Page 49 of Judas

"Can I ask," he bit his lip in hesitation, "why do you suspect him?" Judas had to admit to himself that he was a little scared to ask the question. He didn't want her to leave angry, this time it really would kill him, but he needed to know what changed her mind.

"I found him in the office, after hours. He said he forgot something, but the file he took with him had the same number on it that I found in a password protected file on Dad's laptop. Then I went to the house to ask him about it, but he wasn't home and Aunt Reba wouldn't let me in…even Davy yelled at me," the statement poured out of her like a confession. "There's something no one is telling me… and I've got to know what it is."

"Did you check out all the files on Paul's computer? Even the deleted ones?" Judas asked.

"Yes."

"What about any recycle bin activity or download history?" he urged.

"All clear," she replied. "I spent hours combing over every keystroke on that machine. The only thing I found that doesn't make sense is a spreadsheet for a bank account, nine-seven-two-nine. I have no idea where this account is or what it's for. But, that same number was on the file Chet took from the office and Reba knows about it, I'm sure."

Judas' eyes narrowed in thought, "Good job, Nancy."

"Nancy?" Eliza asked, perplexed.

"Nancy Drew? Literary amateur detective?" he smiled.

Eliza couldn't help but laugh, "You've read Nancy Drew?"

"Read? Yes," Judas sat on the edge of the bed, "But I also own probably the largest private collection of the books that feature the character."

If he could have seen her face in the dim room, Judas would have doubled over at her look of shock. Was he being serious?

"No you don't," she laughed.

Finding her hand, Judas pulled her from the bed, "Oh, Eliza, there's so much for me to show you." He put his lips on hers for a moment before continuing, "We've got plenty of time for all of that… right now, I want to know about this bank account."

She eyed him skeptically, "Okay… but we'll be revisiting this whole Nancy Drew conversation."

After a quick shower, a clothing refresh, and a quick call to the charge nurse, the pair were back in his car with the hospital in their sights. Paul was still coming out of his medically induced coma but was responding to external stimuli. Eliza's heart raced faster the more she thought of seeing Paul. If he woke up when she was there, what would she say to him? Could he tell her who tried to kill him? She wasn't sure she was ready for the answer.

With his free hand, Judas laced his fingers in hers and he could feel her anxiety pulsing through them, "Tell me about what you found."

"It's odd. Dad has never been one to really secure anything on his computer even though I know we've both lectured him about internet security," glancing in Judas' direction, Eliza watched his head bob in the affirmative. "But, he still uses my birthday, probably easy for him to remember, I guess. Except for one file. Just one. But Dad being who he is, he used the account number as the password."

"What's in the account?" Judas ran his fingers over hers; they were soft like silk.

Eliza shook her head, "A lot of deposits… nothing that stood out. And withdraws. Big ones. All of them are going to someone or someplace called D-r-a."

"Dra?" he asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, not sure if that's a name or initials. Just Dra. But, it gets weirder," she continued. "That file? The one Chet was holding? It was thick, Judas. Really thick and I'm sure the tab had the same account numbers written on it. Nine-seven-two-nine."

She repeated the numbers like a mantra.

"Wait a minute," Judas declared sharply, pulling his hand away from hers. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled a small wallet-money clip combo from it and worked a green paper from his thin pouch. Tossing the wallet onto the dash, he unraveled the paper to reveal a check. "I knew it! Take a look at that."

He held the check between two fingers, offering it to Eliza. Wrinkles formed between her brow as she scanned the document.

"I don't understand," she said quietly.

"Look at the bottom. The account number," Judas pointed to the row of numbers just under the signature line. Eliza read the entire line and gasped when her eyes saw the last four digits.

"Nine-seven-two-nine," she choked.

"That's the check I found under my door when I got home that night. If your father is the only signatory on that account, then it clearly didn't come from Paul. Someone else wrote that check and forged your dad's name," he replied. Judas had a good idea about who wrote it and why, but that was a can of worms he wasn't ready to open again.

"Judas, I need to get into that account. I need to know who or what Dra is… and I want that file," Eliza demanded. "I know it's the only thing that will tell me why someone shot Dad."

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