“Without any success so far,” Russ said without looking up.
Reid had texted everyone earlier about the plan for Megan’s transport but reviewed it now. “Any questions or anyone else have something to report?”
“No movement at the motel,” Colin said, sounding bored.
“You ready for that break?” Ryan asked.
“I can hang in here if someone brings me some food.” As if on cue, Colin’s stomach grumbled. “See what I mean?”
“Not like that’s anything new,” Ryan said. “We need to call you Rolly from One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”
“I’m hungry, Mother.” Ryan’s voice went high like a little kid’s voice. “Really I am. I’m so hungry I could eat an elephant.”
The team laughed at Ryan’s impression of Rolly. Reid too. Laughing felt good and reminded him of times when he’d been able to joke with Megan to get her to lighten up. Likely Ryan’s intent here. He was the team joker and often used humor to change the mood. Had always done so, even as a kid. Especially when Reid and Russ got into it, which was often in their teen years.
Reid’s phone dinged with the text from Russ containing the video. “Micha, can you drop some food off for Colin?”
“I don’t know, man, I’ve only got a regular-sized pickup, and I’m not sure it’ll hold enough food for him.” Micha laughed.
“Ha-ha.” Colin grinned. “I’ll text you my order.
“You got it.”
“I should let you all know that I got tired of waiting for a warrant and spoke to the gas station manager,” Jack said. “Figured I might be able to play on his sympathies. But he wouldn’t give up the name of the gas station guy without a warrant, which I haven’t yet been able to get. The Santa attack might help with my supervisor, and I’ll go back to him. But so far, all of these incidents fall under local jurisdiction, and I don’t know how successful I’ll be.”
“Man, I never thought I’d want the feds to interfere.” Russ laughed.
“Russ, why don’t you go flash a badge or one of us could hang at the station and question the other workers?” Micha asked.
Reid had thought of that, but… “I don’t want to alert the friend that we’re looking for him and send him underground. He was already skittish about going back to prison, and if he finds out law enforcement wants a word with him, we might never find him.”
“Ah, right,” Micha said. “Good point.”
“Leave the friend with me,” Russ said. “The locals now have an investigation open and seem eager. I’ll ask the chief again to apply for that warrant for the gas station.”
“Could we get the local PD to put out a BOLO for this guy now that we know what description to use?” Colin asked. “We could get lucky and someone will spot him and we won’t need the friend.”
A Be On The Lookout alert circulated on the local police radios might be their best opportunity to find Fowler.
“Already done,” Russ said. “Chief Gleason took care of that and will notify me of any sightings.”
“Thanks,” Reid said. “Any other updates?”
“We could put out a plea to the media for anyone who was in the area of the hospital at the time of the attack,” Dev suggested.
Russ gazed into the camera. “I’ll get on the horn to Gleason the minute we’re done and ask him about that. I’ll also ask him to revisit the break-in at Megan’s house and prioritize the forensics and get the stocking cap out of inventory and into evidence to be processed.”
“Then let’s get off this call so you can do that.” Reid ended the meeting, thankful he had such a competent team. He’d never imagined when he hired the guys to handle training on survival skills that he would need their help in protecting someone, much less his daughter last year and Megan and Ella now.
He opened the video from Russ. Just as Russ had described, a woman loaded her newborn’s car seat into the back of her car. In the distance over the vehicle’s hood was a guy sneaking up on Santa behind his van, as Toby had described.
The camera caught the guy from behind, but Reid could clearly see he was wearing the blue stocking cap in question. Reid fired off a text to Russ.
Santa’s attacker is wearing blue stocking cap in video. Make sure the locals prioritize it. Better yet, convince them to overnight it to Veritas.
On it.
Reid could get used to this ready compliance from his brother, but if it was because he felt bad due to Megan being in danger, then Reid would gladly have the argumentative brother he knew and loved.
