It was the end of the day before Josef returned to the lab to report what he and LeBlanc had discovered. In the conference room he sat gloomily until everyone assembled. Adam was all but bouncing in the chair he occupied due to his nerves. "Was it that bad? Did you see …"
"Hang on Son," Josef said revealing how tired his fifty some-odd years made him feel. "I didn't see your girl but I do have a report to make."
"Then … then why …"
"'Cause Boy, I've lived in this city my whole life. It was once vibrant, colorful, energetic … magical. Now only the for-show areas of town are like that. We've always had our poor … hell there's not a place in the world that don't have 'em … but it's hard to see how things still are. We're a decade past The Storm. We shoulda healed by now, shoulda moved on. But you get off the main drags and you can tell … we haven't."
The rest of the team filed in and Stella patted his shoulder as she headed to her chair at the head of the table. "It's better than it was. Even a short timer like myself can see that it is."
"It is. But there is still a canker. It is depressing to see how far we still have to go. I had family that used to live in that area. Can't get 'em to even consider moving back here from Texas. I saw a crackhead parked on the porch of the house where my cousin once lived. Damn dark and depressing."
"And that's why we do our job, to shine some light," she said. Then she said, "You said you had something to report."
The man nodded and pulled himself back together. "With LaBlanc's insight and knowledge of the neighborhoods I think we have it narrowed down to a block of houses in the lower 9th Ward, all of which are owned by a single entity. Michaels at the county office says they were bought a few years back by a property investment company owned by one Mercel Gerrard Sr. The man died a couple of years ago and his son … Mercel Jr. … inherited but didn't do nothing but put 'em with a property manager who does the bare minimum to keep them to code. They're all rented out and stable because the rents are low even for that area. People pay 'cause they know they won't find anything better for that price and the rent collected is just sitting where it is being deposited because the owner of record won't give permission to do what the city is mandating for neighborhood improvement. Property management company doesn't want to rock the boat too much because then they lose their commission. City has been making noise that they'll take 'em over but doubt that will happen without the budget to fix 'em up … and because in this case the taxes get paid on time every year. And around it goes until someone finally decides to do something about it."
Adam's hands were in tight fists under the table. He wanted the man to hurry up.
Josef looked at Adam and could almost read his mind though he gave the young man points for at least trying to hold his tongue. "The reason why we think it is that block of homes is because it definitely ain't any of the others on the list. Now, of this block of houses only three really fit the profile we were given. All three houses are lived in. Those living in the house are the right persuasion. Then there is the old car sheds all three have, but of the three only two look like they are in regular use for cars; the third looks like it is used mostly for storage so that one is only an outside chance."
Mac let Fielding handle further questions for the moment. "Household composition?"
"You mean females to males?" At Fielding's nod Josef answered, "The two with the in-use car shed both have one adult male that roughly matches the description of the unknown male suspect; twenties, dark hair, heavy build. Both have adult females living in the house."
"Did you see anyone matching Dr. O'Ryan's description?"
"No."
Adam's jaw clinched but then Josef added, "But that don't mean she isn't there inside one of the houses. We couldn't stay on the street long enough to do more than a casual recon of the households. We drew enough hostile attention as it is. Evictions don't necessarily make the neighbors anything but worried that they're next."
Everyone at the table thought over what they'd heard. Mayberry asked, "Would it be possible to get a drone to do a flyover and see if they can get a better look?"
Willis sighed. "Hate to be the barer of bad news but there's a storm coming in tonight that is supposed to last the next two days off and on. Even if we could hypothetically get a drone out between the rainstorms, the wind gusts would make it risky."
Jorge complained, "Weather has been fine, now a late tropical storm. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Ruins my plans for my day off too."
Adam gave him a look that would have put a hole through him if Jorge was any less oblivious. Then he blanched realizing he might just be looking at what his friends considered him at one time … music to mouth. He vowed to do better about keeping his mouth shut and his music under control. Of course without Emi there was no music … not to his ears, not in his soul.
# # # # # # # # # #
The crying was getting to her. It seemed like it had been going on for hours. Emi couldn't tell for sure how long though because she had no way to tell time beyond the light coming through the window and even that had faded to a dull, dishwater gray as bad weather moved in.
Emi wasn't certain what Jewel had done but there'd been some type of altercation, then yelling, and then … there'd been something going on that … well the sounds that she did hear were nightmarish. Unfortunately it didn't take a lot of imagination for the nightmares to come to life inside her head. Whatever happened it sent "Mother" into a hysterical fit and she barricaded herself in the room below and not long afterwards the smell of crack smoke was very heavy on the air making Emi nauseous on top of everything else. The trip the woman was on didn't sound like a good one. Instead of escaping whatever demons had been chasing her, it sounds like she ran straight into their arms.
Emi shivered as the cries from below her were punctuated by a loud boom from outside. Thunder.
# # # # # # # # # #
"But Mac …"
"Adam, I can understand how you feel. Hell, I feel the same way. But Fielding and Stella are right. We wait in the van out of view and let the local team do their job. This isn't our jurisdiction and our participation at this point could jeopardize the case."
Adam ran both hands roughly across his face and then into his hair. "ARGH! I hate this. She could be right there. Right there Mac! What if … god … what if …"
Mac did his best to calm the young man though to be honest he didn't feel particularly calm himself. Suddenly he said, "Adam, I'll be right back." Adam only nodded and started pacing.
Mac found an empty office and took out his phone and dialed. When the phone was picked up he immediately asked, "Christine? I know it is the dinner hour but …"
"Mac! Oh God, I've been worried sick … I mean … I'm sorry. I didn't meant to jump at you like that. You wanted …?"
"Christine I don't have a lot of time. We're about to check out a possible location but … look, I know I've been …"
He could feel Christine through the line when she said, "Don't you dare apologize Mac. I know … know … you take your job seriously and you've needed to help Adam. You just focus on staying safe. I love you."
Part of Mac was grateful and part of him felt even more guilty. "I love you too. I … I just needed to say it."
"Oh Mac …"
Mayberry found him and said, "Sorry to interrupt Detective but they're loading up and Fielding wants to know if you'll keep an eye on Ross. The guy is about to jitter out of his skin."
"Of course," he told Mayberry before turning his attention back to Christine.
But she got to it before he did. "Go. I know you need to. But … but call me later? Please?" She tried not to plead but she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't telling her something.
"As soon as I can. But don't worry if it gets late and …"
"I don't care what time it is, just let me know you're ok … and Adam … and … and whatever you can tell me."
"Christine? I … I love you."
Quietly Christine said, "I … love you too."