Page 20 of No Mistake

She looked up at him frowning. “Why? What can he do? You're Navy, this isn’t what you do.”

Ryan looked at her. “We are. But we have some... connections. Ones that could perhaps move on this faster.” He couldn't tell her about Onyx. Not yet, anyway.

“And you’d do that for me?”

Ryan almost groaned in frustration. “Sophie, you’re very special to me. But you’re also special to the whole team. Everything you’ve done for us. Don’t you get it? You’re family to us. So will you trust me?”

She nodded, her eyes red and puffy.

“Good.” The distress on her face, tore at his heart. “Wait here.” He stepped just inside the door, out of earshot, and dialed Dex.

“Hey, did you find her?”

“No, and it’s not good, Dex. Does Sam happen to be with you?”

“Yeah, in his office. I’ll grab him. Hang on.”

“Ryan, what’s going on?” Sam’s calm authoritative voice came over the line in less than a minute.

“The door on Chloe’s apartment was forced. There’s signs of a struggle. Her phone is here. Looks like she was taken.”

“Ah, shit,” Dex cursed.

“Are the police on their way?” Sam asked.

“I haven’t called them yet. Did Kelly get anywhere with the phone?”

“No, not yet.”

Ryan closed his eyes, taking a breath. “Sam, I’m about to ask a big favor.”

“Go on.”

“I don’t want to hand this over to local PD. This is LA. Chloe will be treated as just another case. Women disappear all the time here.”

Silence at the other end of the phone.

“He’s right, and Sophie’s family,” Dex added. “She may not be military, but she’s as good as.”

Ryan sent a silent thanks to Dex for supporting him.

“And something’s not adding up here. Chloe gets a call from a burner, then goes missing the same night. She was targeted. Her sister works at Westside. It could be connected.” Ryan added.

A few seconds passed before Sam spoke. “Let me make a call. Stay on the line.”

“Hey man, do you need me to come there? I can drive there tonight,” Dex asked as they waited for Sam.

“I appreciate that, but not much point right now. We have nothing.”

“OK. But the team’s here.”

“I know. Thanks.”

“How’s Sophie holding up?”

“Not good. Blaming herself for not acting sooner.”

“She couldn’t have known something like this would happen.”

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