Page 88 of Twice Missing
McKenzie shot Noah a look, confirming their earlier suspicions.
"What about Selena?" Noah pressed. "Were you involved in her death?"
"No," Jacob said firmly. "I liked her. She took me under her wing."
"But she was involved in trafficking women to Sunrise Power Systems?"
Jacob nodded reluctantly.
“What was the fight at the Pow Wow about?”
“Selena told Abel she wasn’t going to deliver any more women. You have to understand, she was trying to get clean. Everything she did before that was to feed her habit. But someone said they could help her. Some doctor. A white woman."
"Emily," Noah muttered, the pieces falling into place. "So you did know her."
"Never met her," Jacob clarified. "Selena handled all the deliveries of women."
Noah's mind whirled with the implications. "Who killed Selena, and why?"
Jacob shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. She just vanished. At first, I thought she'd run away. She was always talking about leaving it all behind, starting fresh with the help of this other woman."
Noah's thoughts turned to Emily Carter and the Thank You bracelet. Had Emily, too, been coerced through threats to her children? Had they tried to escape that fateful night, only to be stopped? Nathan had stuck to his story that it was the cartel. If it was, the chances of finding the one who did it were slim to none. He glanced at the resort. The reality was not every missing person was found, not every murdered victim got justice. Sometimes the guilty walked free, while those alive carried the burden of the dead.
"Do you know who you were delivering these women to?" Noah asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.
"Some white guy," Jacob replied.
Noah pointed to Nathan Carter, handcuffed in the back of another cruiser. "Was that him?"
Jacob nodded, then looked at Noah with a mix of resignation and fear. "I'm going away for a long time, aren't I?"
Noah met his gaze steadily. "I'm not a judge, Jacob, but I'm sure the system will take your honesty into consideration."
Jacob buried his head in his hands in shame.
With that, Noah stepped away to call FBI Agent Gillian Jones, updating her on the mountain of evidence they'd gathered, including Jacob's statement. He knew the road ahead would be long — combing through data, analyzing video footage, building a case against Detective David Oates for tampering with evidence. But for the first time in months, Noah felt a flicker of hope. This tangled web of corruption and exploitation was finally being dragged into the light.
EPILOGUE
The crackling and popping of logs in the fireplace created a warm backdrop for the Sutherland family's Christmas gathering in Maddie's living room. Kerri and the kids filled the space with laughter, their faces radiant with holiday cheer. In a comfortable chair, Gretchen — recently discharged from the hospital and on the mend — reclined with a smile. She had doctor’s orders to take it easy and adhere to her heart medication, but she laughed heartily at Ed's jokes, her spirit seemingly undiminished by her recent challenges.
Ray stood up, swaying slightly as he raised his beer bottle and tapped it with a fork. "All right, all right. Listen up," he called, his words slightly slurred. "I know it's not the new year yet, but I just want to make a few things clear..."
As Ray launched into a rambling speech about clearing his casino debts and swearing off gambling houses, Noah couldn't help but notice Gretchen's raptattention. She always championed attempts at change, no matter how unlikely they seemed. Noah, however, remained skeptical. He'd believe it when he saw it.
While Ray's monologue veered into increasingly nonsensical territory, Noah seized the opportunity to slip away to the kitchen. The rich aroma of roasting turkey filled the air, mingling with the scents of side dishes. To his right, the dining room table was a vision of holiday abundance — plates and cutlery meticulously arranged, wine glasses gleaming, and an array of dishes covered in foil to retain their warmth.
"You need a hand with anything?" Noah offered, taking a sip from his drink.
Maddie, wiping her hands on her apron, glanced at her watch with a slight grimace. "No, just waiting on one more."
Noah's eyebrows rose. "You invited a friend?"
"Dad," Maddie replied, her tone cautious.
Noah's brow furrowed, a mix of surprise and displeasure crossing his face. "I thought..."
Maddie cut him off gently but firmly. "He's still family, Noah. You might not invite him to your place, but that doesn't mean I can't have him here."
