Chapter One
33 Hours Missing (7:00am) (Wednesday)
Jack woke up, showered, collected his trappings, and headed for the office. He parked his car and headed up to the twelfth floor. Standing in the kitchenette, he washed his mug, enjoying the quiet of the morning. Placing his mug under the spigot, he waited for the coffee to come out of the machine. Smiling briefly, he took his mug back to his office and checked his email. There wasn't anything pertaining to the case, but something was nagging him. He picked up the phone and thought a moment before dialing.
"Jenkins," the voice said.
"Hey, Ritchie, it's Jack. You have a minute?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"I'm not sure, exactly. I have a missing woman whose ex is also an ex Airborne."
"Really?"
"Yeah, his brother was also Airborne, lost in Afghanistan in 2005."
"Okay, where do I fit in?"
"He was in for five years. What training do you think he received?"
"He knows the basics of being in the infantry, plus he can jump out of a perfectly good airplane. What are you asking?"
"I don't know, really."
"Well, Jack, compared to the general public, we are all dangerous, if that's what you're getting at."
"Yeah, maybe, let me think a bit more on it. I'll get back to you. How's Maggie?"
"She's fine; loves Northwestern. We're going out to see her at Thanksgiving."
"Terrific, look I have to get back at it. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
Jack hung up and continued to look at the file while he waited for Elena and her interview.
34 Hours Missing (8:00am)
Jack walked out of his office to listen in on the interview between Elena and Joe Enkland.
"Mr. Enkland, thank you for coming in, my name is Special Agent Elena Delgado," she said, shaking his hand before sitting down.
"Hi, you said this was about Lucy? What's happened? I was working on a commercial on Long Island and haven't talked to Allison."
"She went missing two days ago. Allison seemed to think her ex-boyfriend may have been involved."
"I don't know how I can help you. Allison said he was a creep, but Lucy loved him, so I didn't say anything."
"Night before last, you were supposed to go out to dinner with Allison."
"Yes, that's right. The three of us had reservations at Liberty House, but she didn't show."
Jack looked through the glass at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor. He was lying, but Jack didn't know the subject. Vivian walked into the viewing room.
"Hi, you're in early."
"Yeah, I had to drive Reggie to school. The history test was a makeup exam before school. Anyway, Mr. Enkland is not as squeaky clean as we thought. He has two prior convictions for prostitution; him hiring hookers."
"Oh, well, based upon Allison's statements, she doesn't have a clue."
"What do you want to do?" Vivian asked.
Jack picked up the intercom phone and dialed one. Elena stood and walked to the receiver, picking it up.
"He has two convictions for hiring a prostitute. That may be all, but he is lying."
"Gotcha, thanks."
Elena turned and looked at the man sitting across from her in the metal chair.
"You look nervous."
"Do I?"
"Yes. Is there something you're not telling me?"
"No."
"Are you sure? You'll feel better if you tell me."
Joe Enkland squirmed in his seat.
"You don't have to tell Aly, do you?" he asked.
"It depends on what you tell me."
Sighing, Joe Enkland sat quietly for a few minutes.
"Well, you probably know, I was arrested for hiring a prostitute."
"Twice."
"Twice, yes, but that was months ago; before I met Aly."
"Did you know Roberto Alvarez?"
Enkland looked down at the table.
"Mr. Enkland, it is a simple question."
"Yes, he was my…connection."
"He's a pimp?"
"Among other things, yes."
"How did Lucy meet him?"
"I don't know. Wait, he's Lucy's ex boyfriend?"
"Don't tell me you didn't know?"
"Aly said his name was Roberto. How would I have known?"
Elena sat in the chair opposite and looked at the confusion on his face.
"How did you contact him?" she asked.
"There's a number I call."
"I need that number."
"917-555-6349."
"You seem pretty sure, after only calling it twice."
"I was arrested twice, Agent Delgado."
"Stay put," Elena said, picking up her file before walking to the door and then into the hallway.
Jack and Vivian met her.
"Well, what do you think?" Jack asked.
"It doesn't look good for this girl. She may be out of the country, already, or drugged up and hooking for these guys," Elena said.
"Keep digging. Check everything. We've missed something," Jack said, his voice low.
Elena walked to the front desk to locate Agent Darby and instruct him to sit with Joe Enkland before returning to her desk.
Vivian looked concerned at his comment. He paused for a moment and then headed back to his office. Sitting at his desk, he opened the DOD records on the internet and looked up Roberto Alvarez's record. Jack slid his legal pad to the center of his desk and began to take notes as he began to create a personal profile. As he was looking at his record, a flag appeared in the lower right hand corner of the computer screen, indicating Jack's security clearance was not high enough to view the file. The screen went black. Picking up the phone, Jack dialed in-house.
"ASAC Agent Van Doren."
"Paula, it's Jack. I need your help. I have a missing insurance agent. Suspect is an ex-82nd Airborne. DOD has flagged his record. They bumped me. Can you make a phone call?"
"I can try. What's his name?"
"Roberto Alvarez."
"I'll get back to you. Bye."
"Bye."
He hung up the phone and looked at the time; eleven o'clock.
"Jack!" Danny shouted, bursting into his office.
"Yes?"
"I found Roberto Alvarez through the V.A.. He may be at his mother's house in Queens. Here's the address."
"Great, grab Elena. Sam and I will meet you there. This is just a meet and greet, okay? We've got nothing on this guy."
"Gotcha."
38 Hours Missing (12:00pm)
Danny and Elena drove up 78th Avenue, seeing the plume of black smoke and the body on the lawn. He stopped the car as Elena called the scene in to the authorities.
"This is Special Agent Delgado of the FBI. I need FDNY and an ambulance at 174 78th Ave. in Kew Gardens. We have an agent down and one missing."
Danny ran to Samantha's side. She was barely conscious.
"Explosion, Jack inside," she said, before passing out.
Danny reached for his cell phone.
"This is Special Agent Taylor, I need bomb squad at 174 78th Ave in Kew Gardens. We've had one explosion and we have an agent missing."
Danny and Elena waited anxiously with Samantha until the ambulance arrived. At the same time, Vivian arrived.
"What happened?"
"We don't know, exactly. Samantha said there was an explosion and that Jack was still inside."
The unmarked police car drove up quickly and a tall African American man stepped out. Vivian walked up to him.
"Sgt. Jenkins?"
"Agent Johnson, we should be on a first name basis at this point. Please, call me Ritchie."
"Ritchie, I'm Vivian."
"Vivian, what do you know?"
"Jack is inside and there was an explosion. That's really all I know."
"He called me this morning about a guy; Alvarez. He had a premonition. I need NYPD to give me a two block radius. No more radios. How's your other agent?"
"Concussion, from what I understand. She'll be fine."
"All right, Vivian. I need you to stay here," Ritchie Jenkins of the NYPD Bomb Squad instructed.
"I won't move."
Danny walked up to Vivian.
"He seems familiar," he said, looking at the man putting on the body armor.
"That's Ritchie Jenkins from the Bomb Squad, Maggie's father and one of Jack's oldest friends."
"Right, okay, I remember. I sent Elena with Samantha to the hospital. What do you want me to do?"
"Follow Enkland. Check into his financials. I think he's involved."
"Gotcha."
Ritchie stood with Captain Liam Flaherty of the FDNY, looking at the blueprints of what used to be a house, in front of them.
"Sarge, judging by a quick visual of the house and the statement from Agent Spade, Agent Malone should be about here."
"Damn it, not a lot of protection. Liam, gas and electric are off, right?"
"Con Ed turned it off last month; failure to pay."
"Let my boys come in and see of there're any more devices. Then I think we should search thermally. It will be faster than the dogs."
"You're in charge; we've just got your back."
"Thanks, Liam."
Jack woke up, lying on his left side, his face in water. Coughing, he rolled onto his back and found he could breathe, barely. His head ached and the entire left side of his body pulsed with pain. His eyes stung and his ears hurt. He tried to find his cell phone but it was underwater and the struggle caused enough pain for him to pass out.
"Johnson."
"It's ASAC Agent Van Doren. Jack asked me to look into a Roberto Alvarez. I can't get through to his cell phone."
"He and Agent Spade appear to have walked into a trap. He's missing at the site."
"What? Oh my God. Well, then this is very important information for you. Alvarez was borrowed from Airborne to attend a secret elite weaponry group called W7 Wolverines. He was discharged two months ago. How's agent Spade?"
"Samantha has a concussion and is en route to the hospital. I'll pass on that information to the police."
"Can I send any more help?"
"Not here, but if you could work with Danny. I've asked him to look into Joseph Enkland, the best friends' boy friend. We still don't have a clue about Lucy Aston, the missing person."
"I'll liase with him, thanks."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Vivian watched as Ritchie's crew quickly started to comb through the wreckage for any evidence of the bomb or new devices.
"Got a trigger, boss," said one man.
"Bag and tag and keep looking, Felix."
"Ritchie, we just learned that Alvarez trained with the W7 Wolverines. Does this make sense to you?" Vivian asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. That explains the precision of the implosion as well as the fact that there was no fire. Thanks, Vivian. Felix, Eddie, Ian, I need you guys here, now," He called tersely into his special hi-tech walkie-talkie.
The team assembled in front of him, wiping the sweat from their faces, although it was a cold November afternoon.
"We have some intel update. Our bomber was trained to make bombs from available mediums. Look for anything suspicious. I want everybody on coms. Come on, we got to get to our guy."
"You got it, boss," Felix answered for the team before they trotted to their van to get kitted.
42 Hours Missing (4:00pm)
"Cap, we're clear. Let's get thermal res in here," Ritchie directed.
"You got it."
The helicopter hovered over the house. In the southwest corner was an orange form in a blue field.
"Damn, Cap, the water main must have broken. He's cold but not dead, yet. We gotta get him now."
"You bet, Sarge. Sean, take Rob and Skyler with you. Our guy is in the southwest corner and he's in water. He's been there for four hours. The clock is running gentlemen."
"Yes, Skip," the men answered almost at the same time.
The four man team, with the aide of the Bomb Disposal Unit, started the tedious task of removing debris.
Elena walked into the office, picking up a mug of coffee before heading to her desk.
"How's Samantha?" Danny asked, seeing her out of the corner of his eye.
"She was very lucky; a concussion, and cuts on her hands and knees from landing on the concrete sidewalk. It could have been much worse. What do you know here?" she asked, looking on the suspect whiteboard at the new sketch of Roberto.
"Terry Matthews, the bouncer from Red Rock, worked with Sheila on that sketch. Van Doren has been helping sift through the DOD red tape. Alvarez was sent to a special weapons training class. His expertise was bomb making. But, before he went into the Army, he was involved in some illegal activities. Plenty of arrests but none of them stuck."
"None of them?"
"Nope, not one. Ask me what he was involved in."
"Okay, I'll bite, what was he involved in?" Elena asked, sipping her coffee.
"He was involved in his brother's prostitution ring."
"So, when the brother dies, he takes over the family business?"
"Yes, and Van Doren found that Ricardo was in trouble in Afghanistan. He was under investigation there on prostitution charges."
"Wait, I've just thought of something," Elena said, picking up her phone and dialing quickly.
"Lt. Quinlan, Special Agent Delgado calling from the FBI; yes I'll hold."
"Elena? Long time, how are you?"
"Fine, Quinnie, listen, I need some information. What do you have on Roberto Alvarez?"
"He's bad news, has been since he was a kid. Why, what's up?"
"Are you at your desk?"
"Yeah,"
"I have a missing person's case, Lucy Aston. She's been missing more than forty hours. Her ex-boyfriend was Roberto Alvarez."
"Oh, hang on. Yeah, I see that case. Okay, uhm, wait a minute, okay we have a task force that's investigating him. You need to speak to Lt. Holmes, Jaye Holmes. Her direct dial is 212-555-7421. Give me ten minutes and I'll have her call you, okay?"
"Sure, thanks Quinnie, I owe you one."
"I'll remember that. Are you still at the 5125 number?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Okay, talk to you soon."
"Bye."
Elena hung up the phone and swiveled in her chair.
"They have a task force investigating him. The team leader will be calling in ten minutes."
"Great. I'm looking into Alvarez's mother, she remarried. Her name was Alejandra Molinaro. She died in October and the case is still open. It was her house in Queens and I'm looking to see if she has any other property. Also I crosschecked Lucy's telephone records again. She received many phone calls from Alejandra Molinaro."
Elena was listening closely to what he was saying and then let out a gasp.
"Oh my God, Danny, I'm sorry. I forgot to ask about Jack. What have you heard from Vivian?"
"Nothing, Elena; I've heard nothing at all."
They sat in silence reading text off of their computers, trying to not to think about Jack. Suddenly, Elena's phone rang.
"Agent Delgado."
"Hi, this is Lt. Jaye Holmes. Quin asked me to give you a call in reference to Roberto Alvarez?"
"Yes, thanks. We think he has something to do with our missing person, his ex-girlfriend, Lucy Aston."
"Do you have a photo?"
"Sure, what's your email it, thanks, I'll send it to you right now."
"I'll call you when I get it."
"Great."
"Bye."
"Bye."
"She wanted a photo of Lucy," Elena said, sending the email.
"That doesn't sound good."
"Nope."
"Hi, I just got off the phone with Agent Johnson. Still no word on Jack. The bomb squad cleared the house and they think they have him located but he's not out yet," ASAC Agent Van Doren said as she walked into the bullpen.
"No news is good news, I guess," Danny said, turning to look at her.
"What do you know?"
"The NYPD have a task force investigating Alvarez. We're in touch with the team leader."
"Good."
"I'm looking into the family. Roberto worked for Ricardo before they both went into the Army. Ricardo continued to work in the family business in Afghanistan. When Roberto came back to the States, he simply went back to work."
"And the family business is?"
"Prostitution," Danny said softly.
Danny's computer pinged and he turned to look at the screen.
"I have something. Alejandra Molinaro rents a small warehouse in Richmond Hill for….$6900/month. That seems pretty expensive."
Van Doren walked over to him, looking over his shoulder.
"How long has she been renting it?"
"Uhm, ten years,"
"She could have bought it by now," Elena commented, catching up on her email.
Her phone rang, and she picked it quickly.
"Delgado."
"It's Jaye Holmes. Lucy Aston was seen last night in the area of 41st St. in Flushing. My lead officer just confirmed her photograph with the surveillance tapes."
"About what time was she seen on the tape?"
"Uhm, I'm looking at the notes. Here it is, blonde woman enters building at 41St and Kissena at Blvd. 2000H so eight o'clock."
"Great, what's the next step?"
"What are you doing tomorrow at 11pm?"
"Nothing, why?"
"We have a tip that Alvarez is bringing in some new girls. We want to take the snake out from the head down,"
"I understand your position, Lt., but I have a missing person who is being held against her will. We need to figure out another option."
There was a moment of silence on the phone.
"You give me a plan that won't blow my six month operation, and I'll consider it."
"Thanks, I'll call you soon."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Elena turned to face her two co-workers.
"She was alive as recently as last night at eight o'clock. She was seen entering a building in Flushing. They're going in tomorrow night and arresting the whole lot, but that leaves Lucy with Roberto until then. If we give Lt. Holmes an alternative to get Lucy out without jeopardizing the operation, she'll consider it."
"Let's go talk to Joe Enkland," Danny said, standing at his desk.
The three agents walked into the interrogation room and Agent Darby stepped out.
"I thought you forgot me," Joe Enkland said, trying to be funny.
"Mr. Enkland, this is Assistant Special Agent in Charge Van Doren, and Special Agent Danny Taylor. We have a proposition for you," Elena said, sitting at the desk.
Danny sat at the table as well while Agent Van Doren stood by the door.
"We found Lucy, but we need your help. When you used to call Roberto, did you have a particular girl you liked?" Danny asked.
"Jasmine,"
"Okay, I want you to call Roberto. Tell him you have a friend in from Mexico who likes blondes. You want to hire Jasmine and this blonde girl. Be very specific, describe Lucy well. Tell him money is no object. Have them meet us at the Paramount Hotel bar tonight at eleven. Do you understand?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Heaven points," Agent Van Doren said.
"Make the call," Danny said, motioning to Joe's cell phone.
Joe picked up his phone and hit a speed dial number.
"Hello?"
"This is Joe Enkland. I need to see Jasmine tonight. Is she available?"
"Yes, Mr. Enkland, she is. I thought you weren't going to see her anymore? I thought you had a girlfriend."
"She's out of town. While the cats away, you know, the mice will play."
"Yes, I suppose they will."
"Oh, I have a college friend in from Mexico. He's looking for a blonde girl, slim, with blue eyes. I know you generally have Asian girls but-"
"I can help you there as well but she costs extra."
"That's no problem."
"Where do you want to meet?"
"The Paramount Hotel bar on 46th St. at eleven tonight."
"Then bring eleven hundred dollars in cash and only pay Jasmine."
"Always easy doing business with you, Roberto."
"And you, Mr. Enkland."
The phone went dead and Joe hung up.
"No problem, but he wants eleven hundred dollars in cash."
"Don't worry about that," Van Doren assured.
"Now, we just need to figure out how to get Lucy out without Jasmine thinking we've caught on."
"Uhm, I know," Joe Enkland said softly.
"What do you know?"
"She's allergic to shellfish. If you set it up that she eats some, she'll get sick. She won't die, but I'd have a doctor and ambulance close by."
"That's pretty dangerous," Van Doren commented.
"The idea is solid, but she may not eat anything at all. What does she drink?"
"Patron margarita up with salt," Joe answered.
"Perfect, we'll stop at Hop Lee's and grab some ground shrimp powder and doctor her drink. I'll wait for them. Lucy might say something if she sees you first."
"All right."
"We're going to send you home with Agent Darby so you can change clothes. He will drive you to the Paramount to meet me at 10:45. "
"All right."
"Now, I have to talk to Lt. Holmes," Elena said, standing up to leave the room.
"I have to go get papers for body mics and requisition the cash," Agent Van Doren said.
She motioned to Agent Darby.
"Check with Agent Taylor, he has some specific instructions for you."
"Yes, ma'am."
Elena continued to her desk and found the pad with Lt. Holmes' number on it. She dialed, sitting at her desk sipping her cold coffee.
"Lt. Holmes."
"It's Elena Delgado. First of all, do you know about the warehouse in Richmond Hill?"
"No, what warehouse?"
"It's leased by Alvarez's mother, Alejandra Molinaro."
"I'll look into it thanks. Did you come up with a plan?"
Elena told her the idea in great detail.
"Sounds risky but it might work."
"It depends on what shape Lucy is in when she gets to the hotel."
"Good luck."
"Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."
Elena hung up the phone and saw Danny.
"It's almost eight and I'm starving. Do you want to go to Hop Lee's and have dinner?" she asked.
"Sure, then we can pick up the fish powder." Danny said. "Just let me call Vivian.
"Johnson."
"Hi, Vivian, it's Danny. How are things on your end?"
"He's alive, but it was a two storey house and it all ended up in the basement on top of him. How about Lucy?"
"We found her, or at least NYPD did. They're running a task force on Alvarez's prostitution ring and caught Lucy on a surveillance tape last night. We've set up a meet with Joe Enkland and me, double-dating with Lucy and another prostitute tonight."
"Terrific. Keep me in the loop."
"Did Elena call you about Samantha?"
"Yes, they'll probably release her tomorrow."
"Have you seen Anne?"
"No, do you want me to call her?"
"No, Danny, let's wait. She's high strung to begin with and two months pregnant. I don't want to put her through this until we know something definitive."
"Okay, Viv, whatever you think is best. Elena and I are going out to Hop Lee's."
"Have the hot and sour soup for me."
"Sure, I'll do that."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Danny closed his phone and put on his top coat. Elena already had hers on and they walked to the elevator.