She stayed and listened to the birds for a long time. When the sun began to get low in the sky, she started back.
She didn’t know where she would go from here. Well, Seattle, of course. She had several cases, victims who needed her help.
But beyond that?
She thought about Malcolm. She had never really thanked him for everything he had done for her. And not just the jiu-jitsu. Everything.
Of course, if she contacted Malcolm, she would have to ask about Sean. And who knew where that might lead. But for some reason, the thought of it leading somewhere didn’t make her feel bad.
She thought about the Homeland Security task force Donna had mentioned. She thought if this task force involved Thailand, there was a good chance she might join it. Dirty Beard and Square Head, and the other man in the van, and the man who had whipped Kai—they were all probably somewhere in Bangkok. Probably cops, like Skull Face. She wanted to find them. Settle those last debts.
But even more than that, she wanted to find that little girl—Lone’s last victim. The one who had looked at her so beseechingly. She badly wanted to help that girl. Needed to.
And she would. She would help her. And others like her. She would.
One way. Or another.