Page 3 of Last Call

A wave of nausea roiled Fallon’s gut. “She worshiped her father. I get that much,” Fallon said. “But to put herself in danger?”

“I could tell you it’s not dangerous. It’s a risky game. Liv wasn’t a vigilante. She didn’t rush in, guns blazing like you see on television. She was a buyer. She paid money for the girls. She isn’t the only person out there purchasing someone’s freedom. She was probably one of the most prolific. The more you do business with these people, the more they want.”

“Financially?” Fallon asked.

“Of course. I think people felt Liv’s desperation. Somewhere along the way, she forgot the people she was dealing with were masters at exploitation. Liv was a master manipulator. It’s not the same thing. Her talents weren’t a match for their abilities. She tried to play the game. No one likes someone who threatens their livelihood. If Liv got caught, that would create a traceable line to the people she did business with. High risk equals higher prices.”

“Jesus. You’re telling me these women were property?”

Angela nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Liv got a lot of girls and womenoutof that situation. Sometimes, it was just one. Other times, she negotiated for a half-dozen. Her methods weren’t just unorthodox. Making a purchase, no matter what the intention, is trafficking. Liv had to worry about the FBI andthe people she did business with coming after her, the FBI with charges. The others…”

“Are you telling me Liv was in physical danger?”

“I’m certain there was danger. Mainly, that happened because she was running dry.”

“She needed money. She could have asked me for help,” Fallon said.

Angela smiled. “I think we both know she wouldn’t have done that.”

“And Dean?” Fallon asked.

“He took a lot of meetings,” Angela said. “Until he didn’t.”

“He helped find the networks, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

Fallon took a deep breath. “Why was she in Vermont?”

“She had some things to settle.”

“I thought you said you’d answer any question,” Fallon replied.

“I just did.”

“Whatthings?”

“Liv worked with someone in Enosburg,” Angela explained. “He posed as a buyer for her. There’s a group of border agents who’ve been bringing girls into Canada. All I know is that Enosburg was a point of exchange.”

“For money?”

Angela sighed.

“For women?” Fallon asked. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“No. It’s been happening for years,” Angela said. “I don’t know who her contact was there. That’s the truth, Fallon. She didn’t tell meeverything. She said it was safer that way for everyone. I know she drove up there to give someone cash.”

“Why did you pretend to be her?”

Angela blinked back a few tears. “It was supposed to be different. The plan was for me to take the flight to Amsterdam in her place.”

“You? Why?”

“Liv was going to head to South America,” Angela said. “People were watching her at work. She feared that Amsterdam wouldn’t provide the escape she had hoped for. I guess she decided there wasn’t any escape.”

“What happened?”

“She called me on Thanksgiving and said she changed her mind. I was relieved. I thought she had reconsidered running away. I know she didn’t want to leave the kids behind. For a minute, I thought she’d reconsidered everything. Maybe things would quiet down with some time. That was naïve of me.”

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