Hello, my lovely readers. Elijah finds new leads. On with the show…

Chapter 21: The Plot Thickens

When you are not really looking for a clue—to solve a mystery—that is when you will find one. Unfortunately, Elijah Mikaelson found during his years in the D. A.'s office this is exactly when clues turned out to lack evidence to back them up. Worse yet, a clue could lead to a false result. Then a case might become invalid and he would have to begin all over again—whether the defendant was guilty or innocent. This week he would find himself with new clues in the Old Gerard case, but not all of them would lead him on a straight path….

"Dinner?" Kol popped his head inside Elijah's office.

Elijah had been sitting at his desk. His eyes were blurry from sitting in front of a computer screen. He had witnesses to depose. Another hearing to deal with. And his boss was breathing down his neck. The sooner they won this case; the sooner the current D. A. could use it to win in the next political race. Governor. The thought made Elijah shudder.

"What?" Elijah replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Stepping inside the office, Kol moved to grab the back of a chair across from Elijah. "Dinner? It's a thing that people do. Sometimes together. Sometimes not. And sometimes—although not often with us—people dine with their families."

"Thank you, Kol. I know what dinner is." Elijah groaned, falling back in his seat. "Why?"

"Why not?" Kol cried, slapping his hands on the chair back. "How often do we hang out? Just for the sheer hell of it, Elijah? Can't I miss my big brother?"

Narrowing his eyes, Elijah shook his head at Kol. "You want something? What is it?"

Kol's head dropped forward and he laughed. "Right. You've caught me red-handed. I plead guilty. I want to pump you for information about your lovely neighbor, Davina, and I'm using dinner as an excuse. Shall we?" Raising his head, Kol offered Elijah the same grin he used to at the age of five when he was trying to win Elijah over.

"Fine." Elijah pushed his chair back. "You're paying."

"Right." Kol seemed satisfied as Elijah collected his coat and they left the office. Elijah took a moment to lock the door. "Is this place spooky this time of night? Or is it just me?" Kol glanced above their heads at the glass rotunda and shuddered. "Bloody wonder no one's been murdered here, lately."

"Yes. Wonders never cease, do they?" Elijah glanced above them. He also felt a prick of unease at the sight of all that glass. If there were people who had enemies in this town, they would be the D. A. and his people.

Refocusing his thoughts, Elijah followed Kol out the front door. No one else hung about. They'd all gone home. Only Elijah and the security guards had stayed behind. "Night, Mr. Mikaelson," one of the guards called.

"Night, Jerry," Kol called back.

Elijah's brows rose. "You know the night security, by name?"

"How do you think I got in?" Kol inquired as they made their way toward Kol's car. "That and this mug of mine. We look a bit alike, don't you think?" Grinning, Kol's brows rose. "Hell, I might even be able to pass as you if someone weren't paying too close attention to detail."

"You mean like when you tried to go out with one of my high school girlfriends?" Elijah demanded, narrowing his eyes.

"Ah. Yes." Kol chuckled. "How is Gia?"

"Married. With kids. Happily. Leave her be." Elijah sent Kol a dark look.

Kol smirked and slid in behind the wheel. Elijah settled himself in the passenger seat. He enjoyed the leisure of someone else driving him around for once. Stopping in front of a little French place, Kol exited the car first and Elijah debated leaving his briefcase behind. In the end, he took it with him. This would be a mistake he would later regret.

Going into the restaurant, Kol made it clear he had made a reservation. So, this really was premeditated. Elijah watched the maître d' check the listing before giving a quick jerk of his head. "Party of two?"

"Yes." Kol grinned as he always did when something was going his way.

They took their seats and were handed menus. Elijah took longer to find what he wanted. He could feel his brother's eyes on him. "Yes?"

"What do you know about Ms. Claire?" Kol's words made Elijah's lips purse.

"Not much. She moved in—five-six months ago—with her boyfriend. They're fairly quiet…" Elijah stopped speaking. He thought of the things that Hayley and Katherine had been trying to imply at breakfast, days ago.

"And…" Kol sat forward, the look on his face comically eager. "Do they seem to be in love? What do you think the chances are if I keep 'running into her;' that I have a chance?"

"I believe that Davina has things that she is going through. At the moment. I'm not sure that a new romantic engagement is in her best interests, Kol." Elijah wanted to change the topic. "Kol, did Rebekah ever mention Marcel when she called you?"

"Marcel?" Kol's nose wrinkled. "Why would I want to talk about him, with you?" He fell back in his seat. Kol's annoyance with Elijah's abrupt ending the Davina conversation made Elijah sigh.

"Because, Kol, I want to know if our sister is becoming smitten with a killer," Elijah said in a hushed tone as their drinks arrived. "Thank you," he said to the waitress who smiled at them.

Kol flicked a quick glance at her and offered a quick, "Thank you, love."

"Pleasure's all mine," the waitress said, wiggling her hips as she left them. Kol did not even look. This was unusual. Kol usually used his celebrity to get into as many girls' pants as he could. Right now, he looked a tad depressed.

"Something wrong, Kol?" Elijah inquired.

Kol shook his head. "You know, Bekah feels betrayed by your work."

"I am aware. She made her feelings on the subject quite clear." Elijah shook his head. "However, it is our job to protect her."

Kol smirked. "I think Bekah can protect herself. Don't you?"

~0~

Dinner continued without incident and conversation declined as they ate. It was on their way back to the car that Kol said something that made Elijah's brows rise. "Bekah did tell me that Marcel and Old Gerard had a blow-out. Before the murder. There was a disagreement about something Old Gerard said to Rebekah. This was some years ago. But Bekah said something to Marcel. Marcel apparently had a little too much to drink. Old Gerard had them over for dinner. He was his usual prick-self. It ended with Marcel tossing a tumbler at his father's head before storming out."

"Really?" Elijah felt better and worse. If he really was prosecuting a guilty man, it would make this case move more smoothly. However, this also meant their sister was involved with a killer.

"If only that was all that happened that night," Kol said with a shake of his head.

"What else happened?" Elijah demanded.

Kol stopped and leaned against his car. "You can't tell Bekah I told you this." Eyes pinning Elijah to the spot, Kol waited for Elijah's reply.

Elijah nodded. "Never."

"Right then." Kol looked nervous. After a moment he continued but the words left his mouth with a sense of reluctance and Elijah stopped himself from demanding that Kol bloody well 'Spit it out.' "Bekah told me that after she and Marcel left; she lied and said she forgot something stupid. Her phone. Or something like that. She argued that it would be better if she went in. Get it by herself. Old Gerard might call the police and accuse Marcel of assault and battery in his current state."

Stopping Kol shook his head. "I shouldn't be telling you this…" he sighed.

"Kol, tell me," Elijah snapped, his heart pounding in his chest. He hated where he believed this might be going.

"Right then." Kol rolled his eyes. "Bekah went back in. Alone. She snuck into the living quarters. Removing a fire poker, she caught Old Gerard unawares. He was half-asleep –"

"In the chair he would be murdered in?" Elijah felt his words hit the concrete with the weight of each one plummeting downward.

"Yes." Kol stopped. "She took the poker and aimed it at Old Gerard's throat and told him, 'If I hear you speak to Marcel—ever again—in that manner, it will be me you answer to. No one else."

"And then?" Elijah inhaled.

"And then Old Gerard laughed at her. That was until she took the poker and broke the table in front of him with a series of whacks. You've seen Bekah's temper. You know how she is when someone has truly angered her." Kol let out a quiet chuckle. "She's a force, brother."

"I know." Elijah could recall when a girl had humiliated Niklaus by asking him out in middle school.

The first dance of the year. She'd shown up with another boy. Klaus was crushed and refused to go to school for a week, claiming a stomach ache that would not end.

Bekah. In her fury had broken into the girl's home. Took the girl's favorite dress, ran it up the flag pole, after setting it on fire. Many of their classmates had seen Bekah's actions but no one would tell the truth of what she did, for fear they would be next.

"Are you trying to tell me that Bekah might be the one who killed Old Gerard?" Elijah demanded, folding his arms over his chest.

"I have no idea." Kol shrugged. "It could have been a number of people, given what I've heard about the man."

Shaking his head, Elijah watched Kol push off the side of his car. Opening the passenger side door, Elijah groaned. "I forgot my briefcase in the restaurant. I'll be back in a moment."

"Take your time," Kol replied. "I plan to stalk Davina via social media."

"How lovely," Elijah shut his brother's door and went into the restaurant. "Excuse me," he called to the maître d.' I seem to have forgotten my briefcase. If you don't mind. I need to look for it."

"Of course." Elijah was led back to the table he and Kol had sat at. But his briefcase was gone.

"Are you sure you brought it in, sir?" the maître d' inquired.

"I…" Elijah nodded. "I work for the D. A.'s office. I really need that case."

"Yes, sir. Let me check with the staff. They might have taken it back to the manager's office when they saw you were gone." The maître d' left in a hurry. Elijah felt his anger rising. He had a feeling that this was not a simple mistake. Someone had taken his case. Someone who thought that he brought his work with him.

They would be sorely disappointed if they got into the case. The contents included a Nutri-Grain bar. Notes on a new case. An attempted mugging involving a teenage assailant who Elijah planned on making a deal with. And his schedule for the next week which did not include anything specific about the Gerard case.

When the maître d' came back, his cheeks were flushed and he stopped in front of Elijah with an apology already on his face. "I am so sorry, sir. It seems that we cannot find your case. I can continue to speak with the staff. If you would like to provide a phone number; we can contact you."

"Thank you." Elijah removed a card with his contact information for the D. A.'s office on it. "Tell them if anyone can recall anyone who was too close to our table, or anything that seemed out-of-place, to please contact me: I would be most appreciative."

Leaving the restaurant, Elijah walked over to Kol's car. He opened the passenger door and slid in beside his brother. "Find it?" Kol inquired.

"No. But I think someone stole it," Elijah replied.

"Why?" Kol's eyes were still on his phone screen.

Elijah shrugged. "Because they think it will help them, I suppose. It will not."

Kol finally looked up. "Oh?"

Elijah smirked. "Oh."

~0~

Another day in his office where Elijah waited for a break in his case. Something more substantial. He did not believe this case would ever be open and shut. He'd slept horribly, going back and forth on Marcel's guilt or innocence. It was his job to tell a narrative in which this man killed his father. However, with Kol's words ringing in his ears, Elijah had new nightmares involving his sister killing Old Gerard.

"Blasted hell," Elijah groaned.

"Bad day?" Hayley's voice was like a welcome wave of comfort. "You don't look so well? Coming down with something?" She walked inside his office and closed the door behind her, flicking the lock shut. "I think I have something to cure what ails you."

With a smirk, Hayley rounded Elijah's desk and sat on his lap, pressing her lips to his. "Hello to you, too." Elijah chuckled, sliding a hand into her hair and kissing her back. His hands slid down her shoulders to her lower back. "What or who do I owe for the pleasure of your company?"

"Nothing. And me," Hayley breathed. Her lashes lowering as she gave him a lingering smile that sent his blood coursing downward. "I got bored in the office. Thought I'd see how things are going on your end."

"You came because you were bored." Elijah sat back. "Well then." He dropped his hands to his sides. "And I am to be used to curb your boredom?"

"Are you complaining?" Hayley asked, standing up before she moved to straddle him. Taking his tie between her hands, she pulled him closer so their noses brushed and rocked backwards, leaning against his desk and made it very hard for him to concentrate. "Do you want me to leave, Mr. Prosecutor?" She pouted at him, toying with the end of his tie.

"If you leave, I'll have to come find you." Elijah picked Hayley up and laid her on top of his desk. She gasped as he undid his pants and tugged her underwear off. Her legs wrapped around his waist and they were almost together when a knock came on his door.

Sitting bolt upright, Elijah realized he'd dozed off. Wiping a bit of drool from the corner of his mouth, he groaned. "Yes?"

Thierry popped his head inside. "Hey, Elijah. There's a girl here. She says she works at the restaurant where you lost your briefcase."

"Oh?" Elijah's brows rose. "Send her in. Please."

"Will do." Thierry left the office. A second later, he opened the door and a young woman came to stand in the doorway.

"Come in. Please." Elijah rounded his desk, moving to take the girl's hand. "Elijah Mikaelson. And you are?"

"Abigail. Abigail Tomlinson." The blonde said, tucking her hair behind her ear. She looked to be little more than a teenager. "I work at Tout La Monde during the week. I was covering for my friend, Cassie, the night that someone took your case." Abigail spoke softly and slowly. Many people would view her as an innocent child. However, Elijah knew some innocent children could do heinous things when wont to.

"Right." Elijah waved for Abigail to take a seat and moved to sit behind his desk. "Did you see someone take my case, Abigail?"

"I think I did." Abigail shook her head. "I didn't know for sure. That's why I didn't call the night that my boss called me into his office and questioned me. I thought I saw something. But you weren't at my table. You weren't even in my section. I was working a table with some businessmen who had been tipping pretty well. I just started college. Debt isn't a joke."

"Okay." Elijah nodded, offering Abigail a sympathetic look. "I was a student once, myself. And it does seem that student debt is a problem in this country with little signs of relief. And it is understandable that you wanted to do a good job." Abigail nodded her head. Elijah moved to his point with care. "Is there a reason that your attention strayed?"

Abigail nodded. "Yes. One of my fellow waitresses noticed your brother. She was your waitress that night. She said he was 'Hot.'" Giggling, Abigail rolled her eyes and blushed.

"He gets that from time to time," Elijah replied with a light laugh of his own. He wanted to create a rapport with this girl. Make her feel comfortable. She would be more likely to tell him what she knew if she felt safe.

Abigail stopped laughing and she bit her lower lip. "I kept sneaking glances over at your table. Just to see how things were going. It was just something fun to do before the end of shift. But I couldn't pay too much attention." She hesitated. "One of the men dropped a napkin. I bent to pick it up and he grabbed my ass. I got pissed and left. On my way to the back; I saw you leaving. I went back to the restroom to vent at the mirror. A couple of minutes later, I came back out. I had to finish my job. To get the tip, right?"

Again, Elijah nodded.

Abigail blew out a breath. "On my way past your table, I thought I saw a woman bend over and pick something up. At first I thought she might have dropped her purse. But it looked like three-times the size of the kind of purse most women bring into Tout. I would have said something but the jackass from my table had gotten up with his buddies. They left. Without tipping me."

Frowning, Abigail gripped the arms of the chair she sat in. "I'm really sorry. When I turned around, the woman was gone. I can't even be a hundred-percent sure there was a woman. I was in a hurry."

"It's okay, Abigail." Elijah got up and opened his mini fridge. He pulled out a bottle of water and offered it to her.

Taking the bottle, Abigail uncapped it and took a sip. "Thank you," she said before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Do you remember anything about the woman? Was she tall? Short?" Elijah waited.

"She was… Her hair was dark. I remember her hair. It was long. Other than that…" Abigail shook her head. "I didn't get to see her face. I can't remember what she was wearing. Although I don't think it was date-wear. Maybe a suit. I think. I'm not sure…" She trailed off with a miserable look on her face.

"You've told me enough," Elijah said. He got up. "Please, stop by if you remember anything else, Abigail."

"I will, Mr. Mikaelson." Abigail rose with a smile. She went to the door but stopped. "Is there any way I could get an autograph?" Elijah's brows rose. "From Kol?"

"I'll speak to him on the matter," Elijah replied. "Have a good day, Abigail. And let me know if anyone else sexually harasses you. It is a crime."

"I will." Abigail waved "Good-bye," and closed the door behind her.

Left with his thoughts, Elijah say back in his chair and turned it to face the window. Long, dark hair. That could fit at least two women in his life at the moment. But only one of them had motive to steal his briefcase: Hayley.

Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.

Peace,

-J