Chapter 26
"Is everything ok up there?" Panthro asked as Lion-O and Cheetara walked into the panther's office. Lea was there and so was Lynx-O. The lioness was trying to help the lynx out as best she could deciphering the rest of the messages that had been found at Che's place.
"Pumyra took a turn for the worse. I ordered Ben-Gali to stay with her. Tygra managed to get her heart started again but he thinks that there is more mucous and fluid in her lungs than what there should be considering she's on the medication," Lion-O explained.
"Great Jaga's toothbrush! When I get my hands on the bastard that did this…" Panthro slammed his fist into the desk.
"Right there with you," Lion-O nodded.
"Any luck with the background checks?" Cheetara asked, knowing that if they didn't stay focused they would not find who they were looking for.
"Nothing yet. I'm running all checks on all personnel in the Lair as well. This could take a few days," he said.
"A few days?" Lion-O looked at him.
"Regrettably, yes. It's hundreds of people," the panther sighed.
"Can we narrow the scope at all?" Lea asked without turning around from the electronic board she was having decipher the messages. It was a slow process but since Lynx-O had the key figured out and the board could read the pieces of paper placed on it, it was going faster than doing it by hand.
"I already eliminated those that would not have access to the lab itself, those on vacation, medical leave, and retirees. Who else do you think we could eliminate?" Panthro asked.
"Sounds like you got a chunk of names out of the way. There are still hundreds to go?" The lioness couldn't comprehend it.
"Down from almost a thousand. That lab facility houses a lot of things that a lot of people have access to at one point or another," he explained.
"Bugger," she shook her head.
"About the same terms I used," the panther admitted. He was about to say something else when his computer started beeping.
"What's that?" Cheetara asked.
"We have a hit on the financial records. The Bank of Thundera transferred funds from an account based on Space Hub Number Fifteen to an account in the name of…" the panther's look of confusion worried everybody.
"What is it?" Lynx-O asked, considering that he had no idea why the panther stopped.
"The account is in the name of Che's wife, Shara. That doesn't even make sense," Panthro spit out.
"No it doesn't. The only people who should have off planet accounts should be business people who travel a lot. Shara is a school teacher," Lion-O said, remembering speaking to the woman after her husband died.
"Lea, pull her background check up at Li-en's desk. Something is off," the panther said.
"You've got it," she nodded and quickly headed outside of the office. Sitting at the liger's desk, which was right outside, she pulled up records on Che which then led to his family's records including his wife.
"There doesn't seem to be any reason that she could legitimately set up an account," the lioness called back into the office.
"Bring her in. We need to talk," Lion-O said.
"I'll get the ThunderGuard on it," Panthro picked up the phone and placed a call.
To Be Continued…