The Lost Girl (A Mickey Keller Thriller Book 1) by Alan Jacobson

Author:Alan Jacobson [Jacobson, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Suspense Publishing
Published: 2021-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

38

Loren Ryder was sitting at her cubicle in C15, commonly referred to as Child Crimes—or the more formally named Violent Crimes Against Children Unit—of the FBI’s San Francisco Division. She worked out of the Oakland Resident Agency, a satellite facility across the Bay Bridge that, despite its name, employed a whopping two hundred federal law enforcement officers. Some RAs, as the resident agencies were known in Bureau-speak, were home to a single agent, while others had five or even ten. The expansive territory covered by the Oakland RA’s jurisdiction, however, necessitated a substantial complement of men and women occupying more than three full floors of the large office building.

Loren found herself staring at a photo from her San Leandro case: a missing three-year-old, his beautiful nutmeg complexion contrasting sharply with the bright yellow background. She shook off her funk and completed the FD-302, a form used for recording interviews and other investigative activity.

She realized it was getting late—Zach would be starting to make dinner about now so that when she walked in, she would have enough time to wash up, set the table, and corral the kids into the dining room.

The sun had set a while ago and some of the agents were preparing to wrap things up for the day. Loren was always one of the last to leave. Not because she loved her office—she cared for and respected most of the people there, even though the work itself was emotionally difficult—but she felt a certain level of responsibility to do everything she could to find the missing children. Knocking off before six seemed like giving them the short stick. All in her squad felt the same way.

As she set the photo back in the San Leandro file, she heard her colleagues, Jimmy Hill and Tran Minh, welcome an investigator from Oakland PD’s Special Victims Section, part of the Vice/Child Exploitation Unit.

Another new case. Another missing kid. Does it ever end?

She knew the answer to that question, and it was not anything she wanted to think about.

“Elvis Courtland,” a man with a moderately deep voice said.

“Elvis your real name?” Hill asked.

“Actually, it is. Parents were fans.”

“Have a seat,” Minh said with a chuckle. “You’re new to Oakland. I know a lot of the investigators. Never seen you before.”

“Moved from Nashville. Worked there fifteen years, then the wife got a job at Facebook. Bam. Life turned upside down.”

“I’ll give you what we’ve got,” Hill said.

Loren spaced out, her mind periodically picking up a detail here and there…

Young blonde girl about five years old

Loren pulled out a report from the investigating San Leandro detective and re-read the original complaint.

Au pair from Germany befriended thirty-something woman

Loren logged onto her system and pulled up the case.

Abducted from Lake Merritt area

She opened the photos of the street where the child was last seen and clicked through them, hoping to catch something she had not previously seen.

Suspect met au pair at the lake

Loren made a note to re-interview the contractor who worked on the house prior to the child’s disappearance.

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