"Then this is bigger than Victoria," Castellanos finished. "This is organized. International. Well-funded." She looked at the four parents. "Which means we're not just dealing with a trafficking ring. We're dealing with something that has resources, connections, and the ability to operate openly because they're protected by people in power."
"Fantastic," Kai muttered, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Because our lives weren't complicated enough already."
A notification pinged on Marcus's laptop. He checked it, and his expression shifted from concerned to genuinely shocked.
"We have our first bid," he said quietly. "Three million dollars. From an account registered to something called 'The Meridian Foundation.'"
"I know them," Castellanos said, her voice grim. "Legitimate front for supposedly legitimate research. But their funding comes from questionable sources. And they've been on our radar for years."
