Cortez said something in Spanish to Warren. She ignored him, but recognition registered in her eyes. She understood.

“Let’s get out of this doorway,” Warren suggested, stepping forward and forcing Kerri and Falco to back away.

Determined to get inside, Kerri walked around the obstacle the two made and entered the maintenance shed.

Warren called out something about a warrant, but Kerri ignored her. She didn’t bother explaining that they had exigent circumstances. Warren was an attorney; she knew this.

Nylon ropes and a wrinkled cloth lay on the floor. Judging by the short strips of nylon rope, someone had been bound with it. Fury knotted in Kerri’s gut. She stormed back out just in time to see Sykes and Peterson marching toward the first of the three warehouses.

Cortez hustled after them, shouting about the need for a warrant. At the door, Sykes paused long enough to say, “Exigent circumstances, my friend. A child is missing, and this was her last known location.”

Grateful tears welled in Kerri’s eyes. She had to find her daughter. She started toward the second of the three warehouses. Warren ordered Falco to call the chief of police.

Cortez rushed back to the mayor, speaking in Spanish to her once more. This time Warren responded in kind. Her tone was far from the mesmerizing, sophisticated one she generally used. Instead it verged on feral and was filled with warning, the cadence clipped. As her volume and the intensity of her voice rose, the words obviously grew increasingly threatening.

Sadie Cross moved up beside Falco, her head canted as if she were deciphering the exchange between Cortez and Warren. Considering her past undercover work, she probably was. She no doubt had an excellent command of the language they were using.

Kerri told herself to move, to hurry into the waiting warehouse ... Tori was here somewhere, but something—call it intuition—held her frozen in place. She couldn’t stop staring at the woman she’d watched charm the city with her benevolence and brilliance ... the one she had admired so much.

Warren abruptly stopped speaking. She stared at Sadie.

“I know your voice,” Sadie said, her tone accusing.

Her expression icy cold, Warren demanded, “And who are you?”

Cortez ran for his SUV.

“You were part of Carlos Osorio’s organization. You were the one ...”—Sadie took a step toward the mayor—“the one who gave the orders.”

Falco, his phone clutched to his ear, fell silent.

“Are you insane?” Warren demanded; she glanced around. “Who is this woman?”

“You’re the one,” Sadie said, her voice dark with rage. “The one Walsh was looking for. The power—here—who supports the cartel.” She nodded. “Just now”—she pointed a finger at the other woman—“whenyou snapped orders at your minion ... not the cultured, smooth voice you use to hide behind. This voice ...thisis the real you.”

A scream echoed in the morning air, reverberating from the woods and between the buildings until the sound pierced Kerri’s very soul. “Tori!” Her heart flailed helplessly in her chest.

Kerri bolted toward the woods, in the direction of the sound.

By the time she reached the tree line, Falco was racing ahead of her. Kerri shouted her daughter’s name. A responding cry of “Mom” rang out.

Kerri ran faster, her pulse pounding in time with her frantic pace.

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