Allison Brennan - Killing Fear

Doug handed him a file folder, a big grin crossing his face. “I got nearly everything you needed.”

“Nearly? What did you find?”

“The money. Glenn paid nearly three hundred thousand to the North Bay Law Offices for legal defense. But this other corporation you had me track down? San Diego Investment Corp? Glenn’s escrow accounts have transferred nearly five million dollars over the past two years to ten different accounts in and out of America, through SDIC. Corporation within corporation to hide the identity of the individuals involved.”

“But you have a name?”

“Alan and Eve Reston.”

“Eve?” Will asked. “Alan and Eve-Alan is Glenn’s middle name. But why? Who set it up? How deep was Sara Lorenz in with Glenn?”

“Who?” Doug asked, but didn’t wait for the answer. “So I’m working on blocking the accounts, but I can tell you it’s not going to be easy.”

“I can get the Feds on it.”

“Good luck. You can probably lock down the U.S. accounts with a warrant, but some of these countries are going to take weeks or months. Or never. And he could easily move the money before then.

“I did find one local connection,” Doug added.

“And?”

“The corporate filings for SDIC and the law firm are in San Diego. They have a local post office box, same zip code.”

Too close to be a coincidence.

“Can I see that?”

Doug handed him the corporate paperwork. The zip code was indeed a San Diego number, identical for both-the boxes were only a few numbers off. “This is a downtown zip code,” Will said as he wrote down the information and thanked Doug.

He called Hans on his way out of e-crimes.

Hans said, “I’ll alert Homeland Security to flag the passports for anyone with the last name of Reston. We can’t assume that they’re using the same names, however.”

“He could simply drive across the border,” Will said.

“One problem at a time. Border Patrol is on the lookout. We have a stop on the Arizona/California border in case he plans to leave California, and others at Calexico, Tijuana, and other likely exits.”

“I don’t have to tell you how screwed we are if he goes to Mexico. It’ll be virtually impossible to get him out, especially if he has money.”

“I’ve already alerted my legal attache, but you’re right. If he crosses the border, we may never see him again.”

“I sense a ‘but.’”

“I can’t see him leaving without making an attempt to see Robin.”

“You mean kill her.” Will swallowed heavily. “I won’t give him the chance to get that close.”

“I think he’s torn-he’s smart, knows we have Robin under lock and key. But he wants to get at her in the worst way. He may be rash, and we’ll have to be expecting it.”

Will wasn’t about to forget it. He switched gears. “What I want to know is, where is Sara Lorenz?” Will asked. “She’s the key to this, and it’s like she disappeared off the face of the earth.”

“If she’s still alive, she’s just as dangerous as he is,” Vigo said.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because she’ll do anything for him, and her own life doesn’t mean anything to her.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Mario asked Robin after she told him about closing the Sin.

She nodded, her stomach tied in knots. “I have to.” She had her staff schedule on her computer and all their personal phone numbers. She began calling, and for the most part everyone was understanding.

“I’ll cover your wages for your scheduled hours,” she told them. “I wish I could do more.”

At noon she took a break and watched the news, waiting for Trinity Lange’s report. She didn’t have to wait long.

“Trinity Lange, reporting for KSTV outside the San Diego Police Department. Less than seventy-two hours ago, escaped convict Theodore Glenn broke into my home and admitted to murdering Bethany Coleman, Brandi Bell, and Jessica Suarez.”

Pictures of Robin’s friends came on-screen. Though the photos were only seven years old, they seemed so young.

Trinity came back on camera. “But in an odd twist of events, Glenn denied killing Anna Clark. In fact, he demanded that I investigate his claims.

“I encouraged him to turn himself in and address his argument in the proper venue, but Glenn left and is suspected of murdering retired SDPD Detective Frank Sturgeon, who had arrested him.

“I turned over the information to the police as well as pursued my own parallel investigation. To recap the crime, Anna Clark was killed in the same manner as the three previous victims. She was tortured with an X-ACTO knife, doused in bleach, and had her throat slit. She bled to death and was discovered by her roommate.

“One difference between the victims, as presented in court, was the fact that Anna Clark was the only one of the four women who had not had a personal relationship with Mr. Glenn. The first three victims were all ex-girlfriends of the convict, though according to testimony they had all parted amicably.

“Another difference in the crimes is that Ms. Clark was cut twenty-two times, not forty-six, forty-seven, and fifty-five times as were the first three victims. In addition-”

Will stepped out the door and Trinity spun around. “Detective Hooper! Detective Hooper, please tell KSTV viewers about reopening the investigation into Anna Clark’s murder.”

Will frowned, glared at the camera, then turned to Trinity and said in a clipped tone, “A joint task force between the San Diego Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has exhaustively reviewed the evidence related to the Anna Clark homicide. The FBI agrees with the evidence presented at trial. It was collected properly, the M.O. is consistent, and physical evidence places Theodore Glenn at the crime scene. His hair was found tightly clasped in the victim’s hand. He may have thought the bleach would destroy all evidence, but he was mistaken. In Anna Clark’s death, she fought her attacker and we are confident that Glenn was rightfully convicted.

“The Anna Clark case is closed.”

He turned and walked away, the camera and Trinity following. “Detective Hooper! Any news on Theodore Glenn’s whereabouts? Are you any closer to capturing him? Who is next on his list, or do you know?”

Will spun around. It was clear to Robin from the expression on his face that this part of the staged interview hadn’t been planned. “We will hunt down that animal and he won’t know what hit him. Theodore Glenn will be back behind bars sooner rather than later.”

“Do you have any leads?”

“No comment.”

Trinity wrapped up the scene as Will disappeared from camera. “To reiterate, Theodore Glenn escaped during the tragic San Quentin earthquake on Saturday where eighty-one people died, including twenty-six prisoners and four guards…”

Robin shut off the television.

“You okay?” Mario asked.

She nodded and resumed her calls. She’d never be truly okay until Glenn was back behind bars.

Or better yet, dead.

Carina caught up with Will in the bull pen. “Just got a call back on the woman in Anaheim, Jenny Olsen, who wrote to Glenn. Remember, we found her car at the library? The Feds paid her a visit. She started by lying, they threatened jail time, she caved. She saw Glenn on Sunday night, late-about eleven thirty p.m. Gave him her car the next morning. Swears he was a perfect gentleman and we obviously had the wrong man.” She rolled her eyes. “The Feds were not amused and arrested her for aiding and abetting a fugitive.”

“Anything else?”

“Mario called. Said Robin shut down the Sin. Paying her staff at least through the weekend.”

Will frowned. “Closed it? Because Glenn’s on the loose?”