Prisoner's Prisoner

Chapter 8

David wanted to go to Fayette, Kentucky. But that would be a long drive. He wanted to see the CCTV footages of the car being stolen. Kentucky police wanted clearance first before they let him view the footages. He was planning to go to the shopping center instead.

He would check Mayland first.

He checked the internet for every reports about theft in every county. That's a lot, he thought. He narrowed his search to big time theft that could match the amount of money inside the bag that was still in their custody.

Banks. There were banks who reported theft. But he knew about banks. They normally declared larger amounts for bigger insurance claims. And to rob a bank, you need a group. At least a minimum of three members.

Did Tara has an accomplice? If she had a lot of money in hand, why did she has to be drinking inside a car alone? And how about the bruises on her legs?

David massaged his temples. It could have been easier if the woman did not lose her memory.

"Detective Loki..." David was shocked. It was Harry.

"Harry..."

"You got the girl?"

David nodded.

"Just wanted to make sure you will not be charged of anything." Harry was afraid there would be complaints about illegal detention worst abduction.

"That has been taken care of. I got records from the hospital."

"You should have taken her to the woman's welfare."

"She doesn't want to. She believes somebody is after her."

"Then the more you have to be careful. That's a lot of money. If someone is after her then maybe she might have gotten it illegally."

"I already thought of that." David actually did a lot of times. And he was thinking otherwise.

"Just give me an update for any progress."

"I will."

Harry went away. David got up and went outside where the crashed car was parked. He stared at it for a minute. He checked the hood and then the trunk. The trunk was very clean. Well upholstered. He was blinking again.

He opened the door on the driver's seat. He sat on it. The bag was found on the carpet just below the passenger seat. Just there. Not hidden. There were still unopened bottles of beer at the backseat. The empty bottles were scattered below the driver's seat.

He checked for any pockets and secret compartments. Instinctively, he tapped the covering of the door from the inside. He heard some metal sheets clanking. He slowly removed the covering and found three other car plates, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Seemed to be genuine plates. The car had travelled far. The original Kentucky plate was there.

He went out of the car and brushed his face with his hands. He brought out his camera and took photos of the plates and the car. Then he slammed the door shut.

The starting point was Kentucky. Maybe. More or less Tara or whatever her name was came from Kentucky, he thought. That would be if Tara was the one who stole the car.

It was already two in the afternoon. If he would leave now, he can reach Mayland in three hours. Mayland county was in the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania. He went to his car and started driving. He realized he missed lunch again.

"It was mine." Ted, the security guard of the 24-hour grocery store exclaimed. He was on a night duty. "I will file charges on that culprit."

David smiled nonchalantly. "You will not do that. Otherwise, your boss will discover that you are sleeping while on duty.

Ted glared in disbelief. "Do you have the plates?

"You can request for another one. So will you show me the footages?"

Ted went to the supervisor and introduced him as Detective Loki from Conyers PD. He agreed to have the CCTV checked.

David and Ted went at the small office at the back. There were only five cameras on the store. One each focusing on the parking lot, the entrance, the back office and on the two sides of the store.

They checked the one at the parking lot. They started playback at around 5 five in the morning. The guard already checked this out but David wanted to know where exactly the thief came from. They continue watching until the hooded guy came into view.

He came from the side where the camera was located. He might have been checking for the right timing. There were no customers inside the store. There was only one car on the parking lot. The culprit immediately went to the back of the car, ducked low and started unscrewing the plates. Then he walked naturally towards the road. There were no other vehicle on sight.

David was not actually looking at how the culprit did it. He was looking at the body built of the guy. He started rubbing his chin again.

He thanked Ted and started driving back home. It was almost eight in the evening when he arrived.

He was surprised Tara was not in there.