High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Nineteen

Cory, driving like a madman with his lights flashing and noise deafening, pulled up behind a multitude of other police vehicles. The lack of activity told its own story. They knew exactly what they would find.

Nothing!

Disappointment made Aurora clench her teeth so hard it brought a new surge of tears to her eyes. God how she’d wanted to see that white Peterbilt surrounded by law enforcement—and the babies safe. Hungering to hold Lily ate away at her insides and made her breasts swell painfully.

From the front seats, the men readied themselves to join the group.

Kai turned to her and asked; his voice considerate but flat. “You ready?” She saw the pain in his expression, the tightening around his mouth and knew he suffered.

She didn’t trust herself to speak so instead she nodded.

Flashlights, passed out between them, helped them walk over the uneven ground. Approaching the yellow tape with their badges in full sight didn’t get them beyond the boundary. Following orders, the young officer stayed them by holding his arms out. Only a roar from Cory towards the strutting peacock dressed like a SWAT general got them admitted.

Aurora heard the snarl growing in Kai’s chest before even a hint of it surfaced and wondered how she held her own cool. Frustration ate away all her civility. Pulling her gun and putting a bullet into that incompetent bastard, Haynes, began to seem like a really good idea.

How the hell they thought they’d keep a crime scene from being contaminated with so many people milling around, she’d never know. Half the vehicles could leave and take 80% of the personnel and it would still be too many.

Cory and Kai approached Haynes with questions. But Aurora didn’t trust herself around the man who’d waited too long and ruined the best lead they had to getting Lily back safe. She would do her own investigating.

On the way to the warehouse, Cory had shared the earlier report he’d received from L.A. on Leon Chang-Lee, the half-brother who lived there. Seems the Feds had brought him into their office for questioning, and like any smart crook, he’d lawyered up. Needless to say, they’d failed to do anything other than warn the bastard. Now he’d crawl underground until the heat lifted.

Aurora’s people knew that it made sense for the Chang-Lee’s merchandise to be transported by sea and so they’d quietly investigated all vessels heading to China in the next few days. They’d paid special attention to any connected with the Chang-Lees and came up blank. Which of course meant squat. Papers could be falsified, and unless they searched every single container ship, they weren’t likely to find any damning evidence.

If successful, this raid would’ve been their best chance to gain evidence against the brothers and sever the whole operation. Shaking with tension, Aurora wandered around the perimeter to cool down.

The ache in her ears gave her the first clue and the when the low hum started she already knew why. Sure enough, tire tracks, like those she’d seen recently were plainly visible. Excitement revved her already fired up senses. She pulled her phone and called Cory.

“I need you here. You and Kai. Alone.” She saw him glance around until he spotted her, and with a nod to Haynes, he touched Kai’s arm and motioned him to follow. They nonchalantly walked over to where she stood.

“What’s up?” Cory looked primed and she supposed he’d picked something up in her voice.

“The Peterbilt was here. See those tracks? They’re an exact match to the ones at the crime scene by the scales. I studied them there, Cory. I’m sure. Can we get our team here to do the casting? “

“No can do, Aurora. Right now, it’s their jurisdiction. Granted, I’d like nothing better than to show up their incompetence, but we can’t take the chance on anyone messing with the prints either.” Cory thought for a moment and the disgust in his voice became even clearer. “We’ll have to point it out to them to be sure it’s taken care of. This is the kind of evidence that could win a case against some pretty bad characters.”

Kai finally spoke up, and from the sound of the disgust in his voice, his aversion matched Cory’s. “On the way here you said that you think the trucker has human cargo. What makes you think he’s kidnapped the babies?”

Aurora replied. “Not saying he’s the one who kidnaps them, but we believe he has them in the truck and most likely is supposed to deliver them somewhere. Problem is every road’s been blocked. The helicopters are searching the outlying trails and every white truck is being searched.”

Cory added, “Ham had a long talk with the Nellis scale operator and he mentioned that the driver dumped a bunch of dirty diapers in his garbage can. Pissed him off so much he remembered it and since he was already complaining to Ham about the driver’s shitty attitude, this came up.” His grin didn’t reach his eyes. “No pun intended.”

Aurora added. “The driver most likely came here to pick up more cargo, possibly Lily.” Her voice broke on the last word.

“Then we need to find that truck.”

“Not we! I have every available officer and deputy working the highways. He can’t hide forever. We have a sketch, poor but better than nothing, and it’s been sent through every channel. There’s an Amber Alert for all the babies and pictures being shown on every TV station, in all the newspaper and even in the flyers circulating in every gas station in the state. We have men stationed in the airports, bus station and train depots. It’s near midnight. We need to get some rest.”

“No.”

“Aurora, it’s an order.” Cory’s tone brooked no opposition. His side glare at Kai spoke volumes.

“No!” This time her voice broke.

Kai turned quickly. “Aww, Darlin’. We’re spinning our wheels right now and you know we’ll need to be at our best tomorrow. Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Too tired to fight, lulled by the gentleness in the devil’s voice, she caved.