Jake leans forward slightly. “Did you hear any names? See any faces you’d recognize?”
“They wore masks most of the time,” Jenna says, shivering again. “But I heard one of them on the phone once. He said something about ‘Turner’s orders.’”
The name lands like a grenade.
Mason’s eyes cut to mine. Jake’s expression goes cold and flat.
Emma comes around the island, setting a cup of tea in front of Jenna. “You’re sure you heard ‘Turner’?”
Jenna nods. “I’m positive.”
Lily steps forward then, her voice gentle. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and into some dry clothes.”
Jenna nods and lets Lily guide her out of the kitchen. The second they’re gone, the room explodes into motion.
“Multi-state operation,” Mason says immediately. “San Antonio to Montana. That’s not small-time.”
“That’s more of a network than we thought,” Jake agrees. “It means he has infrastructure. Routes. Buyers.”
Emma puts her hand on Jake’s shoulder, leaning against him. “If he’s moving women across state lines, doesn’t that make it federal jurisdiction?”
I lean against the counter, arms crossed. “We can’t trust the FBI to send someone who isn’t in Turner’s pocket. He’s got a long reach, and we don’t know who he’s paid off.”
Her eyes snap to mine, and I see the pain there. We both know she’s thinking about her father and how his death was brushed aside as accidental.
She exhales deeply. “So what do we do? We can’t just keep Jenna here indefinitely. And we can’t let her go back to Texas. Turner’s people will find her.”
Mason glances up, as if he can see Lily through the ceiling. “Turner’s up to something. That woman resembling Mandy isn’t coincidence.”
I nod. “Which is why we can’t let this continue. Who knows what Turner has up his sleeve.”
“Or how he’ll implicate us,” Mason adds.
“We need someone outside the system to help with both Jenna and Turner,” Jake says. He faces me. “Someone with reach but no official ties.”
I smile wide. I know exactly who he’s thinking about. “Hendricks.”
“Hendricks,” Jake concurs.
“He has connections everywhere. DOD, State, private contractors. If anyone can move a witness without leaving a trail, it’s him.” Mason rubs his chin, thinking about it. “Think he’ll do it?”
“He’ll fucking jump at the chance at us owing him one.” I pull out my phone and dial the man before anyone can second-guess the decision. I sit down in Jenna’s chair and get ready for the fun.
He answers on the second ring. “Riot.”
“Hendricks.” I tip my chair back, propping my feet on the table. “Still grumpy?”
“Still breathing?” he counters dryly.
I grin. “Last I checked.”
“Pity.”
“We’ve got a situation.” I roll my shoulder, stiffening from where I landed on it hard. “Trafficking victim. She needs extraction and protection outside official channels.”
“I fucking hate traffickers.” There’s a pause. Then Hendricks exhales slowly. “Where is she now?”
“Here. Blackthorn. Safe.”