“Ok, so how can we find out why Dakota was looking up information for BDSM?” Diesel asked the group.
“I say we speak with the Alex and see if she can get us a warrant for Candy’s house and search Dakota’s room.” York said, shrugging.
“I’ll get the Captain and work things out with her and then we’ll contact Alex. Tex, are you still there?” Brocard asked over everyone.
“Yes ma’am. What can I do for you?”
“Can you do a search in San Diego and the surrounding areas, within a fifty mile radius for permits that were obtained in the last ten years to now for underground bunkers that would be big enough and deep enough for a human sex trafficking ring?” Brocard asked, looking at the map they had in the conference room of San Diego. “Include private residents, corporate offices and military installations that are abandoned.”
“I’ve already started that from an earlier request, but I’ll include other cities, corporate offices and private residents.” Tex said as he hung up the phone.
Chapter 11
Three hours later, with a warrant in hand, Alpha Squad, Dominick and a forensics team showed up at Dakota’s home. Since Candy and her husband had made bail earlier this morning, Sgt. Brocard knocked on the door and waited for one of them to answer.
“What the fuck do you bitches want now?” Candy sneered when she answered the front door.
“We have a warrant to search your house. That means the living room, the kitchen, all the bathrooms, all the bedrooms, the basement, the attic, and all the pantries you have.” Brocard informed Candy, handing her a copy of the search warrant.
“And that includes all the closets in case you thought that wasn’t included. Officer Pratt here from the San Diego PD is assisting us today. He is going to be watching you and your husband while we, along with forensics, search your house.” Diesel piped up when Candy looked like she was going to argue.
“You have ten minutes to call your attorney to inform him of the situation if he wants to be here. Mr. Ruiz, you are also included in this warrant as well. All electronics, including your phones, are being confiscated.” Pratt stated as Ruiz walked up behind his wife.
“Sorry bitch, I’m on call, and you don’t have the proper clearance to confiscate shit from me.” Ruiz said with a smirk.
“Knew you’d say that asshole. See, one of the perks we have with our team is a good relationship and communications with the SEAL Commanders. I spoke with Lt. Commander Hurt already. He spoke with your Commander, who then called us to inform us that you were sidelined until further notice and therefore was ordered to cooperate with the search warrant. So, you have exactly ten minutes to call your commander to confirm before we confiscate your phone. Both of you will do it in the presence of an officer and on speaker phone so we can verify you called said lawyer and command. If you try to delete anything, just know we already have a court order for all phone records which means all phone calls and text messages.” Pratt smirked back at Ruiz.
Ruiz took a step towards Pratt. “I don’t know what MacCleod saw in your pathetic ass, but he won’t always be around to protect you, bitch!”
“I don’t need my husband to protect me, so if you’re feeling froggy, take the leap asshole. I’d love to slap the cuffs on your ass again.” Pratt challenged Ruiz as he got into her face.
When Ruiz advanced on Pratt, Raso, Cortez, Diesel and York stepped up behind her, ready to intervene if he made a move. Dominick moved next to his sister, daring Ruiz to make good on his threat. Pratt never took her eyes off Ruiz, nor did she back up or blink when he advanced on her. Unbeknownst to both parties, both Sgt. Brocard and Dominick had started to record every move since they got out of their vehicles.
“I wouldn’t continue with what you’re doing here if I were you, Mr. Ruiz. Right now, you have a chance to salvage your career, but if you touch or even swing at any of these detectives, your career is finished. You’ll either spend time in the brig or in a civilian prison. The choice is yours.” Dominick warned Ruiz.
Staring Pratt down for a few more seconds, Ruiz backed up then smirked at Pratt. “Fuck you, stupid bitch!”
“No thanks, I don’t have time to train you properly!” Pratt shot off as she walked past Ruiz and Candy. “I’ll take Dakota’s room.”
Rameriez assisted Dominick with watching Ruiz and Candy as they made their calls to the attorney and his command. Ruiz got into an argument with his commander about them taking his phones and being sidelined during the investigation. In the end, Ruiz slammed his phone onto the table after hanging up on his XO.
Candy’s call didn’t fare any better since she was only able to speak to the paralegal and was told to cooperate since she had nothing to hide from the police. As she hung up the phone, Candy let out a few explicit words, showing her displeasure in not being able to speak to the attorney. Rameriez looked over at Dominick, rolling her eyes.
Three hours after they started, with several drama episodes in between, Alpha Squad completed their search. Several safes were found in which Candy and Ruiz refused to open them. Their attorney was notified of their client’s refusal to cooperate. They were informed that they could be arrested for obstruction of justice if they continued to refuse to open the safes. Ruiz’s Commander was called about the situation. Half an hour after hanging up the phone, Ruiz’s Commander, along with two naval police officers showed up at the house. Ruiz was ordered by his XO to open the safes, hand over all electronics and to keep his mouth shut. Failure to do so would result in bring time and the XO would start processing his dishonorable discharge paperwork.
After the safes were finally opened and inventoried, Alpha Squad left the house with the forensics team, carrying six boxes full of evidence to be looked at. All cellphones, computers, laptops, fax machines, tablets and gaming stations were taken from the house. Dakota’s diary, which was hidden in the vent in her wall by the bed, was taken as well. For Dakota’s privacy and due to the team’s suspicions about certain things, Candy nor Ruiz were told about some of the things found.
Shortly after the team left the Ruiz home, Eddie called Pratt to tell the team he was giving them full access to not only Tina’s room, but their entire house. They wanted to show that they had nothing to hide. Pratt advised them to contact their attorney and his command of what they were doing to protect themselves and cover all their bases. When Sheila asked why, they explained to her that it was for their safety because if Dakota left anything there for safe keeping, Candy and Ruiz would cause issues.
Just before dinner, Alpha Squad and CSU showed up at the Jones’s house. Eddie, Sheila, Shane, Pattrick, Eddie’s team leader, his XO, Wolf and the family attorney were all waiting for them in the living room.
“Mr. and Mrs. Jones, thank you for allowing us to do this. Just so we are clear with your team leader, your XO, and your attorney present, we wanted you protected with them here.” Sgt. Brocard softly said, shaking everyone’s hands.
“Sgt., ladies, I’m the family attorney, Jasper Freeman. I have to be honest, I advised my clients against this, but they were determined to do this so they can show that they have nothing to hide.”
“We understand Mr. Freeman. One of the reasons we wanted them to contact you and Mr. Jones’s XO was to make sure they were protected. We know they have nothing to do with their daughter or Dakota’s kidnapping.” Sgt. Brocard assured all three men.
“Honestly, we’re glad you are doing this though. Our fear has been if we find that Candy and Ruiz had something to do with everything that’s happened, they will try to use our relationship with you or the fact we hadn’t searched your place to get themselves cleared of all charges, if any are filed.” Pratt told everyone quietly.
