Disclaimer: So I still don't own WaT nor the characters, but the plot is all my own!
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Sorry this is a short chapter—but the end is near!!
CHAPTER 7 – No One's Home
16.5 hours missing
Vivian pulled up to a rundown, weather-beaten lump of a house. She checked her notebook and peered at the numbers nailed to the house, shading her eyes from the setting sun, "This is the place. What a dump!" She shut off the engine and checked her weapon as she got out of the car.
Martin did the same and pulled an FBI jacket from the back seat, "We're squared with the warrant, right?"
Viv nodded, "Yep, Jack has a way with lawyers. OK, by the book. I'll go knock, but it doesn't look like anyone's home." She led the way to the front door. Martin held back at the foot of the short staircase leading to the front door. Vivian knocked loudly. No answer. She knocked again and nodded at Martin.
"FBI! Open up!" Martin shouted from his position. There still was no answer. Just to be safe, Martin shouted once more, "Open the door, FBI!" Again, no answer.
Vivian repositioned herself and gave the door a kick. It swung open to reveal a very dirty living room and a peek at the kitchen beyond. Martin took the steps in a leap and began checking the house. Only once he and Vivian had cleared the entire house and back yard did they holster their weapons and return to the living room.
"He certainly isn't much of a housekeeper, is he?" Vivian remarked.
Martin shook his head, "Nope, and he doesn't pay his bills either." Martin held up a stack of papers marked "Past Due." He couldn't find any papers that might tell them where Sands worked—or had worked, for that matter. He did find a receipt for a 'U-Store-It' unit, paid in full for one year, beginning last month. It was a medium-sized unit, 10 feet by 15 feet, according to the receipt. It looked promising, "Viv, check this out!" He showed her the receipt.
Vivian took the receipt and checked the address, "This is back in the Lower East Side. Martin, it's all starting to fit. Call Jack on the way and have him get started on another search warrant. Let's go find her."
17.8 hours missing
Vivian and Martin made their way quickly to the bullpen. Why Jack had them come back to the office, he wasn't sure. Sam was in that storage building. She had to be. And this was just wasting time! "Jack, why are we back here? It's been almost 18 hours! Why di-?"
Jack held up his hand to stop Martin's barrage, "I know, I know. I'm waiting for the warrants to come down and then we're all going."
"Warrants? Why more than one?" Vivian asked.
Danny spoke up, "Patrick Sands worked for the Eldridge Street Warehouse. He was laid off three weeks ago for stealing, and the warehouse has been closed for more than a week due to a minor flooding problem."
Vivian exchanged a wry grin with Jack and Martin, "At least he sticks to one area of town!"
"I've got them!" Elena waved a folder in each hand, "Careful Jack, the ink's still wet!"
Jack took one of the folders and checked the contents, then passing the folder to Danny, gave instructions to his team, "Right. Elena, you and Viv head to the storage facility, Martin and Danny will check out the warehouse, and I'll wait near Seward Park, backup for either team. Any questions? Good! Let's go!"