Parker and Hardison took Eliot to his parent's home to talk planning while Quinn kept watch on the family awaiting updates on Jesse. It had been a long night for everyone and Eliot took advantage of Hardison's computer search time to change into new clothes. He exited the bathroom with the scrubs rolled up in his hand.
"Find anything?" he asked as he glanced around for a place to deposit the used garments. After a moment, he tossed the rolled up scrubs into an empty chair in the corner.
"I found the facility Brixton was in- it's near Little Rock," Hardison answered lounging back and grinning.
"That's it?" Eliot glowered.
"I can't find a trace of him since he left. No credit cards, no driver's license, no tax returns, nothing- it's almost like he vanished."
"He's black ops trained- if he didn't want to be tracked… he won't be."
"Speaking of that," Hardison sat up and hit a few keys, "I can't find anything on the unit either. When your dad said expunged- he meant clean. There isn't a trace in any record of either one of them. I got nothing."
"So we just wait?" Parker frowned.
"We've waited long enough," Eliot growled.
"I can't access Brixton's psych file from here. He was admitted in the early, what, 70's? Those are still paper files. There's bound to be something in there," Hardison explained.
"Okay, so we go check out the files," Parker stated.
"You two can handle that. I'm gonna see if I can get anything useful out of Dad," Eliot replied.
Parker nodded and slapped Hardison on the back. "I'm driving."
"Um, I never agreed to that…" Hardison breathed nervously as Parker bounded for the door.
"Have fun," Eliot smiled. Hardison frowned.
Eliot swept the house for bugs and traps while he awaited the family's return. Jesse was stable but unchanged. At the hospital staff's urging- the family agreed to return home for some rest and refreshing. Quinn stayed with them as they took a few moments to say goodbye to Jesse before accompanying them all home. They arrived as Eliot finished his search.
Dillon curled up on the couch as soon as they entered and fell asleep within moments. William hung the coats in the front closet as Evelyn gave Eliot a quick hug.
"You got 'em for now?" Quinn asked.
"I can handle it. I'll be sure to call if we need you later," Eliot assured him.
"Oh no, you don't," Evelyn interrupted. "You're not leaving without staying for lunch, are you?"
Quinn furrowed his brow at Eliot as Evelyn disappeared into the kitchen followed by William. Eliot shrugged, his face twisted into a crooked smile.
"Hey, you're on your own," Eliot replied.
"That wasn't a question," Evelyn's voice boomed and echoed from the kitchen. Eliot chuckled.
"I guess I am," Quinn answered, one eye squinted in surrender.
"Good choice," William called from the kitchen.
Quinn sighed as he glanced from the kitchen door to Eliot and shook his head. "So, your mom…"
Eliot nodded softly with a Cheshire cat grin.
"Explains a lot," Quinn finished.
"We'll see how you feel after lunch," he teased.
"Eliot?" Evelyn stood in the doorway wiping her hands with a towel.
"Yeah?" he answered wide eyed.
"Won't your other friends be joining us? Parker and… Hardison, right?"
"Um, no, not this time. They had some business out of town."
William exited the kitchen as she frowned.
"Oh, I do hope they'll be back." She disappeared through the doorway.
"And it begins…" William began.
"It?" Quinn asked tentatively.
"When she's stressed, she cooks and can get a little obsessive," Eliot explained with an eye roll. "It's harmless, as long as you don't get in her way and DON'T, whatever you do, critique any of it."
"Got it. I'm not going to have to eat anything weird, am I?"
"Nah, nothing weird- though she will probably miss an ingredient somewhere that makes the food taste like cardboard. Just swallow, you'll be fine. Most of it should be edible."
"Goody," Quinn smiled sarcastically.
"So Parker and Hardison… they wouldn't be tracking Brixton, would they?" William glared at his son.
Eliot tried to stare blankly but a twitch of his nose gave away his lie.
"Dammit, boy! I don't want you all sticking your necks out for me," William hissed.
"Jesse's in a coma and I was arrested for it. I'm already involved and you're not in any shape to handle this alone! This is what we do," Eliot argued.
"I'm not going to be responsible for losing you twice over this," William retorted. He sighed before adding, "I don't know why I bother. You haven't listened to me in over twenty five years. You've always been stubborn as a mule."
"Wonder where I got it," Eliot smirked.
"This is why I like being a loner," Quinn interjected. Silence took over the room.
"You really want to help, Dad… tell me you know something more about this guy that might help us find him before he strikes again," Eliot suggested.
"Wish I could, but I really don't know anything about Brixton. He wasn't the kind to share personal information," William answered shaking his head.
"Hopefully Parker and Hardison come up with something useful."
Wearing matching robin egg blue jumpsuits, Parker and Hardison approached Pine Dale Psychiatric. He carried a laptop bag, brushing at a string caught on his lab ID. Parker toted a briefcase, her hair pulled into a tight ponytail.
"Ready?" he asked her without stopping.
"Yep," she replied as she checked the snug fit of her earbud.
Hardison opened the door and led the way to the front desk. A middle-aged woman stood behind it- looking extremely frazzled.
They both held up their IDs for technical support as Hardison spoke. "Russ… this is Baley. You having some sort of computer issue?"
The woman checked their IDs hurriedly. "Sorry, yes, and it is at the WORST time."
"It looks a little crazy," Parker chimed as two attendants sprinted past them. "Group activity time?"
"No, this is called underfunded, under staffed and over flowing. We lost several appropriations due to government budget cuts- forcing us to minimize staff and even cut the patient numbers. We always look like this now," the woman explained.
"Nice, never any money for services but there always seems to be several hundred thousand laying around for their annual raises, isn't there? Now that's a con," Hardison smirked.
"Yeah, it is. I have to get back in there. Sign in, here is the key." She handed Parker the key as Hardison signed his name on the clipboard laying on the counter. "Sixth door on the right, make sure you check in here on your way out."
"Thank you," Hardison replied as he traded Parker the pen for the key. She quickly scribbled down her alias before following him down the corridor.
Each door was labelled. The final door on the left side before they reached the server room door bared the name RECORDS. Parker glanced around quickly before nodding at Hardison. He stopped at the server room door ahead of her, unlocked it, and turned to watch the hall.
"All clear," he breathed.
Parker reached up and pulled one of her lock picks out of her ponytail. She dropped to her knees and made quick work of the lock on the records door. It opened easily.
"Let me know when you got it," Hardison reminded her. She smiled and disappeared through the doorway. He entered the server room.
It took Hardison less than a minute to locate the network core connection point and attach his laptop. He began scanning the local access encrypted files as he waited on Parker. The virus he had unleashed on the network would only take a second to undo.
"I think I found it," Parker called over the com.
"Anything we can use to find him?" Hardison hoped.
"Not much, looks like mostly doctor's notes. This guy was CRAAAAZY," she commented as she flipped through. "There are several mentions of attempts to flee, attacks on doctors and appeals to the President for pardons."
"This guy attacked doctors and they STILL let him out?" Hardison scoffed.
Parker frowned, "It looks like the last year he was docile- even friended another patient, Larry Kershin."
"Larry… looking up dear Larry…" Hardison replied as he tapped away on the keys.
Parker flipped a page to reveal a photo in Brixton's file. "I have a fairly recent photo…"
"Send it to Eliot," Hardison ordered as he hit a few last keys.
She pulled out her phone, snapped a picture and sent the photo to Eliot.
"Oh, no…" Hardison hit his com. "Eliot? Eliot, you read me?"
Eliot blinked as his com and his phone both came to life at the table. "Excuse me," he apologized as he left his seat and headed to the bathroom. Evelyn scowled and sighed while the three men continued eating.
Once he was alone in the bathroom, Eliot grabbed his phone and cued his com. "What Hardison?"
"Parker just sent you a picture of Brixton, and I figured out why we couldn't find him," Hardison began.
"I'll get the pic to Quinn. Where is Brixton?"
"Brixton wasn't released because he was better. The funding to this place has dropped so far they had to decrease the head count. All patients who were physically able to be on their own- regardless of issues- were released."
"Is there a location coming?" Eliot rumbled.
"Parker found Brixton friended another patient, Larry Kershin, who was ALSO scheduled to be released with him."
"Scheduled? You mean he wasn't released?" Parker asked.
"Not in the regular sense. He died a couple of days before the release. The death certificate was never officially filed. His body was claimed- but he didn't have any family…"
"Hardison…" Eliot growled, losing patience.
"Kershin's got credit cards, logged time at a library computer, cell phone plans and more from the last two years. Pretty active for a dead guy."
"So Brixton has been masquerading as Kershin since his release," Parker inferred.
"Probably friended him to have the access, kills him, and just waits," Eliot explained.
"That is just wrong," Hardison groaned.
"Yeah… so did you find him or not?" Eliot demanded.
"Kershin's credit card paid for a week's stay at a motel about ten minutes out of town. I'm texting you the address."
"Think it's time I introduced myself," Eliot sneered.
"Be careful, man."
"Once I find him, I don't plan on it."
"Let's wrap up, Parker," Hardison suggested.
"Be out in ten seconds," she answered.
Eliot rejoined the meal. Everyone watched him expectantly but he stayed silent as he retook his seat.
"Everything okay?" Evelyn asked.
"Fine, Mom, just fine," he answered.
She twitched her bottom lip, knowing he lied, but her better judgment decided to let it go.
"Dillon, you need more potato, honey?" she redirected. The response came in an undecipherable mutter- prompting a quick lesson on polite conversation rules.
Quinn took advantage of the distraction to quiz Eliot next to him. "So what did they find?" he whispered.
"Picture is in your phone- and got a motel room," Eliot breathed back.
"Guess I'll be staying a little longer?"
"I know, not real exciting."
"No one yelling at me, shooting at me… I'd say this is easy money," Quinn smiled.
"You're bored senseless. Hopefully I can find this guy soon and let you find something exciting to do."
'"Appreciate it," Quinn laughed.