Page 71 of Deception and New Direction

“Yes.Itwas a newer model merlot redMazdafour-door sedan with a standard back plate and a fancy front plate supporting sea turtles.Driver’sname was supposedlyJames, who had a full beard, medium brown hair, and looked to be in his early thirties.”

We all just stared at her for a moment, taking in the elaborate description she had just given us.

“What?”Sheshrugged. “YearsinWITSECtaught me to pay attention to details.Plus,Itold you.Idon’t like rideshares because of all the bad stories you hear.”

“Let me scroll back and see if she arrived,”Diegosaid.

The cameras we set up atHank’shouse would only save the most recent twenty-four hours, and then they would record over themselves at the start of the next day.Weall watched as he went back and saw a grey sedan exiting the driveway.Thatcar didn’t match the rideshare either.Asthe camera backed up we watched in reverse asRuthiewent into a car withRonaldand another man after coming out of the house.

“Play that back in real time,”Archersaid, likely seeing the same thingIhad.

We all watched as the video showedRuthiewalking out the front door behindRonald.Thenanother man appeared behindRuthie—pointing a gun at her back.

Ellie’s gasp came from behind me.

Ruthie turned directly toward the camera and opened her mouth.Therewas no sound on these cameras, but we didn’t need it.Itwas very clear what she had said—or at least mouthed.Help.

We all watched asRonaldgot into the driver’s seat of his car.Aman about my age forcefully guidedRuthieinto the back seat, and he slid in behind her.

“Are they kidnapping her?” my sister asked from behind me.

“I don’t know,”Catresponded. “Shedoesn’t appear to be fighting them getting into the vehicle, but if she was going of her own free will, why would they have a gun on her?”

My thoughts exactly.

Then we watched the vehicle leave the property.

“Archer, she has her tracker on,”Elliesaid semi-frantically behind me.

“I know,” he responded. “I’mpulling it up on my phone now.”

“Diego,”Iinterrupted. “WhileArcherdoes that, go back on those cameras and find out if you can see when they arrived atHank’shouse.Doyou ever seeHank?Canyou see the other man’s face better?Wecan getAxelto run some facial recognition software on him.”

“On it,”Diegoresponded.

“I’ll textAxeland give him the heads-up,”Wadesaid.

Diego paused the cameras, showingRonald’svehicle arriving first.Hewalked up the porch to greetHankjust as the second vehicle came down the driveway.Notone, buttwogentlemen exited the car,Hankturned to go back into the house, butRonaldstopped him and pulled out a gun.Theother two men walked up the front porch steps and pushedHankinside, and all four men disappeared from the camera view.

“Shit,”Archermumbled. “Theextra man isRuthie’sfather.”

I felt dread creep through my body at his words. “Areyou sure?”

“Yeah,” he responded. “Hemay have aged slightly, but that is the same manIinterrogated.Whichmeans, judging by the age,I’mguessing the younger guy is her brother.Hishair is different and he has a mustache now, but asIlook closer,Irecognize him too.”

Shit.Thiswas not a friendly family visit.

“So, four men go in the house, followed byRuthie, but only two men come out withRuthie,”Iassessed out loud.

“The question is whether the other two are still alive,”Wadenoted.

“Here’s what we’re going to do,”Archerspoke up. “Diego—getAxeland go over toHank’shouse.Keepin mind the third man is likely still there and may be armed.Geteyes onHankand report back.”

Diego confirmed and then bolted to the stairwell to grab the other two and head out.

Archer held out his phone forWadeand me to see the screen showingRuthie’stracker app.Theyweren’t far fromHank’shouse.Theywere stopped at what appeared to be a bank.

“They want the money,”Isaid toArcher.

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