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

set-up had been quick, and the team was directed to the control center where most of the department’s large-scale operations took place.

In the span of two hours, they had seven officers, three tech operators and the lieutenant directing the team inside.

“I understand that our window is closing,” Lieutenant Jackson began as he walked inside. “But we worked as quickly as possible to get this up and running.”

“It’s better than any of us could’ve hoped for,” Nick began. “Thank you.” He checked the time. “We know that he arrived earlier this evening, which gives us a good shot that he’ll stay in Raleigh through the night and leave first thing in the morning.”

“Have we identified whether he used a cab when he left the bus terminal?” Palmero asked.

“Over here, sir.” One of the officers waved him over.

While Palmero got an update, the others spread out among the officers to assist in their efforts.

“There’s a lot of footage to scour,” Kate said as Walsh stood near.

“Our best shot is tracking down Bishop’s moves after he arrived. Hopefully, a drop off location from the cab company will be easy to narrow down. Palmero’s running on that.” Walsh peered at his phone as a call came in. “Excuse me for a minute.” He continued toward the door and stepped into the hall. “Walsh here.”

“I just got a hit on the Eli Parnell passport.”

It was his NSA contact and Walsh wore a look of relief. “Your timing couldn’t be better, my man. We’re here in Raleigh now. Where is the son of a bitch? I got half the city police combing through video surveillance.”

“You’re not going to like this. The hit was from a bus depot in Raleigh. The Parnell passport was scanned. Your man bought a roundtrip ticket to Nuevo Laredo.”

Walsh lowered his head. “Mexico?”

“I’m sorry, man.”

Walsh inhaled a breath. “The good news is that it’ll take him two days to get there. We’ll just have to intercept the bus…”

“This is the part you aren’t going to like, Walsh. The report I received is 48 hours old.”

“That’s impossible. You just said the passport was scanned. Are you telling me it was scanned two days ago and you’re just now finding this out? Two days ago, this guy was in Charlotte working on an ambulance truck. What the hell is going on here?”

“I had the name flagged—both names. I should’ve received the details within minutes after it was scanned. I didn’t. Call it a glitch, or whatever, but I just got the information and I viewed the report to confirm. I don’t show he’s arrived at the port of entry, so maybe there’s still a chance you can reach him.”

Walsh shook his head. “Shit. The guy killed someone just yesterday. No, man. You gotta double check this. Something’s not right.”

“All I can tell you is what I’m looking at right here. Eli Parnell bought a ticket to Mexico two days ago. I don’t know what else to say. I wish it wasn’t the case.”

“Listen, I gotta go. I got manhours piling up on me here in Raleigh. I need to pull these guys off and figure this out.”

“For whatever it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, man. I know. Thanks.” Walsh returned his phone to his pocket and walked back inside. He spotted Nick and headed toward him. “We can stop looking.”

Nick turned around. “Why is that?”

“I just got off the phone with my NSA contact. He got a hit on the Parnell passport. The guy bought a ticket to Mexico. It left two days ago.”

Nick’s face masked in confusion. “He’s gone? What the hell? How is that even…”

“That’s what we need to figure out. Something’s way off here, and we’d better figure it out damn fast.”

Walsh and Palmero borrowed a patrol car and with Walsh behind the wheel, he began, “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I couldn’t risk a leak, but I’m telling you now. Eli Parnell is Theodore Bishop. A buddy at the NSA has been working with me on tracking down hits on the passport. He got one tonight, but it’s all screwed up.”

“I thought we were getting on pretty well, man. I thought we could trust each other,” Palmero said. “This is all bullshit. Not only am I sitting here thinking you all kept me out of the loop, but now you’re serving up some horseshit about Bishop leaving for Mexico before he killed his coworker? What the hell, man?”

“This is on me.” Walsh turned into the bus depot. “I wanted to wait until I knew more. Now that I do, I don’t like what I’m hearing. You can stay pissed off, or we can get to the bottom of whatever shit show this has turned into.”

Palmero eyed him as Walsh pulled to a stop. “It’s after midnight and my patience is out the door. We’re getting to the bottom of this right now. I’ll let this slide only because I think our problems have just begun and I’m going to need you all. But know this, you keep shit from me on my own investigation again and I’ll have your head, you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” Walsh stepped out and hustled inside. He approached the ticket counter and flipped open his badge. “Agent Walsh, FBI. We need to know if a man named Eli Parnell purchased a ticket to Nuevo Laredo earlier tonight.”

The cashier turned to his computer and typed in the details. “Eli Parnell.” He peered at his screen. “Yeah, it looks like he bought a roundtrip ticket to Nuevo Laredo a couple of days ago.”

Walsh shot a look to Palmero before returning to the cashier. “Do you remember seeing this man?” He held up a photo of Bishop.

“Man, I’m sorry, but I see hundreds of people every day. I gotta be honest with you, I hardly pay attention to them.”

“Please. Just take a look. It’s important we find him,” Palmero added.

The cashier studied the picture for a moment longer. “I—I’m sorry. I don’t recognize him.”

“What about