Sin took Becca’s free hand in her own. “I will. We will. I promise we’ll find her. What can you tell me about her cousin, Savio?”
“Savio? What does he have to do with this?”
“Probably nothing,” Sin said, “but he was the last person we know of who was with the two of you before your abduction.”
Becca took a drink. “Like you said, he’s Pia’s cousin. I met him a couple of times at school when he’d come visit. Pia told me that he called her a couple of days before we left. When she told him where we were going, she said he was happy to hear that because he would be here, too. She was happy she was going to get to spend some time with him because she didn’t get to see him that often.”
“Is that all?”
“She mentioned that they were close when they were younger, but they drifted apart after her parents got divorced.”
Sin looked at Tiffany. “Tiff, I need you to follow up on that lead we spoke about. Troy and I will handle things from here.”
Twenty minutes later, an Uber pulled up to take Tiffany back to the hotel. Once she left, Sin, Troy, and Becca were back in the SUV.
23
Back at the Johnson Place, Carmelita made a meal for Becca, who repeatedly asked to speak to her father.
“As much as I’d like to allow you to make that call, I’m afraid it will have to wait,” Sin said.
Becca dropped her fork. “Why? Why can’t I call my dad?”
“I think the people who kidnapped you have a trace on his phone. I also think there is a leak in his security. I promise I’ll let you call him as soon as I think it’s safe.”
“Can I call Jason?”
“No.”
“Why?” Becca asked with eyes open wide. “You think Jason is involved, don’t you?” Sin stayed silent. “I can promise you, he isn’t. You said he was okay. I want to see him.”
“I’ll get in touch with him and have him meet us here tomorrow,” Sin answered.
Becca rubbed her bloodshot eyes. “I just want to go home,” she mumbled.
“You must be exhausted,” Sin remarked. “Carmelita is going to show you to a room, so you can take a hot bath and rest. I’m going to call a friend of mine, a doctor. I’ll have her come by when she’s off shift and make sure you’re okay.”
Becca didn’t respond. She just stared straight ahead.
“What’s wrong?” Sin asked.
“The kidnappers. Why did they release me but not Pia?”
Sin touched Becca’s hand and nodded to Carmelita. “That’s what I’m going to find out.”
Carmelita helped Becca stand and with a gentle touch, led her from the kitchen.
“Let her rest in the room on the fourth floor,” Sin said.
Carmelita stopped and stared at Sin. “The fourth floor?”
“Si, Madre.”
Carmelita nodded and left with Becca.
“What’s on the fourth floor?” Troy asked.
“It was Charlie’s private suite. It’s like a safe room. No Wi-Fi access or any other type. I saw a throwaway in Becca’s purse. If she tries to call her dad, and she will, she won’t be able to.”
“And if she leaves the room to make a call?”
“The entire fourth floor is off the grid. Becca will have to come downstairs to make the call.” As Sin finished talking, her voice seemed to drift.
Troy squinted and cocked his head to the side. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“The shit is so deep in this case, I don’t know where to step.”
“Are you talking about the little love tryst going on between Becca and Sawyer.”
She sat back and crossed her arms. “Love tryst?”
“What? Are you telling me, you don’t think Becca’s feelings for Jason are a little more than just agent and protectee?”
“No, Stubbs, I’m not debating that her feelings for Sawyer and his for her are far beyond the norm, but I don’t think they’re hooking up.” She held up a manicured nail to stop him from interjecting. “Try and see this through their eyes. Becca was just a kid when her father was elected president. Sawyer became her shadow and BFF overnight. As their relationship developed, he knew her better than her parents. Hell, I’ll bet he knows her most intimate thoughts. Then,” she leaned against the kitchen counter and arched her brow, “four years later, in the middle of Lancaster’s re-election campaign, Becca’s mother dies. Who do you think she leaned on for support?”
“I would hope her dad,” Troy answered.
She shrugged and refilled her cup. “I’m sure Lancaster wanted to be there for her, but he was busy making empty promises and kissing babies. If Sawyer wasn’t the closest person to her before that, he was then.”
She drank a sip of coffee, put the cup down, and chewed on her bottom lip. “That’s why this whole thing stinks.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If Sawyer cares as much about Becca as I think he does, why did he let her and Pia leave Fat Tuesday’s with Deandre and Amani?”
“You read the report. Lancaster wanted her to have a little more space during her break.”
“If you were in Sawyer’s shoes, would you have listened to that order?”
She watched as Troy answered without hesitation. “No,” he said.
“And neither did Sawyer. You heard Becca say he was the only one she saw after she called for help. He was at the scene.” Sin took her cell out of her backpack and began texting. “The question is, why didn’t he put any of that in his notes.”
As she put her phone away, Troy said, “You just texted Sawyer, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s time we have a talk with Agent Sawyer.”
“Agreed. Why don’t you tell me what other shit we stepped in.”
“Back at the airport, I received a call from Dominic Russo. There is only one person who could have given him my cell number, President Lancaster.” She pushed off the counter with her hips. “Let’s head to the library. I
