Page 42 of Nails
“Initially, the investigation was opened by the FBI.”Derek paused for a quick second and smirked at Riley.“However, as of yesterday, HSI has taken over the case.”
Derek turned toward Riley.“Agent Aiken, the floor is all yours.”
Nails watched as she stood up.“Thank you, Commander,” she said before turning and facing the group.
“Before I dive into the briefing, I want to first say that even though the situation we’re dealing with is dire, it’s an honor to work with all of you.I understand much of what you do is classified, and while I may never know the full extent of your service, I respect the hell out of it.”
Right then, Nails could feel a shift in the air.He could see a few of the guys giving Riley a subtle nod.Even Jay Bird, who usually looked half-bored in briefings, gave her a small, approving smile.
Respect wasn’t handed out lightly in their world.But Riley had just earned a good chunk of it.
“In the six years I’ve been with HSI, I’ve worked cases involving narcotics, forced labor, child exploitation, and organized trafficking rings both stateside and overseas.”Her voice was steady and confident.She wasn’t bragging, she was just stating facts.
“Places like Club Lune don’t just operate as nightlife venues,” she said.“They act as recruitment hubs for larger trafficking rings.They target vulnerable women, like students, who are like Anna.Or women who are down on their luck and looking to make some quick money.However, by the time the women realize what’s really going on, it’s too late.”
Nails kept his focus locked on Riley as she moved toward the large TV screen and brought up a new slide.A still frame from a surveillance camera blinked onto the screen.
“After Anna was reported missing, investigators were able to get this surveillance footage from one of the few CCTVs in the area,” Riley said.“It shows her walking outside Club Lune the night she vanished.When they approached the club’s manager with this photo and asked if he recognized her, he denied ever seeing her.He claimed he’d never even heard of Anna Burns, which is the alias she used while traveling.After giving that answer, the club has for the most part been uncooperative.”
Jay Bird frowned.“And the investigators just accepted that?Knowing the club could be tied to trafficking?Can’t the authorities over there dig up employee records or something?”
Riley shook her head.“Not with a place like Lune.They don’t keep paperwork.Everything is handled with cash.Even inside, the drinks, services, tips, and employees’ pay are all done under the table.No digital trail to follow, and definitely no government oversight.”
“Who owns it?”Bear asked.
“A shell company,” Riley replied.“It’s registered under a fake name, offshore holdings, everything legally scrubbed.You’d be chasing phantoms trying to trace it back to someone real.”
Nails caught something in Riley’s tone.It was faint, but he heard it.It was a slight shift in her voice that didn’t line up with the matter-of-fact delivery she’d been giving so far.
He narrowed his eyes.“But you don’t believe what management is saying, do you?”
Riley paused, looking at him.
“No,” she said simply.“I don’t.”
Bear leaned forward.“Why not?”
She gave the remote a quick tap, and the screen changed to a zoomed-in frame of Anna.
Nails stared at the image.Anna was mid-stride, with her hands in her hoodie pocket.She wore loose-fitting sweatpants with tennis shoes.To him, she looked like a young woman out for a stroll in the middle of the night.
He glanced at the others, but nobody said anything.
“Ignore the clothes.Look at her hair and her makeup,” Riley told them.
Nails narrowed his eyes at the image, finally seeing what Riley meant.Despite the baggy sweats and hoodie, Anna’s hair was carefully styled in soft waves, and her makeup was heavy but precise.
“That’s not the kind of look someone throws on for a stroll in the middle of the night on a dead-end street,” Riley said.“But it is the look of someone who just got off a shift in a gentleman’s club.”
Nails exhaled quietly through his nose.Damn.
“The club can deny it all they want, but based on my assumptions and what has been presented to me, my gut says that Anna was an employee there.And the clues to finding her are inside that club.”
Duke leaned forward, eyes locked on the screen.“So, how do we get inside?”
Riley turned her gaze to Derek, who stepped forward with a nod.
“Riley has agreed to go in undercover.”
