“My car was stolen,” Vera lamented.

Her husband sat on a rocking recliner, staring at the wall with a vacant look in his eyes.

The good news was that the dogs had found the house Grud had been hiding in. The bad news was that the guy was gone and he wasn’t coming back. Thralling the couple to forget he’d ever been there was a sure sign that he was done with the place.

The Doomer had done a hatchet job with the couple’s brains, but Harold had it much worse. The old man had probably tried to resist.

Magnus was afraid the damage was irreversible. “Is there any money missing from your bank accounts?”

Vera looked at Harold. “Honey, could you check with the bank? I don’t know how to do it.”

The guy didn’t respond.

“Oh, my, I’m afraid his Alzheimer's has taken a turn for the worse.”

That was bad. “Are you sure you can’t check the bank, Vera?”

“I can call. I don’t know how to use the computer.”

“Please do so. I have a feeling that the same man who stole your car has also taken money from your account. I need to know how much is missing.”

“How come I don’t remember anything?”

“He is a talented hypnotist. Harold is probably still under the influence of it. That’s why he isn’t responding.”

Vera hefted herself off the couch. “I better go check. I need to find the last bank statement to see how much we had in there. Harold takes care of all the financial stuff.” She cast her husband a worried glance.

“What are we going to do about them?” Liam said after Vera had gone to call the bank.

“First of all, we are going to replenish their accounts. That’s the least we can do. I don’t know what can be done about him.”

“Maybe Vanessa can help?” Liam sounded hopeful.

“She has enough on her hands as it is. I can’t have her come all the way over here.”

Vera came back with tears in her eyes. “There is nothing left. Thank God he couldn’t touch the annuity. We would have been left with only social security, and that’s not enough to pay the bills.”

Magnus got up and patted her arm. “Our department will pay you back every missing penny. How much was in there?”

“Over the past two days, Harold withdrew almost twelve thousand dollars.”

Thank the Fates it wasn’t a huge amount. “We will send you a check to cover it.”

“That's so kind of you. I didn’t know the fraud department took such good care of senior citizens.”

“It’s a special case. What is the year and model of your car?”

“It’s a brand new Honda Civic. We leased it. That’s why I’m less worried about the car than the money missing from our accounts. The insurance will pay for it.”

Thank the merciful Fates the car was new. That meant that it could be easily located.

“Do you have the lease papers? I want to jot down the information.”

“Yes, I do.”

As soon as they left the couple’s home, Magnus texted William the information and then called him. “The Doomer stole a car. I texted you the license plate number and the VIN.”

“I got it.”

“Call me when you find it.”

“Give me five minutes.”

“You’re the best.”

“I know.”

The other four Guardians were waiting for them down the street, while Jeff and the dogs were inside the guy’s van a little farther away.

Magnus was glad he’d told Jeff to stay.

The hunt wasn’t over yet.