Page 76 of Resolutions

“HA! What do I mean?” I cuff him on the shoulder. “You and the flower lady have something going on?”

“Who? What? Roo and me? No, nooo.” Tobias fumbles over his words, answering way too quickly.

“Roo? Man, if you don't, you should. The sparks flying off you two are enough to start a bonfire.” I tease him.

“No, nope, nothing there, ah, here. Listen, I've got to,” Tobias freezes as his phone and mine ring simultaneously. Exchanging glances, we both answer.

“Tobias here.”

“This is Law.”

“Law, this is Senior Field Agent Richardson. I'm calling to let you know Michael Thorne escaped custody today.”

Tobias drops his head. “HE WHAT?”

From his reaction, I know he's getting the same news. “Agent Richardson, hold on a second. Let me get somewhere I can talk.”I mute my phone, motioning for Tobias to come inside. “Who do you have?”

“The office, they heard,”

I cut him off, lifting my phone. “I've got the FBI.”

“I'll call you back.” Tobias ends his call.

“Richardson? I'm here with Sheriff Trenton. Tobias, this is Senior Field Agent Richardson. Go ahead, Richardson. We want to know what happened.”

“Fine, Sheriff Trenton was on my list to notify. Michael Thorne escaped custody today. The plane had a layover in Chicago. When it landed, Thorne complained of a stomachache and requested the bathroom. Agents cleared a bathroom, then waited for him. The rest is fuzzy. A flight landed and began unloading at the gate next to the bathroom, so there were a lot of people milling around. Near as we can tell from the hall footage, a couple of men approached the agent blocking the entrance. Then the men left, presumably to go to another bathroom. But when they walked off, the agent wasn't at the door anymore. Now, it could have been that the agent went back into the bathroom. We don't know. We do know is that both agents are dead and Michael is gone.”

“Fuck!” I say, shaking my head.

“Didn't the hall footage catch Michael leaving the bathroom?” Tobias asks, pacing.

“No, we did an identification facial search, but got no hits.”

“Shit.” Tobias stops. “So, you're telling us that you have no idea where he is?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Damn it.” Tobias and I echo each other.

“If we get word, he's heading your way. We'll let you know.” Richardson ends the call.

Tobias and I lock eyes.

The End. Or is it?