Chapter 2

"You mean you're telling me you think this Charlie Dakota only took a job here for easy access of the database?"

"Exactly," MacGyver replied, pulling open a drawer of one of the filing cabinets of the personnel department and rooting through it. "What better way to get something you want?"

Pete shook his head. "But we do an extensive screening of every employee that comes through the Foundation, why wouldn't we have caught this guy during his background check?"

"Because he has no prior record; therefore, no reason for us to be suspicious. He was the perfect guy for the job."

Pete frowned.

"Aha, found it," MacGyver said, pulling the folder marked 'Dakota' out of the drawer. "Strange thing is, according to his birth date, he's only 18 years old."

"And no-one remembers him working here?" Pete asked

"Strangely, no," MacGyver said, taking the keys to his Jeep out of his pocket then throwing them up into the air and catching them in the same hand. "Then again, the Foundation employs over 400 people and he only worked here for two weeks. Why would they?"

Pete shrugged. "Where are you going?"

MacGyver grinned, glancing at the home address listed on the record. "I'm going to go pay Mr. Dakota a little visit."

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MacGyver's Jeep pulled to the curbside of an old weathered apartment house as he quickly checked the address again. It seemed likely that whoever Charlie Dakota was, he was no longer living here, but he knew he still had to give it a try.

He stopped to talk to an old man watering a few wilting plants in front of the decrepit house.

"You live here?" he asked him as the old man slowly stood up.

"Yes, Sir. Landlord."

"You mind tellin' me if Mr. Dakota still lives in one of your apartments?"

"Mr. Dakota…." the old man repeated to himself, bewildered. "No Sir, he doesn't. All of my tenants for the past two years have been women. They keep a tidier place, you know."

MacGyver nodded, not bothering to mention the Equal Opportunity Housing Act. "Any of them been married by chance? Boyfriends?"

The man shook his head. "No. Most of the ladies who live here are older women. Widowed." He paused in thought. "Though there was a young girl living in the upstairs apartment a couple of months ago. Pretty thing, about five months pregnant."

MacGyver paused, leaning against the rain of the front porch steps. "Pregnant? Do you remember ever seeing the father around here?"

The old man scratched his head. "He was here a few times. Temper like you wouldn't believe. But I believe he'd left her. Had gotten himself into some sort of trouble. Runnin' from the law from what I heard. It's a shame, you know. Leaving such a young girl like that to be a single mother."

"What was her name?"

"Mary,…. Mary something other. Name never did sound right. Like maybe it wasn't really hers, you know? I'm used to that sorta thing. I don't ask questions unless they become a problem."

MacGyver slowly nodded his head. "Any idea why she moved out?"

"Couldn't make the rent," he old man plainly replied, turning his attention back to the small potted plants on his front porch. "She still owes two months in back rent. I hate to kick someone out when they're already down, but that's how this business goes."

"Know where she went?"

"Nope," he replied. "Though chances are she headed for Eve's Place."

"Eve's Place?" MacGyver asked.

"Over on the corner of Green and Willington. Eve Barrington takes in girls who've found themselves in…situations."

MacGyver nodded, quickly walking back to the Jeep and starting it up.

The case was already looking up—now he had a lead. Sure he hadn't found Dakota, but he hadn't expected to. What he did find, though, would most likely bring him closer to the alleged criminal.

A/N: Yeah, I know. Short chapters. I actually had this one on a disk for about the past year. I added one sentence and it was suitable to upload. I promise longer ones from here on out. I just like to end the chappie before a major turning point. Youknowwhattamean?