Greed: An Amber Monroe Crime Thriller Book 1

by C. M. Sutter

  “Sorry, I was trying to match your twelve-hour days.”

  She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Twelve hours is child’s play in my world.” She patted the cushion to her side. “Sit. I’ve missed you.” Jade embraced me, and I felt her cheek, warmed from her time asleep.

  “I’ve missed you too.” I tipped my chin toward the empty wineglass. “Want a refill? I know I’m ready for some.”

  “Sure. Thanks, hon.”

  I took Jade’s glass to the kitchen and pulled out one from the cabinet for myself. I filled both and walked back to the couch. I handed her the glass and took my seat again.

  “So, what’s the latest on that mix of chemicals you asked about?”

  “Wow, a lot has happened since then.” I took a sip of wine. “Mmm, that’s good. Turns out we were lucky enough to find several stacks of cash under the spare tire in the car owned by one of our dead guys.”

  She gave me the side-eye. “One of your dead guys? I guess I missed that part of the story.”

  “Oh, I guess you did. Two dead men were found in a ditch on Tuesday. They were dumped out on Paradise Drive, each with a bullet hole through the forehead.”

  “Whoa. That has to be a first for you.”

  “It was, but I didn’t turn green or anything.”

  Jade smiled. “That’s a plus. So what’s going on with that?”

  “We’ve identified the bodies, and the one with the chemical cocktail on his clothes—say that fast—is the one who had the cash in his car.”

  Jade laughed at my tongue twister.

  “Anyway, we turned over everything to the Secret Service, and they had the money tested. It was definitely counterfeit.”

  “It’s a sticky situation when multiple counties and different law enforcement agencies are involved. Believe me, nobody wants to share cases.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured that. I mean, we don’t have any evidence that those men were murdered in Washburn County. They both lived in Milwaukee.”

  Jade nodded, and I knew she understood our predicament.

  “Jack said if we don’t have any new leads by tomorrow, we may have to back off and let Milwaukee handle it.”

  “It is rightfully their case, Amber. It sounds like you guys did all the legwork for them, though.”

  “Yeah, and for the Secret Service too.”

  “It’s tough, and I still resist handing off cases to the locals, but sometimes it’s the only thing you can do.”

  I nodded. “I met a handsome stranger at Dick’s today, and we exchanged a few words.”

  “Friendly ones, I hope?”

  “Yes, friendly ones.”

  “I believe you’re blushing, little sister.”

  “Bull crap. I am not.”

  “So what’s the mystery man’s name?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not that forward. We only said a few words to each other. He did drive away in a new white 4Runner, though. Pretty sweet ride.” I took a gulp of my wine. “That reminds me. You aren’t going to believe what I saw twice yesterday.”

  “I don’t want to know.” Jade laughed openly.

  “Yes you do. I saw a midnight-blue BMW Alpina B7.”

  She furrowed her brows. “Are you sure it was an Alpina?”

  “Damn straight I’m sure. Between you and Dad, I’ve had cars jammed down my throat my entire life. Plus, I saw the Alpina and B7 badges on the back. The weird thing was it drove by the Milwaukee house of the dead guy with the cash, and then a few hours later, I saw it at the lights, getting ready to turn onto the 45 South ramp from Washington Street. I swear, the driver and I locked eyes for a second.”

  “That is weird. The chance of seeing two of the same color Alpinas in one day is slim to none.”

  “That’s what I told the brain-dead, non-car-enthusiasts I work with.”

  “Did you get a plate number?”

  I sighed. “Unfortunately not. The first time, I just stared at it in disbelief, and the second time, I wasn’t at the correct angle to see the plates.”

  Jade rolled her neck. “Humph.”

  “What?”

  “I’d be suspicious, but I wonder what that car would be doing on the northwest side of town when the bodies were found on the south side. You said it was at the lights on Washington Street and waiting to take the southbound ramp toward Milwaukee?”

  “Yes—you’re thinking cameras near the intersection?” I went to the kitchen and grabbed a notepad and pen from the junk drawer.

  “Why not? I’m not trying to tell you how to conduct your investigation, especially with Jack as your boss”—Jade grinned—“but it couldn’t hurt if there’s something about the car that sticks in your craw. Go with your gut, Amber. It’s usually a tool you can count on.”

  I knew Jade was right. I just needed to convince my coworkers of it. “I had Luke check the DMV records for a late-model Alpina registered in Wisconsin, but nothing came up.”

  “Even more odd.”

  I agreed. “In Jack’s defense, he did bring up a good point.”

  “Yeah?” Jade sipped her wine and rearranged herself on the couch to face me. “What’s that?”

  “According to the police car dash cam—oh yeah, you don’t know about that, either. A cop was gunned down in Milwaukee during a traffic stop, and it happened right as we drove past them.”

  “Good God, you’ve been busy.”

  “It was a sad situation for the officer. He didn’t make it.”

  Jade squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry, Amber.”

  “Yeah, me too. Anyway, according to the police car dash cam, there were three men inside the shooter’s vehicle. When the Alpina drove past the dead guy’s house, there were three men in that car as well.”

  “The thing is, Amber, you guys are the only ones who have that information. Milwaukee PD and the Secret Service don’t know all your discoveries. If the counterfeiting ring, the policeman’s shooting, and the two dead bodies found in Washburn County are somehow linked, then like it or not, all of you in law enforcement are linked too and should be working together.”

  “But I’m not running the show. At this point, Kate and I are just sideline helpers.”

  She smiled. “You won’t be for long, and you’re already thinking like a detective. Did you learn anything from the people you interviewed?”

  “We got a few names we’ll hold onto and one other thing that piqued my interest. Ben Jessup, the half-naked guy Clayton and I interviewed earlier—”

  Jade stopped me. “Huh? Back up.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “He must have thought his sack-ass pants, which revealed a lot more than I cared to see, would somehow distract me from my job.”

  Jade grinned. “Did they?”

  I felt my face go red as I waved away her comment. “Only for a second. Anyway, he mentioned how Charlie—the other dead guy—would help Joe load things at electronics stores.”

  “And Joe was the guy with the chemicals on his clothes—the bleacher?”

  “Right.”

  “It sounds like he had a few other duties too, like being a gofer now and then. Think like a counterfeiter, Amber. What would they need from an electronics store?”

  “Computers and printers, of course.”

  “I’d lean more toward the printers. If they’re bleaching existing money, then that means they’re printing the bills individually. They’d need a good number of printers, and top-notch ones to boot. That’s another thing you can check into. It’s food for thought. Like I said before, this is your investigation, but if you like, I can get Spelling’s opinion about the printers. He does have pull and can ask around.”

  “That would be awesome. Thanks, Sis. Need a snack?”

  “Sure, as long as I don’t have to make it.”

  I stood and went to the refrigerator. “Oh, by the way, we’re going to the grand opening of Shooters tomorrow night.”

  Jade carried our wineglasses into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “Sounds li
ke fun. That’s Joey’s old place, right?”

  “Yep, and Kate is coming too, maybe even the guys.”

  “Shooters, huh? Interesting name.”

  Chapter 35

  McKinley lifted his ringing desk phone after taking a sip of tepid coffee. It was early, much earlier than he usually received calls. He snugged the receiver against his cheek. “Hello.”

  “Pop, it’s Frank.”

  “Are you all right? It’s barely eight thirty.”

  “I’m fine, but we need to talk privately today, but I don’t want to come to the warehouse.”

  “Name the place and time, and I’ll be there,” McKinley said.

  “Sure, I’ll take an early lunch. Meet me at the marina by the kite stand at eleven o’clock.”

  “Will do. Is everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure. That’s why we have to talk.”

  McKinley hung up the phone and stepped out into the warehouse. His plans for the day had changed. “Royce.” He waved his employee over.

  “Yes, Mr. Moore?”

  “There’s been a change of plans. I won’t be joining you and Derek today, so take the van to make the money drop at the check-cashing stores. Make sure all lights work properly before you leave. Pick up five printers on your way back. We’ll buy five more over the weekend here in town.”

  Royce nodded.

  “Here’s the credit card for MFG Incorporated.” McKinley pulled the card from his wallet and handed it to Royce. “Make sure you get receipts for everything.”

  “When would you like us to leave?”

  “As soon as the van has been inspected and loaded. Put all of the cash in heavy-duty garbage bags under the false floor.”

  “Yes, sir. Anything else?”

  “Yes, my coffee is cold. Make a fresh pot and bring me a cup.”

  Chapter 36

  I threw out Jade’s ideas to the group in the bull pen before our morning powwow. I wanted their opinion before I brought it up at the meeting.

  Billings nodded. “Jade always did have a sixth sense about things.”

  “Hey, that’s my role,” Kate joked.

  “Sorry, maybe that was the wrong choice of words. Let me rephrase that. Jade always had good instincts about criminals. She did get herself in trouble at times, but at the end of the day, she was usually right.”

  “What is Jade right about?” Jack stepped out of his office with his coffee cup in hand. “My door wasn’t closed tight. Cough it up, Amber. What’s Jade’s take on our case?”

  “Sorry, boss. Was it wrong to ask her opinion?”

  Jack took a seat in my empty guest chair and placed his cup on a folded piece of paper. “Not necessarily. Let’s have our meeting right here, right now. The case, or lack of one, was what we were going to discuss, anyway.” He tipped his chin at me. “Go ahead.”

  I opened my purse and pulled out the notes I had written last night. “I only mentioned a few things to Jade, like seeing the Alpina. I knew she’d understand, being a car nut and all. She thought it would be more than a coincidence to see the same car twice in one day in cities thirty miles apart. There could be a connection between North Bend, that Alpina, and Joe Tantor’s house.”

  “But the bodies weren’t found in the city limits,” Clayton said.

  “True, but North Bend is in Washburn County. Maybe the person with the Alpina has connections in town and that’s why the bodies were dumped here. Whoever the connection is could be keeping tabs on our investigation.”

  Jack rubbed his chin. “Interesting theory. What else?”

  “I also told her about the statement Ben Jessup mentioned about Charlie helping Joe with heavy loading and going to electronics stores now and then. Jade told me to think like a counterfeiter.”

  “Meaning?” Kate said.

  I turned toward her. “Meaning, what does a counterfeiter buy at electronics stores except printers, computers, and more printers. Washing money means they’re printing over existing bills. They have to be using the latest high-tech laser printers made, just like the Secret Service said. We should call all of the electronics stores in Milwaukee County and even Washburn County and see what they’ve sold in laser printers over the last six months to a year.”

  Jack raised his brows as if he liked that idea. “Sure, that wouldn’t take too long. Those bad boys are expensive and not what most everyday users buy.”

  “Exactly. Jade also said it wouldn’t hurt to get a tag number from the nearest street-facing camera at the intersection of Washington and the entrance ramp to 45 South. Since the Alpina was the first car in line, we’d have a perfect shot of the tags from any business whose camera overlapped the intersection. We already know what time and day he was sitting there.”

  “You remember that?”

  “Sure. It was between five forty-five and six o’clock. We got to the sheriff’s office just after six. You reminded me that Billy and Todd had probably left for the night.”

  “Good memory, deputy. Go downstairs and have Billy pull up businesses in the area with cameras that could catch the intersection. I’m thinking Safrony Auto Mall would be our best bet. We’ve had good luck with their cameras in the past since they have that wide-angle view covering the entire car lot. If they’re the closest to the intersection, don’t bother with any others.”

  “I’m on it.” I pushed back my chair and left the bull pen. Downstairs, I entered the tech department and approached Billy. “Hey, buddy, could you do a big favor for me?”

  “Sure thing, Amber. What’s up?”

  “I need to see the nearest business east of the intersection of Washington Street and the 45 South ramp toward Milwaukee.”

  “No sweat. I’ll pull up Street View for that intersection. Grab a chair.”

  It took only a minute for Billy to have that intersection on the computer screen in front of us. “Here you go. You have the auto mall, a bank, and the oil change business. I’d eliminate the oil change business.”

  “Yeah, and the bank and Safrony’s look to be about the same distance from the lights. Okay, that’s all I needed. Thanks, dude.”

  I went back upstairs and told Jack he was right. “The bank and the auto mall are the same distance from the lights, but we already know Safrony’s has a great security system, and their cameras have a lot of reach.”

  “Okay, let’s take care of our morning meeting, then you and Kate head over there. I’ll have the guys do a little research on the best laser printers on the market and what stores sell them. Sorry, but we don’t have time to wait for Jade to check into it for us. We’re capable of handling that ourselves.”

  “Understood.”

  Once our morning powwow was complete, Kate and I left for Safrony Auto Mall. It was a straight shot west of the sheriff’s office on Washington Street and would take five minutes to get there if we hit every green light.

  Kate rode shotgun and explained her dream from last night as I drove.

  “I didn’t recognize any of the characters in my dream, but that’s a good thing.”

  “How so?”

  “It means they aren’t anybody we know yet, so they could be the perps involved in our case.”

  “Or just dream characters.”

  “True, but I’ll tell you, anyway. First I saw two gorgeous green velvet chairs. I’m going to look online to see if any chairs like that really exist. I’d love to have something like that myself, except in coral.”

  I laughed. “Wait until you move in with us. You don’t have room for an extra shoebox in that apartment. Okay, what else?”

  “The dream wasn’t in story form, just characters moving in and out of the scene. The strange thing was those twins were back.”

  “No way! First you see two gorgeous velvet chairs, and then the gorgeous twins reappear? You must have a thing for doubles.”

  “No kidding, right? Anyway, the twins were arguing with each other somewhere outdoors, but I didn’t recognize the place. Then I saw kids flying kites an
d—”

  I gave Kate the side-eye. “And what?”

  “You’re going to think I’m making it up.”

  “Why would I think that? You’ve proved yourself over and over again.” I turned in to Safrony Auto Mall’s driveway and found a vacant spot.

  “Because the Alpina drove into the scene, and two men got out. The driver was an older white guy, and the passenger looked younger and had olive-colored skin. He could have been either Italian or Spanish, and his arms were covered in ink.”

  “You mean tattoo ink, right? Not printer ink?”

  “Very funny.”

  “That’s pretty detailed information, Kate. Are you sure there weren’t three guys?”

  “No, sorry. I supposed that would have fit better with what we’ve seen. Guess I’m sticking with twos for everything in that dream.”

  “Anything else?”

  “A lot of pine trees in a heavily wooded area and then a small dark room that smelled like a basement. The dream was a bunch of mumbo jumbo and didn’t make sense. Anyway, that’s all I have.”

  I parked the cruiser and tipped my head toward the building. Inside, we approached the customer service counter. I knew the employees there were familiar with Jade and Jack, but Kate and I were newbies in the field. We pulled out our badges and introduced ourselves.

  “Hello, we’re deputies Amber Monroe and Kate Pierce. We need to take a look at your security footage from yesterday afternoon. Could you direct us to the right person to speak with about that?”

  “Yes, certainly, deputies. I’ll page Ryan Martin.” She raised her finger as she spoke into the phone’s receiver, paged him, and hung up. “It should only take a minute.”

  I gave her a thank-you nod, and we spent a few minutes admiring the new cars in the showroom.

  “Deputies, I’m Ryan Martin. How can I help you?”

  We turned to see a handsome man wearing black slacks, a white shirt, and a black-and-gray patterned tie.

  “Hi there.” I stuck out my hand to shake his, and Kate followed suit. We introduced ourselves and told him what we needed.

  “Sure, not a problem. Right this way.” Ryan extended his arm toward the hallway. “It’s the last office on the right.”