“You still with me, Ryan?” Shaz prompted from the screen.
“It’s a lot to absorb if you haven’t ever seen anything like this before,” Dro said from the corner of Ryan’s room that overlooked the pool.
“Yeah, it’s enough to turn the strongest stomach.” Ryan pulled in a deep breath to continue, “How the hell can people do this to other human beings?”
They gained access to the pictures of the two women on his screen through Daron Kincaid, who arrived on schedule, a day after Dro. The dark-haired security expert had come straight to Ryan’s room for a mini-conference.
“For the money,” Dro said over his shoulder, facing the plate glass.
“And remember … ” Shaz tipped his head toward the screen. “There are folks out there who think Black people are less than human. It’s easy when you look at these women as dispensable.”
Ryan nodded. “I get it. If that policeman viewed George Floyd as his equal and therefore worthy of respect, he’d never have put a knee to his neck.”
“That’s right, and it took a worldwide protest to make that point,” Shaz said. “Let’s get the bastards who thought it was okay to kill these women for their organs and dump them like so much garbage.”
“Whoever did the job is an expert surgeon, based on these images.” Ryan rubbed his temples and pulled his mind away from the dark path it had taken. This would not be Aziza’s fate.
Daron sat next to Ryan at an oval meeting table positioned to one side of the cream-and-gold suite. The Sheikh and Sheikha offered them accommodations, but they thought it best to stay where Aziza had spent most of her time. Daron planned to move around the country, following clues as necessary, so he agreed to stay at Khalil’s palace. “So, aside from the game they’re running at Encounters, we have no leads. Is that correct?” he asked.
Pacing the room, Dro weighed in. “That place is a hub for some nasty activity.”
“That’s right, and I believe we’re on to something,” Ryan said, including Shaz in his comment. “The authorities do not believe this is even worth their attention. Our visit did not change their attitude. Only the hint of scandal and the threat of reporting to the Sheikh meant anything to them. The attempted kidnapping charge we tried to bring did not stick. That bartender and the other two were released within an hour of being picked up by the police.”
“Where’s the woman, Carol?” Shaz asked.
“We took her to Jai’s medical facility. They did some tests and found drugs in her system. Jai arranged for her to go home when she felt better. Hopefully, she’s learned from this experience.”
“So, d’you have a plan?” Shaz asked.
“I sure do,” Ryan said, glancing between Daron and Dro. “Between these two, they have expertise in crisis management, security, and gadgetry. I know those punks at Encounters are up to no good.” He put a hand to his chest. “Based on what I saw, I know it in here. We should put a tail on them and see where it leads. Trafficking and organ harvesting are big business. They’re not about to give it up because we intercepted them last night.”
“So, about that plan … ” Dro laid a hand on Ryan’s shoulder.
With a chuckle, Ryan said, “I’m getting to it, don’t get in a rush.”
“If I hear you clearly,” Dro said, “This is where we get involved. We lay some bait and see if they bite.”
“Exactly.” Ryan nodded. “I like your style.”
“We’ll need manpower to have them followed,” Daron said. “Nicco and Angela came over with me, so we have that angle covered.”
He took a moment to explain to Ryan that Nicco had formed part of his mentor’s protective detail after an assassination attempt and had been instrumental in rescuing the Sheikha from her kidnappers. Nicco had also been assigned to protect Calvin Atwood, a brilliant scientist in high demand for his inventions. By the sound of it, Daron had brought in two formidable security experts.
“Can you plant a bug on that bartender?” As Dro paced, he shoved one hand through his dark hair. “What’s his name again?”
“Jahani Bahar,” Ryan supplied, remembering how the guy gave him the slip when he followed him back inside the club.
“Yes, we can organize that,” Daron said. “Sheikh Kamran’s all for putting in manpower and whatever else we need to rid Durabia of the corruption that ran rampant under his father’s rule.”
Ryan cocked one brow and shifted so he was face to face with Daron. “And how will that bug be planted?”
Dro grinned. “We shouldn’t worry about that because we can count on Daron for a workable plan.”
“Let’s hear it,” Shaz said, reaching for a gizzada and crunching the sugary coconut-and-flour concoction between his teeth.
“We need to get to the heart of this operation, to smash it in one blow.” Daron stopped spinning his hat and hung it on one knee. “Spying on the bartender will give us a leg up the ladder, so we can find out who is the brain behind this operation.”
“Hang on a minute.” Shaz dusted crumbs from his hands, frowning. “Let’s go back to that bug. How are we going to get it planted?”
“That’s what I want to know, too.” Ryan’s gaze shifted to Daron. “And where will it go, plus how will it happen, ‘cause I don’t see it.”
Dro’s smile was lopsided. “That’s because you don’t quite know how ingenious our tech man can be.”
Chuckling, Daron said, “Any second now I’ll be wondering what you’re after and why you’re laying it on so thick.”
“Can’t a King brag about his brother’s skills without you getting suspicious?” Dro said with a comedic lift of his eyebrows.
They all laughed, then Daron set his hat on the low table behind him. He waggled one finger between Dro and Ryan. “You two can’t be back in the club any time soon after yesterday’s shenanigans. I’ll get hold of the bar man’s work schedule for today.”
“I know better than to ask how you’re gonna get that information, so go on.” Shaz raised one hand for Daron to continue.
“I’ll use Angela as a distraction and get the listening device stuck to his badge or vest. That will give us a bead on who he’s talking to and possibly the identity of the other players in this business.”
“You’re that sure of her powers of seduction?” Ryan asked.
“Trust me. She’s all that. Angela is relatively new to my team, but has a wide array of skills which you all don’t need to know about right now.”
“Sound like she’s dangerous to tangle with, too,” Dro added.
The door handle sank, and all three men looked toward the doorway.
“You expecting anyone?” Dro asked, moving one hand to the back of his waist.
Ryan shook his head and slid the desk drawer open. His Beretta rested inside.
The light in the lock flashed green, then the door opened. A stocky man, a local, looked both ways down the corridor before he walked into the room. His eyes widened as he slid the keycard into his pocket. “I didn’t know anyone was here.”
He forced a smile, then motioned to the supply cart behind him. “Sorry to interrupt. I am here to take care of the room.”
“Thank you, but we’re busy.” Ryan said.
The houseman’s gaze swept across the laptop screen, then he bowed touching a hand to his white tunic with the hotel’s logo on the chest. “I will return when it’s convenient.”
“There’s no need,” Ryan said, sliding the drawer shut.
“Are you sure, sir?” The houseman’s eyes strayed back to the screen, where Shaz watched him. “It’s hotel policy—”
“He said it’s fine,” Dro got to his feet.
The man backed away. “I just wanted to be sure—”
Ryan spoke under his breath, “Just go already.”
When the door closed, Daron asked, “Am I the only one who thinks there’s something off about him?”
“He was too interested in what we had going on,” Shaz said, reaching for a glass of water. “Best keep your eyes open, little cousin.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. They barely had two years between them. A smile bloomed on his face, along with a spark of mischief. “Anything you say, Shastra.”
He shot Ryan a glare. “Good thing you’re out of my reach, otherwise you’d feel the force of my fist.”
Ryan slapped his knee and chuckled. “Right.”
The two of them were equally matched on a physical level, as Shaz knew, but their light-hearted teasing was a constant in their relationship.
Shaz’s smile disappeared. “I’m serious about your security. You’re far away from home, and I don’t want any of you in more danger than necessary.”
“I hear you,” Ryan said, to reassure his cousin. “But I doubt these men need you worrying about them.”
“Whatever. Just remember that at the end of the day, they’re my brothers. They hurt. I hurt.”
“That, I also get loud and clear.”
Dro stalked toward the door without a word.
“Hey, where are you going?” Ryan asked.
“To see if this guy is legit,” Dro said over his shoulder.
“Need company?” Daron asked.
“No. I don’t want him to get suspicious. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Be careful,” the men all said at the same time, including Shaz.
When the door closed, Ryan turned his gaze on Daron. “I know I’m probably annoying the crap out of you, but are you sure we can get this bug in place tonight?”
He stood to stretch his legs, and with one hand massaging the back of his head, he added, “I have a lot riding on this and will do anything to get Aziza back. If we don’t find my woman, I don’t know what I’ll do. But one thing is sure, somebody will have to pay if she doesn’t return safe and sound.”