Chapter 15
In Twin Falls, around 10:05 P.M., Trubel saw Woody leave out through the front door. She watched him closely as he walked to his Chevy Cruz and climbed in. She continued to watch as he backed out of his parking space, and when his license plate was visible, she memorized the plate.
Trubel continued to watch Woody from the roof until he left the parking lot, and she knew in which direction at the intersection he had gone.
Trubel then hurried to her motorcycle, and once she brought it to life, she hurried to catch up to the Chevy Cruz.
It didn't take Trubel long to catch up to the Chevy Cruz, and once she had, she followed Woody at a comfortable distance.
At the police station, Austin was finally released after giving his statement as a witness to Monte's death. As he was entering the reception area, he was approached by Dwight and his two bodyguards. Dwight demanded to hear a blow-by-blow detail of Monte's death from him.
Austin took a hard breath before telling Dwight what he had told the police.
Once Austin had finished telling Dwight, Dwight replied, "Something about your story doesn't add up."
"What I told you and the police is exactly how it had happened," Austin defended.
"No-no," Dwight quickly replied. "I never meant to imply that you were lying to me. In fact, I believe you. I believe everything you had told me is true. However, under the perfected conditions—and I know for a fact that the conditions were perfect for Monte—a Ziegevolk can charmed anyone and everyone—including his most hated enemy. So what doesn't add up is how Monte wasn't able to charm the jealous boyfriend."
Austin shrugged before suggesting, "I don't know what the conditions need to be for a Ziegevolk to be able to charm anyone and everyone, but I have to say that—in Monte's case—at least one of the conditions was out of balance with the others. Perhaps the fact that he had a severe cold was why he couldn't charm the jealous boyfriend."
"Being sick with a cold or the flu wouldn't interfere with how charming we Ziegevolk can be," Dwight replied before contemplating on the situation. "Mmm, I need to find a doctor who is familiar with Ziegevolk's physiology and have him or her perform an autopsy on Monte. Anyway, Austin, you are welcome to visit my clubs any time."
"Thank you, sir," Austin replied.
"Take care," Dwight replied while offering to shake hands.
"Take care," Austin echoed while shaking his hand.
Once the handshake ended, Dwight and Austin went their respective ways.
Outside Woody's apartment building, Trubel couldn't find a suitable place to watch the comings and goings of the people for the apartment building. However, she was able to get inside the lobby and look at the mailboxes.
As Trubel was learning that the Sommers brothers were in apartment 306, a thirty-year-old woman was coming off the stairs.
"Hi, may I help you," the woman asked Trubel.
Trubel looked towards the woman and pursed her lips before saying, "Possibly. I understand that Seth Sommers lives in the building, and I would like to find out what apartment he lives in."
"And what is your business with Seth Sommers?" the woman quickly asked.
"It's a personal matter," Trubel quickly replied.
"Okay, well, Seth and his brother Nathen do have an apartment on the third floor," the woman replied. "But neither Seth nor Nathan is here at the moment. In fact, they are rarely here. Also, they are both the noncommittal type. So, if Seth had flirted with you and you're here pursuing a relationship with him, I'm afraid that you are heading for disappointment."
"Okay, well, he has never flirted with me," Trubel replied. "In fact, we haven't even met yet."
"You're here on a personal matter with a man who you have never met?" the woman rhetorically questioned. "Mmm, I say that you are a police detective, a lawyer or a process server."
"Okay, I feel as if I don't answer as to why I'm here, you will call Seth and Nathen up and tell them to stay away," Trubel commented. The woman made a facial gesture that indicated that Trubel's assumption wasn't wrong. "Okay." Trubel pursed her lips as she thought of an excuse. "Here it is. I'm no lawyer, but I work for one. Someone who Seth had known had died recently and Seth was named in the man's will. My boss had attempted to send him a letter, but the letter was returned while stamped undeliverable. The phone number that my boss has for him is a bad number as well, and so now, it's my turn to deliver the news personally."
"Okay, who died?" the woman questioned.
"I'm afraid that information is for Mr. Seth Sommers's ears only," Trubel replied.
"Okay, fine," the woman began. "What is the name of your law firm?"
"Actually, my boss works for herself and not for a law firm; however, the name of her practice is Schade-Burthardt Law Office," Trubel began. "You can Google Schade-Burthardt Law Office if you'd like. You will learn that my boss's name is Adalind Schade-Burthardt, and her office is in Portland, Oregon. Normally, she doesn't handle living wills, but she made an exception for her now deceased client."
"So, if I Google Schade-Burthardt Law Office and obtained the lawyer's phone number, and then call the number, Adalind Schade-Burthardt could vouch for you and for everything you have told me."
"Absolutely," Trubel replied.
"And what is your name?" the woman asked.
"It's Theresa Rubel," she replied.
The woman lightly chuckled before asking, "Do you go by Terri?"
"No, actually I go by Trubel, as in T-Rubel," she replied.
"Ah," the woman replied. "My first name is actually Theresa too, which was why I chuckled a moment ago, but I go by Terri."
Trubel slightly grinned before saying, "I was wondering why you chuckled. Anyway, I will be around."
"Do you have a number that Seth or I can reach you by?" Terri asked.
"My phone is actually a personal phone, and I don't give out the number as if it's a work phone," Trubel began. "However, if you would like to pass a message to me, you can call Adalind and Adalind can contact me."
"Alright," Terri replied.
"Bye," Trubel told Terri.
Terri simply waved before Trubel turned and left the apartment building.
Once Trubel got to her motorcycle, she called Adalind, and when Adalind picked up, she told her, "Hi, it's Trubel. Someone will be calling you either tonight or tomorrow morning and I need you to vouch for me."
"Vouch for you? In what way?" Adalind questioned.
Trubel took a breath before telling Alalind the situation and what she told Terri.
Once Trubel was done, Adalind told her, "First of all, hi, it's good to hear from you."
"Okay, I should call more often," Trubel replied.
"You should," Adalind agreed. "Anyway, Trubel, you may not be aware of this, but ninety percent of my clients are Wesen. And they all trust me. However, I would lose that trust and them as clients if the word would get out that I had helped a Grimm to lead Wesen into an ambush by letting you use my practice for your cover story. So, I'm sorry, Trubel, but if Terri or one of the brothers calls, I will not risk my livelihood by telling either of them that you work for me and that you are on assignment for my office."
"I'm sorry, Adalind, I didn't even think that it would affect your livelihood by pretending that I worked for you," Trubel earnestly told her.
"It's fine," Adalind replied. "I'm not upset. But please, stop telling people that you work for me."
"I swear, this was my one and only time," Trubel replied.
"Good," Adalind replied. "Oh, and if one of them calls, I won't say anything that would make the brothers harder to get to, and that's the best I can do."
"Fair enough," Trubel replied. "I'll talk with you later."
"Take care of yourself," Adadind quickly told her.
"I will," Trubel replied. "Bye."
"Bye," Adalind replied before hanging up.
Trubel sat on her motorcycle and considered her options for a few seconds before dialing Alysa's number.
After two rings, Alysa answered with, "After you rode away and I got inside, I had a feeling that I would hear from you again; however, you are calling me sooner than I expected. Anyway, what's up?"
"I have found where the Sommers brothers live; however, I can't stake out the building on a motorcycle without drawing too much unwanted attention to myself. So, you wouldn't have access to a utility van by chance, would you?"
"I would not," Alysa replied.
"How about a police scanner?" Trubel asked. "And I don't mean an app-download."
"I don't own one, but my friend Jake does," Alysa replied. "But why do you need a police scanner?"
"Every Dämonfeuer I've encountered likes to watch as the building burns to the ground, and if the Sommers brothers also like to watch as well, then I might be able to catch one or both of them at a scene of a fire."
"Ah, I get it," Alysa replied. "You're going to check out fire scenes as they get reported and look for the brothers among the spectators."
"Exactly," Trubel replied.
"Okay, well, let me call Jake and find out if he will let us borrow his police scanner," Alysa replied. "I'll call you back. Bye."
"Bye," Trubel replied before hanging up.
As Trubel considered what to do next, she looked up and down the street. When she spotted Karl's Grill (a twenty-four-hour dine-in restaurant), her stomach growled, which reminded her that she only had eaten beef jerky for the past few hours.
She quickly put on her helmet, brought her motorcycle to life and rode to the restaurant.
After entering and taking a seat at the counter, Trubel ordered a double-cheeseburger with everything, fries and a chocolate shake.
Midway through Trubel's meal, Alysa called and told her, "Jake is bringing over his police scanner. He'll be at my place in about ten minutes."
"Okay. However, I'm eating a double cheeseburger and fries right now at Karl's Grill, so I'll be there as soon as I'm done eating," Trubel replied.
"Ooh, if they have coconut cream pie, grab me a slice," Alysa requested. "In fact, grab two slices. One for me and one for Jake, and I'll pay you back when you get here."
"Sure," Trubel replied as she looked over at the pie case and saw that there were six slices of coconut cream pie in the case. "But you won't need to pay me back. My treat."
"Okay. Thanks," Alysa replied.
"Bye," Trubel told her before putting her phone away.
Trubel immediately flagged down the waitress as she walked by and ordered three slices of coconut cream pie to go.
Within a short time, Trubel finished her meal, paid for her meal and the pies and returned to Alysa's apartment with the three slices of pie.
Alysa reintroduced Trubel and Jake to each other when Trubel stepped in. The three then got comfortable in the kitchen while they each ate his or her pie and listened to the police scanner.
Once the three slices of pie were gone, Alysa talked Trubel and Jake into playing trivial pursuit while they listened to the police scanner.
In Portland, Oregon, from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, Olivia dreamed off and on about the Wesen community. Most of what she dreamed was about Wesen as they peacefully went about their daily lives; however, she once again dreamed about the large Wesen gathering.
Olivia's dream about the large Wesen gathering was mostly a replay of her yesterday's dream; however, this time, she noticed that a female Balam and a male Blutbad were there; however, the Balam and the Blutbad were more interested in watching the group than listening to the leader of the group as he spoke.
When Olivia woke up at 7:55 A.M., she grabbed her dream journal and wrote everything down.
In the lower level of the courthouse parking garage, Judge Tillis had parked his car. As he was getting out, he was immediately joined by Nick and Erica.
Without hesitation, Erica went up to him and smelled him.
"Oh, yeah," Erica replied and acting as if what she smelled was offensive to her senses. "He's definitely a Klaustreich."
"What's the meaning of this, detectives?" Judge Tillis demanded to know.
"Oh, we aren't here as detectives, Judge Tillis," Nick informed. "I'm here as a Grimm and she's here… well, I think she just has a personal beef against Klaustreichs. Although, she won't tell me why." Erica shot Nick a get serious look. "Anyway, Detective Brown came to you last night for a search warrant. He was given a good tip on where to find those kidnapped teenage girls and the kidnappers. My partner and I were on the site and monitoring the house while you were signing Detective Brown's search warrant. Then all of the sudden, the kidnappers—all Klaustreich—had gotten very lively. You called them and told them that the police were on their way and for them to take the girls and get out."
"You have no proof of that," Judge Tillis replied.
"You are right, I don't have proof, and since you used a burner phone to warn your partners, I can't get proof, but I'm absolutely certain of it," Nick began. "Which is why I'm here as a Grimm and not as a detective.
"I heard of you, Detective Burthardt," Judge Tillis began. "You're a detective first and then a Grimm."
"You are right again, Judge Tillis, which is why I'm giving you one of three choices," Nick began. "Choice one, you are to retire your position as a judge; immediately sever all ties that you may have in Portland and move as far from here as you can. And your retirement and leaving the Portland area will start and end today. Choice two, you turn yourself in and confess that you were also a part of those teenage kidnappings. And finally, choice three, the detective in me takes a nap as the Grimm in me takes over. And if you think that I'm bluffing about choice three, then by all means, choose that."
Judge Tillis pursed him lips before saying, "Given the three choices, the first choice would be the only one I'm comfortable with."
"I had a feeling that the first choice would be the choice you make," Nick replied. "And to make sure that you don't delay in retiring and leaving town, Detective Espinosa and I will be your bodyguards until you are on a plane."
"What about your duties as a detective, Grimm?" Judge Tillis questioned, as if to point something out to him.
"Captain Hank Griffin knows about Wesen and me being a Grimm, and I filled him in on the situation with you," Nick replied. "As far as everyone else is concerned, a creditable death threat towards you has been made and Detective Espinosa and I are on special assignment to protect you."
Judge Tillis chuckled without humor before saying, "Fine. You win, Grimm. But what am I to say as to why I'm taking immediate retirement?"
"You could say that a Grimm has found out about you being a Klaustreich and is forcing you to leave town," Nick facetiously replied.
Judge Tillis smirked before saying, "Yes, I could say that and then end up in a mental facility."
"I suggest that you tell people that you recently been notified by your doctor that you have severe health issues, and these health issues are forcing you into early retirement," Erica told him.
"Fine," Judge Tillis replied, bitterly. "Let's go to my chambers, so I can write my resignation letter."
"After you, Judge Tillis," Nick told him and making a hand gesture for him to go.
Judge Tillis nodded before moving towards the elevators. Nick and Erica followed.
As the morning slowly passed, Judge Tillis typed up his letter and turned it in. His resignation letter was reluctantly accepted, and when he left the courthouse, Nick and Erica followed him home.
Once the three arrived at Judge Tillis's home, Judge Tillis told his wife and two adult sons of the situation. His wife and sons were Klaustreich as well.
Judge Tillis's sons quickly reacted defensively to the threat of a Grimm in the house and shifted into Klaustreich; however, they quickly backed down when Erica shifted into a Balam and displayed that she was the Alpha between her and them.
Judge Tillis and his sons then began packing their essentials for their move while Judge Tillis's wife called the airline and booked a one-way flight for the first flight she could get on short notice. A flight to Saint Louis, Missouri, was the first flight from Portland that she could get, but their final destination will be Tampa, Florida. Tampa, Florida was where Judge Tillis's second home (his family's vacation home) was located.
The flight to Saint Louis was to leave in one hour of booking the flight, and Nick and Erica escorted them to the airport and then watched them board the plane.
Once the plane had taxied onto the runway and taken off, Nick and Eric returned to the police station.
In Twin Falls, Trubel's entire morning was spent riding around on her motorcycle and familiarizing herself with the city. Alysa and Jake both had gone to their respective jobs. Alysa waited tables at a pancake house, and Jake worked at a department store.
At Nick and Adalind's house, Adalind answered her work phone with, "Schade-Burthardt Law Office. Adalind Schade-Burthardt speaking. How can I help you?"
"Ms. Schade-Burthardt. Hi, this is Seth Sommers," he began. "I understand that your law office has been attempting to reach me."
"Who told you that, Mr. Sommers?" Adalind questioned before making a note of his phone number.
"One of my neighbors told me, and she had gotten the information from your employee," Seth replied. "Is it not true that your office has been attempting to reach me?"
"I haven't been trying to reach you, Mr. Sommers," Adalind replied. "And I do occasionally hire temps to help out when I'm overwhelmed with cases, but for the most part, I don't have any employees. Anyway, did this person say what his or her name was?"
"According to my neighbor, her name is Theresa Rubel," Seth replied.
"Ah, yes, I'm familiar with her name," Adalind replied. "She broke into my house a few days ago when no one was home. She left her fingerprints everywhere as she attempted to find something worth stealing. Lucky for my husband and me, we don't have expensive items lying around, so she only made off with a few souvenirs that can be easily replaced. Anyway, after the cops did their thing, I learned that Theresa Rubel is a thief and a con-artist, and if she's bothering you now, then I would say that she has targeted you for one of her cons."
"Yes, well, this time she targeted the wrong person," Seth replied.
"Mr. Sommers, I won't ask you to elaborate on that comment," Adalind replied. "In fact, I recommend that you call the police if she attempts to contact you again."
"I won't need to involve the police, Ms. Schade-Burthardt," Seth replied. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Adalind replied.
Once the call had ended, Adalind called Trubel. After Trubel pulled over to the curb and picked up, Adalind told her, "Seth Sommers called, and I think I got him gunning for you now."
"Why? What did you tell him?" Trubel asked.
Adalind filled Trubel in on what was said and then gave her Seth's number.
"Thanks, Adalind," Trubel told her. "I'll call the number, as soon as I get a hold of a disposable phone. Anyway, I'll talk with you later. Bye."
"Bye," Adalind said before hanging up.
Trubel drove off again, but this time, in search for a place that sold cheap pay-as-you-go phones.
Around 2:20 P.M., in Portland, at David and Megan's house, Olivia and Magen were folding laundry while watching a game show on TV. Ben was returning from filling out a job application to a nearby gas station.
As Ben walked in, he challenged, "Guess who I found lost and looking for direction at the gas station."
"Who?" Olivia and Megan both asked.
"Me," a forty-eight-year-old Caucasian woman replied as she stepped around Ben and into everyone's view.
The woman stood 5' 5" and had dark brown hair and brown eyes.
"Aunt Sarah, hi," Olivia replied before dropping the towel that she was folding back onto the basket and rushing to give Sarah a hug.
During the hug, Olivia was given the vision of Sarah being a woman with crystalized light blue eyes, bluish-white crystalized skin, elf-like ears, elf-like facial features and white hair.
When a sudden chill hit Olivia—as if she had just stepped onto the North-Pole without proper clothing—she gasped.
Sarah broke the hug before asking, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Olivia claimed. "For whatever reason, I got a chill."
"Okay," Sarah began as if she didn't want to press the matter. "Anyway, Ben tells me that your mother works for Treeview Hospital. So I'm going to go over there and say hi to her."
"She'll be home in an hour," Olivia pointed out. "So you could stick around here until she gets home."
"But then I couldn't check out her workplace or surprise her that I'm here in Portland," Sarah replied.
"How long will you be here in Portland?" Olivia asked.
"I'll be here until Sunday; possibly longer," Sarah replied.
"Do you still live in Anchorage, Alaska, Sarah?" Megan asked.
"I do," Sarah replied. "But I do like to travel when I can and see the world. Anyway, I just wanted to pop my head in and say hi before I head over to the hospital. So, I will see everyone later."
"See you later," Olivia, Ben and Megan replied.
As Sarah returned to her rented Honda Accord, Olivia and Megan went back to the laundry.
Before Ben could get started on what he had planned to do, Megan drafted him to help with the laundry.
"Fine," Ben replied with a frown before doing what he was told.
To be continued.