Chapter 6

"This is detective Flair and her partner detective Zayn from Special Victims. They will be working with us in this case," Shawn says. It was a race against time and the unit short handed they had been given help. Along with Flair and Zayn, officers Deville and Lynch were called in from patrol duty. Riley spoke next putting up to sets of photos on a board. "This is Barron Corbin and Riddick Moss. They were two men we have on camera entering the store. According to acting DA Rose they were the two men that kidnapped her niece Jennifer Marshall. Corbin and Moss have numerous runs with the law. They are usually muscle for hire," Riley explains. "Any chance this is human trafficking?" Keith asks. Charlotte spoke, "not likely to bold." "She was with Rose at the time. Rose has a small family one sister and Jennifer is the only child in the family right now," Riley says. "Just to be careful I have Nese checking the usual dark web areas," Shawn adds. Riley's phone goes off. "I need to take this its one of my best informants." He says walking off not even waiting to hear a reply.

He ducks into the garage area. "About time Adam," Riley says. Adam Cole had been Riley's best friends growing up. They were still close even with Riley being a NYPD detective and Cole being a local mob boss. Riley knew Adam was a bad guy and a very good chance that some day Riley would either have to take Adam down or take a fall for him. But Adam wasn't as bad as many bad guys. He tried to keep the blood from flowing to much. He also was willing to turn some information when it benefited him. "Yeah well if I gave you the wrong information you would be pissed. "You know where Corbin and Moss are?" Riley asks. "No sadly I don't. Grabbing a kid like that is just stupid," Adam says. "I agree. So what do you have?" Riley asks. "A while back a mid level boss who has ties to cartel named Joaquin Wilde was trying to hire some muscle. Wouldn't say for what but he said it was a huge payday," Adam says.

Riley ends the call but instead of heading back to the bullpen he ducks into Nese's area. "I haven't found anything yet Riley but I'll keep looking," Tony says. "I know man. I just need to check something and don't want people looking over my shoulder," Riley says going to a open station in Nese's office. He runs a check on Wilde. "Something up?" Nese asks. "Just shaking trees," Riley says closing the file. He had what he needed. "Got a break?" Nese asks. "Potentially," Riley syas before heading back to the bullpen. Flair gets up and walks toward Riley. "Come on we got an address for Corbin," Flair says. Riley turns to show who nods at him. "Sure, I'll drive," Riley says.

In the Car

"I'm sorry about Gargano," Charlotte says as they drive. "He didn't die. He just need a break," Riley says not wanting talk about this with her. "Word is that case broke him. Can't say I blame him," She goes on. "Let's just focus on what we have to do now," Riley says. "Just has to be hard even if he does come back you won't be..." "Will you shut the fuck up! I'm aware of what is going on. But our time is limited we need to focus on the kid," Riley snaps. Flair is stunned but finally just says, "right." A uneasy silence settles into the car. Finally Charlotte starts to speak again. "So this is Corbin's last known address. Its a home owned by his sister. The sister Sylvia seems clean no record." Riley just nods.

They arrive and the first lucky break might of been found. the trash cans were out. The one in front of the Corbin home is packed a box for Barbie Dolls can be seen. "Does Corbin have kids or does the sister?" Riley asks. "Not according to the files. Why?" He points to the box. "And these two morons would be the type that would think giving a traumatized kid a doll they would stop crying," Charlotte says. "At the very least it could mean he's been here lately," Riley says. They approach the front door and knock. Sylvia Corbin opens the door and reluctantly lets them in. "What did he do now?" She asks leading Riley and Flair to living room. "He kidnapped a kid," Riley says bluntly. "No that can't be I know Barron can do some awful things but he would never hurt a kid," Sylvia insisted. "We have him on camera doing it. We have the acting DA as a witness saying he did it backed up by others," Riley says.

"Well I haven't seen him in months," She claimed. "Ms. Corbin you know your brother better than anyone. Does have some other place he stays?" Charlotte asks. "Like I said I have seen him in months," She claimed again. "That room with the boots why is bed unmade?" Riley asks. He had seen it when they walked in. "You need a warrant," Syliva suddenly insisted. "You invited us in. The door was open so I don't one. But you want to play that game I can get a warrant. I'm looking for a kid so I really don't care. Or you can be smart. And let us know where your brother might be," Riley says. "Sylvia I get he is your brother. But this child is a victim," Charlotte says trying to play good cop. "Where I come from you don't betray family," Sylvia says.

Riley pulls out his phone. "Hey it's me… No like we thought.." "What are you doing?" Sylvia asks. "One second… I'm calling the DA," Riley says. "You would really search this place. "He would search through hell itself to get find a missing kid. He's got that kind of a reputation," Charlotte says. "That idiot Moss is squatting at his parents old place I got the adress some let me check," Sylvia says getting up. "Might want to still work on the warrant," Charlotte says. "I might want to start it. That was a bluff," Riley admits. "How did you know it would work?" "When I mentioned a search she kept looking at back yard she is breaking some law," Riley says.

Mandy Penthouse

Jennifer's parents were driving frantically. They had been away attending a wedding. She had never felt so helpless. "I should eat," she didn't feel hungry but forcing herself to pay attention while she cooked might keep her mind from drifting to the dark places it kept going. The fact the longer a child was missing the less likely finding them was. The distrubingly quick way a person could sold. One of the worst cases Mandy ever worked had been a child porn ring. At risk kids were kidnapped and the ring had gotten so bold they did streamed live shows on the dark web. All those thing could happen to Jennifer. "If she's even still alive," Mandy said out loud. She stopped herself from crying again.

She couldn't stop herself so she pulled out her phone. "You have reached the voicemail of Detective Riley Morgan…" She heard once the beep happened. "Morgan its me. I was just calling for an update," was all he could say. To her shock a text came in. "Keep faith. We will find her." That actually did make her feel a little better. Mandy headed into her kitchen to see what she had.

Someone knocked on her door. She ignored it she wasn't in the mode to see anyone. Anyone that needed her or was important would call. Still the knocking wouldn't stop. "Fine you want to be a punching bag you got it," Mandy thinks heading to the door and opening it. "Finally," A very annoyed Latino woman dares to say. "Who are you and what do you want?" Mandy says. "Are you going to invite me in Ms. Rose," the woman says. It was than Mandy recognized who she was talking to. "Elecktra Lopez," Mandy says. "Invite me in Mandy," Lopez says as she forces her way in anyway.

Electra Lopez has ties to the Mexican Cartel. Lopez picked up a photo of Jennifer, Mandy had on a table. "She is a pretty girl. Shame what happened to her," Lopez says in a taunting tone. Mandy is stuck in some strange place between fear and anger. "So I don't like to play games or stall to much. Do you want to know how you can get Jennifer back?" Lopez taunts. "YOU BITCH!" Mandy yells as she tackles the woman driving her into the wall. Lopez is stunned at just how strong Mandy is as she can't get free. "You think you are some queen because you got two lunk heads to kidnap a child?" Mandy asks moving her hands to Lopez's throat. "Something happens to me you will never see little Jenny again," Lopez says. Mandy regains control and lets her go.

Lopez needs a moment to get her breath back. "Its simple, about a year ago your now former boss filed charges against Santos Escobar," Lopez says. Mandy was very aware of that case. After years of hard work a task force has manged to link Escobar to a smuggling operation. Mike had compared it to Al Capone's taxes. Everyone knew he did much worse but this was a chance to take a criminal down. "Let me guess you want to drop the charges?" Mandy asked. "You are a smart one. Yes my people want the charges dropped. You do that Jennifer will be let go," Lopez claims. "You know I can always refile by explaining I was blackmailed," Mandy says. Lopez just laughed to that. "Do you really think he will just wait around. Look Mandy its actually guilt free. Santos will beat these charges anyway and he would just leave America. This is just our way to speeding things up and sparing him the trouble of going to trail," Lopez claimed.

"And let me guess if I don't we never see Jennifer again," Mandy says. Lopez just laughed as she turned to leave. Mandy grabbed her phone and texted Morgan. "We need to talk NOW! Please pick up." She than called him. He picked up on the first ring. He tells her to hold on he will be there in five minutes. Sure enough he arrives alone. Riley had told Flair to drive to next place they were supposed to check out and meet up with Dana and Zayn. Mandy lets him in. "I did a check doesn't seem Lopez or anyone else that shouldn't be is hanging around," Riley says. Mandy just nods before saying "I didn't get a chance try and record her threat. Not that it would do much good," Mandy says. "I hate to ask this but did she offer proof Jennifer is alive?" Riley says.

"No but I have a feeling that will be coming. This was just to give me time to think," Mandy says. "Sweat is more like it. But this does make some things clear… Hold on I just thought of something," By exposing themselves so soon the cartel might of just given us the lead we need," Riley says.