"Donna Yost," Blake read from her tablet as Rossi navigated the SUV away from the hotel and onto a city street. "She is 36 years old, has a two year degree from a local community college as a computer technician, and has worked for the same financial services firm for the past twelve years."
"Family?" Rossi inquired.
"Married for three years, divorced for the past five, with no children," Blake told him with a shrug. "Everything here looks strictly routine."
"But, somehow she attracted the attention of this unsub and ended up being abducted by him," Rossi said as he pulled their vehicle into a parking garage. "Let's see if we can find out why."
The office where Donna Yost had worked was located on the fifth floor. The elevator ride went quickly, and Rossi and Blake were soon at the front desk of the financial services organization.
"Agent David Rossi, FBI," Rossi told the receptionist, showing his credentials.
"Agent Alex Blake," Blake did likewise.
"Is there someone we can speak to about Donna Yost?" Rossi continued.
"Donna?" the receptionist repeated, surprised. "She's been gone – what – six months now?"
"That's right," Blake confirmed. "We're looking into her disappearance. Who did she report to?"
"That would be Lucille Zhang," the receptionist had recovered. "She was her supervisor. Let me call her for you."
Within minutes, a tall, dark-haired woman walked into the lobby and looked at the two agents. "Lucille Zhang," she introduced herself. "FBI?"
"We're here investigating the disappearance of Donna Yost," Blake explained. "Is there someplace we could talk in private?"
"Of course! We have a conference room right through here," Ms. Zhang led the way through a maze of cubicles and into a conference room equipped with computers and video conferencing equipment.
"Please, sit," she gestured. "Would you like any coffee or water or anything?"
"No, we're fine," Rossi assured her.
Blake opened her file and looked at Ms. Zhang. "Donna Yost worked for you?" she questioned.
"Yes. She was with the company for twelve years," the woman replied. "The last five of those she reported to me."
"What exactly did she do here?" Rossi inquired.
Ms. Zhang motioned towards the equipment in the room. "Among other things, she kept all this up and running," she explained. "And, since she's been gone, we've been up a creek."
"She was an expert?" Blake asked.
"At several things, all having to do with the setting up and running of our communications systems and computers," was the reply. "We've been having a heck of a problem keeping some of our equipment running since she's been gone."
"In other words, she was integral to the operation of this office?" Rossi stated.
"She most certainly was!" was the heartfelt response.