Chapter 27: New Lead

They arrived at the Westwood and ask to speak with the manager. A woman come out of a with a smile, "How can I help you?"

Mick smiled at her noticing her checking him out. He pulled out his ID and held it making sure his ring finger was visible, "I'm Mick St. John, this is my wife and business partner Beth and our friend. We have some questions to ask you."

Her smile dropped some hearing the term wife, "Let's step into my office." She led them around the counter and down a long hallway to her office.

"You came by yesterday and questioned some of my staff without my consent. What is it you expect me to do for you?"

"I apologize for that. We should have given you a courtesy call but we are in a hurry this is a serious matter of life and death."

"I hope I can help."

Beth reaches forward and shows her the pictures of Ryan and Candice. "Have you seen either of these people?"

The manager studies them for a moment before shaking her head, "No sorry I didn't."

"This woman was kidnapped. The navigation in her car puts her here yesterday. Could we take a look at your security cameras?"

"I want to help," she started looking at all three of them sympathetically, "But I don't know if that will be possible. We are expected to maintain the privacy of our guests."

David is clenching his fists tighter and tighter. Beth sees this and looks at him giving him a smile before turning back to the woman. "I completely understand. We came to you first to try and speed things up with a woman's life on the line but if you really need it I can call Ben Talbot, the DA he's a personal friend of mine and get a warrant. Then well since we don't know for sure if there is anything on there we'd have to go ahead and ask for a complete guest list as well as place uniforms at all the exits and question the entire building."

The woman frowned and Beth continued, "You see this woman we're trying to find used to work for the D.A. and you know how they are about looking out for their own."

Beth stood up, "Let's go. We'll be back in a few hours. I know Judge Harris was fond of her, he'll sign a warrant."

Mick and David stood up with her knowing she was bluffing. The manager stood up with them, "Wait please this is a time sensitive issue. Let's see what we can do."

Beth smiled, "Thank you so much. Here are the times that we have her vehicle on your premises so if you could get us a copy of everything an hour before and after that'd be great." Beth hands over a post it with the times already neatly written on it.

The manager takes the slip and steps out. David relaxes slightly, "Good bluff."

Beth shrugs, "Who said I was bluffing?"

A few minutes later the manager returns, "The copy of the footage will be taken to the front desk in a few minutes. Before they can release it to you though you will have to sign a non-disclosure of course."

"Of course," Beth nods. "We'll just go wait out there."

They head back to the front desk alone. Beth notices the man behind the counter checking her out and smirks. One of the security team comes out and brings the papers they sign and hands over a DVD. Mick and David head back to the elevator to head out but Beth catches the eye of the front desk again and heads towards him.

"Hey," she smiles.

"Hi…are you checking in?" He stutters slightly.

"No I'm working a case. I saw you looking at me and I thought maybe you might remember the person I'm looking for." Beth pulls out her phone and pulls up a picture of Candice and shows him.

He looks then shakes his head, "No sorry." Beth nods then flips to another picture and holds it up. His eyes light up, "Yeah I know her. She was a guest here but she checked out yesterday."

Beth grins, "Could you do me a huge favor and give me her information." Beth leans over the counter giving a better view of her cleavage, "It'd really mean a lot."

"Ummm….I…yeah…I could do that." He types something and makes a few clicks and the printer starts working. After a moment he hands them to her, "Can I get your number?"

"Sure," Beth pulls out her business card and hands it to him. "Thanks for your help."

Beth walks towards Mick and David with a new sense of urgency. "I know what Candice was concerned about."

"What?" David asks as they step onto the elevator.

"She found Coraline." Beth held up the paperwork, "She was staying here using the name Noelle Banks."

"She's here?" Mick and David ask in unison.

"No she checked out yesterday. My guess is that Candice found her and she had to relocate taking Candice with her."

The doors open and they head to their car David pouring over the papers in shock. "That's why she called me. She wanted to tell me she had a lead…and I didn't answer."

"Hey neither did I," Beth eases.

Mick shakes his head as they get into the Benz, "If she had a lead on Coraline why didn't she call me, or Josef? I get her calling David first, even you but why move to Ryan?"

"She wouldn't want to get everyone's hopes up if she wasn't sure it was solid. She probably went to go check it out herself."

Beth nodded, "Yeah and maybe she called Ryan because he had guards with him and she had left without hers."

"She trusted him. She didn't know he'd been compromised."

Mick catches Beth's eye and nods to let it go. She doesn't believe Ryan was a part of this but trying to convince David of it while Candice is missing is like talking to a wall. It was better to just keep working and not waste time arguing.

"Let's get back to Josef's and look at the footage. I'll call ahead and have them start running this name and see if it pops up anywhere else."

"She's probably burned it already."

"Lets hope she didn't clean everything up."

To Be Continued…

Evilous