Chapter 10
Wes sat in the grey interrogation room and tapped his forefinger against the metal table.
He was a lanky twenty-something with simple brown hair and dark-rimmed glasses.
Eames and Goren sat across from him as he nervously chewed his bottom lip.
"We pulled your phone records, we know you talked to Maggie before she disappeared," Eames said. "You're more than likely the last person to hear from her."
Wes shook his head and stared down at the table.
They had been talking to him for forty minutes and he hadn't said a word. Logan spent the first thirty seeing if he could scare him into giving something up and for the last ten Eames had been trying to reason with him.
Eames let out a frustrated sigh and glanced at Goren, who was steadily watching Wes and effectively avoiding her gaze.
"Did you find out about Shane?" Goren asked. "Is that what started it?"
"You and Maggie got into an argument …things got out of hand," Eames said, feeling slightly comforted by the fact that their earlier argument hadn't completely ruined their rhythm.
"Whatever happened…you didn't mean it…it-it was an accident," Goren said.
Wes rubbed his fingers against his lips as if trying to fight back the words he needed to say.
Goren leaned forward. "I can tell you want to do the right thing…just tell us what happened. Tell us where she is."
"I didn't hurt Maggie!" Wes exclaimed. "She…"
His voice trailed off as he realized the words had actually escaped between his lips.
Goren shifted to the edge of the table and leaned closer to Wes.
"She what?"
Wes sighed and neither Eames nor Goren missed the debate that played across this features.
"She…she's safe," Wes finally said and looked up at Goren. "That's all you need to know."
Goren sat back with a huff and then glanced back at Eames.
She nodded with thin pressed lips as she rose form her seat. Goren followed suit as he rounded the table and held the door for her more out of habit than courtesy.
They found Ross with Logan and Harris in the observation room.
"I don't know about you two, but this kid doesn't seem capable of crushing a grape," Logan said.
"Great, so one of our top suspects was in Argentina, while the other is as cuddly as a kitten," Ross said.
Eames watched Harris duck his head, trying to hide his frustration and embarrassment.
"I need to make some phone calls," Harris said, brushing past the detectives before disappearing out the door.
Goren stepped up to the glass and rubbed his finger across his lips as he watched Wes chewing on his thumb nail.
"Logan, you picked him up at a convenience store, right?" Goren asked and then watched Logan nod. "Wh-what was he buying?"
Logan shrugged. "Uh…some sodas, chips, sandwiches."
Goren nodded and paced a short circle.
"We need to search the area where you found him," Goren said and then abruptly left the observation room.
It took them less than an hour to organize a search team, but four hours of searching had still turned up nothing.
Eames stood a few yards away from Goren watching him as he scanned the area for what must have been the tenth time. There was a string of pawn shops and a couple jewelry stores across from the convenient store they stood in front of.
His eyes settled on a seedy motel with a neon sign.
"He wouldn't have gone far," Goren muttered to himself.
Eames stepped closer to him, hoping he would let her in on what he was thinking, and then followed his gaze to the motel.
"You think he might have stashed her in the motel?" Eames asked.
Goren nodded and started toward it.
Eames trotted after him as he crossed the street and heard heavy footsteps behind her. She wasn't surprised to find Harris following her.
"Where is he going?" Harris called.
"Checking out the motel," Eames said without breaking her stride.
She followed Goren into the small office and the smell of nicotine hit her nostrils. Goren was taping the bell on the counter by the time she reached his side.
"Yeah, Yeah! I'm coming!" a male voice with a Jersey accent called back.
A round, greasy man appeared with graying hair and mustache.
"Have you seen these two?" Goren asked, holding up pictures of Wes and Maggie.
"What's it to you?" the man asked with a snort.
Goren held up his badge. "Have you seen them?" he asked, with a more incessant and annoyed tone.
"Yeah, okay. Room two twenty-two," he said. "What'd they do?"
Goren and Eames had already spun around toward the door before he got all the words out and Harris wasn't far behind.
They climbed the rusted metal stairs to the second floor.
Goren came to a halt as they came to the door and glanced back at Eames, catching a glimpse of Harris over her shoulder, who hovered back near the steps.
She nodded and then watched Goren tap his fist on the door.
They listened to light footsteps come to the other side of the door and then the locks dislodge.
"Wes?" a feminine voice said as the door cracked open. "What took—"
A pale faced Maggie appeared in front of them, her voice dropping off at the realization of who stood in front her.
"Maggie? Do you remember us?" Goren asked.
Maggie shook her head as tears welled in her eyes and she backed away from the door.
"Please…" she whimpered.
Eames stepped into the room first followed by Goren and Maggie continued to back away from them.
"It's okay, you're safe now," Eames said.
"Please don't make me go back," Maggie said, her voice cracking as her back pressed against the wall.
Goren approached her cautiously, bending slightly so she could see his eyes.
"It's going to be all right, Maggie," Goren said keeping his voice low and soft.
She looked up at him, still shaking her head.
"No…please," Maggie pleaded again as she leaned her head into Goren's shoulder.