Page 37 of Lost Truth
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Hayden made the last turn toBegin Againto interview Becca while Cady huddled in the passenger seat, her arms wrapped around her body as if needing to defend herself. If it was possible to increase her distress from losing her dad, seeing him on video appeared to have overwhelmed her in grief.
If his parents had left a video where they talked to him after they’d died, he would’ve lost it. Odds were good he wouldn’t have been able to watch them. Sure, he was much younger and didn’t have Cady’s maturity, but grief didn’t know age. Grief was non-discriminating. All-inclusive for everyone, even the littlest of children who felt the loss but couldn’t express their pain with words.
He parked in front of BAG, located in a storefront on the corner of Main Street and Ocean Drive, and faced Cady. “Would you like to join me in interviewing Becca or take some time alone?”
She released her seatbelt, and it slid into the holder with a whoosh. “I definitely want to go with you. After seeing that video, I need answers more than ever.”
He nodded and opened his door. She followed suit. He took a long look around to see if anyone was watching them. Satisfied they were alone, he escorted Cady to the building painted a pale yellow with black trim. Matching colors had been used for the sign, reminding him of a bumblebee. If it was symbolic, he didn’t know how.
He opened the door for Cady, and a bell jingled from above. The small room held several round tables with chairs painted similar colors to the outside. Becca sat at one of the tables near the back of the room. She resembled her late father with a prominent chin and large green eyes, but unlike her dad, she had a full head of brown hair that fell to her shoulders.
She looked up and tilted her head. “Hayden. What brings you here?”
“You remember me?”
“How can I forget one of the people who helped free me from my abductor?” Her smile melted away, leaving only a shadow of unease etched across her face.
Obviously her traumatic kidnapping still impacted her. How could it not? “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
She waved a hand. “Thank you, but I know you didn’t come to talk about that.”
She seemed as if she still needed to talk about the pain, but he would leave it alone for today. He would continue to pray for her. “We have a couple of questions about your father as related to our current investigation, if you don’t mind answering them.”
She didn’t speak right away, her expression thick with emotion. “I heard you were looking for Kai. He was a good buddy of my dad, but what could that have to do with Kai going missing?”
Cady stepped forward. “I’m Cady Vaughn. My dad, Percy, was a friend of your father’s too.”
“Oh, Cady, honey. I’m so sorry for your loss.” Becca came around the table, pulled Cady into a hug, then let go—though her hands stayed on Cady’s upper arms. “I know what you’re going through. Such a sudden and unexpected loss.”
Cady gave a small nod, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but no words came.
“Sure, my dad had cancer and yours had dementia,” Becca continued, “and we would’ve lost them soon anyway, but we would’ve had a chance to prepare and say goodbye. But this way?” She shrugged, and tears shimmered in her eyes.
“We have so much in common.” Cady returned the hug then leaned back. “We should get together and talk. Not now, but after I find out who’s behind my dad’s death.”
“Talking could really be helpful for both of us.” Becca sniffled, her attention returning to Hayden. “Now, how can I help you?”
“Percy left a video where he said your father had learned about trafficking of women in the area.”
Becca gasped and clutched her chest.
Hayden forged on before she started asking questions. “He supposedly contacted ICE to resolve it, but until they could, he used his own money to buy women from the trafficker.”
Becca’s mouth fell open, and she blinked.
“Looks like you knew nothing about it.” Hayden wished that weren’t the case because he didn’t want this to be a dead end.
She shook her head, then stilled. “Oh. O-o-oh! Now I get it. I didn’t know anything about the trafficking, but before Dad died, he brought several women to our refugee program.”
“Did he say where they came from?” Cady asked.
“He said he learned about them through law enforcement, but he was never specific. I figured if he could share more details he would, so I didn’t push him on it.” Her hands tangled together, shifting and twitching.
She sounded and acted so earnest that Hayden believed her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t dig deeper. “Is it possible for us to talk to these women?”
Becca chewed on her lip. “Are they somehow related to Kai’s investigation?”
