Detour Seattle Interlude

Note: This segment does not contain explicit material. It is merely a vehicle for tieing together the story.

Unbeknownst to us, our disappearance had become big news throughout the region. Three people on a business trip vanish without a trace. Their van is found, abandoned by the side of a lonely, country road. All the luggage and supplies for the trip are there. The three cell phones are there. But the people are nowhere to be found.

The FBI becomes involved when it appears that a possible kidnapping is involved. Our pictures are plastered on every newscast throughout Washington state, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The story even makes national news.

Tips flood in. We have supposedly been spotted anywhere and everywhere. And all of the tips have to be addressed even they do not seem credible. Finding out what happened to us seems to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

One seemingly credible tip comes from a source the authorities have cultivated within a paramilitary, survivalist group active in the region. He tells them that on a visit to a local club, he noticed a new woman working there who bore a striking resemblance to Brooke.

He was asked to return and try to get a photograph of her. Surreptitiously, he obtained a picture of her with his phone. Forwarding it to the FBI, they were able to compare the photo to known pictures of Brooke. It looked like a solid lead. But they needed more information to be sure. They would have to infiltrate agents into the area. And they would have to do it without arousing suspicion. That would not be easy. These people were naturally paranoid.

A team of agents rented space in a small motel in the area. The cover was that they were there seeking good sites for logging operations. First, the agents needed to check out the club where the woman had been seen. They learned that this site was owned by a man who controlled a number of topless establishments in the northwest. His associates included some unsavory characters who were involved in meth production and distribution, prostitution, hijacking of tractor trailer loads and any other illegal enterprise that seemed to offer easy money.

Two agents visited the club, "The Doll House." Inside, they thought that they found the woman depicted in the photos from the informant. But now, she looked a little different. In the known photos of Brooke, her hair was a sort of dirty blonde. This woman had platinum blonde hair. Otherwise, she was a dead ringer for Brooke.

Eventually, making her rounds, the woman came to the agents' table. "Hello, gentlemen," she cooed seductively. "I have not seen you before. Would you like a dance? Or maybe even a trip backstage for some 'special attention.'"

One of the agents told her, "Miss, tell you what. We would just like for you to sit and talk with us a few minutes. We would pay you what you get for a dance," he told her.

Brooke was all for that. Getting paid just to sit and talk? You bet. Joining them, she asked innocently, "So, where you guys from?"

Ignoring her query, one agent asked, "Ma'am, how long have you worked here?"

Taken aback, she replied, "Um, one week."

The other agent asked, "And where were you before that?"

Brooke thought to herself that these questions were getting personal. Haltingly, she replied, "Well, I used to live in Seattle. I worked for a consulting firm there."

That sealed it. This was one of the missing women. The agents paid her for her time and left. Unfortunately, they could not tip their hand by telling her who they were or taking her with them. There were still two missing people out there. They would have to just leave her there.

Back in Seattle, the office was informed of this development. This would have to be kept secret. If the bad guys knew of it, they would take steps to hinder the investigation. They had to think that they were home free.

Since Brooke was in the area, it seemed likely that Kathy and I were there, too. Authorities pulled out all the stops to develop any information they could about any possible kidnappings in the area.

There was one story that they heard repeatedly. They only got it second hand. They had no eyewitnesses. But a number of people related that they had heard others talking about a special "club" they belonged to that had a retreat in the remote wilderness. The story was that this "club" recently held an auction where three people had been sold.

The president of the club was a man named Jack Mason. He had been arrested numerous times--but never convicted of anything. The FBI confirmed that the owner of "The Doll House" belonged to the club. Through the rumor mill, the authorities also learned that the club was planning a major event for the next Saturday. Virtually all members were expected to attend, along with their families. More than one person told them that these three people were expected to be present, as they would be inducted formally as new members of the club. The FBI decided that this would be the time to strike.

Planning began for a major raid at this club event. Federal authorities decided to be careful what information they shared with local officials for fear of leaks. After all, there was no way to know whether or not those local people were themselves members of this club.

The initial agents on the scene were back at "The Doll House" multiple times to attempt to gather intelligence. Each time, they sat and talked with Brooke. She was always polite and answered their questions as best she could. The agents came to genuinely like her. It pained them to have to walk away and leave her there. But there was no choice. At this stage, anything else could compromise the operation.