AN: Thanks to all who are out there reading. dark rolling sea.
Chapter Seven:
Mac glanced over and saw Mady still asleep in the chair. He stretched a little to alleviate the stiffness in his back and then slowly started to pace the room. Kolby James had drifted back into sleep and Mac was waiting for Mady to wake. His decided to leave the room to check his cell phone to see if any voice messages had been left.
He slowly made his way out to the front of the building and saw the doctor on his way. He was about to pass the doctor when he reached out and grabbed Mac's arm gently. Mac stopped and looked up at him.
"Detective, I wanted to let you know that the boy will be moved up to another room shortly. The paperwork just needs to be signed."
"The mother is asleep in the room right now. She will sign it. Do you know what room he'll be in?"
"Third floor, room 3205."
"Thank you," Mac said as he continued on his way out of the emergency area. As soon as he got outside he turned his phone on and after it got powered up it started beeping. He dialed into his voice mail and listened. He had two messages, both from Stella.
The first message told him that she had run Gerald Cooper through the local databases and come up empty. The second message told him that she got a hit off the federal database and came up with an address. Mac called her back.
"Bonasera."
"Stel, its Mac. You got something on Cooper?"
"Yeah. You still at the hospital?"
"Yeah, what'd you get on Cooper?"
"Oh, I got an address on him. Not very current but I also got a parole officer name. He's not current either but maybe he knows something."
"What's the address you have?"
"It's in Hoboken, New Jersey."
"Ok, get it run down and see if he's still there."
"And, Mac, it came back that he drives a red ford pickup truck. Registered in the state of New Jersey."
"All right."
"You going to stay at the hospital?"
"For a while. They're about to move the boy upstairs. Once their settled I'll be in to the lab."
"Ok."
"What?"
"What what?"
"You have that tone."
"What tone?"
"Stella."
"What?"
"Ok, I'm just going to hang up now," Mac said and then flipped his phone shut. He shook his head and went back into the hospital. When he got to the room, Mady was up and standing next to the boy. Mac came into the room quietly.
"They're moving him," she said softly.
"I know the doctor let me know."
"You find anything out?"
"My team has located an address for Gerald Cooper and they are running it down now."
"You think he went there?"
"Probably not but he most likely has Cooper's truck. It's a place to start."
"I can't believe I let him take my babies," Mady whispered as she took a step back. "And look what he did…" There were no tears this time. She had already cried them all out. She looked at Mac with a helpless glint in her eye and it pained him. He stepped closer to her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"It will be ok," he said softly, reassuringly.
She shook her head. Then she took a breath. She didn't know how to fight this. Her phone calls had yielded nothing productive. The cops had a stronger lead, and now she felt compelled to hunt down Gerald Cooper herself.
The nurse came in and Mac noticed the boy become instantly alert. He put a hand on his shoulder to still him. Kolby James looked up suddenly and then settled back into the bed. The nurse told them they were moving the boy upstairs now. Mady and Mac walked into the hallway.
Another nurse came in and they wheeled Kolby James out and towards the elevator. Mady and Mac followed. They took the elevator up to the third floor and then down to room 3205. Once Kolby James and Mady were settled into the room Mac went to leave.
"I have to get back to the lab. I've made arrangements for a guard to stand at the door."
"Thank you for everything," Mady said softly as Mac watched the uncertainty dance in her eyes. He only nodded and glanced at the boy. He made eye contact for a moment then glanced away. Mac grudgingly tore himself away from them and headed back to the lab. When he got there Aiden filled him in on the evidence.
"We got two kinds of DNA on the pipe, Mac. The first type checked out with the victim, his blood and skin from the blow. The second set of DNA isn't a match to him at all. I figure it's from the attacker. Most likely skin cells from his hand when he gripped and swung. I also found shoe prints from the adult. I can trace him all over the yard, and then small child prints leading to the driveway along with his. Still only found the one half imprint from the boy in the hospital, no other print matches his size."
"I wouldn't doubt it, Aiden. He's something else. Good work. When we get the suspect in it's an airtight case on the assault."
"Thanks, Mac. Stella's waiting for you in your office." Mac only nodded and headed towards his office. When he got there Stella was sitting in his chair. He entered his office slowly and stared at her with suspicion.
"What?" she asked when he didn't say anything.
"Obviously you're the one with something to say," Mac said guardedly.
"New Jersey Police located Gerald Cooper. They're transporting him to us. Should be here in an hour."
"Good."
"Think he really knows anything?"
"It's his truck, Stella, he obviously had contact with Beale recently."
"Yeah. How are you doing? You look like you didn't sleep, Mac."
"I didn't. Mady called me last night after Kolby James took off and I helped her track him down."
"Mady?"
"Yeah the boy's mother."
"I know who you meant, Mac."
"What?"
"You know what you're doing?"
"Nope," Mac said with a sigh and flopped down in the chair on the other side of his desk. Stella studied him for a moment. Mac was staring at his desk, a distant look in his eyes. Stella was quiet for a while after that. Finally Mac seemed to snap back to reality and glanced at his watch. "When was Cooper being brought in?"
"About 50 minutes now. I'll let you be, you get some rest, Mac. We've got this covered."
"Thanks, Stel."
Stella left him alone and he circled around his desk and dropped into his own chair. He slouched down and stretched his legs out under his desk. He looked around his office and felt the fatigue hit him. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to sit for the next 50 minutes. He figured if Stella saw him up and about the lab she would scold him so he stayed put.
The fifty minutes were passing slowly until the next thing Mac knew someone was shaking his shoulder. His eyes sprang open and he fought the sleep off. He shook his head and looked to see Stella looking down at him.
"Turn your cell phone back on," she said softly. Mac shook his head again to knock the sleep away and then fumbled to find his cell phone. Sure enough it was still off from his stay at the hospital. He nodded and powered up his phone. He then slid it back into his pocket and stood up.
"Cooper here?"
"Yeah. We have him in the interrogation room. Waiting on you."
"I'll be right there," Mac said as he stretched his back. Sleeping in chairs was not a good idea he thought. He took a moment to compose himself and to smooth his ruffled suit. He would need to go to the locker room soon and change.
He finally made his way to the interrogation room and found Stella waiting for him at the door. She nodded and they went in together. Mac looked Cooper over thoroughly. He was about five nine and maybe one hundred fifty pounds. He had long, shoulder length stringy hair. His eyes were a pale gray.
Cooper shifted in his chair as he watched Mac study him. He felt uneasy. Mac kept the emotion out of his eyes as he took a seat at the table. Stella sat down next to him. Mac waited a while before starting. Finally after he saw how uncomfortable Cooper was he began.
"You're Gerald Cooper?" Mac asked sternly.
"Yeah," Cooper replied hesitantly.
"You own a red 1994 Ford truck?"
"Yeah."
"You know where that truck is now? When they picked you up it wasn't at your home."
"I loaned it to a friend for the week. He said he'd bring it back on Saturday."
"What's the name of your friend?"
"What happened? Something happen to my truck?"
"What's the name of your friend?"
"Wait, what's going on here. Where's my truck?"
"We were hoping you'd tell us," Stella said. Cooper looked at her with fear in his eyes. He could tell this was going bad.
"Look, all I did was give the keys to my friend. He said he needed wheels for a week. Since I don't have a job I told him he could barrow mine just bring it back with a full tank of gas."
"His name," Mac said. It sounded more like a growl to Stella.
"Robbie. Robbie Beale," Cooper said quickly.
"Do you know where Robbie was going this week?"
"Nah. He didn't say and I didn't ask. I swear I only lent him my vehicle. Shit whatever Robbie did I had NOTHING to do with!" Cooper said adamantly throwing his hands up in a surrendering motion. Mac studied his face closely. Cooper grew even more unnerved and started sweating. Mac could see the fear in his eyes.
"You have no idea where he might have gone?"
"I don't have a fucking clue. Ok? I'm living clean now. I don't want any part of anything. I got two strikes against me. I'm not going to risk my life for a piece of work like Robbie let me tell ya. I thought he just needed wheels. Something about his car being in the shop. I don't know anything I swear."
Mac nodded. He believed the man. He bit at his lip. This was going nowhere. They were no closer to finding the children after this. Stella was still staring at Cooper and Cooper was shifting uneasily under her gaze.
"Do you know of any friends Beale may run too if in trouble?" Stella asked. Cooper looked at her puzzled for a moment then spoke.
"What did Robbie do? Am I in trouble too because its my truck? Christ I didn't do anything!"
"Mr. Cooper do you know any of Beale's friends?" Stella said again.
"Oh, uh, Christ I don't remember all of them. Once when we were dodging law he took me upstate New York to a place. But I can't remember where or who owned it. I just remember it was out in the middle no where upstate. Does that help? Am I in trouble?"
"No, Mr. Cooper. You are not. And we would like to thank you for cooperating with us. When we locate your vehicle it will be returned to you when we are finished with it. Before you leave could you write up a list of names you remember that Beale would have associated with in the past?"
Gerald Cooper only nodded. He was sweating and starting to shake. Mac and Stella stood at the same time and left the room without another word. They made arrangements to have Cooper taken back to his home in New Jersey then walked towards Mac's office.
"Up state New York," Stella said quietly as they reached his office and both took a seat.
"We need to find out where it is. If its in his name or a friend's."
"I'll get on it Mac. Once Cooper finishes with the list I'll start on that too."
"Have Aiden help you. She's done with the physical evidence from the house."
"Will do. What are you going to do?"
"When that list is finished take a copy to Mady at the hospital and see if she can't help with some of the names. Maybe she knows about the up state property."
"Ok."
"Stella, there's that tone again."
"What tone, Mac?"
"Never mind. See if Cooper finished up yet."
Stella only nodded and left the office. Mac sank into his chair and took a deep breath. Maybe they were a step closer to the children. He didn't know what he had expected from Cooper but he felt a little defeated. He shook the feeling and then got up. He would need a copy of the list Cooper came up with. He was in the hallway when he saw Aiden coming at him with a piece of paper.
"Mac, Stella said to give you a copy of this," Aiden said handing the piece of paper to Mac. He nodded and folded it up into his pocket.
"I'll be at Queen of Mercy if anyone needs me," Mac said and then turned and left for the hospital.
TBC…