AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. You’re right,” Theo acknowledged reluctantly as he focused on the nurse who had been giving them updates. She had come around the nurses’ station, but it was clear that she didn’t have any more news to give them when she walked into another room. “I know you’re right, but I don’t have to like it.”
“I’d rather you head over to Sylvie’s apartment building,” Brook said, having already thought over what needed to happen for them to take the path of least resistance. “I’ll call in a favor and have a sketch artist to you in under an hour.”
“And jurisdiction? Beeson sounds like a seasoned detective. He isn’t going to take this lying down.”
“With our firm’s status as FBI consultants, it shouldn’t be a problem. The favor that I’m going to call in is just to speed things along in case it takes time for my request to go through the proper chain of command.”
Theo was absolutely right about Detective Beeson having an issue with their involvement, but she’d given the detective a few hours to apprehend Sylvie’s attacker. If this had been an open and shut case, an arrest would have already been made. Now that Brook and the others were aware of the lengths the unsub had taken to gain access to Sylvie and Nigel, such behavior changed the dynamics of the case.
“Once I finish with my phone calls, I’ll drive over to Erin Smith’s residence. I’ll speak with Detective Beeson, and I will explain the special circumstances of the investigation.”
Brook turned to enter the lounge area, but Theo’s touch on her arm prevented her from crossing the threshold. She peered over her shoulder to find hesitation in his expression.
“Erin Smith has been missing for seven weeks. I’m not saying that I don’t see the logic in assuming Nigel Deering is the focal point of the investigation, but such course of action is extreme, isn’t it? Killing an innocent woman to gain access to a criminal doesn’t make sense.”
Theo didn’t need Brook to respond to his question. He already had the answer, which was why it was vital to cover the groundwork before laying out an initial blueprint.
“We play it safe until we have proof to the contrary,” Brook stated vaguely before advancing into the makeshift waiting room.
There were a lot of scenarios that had run through her mind as to why someone would want to target Sylvie. Numerous enemies had been made in their line of work. Brook wouldn’t deny that Jacob had crossed her mind, but he was currently still being held in a federal prison with no outside communication.
“Bit and Arden, there has been a change of plans.”
Brook spent time going into detail about what necessary steps were about to be taken to have full control of the investigation. Bit and Arden understood their roles, and Theo had eventually left the hospital to drive to Sylvie’s apartment.
Typically, in situations like the one that occurred this evening, the occupants of the space would be requested to leave for the night while forensics processed the scene. The special circumstances involving Nigel Deering and the conditions of his compassionate release had Detective Beeson posting an officer at the apartment while another aide had been brought in to care for Sylvie’s father in her absence.
The legality of the compassionate release required Brook to make another phone call to prevent any change in Nigel Deering’s situation. While she had come straight to the hospital, she was well aware that Nigel had mere weeks before he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately, the stipulations had been made very clear, and those involved with said agreement were not comfortable with the inmate remaining at his daughter’s apartment without her physical presence. It had taken close to thirty minutes before Brook had been able to reach a compromise satisfactory for all participating parties.
Brook had made it very clear that she would not have Sylvie wake up to discover that her father had been sent back to die behind bars, regardless of the personal struggle she dealt with daily over his care. Those who lost money hadn’t been the only ones who had suffered due to the man’s crimes.
Thankfully, the favor that Brook had requested had finally come through, and a sketch artist had given his word that he would meet Theo at Sylvie’s apartment building. The phone calls to authorize S&E Investigation, Inc. to take over the investigation, however, had taken longer than anticipated even with Brook expecting pushback. Once those hurdles had been cleared, she had then been able to submit warrants for specific security cameras that would provide Bit the ability to access the footage of the foot traffic in the hours, days, and weeks preceding the attack.
“Arden, I need a favor.” Brook’s phone had maybe six percent left of the battery charge, but she wasn’t concerned that she would be out of contact with the team. She had an external battery in her purse that she could use for the remainder of the night. “It’s one that you’re not going to like, but I’m going to ask it of you anyway,”
Brook had originally planned to call Detective Beeson to explain the change in jurisdiction, but she decided it would be best if she made such an announcement in person. He had yet to reach out to her with what he and his officers had discovered at Erin Smith’s residence, anyway. She wasn’t even confident that he was still at the residential location, but she would still have a car take her over there so that she could canvas the scene herself.
Afterward, Brook would join Theo at Sylvie’s apartment.
“What is it that you need me to do, Brook?”
“There were some concessions that I had to make to ensure that Nigel Deering could remain at Sylvie’s place while she’s recuperating here at the hospital.”
Brook had noticed the lack of color in Bit’s already pale face, and she had carefully chosen her words so that he wouldn’t veer his attention away from the tasks he needed to complete. No one wanted to be reminded that the nurse had stated several times that Sylvie’s condition was critical.
“The BOP agreed not to move Nigel back to federal prison, but only if someone under the employment of S&E Investigations remains at the apartment. Our status as FBI consultants was sufficient enough for the powers-to-be to grant such an exception. I’ll arrange for the home health agency to provide twenty-four-seven care. Bit will run background checks on those chosen to rotate shifts, just as he did with the aide currently on site. I know this is a lot to ask of you, but would you be able to pack a bag and stay at Sylvie’s place for the time being?”
Brook didn’t have time to explain the inner workings of the Bureau of Prisons. All she needed was for Arden to agree to stay in Sylvie’s apartment until she returned home. Either that, or until such time as Nigel Deering succumbed to his illness. The third option was not one that Brook would allow herself to entertain at the moment.
“Little T might still be dealing with some unresolved issues when it comes to her father, but she still wanted him to pass away in comfort, Gumshoe.”
“It’s settled then,” Arden replied quietly as he gracefully stood from his seat next to Bit. “I’ll head home to pack a bag.”
“I’ve already arranged for two cars to meet us out front,” Brook said as she reached for her coat that she’d laid aside earlier. “We’ve officially been granted jurisdiction over the investigation. Just in case the unsub hasn’t finished whatever she set out to do, an agent will be staying with you for the foreseeable future. Another agent is already on the way here to relieve the officer assigned to guard Sylvie. Bit, please make sure to double-check the agent’s credentials.”
“Got it, Boss.”
“Brook, you have more important things to focus on than phone calls,” Arden said in disapproval as he walked over to a chair where he’d tossed his jacket earlier. “I could have taken the bus. If you had needed a vehicle, I would have ordered one for you.”
