Rescued Read Online Free

to comfort her. She didn’t shy away from the touch. Instead, she leaned into it and accepted what he offered.
    Rose glanced at the door again and held up a hand to greet the young police officer as she entered. Kelli wore her blonde hair gathered into a short braid at the back of her neck. Her soft, delicate facial features indicated she could be a librarian or Sunday school teacher. Such features might fool some but Marty knew from a recent experience even a woman with a petite build could put a man in his place.
    “Hey Kel, good to see you.” Rose gave her friend a quick hug and introduced her companion. “This is a business associate. Marty Brown, Kelli Miles.”
    “Howdy, ma’am.” He tipped his hat and smiled. “Pleased to meet you.”
    “Good to meet you, Mr. Brown. Rose, I called the attendant here and they should have the security videos ready for us. They were eager to help. Maybe it’ll be what we need to get this predator behind bars.”
    Video footage for the past twenty-four hours from five security needed reviewing. Hours of work lay ahead even though the fast forward button would speed through empty scenes.
    “Who wants remote operation duty first?” Marty offered the remote to the two women but got the silent message. Elected for the task, he pressed the button to begin viewing the recording.
    The entire video from the loading platform proved less than fruitful. No sign of Vinny. Then, at long last, he entered the lobby around two in the afternoon. Cool as a cucumber, he sauntered in wearing expensive jeans, a crisp white shirt, and some flashy alligator boots. He scanned the room for anyone matching his requirements. Passing over an elderly gentleman sitting alone and a group of five or six middle-aged ladies on an outing, he settled on a young girl hugging a tattered backpack with a lost, frightened cloud hanging over her.
    He made a quick trip to the vending machine for soft drinks and snacks before he approached his intended victim. With a sweet as you please smile on his face, he eased himself down a couple of feet away from the girl and began a conversation. She shied away at first. No doubt, she remembered the lessons taught along the way of her short life to beware of strangers. They talked for a few minutes before Vinny left the snacks on the bench beside her and strolled toward the front entrance.
    The girl studied the snacks and turned to stare at Vinny as he ambled away. One more brief moment of thought and she gathered her things and caught up with him seconds before he exited the door. Another moment passed before he motioned to the ticket counter and led the way. Vinny put some cash down and the clerk gave the girl a ticket. They walked toward the loading station and chatted for a bit.
    “He played the concerned adult as opposed to a flirty pick-up artist, not pushy at all. More like a guidance counselor talking to a sophomore high school student about the best college choices. The only physical contact came when he gave her a slight pat on the shoulder.” Marty shook his head and continued to watch the video. Vinny turned, walked out the front entrance, and left the girl to catch her bus. “He purchased her ticket and sent her on her way. But where? And why?”

Chapter 3
    “I’ll get that clerk in here to get a good look at Vinny and tell us where he shipped that kid off to.” Marty marched out the office door to retrieve the clerk.
    Rose hit the rewind button on the remote and studied the scene again. She hit pause and shook her finger at the screen. “Right there. Those two hanging around the entrance were in the bar with Vinny last night.”
    “I’ll get someone started on tracing their identities as soon as I get back to the station.” Kelli was making notes for later.
    The door opened. Marty stepped aside and allowed a middle-aged woman to enter ahead of him. “This is Mrs. Fisher, she’s going to try and help us with some identifications,” Marty said.
    “Oh