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

this on the news, and he will,” Walsh pointed to the news truck pulling away, “I don’t think he’ll be stupid enough to stick around.”

“I think you all should set up shop in our field office,” Bingham began. “We let the local police be the boots on the ground and we work to find surveillance footage, banking transactions, anything we can to pinpoint a location.” She looked to Walsh. “Time is running out and from what you all have said, he won’t stick around.”

Bishop was wasting daylight. He needed a plan to get the hell out of Charlotte. Someone would’ve found his coworker’s body by now and the story would probably be on the evening news in a matter of hours.

Dr. Theodore Bishop was still a highly educated man. He could find a solution. And as he peered at the passport used to get him in and out of the Bahamas, the answer stared back at him. “Well, Mr. Eli Parnell, we meet again.”

He had the identity, some money stashed away, and now he needed a new ride. He was a doctor, not a car thief. The anatomy of the human body was ingrained in him, not the anatomy of a combustible engine or how to start one without a key.

This would present a challenge. He peered outside of his second-story studio apartment, sure the police would surround it soon. A bus stop was just below. “Public transportation.” Bishop zipped up his duffle bag that he’d only just unpacked a day earlier. Whatever medical supplies he had were tossed inside too. He’d used a lot of in Nassau and unexpectedly used some on his coworker. The plan had been to replenish his stores on shift tonight. That was out the door.

He walked downstairs and waited for the bus. It looked like the 210 would take him into downtown Charlotte. “Nope.” He peered again at the routes posted inside the bus stop overhang. “Raleigh? Maybe.” Eli Parnell could blend in there for a while. No one was looking for him. “Raleigh, it is.”

The bus was due to arrive at any moment and he was alone at the stop. He would avoid the commuters if he played his cards right. The bus plodded along the roadway and slowed as it neared.

When the doors opened, Bishop smiled and dropped the money into the slot. He would have to take this to the depot where he could slip onto another bus that headed into Raleigh. The plan was to be there before nightfall. It would be close.

Duncan slipped into the hall outside the room that had been set up for the team. “Hey. Thanks for calling me back.”

“What’s the latest?” Fisher asked.

“Bingham is coordinating her people in the hunt for closed circuit video, credit card usage, anything like that that will give us a clue as to where Bishop’s going.”

“That must mean he fled his apartment already?”

“Yes. Charlotte police headed there as soon as the body was found, but he was gone.”

“What about the media?” Fisher pressed on.

“The field office here has a media coordinator who has been working with the local news. So far, they’ve avoided giving them any idea that Bishop is tied to a wrongful death suit in Baltimore or is suspected of killing anyone else for that matter.”

“I want to keep it that way,” Fisher replied. “How’s Scarborough doing?”

“Same as always. He’s taken the lead, which is fine. He is the ranking agent. If you’re asking me if he’s got his head on straight, then yes, he appears to. Which leads me to my next question. We’ve got Palmero here from the Houston office, our team, and the Charlotte field office. That’s a lot of agents who might not be certain whose case this is,” Duncan replied.

“As far as we’re concerned, this is still Palmero’s investigation. He is who we will defer to. That said, it’ll be up to him to determine what role Bingham’s team will take. That’s not our concern. Our concern is finding Bishop. Let them decide who’s taking the credit, or the fall.”

“No doubt. We may want to steer clear of that should Bishop slip through our fingers,” she added. “I’d better get back inside. Will you be staying put?”

“For the time being but keep me up to speed. I don’t want to be the micromanager. We already had one of those.”

“Bye.” She walked back into the room where Bingham stood next to one of her agents. “Any hits yet?”

“Not a one. He must’ve had some cash on hand because no one’s found any transactions, bank or credit card. And he ditched his car. Charlotte police found it at his apartment.”

“Shit. We might be too late.” Duncan spotted Kate and the others huddled near the back of the room and made her way to join them. “Bingham says they don’t have anything yet.”

“We’ve been discussing our options,” Nick began. “It’s safe to assume since he’s ditched his car that he’ll be on public transport.”

“You don’t think he would’ve tried to get another car? Borrow one from a friend or something like that?” Kate asked.

“He’s new here,” Walsh added. “I’m not sure he had any friends. Not friends who would cover for him like that anyway. I think Scarborough’s right. He’s on the road. We should check the airport, and bus, and train stations.”

“Where’s Palmero?” Kate peered around the room. “This is his show. He needs to know what’s going on.”

“I’ll track him down.” Nick started out the door and into the halls of an office he wasn’t familiar with. Palmero stood just inside the office of ASAC Jones and noticed him approach.

“Scarborough. What’s up? Did something hit?”

“Not yet, but we have some ideas. You want to come join us?” Nick peered inside. “Sir.”

“Agent Scarborough,” ASAC Jones said. “Palmero was just filling me in on what’s been happening, but by all means, you two do what you need to do. I’ll be here if you need anything.”

“Thank you.” Palmero headed into the corridor