Both of them were safe.
Kate then called up the pictures shed taken of Dan Fultons bank in Roseoak.
What happened? Who forced Dan to rob his own bank?
Kate tapped her screen, scrolling to photos of the Fultons house on Forest Trail Drive.
What went on in that home? Who would strap a bomb on a nine-year-old boy?
Kate suddenly realized Billy Fulton was only one year older than her daughter, Grace, and her heart went out to their family once again.
When she lifted her head, the cab was approaching the toll plaza at the entrance to the Midtown Tunnel. Emergency lights flashed on the NYPD patrol cars that lined the shoulders. Uniformed officers stood at the traffic cones leading to the toll gates, halting traffic, eyeballing each vehicle and driver.
Kate dropped her window and told her driver to slow down when they were next to one of the cops.
Excuse me, Officer! Kate called. Is this related to the robbery situation in Roseoak, Queens?
Yes, do you have information?
No. Im a reporter, just checking. Thanks.
Move it along.
The cab rolled through the toll gate, the tunnel gleaming in brilliant orange-and-yellow light as it curved under the East River to Manhattan.
Excuse me, Officer! Kate called. Is this related to the robbery situation in Roseoak, Queens?
Yes, do you have information?
No. Im a reporter, just checking. Thanks.
Move it along.
The cab rolled through the toll gate, the tunnel gleaming in brilliant orange-and-yellow light as it curved under the East River to Manhattan.
As traffic rushed along, Kate resumed thinking of the Fultons.
Theyve got to be somewhere in this city.
23
Elmhurst, New York
With sirens wailing and lights flashing, NYPD units from the 115th Precinct blocked the north, south and east entrances to Bazerinni Trucking on Astoria Boulevard.
The depot stood at the edge of a commercial strip lined with tired-looking one-and two-story buildings just beyond. The company was not far from La Guardia Airport and other busy freight and cargo operations. But today, Bazerinnis business had ground to a halt as heavily armed officers, a K-9 unit and a group of detectives descended on the yard.
What the hells this? A man rushed out from the garage, angry and perplexed, searching amid the loading bays and grind of diesel engines for someone to provide an answer. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, his tie was loosened. He gripped a tablet in one hand.
Were looking for Luca Bazerinni, said one of the suited men.
Im Luca. Mind telling me who you are and what youre doing on my property?
Im Detective Tilden, NYPD, and this is Agent Varner, FBI. Were investigating the robbery of a SkyNational Trust branch in Roseoak Park.
What about it?
Youre aware of it?
Yeah, heard it on the news.
You have business dealings with the branch.
A loan, sure. So what? I didnt rob the freakin place. The yelp of the German shepherd diverted Bazerinni, who took quick inventory of the armed officers and detectives searching his property. What the hells this? Do you have a warrant?
We do, Mr. Bazerinni, Varner said. It authorizes us to search the premises and all records relevant to our investigation.
The stress lines on Bazerinnis face deepened and he pulled his cell phone from his pocket. I want my lawyer here. He scrolled through his contact numbers.
Thats your right, Tilden said, but youre not under arrest and things would go quicker for us to clear you if youd cooperate by answering a few questions.
Clear me? Clear me from what?
Lets talk over there. Varner nodded to a rest area with lockers and wooden tables and chairs.
Bazerinni hesitated, taking another look around before returning his phone to his pocket and leading the two men to the tables.
Tilden and Varner took out notebooks.
You acknowledge your company took out a loan for the amount of eight hundred thousand dollars with Branch 487 for SkyNational Trust Banking Corp.?
Thats what this is about?
Just answer the question, Tilden said.
If you know the amount, then you know its true.
But you took issue with the terms of that loan and some five or six months ago went to the branch to discuss it.
I sure as hell did. Back then we were facing a helluva time. We were getting squeezed on all fronts, contracts were low. We werent getting paid on time and we had issues with insurance, suppliers and subcontractors.
So you went to the bank to seek relief on the terms of the loan?
Exactly. We were told when we negotiated the loan that it was geared to income and that we had the option to relax the payments, should we face hard times. The rates and terms were good. Thats why we went out to Roseoak. They gave us a good deal.
Tell us what happened when you visited the branch to discuss those terms.
Ill tell you exactly what happened. The loan officer there started singing a different tune, said we couldnt modify the original terms. He said Id misunderstood what hed told me before, that it was all clear in the fine print. I was pissed off and I left.
You were pissed off?
Youre damned right. That prick, Green, lied to me.
Did you tell him, and I quote, Do you know who youre talking to? You mothers better watch your back cause one day youre gonna regret this!
Bazerinni shrugged. Sounds right.
You understand thats considered a threat, Mr. Bazerinni.
Give me a freakin break. This is Queens! I run a trucking operation, and the asshole in the suit lied to me. I wanted to beat him to a pulp. I was losing sleep, going crazy with worry over my company. What do you think Im gonna say to that prick-thanks and have a nice day?
In light of whats happened at the bank today, you understand why were forced to see your comment in a different light, Varner said.
A different light?
Luca- Tilden looked him in the eye -are you involved in any way with the robbery of Branch 487 for SkyNational Trust Banking Corp., and the disappearance of Dan Fulton, Lori Fulton and their son, Billy?
Are you crazy? No, no way!
The investigators let his response hang in the air amid the idling diesels and ongoing search of his property.
Bazerinni sat forward, pointing his finger at Tilden.
Let me tell you something. Me and my dad started this company with a beat-up Ford F-150 pickup twenty years ago. Now we got a fleet of twenty units and fifty people on the payroll. We cooperate with every vehicle inspection, every driver inspection, every license and bond review, every audit. We pay our bills and our taxes. On time! I had to sell some equipment to deal with our rough patch six months ago but we never missed a payment. Were back on solid ground now. Were strong and were clean. Theres no reason for us to be involved in this robbery-and there never would be.
Luca! A woman held up her hands as she shouted down from the railing outside the office on the second level.
Bazerinni saw detectives carrying out computers. He turned to Varner and Tilden. What the hellre you doing?
Unfortunately, were going to have to shut you down for a while before we can clear you, Tilden said. Weve got to review all your records, including your computers, phones and employee files.
Bazerinni dragged both hands over his face.
All because I shot off my mouth to that lying prick at the bank.
Varner nudged Tilden, then nodded toward a few rolls of duct tape stacked on a nearby bench, along with a few other packing supplies. Varner knew the techs would need to collect a sample for comparison with the tape used at the Fulton home.
24
Manhattan, New York
The headlines streaked along the news ribbon that wrapped around the old New York Times building in Times Square.
Manager Robs Own Bank Vanishes with Wife and Son
The Fulton story was heating up.
As Kates cab threaded through Midtown traffic, her focus returned to the question of Varner and Tildens ultrasensitivity over this case. It was a red flag and suggested there might be more to the story than what she knew so far.
Did Fulton have secret drug or gambling debts? What about the supposed tragedy the family had had when they lived in the West?
As the cab got closer to Newslead, Kate received another text from Reeka Beck.
As the cab got closer to Newslead, Kate received another text from Reeka Beck.
Everybodys all over the story. Whats your ETA?
Fifteen minutes.
Weve got a problem to discuss.
What problem?
Tell you when you get here.
By the time her cab halted in front of the Newslead building, tension had knotted in Kates neck and shoulders. In the lobby she checked coverage online. Her story was out there, it had been issued about an hour ago, shortly after shed filed it. Shed met her deadline. In the elevator she searched and scanned stories by the Associated Press, Reuters and the others. They were all similar straight-up accounts-but nobody had what she had-the exact amount Dan Fulton had taken from the bank.
Kate had broken the fact that it was a quarter-million-dollar heist, making it a Newslead exclusive.
Hold on. Whats this?
She came upon an item by the new Signal Point Newswire. Citing an unnamed source, they had reported that the amount taken was two million dollars, and that Fulton had left note, warning employees that a bomb had been placed in the bank.
What? No. Thats dead wrong.
The doors opened on the fortieth floor and Kate stepped into the newsroom.
She glanced at one of the TV monitors and caught the end of a report on the heist in Queens. Then she looked to the glass walls of the editors offices. Reeka was on her phone, texting. Her door was open, so Kate tapped on it. Reeka nodded for her to sit in the chair in front of her desk. When Reeka finished, she put her phone down and let out a long breath.
You have an error in your story.
An error?
The amount taken in the robbery. Signal Points reporting that its two million-our story says a quarter million.
Signal Point has the error. Not us.
Theres also the aspect of Fultons note. Signal Point says-
I know what their story says and its wrong on both counts, Reeka.
You need to verify your facts.
Verify my facts? What do you think Ive been doing in Queens?
Reeka shot Kate an icy look.
I want you to check your facts. And, if we need to, well issue a correction with the next story update.