27. Back on the Case
Back on the Case
It was difficult to breathe properly with this thing on.
I could not inhale deeply to save my life.
It felt like I was wearing a corset. Dressing up in old gear really brings things into perspective, though.
I had gained some weight over the years, and now my vest was struggling to hold on to the Velcro straps.
I could hear the low popping sounds as it came loose.
It was close to midnight when I arrived at the motel.
The parking lot was flooded with cars. Ambulances, patrol vehicles, the feds, and even the local news station.
I could see the camera extending over the crowd as I crossed the yellow tape.
There was a woman, just off the road, who was being tended to and loaded onto an ambulance.
Several feet in front, two cops were being patched up.
Sirens echoed in the distance as the lights from many cars in the parking lot illuminated the motel.
There were several wounded bystanders in the parking lot.
But I couldn’t see Belle. As I navigated the maze of cars and people, I came across some feds.
I could tell by their cheap black suits; they probably all buy it at the same place.
The two men were blocking the path between the unmarked cars.
They let me pass, though, when Belle called out to me.
That’s where I found her. On the ground, with her back to the car door.
She didn’t look physically wounded. But her ego sure as hell was.
Her hands were shaking, and she had a thousand-yard stare only veterans are blessed with.
I had never seen her this way before. Vulnerable.
In between shakes, Belle took a drag from a cheap cigarette to calm her nerves.
There were about four butts in the ground next to her.
“Are you alright?” I said, kneeling down to her.
She scoffed.
“What happened, Belle? Where’s your partner?”
“James is getting checked out in the room. He can’t hear very well right now,” Belle replied dryly. Her hand was still shaking. They had draped an old FBI jacket over her. And she hung onto it like a child with a blanket.
“Who did this? Did you see them?” I asked, grabbing her hand.
“Like I told everyone else. They were wearing masks, and before we even noticed, they started shooting. We had no choice but to take cover. And then that’s when these bastards threw a flash grenade,” Belle said.
“Flash grenade? Where’d they get something like that?” I said.
“Not from around here; it’s European. There’s plenty of it on the black market if you know where to look. This one came from Yugoslavia. A Soviet relic. I’m surprised it still worked,” said one of the FBI special agents.
“That’s wild. Why here of all places? Is it related to —.”
“Yes. That’s why we asked you to come. Why we are formally asking for your help in this case.
This room was used as a stash house for the original three that robbed APOLLO.
During the exchange, they took jewels and left the hard drive here.
It looks like our thieves didn’t trust their buyers,” Belle said.
She raised the cigarette to her mouth, took a drag, and exhaled the fumes in my direction. I stood up immediately. And coughed.
“What the hell,” I replied.
“We had the hard drive in our hands. But it looks like the buyers hadn’t given up on it either. I was careless, and that almost cost me my life and my partner’s life,” Belle said.
“What the hell is inside the hard drive that would cause them to do this? To risk so much?” I said.
Belle looked away and tossed the cigarette.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t say,” replied Belle.
“You can’t or you won’t?” I said.
“I can’t.”
“Fine. Do you have any leads? Anything that can help me find them?” I said.
I walked away from her and towards the back of her squad car.
It was riddled with holes. And at the bottom, near its rear tire, a large amount of liquid had pooled.
“You dropped the bag here. Literally. You had in your possession the stolen item, filled with God knows what, and let these guys take it.”
The special agent beside me sighed and walked away swiftly. I must have said something she didn’t like because she was coming straight for me. And boy, was she angry.
“It’s not my fault we lost the hard drive. I called for backup, but they didn’t arrive on time. I did my best and I don’t appreciate you?—.”
“That’s exactly your problem. You didn’t appreciate me. And it almost cost you your life. There was no need to take me off the case. Remember? You’re free to go?” I said.
She went silent. I could tell she was embarrassed. Belle shrugged her shoulders and wiggled her head at me like an angry bird.
“I’m sorry,” Belle said.
“Really?” I replied. “Wow. I’ve never had a woman say that to me before. It’s refreshing.”
The other guys around me laughed at my quip. She didn’t find it amusing, but it eased the tension somewhat.
“Alex. Will you please come back on the case and help me catch these guys?” Belle said.
“Since you asked nicely, I guess I can’t refuse now, can I?” I replied. “Let’s get to work.”
The only problem was that I had no idea where the hell to start.
I guess I could make a mad dash for the airport, only to get stuck in the screening line.
Or go back to the station and dig my head into endless case files like an ostrich.
There’s something about this that I don’t understand.
A piece of evidence I overlooked; a connection that needs to be made. I need to get back to the office!