Edge of Mercy (A Kate Reid Novel Book 11), Robin Mahle [freenovel24 .txt] 📗

desk. “This is what I have so far on Bishop’s employment history. A lot of foot-dragging and vague responses.”

“Interesting. Sounds like his employers might be a little worried about what they did or didn’t do,” Kate added.

“You could be onto something. What about you?”

“Fisher got a judge to grant us a warrant for Bishop’s medical school records,” she replied.

“Well, hell, it’s about time.” Walsh adjusted his suit coat. “When’s our flight?”

She laughed. “I’m not sure Fisher will let us go until we get those sketches from the two witnesses.”

“Any word on when that might happen?” he asked.

“Let’s find out.” Kate picked up her phone. “Hey, it’s me. I’m sitting here with Levi. Did you two get it?”

“It’s hot off the presses. I’ll send it to you now,” Nick replied. “Stay on the line and take a look.”

“I’m going to put you on speaker.” Kate set down her phone and pressed the speaker button.

“Okay, it’s been sent,” Nick replied. “Hey, Walsh. How’s it going?”

“Doing all right over here. You and Duncan?”

“I think after you two see the composite sketch, we’ll be on the next flight home.”

“I got it.” Kate opened the email. “Levi, come take a look.”

Walsh walked behind her desk and waited for the file to load. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

Kate left open the photo of Bishop she received from the National Registry and next to it, opened the sketch. “I’m not saying it’s a perfect match, but it looks like Dr. Theodore Bishop to me. Levi?”

“That would be a great big affirmative from me. Hey, Scarborough, you and Duncan should head on back. We got ourselves a match.”

Fisher sat at his desk and examined the photo alongside the sketch. “And what have you heard from Palmero in Houston?”

Kate sat in the chair across from Fisher while Walsh leaned against the credenza on the back wall. She’d been in this very spot many times with Nick. Presenting her argument, asking if it was enough to move on a lead. Here she was again doing the same thing with Fisher. “He indicated that Dr. Valente was finished with his description and that his composite artist was cleaning up the image. We should have it any minute now.”

“Is it a match, too?” Fisher asked.

“According to Palmero,” Walsh began. “Yes.”

“Then I don’t see much point in waiting on confirmation. Go. Both of you take the plane to Providence and get those medical school records.”

Kate stood up to leave. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Just get some proof we can use to bring this guy in.”

Walsh followed Kate and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Great job, Reid.”

As they stepped into the hall, she turned back to him. “Now all we have to do is piece together Bishop’s life and find out where the hell he is right now.”

It had been almost a week since Theodore Bishop, now known as Dr. Eli Parnell, arrived in Nassau. His time was running out thanks to an administrator from the volunteer group he had latched onto who had figured out he wasn’t, in fact, with the group at all. A bill for the hotel arrived under his door this morning. It was time to go.

Bishop threw his belongings into his duffle bag. His supplies had run low in any case and perhaps it was best to call it off. The idea of going back to Charlotte, though, seemed risky. The law firm that filed the wrongful death suit would’ve tracked him down at his new place of employment. He would certainly be fired. The one thing he needed to remind himself of was that this had been a civil suit. He had been charged with nothing illegal. However, as the case progressed, it would become clear Bishop was guilty of a crime, several, in fact.

He slung his duffle bag over his shoulder and walked into the corridor. Many of the volunteers were already onsite continuing with their work cleaning up and helping the injured. Most of the victims who had been missing had already been recovered, the dead and the living.

Upon stepping off the elevator and into the lobby, Bishop eyed the front desk. He needed to slip out unseen. Since it was still early in the morning, he stood a reasonable chance as there were several volunteers still in the process of heading out for the day or heading home. As people milled about, he weaved through the crowd and made it to the doors where he slipped away. That might have been the easy part. Bishop needed to get on a plane, but would he return to Charlotte?

He started on foot toward the city center which had remained virtually intact after the hurricane. There were few, if any, volunteers there and he could catch a ride to the airport in a cab with just a few dollars. On consideration, maybe the best option was to return to Charlotte. Maybe he’d overreacted and could explain away the lawsuit. After all, could he really be fired for just being named in the suit? If he was going to be fired, it would be for the fact that he took off without asking for leave. He might not have a job to go back to, but he still had his belongings at the apartment. Rent had been paid until the end of the month. He could lay low and figure out a plan.

Walsh pulled to a stop outside the building in downtown Providence. “This is the place. Let’s go talk to these guys.” He opened the driver’s side door and stepped onto the sidewalk that fronted the building.

Kate stepped out to join him, securing her overcoat and tucking the files beneath her arm. “Ready when you are.”

Walsh approached the door and pulled it open. “After you.”

Kate approached the man behind the desk. “Hi. I’m Special Agent Kate Reid.” She held out her credentials. “This is Special Agent Levi Walsh. We’d like to take a look at the records of one of your former