Jillian answered on the first ring. “Boy am I glad to hear from you.”
“Is Fortis pissed?”
Jillian chuckled like an evil conspirator. “I told him you were sick. He started to call you, and I gave him a song and dance about a stomach virus keeping you up all night. And that I might have to take you to the doctor.”
“How did he take that?”
“He told me not to come back after lunch, and to make sure you had everything you needed.”
Ellie smiled, a soft laugh escaping. “Thank you for covering for me. Where are you now?”
“Leaving the office.” Jillian lowered her voice. “Ellie, is something wrong?”
Ellie let out a long breath. “Everything is fine. But when I went to the safe house, Nick was there, and he realized that I suspected him and…” Her voice caught, and she cleared her throat. “He’s not too happy.”
“But why was he there?”
“Katarina apparently called him right after she called me. Since I’d turned off my phone already, he went straight to the safe house and arrived before I did.”
“She’s up to something.”
Ellie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, her stomach tied in knots with worry. “I know, but I don’t know what. Valerie is safe. Nick left, but I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“What about your family? Do you think she wanted you to leave so they would be vulnerable? Have you called to check on them?”
At the mention of her family, Ellie’s heart rate quickened. Her father’s health was better in the months since the heart transplant, but she still worried about him. And she’d never been quite able to shake the idea that his poor health was her fault. After all, he’d had the stroke that led to a heart attack because of her kidnapping.
She was just glad they’d recently decided that twenty-four-hour protection was a necessary part of life in the public eye. It saved her from having to tell them that her life was in danger, and possibly theirs too. Again.
Ellie let out the breath that had started burning her lungs. “I haven’t called yet, but I don’t think this has anything to do with them. Going after my parents would be too high-risk. They’ve had security on the payroll since before my birthday party last month. Flynn’s group is the best, and as long as they’re at my parents’ home, I have no reason to worry.”
“I still can’t shake the feeling that Katarina didn’t call just to mess with your head. There has to be a reason. Keep your eyes open, okay?”
“You’re right.” Ellie turned up the heat in the car, suddenly chilled. “Waiting for the other shoe to drop has me on edge, but I promise I won’t let my guard down.”
“All right, well, get home quick.”
“I’m fine.”
Jillian laughed, but there was very little joy in the sound. “I’m sure you are, but I’m so tired, I can’t think. I have news. You won’t believe it. And Sam’s been home alone since last night. I ended up pulling an all-nighter. After being elbow deep in case files all night, I’ve about got the creeps. The sooner we both get home, the better I’ll feel.”
“You and me both.” If Jillian had news she was holding back until they were face to face, it had something significant to do with either Valerie or the human trafficking case.
“Hold on,” Jillian said. “I’m going to put you on my Bluetooth.”
Ellie pressed her foot down on the accelerator, wondering if she’d wasted precious time sleeping in like a lazy child.
Her fingertips tingled on the steering wheel, the same sensation awakening in her gut.
Something was wrong.
Today was Friday the thirteenth. Thirteen years since she’d found out monsters were real.
22
Walking briskly across the CPD parking lot, Jillian unlocked her car and threw her bag onto the passenger seat as she fumbled with the Bluetooth. When she had it in her ear, she connected her phone and set it in the cupholder, snapping it into the locking clip.
“I’m back.” She turned the key in the ignition and put the car in reverse to back out of her parking spot.
“So, did you and Carl find anything we can use on Katarina?” Ellie said in her ear.
“She was a confidential informant for Jones, and she wasn’t lying about knowing you. You two have quite the history.”
“History?”
Jillian smiled, looking both ways before she turned onto the street. “Does the name Harmony Jackson ring a bell?”
Ellie gasped. “Oh my gosh, did Katarina have something to do with that little girl being kidnapped? Why don’t I recognize her name?”
“She used an alias when she was arrested.”
“Karina Wolf,” they said in unison.
Ellie was silent for a moment. “But where does she fit in with Valerie?”
“That’s the million-dollar question. Katarina exchanged information for a lighter sentence, among other things.”
Ellie groaned. “I knew she pled out to avoid a trial, but I never learned the details. You know how it is when you’re on patrol; we catch them, and the courts take it from there.”
“No one expects you to keep tabs on every collar you ever made, Ellie.”
Ellie let out an exasperated breath. “I know that, but Harmony was special.” Her voice caught, and when she spoke again, anger vibrated through the speaker. “What kind of information could a kidnapper have that’s more important than her victim getting justice?”
Jillian tsked. “I would like to know.”
“Do we know where Harmony was going to be taken?”
“No. Katarina was never asked to divulge that information, or if she was, it wasn’t put into any of the reports. But the important thing for Harmony is that you followed your instincts, and now she’s safe with
