"It means something." She crossed her arms. "People don't pick a name out of the air and use it."
"What's Josie mean?" He sat on the couch, confident that she was ready to talk.
She shook her head. "Nothing, but it's easier to go by in Missoula than my real name."
"What's that?"
"Sokanon." She paused. "It means rain."
"You're Blackfeet."
Her mouth tightened. "Blackfoot."
"Same thing," he said.
She cleared her throat. "All Blackfeet are Blackfoot, but not all Blackfoot are Blackfeet."
Stumped at what she was talking about, he straightened his beard. "I'll take your word for it."
"You should. I have no reason to lie." During their discussion, she'd made it all the way to the front door.
She turned the door handle. Paco remained sitting. She couldn't leave without using the key in his pocket.
Her shoulders bowed, and her head fell forward, taking her long curtain of black hair and hiding her face. "Thank you for helping me, but I need to leave. Please let Banks know I'll apologize for not showing up for work after I save my friend."
Unfortunately, he understood the underground life more than her. If those responsible for kidnapping the women realized she was emotionally connected to one of the girls and had gotten away, her friend was probably dead already.
They wouldn't chance the authorities coming and catching them with the women.
Chapter 4
Josie
The next morning, Banks grabbed Josie's shoulders the moment she stepped into the office at the body shop. She refrained from moving away like she normally would do to anyone attempting to touch her. Her intent to find Cami wasn't intended to make anyone at work worry about her.
Having only worked at the body shop for six months, she was surprised her boss hadn't explained her absence away as rudeness on her part, believing she up and left without notice.
"I'm glad you're safe." Banks looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry. I know my absence put you in a difficult position. I believed I'd be back for work after the weekend break." She swallowed hard. "I'll grab everything out of my desk."
Apologies came hard for her. Usually, she never purposely upset someone.
She hadn't planned to disappear for several days. Her goal was to go to the casino, and if she was right about Askook kidnapping Cami, bring her friend home. But two men caught her lurking in a private hallway and put her with the other women they'd kidnapped. Askook, of course, kept her there because he believed he owned her.
"Again, I'm sorry," she said. "It was careless to go to the casino by myself and look for my friend."
Banks shook his head. "Everything is right between us. There's no reason to stop working here. You're a good employee. Hell, one of the best we've had, dealing with the books and the customers."
Relief filled her. "Thank you."
"You can thank me by never going around the casino again." Banks lowered his chin. "What's this about your friend?"
Her vision blurred. "She's one of the missing women."
Banks glanced over at Paco, who stood at the side of the room. She lowered her voice. "The police won't search on Blackfoot land and my people...the tribal police ignore everything that happens at the casino. I need to go back because there is no one to help her."
Her boss grunted and straightened, dropping his hands from her shoulders. "Who else knows your friend is there?"
"No one." Her adrenaline spiked. Finally, someone was listening to her. "Her parents informed the police department, but they won't go to the Rez. I kept my suspicions on where she was from her mom and dad because I didn't want to disappoint them if I was wrong."
Banks looked at Paco. "Did you know this?"
"Not until afterward." Paco leaned his hip against the waist-high filing cabinet.
"That's not true. I told him I wasn't leaving without my friend when he came to the casino, and he made me leave." She glared, not letting Paco fabricate what happened.
"Josie." Banks sighed, running his hand over his jaw. "The risks—"
"She's my best friend. If it was Paco in danger, wouldn't you do anything to save him?" She raised her chin. "I'm going back. If I can have two days off, I swear I'll make it up to you. You can dock my pay for the days I missed. I don't want to lose my job, but I have to go."
"If they catch you, and they will, they'll ship you to Mexico, drug you up, and let men use you for their pleasure. If you're still alive after your first night, you'll wish you were dead." Paco crossed the room in three strides and stood in front of her. "Trust me. Death would be the easy way out."
Banks stepped in front of her and put his hand on Paco's chest, backing him away from her. "Keep your head, brother."
The two men squared off in silence. An unspoken argument passed between them. She crossed her arms, pleased that Banks was viewing what she'd put up with since yesterday afternoon when Paco forced her to stay at his house.
Secretly, she was thankful for his company. Being held against her will at the casino, not knowing if she would accomplish getting Cami away from Askook, had frightened her more than she wanted to admit. The last couple of hours before Paco showed up, she'd contemplated her reasons for risking her life.
A part of her had wanted to run away and hide. Self-protection was a weakness. A person was only as strong as their bravery.
No man was born evil. She had to remember that when she was afraid of going against those more powerful than her. Including Paco.
Banks turned to her. Paco walked out of the room.
"Despite what he says, I am going back," she said.
"You don't understand what happens to a woman—"
"I do." She inhaled deeply. "The thought of Cami going through what those men will do to her will kill her. I understand perfectly, and I will do whatever is possible to make sure that doesn't happen. She could be gone already. Paco wouldn't let me leave his house to go back. This is the first chance I've had to tell someone else."
Banks shook his head. The whiskers on his face moved as he tightened his mouth.
"I know the men involved." She asked for patience. "If I can get through to them. If I can make them back down. I might be able to save her."
"Josie..." Banks rubbed the back of his neck. "That isn't a good idea."
"The tribal police won't go up against Askook and his men. Missoula police won't go onto Blackfoot land." She swallowed hard. "I've gone up against him before and escaped."
"Ass-koo?"
"Askook." She glanced over at the large single-pane window to the garage where Paco had gone, ignoring the workers around him. "While I appreciate you sending Paco after me, he's no better than Askook, holding me against my wishes."
"Paco's doing what Paco does," muttered Banks, picking up the receiver of the phone on the desk. "I'm calling a meeting. Until I talk to the others, you're not leaving our sight."