A/N. I can't take any credit for this chapter. This one is all JellybeanChiChi as she becomes a co-author as well as beta. Awesome!

CHAPTER 23

Stanley Hastings — one of the partners of the Jacobsen, Hastings and King law firm — was not too impressed that his colleague brought an audience for their meeting. "This is company business, Wilbur. I don't believe it's appropriate for Ms. Sidle-Grissom to be present."

"I do, Stanley," Jacobsen said as he pulled the chair out so Sara could sit. "If anything, we could use her know how as an investigator. You mentioned something about surveillance for Hobson?"

Hastings sat back in his chair. Sara could clearly tell the seasoned, older man was getting ready to weave a tale. "Wilbur, while you were away out of town, I had some reservations about Nash's travel logs and gasoline expense reports. To me his caseload did not match the enormous amount of expenses and mileage he was incurring. So, I employed a GPS tracker on the car to monitor him. Make sure his travels were business related. I'm sure as hell not going to pay for some lawyer's shenanigans."

The hair stood up on Sara's arms. A GPS tracker could be a lifeline in this case. "Have you checked the tracker's present location?"

Stanley Hastings look none too impressed that Sara was speaking, much less asking a question. "I was just going to get to that, ma'am. The last location was at a less-than-savory establishment on the northwest side of town. We had Ferguson head out there..."

"He's one of our company investigators," Jacobsen quickly explained.

"... and he found the car, but Mr. Nash was not with it," Hastings said. "Ferguson said he went into the motel and the two establishments that were in the general area and, unfortunately, no one had much to say."

What a surprise, Sara said to herself. Maybe if I took a stab at interviewing...

"That's it? That's all we have?" Jacobsen said, angrily.

"I found the car, Wilbur. At this point Hobson Nash could go to hell. As of this moment, he is fired from the firm for insubordination in regards to missing a court date. Of course, we don't have obligation to keep Mr. Nash's cases, although I've assigned most of them, Mr. Grissom excluded. I didn't know if you were interested in that Wilbur..."

"That has already been resolved as Mrs. Grissom has retained me as counsel."

"Well, I was just going to add that our firm have no obligation to keep Grissom as a client," Hastings said, in no way apologetic for such harsh words with Grissom's wife present. "We must remember we have to cut our losses here for the good of the firm. But if that is what you have decided, so be it."

Jacobsen pursed his lips. With a strained, small smile he looked at Sara and spoke measured and calmly. "Sara, would you mind waiting outside for just a moment. I need to speak with my partner. I will be right with you."

"Of course."

As she stood up, both men did the same like the gentlemen they were. She exited the door, sat on the lobby sofa and waited.

A short time later, Jacobsen exited the room and sat down next to Sara. "I want to apologize for what Stanley was saying back there. Sometimes he forgets about the human element in our avocation."

"No offense, but I really don't care about that right now," Sara said. "But that GPS tracker... it's critical we get a hold of it. Can you get it?"

Jacobsen stood up. "I don't see why I can't. What are you thinking?"

Sara stood up. "The fact the investigator found the car and not Hobson gives credence to the theory that Hobson ran off. And if he did, I can only think he knows something, so he might have visited the place where Grissom is."

"My God, if that's true..."

"I think it is," Sara said. "And I don't want to waste time debating it."

"Neither do I. Our highest priority is to find Gil's location," Jacobsen said, leading Sara through the office. "We'll find Ferguson and talk with him. But I'm not sure how quickly we can evaluate the coordinates from the tracker."

"That's why I want to be able to take the information with us, if you don't mind a stop before you take me home," Sara said. "The lab has the ability to map the coordinates, but it's going to take some persuading. They believe Gil's escaped and I'm on suspension."

It was easy to hear the melancholy and anxiety in Sara's voice. Jacobsen knew she needed to know she wasn't alone. "A matter of persuasion. Good thing you've financially locked in the services of a lawyer."

It was the day shift led by Karson Hess that caught the jailbreak investigation, so Sara wanted to see Karson straight away. While she was willing to go unannounced, Jacobsen convinced her to let him call ahead.

Karson was not opposed to meeting with Jacobsen and even added, "I'm guessing Sara will be with you." He said he would be waiting for them at the visitor's desk.

After getting their visitor tags, Karson, Jacobsen and Sara hurried through the halls of the lab towards her supervisor's office. Sara was fully aware of the disapproving glances from lab techs and a few colleagues. Although it wasn't anything new over the last several weeks, it made her uncomfortable. But she had much more important affairs to deal with for this visit.

Karson gestured for them to enter the office and closed the door behind them. Sara was only slightly surprised to see Nick sitting in front of Karson's desk. They exchanged impassive looks, which felt strange for the longtime friends.

Nick stood up. "Hey Sar."

"Hey Nick."

Immediately recognizing the tension, Jacobsen approached Nick with an outstretched hand. "Wilbur Jacobsen. Acting attorney for the Grissom family."

"Nick Stokes," the young man said as he shook hands. "You're not the lawyer from court."

"No, I'm not," Jacobsen said as he sat down. "Mr. Nash was a member in my firm, but we have lost communication with him as of late, and he is the reason that Sara and I are here today. That and to see if there's been any progress in finding Mr. Grissom, since he is a missing person whose life might be in danger."

Karson and Nick exchanged a quick glance, which Sara immediately spied. "Something has happened. What's going on?"

"Nick went over the investigation notes from the jailbreak and noticed a discrepancy that we need to look at," Karson started. "The name of the source for the prisoner count at one of the prisons wasn't listed, and when we found out who it was... I don't know if you remember a David Fromansky?"

Sara swallowed hard. Of course she remembered that name. How could she forget it. "I don't understand. Why would Fromansky be a source?"

"He's the assistant warden at Southern Nevada Correctional," Nick said, now looking at Sara with sympathy. "And, we also found out the information on the prisoner manifest was incorrect. There was two prisoners from Southern Nevada on the bus, not just one."

"You have the count wrong?" Jacobsen said incredulously. "Was the information given improperly or was it a mistake on the person who gathered the data?"

"We are still trying to sort that out," Karson said. "Our CSI, Karen O'Shea, said that was the information she was given by Fromansky when she called, although she admits that she forgot to list him as the source of the information."

"And what is the story from this assistant warden?"

Karson licked his lips. "We have been unable to reach him. The warden said Fromansky put in for medical leave a few days ago. He is not answering any contact phone numbers," Karson said before turning his own attention to Sara. "There's one more thing. The prisoner who is missing... It's Rory Dunbar."

Sara's vision blurred. She felt like the room was spinning. She put her hand on her mouth and willed herself not to vomit then and there. Jacobsen put a hand on her back and Nick stood up to go to her side. "Sar? You need something? Just breathe, hon."

She brushed Nick's hand away. She closed her eyes and gathered her senses. Taking a deep breath, she asked. "When did you find out this information?"

"Some four hours ago," Karson said.

"Were you even planning on telling me? Or is it just sheer, dumb luck I happened to come by?" Neither man offered an explanation immediately, and Sara didn't want to wait for an answer. "You know what? It doesn't fucking matter. All that matters is Gil." She placed a file folder on Karson's desk. "These are coordinates from a GPS tracker that was on Hobson Nash's car. It needs to be analyzed immediately. As in right now. It might have the location of Gil."

"Sara, I know you're upset..." Karson started.

"Upset? Really? Of course I'm upset. You just told me that two men who hate my husband, including one who helped kidnapped me just over a year ago, are missing and tied to the conspiracy that framed my husband for murder and now has him vanished in thin air. Damn straight I'm upset. And now I would like the lab I have dedicated my life, my blood, my sweat and my tears to do something to save an innocent man's life!"

"It's not that easy," Karson said, his voice rising. "You should know we can't look into GPS tracking without a warrant and probable cause."

"Actually, you can," Jacobsen said. "The car connected to the tracker belongs to the law firm of Jacobsen, Hastings and King, of which I am a partner. I have a copy of the bill of sale and registration for the car in question. Because it belongs to the law firm, I, as a partner, can give legal consent to evaluate the tracker without the need of a warrant."

Jacobsen put the papers on Karson's desk. "And as for probable cause, if the disappearance of my attorney is not enough and the information you provided, which, gentlemen could be construed in court as misdirection and conspiracy by a governmental entity that could lead to a shut down of activities, is not enough, than I will be more than happy to put all this information down into a neat press release for media outlets, which has yet to report on the jailbreak meaning your superiors would hate to see a 5 p.m. report on this."

Karson and Jacobsen held each other's gaze for 30 seconds. Then Karson broke away to address Sara. "You need to know. There might not be any useful information in these coordinates. And even if it does give us his location, that might not do anything to prove him innocent of wrongdoings. I don't want you to have false hope."

Sara sat straighter in her chair. "All I want is a chance. Please."