There’s a pause.

“And when did he go on vacation?”

Another brief pause.

“And where did he go?”

Pause.

“Right. Can you see if you can get him on the phone for me? Yes, my work cell. Thank you.”

I text Erik.

Any update on those financials? Also, have you accessed sales by sales rep?

Jack tells the room, “He’s on vacation. She doesn’t know where. Has been out of the office this week.”

Agent Ryland turns to a member of his team. “Locate Larry Reyes. Access his credit card transactions. Process the paperwork to see if we can get his number run through Phantom.”

Phantom is a powerful program that provides access to someone’s phone without having any interaction. All you need is a phone number. It’s designed to help fight enemies abroad. But in rare instances, the US government will use it to fight homeland crime.

“This is guilt by association,” Jack utters, almost to himself.

“Jack, you have to recognize there are too many coincidences here.”

He purses his lips once more. “And we don’t believe in coincidences?” he asks, but he knows the answer.

“No, we don’t,” I confirm.

The agents break into separate groups. Jack has his hands templed, and his head rests against them as if in prayer. He’ll send payment as soon as it’s available. It takes a while to prepare twenty-five million to be paid via cryptocurrency. No one has that kind of money sitting in a cash account. But once it’s available, Jack will pay.

I’ll feel better once we have an idea who we are dealing with. If there is an opportunity to negotiate, I’ll step in. If we can determine her location before the ransom deadline, then many more options open up.

I motion to Alex to join me outside. We could use some fresh air.

“Do you think he should pay?”

The door clicks closed behind us.

“Depends. If these are professionals, then they will return her. Their business model depends on being trusted. But that’s more what we see internationally. If these aren’t professionals, if this isn’t something they do regularly, then they are more likely to want to dispose of a witness.”

“You keep saying they, but inside they are talking about one man.”

“They have a person of interest. Even if he is upgraded to suspect, he didn’t do this alone.”

I pull out a chair at a round table and motion to Alex to take it, then I take the seat beside it.

“What are you thinking?” She pins me with her gaze, studying me like I am a suspect.

“It doesn’t make sense. The timing. My gut tells me this wasn’t originally designed for a ransom. If that’s your plan, you don’t wait six days. I think there was a different plan, and then all the press broke. Something that happened changed the original plans.”

She leans forward, her elbows on her thighs. The tip of her shoes rubs against mine. I caress her knee, and she looks away.