Tears began to roll down Erica’s face. A glance up at Mila showed she’d closed her eyes, her heartache so heavy that Scarlett could feel it too. ‘Can you tell me what Drake looks like?’

‘Tall,’ Erica whispered. ‘He was six feet. Big shoulders. Strong. Stronger than me. Blond hair, brown eyes.’ Her lips curved grimly. ‘A broken tooth.’

‘Who broke it?’

‘Tala. The first time he forced her.’

‘Good for Tala.’

Erica’s shoulders moved restlessly. ‘Not really, because Drake beat her and Stephanie got mad at him. Said her father would see Tala’s bruises and be angry. That Tala was his.’

Scarlett squeezed Erica’s hands. ‘You’re doing great, honey. Can you tell me which tooth Tala broke?’

‘His front tooth on the bottom.’ She tugged one of her hands loose to point to her own mouth. ‘This one.’

‘Very good. Did you notice any scars or tattoos?’

‘One tattoo on his left upper arm.’ Erica slipped her hand back into Scarlett’s. ‘A snake with its mouth open.’ She shivered. ‘It scared me.’

‘It would scare me too,’ Scarlett said ruefully. ‘Was he dark-skinned, light-skinned?’

‘White. But he’s tanned now because it’s the summer. For a while he worked for the landscapers that cut the grass at the house.’

‘That’s very helpful. Do you know the name of the landscaping company?’

‘Belle’s Bluebells,’ Mila said stiffly. ‘I remember the truck. It’s owned by Drake’s sister. He quit in June when Stephanie came home from college. She was supplying him with more money than he could make cutting grass.’

‘All right, give me a second.’ Scarlett took out her phone and typed a text to Deacon.

Locate Drake Connor, sister owns Belle’s Bluebells Landscaping. DC is bf of Stephanie Anders. Maybe Tala’s killer.

She showed the text to the two women. ‘I’m sending this to my partner, Special Agent Deacon Novak. I want you to see that I didn’t mention your names, but we need to find Drake.’

‘Your partner knows you’re here talking to us?’ Erica said suspiciously.

‘He doesn’t know where “here” is.’ Scarlett hit SEND. She almost told them about Kate Coppola and the FBI investigation into human trafficking, but she decided to wait. Her instincts told her that the two women were far from being convinced of their safety.

Scarlett moved from the floor back to her seat. ‘Anything more you need to tell me about Drake or Stephanie?’

Mila’s jaw tightened. ‘Stephanie was abusing my Tala as well. Sexually.’

Erica’s head whipped around to stare at her mother in new horror. ‘Mama, no.’

‘Yes, Erica,’ Mila said heavily. ‘They also made her buy their drugs.’

‘Because Stephanie got in trouble once before for buying drugs at college,’ Scarlett said, and Mila blinked at her in surprise.

‘This you knew?’

‘I guessed.’ She didn’t want to tell Mila that Tala had been found with drugs in the pocket of her jeans. ‘Your daughter was killed in an area known for its drug dealers. I couldn’t figure out why she was there or how she got there until I learned of Stephanie’s arrest record. You said that it was Stephanie’s job to walk the dog. Why was Tala doing it? And how? If your and Erica’s trackers were programmed to alarm if you left the house, why wasn’t Tala’s?’

‘Drake was lazy, but good with computers. He and Stephanie wanted to take Tala with them to buy the drugs, so he got into Mr Anders’s computer and figured out how to change the settings. I don’t know how. Sometimes Stephanie wanted to have Drake to herself, so she told Tala to walk the dog, and that she’d be following her on the computer. Tala didn’t know if she would be, but she was afraid not to believe her.’

‘I understand. Especially since they could overhear your conversations with the trackers.’

Mila looked ashamed. ‘No privacy, even when they let me see my husband for the last time. We knew they were listening, laughing. Like we were animals in a zoo.’

Scarlett sighed, emotionally drained, and she’d only borne witness to their ordeal. They’d lived it. ‘When we find the Anderses, they will be punished. What about the people that brought you into this country?’

Mila shook her head. ‘My husband managed all the details. He was tricked.’

‘He’s being taken care of by the FBI now. They’re making sure he has nutrition and medical attention – both Mr Bautista and John Paul.’

Mila went very, very still. ‘Then it’s true?’ she asked, the words no louder than a breath. ‘They really are alive?’

Scarlett felt like she’d taken a physical blow. The woman had been sitting there talking to her while still wondering if her husband and son were alive or dead. ‘Yes, they’re both alive. Father Trace told you this, didn’t he? Did you think he was lying?’

New tears rolled down Mila’s face as she embraced Erica, who was also crying. ‘No,’ Mila sobbed, ‘but he had pictures that were old, taken before we came here. I thought he might be wrong.’

‘Or that the police were lying to him,’ Erica added through her tears. ‘The Anderses told us that Papa and John Paul were dead.’

But they believe me. The responsibility was immense. ‘They are alive. I promise. If you’ll allow it, I’ll ask my partner to get recent photos. He may have to ask another agent in the FBI. They may guess that you’ve been found.’

Mila and Erica looked at each other, then both slowly nodded. ‘Yes,’ Mila said hoarsely. ‘I want to see them.’

Scarlett shot the text to Deacon and put her phone down. ‘Mila, let’s talk bluntly. Pictures will not be enough. You want to see your husband and son in person, don’t you? You want your granddaughter back, yes?’

Mila nodded, but said nothing.

Erica started to rise from her chair. ‘You promised not to turn us in.’

‘And I won’t. But this situation may not be as bleak as you believe. You have options. Please, hear me out.’

Erica sat back down. ‘What options?’ she asked with cold suspicion.

‘Do you remember the lady that Tabby called to take Malaya? Her name is Annabelle Church.’ They both nodded. ‘She took very good care of Malaya, bought her formula and diapers, and when the time came for her to turn Malaya over to Children’s Services, she brought her lawyer along so that Malaya’s rights were protected.’

‘But Malaya is just a baby,’ Mila whispered, stunned.

‘She’s a US citizen,’ Scarlett said. ‘That fact alone doesn’t help you get a green card or citizenship yourselves,’ she added when hope filled their eyes, ‘but Annabelle’s lawyer told us that if we found you, he would make sure an immigration lawyer took your case. For free.’

‘Why?’ Erica asked, still suspicious.

‘First, Annabelle’s lawyer is also her grandson. They’re nice people. Annabelle went straight to the hospital after meeting with us and she’s been at Tabby’s bedside ever since. Her grandson stayed with her through the night. Annabelle’s grandson doesn’t need or want anything from you. His grandfather on his father’s side was also an immigrant, so he just wants to help. That means you have legal help from an expert who knows immigration law. I’m not an expert myself, but I do know that because you’ve been victims of human trafficking, you are eligible to apply for new visas. This one is called a “U visa”. It allows you to stay in the country if you’re helping law enforcement with an investigation. Mr Bautista will be given the same offer.’

‘That’s not a green card,’ Erica said with a frown. ‘Is it?’

‘No, but it can lead to one. You’d need an employer to sponsor you. Marcus can help with that. But to get the U visa, you’ll need to cooperate with the FBI.’

‘Will we go to jail?’

‘No. You’ve done nothing wrong.’ Scarlett leaned forward a fraction. ‘You are victims of a terrible crime. No one will blame you. Do you understand this?’

Erica lifted her chin, but her lips quivered. ‘Americans hate illegal aliens.’