Murder in the Forest, Chapter 39
At breakfast at the IHOP the next morning, Hotchner and Ford seemed energized. Clearly, something had happened. Hotchner introduced SAC Phillip Gaines from the Seattle office, and said that Gaines had brought a SWAT team and additional agents to search for the missing girls. He had also brought a Federal warrant from Judge Frost in Seattle, who had granted the search of any properties owned by either Michael Bamka or Terry Mason.
"The judge granted the warrant after I had Garcia confirm how many of those exclusive bras have been sold in Washington, and how many specifically in Elk Pass," he explained. "First, we told the judge that the bra is a model readily identifiable by two lingerie shop owners and that it's sold in Washington by very few shops. Garcia also checked with the importer for any Internet sales of that model. There were 17 such bras sold in Washington, all in Seattle, Tacoma, or Spokane. Only one sale is recorded in Elk Pass, and it was charged on Bamka's credit card. Because he was in close contact with Terry Mason and we have now recovered and listened to several of their phone conversations around the time of the kidnappings and the other murders, we believe that these two men are involved in the abductions and the murders. We plan to arrest them on suspicion and try to sweat them into confessing and telling where the girls are and if they're still alive. SAC Gaines and the Director are taking a personal interest in this case, and they agree that some action needs to be taken now. The Bureau is being made to look ineffectual and every hour that passes, those girls are in greater danger."
"Okay," said Reid," but what if they aren't the only men involved? If we arrest them, maybe that'll signal any accomplices to get rid of the girls and any evidence."
Ford nodded. "Aaron, Phil, and I discussed that. But the calls between these men don't seem to have encompassed others, and they'd probably keep something like this as limited to themselves as possible. Trustworthy help is hard to find for an endeavor like that. We think – or damned well hope- that one of both of them will crack under interrogation and give up the plot. We'll tell them, of course, that the first one to roll over on the other will get any breaks the US Attorney or the local DA are willing to make. The other guy takes the full force of the indictment."
Gaines rose and continued. "Today, we'll split into four task forces and begin raiding all buildings owned by either Mason or by Bamka. Chances are, one of the more remote properties is where the victims are. We'll have an FBI copter up and one from Washington State Patrol, looking for remote cabins that we may not have listed on Garcia's and other lists of their holdings. The keywords here, people, are speed and shock. We want these guys in jail by noon and our interrogators at work on them."
"They seem pretty smart," offered Blacklaws. "What if they do the obvious and just demand lawyers and tell us nothing? If they can't reach the women to feed and water them, they might die before we find them, and the suspects won't have revealed a thing."
Philip Gaines regarded the deputy with a thoughful gaze. "Blacklaws, I know that you have a good rep and some of you others are probably thinking the same. But we feel that this tactic is the best option at this time. We've decided on this course of action. We expect that all agents and sheriff's personnel will comply and support this effort. Now, one other thing: because it's likely that the women are without clothing, Agents Jareau and Seaver will visit the mothers of both girls today and obtain some garments for them. Seaver will be with one strike team, and Jareau with another. Each female agent will have clothing for both girls. That way, whichever team finds them, the right clothes will be available. Seaver, you continue to work with Blacklaws. I understand that you two team well together. Jareau, you go with Waters and Reid. Each team will also have three deputies or special agents as additional personnel. Each team will take its own SUV, two if needed. We brought in additional vehicles last night. Whoever first finds a victim or both if they're together, call in additional support, including a medical team.
"We don't know of any special medications that either girl is on, but they've been abused emotionally, and probably, physically. I want paramedics to examine each on discovery. You'll all have water and emergency rations to sustain you in the field today, and to offer food to the victims if they're hungry when found.
"Finish breakfast and then report to your team leaders and meet your additional support personnel and stand by for action. We're going to swarm the residences and businesses of both men at ten AM, and by then, the female agents should have that clothing with them and be prepared to go where needed. Each team will have designated marksmen as snipers and a bullhorn, but if you find them with any captors, trained hostage negotiators are ready to join you ASAP. The Director and I expect you agents to make the Bureau look good today, and I know that Sheriff Ford feels the same about his deputies. Questions?"
There were questions, all quickly fielded by one or another of the supervisors, and the teams formed and prepared to move out. Those assigned the more distant properties began driving slowly toward their goals, so as to be in place by the time the businesses and residences were raided. And the women agents called ahead to each kidnapped girl's mother and asked them to have clothing ready when they swung by to pick it up. The worst part was telling those mothers that there was no guarantee that their daughters would be found, although searches at specific sites would begin that day.
"I'm sorry that I can't be more specific," said Seaver to Mrs. Cassidy, "but we think we may be on their track, so we need to have the clothes handy, if needed. I'll see you in about half an hour. Please have some basic outfits ready. Time is of the essence once our raids begin."
XXX
In their SUV, Blacklaws asked whether anyone had told the Cassidys that his arch real estate rival, Mason, was a suspect. "If Vaughn Cassidy thinks that his business competitor is behind this, he might try to take the law into his own hands."
"I didn't tell Mrs. Cassidy who the suspects are," replied Seaver. "I thought of that very thing."
Blacklaws chuckled. "So, the stories about blondes being dumb are much exaggerated. I'm glad to learn that." He winked at her, and Ashley flushed and smiled.
"You'd better not piss me off, Peter, unless you plan to sleep alone tonight. Of course, blondes are smarter than most people think! Seriously, I just sent up a prayer that everything works well today. I'd hate to think that our raids might cost those girls their lives if we mess up."
"Cross our fingers, and hope for the best," agreed the tall deputy. "We have to believe that we're doing what's best, given our very limited options. I wish the villains had made traceable phone calls to the Cassidys and the other family."
"I wish I'd won the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes," retorted an agent from the Seattle office. "Mr. Gaines usually knows what he's doing. Let's all cross our fingers and do our parts when the whistle blows."
He had no more than spoken than Gaines's voice came over the radio:
"All units on the special detail execute coordinated action now. Repeat, now. Let's roll."
Blacklaws started the black SUV and they were in the race, for better or for worse.