Disclaimer: Due South is still not mine, more's the pity.
A/N: I hope someone out there is enjoying this :-)
-----------
Walking along the lakefront in the warm evening, Fraser's mind was still occupied with the thoughts of the afternoon. Throughout the second lecture he had been distracted, trying to solve the final parts of the puzzle that he had not yet fitted into place. Meg had thought Jenna had evidence, and Fraser trusted her judgement, but did she know about Jenna's father's involvement? He knew there were things she had kept back from him, but was this one of them? If it was, then the chances were there was evidence somewhere, he just didn't know where.
Jenna had been in Toronto at the time of her meeting with Meg, therefore she had obviously left Ottawa before her father and his associates had been able to do anything about it. That suggested she felt safer in Toronto than Ottawa, and therefore, Fraser reasoned, she would have been more likely to bring the evidence with her, than leave it in place she was unfamiliar or uncomfortable with.
With that thought in mind, Fraser decided to look into Jenna's background. People tended to hide things in places they knew, where they were, or had previously been, able to observe the routines of the location. So, where would Jenna feel comfortable? Where had she lived and worked whilst in Toronto?
Making his way back to the hotel, Fraser passed a call box. Moving inside, he dialled the familiar number to Ray's cell phone.
"Vecchio," came the response.
"Ray, it's me."
"Hey Benny, you bored of your conference already? Want me to come pick you up from the airport?" There was laughter in Ray's voice, but Fraser was too wound up to appreciate the humour.
"No Ray, but I need you to do something for me."
"Sure Benny, what's up?"
Fraser related the information he required to his friend, hoping he wouldn't ask too many questions. Although he knew Ray would never openly refuse to help him on this, he was aware the detective was tiring of his crusade.
"OK Benny, I'll get it for you, but I want you to listen to me carefully now. I don't want to see you get hurt and if you keep on like this that is exactly what is going to happen. You're getting obsessed with this case and her, and no matter what you do, it is not going to bring her back."
"Ray…" Fraser started to interrupt.
"No, hear me out, Fraser. Solving the case will not bring her back. She's dead and there's nothing you can do about it. It wasn't your fault and no one blames you, OK?"
"Yes Ray." The caring in his friend's voice was overwhelming. He hadn't realised exactly how much this was affecting Ray, he had just thought he was tiring of being asked to search for information. He hadn't realised that Ray was that worried about him.
Thanking him again and giving him the number to his hotel room, Fraser contemplated Ray's words. Maybe he was obsessed, but he couldn't let it go. Not now, when he was so close to bringing her home. Vowing to himself not to ask Ray for anything else, he made his way back to the hotel to await the call that would hopefully bring him one step closer to the woman he loved.
------
Walking into the apartment building, Fraser realised straight away he was in the wrong place. There was no security guard, nothing but a pin-coded door to prevent access to strangers. There was hardly likely to be any kind of secure storage here. Taking a quick look round the ground level floor, he was convinced. If Jenna had hidden any documents in this building, it would have been in her own apartment, which had been thoroughly searched at the time of her death.
Looking down at the rest of the list Ray had given him the previous evening on the phone, he scanned the names for something that resembled a large office or building, anything that might have a safe or security deposit boxes. Apparently Jenna had worked for a company in the main business district of Toronto. Checking his watch, Fraser decided he just had time enough to check out the building before the first lecture of the day started.
Upon entering the building, Fraser first thought was that this was a much more likely place for someone to hide evidence. The security men at the reception desk, the cameras which were obviously not just for show and the familiarity working there would give, everything suggested that this would be a place a young woman would seriously consider using. Making his way towards the reception desk, Fraser took out his ID, hoping that the receptionist would not phone the local RCMP department to check his story.
"Hello. May I help you?" Asked the young lady at the desk.
"Ah, yes ma'am." Flashing his badge, Fraser smiled his most charming smile, "I was wondering if you could possibly provide me with some information."
"Certainly sir, what it is that you are after?" The receptionist was now smiling back at the Constable, batting her eyelids.
"I was wondering if you had any type of safety deposit box here, or maybe a safe, something that the employees would be able to access, where say, valuable items might be held?"
"We have company lockers, sir, if that is the type of thing you mean."
"Lockers? Are these able to be opened only by the employee who has the key?"
"Absolutely. They're completely safe, any member of staff can apply for one, and keep whatever they like there, although lots just choose to store some valuables there when they go on holiday, that type of thing, you know."
"Thank you kindly, you've been most helpful. Could you tell me where these lockers are located, please?"
"Down in the basement. You have to use you swipe card to get through the outer door, where there's security any time the building is open."
Fraser looked across at the door the receptionist had gestured towards. The electronic lock was obvious even from here.
"Um, I was wondering, is there any record of the people who have kept lockers in this building?"
"Of course, but I'm afraid I can't divulge that kind of information. You'll need a warrant for that." She looked apologetically at the Constable.
"Of course ma'am, but the particular information I am after relates to an ex-employee, someone who worked here a couple of years ago, and is now unfortunately deceased. She may have had a locker in which she kept some important documentation pertaining to a case I am currently working on, and it is imperative we have these documents." Fraser looked beseechingly at the woman, hoping she would help him.
"She's dead?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I can only tell you if she had a locker, I can't let you into it."
"Understood, that would be a great help."
"OK, just don't tell my boss."
"Thank you kindly." Fraser watched as the receptionist started typing, supplying the information she asked for at the required time.
"I'm sorry, sir. We have no records that a Jenna Richards had a locker in this building at any time during her tenure with the company."
Fraser's heart sank; he had been so sure that this would be the answer to everything. "Ah, well thank you kindly, I greatly appreciate your help."
"It's been my pleasure." The receptionist smiled as Fraser turned to leave. He had only taken a couple of steps towards the exit when the female voice called him back.
"Oh, Constable!"
Returning to the desk, Fraser looked at the lady questioningly. "Ma'am?"
"I just had a thought. Your lady, she didn't necessarily have to have a locker in this building. I mean, our records only cover this office, but there's nothing to say that she didn't go to one of our other offices and use their facilities. It's unusual, but there's nothing to stop her. As long as she had her company ID, she could use whatever office she liked for storage. The company is on a global system to enable visiting directors to store important documents when they come for meetings."
"Do you have any other offices in this area?" Fraser felt his heart begin to rise again. It was perfect, use your company ID to access lockers of an office no-one would associate you with.
"Absolutely, we have another building just on the other side of the city, over on Upper East Street."
"Thank you kindly ma'am, you don't know how helpful this has been."
"You're welcome."
Fraser walked out of the office, optimism flowing through his veins. This had to be it, it just had to be.
------