Page 29 of Nails
“They’ve handed over everything they have relating to the case to us.Interpol is aware of the situation, and they are monitoring things on their end and assisting where they can.”
Riley’s mind raced.“What about others?Have there been any other women reported missing in that area or with ties to the club?”
Pullman’s face darkened as he closed the file.
“There have been four young women who were reported missing in the last six months.Two of them had connections to the club.We are unsure about the other two.Interpol doesn’t have any solid evidence, but from a bit of chatter they picked up from some backchannels suggests that Club Lune may be a recruiting hub for human trafficking and using the club side as a cover.You know, they lure women in with promises of high-paying jobs, meeting rich men, and once they’re in, these sick individuals slowly groom them based on what buyers want.”
Riley looked at Agent Pullman.She knew exactly what recruiting hubs were.They were evil places filled with fake promises and manipulation.
“Do you believe that Anna has fallen victim to whatever is happening inside this club?”
Agent Pullman was quiet at first, as he appeared to be thinking about his answer.Then he looked her in the eye and answered truthfully.
“Yes.”
The room fell silent, and Riley already knew that they weren’t dealing with just a missing person’s case.This was the start of something much darker.
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Riley asked, “What do you need from me?”
She didn’t miss the quick glance that Pullman gave Russell before meeting her eyes.
“We need eyes and ears inside the club.It is the only way we’re going to get any answers.”
“Okay,” Riley said, slowly.“What does that have to do with me?”
“We need you to go undercover inside the club as a worker.”
Thank goodness Riley had been sitting down, or she would have hit the ground from the weight of those words alone.
She looked over at Russell, and his expression softened just enough for her to notice the concern in his eyes.
Her stomach clenched as memories from a case she was assigned to in New York a few years ago resurfaced.
It had been the case that made people take her seriously.And it was the case that haunted her the most.
It wasn’t too long after the assignment in New York had concluded when she transferred to the Gullpoint office and began her tenure under Russell.He knew exactly what that case had done to her.The sleepless nights, the guilt over the girl she hadn’t been able to save, and the anger she’d carried after the FBI’s mistakes that could have gotten her killed.
She turned her eyes on Pullman.“Why can’t the FBI handle this?”
Agent Pullman shifted in his seat, his expression serious as he met Riley’s gaze.“I read every page in your file,” he said.“Out of every agent we considered, we kept coming back to you.You stood out by miles.For Christ’s sake, you exposed a nearly identical operation in New York.You have the experience, the instincts, and the kind of judgment that you can teach on the fly.But it’s more than just your record.You have a way of earning people’s trust.You get in close without setting off alarms, and that’s not something we see often.The fact that you speak fluent Mandarin is critical, especially when others think your only language is English.Hong Kong is layered in that language, and we need someone who can move without a translator or hesitation.And—” he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with what he was about to say, “look, I know this probably sounds awkward, but you’re attractive.You fit the profile of the kind of woman these types of people target.We need someone who can get inside that club immediately.Ultimately, you are the only agent we have who can realistically accomplish this.You’re our best chance of finding out what happened to Anna and the other young women.Honestly, I think you might be our only hope.
Riley leaned back in her chair, not saying anything.She was letting Pullman’s words settle.He wasn’t wrong.She’d played this role before.Hearing that she was their only hope had hit her hard.But her thoughts were screaming,Can I really do this again?She could say no.She had every right to walk away.But then she thought about Anna, and all the other girls who could be holding onto hope that someone was coming for them.She knew deep down that she couldn’t let them down.
Russell leaned forward in his chair, his eyes locking with hers.“If you agree to do this, you will be working alongside a specialized team.”
“I know it’s a big ask,” Pullman said.“I know what happened in New York was a major fuck up on the Bureau’s part.I wasn’t involved, but I’ve read the file.The leak shouldn’t have happened.And if you say yes to this, I give you my word that it won’t happen again.”
Riley looked at him, and for a split second, she could tell he meant it.But meaning something and guaranteeing it were two very different things.
“I mean this respectfully, Agent Pullman.I can’t just trust words.Not after what happened last time.”She held his gaze.“If I do this, HSI takes over the investigation, and the FBI is out.All files in the FBI’s possession will be restricted.Only you and the top-level directors will have access to this information.That is my condition.Take it or leave it.”
“What gives you the right to make such demands?”Pullman said with a raised voice.
Before Riley could respond, Russell spoke up.His firm tone was a warning to Pullman.“She has every right to.You came to us asking for help.If you don’t like the conditions that Agent Aiken has set, which I back her one hundred percent on, then you can leave and go find yourself another agent.”
Pullman opened his mouth but then closed it.He looked at Riley as he appeared to be thinking through his options.After a few tense moments, he sighed.
