Cozy Case Files, Volume 15 by Ellie Alexander

Author:Ellie Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

2

Harold poured another drink for Frankie, and this time she sipped it slowly. The color had returned to her cheeks, and she was sitting up straighter. To give her a chance to pull herself together, I told my friends about how Frankie and my mother were such good buddies and adventurers. When Frankie threw me a grateful smile, I nodded at my partner to pick up the questioning. Tinkie was sometimes softer, easier than I was in dealing with distressed people.

“Tell us about your daughter,” Tinkie prompted. The rest of the crew circled around Frankie, waiting for the details. She’d certainly captured our interest. Only Coleman remained in the background, leaning against the mantel by a fire that needed stoking.

“My daughter, Christa, is a journalist working out of New Orleans for several online magazines. A few months ago she was contacted by the University of Missouri. They invited her to submit an investigative piece for a chance at a free master’s degree. The degree is nice, but the introduction to a level of professional journalism was the real reward for the program. Christa went all in.”

So far the young woman sounded smart and dedicated. “What story was she working on?”

“Human trafficking.” Frankie blinked back tears. “It sounded dangerous to me. The people who do that kind of thing are ruthless, and Christa was trying to put together cases of missing women. She was digging into some really bad people, and she said she was gathering proof that women were being taken from the streets of New Orleans. She just didn’t know why or who was doing it.”

“She had evidence?” Coleman spoke softly but it was clear to me he was paying close attention.

Frankie nodded. “She said she did. She found some information.” Her voice broke. “It gets even worse.” A single tear glided down her cheek. “A friend of Christa’s disappeared from the French Quarter four days ago. Christa thought she might have been taken by a group of people who believe crazy things. She was devastated by Britta’s disappearance but she was pragmatic, too. She was determined to find her roommate and bring her home safely, but she recognized the potential. If what Christa believed was true, the story could be her ticket to any newspaper she wanted to work for.”

“So Christa suspected more than sex trafficking. Something even worse?”

Frankie nodded. “That’s what Christa was investigating. A cult.”

“What kind of cult?” I felt a chill pass over me.

“Everyone, give her a chance to tell her story in her own way.” Tinkie gave all of us the stink eye. “Can’t you see she’s worried sick?”

“Do you have a photo of your daughter?” Cece asked. Her voice was kind, but as a journalist, she was already planning how to publicize Christa’s disappearance and get as many feet on the ground looking for her as possible.

“I do.” Frankie quickly found one on her phone. We passed it around, all looking at the beautiful young blonde with bright blue eyes and a wide smile.

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