Chapter 26: On the Hunt
Carl arrives at the loft just as he said and made his way towards the open door. Mick and Beth were together pouring over the computer screen with a serious look on their faces. "So what do you have to discuss in person?"
Beth looked at Mick and they shared a look before he gestured for Carl to follow him to his side of the office and have a seat. Beth came over a moment later with some print outs and her laptop. Beth sat beside Carl while Mick sat across from him, "When I was at your desk leaving you the note earlier I heard something that didn't sit right with me. I already knew it seemed fishy but…"
"What is it Beth?"
Beth held out the papers, "We've been tracking the money Nolan transferred from his account a few months before his so called blood bath. Some of the money, $25,000 worth to be exact ended up in our acting DA's bank account a few hours before he pushed you to move forward and arrest Grace."
"WHAT?" Carl looked at the papers and the highlighted items unable to believe it.
Opening her computer she pulled up his account, "He works civil service but he has way more money than he should. Word around the station is that he does special work for powerful friends. Before you got here we went back and pulled up all the large deposits and cross referenced them with his cases and they all match up with cases and a turning point. Some were lost, some plea bargained even when he had a great case, others like Grace rushed ahead on no evidence."
"This is unbelievable," Carl continued to look at the proof in front of him. "And I won't even ask how you have his financials."
Mick smirked as Beth hurried on, "That's not important. We don't work under your rules remember that's why we can find more sometimes. Now you might not be able to do anything with his past history just yet but you can do whatever you need to with the fact that he received a payment from our so called murder victim. Grace gave us access to her and Nolan's accounts to help."
Carl gathered up the papers, "I can see why you didn't want to discuss this on the phone. You know before you called he was at my desk giving me a hard time about not finding the witness sooner."
Back at home Jean went to the guest house but Grace wasn't there. Kyle was on duty to watch her and he and the assigned SUV weren't there. "They should have been back by now." Jean pulled out her phone and started calling Graces cell phone while Josef called Kyle's.
"I can't get an answer," she looked at Josef worry written on her beautiful face.
"Call me back," Josef barked before disconnecting his own call. "I couldn't reach Kyle either. Let's call David and see if he's heard anything okay?"
Jean nodded. Josef dialed David, "Josef?"
"David, have you heard from Kyle?"
"No has something happened?"
"They should have been back by now and neither are answering their phone." Josef heard the beep on his phone and looked to see it was Kyle calling back. "Never mind I have him on the other line calling back."
Josef hung up with David and answered Kyle on speaker with an anxious Jean clutching his arm. "You'd better have a good reason for not answering your phone. Where are you?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Kostan…I…I lost her."
"What?" Jean shrieked.
"You said to respect her space so when she asked to go in alone I figured no harm. I was outside if anything happened. I was sitting in the driveway waiting and listening when a jogger came towards the vehicle. He didn't look out of place and asked for the time. I looked at my watch and that's it. He shot me in the back of the head I don't remember hearing a shot so I guess he had a silencer."
"As soon as I came too I raced into the house. Her bags had been brought to the door but the sliding glass door off the kitchen was open. The jogger, he was the husband, I guess. I didn't get a good look at his face but she said his name before he grabbed her."
Josef squeezed the bridge of his nose as he tried to think calmly. "Were you able to pick up a scent?"
"No Sir."
"Come to the house right away." Josef hung up and dialed David back telling him what happened and to get over there.
"He's got her," Jean spoke softly.
"We're going to get her back baby," Josef tried to soothe as he dialed Mick.
"Josef now's not a good time…"
"Mick he has Grace."
Mick looked up to Carl and Beth, "What? How did that happen?"
"He shot my guy in the head that's how. He woke up and she was gone. David is on his way over here."
"What's going on?" Carl could tell by the change in energy in the room that something had happened. "Did something happen with the case?"
"The detective is there?" Josef breathed. "That's for the best bring him along."
"We're on our way." Mick disconnected the line. "That was Josef. Nolan showed up. He has Grace."
Carl stood up, "You can't go after her alone."
Beth stood up with him, "We're not. You're coming with us."
To Be Continued…
Evilous