Every Second

28

Manhattan, New York

The subject was a white male with large, soft eyes that hinted at innocence, a stubbled chin and tousled hair framing the face of a man barely out of his teens.

His photo filled the large monitor in the boardroom at the FBI’s office at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan.

“This is our prime suspect. Jerricko Titus Blaine,” Nick Varner told the investigators at the table and those who’d dialed in from across the country for the emergency case-status meeting on the robbery. “Based on the evidence, which we’ve outlined in the case summary notes we’ve provided you, we don’t believe Blaine acted alone.”

The FBI, the NYPD, New York State Police, Homeland Security and a range of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies had joined the ongoing investigation, which grew with every passing hour.

After summarizing key facts known so far, Varner’s top agenda item was to find their primary suspect: Jerricko Titus Blaine.

“Blaine’s prints were left on duct tape found in the Fulton home that we believe was used to bind the family,” Varner said. “You’ve all been provided with our status sheet on this case-Blaine’s height, weight, DOB and any other information we currently have. Blaine’s last known address was in Dallas, Texas, so that’s where we’re headed. Doyle, what do you have?”

The voice of Trent Doyle, an agent with the FBI’s Dallas division, came through loud and clear over the conference phone speaker.

“We’ve got our people heading to Blaine’s last address with warrants, and we’ve got detectives from DPD initiating a canvass and scouring all local and state records. We’re pursuing any employers, relatives, friends and associates.”

“Good,” Varner said, as he took notes. He noticed how one detective hadn’t stopped staring at Blaine’s photo. Almost as though he recognized him. Varner kept his eye on him as he continued. “Blaine’s Social Security Number shows he was born in Torrance, California, and attended school there. Over to you, LA. What can you tell us?”

Bill Kendrick with the FBI’s Los Angeles division gave an update.

“We’re working with the LAPD and Los Angeles County. We’ve dispatched teams to all addresses associated with Blaine.”

“Schools?” Varner said.

“Yes, we’re going to schools, looking into any jobs he held, searching for relatives and any associates.”

“Marv, you want to jump in here?”

“Marv Tilden, NYPD. We’re circulating Blaine’s photo to all confidential informants, we’re going door-to-door in the Fultons’ neighborhood in Queens. We’re also chasing down family, friends, social circles. We’re going through the family’s computer and phone records for any leads.”

“Where are we on Dan Fulton?” an FBI agent at the table asked.

“We haven’t located him or his car,” Varner said. “There’s been no activity on any of the Fultons’ credit or bank cards. We’re obtaining camera footage from the bank and neighboring businesses, and we’re looking at all security footage we can secure from the Fultons’ neighbors.”

“What about the BOLO for Dan Fulton’s Taurus?” the agent asked. “Anything from Real Time Crime Center?”

“Nothing so far,” the NYPD commander for the center said. “They could’ve switched vehicles or changed Fulton’s plate. The BOLO remains active.”

“What about Fulton as a suspect?” an NYPD detective asked.

Varner flipped pages of his case notes.

“Unlikely, based on everything we know to be true at this stage-including the note he wrote before he left the bank. You’ve got all the details in the summary.”

Varner clicked a button, and Dan Fulton’s note appeared on the monitor next to Blaine’s photo.

“What’s Fulton’s personal situation?” the detective asked. “Could he have set this up?”

“It’s unlikely. We have no indication of him having any overwhelming debts, gambling or drug problems. Nothing that would require immediate access to a large sum of money, nothing that would make him this desperate. Right now we think the Fulton family was targeted.”

“What about this threat from Luca Bazerinni?”

“We’ve not ruled that out. We’ve spoken to Bazerinni and executed search warrants on his company and home. So far we’ve found no grounds to show that Bazerinni acted on his threat. No connection between Blaine and Bazerinni. But we’ve not ruled him out. We’re still processing material seized from his trucking operation and home.”

“What about terrorism?” asked Henry Collins, an NYPD detective.

“It hasn’t been ruled out,” Varner said.

“Well, did Homeland run down Blaine’s passport? Is he on any watch lists, or no-fly lists?”

Varner turned to the woman from the Department of Homeland Security, who cleared her throat.

“Our records show that a US passport has not been issued to Jerricko Titus Blaine.”

“Maybe he used a fake one, or bought a foreign one?”

“DHS is investigating all possibilities,” she said.

“Nick, what makes you think Blaine didn’t act alone?” another investigator asked.

“The nature of the crime and the content of Dan Fulton’s note.”

Varner pointed to the note on the monitor: Family held hostage at home! Strapped bombs on us!

“If Dan is at the bank and his family is being held hostage at home, we don’t think one person could pull this off alone.”

“What about the wife, Lori Fulton?” another detective asked.

“We’ve got people talking to her employer at the insurance company,” Tilden said. “We’re looking into the cases where she investigated people involved in fraudulent insurance claims-anyone who might have held a grudge and who could be involved. So far nothing has surfaced. But there’s a new aspect concerning Lori Fulton’s previous job.”

Tilden raised his eyebrows at Varner.

“Right,” Varner said. “Now, this may have no bearing on the case here, but we’ve learned that Lori was with the Santa Ana Police Department in California, but we’ll go to our RA in Santa Ana for the details. Wade?”

Wade Darden, with the FBI’s resident agency in Orange County, California, gave a report.

“What we know is that she was using her maiden name at the time, Lori Wallace, and was a police officer with SAPD until she resigned after several months of disability leave for psychological trauma. It’s believed the trauma resulted from an incident that occurred while she was on duty some six years ago. I’ll be meeting with the Santa Ana PD after this call and should get full details as soon as possible.”

Varner and Tilden then discussed theories and other aspects with the group to ensure nothing was overlooked or no investigative threads were left unchecked.

“What about security incidents at the branch?” one detective asked.

“Nothing of consequence on record,” Tilden said. “However, one teller told us she’d seen a man in a car using binoculars in the strip mall parking lot across the street from the bank. This happened within a few weeks of the incident. We believe he was casing the branch and we’re going to be reviewing security footage from the mall.”

“Okay,” Varner said. “We’ll be holding a press conference later today to share the basics with the public and make an appeal for information. If there are no other questions, that’s all we have. Thanks, everyone.”

As the investigators were leaving, Varner noticed that Henry Collins remained at the table, fixated on the notes he’d made.

“Henry,” Varner said, “what’re you thinking?”

“Nick, you’re still with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, right?”

“Yes.”

“Given that groups have been known to raise funds using drugs, kidnappings, ransoms, robberies and such, I’m thinking…maybe you really have to look at a terrorist connection.”

“We are, Henry. We’re looking at everything.”