Chapter 256: Something Has Changed, Coach Hale Is Calling You Over

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Something Has Changed, Coach Hale Is Calling You Over

The officer glanced back for a moment, then went back to leading his men in the search.

While briefing his group on their progress, he also made sure to send some of his team members to search further afield.

"I’m not Captain Keller, I’m his colleague. Just call me Heath Hale." Heath Hale waved to the officers behind him, gesturing for them to join the search.

Because they had reported to the chief in advance, Heath Hale and his team had also obtained a search warrant.

After entering, the officers from the provincial bureau quickly searched the Vaughn residence from top to bottom but found nothing.

"Coach Hale, we’ve searched everywhere. They’re not here.

But the water they left on the table is still warm. They must have left just a short while ago." One of the team members jogged out to report to Heath Hale.

Heath Hale scanned his surroundings.

’Two disabled people with limited mobility... It’d be nearly impossible for them to have gotten far.’

’That means there are only two possibilities.’

’Either they’ve fled the area, or they’re hiding somewhere nearby.’

Heath Hale’s gaze fell on the neighboring houses. Before he could speak, the woman who had led them there couldn’t help but ask, "Officer, is there anything we can do to help?

If you’re looking for someone, we know this area like the back of our hands!"

’She didn’t know what the Vaughn couple had done to cause such a commotion, but if the police had to deploy so many officers to catch them, it definitely wasn’t anything minor!’

’If she helped find them, she’d have bragging rights for a long, long time!’

Heath Hale turned his gaze to the woman, a flicker of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

’That’s right. No one knows the people around here better than the villagers themselves.’

’Searching around aimlessly was pointless. They’d be better off just asking the locals for help!’

Once he realized this, Heath Hale cleared his throat and said, "It’s like this, ma’am. The Vaughn couple has been using their disabilities as a cover for human trafficking, and it’s highly likely they’re repeat offenders.

If you have any leads, please tell us as soon as possible."

Upon hearing Heath Hale’s words, the surrounding crowd of onlookers gasped.

Then, they immediately broke into a flurry of discussion.

These were people who could gossip for a week straight about a squabble between a mother and daughter-in-law or a local divorce. News this big—actual human traffickers—was bound to set them off.

Heath Hale’s eyes swept over the crowd. Then, his gaze locked onto a young boy.

Unlike the others, who were a mix of shocked and thrilled to learn such a huge piece of gossip, this boy’s face was ashen. His eyes were wide with a different kind of disbelief, making him stick out from the excited crowd.

It was this jarring contrast that allowed Heath Hale to spot him immediately.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Heath Hale walked over to the boy. He looked at him, his voice firm. "You know where they are, don’t you?"

The chattering crowd fell silent, their heads turning in unison to watch.

When they saw who the boy was, a look of realization dawned on their faces.

"Mason, if you know something, hurry up and say it. Don’t hold up the police officers’ work.

Even if you like that Vaughn girl, you have to separate right from wrong." The woman next to the boy patted his arm anxiously, her tone filled with exasperation.

The boy, Mason Sherman, flushed beet red. Finally, under everyone’s gaze, he mumbled, "Uncle and Aunt Vaughn are hiding at my house right now. They told me they got scammed on an investment and owed a huge debt. They said the other party was relentless and was going to report them to the police. They asked me to let them hide at my place for a while and said they would leave as soon as they borrowed enough money to pay it all back.

I didn’t know they were involved in trafficking. If I had, I never would have agreed to help them."

As he spoke, Mason Sherman waved his hands frantically, insisting he truly hadn’t known.

Heath Hale nodded and patted the boy’s shoulder, telling him not to be so nervous. He then had Mason Sherman lead the way as they hurried toward his house.

They had only taken a few steps when they ran into another team arriving as backup. In their custody was a middle-aged couple.

The couple was hunched over. The man’s arms were very short, almost like those of a newborn baby.

His wife’s limbs were of different lengths, causing her to walk with a severe limp.

Guilt was written all over their faces. There was no need for questions; one look at their expressions made it clear they were involved.

With the suspects apprehended, Heath Hale and his team didn’t linger. They quickly left with Sid’s group.

Based on what Zoe Sawyer had overheard and the statements from the two rescued girls, this group had surely done this before.

The sooner they got clear answers, the sooner they could rescue the other trafficking victims.

"Alright, can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Back at the local police station, Sean Hughes found a seat and stared at Zara Zane, who stood before him with her head bowed low.

Zara Zane awkwardly recounted the whole story: how she had been tricked by a friend, and how she failed to escape even after realizing something was wrong.

"I know I was wrong," Zara Zane said, her voice growing quieter as she went on. "When I get home today, I’ll dye my hair back to its natural color, sell my car, and just focus on my studies."

’If only she’d listened and gone home then, maybe none of this would have happened.’

After she finished, Sean Hughes turned his gaze to the other girl, who was looking over at them, completely at a loss.

The moment he stood in front of her, the girl, Ricky Lee, burst into tears. "I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have done something like that! Please don’t send me to jail!"

Sean Hughes looked at Ricky Lee, who was about the same age as his own cousin. He sighed, pulled out a tissue, and handed it to her. "Okay, try to stop crying," he said gently. "Can you tell me what happened?"

Sobbing, Ricky Lee took a long moment to compose herself before managing to tell the whole story from beginning to end.

In short, she had been on her way to the restroom when a man stopped her. He claimed his girlfriend had suddenly gotten her period. He’d bought the necessary supplies but felt awkward delivering them himself, so he asked Ricky Lee if she could help.

Ricky Lee didn’t think much of it and immediately agreed.

But the moment she stepped inside, a man and a woman who were waiting in there grabbed her by the arms and tried to drag her away.

In a panic, Ricky Lee blurted out that her friend was nearby, that her friend was prettier than she was, and asked if she could trade her friend for her own safety.

She hadn’t held out much hope, but the man and woman in the restroom exchanged a look and agreed to her proposal.

However, to prevent her from escaping, the woman tore open Ricky Lee’s clothes to take a picture and also confiscated her ID card.

"If you dare to run or call the police, I’ll print this picture and plaster it all over your neighborhood."

The woman threatened, yanking Ricky Lee’s hair.

Ricky Lee was scared senseless by then and could only nod frantically, promising she absolutely wouldn’t run.

Sean Hughes and his team already knew the rest of the story.

Just then, two officers approached Sean Hughes.

"Something’s come up. Coach Hale needs you."