Chapter 4
"Ok guys – You've got to see this." Adam didn't pause before turning back to the AV lab. Jo and Don jumped from their seats and followed him.
"The resolution isn't great but … this is a traffic surveillance camera from two blocks over. Now watch ..." Jo and Don squinted, narrowing their eyes as they tried to make out the blurred images of traffic and people.
" What are we looking for Adam? Can you zoom in ?"
"Wait, here it comes – there! Adam froze the picture and zoomed in. It's Bag Man, I mean Jethro Mullet." The picture froze to a grainy image of a man clasping a large bundle weaving in between the cars.
"Can we positively identify him as Jethro?" asked Jo.
"I can't get any facial details but the approximate height, weight and physiognomy match his file. But this is what is really interesting..." Adam grabbed the mouse and a portion of the image was enlarged further. He looked hopefully at Jo and Don pointing to the 'bag' that the man was carrying.
"Oh my! Are those ..." exclaimed Jo only to be interrupted by Don.
"Shoes! He's not carrying a bag – he's got the kid. Mac didn't abandon Molly. He left her to go after Jacob."
A sudden noise made all three jump. Sheldon Hawkes stood in the doorway looking ashen, his anger and incomprehension at Mac abandoning Molly dissipating as he took this new information. No one said anything as he recovered his composure. "Sid called. He said Molly was killed with a four inch, double-bladed hunting knife with an oval hilt." He placed a photograph of the wound on the table in front of them together with a photograph of the presumed murder weapon. "It's too early for DNA results but I checked the blood types. There are two samples on the lid; one type corresponds to Oscar Mullet's and the other to Mac's. The blood in Molly's hair could also be Mac's so it looks like he's injured …."
"Well he doesn't look too bad." chirped Adam confidently as he turned back to the computer, his belief in his boss unwavering. He tapped another key and video rolled. Just as Jethro Mullet reached the other side of the road and headed away from the camera, another form emerged from the left of the screen and proceeded to dodge traffic. Everyone flinched at a near miss with a cab but there was no mistaking Mac as he half fell across the hood of the cab and slid to a halt on the far side scanning the street. It was clear from his body language that he had spotted Jethro just as he turned into an side street further up but rather than following Mac turned in the opposite direction and ducked into a shop.
"What the hell...?" exclaimed Don. Adam and Jo exchanged confused looks.
"Can we see if Oscar followed him?" asked Sheldon.
"Er oh! I haven't run it that far. I stopped when I got to Mac..." stammered Adam. He hit play once more. A few minutes of film went past and they watched as the traffic lights changed and traffic slowed. Just as the traffic started up a man staggered out from the left hand side of the screen straight into the path of a car. He rolled off the hood and straight onto the side of the road. He didn't move.
"I gotta make a call." Don flung over his shoulder as he lifted his phone to his ear, Danny's words from earlier ringing in his ears "I gotta go. Car accident two blocks over.". Jo, Sheldon and Adam could hear him requesting information on the accident and the state of the victim.
"Why did Mac duck into that store?" asked Adam.
"Well he didn't call for backup and he didn't come out again. I dunno. A shortcut?" suggested Sheldon.
Adam tapped a few keys and the image on the screen displayed a 3D map of the area. He rotated the image to give an aerial view.
"Huh. Whatta you know?A shortcut. Mac must know the city like the back of his hand." Adam was most definitely impressed. The back of the store gave onto another alley that ran parallel to the street that Jethro had taken, both routes heading towards the riverside park.
"Ok." Don ducked back into the room. "The vic from the car accident fits the description of Oscar Mullet. He was taken to General in serious condition. He's currently in surgery but get this … his drivers licence gave his name as Oscar Weber residing at the same address as Molly! He also had a number of cards from Moonlighters, a nightclub only one block from the crime scene. Seems he was working there as a barman cum bouncer. The owner says he is a good worker and, I quote, a reliable family man with a wife and five year old kid."
Jo frowned and she exchanged looks with Sheldon. "So this means ..."
"... that while Jethro was in prison Oscar and Molly took off together "
"...and so Jacob could be their son..."
"Somehow Jethro discovers Molly is in New York with his brother and confronts her."
"She runs taking Jacob with her to get away from Jethro...but how does Oscar come into the picture?"
"She called him." Don and Adam were so intent on listening to the exchange, their heads flicking between Sheldon and Jo like spectators awatching tennis match that they failed to notice Lindsay enter the room.
"I just processed her cell phone. The last call made before she died was to Oscar at the club and I found this in the side pocket of her purse." Lindsay held out a photograph of Molly, Oscar and Jacob, a happy, relaxed family pose. She stepped up to the screen and expanded the map that Adam had used. "I think she was going to meet him half way and she cut down the alley towards Moonlighters. I can't imagine it would have been too difficult for Jethro to catch up with her carrying a 5 year old. I mean I couldn't run that far with Lucy."
"I'm getting the picture but why did Mac and Oscar fight?" Don looked at the others. "Mistaken identity? And where the hell is Mac now?"
The answer to that question was to be forthcoming as Lindsay's phone began to ring. A smile came to her face as she saw Danny's picture on the screen. She smiled an apology and began to turn away as she answered but came abruptly to a stop. "Oh my God. How long ago? And there's no sign of..." her voice trailed away to a whisper "No I'll tell them. You be careful. Okay. Yeah you too. Bye." The others could only watch as her hand fell to her side, her head dropping so her hair covered her face.
"Lindsay?"
"A couple of uni's were investigating some blood stains on a public call box in the Riverside park when a late night jogger came up to report a fight between 2 men. It seems that both men went over into the river. The description he gave sound like Jethro and Mac..."
"Did he see the boy? Jacob? What happened to …...I mean is there any sign of ….?" Jo's questions tumbled over one another as fear began to clutch at her stomach. She began to feel panic for the first time since she learned that Mac was involved. He could take care of himself she kept telling herself but her alarm was growing with each minute. Mac was no longer a young man. He was up against an armed fugitive and the night was getting colder by the minute. What if …..she couldn't go there. Gathering herself together she asked the one question on everyone's mind.
"Is there any sign of Mac?" Jo knew the answer before Lindsay responded and her heart sank.
"No, none."