A Covert Affair (Deadly Ops #5)(46)

Something started to buzz inside Nathan. “What about abuse or trauma?”

“None at all. No signs of sexual or physical abuse. Also no drug use. She was in perfect health.”

“How did she die?” Burkhart asked.

“Poison. It would have been a painless death, but definitely poison.”

“Any idea where she was being held?” It was a long shot, but Nathan had to ask. And he wanted to know what had happened to the baby, but the doctor wouldn’t know that. Fuck, he really hated this case.

She shook her head. “The tarp she was wrapped in is common, can be bought at any local hardware store. And her body was cleaned by a pro. There’s no one else’s DNA on her or the tarp. There also isn’t any on the weights that were holding her underwater. Whoever dumped her took serious precautions to cover their tracks.”

Various thoughts filtered through Nathan’s mind, but the first one that popped up was black market babies. “She wasn’t being abused. There was no drug use. She was kept alive for eleven months since being held, and she recently gave birth.”

“Fuck.” Burkhart’s voice was savage.

His thoughts exactly. “Black market babies are big money, but I’ve never heard of someone kidnapping women and holding them in a large-scale capacity for this purpose. Usually they just kidnap babies.” Not that they knew that the other women they’d found would have similarities to Ester Pajari. But it was in the realm of possibility and one they had to consider.

“I’m sending more remains your way right now, Tai. Call in whoever you want for backup. I need to know if the rest of the women suffered similar fates. Some of the remains will be sent to the Miami PD’s lab. I’ll put you in contact with their ME so you can coordinate and compare findings.”

As Tai and Burkhart talked, Nathan scrubbed a hand over his face. Black market babies were a nightmare. Kidnapping women, impregnating them—via rape or insemination—then killing them and selling off their babies.

“I want to set up a meet with Alexander Lopez,” Nathan said before Tai could hang up with Burkhart. Lopez was a Miami weapons dealer who’d worked with various NSA agents—though he didn’t know they were agents. He was a criminal, no doubt, but he had a sort of moral code that made it difficult to dislike the guy. If there was a baby market operation going on in Miami and he knew about it, he wouldn’t like it. When something offended Lopez’s moral compass, he had no problem passing on the information.

There was a moment of silence. “I’ll have Selene set up the meeting. She’ll get a meet faster, since they have a relationship.”

“I—”

“You’ll go with her. Now go get some rack time. There’s nothing else you can do tonight and I need you sharp for that meet tomorrow.”

“Okay.” He didn’t plan to get any sleep, though. He was headed straight to Amelia’s after this. Nathan wasn’t sure if Burkhart would approve, which was why he wasn’t asking.

He didn’t care what his boss said. Not after a day like today.

He needed to see Amelia. Part of him wanted to hash things out with her, but mainly he just wanted to hold her.





Chapter 12


Rack time: common term used by military personnel, refers to sleeping.





Wesley steered into the driveway of the average-looking two-story home in a quiet Coral Gables neighborhood. Hanging flowerpots were along the porch, and two oversize ones were on either side of the front door.

Lights immediately illuminated the driveway and the porch. Either Matias had sensors or he’d heard him. Probably both. Wesley hated coming by with only pieces of information, but Matias was the one who’d turned them onto this case. It wasn’t as if the former spy would tell anyone, so that wasn’t an issue. Wesley just hated bringing his old friend shitty news.

When he got out of his SUV, the driveway lights flicked off. Just as quickly, so did the front porch ones. The door opened before he’d made it halfway up the walkway.

Matias, wearing long plaid lounge pants and a blue T-shirt, stood to the side, holding the front door open for him. “Is she dead?” he asked, his voice tight as Wesley stepped into his house.

“Not that I know of.” The door shut behind him with a snick.

Matias’s expression didn’t change as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Should I offer you coffee, or is it not that kind of visit?”

“I could go for some coffee.” He didn’t need it, but he could tell his friend was wound too tight.

Matias tilted his head to the left, indicating he should follow him down a short hallway. “You look exhausted.”

“Been a long day.” That was an understatement. There was no way they could keep this from the media much longer. Too many people had been on-site, and while Nieto might trust his guys, there was no way he could control them all. Wesley didn’t want to keep it from the media anyway. If he could use them, he would. Right now the media could be a benefit in getting names and pictures out to the public. The women taken hadn’t had roots, but they’d have had some ties or daily habits. Maybe someone would remember something. At this point they’d take any lead they could get.

“Hope you don’t mind instant.” Matias got to work, prepping mugs for both of them as Wesley sat at the center island.