“I doubt it. He lawyered up immediately.”

“Well, when things calm down. After a few days have passed. See if you can get in to meet with him. You aren’t affiliated with the FBI. If he’s got a high-powered attorney, he might not let you in. But, if you play your cards right, he might. If you get some time with him, he might want to talk about what he did and why. Could be an excellent opportunity to publish a study on him. And on the case. Turning the ransom around, it’s a strong-arm tactic. And clearly it caused someone he hired to rat him out. Whose idea was that? FBI?”

“It was my idea.”

A familiar deep chuckle crosses the line. I’m smiling, because my dad’s laugh is one of the best sounds in the world. He’s practically halfway around the world, but his familiar belly roll wraps around me. I wish I could bury my face into his neck, just like Sophia did with her dad.

“That’s my lass. Good work.”

“I don’t know, Dad. It doesn’t feel right to me.” I’ve heard my dad say things like that before when working a case. There’s an instinctual element to cases as you piece together the details.

“Well, like I’ve told you before, you’re dealing with a mind that works differently than your own. You are going to need to find a way to spend some time with him. To understand his thought process. What he ultimately wanted to get out of this. If he’s ever done anything like this before, and if not, what was his trigger event.”

Ryan’s light blue eyes flash across the courtyard. His head is bent, in a continued discussion with Agent Ryland, but he’s watching out for me.

CHAPTER 22

Ryan

“The missing persons aspect of the case is resolved. But the case will remain open.” Agent Ryland answers my question as I keep Alex in my field of vision. “The District Attorney prosecuting Larry Reyes is going to need more information on who his accomplices were and what happened. The DEA has also expressed interest. You can’t involve a couple of known Cartel affiliates and not stir up multiple federal agencies.”

“Understand.”

“Will you still be involved?”

“Jack asked for my help finding Sophia. And when he asked, the FBI wasn’t yet involved. I assume he won’t need additional assistance. Arrow will be taking over his personal security.”

“Smart. After that reward he paid, he and his daughter will need security for the rest of their lives.”

“He needed better security before this happened.” Jack Sullivan attempted to fly under the radar and out of the public eye, but he didn’t succeed.

“Are you heading home tomorrow?”

It’s almost two in the morning. I’ll get some shuteye before I contemplate flying a helicopter home. Alex is still on the phone, off to the side, away from the commotion. There’s a softness to her expression that has me suspecting her call is a personal one.