Chapter 25: Dirty Friend

Mick and Beth head to the loft, Beth having filled Mick in on what she overheard. He had known she was suspicious and he agreed that something wasn't right with the whole situation but he was more focused on finding proof to help Grace.

At her desk Beth pulls up Wilkerson's financial history and finds something interesting. "Mick come check this out."

Mick moves to stand behind her and reads over her shoulder, "A deposit was made into the acting DA's account only a few hours before he filed charges against Grace. $25,000, come on he's a public servant. Someone paid him to press this case."

"Can you trace where the account came from?"

Beth hits a few keys and runs one of the programs that Coop had set up a few years ago. A few minutes later the computer chimes, "It's a numbered account. No names on it just a seven digit number."

"Didn't you say you tracked some of the money that Nolan transferred to one of those same types of accounts?" Mick remembered Beth's frustration over it.

Her eyes light up as she kisses him quickly, "You're right. Right here," she taps some more keys and brings the file up. "One of them? Here it is."

Mick compared the numbers and looked to Beth. "Beth this looks like someone disappearing."

"He transferred money into accounts he could access without a name and he took out a hefty amount in cash. Why would he frame Grace for his murder though? Why fake his death? He transferred lots of his money sure but he left a sizeable amount there. He also lost all his assets which would set Grace for life. It doesn't make sense."

"Killing her would make more sense given what me know about him. There has to be a reason he framed her."

"I need to call Jean and make sure she knows Nolan is still alive."

"Thanks Beth," Jean hangs up the phone as she bit her lip.

Josef had listened in and heard the news that had upset his Jean. They had a wonderful night at the theatre and were on their way to have drinks but he knew she would want to check on Grace, "Driver take us home."

Smiling over at him she took his hand, "Thank you Josef."

Giving it a squeeze he leaned over and kissed her, "We had an enjoyable night." Running his hand up her arm he added, "She has one of my guards with her and you know they are well trained to handle vampires, her prick of a husband would be nothing should he find her."

"And you only hire the best," she teased.

"I enjoy having the best of life, I do have you." Looking over her dress her smirked, "Once we get home and check on Grace we can continue our evening from there."

Snuggling up against Josef and resting her head on his shoulder Jean kissed his neck, "That sounds like heaven."

Carl sat at his desk and rested his head in his hands for a moment as he took a few calming breaths. He'd taken Ava's statement and gotten her into protective custody. They even had criminal histories on the two men she saw and had uniforms heading to their homes to bring them in. It'd been a long day.

"I hear you found a witness that saw the suspect brought into the room unconscious." Carl looked up and saw Wilkerson standing next to his desk. "Too bad she couldn't have come forward before. She could have saved the tax payers some money."

"She wouldn't be the first witness to hide out of fear." Carl wasn't in the mood for this. "Maybe the tax payers could have been saved the money if you hadn't rushed to try the case without any solid evidence to back it up."

Wilkerson's eyes narrowed, "I know how to do my job. Perhaps is you knew how to do yours and had turned up the evidence earlier we wouldn't be here."

Carl stood up so that he was now slightly taller than Wilkerson, "If you don't mind I have work to get back to."

Without another word he left and Carl waited until he was on the elevator before he sat back down. "What an ass," he said softly to himself. Then he noticed Beth's note and decided to call and update her.

The phone rang a couple of times before she picked up, "Carl?"

"Hey Beth I just finished up. I've got Ava and her mother in protective custody."

"That's great Carl. Hey are you busy? I have some information for you but I would rather deliver it in person."

Carl looked at his watch, "Is it pressing?"

"Very," he noted the concern in her voice. "I was just fixing to leave for the night. Where do you want to meet?"

"Can you swing by the office?"

"I'll see you in twenty minutes," Carl disconnected the line. He stood up and put on his jacket and grabbed his messenger bag with all his files and headed out.

To Be Continued…

Evilous