XXXXXX
"It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." Anthony Robbins
XXXXXX
Chapter 5
XXXXXX
Martin walked into the office ahead of Danny and Samantha and found the bullpen empty. There were remnants of lunch on the table, wrappers and paper cups, but no sign of any of his teammates.
Samantha and Danny walked immediately up to the board to look at what little they had of a timeline so far. He could see Samantha studying the photo they had of Erica on the board. A beautiful woman with big brown eyes and long, straight black hair looked back at her.
"You don't have a lot of info do you Fitzgerald?" Danny teased as his eyes flicked over the board before turning around to meet Martin's.
Not feeling up to anymore needling from the sarcastic agent, Martin said, "I'm just going to go find out where everyone is." He walked to his desk and tossed his coat onto his chair. He picked up a file folder and handed it to Samantha. "Here's a copy of the file and all the information we have so far. I'll be right back so we can review it."
"Great, thanks." Samantha smiled at him as she took the proffered file and began skimming through it.
Martin looked at her for a beat before turning away and heading down the hall in search of his team. He found them in the first place he looked, the tech room. Anna and Charlie were sitting at the desk studying the monitor closely while the tech, Theo, was clicking keys on his keyboard. Theo was a young black man who took his job very seriously and didn't like the other agents touching his equipment so as a result, Charlie always did his best to annoy him.
"The agents from New York are here." He said and they all looked up when he entered. "Where's Louisa?"
"She and James went to go talk to in-laws again. It seems that they loaned Erica some money awhile back; a lot of money." Anna replied before looking behind him. "Where are the other agents?"
He thumbed towards the general direction of where he left them, "They're in the bullpen reviewing the file."
"What are they like?" Charlie asked as continued to look at the monitor. He tried to make a grab to take over control of the mouse but Theo got to it first. Theo gave Charlie an annoyed look before getting back to his work.
"Um, they seem okay." Martin replied quickly and non-chalantly. No need to arouse suspicion that his heart was doing flip-flops every time he looked at Samantha. It's a miracle he could drive and talk to her. "What did you find on the video?"
This time Charlie did look up. "Well, she definitely knew whoever took her but she was not happy to see them."
Martin moved over to stand behind them as the video on the monitor began to play. There was Erica in her silver Acura pulling into the lot with a blue Explorer parking directly behind her. Unfortunately it was hard to see the other car or driver because it was obstructed by a low hanging tree branch. Erica opened the car door and got out. She stood in the space between the driver's seat and open door as if using the door for protection.
At first you could tell she was simply talking to the other person but suddenly a fist came out and punched her in the face. She held her hand to her nose as blood began to drip. She continued talking to whomever it was who hit her and tried to get back into her car when she suddenly stopped and looked up at her assailant. She sat there for a moment as if contemplating before getting out of her car and into the Explorer before it sped away.
"So she went willingly, sort of." Martin said.
"We are running a check on blue Explorer's but so far no potential hits." Anna supplied.
"Theo has been trying to find anything on the video that we could use to either get an angle on the driver or a license plate but so far no luck." Charlie added. He turned to look at Theo and said, "Can you print this out for me, Theo?" Theo hit print and handed Charlie the color copy. "So, Martin, I guess we should go introduce ourselves."
"Yeah." He replied, secretly dreading them meeting Samantha. They knew his type and she was definitely it.
When they reached the bullpen and they saw her he knew that he was right to be worried. Anna and Charlie saw Samantha and immediately looked at him, grinning devilishly.
"Okay, huh?" Anna stated before walking towards where Samantha and Danny stood talking as they looked over the file. "Hi, I'm Anna Cook and this big lug is Charlie Denooyer."
As they all exchanged handshakes and pleasantries, Martin couldn't help but notice that Anna was eyeing him with mirth in her eyes.
"I'm glad you both were able to get out here to help us find out how these cases are connected. I hope you won't have to stay too long, I know I hate being away from my husband and I'd hate for you to spend too much time away from your boyfriend, Samantha." Anna said in her 'I'm just being nice, not nosey' tone.
"It's not a problem." Sam replied.
"Really? You're boyfriend doesn't mind?" Anna retorted before tossing Martin a quick glance.
"Sam doesn't have a boyfriend." Danny interrupted with narrowed eyes at Martin. "Do you, Sam?"
"Thank you, Danny, but I hardly think discussing my personal life will help us in finding Erica." Samantha replied coolly. Martin couldn't help but notice that she was glaring at Danny.
"Charlie why don't you tell them what you found on the video?" Martin said as he shot Anna a warning look. He could practically see her cupid wings beginning to sprout.
"Yeah, right." Charlie replied.
They all sat around the conference table to as Charlie filled Danny and Sam on what they had learned.
"So, there is a possibility of an affair." Danny commented as he picked up the photo.
"I don't know; this hardly looks like lovers running away together." Sam replied as she tapped her pen on the table.
"I agree but I think we're going to have to ask Dominic about it." Martin replied as he leaned back in his chair. He hated having to ask people if they thought that maybe their spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends or fiancées were having affairs. It was necessary but he hated seeing the hurt and betrayal in their eyes. It always made him wonder if he looked that way when it happened to him.
"I guess we should head over to his place then. Where do we go to check out a bureau car?" Danny asked as he moved to stand up.
"Oh, here." Martin stood up and pulled out the car keys from his pocket and tossed them over to Danny. "I already did it for you."
Danny gave him surprised look and mumbled, "Thanks."
"No problem." Martin smiled. "So, do you guy's want to go to your hotel first or straight to the Mosconi's?"
Sam stood up and said, "Considering the time I think we should go see Mr. Mosconi first. Danny and I will follow you in the car and then head out to our hotel afterwards."
"Oh. Okay." Martin replied trying to look cheerful when he was actually hurt that she wanted to ride separately from him.
"Well, let us know how it goes." Anna replied as she stood up to head back to her desk. "Oh, and by the way, we all head over to Giordano's Pizzeria on North Clark after work on Wednesday's. You both are more than welcome to join us."
"That's great but I have plans." Danny replied happily. "But it's good to know that Sam won't be eating all by herself tonight."
"Thank you, Danny." Samantha replied with smile before turning to Anna. "I'd like that." She put her coat back on and added, "So, I guess I'll see you tonight."
"Yes, see you tonight. 7:00 pm" Anna replied.
Samantha and Danny started towards the hallway and Martin said, "I'll meet you at the elevator. I just have to grab a few things."
They nodded their heads at them before walking away.
"You're welcome." Anna said with a self-satisfied smile.
"For what?" Martin said as he walked over to his desk to grab his coat.
"Please, you like her and now I have assured that you will get to see her in a more social setting."
"How do you know I wasn't planning on asking her out for tonight and you just ruined it?" Martin replied pointedly.
"Please. With that wounded puppy dog look in your eyes when she said she wanted to meet you at the Mosconi's I knew I had to do something." Anna said as she slumped into her seat.
Charlie laughed as he stood taping the surveillance photo to the board. "She's right. You looked like someone ran over your dog."
"First, don't ever say that about my dog. And second, I thought I made it clear this morning that I can handle my own love life." Martin argued as he cringed inwardly that they noticed his disappointment earlier.
"Then handle it." Anna said as she met Martin's eyes. "I just invited her to dinner. The rest is all up to you."