Chapter Forty-Nine

 

Blanche took up her computer again and curled into the corner of the faded floral sofa. So far her computer fears were mostly unfounded. It wasn’t so bad. She did some searching. She did not find a white pages of Romania, and if she did it, wasn’t in a language she could read.

She discovered Honorary Romanian Consulates around the US, but they seemed to be to encourage economic growth and good relations. They didn’t appear to have official services. The nearest Embassy was Miami but Sharon had talked about the strong presence of mafia in Miami. She decided to try the D.C. one. It seemed like it would be more neutral to Florida, and maybe could tell her something about this Vasile guy. She wondered if Al’s friend who lived up there had ever called back and if Al was done being mad yet.

She called the embassy and spoke to a receptionist and explained that she wanted to find the whereabouts of some Romanian citizens. It seemed that there was a rush on Romanian services because the woman was breathless and barely listened to Blanche before transferring her to another extension. She listened to a message in Romanian followed by accented English. Kevin Cernea apparently helped handle getting documents like birth certificates and such from Romania. Blanche left a message that she was seeking information on the whereabouts of a couple Romanian citizens. She pronounced and spelled the names the best she could.

She called Sharon at the police station.

“What was the name of that liaison guy?”

“What’s our theme today, Blanche?”

“Sorry, Sharon. I’m distracted. Remember, I talked to you about the mafia trafficking and you said you had a liaison for the department to the Southern Counties task force?”

“Yes. Michael Kershaw goes to the meetings and helps us coordinate our efforts with various counties and departments in the region. Trafficking is just one area, drugs, gangs. A lot of crimes carry over between districts and counties in Southern Florida.”

“I have a girl who wants to talk to someone. If I understand it right, she’s a trafficking victim, and she’s ready to talk to the police. Bob Murphy met her when he was checking out a robbery in our building and she thought he was kind. I didn’t know if maybe Bob and your liaison guy could talk to her. She’s going to need protection once she talks.”

Blanche could taste her lipstick as she chewed the corner of her mouth.

“Wow, Blanche, that’s a bomb to drop on your favorite public information person here, but I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out. You’re sure it’s in Boca? I mean Officer Kershaw said there wasn’t anything in town currently.”

“I think this is a new set up in the last few months. They seem to have been keeping a low profile.”

“Not low enough or you wouldn’t have noticed.” She chuckled but then grew serious. “Are you sure about this? I know Michael just checked on this and the Southern Counties Coalition didn’t have anything. He usually has really good information. The latest. Maybe it’s just your run of the mill prostitution ring. That would be someone else that should talk to her if that’s the case.”

“I don’t care who we get. I know she met Bob, and he seemed not to intimidate her.”

“You need to call us sooner.”

“No one would talk to the police. This is the first one. Plus I had to be sure. I can’t be calling you for every cat up a tree or you won’t, uh, take me seriously.” At least she hoped they took her seriously. Sharon took down all the details and said she’d call back.

While she waited for Sharon, the embassy called back. Kevin Cernea seemed like a nice young man, and his English was impeccable. Harry always teased her that she was a soft touch for a clean cut polite young man. She didn’t know if this Kevin was young or not, but he was very nice. She explained her dilemma.

“Oh, ma’am. I’m so sorry, but we cannot locate people. You can imagine that we would have a full time job doing just that if it were the case. I do documentation retrieving birth certificates, marriage licenses things like that.”

“Can I ask for birth certificates for these two people?” It didn’t seem like much but it might help in locating them. “And a possible death certificate?” She hoped they couldn’t find one for Mirela’s mother, but it would be one way to find out if she was alive.

“Certainly. What are their names?”

He took down the information while Blanche used her best executive secretary voice.

“It is $30 per document. I will need you to fill out a form that I can mail to you. We will need the place of birth, date, mother’s name and why you are asking for the document.”

Suddenly Blanche had an insight into all the young people’s perspective on instant media. The postal system didn’t seem adequate at the moment. “Don’t you have anything I can do online?”

“I could email you the form.”

That stupid email road block again. She needed to figure this email world out. At work, they had set one up for her, but it was broken so much she just quit using it and then she quit completely. If people wanted to talk to her, they could pick up the phone.

“I’ll call you back with an email. In the meantime, is there anyone you can recommend to help me find perhaps a phone number for my Romanian friends?”

“I cannot help you officially look for someone, but I can recommend the EETC. They are a trade council, but are very helpful in these types of things.”

“Ahh, I see.” Blanche didn’t write down the information he read out to her since she already had it on the background check on Vasile Tomescu. Did all roads lead back to the EETC? They must have some legit business. This was a case of just needing someone to be helpful and look for someone. It made sense, but she didn’t like the feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“There’s nothing here in Florida?”

“No, they’re very good though. I’ve worked with them before. I’m sure they’d be glad to help you.”

Blanche ended the call and as she set the phone down, it sounded again. Blanche glanced at the clock. She had time to take another call before she needed to head to the airport to get Seth. Sharon was on the line.

“Okay, I’ve got an appointment set up for you. Bob’s off duty tomorrow, so he won’t be around, but Officer Kershaw is set up to see you and Mirela at 5pm tomorrow when he comes on shift. Do you have email? I can send you a copy of what I’m sending him.”

That, no swearing, dang email again. “Not yet. I expect to have it soon though.” She tried to sound like she knew all about it.

“Oh, and C-Span is broadcasting a committee meeting on trafficking tomorrow if you want to learn more. Our local rep is on the committee.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that.”

Curiouser, and curiouser. Must be an issue of interest in the county if the local state rep was interested enough to be on a Washington committee. Blanche wondered where else the idea of trafficking was going to turn up. Apparently, it was only new to her.