“Okay. The man turned in profile after crossing the street and that’s when I recognized him. He got into the back seat of a car parked at the curb. The two men I saw assaulting Father Gilmartin the other night were in the front seat. I yelled at them and when the big guy turned and recognized me, he held up a gun. That’s when I realized my mistake and started running.”
“And they chased ya all the way to the urgent care buildin’ where we found ya?” I asked. When he nodded, I had to quell the urge to reach for him in the crowded room. It must have been absolutely bloody terrifying.
“Yes, I called you while I was running up the stairs.”
“Mr. Chaudry,” Cassidy said. “Did the men say anything to you?”
Wes shook his head. “Not to me but while I was hiding from them up on the roof, I heard them talking to each other.”
“What did they say?” Mike asked.
“They were looking for me. I got the impression that they weren’t very educated,” Wes said.
“What made you draw that conclusion?” Mike asked.
“One of them ordered the other one to look behind the air conditioning unit where I was hiding and the other one said, ‘You ain’t the boss o’me.’ The one who said it had a deep, gruff voice. I’m not sure which one said it because I couldn’t see them.”
Cassidy and Mike nodded. “Did anyone else see this guy?” He pointed to the police sketch then looked out at the room.
“I saw him,” Rex said. “I had all three men lined up through the scope of my rifle while I was in the helicopter. It’s like Mr. Chaudry said. He looks just like the sketch.”
“I saw them too,” I said. “I had binoculars.”
“I was getting into my rappelling harness, so I didn’t get a look at them except from a distance,” Mickey said.
“That’s okay,” Cassidy replied. “Mike and I will have Agent Good and Agent Monroe sit with a sketch artist and see if we can get a decent likeness.”
I nodded and so did Rex.
Candy glanced over at Cassidy and Mike. “Any other questions?”
Cassidy looked at me. “You rappelled from the chopper to the roof?”
I nodded. “Me and Mickey. Rex stayed in the helo and flew back with Agent Clifford who was flying it.”
“And the men had already fled off the roof by the time you arrived?” Mike asked.
I nodded. “They no doubt identified the chopper as an FBI airship because they ran as we approached,” I added.
“There were police sirens approaching the building by the time we disconnected our harnesses on the roof,” Mickey said. “Chances are they realized we’d called for LAPD backup and didn’t wait to find out.”
“No, they wouldn’t,” Cassidy said, reaching for his mobile. “If no one else has anything to add, I’ll end this recording.” When everyone shrugged and shook their heads, he hit the end button and tucked the phone back inside his jacket. Turning to Mike, he said, “I think we can clear Mr. Chaudry as a suspect in the case.”
Mike nodded.
“Can you tell us about your case, Cassidy?” Candy asked.
“Civilian,” said Mike, nodding at Wes.
Candy looked between Wes and me, then held up a hand. “Give me a minute.”
As he got up to leave, there was a knock at the door. Candy opened it and the office receptionist held out four large pizza boxes with a big, brown paper bag balanced on top.
“Someone order pizza?” she asked as she walked into the room.
“Thanks, Ruby,” Candy said, relieving her of her burden and setting the boxes down on the table.
“I’ll get plates and napkins,” Nash said, heading for the door.
