“I have no idea how I’ll find out where this room is located.” Cindy was floundering. “How can I get her out?”
“Listen to me,” Alfred continued quickly, “there’s a detective who specializes in cases of missing persons, Tracy Wrenn. She’s based in the States, and I have her personal number. She’ll pick right up. Call her immediately and tell her what you have and she’ll help you.”
Cindy breathed more easily. “That’s wonderful, thank you so much, Alfred,”
“It’s my pleasure,” said Alfred. “You’re doing a great job. And I know you and Tracy will definitely like each other. I know it in my bones.”
“Wonderful,” Cindy agreed. She took Tracy’s number and hung up the phone.
*
Cindy immediately put the call in to Tracy. As Alfred said, she picked up immediately.
“Tracy Wrenn,” a woman’s voice answered directly. “How can I help you?”
Cindy was moved by the forthrightness in her tone. “Cindy Blaine here, private detective,” Cindy replied. “Alfred gave me your number.”
“Yes, he told me.” Tracy was ready to talk. She was probably used to emergencies, Cindy figured. Time was always of the essence in missing person’s cases.
“I’ve been working on a missing person’s case down in St. Lucia,” Cindy began. “Now we find that it’s tied to the murder of another young woman who was found dead on the beach a few days later.”
“How much time has passed?” Tracy responded immediately, her voice becoming concentrated.
“How much time since the murder or the other woman going missing?” asked Cindy.
“Both,” answered Tracy, quick and sharp.
“All in all about week for both of them,” Cindy replied.
“Good.” Tracy picked up on it. “All the players are around, nothing has gone cold.”
“The police said the missing woman’s case has gone cold,” said Cindy.
Tracy laughed for a second. “Gone cold? In a week? Welcome to the Caribbean. You don’t know how many times I’ve heard that before.”
Cindy liked her immensely. She was right on top of things, got the big picture immediately and didn’t need to be filled in on all the grimy details. And, although she was fully on board, Tracy didn’t seem emotional. Just completely present to what was going on. Cindy felt both a strange relief and exhilaration talking to her.
“I’ve just been given a photo of a woman I believe is the one we’re searching for,” Cindy went on, her voice growing lower. “She’s curled up alone in a room.”
“Who gave you this photo?” Tracy shot right back. “It could be a ploy to lure you in.”
Cindy had a moment of fear about telling Tracy where the photo actually came from.
“I received it from a reliable source,” said Cindy, not entirely sure if that were so, but not wanting to get sidetracked either. Cindy didn’t believe that Santos was trying to lure here anywhere, but she knew how it might easily look that way.
“What looks like a reliable source is often a camouflage, especially in missing person’s cases,” Tracy went on. “Before you use a lead to track down a person, you’ve got to be sure who the lead came from.”
“I need to find Kara immediately.” Cindy was unwilling to back away. “And I need to know where the room she’s being held in is.”
“Okay, got it,” Tracy replied. “You need a forensic photographer and I’ve got a great one, Alan Dain. He can take a photo you give him and pull information off it that could practically solve any crime. Get this photo to him and he’ll let you know just where the room is, in no time flat.”
“Fantastic,” said Cindy, excited.
“I’ll give you Alan’s contact information. He’ll tell you exactly how to scan the photo to the computer to send to him. There’s also a certain way to fax it. You do what he says and you’ll get your answers.”
“What do I owe you?” asked Cindy, thrilled to have met her, feeling wonderful talking to another woman detective.
“Nothing,” said Tracy. “It’s great talking to you. I’ve known Alfred for years and he thinks the world of you. He’s a fantastic guy and I’m happy to help both of you.”
Cindy was amazed that Alfred knew someone like Tracy. How in the world could they have met? It seemed such an unlikely connection.
“Alfred’s lucky to have you as his friend,” said Cindy.
“No,” answered Tracy, her voice buoyant, “you got that wrong. I’m the lucky one.”
CHAPTER 20