Agent Ryland approaches us as the taillights of the unmarked sedan fall out of view.

“Did he say anything?” I ask Ryland. My curiosity is high.

“Requested a lawyer the second his rights were read.”

“Did he seem surprised? When the FBI showed up?” I wish we could have been here to see it all go down.

“Not particularly. For a split second, it looked like he might run, but he was surrounded in the front, and he held his hands up. We’ve got it on a head cam. You can check the video later.”

“One man got away?” Ryan asks. “You think he knew the place was being surrounded?”

“No.” Ryland’s hands rest on his waist, his elbows out to the side. “I think it was dumb luck he left when he did. We got the tags, though. Debated pulling him over, but we opted to not spook the occupants inside the house. We’ll find him.” Ryland oozes confidence. “Also have men inside Larry Reyes’ house in Texas.”

“Did they find anything?” I ask.

“Photos of Sophia on the walls. Her school schedule. Security footage from her home address on his hard drive. He’s going to need that lawyer he requested.”

Agent Liam Ryland looks pleased with himself and the case. He looks like he’s ready to crack open beer and celebrate. Ryan has a more cautious expression. He’s surveying the scene with a grim expression.

My phone rings and flashes my dad’s name. I excuse myself and step away from the activity. For once, I’m thankful for my dad’s call.

“Hey, Dad.”

“News flashed. You’ve got her? Sophia’s okay?”

“Yes.” My dad does care. He can come across like he’s all work, but there’s much more to him. “They took her away to the hospital.”

“What’d they…is she okay?” My dad has been working with law enforcement for decades. He has a vast firsthand knowledge of the bad things that can happen.

“She’s okay. She was bound, captive. Possibly raped. Drugged. We don’t know everything yet.”

“Human trafficking?” he asks.

The drugs and possible rape would fall in line with standard human trafficking. Get them addicted, then they become compliant, desperate for the next fix, willing to do anything. But Sophia is an odd target for human trafficking. Typically, human traffickers target young girls from broken families, the kinds of girls who won’t be missed. Or whose families won’t have the means to conduct a thorough search.

“I don’t think so. It doesn’t fit.” Dad understands me. He knows what I’m saying.

“Tell me about the man who took her.”

“Business executive. Hispanic. Mid-thirties. Divorced. Frequent business traveler.”

“Mmmm.” Dad mulls it over.

“They did find evidence he’s been tracking her.”

“You think it was all for a ransom?”

“Maybe. But why hold on to her for so long if it’s all for a ransom? Wouldn’t you want to relay the ransom before the feds were called in? Before there’s national media attention?”

“Are you going to get some time with him?”