Page 7 of Capone
Something was off. Sara and Cara looked absolutely furious to see Danny and Nicole. Mercury, for the first time ever, seemed nervous. I didn’t understand what was going on or where all the tension was coming from. Nicole stood beside me with a smug smile as she watched Cara.
I narrowed my eyes at her behavior. It was almost like she was silently trying to taunt her. I didn’t know what her problem was, but she had better get it together. We were here for Gabi, and I wasn’t going to let anyone interfere with that.
Cara and Sara both looked ready to kill until Mercury told them why we were here in the first place. Their faces instantly morphed into concern.
“I’m guessing you’re the mother?” Sara said, looking over to me.
“Yes.”
“And you brought her here?” Cara frowned at Mercury.
I frowned slightly. If she thought she was kicking me out of here, then she was in for a rude awakening. They would have to drag me home kicking and screaming. I wanted…no,neededto be here. I needed to be a part of finding my baby and bringing her home. Cara noticed the look on my face and sighed.
“I don’t mean any disrespect by what I said, but you have to understand what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I know. I don’t want to cause any problems. I just want to know what’s going on.”
“As a mother, I completely understand. But I need you to understand that if you’re going to be here, you might hear things that are upsetting. When we’re breaking this case down, you will hear scenarios that will be devastating, but we have to look at this case from all angles.”
I swallowed as she laid everything on the table for me. This was her giving me an out. This would definitely take a toll on me emotionally and mentally, but I wasn’t backing out.
I needed this.
“I understand.”
Cara nodded before focusing her attention back on Mercury. “What do you got?”
Mercury placed his briefcase on the table and opened it. He retrieved two files and handed them over to Sara and Cara. They opened them and looked over every detail. We watched in silence. Every so often they would look up to each other as if they were silently communicating. I sat on pins and needles awaiting their verdict.
After a few minutes, Cara placed the file on the table and rubbed her temples. “Mercury, this little girl has been missing for a week, and you arejust nowbringing this to me.”
“I know Cara, but?—”
“You know the first forty-eight hours are critical inanycase, especially a kidnapping.”
“I know, but you two are the best. If anyone can find Gabrielle, I know you two can.”
Sara snorted, shaking her head. “Don’t try buttering us up. You know you’re dead wrong for bringing this to us so late. Look,we’ll do our best, but we’re going to have to start from scratch. If we go off what’s in this file, we’ll never find her.”
I gasped with wide eyes, catching Cara and Sara’s attention. “Are you sure you want to be here for this?” Cara asks me.
I nodded profusely. “Yes. I’m sure.”
“Why would you need to start from scratch? We’ve been working on this for a week.” Nicole folded her arms, sending a heated stare towards Sara and Cara.
“And where has that gotten you?” Sara tilted her head with a raised brow.
Nicole gritted her teeth and glared at her. Sara didn’t seem the least bit intimidated. She looked like she was ready to say more, but Mercury pinned her with a look that had her snapping her mouth closed.
“Tell me what you two are thinking,” he ordered Sara and Cara.
“Well, I strongly disbelieve this is the work of traffickers,” Cara said as she was scanning the file once again.
My heart dropped into my stomach. I didn’t even know Danny and Nicole were suspecting Gabi had been snatched by sex traffickers. Cara words replayed in my mind.
When we’re breaking this case down, you will hear scenarios that will be devastating, but we have to look at this case from all angles.
If I was going to be a part of this, I needed to toughen up.
