Page 29 of Twice Missing
"And this criminal organization?" Noah asked, his investigator's instincts kicking in.
"He didn't know them. Only that they had some damning evidence on Michael," McKenzie replied.
Noah's frown deepened. "Like?"
"He's not officially divorced from his current wife, and if it got out he was seeing Sarah, it could be used against him in a settlement. He’s hidden money from his wife so that he wouldn't lose it when the divorce went through the courts."
"How much are we talking about here?" Noah pressed, sensing there was more to the story.
McKenzie shook his head. "Substantial. We're looking at offshore accounts, real estate under shell companies,even some high-value artwork stashed away. If his wife's lawyers get wind of this, he's looking at a much nastier settlement, not to mention potential criminal charges for concealing assets."
“So how did Michael know they were a criminal organization if he didn’t know who they were?”
“That was just the wording he used. I don’t think they called themselves that.”
"And Doug? Where does he fit in?" Noah asked, trying to connect the dots.
"Caught in the middle, it seems," McKenzie explained. "Michael and Sarah came to him for legal advice on how to handle the blackmail situation. The organization was pressuring them to help smuggle people across the border in exchange for keeping quiet about the affair and the hidden assets."
Noah whistled low, the implications of the situation sinking in. "No wonder Sarah bolted. And Doug tried to escape out the back window?"
McKenzie nodded. "He claims he panicked, thought the blackmailers might have eyes on the motel. Says he was just trying to protect his clients' confidentiality."
"Hell of a mess," Noah muttered, his mind racing. "So we've got adultery, hidden assets, blackmail, and a potential human trafficking ring. Any idea who's behind all this?"
McKenzie shook his head. "Not yet. But whoever it is, they've got Michael and Sarah backed into a corner. And now we've got to figure out if Doug's just doing his job or if he's in deeper than he's letting on."
Noah paced the room, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in his mind. "Smuggling people across the border. From the south?"
"North. From Canada," McKenzie corrected.
"That's where the reservation is," Noah said, his eyes widening with realization.
"What?" McKenzie asked, confused.
"The bracelet that was found on Emily Carter was Mohawk. Gabriel Ironwood recognized it. Said it was very specific. He believes it was made on the reservation," Noah explained, his words coming faster as the connections formed. "That reservation is on the border between New York and Canada. It’s in Franklin County.”
“Which is where Emily’s body was found.”
Noah nodded. “Then we have Daniel Roberts who dropped the whole Mexican cartel theory on us and said that a rumor was going around that the Sinaloa Cartel was behind her disappearance due to Nathan Carter owing money. We have a string of motels that were potentially used in trafficking, and now we have a couple who were about to be exploited if they didn't get involved smuggling people across the border."
"Meeting at a motel that used to belong to Nathan but now is owned by Luther Ashford," McKenzie added, his eyes widening as the pieces started to fit together.
"Exactly," Noah said, his voice tinged with excitement and frustration. "I swear we are this close to nailing this son of a bitch. I can feel it." He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair, his mind racing with possibilities.
McKenzie watched Noah for a moment, a thought occurring to him. "Why do I get the sense you're boning his daughter?"
Noah turned back to him, surprise evident on his face. "What?"
"People talk, Noah."
"Do they?"
"Loose lips, wagging tongues. I wouldn't be surprised if Luther has it in for you simply because he thinks you're screwing her. Might be best to keep your distance from the Ashfords."
Noah's expression darkened. "You're the second person today that’s told me that."
"Second?"
