Chapter 4
As promised, Oz sat in front of his computers the next day searching for information on Taylor. Things were not looking good. There was no property, rental or owned, that listed her as occupying. He searched phone numbers, utility bills, and credit reports. He even searched arrest records. Nothing. It was like she disappeared from society a year ago when she lost her job at the bank. For some time before that there were large credit charges and less utility usage. Not an encouraging sign.
He did discover a car registered in her name, but that wasn’t much to go on.
Oz picked up the phone and called Nova.
"Yo, What's up?" Nova answered.
"Not looking good."
"What'd you find?"
She dropped off the grid a little over a year ago. Before that there were signs.”
"Sucked in and turned out,” Nova guessed.
"That's my guess. But she does still have a bank account. No activity on it, but it's there and that's a positive note."
"Surprised they didn't clean it out."
"Most likely an extra she had for some reason and kept hidden from them.”
"Enough to disappear on?”
"Three hundred twenty-seven dollars,” Oz informed Nova.
"That won't go far."
"Want to hit the road and see what we can dig up?" Oz asked.
“Think Drifter has her?”
Could Drifter have her? Possible. But the look on her face when he slapped her the day before. “My gut says no,” Oz told him.
“Always go with the gut. I’ll see you early,” Nova agreed.
***
"Haven't seen you in a minute. Checking out the competition?"
Oz laughed and accepted the offered hand before him. The landlord of a small apartment building that Oz had at one time considered buying. But he preferred to stick to houses, so he'd passed the deal on to his neighbor at the time. “Just looking for a little information.” He pulled out the photo he had downloaded from the internet. "This woman rented from you some time back."
The man leaned in studying the picture. "Taylor Arison. I recall she was a good tenant until that boyfriend of hers practically moved in. He was trouble. Never made sense to me how she got hooked up with someone like that.”
"Something happen?"
"Oh, just the little tell-tell signs. He rarely left. I noticed bruises once. She said she was just clumsy and tripped bringing in groceries.”
"Did she leave a forwarding address?"
The man shook his head. “No. Didn't take any furniture when she left, either. Which was fine by me. I considered it payment for the mess that was left.”
"Thanks, man."
"I hope you find what you need."
"So do I,” Oz said and walked back to his bike with Nova.
"You know, Drifter looked pretty messed up that day, and if he used up Taylor's money. . .” Nova’s voice faded.
Oz nodded. "I didn't check his record. She could have been bailing him out and ran dry.”
"She could have been questioned but not charged. If so, someone has contact info."
Oz pulled his phone from his cut. He punched a number and waited.
"Oz. What can I do for you?" Marcel, the club’s lawyer, answered.
"You got a few minutes? Need help on something.”
"I'm heading back to my office now.”
"We'll meet you there,” Oz offered and hung up.
They arrived just before Marcel and followed him inside. Behind his closed office door, they settled into the leather chairs.
"We're trying to locate Taylor Arison,” Nova explained.
"How can I help?”
"We're hitting walls.”
"The girl may not want to be found,” Marcel offered.
"We've considered that. But we don't believe it. Let's just say we had an encounter with her last weekend then she disappeared.”
"She steal from you?”
Nova cocked his head. "Why would you say that?”
"It's little-known knowledge, but if you dig enough, I have no doubt you'd find it."
"What's that?" Oz asked.
"According to Eddie she dated someone who began dropping into the bank almost daily. No big deal until he began snooping and making inappropriate inquiries. The bank manager accused her of allowing him access to privileged bank information and fired her.”
Oz leaned forward in his seat. "She was aiding a bank heist?"
"She was interrogated. The accusations were thoroughly investigated, finding nothing charge-worthy. Now, on the other hand, Drifter has multiple burglaries under his belt. That's public knowledge.”
"Do you think Edna may have any idea where she could have gone if she left town?"
"I believe she has family up North somewhere. Not sure if they’re close or not. Eddie wasn't that close to her." Marcel grinned. "I take it one of the women requested this little tracking expedition."
Oz stood. “You know how it is.”
Marcel laughed. "Keep the missus happy and she overlooks the imperfections.”
"You know it," Nova agreed, shaking Marcel's hand.
"We tracked women for years.” Walking back to their bikes, Nova reminded Oz of their early days when they targeted women for the skin trade. "What are we missing?"
Oz threw his leg over the seat, falling onto the black leather. "I don't know. We know she didn't go back, and we don't have her. If she doesn’t have the car and little money, she couldn't have gotten far.”
"Could've hitched a ride."
"Then she could be anywhere."
"But no money to pay for a hotel or rent a place," Oz reminded him.
"Cash?"
"I can't see Drifter leaving her with much cash."
"True," Nova agreed.
"Doesn't sound like she had friends, either. If she did, they were left behind.”
"That leaves nothing."
"She could seek out a place like Angel Haven for help,” Oz suggested.
"But if she was there, we'd know it."
"Churches. There's a homeless shelter across the river.” Oz shook his head. "Maybe she came up with bus money to get home.”
"Always a possibility,” Nova agreed. "Thanks for this."
"No problem. But I must admit it's got my curiosity piqued.”
Nova laughed. "I'll pass along your appreciation. Just don't disappear down a rabbit hole.”
"Easier said than done. I'll dig more tomorrow. Tonight's my shift at the Landing."
Nova gave a nod, and they brought their bikes to life and headed in their own directions.