should go to his apartment and see if he's taken anything or left any clues as to where he might be headed," I said. "I know it's probably a crapshoot but we should delve into it anyway."
"I'm all for that," said Maddox. "Plus, I'd like to look around. Maybe there's something that ties him to both robberies."
"We should all go," decided Solomon. "We'll follow you."
"I'll text you the address," I said as everyone prepared to leave.
~
We arrived at Zach's apartment building together, just in time for a train to speed past, causing the windows of the car to rattle. I hopped out and Solomon and Delgado followed me to where Maddox waited.
"This way," I said, leading them up while Delgado waited downstairs on lookout duty.
My phone beeped as we jogged up the stairs and I pulled it out, hoping it was an update from Garrett or Jord. Instead it was from Austen. Yes, Sophie had a car. A two-door Mercedes convertible. "Austen says Sophie kept her car in the garage at their home but since he's barely been home in over a week, he couldn't confirm it was still there," I told them. "He gave me the plate number."
"One of us should check that out," said Solomon. He and Maddox exchanged a look.
"I'm here on federal business," said Maddox.
"I'll get Manny to ask one of his work crew to check," I said pointing down the corridor. "That's Zach's apartment."
Solomon reached it first. "Door's unlocked," he said.
"Is it?" asked Maddox.
Solomon kicked it and it swung open. "Yes," he replied.
"Perhaps there was a break-in," said Maddox, drawing his weapon. "I better check."
"I like how you're all saying these things like I'm recording you to show the video in court later," I said, following them in.
Zach's apartment was just as sparse as the first time I saw it. Maddox and Solomon cleared the rooms and we convened in the small living area. "Just to state the obvious, he's not here," said Maddox while I shot a text to Manny. "I'm ready to poke around."
"I'll take the bedroom," I said. "I think I'd notice if anything were missing." Within a few minutes, I verified that Zach's fancy leather jacket, along with the rest of his clothing were gone. Clearly, he packed in a hurry because the closet door hung open and he hadn't even bothered to make the bed or take anything from the bathroom.
"He's definitely on the run," said Solomon.
"We could try Sky Outdoors?" I suggested. "If he's not in his truck like we suspect, perhaps he went there?"
"What for? To hand in his resignation?" asked Maddox, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"No, because I think he might have been dating one of the women there. I saw him kissing Vanessa... oh, my God!" My eyes widened.
"What?"
"I just realized where I saw the tattoo the little boy drew!"
"What are you talking about?"
"The little boy from the bank! He kept drawing a symbol that he said he saw on a woman robber during the bank heist. Vanessa had that same tattoo on her wrist! I remember now! If she and Zach were an item, she could be his accomplice!"
"You think he would take her with him?"
"Maybe." Who knew what violent men prioritized while on the run? "Maybe she knows where he’d go. Either way, we should talk to her and quick."
"Lexi's right. I'm not buying he's driving his truck on the highway either. If this woman is another piece of the puzzle, we should get to her before Zach does. She might be another loose end to tie up."
"Let's go," said Solomon and we barreled towards the door. Maddox took off at a run. Solomon and I reached the corridor before I remembered something that still puzzled me.
"Wait," I said, grabbing Solomon's arm. "I need to check something." I turned and sprinted back to the apartment and went into the living room. I tugged at the couch's cushions and arms but there was nothing hidden there. With one last look behind me, I ran back to join Solomon and we darted down the stairs to the car, motioning for Delgado to follow us.
"What're you all in such a hurry for?" he asked.
"Zach cleared out already," I said, explaining where we were going as Solomon gunned the engine and pulled out after Maddox.
When we hit a red light that Maddox slid through ahead of us, Solomon smacked the steering wheel. "I'm putting my money on Zach fleeing the moment he failed his second attempt at the hospital,"