by Mary Stone
“How so?”
“I’m not sure how to explain it. Just scary. Very still, with dead eyes and no smile. I was glad he didn’t come with us.”
Ellie noted that down, thinking that would just about cover half the mugshots ever taken. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“I’m sorry. That’s all I remember. I wish I could help you more.” Her breath caught, and she sniffled softly.
“You’ve done more than enough,” Ellie assured her. “Thank you for calling.”
When she hung up, Jillian was watching Ellie’s face, waiting. “So? Was it a good tip?”
Ellie beamed. “She had information we didn’t release, including Steve’s full name.”
“That’s promising. Could you tell anything about her? Was she one of the others on the trip?”
“She spoke with an odd cadence like English was her second language, but she was very clear about Steve’s odd behavior. I’m not sure which volunteer she would be.” Ellie flipped through the notes on each traveler. “I didn’t see where anyone was an immigrant.”
“Was her accent strong?”
Ellie shook her head. “No. I can’t really explain it. It was her word choice more than anything, but it’s possible that’s just how she speaks. Regardless, she gave me enough to know for certain that Steve lied to us. There was no Katarina. Just another man, and that man didn’t go with them.”
“That’s strange.”
“It gets weirder.” She recapped the rest of what the caller had told her about Steve disappearing then boarding sometime later.
“Do you think he helped the other guy get Tabitha and Mabel to a secondary location?”
“If he did, it had to be close. If Steve can prove he was at the plane when they were abducted, we can’t pin it on him.” Ellie gritted her teeth. “I knew he was lying about something, but I didn’t think he was a willing accomplice.”
“What now?”
Ellie sat back in her chair, thinking through her next move. “I don’t want to call Steve just yet. It’ll spook him, and I need to verify a few things before I run with this.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I’ll make a few calls to the other women on the trip. Maybe we’ll get a few that can corroborate what our tipster said.”
“You want help?” Jillian’s voice was hopeful.
Ellie shook her head, giving her a sorry look. “There aren’t that many. Besides, don’t you have exciting filing work to do?”
“Don’t remind me.” Jillian groaned and skulked back to her own desk.
Ellie set the receiver in the cradle and leaned back in her chair. “Well, that was pointless,” she muttered.
Jillian walked back into the room. “Anyone corroborate the caller’s story?”
“Yes and no.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask what that means.”
“No one remembers either way.” Ellie scribbled on the corner of the notebook page.
“Oh. That’s not what I expected.” Jillian rubbed her temple. “So the case is staying consistently murky.”
“Basically. But it’s enough to justify bringing Steve in to speak with us.”
“Is it? You think he’ll come quietly?”
Ellie shrugged, not relishing going back to Steve’s rank abode. “I’m not sure, but I don’t really have enough to compel DNA or anything like that.”
Jillian quirked a brow. “He doesn’t know that.”
“True. But I’ll need an unmarked car to pick him up in. There’s no way he’s riding in the back of my car.”
“Which means you have to tell Fortis that you suspect him?”
“Exactly.” Ellie sighed and scanned her notes as she thought about going to Fortis with the little she had. “I’m not sure I have enough just yet.”
“Run a background on Steve and maybe have him picked up for something else.”
Ellie’s eyes lit up. “You’re a genius.”
“I know.”
Ellie rolled her eyes and typed Steve’s information into the database along with his address. She got a hit almost instantly and her eyes went wide.
Jillian hurried around the desk to take a look. “Whoa. Are they really enforcing this?”
Ellie’s fingers flew over the keyboard, and when the results loaded on the screen, she laughed. “Probably just as a reason for contact and to pile on charges. But it’s right here. Excise tax on unauthorized controlled substances.”
“Okay, but why is that even on there?”
“Probably a clerical error. See right here? He pled no contest and got off with community service two years ago. Everything else was dropped but this charge. I doubt it was on purpose, but it’s still there.”
Jillian tapped her red lips. “You think Fortis will go for it?”
“For bringing in a viable suspect on a bogus charge? Probably not.” Ellie debated her options, toying with one that was the most obvious.
“But you’re not going to ask Fortis, are you?”
The hell with it. “No, I am not.”
“Ellie, I can’t pretend I didn’t know this time. If I lose my job, I don’t have anyone to help me with bills.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She ignored the last part, used to everyone assuming she went to her daddy for mad money. “I actually had another plan.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Don’t.” She grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
“What do I tell Fortis if he comes by?”
“Tell him I didn’t tell you where I was going.”
Jillian chewed on her bottom lip. “He’s not going to like that.”
Ellie shrugged. “He will when I’ve got my guy.”
“Be careful, Ellie,” Jillian called out as Ellie gathered her things and headed out the door.
Ellie turned and smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
“I know you do,” Jillian said with an exaggerated frown. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Ellie was still smiling when she pulled out her cell phone and called Jacob as she pushed through the side door. “Where are you?”
“Good morning. It’s nice to hear your voice too, Kline.” There was a sharp whine in the background and a shushing noise from Jacob.
Ellie smiled, wondering if she’d interrupted doggy potty time. “Sorry. I need a favor.”
“Is your dad okay?”
“Yeah, he’s doing well, but that’s not what I need.”
Jacob groaned into the receiver. “I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.”
“Come on, Jacob. I just need someone with a cruiser to help me bring a person in.”
“Is there a bridge involved? I’m still a little traumatized.”
“Quit messing around.” Ellie mentally scrolled through her other possibilities but knew that no one but Jacob would agree. “Can you pick me up or not?”
“Sure. Where are you?”
“At the side door. Are you close?”
“Right around the corner. Be there in a minute.”
She hung up the phone, and a moment later, his cruiser braked to a stop in front of her. “I see Duke is resting,” she said as she got in and looked in the back. “Hard morning chasing criminals, huh, Duke?”
Duke sat up and barked, startling her and making her wonder if the cute puppy persona was all to lull a person into thinking he was just that, a cute puppy.
“I didn’t think about what we’re going to do with Duke when we pick the offender up.”
“You can drive, and I’ll sit in the back with the perp.” He looked over at her with a wide grin, showing off his pearly white teeth. “You’re sitting in my partner’s seat.”
Ellie couldn’t help but stick her nose in the air at his suggestion that she’d been replaced by a dog. “Fine, that’ll work.” She rattled off the address, and Jacob started to log it in.
“What are we pick
ing him up for?”
“G. S. one of five dash one thirteen.”
He looked at her, tilting his head. “What is that? Jaywalking in a school zone?”
“Excise tax on a controlled substance.” She didn’t mention that the charge was two years old.
Jacob did a double take at her. “Seriously? They tax that?”
“Yep.”
“Well, I’ll be.” Jacob hit the highway without logging their reason in. “Let’s pick up our guy and ask him why he’s behind on his drug dealer tax.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “And I thought jumping off a bridge was bad.”
“If you’re scared…” Ellie gave him a challenging look.
“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to see this guy’s face when you tell him why you’re bringing him in.”
“You think he’ll come quietly?”
Jacob’s grin spread wider. “I hope not. Duke hasn’t gotten to chase anyone all week.”
27
“The house looks deserted,” Jacob said from the walkway, surveying the tiny weedy yard and rusted chain-link.
Duke stood beside him, eyes intent on the door, his flanks quivering.
“It looked like this Monday too.” Ellie picked her way up the rickety steps and knocked on the door. When there was no answer after a second knock. She tilted her face close to the wood, careful not to touch the peeling paint, and called out Steve’s name, listening for a response. “Can Duke walk around the building or something?”
“And do what, exactly?” Jacob said from the walkway.
“I don’t know. Alert for drugs?”
“He’s not a drug dog.”
Ellie frowned, eyeing the dog, wondering if he had to pee. He certainly looked like he was about to pop a screw loose or something. “Then what does he do?”
“He chases bad guys and holds on to them until I get there.”
Ellie’s eyebrows went up, and she rolled her eyes. “So he’s the dog version of me. I guess when you start getting older, you need a partner who can do the hard work for you. At least your dog has never dragged you off a bridge after a suspect.”
“You’ve never dragged me anywhere.” Jacob puffed out his chest, his forehead wrinkling into a frown.
“It’s only Wednesday.”
“Very funny.” He cracked a grin. “As much as I’d like to give you probable cause to gain entry into the house, Duke doesn’t do any of that. I guess you’ll have to come back another—” He put his hands on his gun belt as she dragged an old, half rotted chair across the porch. “Ellie, what on earth are you doing?”
Ellie climbed up on the chair, standing on her tiptoes and feeling along the frame of the door. Her hand touched something wet, and her stomach turned, but then her fingertip hit cold metal. She managed to pluck the key from the carnage of an old bird’s nest and presented it to Jacob with a brilliant smile. “Why do they think no one will look there?”
Jacob gave her a disbelieving look. “You can’t just unlock his door, Ellie.”
“I’m just going to make sure he’s okay. Think of it as a welfare check. When we came by Monday, he was acting like he felt ill.”
“He’s probably a junky you woke up before he could get his morning fix.” Jacob glared at her. “I’m not going to watch you do this.”
“Then turn around.”
He threw his hands up in exasperation. “You know nothing you find will be admissible in court, right?”
“I’ve already been in his house. There’s nothing in plain sight that’s helpful. And he didn’t live here when the women went missing.” She cupped her hand to her ear and leaned toward the door. “Did you hear that?” she asked in an exaggerated whisper.
“This is about the two cold cases? Ellie,” Jacob warned, “do you have any idea—”
Duke let out a growl, his powerful haunches tensing.
“I heard something,” she lied, ignoring Jacob’s narrowed eyes, “and so did Duke. It sounds like someone moaning.” Sliding the key into the lock, she turned the doorknob and opened the door a fraction. “Mr. Garret!” she called out. “Are you in need of assistance?”
Jacob grumbled to himself, but he made no move to stop her. She stayed on the threshold, pushing the door inward. It creaked and shuddered, shedding paint chips on the floor as it swung open. Her eyes widened, and she turned and motioned to Jacob.
“No way.” He shook his head, feet planted on the cracked concrete walk.
“I think you need to see this.”
Throwing up his hands again, he commanded Duke to stay where he was and climbed the stairs. “Whoa,” he said when he was beside Ellie, surveying the inside that was now in worse condition than it had been. “Did it look like that on Monday?”
“No. And unless he was wrestling his own demons, someone was here.” The beanbag chairs that had been arranged in the living room were scattered. A lamp was overturned, papers lying everywhere.
“You know, you have probable cause now to at least check the rooms to make sure he’s not lying dead somewhere in the house.”
Ellie’s heartbeat started racing. “Can you call it in?”
“Call what in?”
“I’m not going to risk compromising the crime scene. It may be the only link we have.”
Jacob frowned down at her. “Crime scene linked to what? The two women?”
“Steve’s accomplice. I don’t have a name or a description.”
Jacob looked doubtfully back at the ransacked room. “I don’t think he’s in there.”
“I know that.” Ellie huffed and took another look around, pointing up at the ceiling. “But look. Have you ever heard of that brand of smoke detector?”
“So it’s an off-brand. So what?”
“Steve worked in tech before he quit to work for Katarina.”
Jacob popped his neck, a sure sign he was losing his patience. “Who is Katarina?”
“Long story. Anyway, don’t you think he has a few too many alarms for a two-bedroom shack?” She pointed at another on the living room ceiling.
“He lives in this shithole. Maybe he’s worried about fires.”
“What about the fabric plant and the clock just sitting on the fireplace mantle? You don’t think it’s weird that the clock is pristine when the rest of the house looks like this?”
Jacob zeroed in on the fireplace and nodded. “Okay, I see it. They could be cameras.”
“Exactly.” She looked at him expectantly, then arched an eyebrow.
“Fine.” He tilted his head and spoke into the radio affixed to his shoulder, then he gave her an annoyed look. “There, you happy?”
“Not really.”
Jacob couldn’t keep his lips from turning up in a small smile. “Why am I not surprised?”
“My only link to this case might be gone. If he didn’t catch his partner on camera, then I’m stuck at square one.”
“He was probably just robbed.”
She glanced around the neighborhood. That was a distinct possibility, but something told her there was more to it. “I don’t think so. There’s more to this.”
“If you say so. This could have just been another junky looking for a fix.”
“Or it could be a lead that actually cracks the case.” She sighed and sagged against the doorframe. “I just want to give Mabel and Tabitha the justice they deserve.”
Jacob grabbed her shoulders and leaned forward so they were eye to eye. “Ellie. These families have been searching for their lost daughters for years. You gave them closure. Or at least they’ll have closure when the DNA tests confirm. If nothing else comes of this case, that’s not your fault. It was mishandled from the start. The fact that you were able to figure out who both Jane Does are is a damn miracle. Sometimes enough is good enough.”
Ellie pressed her lips together in a firm line. “Not for me.” Why was everyone always trying to keep her in a neat box, telling her that she’d done enough?
“You’ll drive yourself batty if you don
’t learn to take the losses and celebrate the wins.”
“Their deaths are loss enough. I’m not stopping until I find their killers. The cases wasting away in neat white boxes deserve justice like the rest of us. And with technology growing every year, a lot of those cases will be solved eventually.”
“Okay, but does it have to be you?” She knew he was only reminding her that she’d been walking a fine line for a while now.
“I’m the only detective who cares enough to keep fighting for them. Do you know the last time they had a detective dedicated to cold cases?”
“Yeah, whenever they had their last rookie detective.” Jacob’s brown eyes softened. “Ellie, they gave you cold cases to keep you out of trouble.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” she barked, stepping back until his hands dropped off her shoulders. “But that doesn’t change anything. Victims of crime deserve to rest in peace. Especially these two.”
“Why them? There are hundreds of unsolved cases that fade away and are forgotten. What’s so special about these women that you’re willing to risk everything to find the truth?”
I don’t know, she thought miserably but stood her ground.
“I don’t expect you to understand. You never saw things the way I do anyway.” He winced, and she immediately regretted snapping at him. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I just don’t want their suffering to be for nothing.”
“You’ve done more than anyone else has for their cases,” Jacob said softly. “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but there are two families that have been hurting who will get to bring their daughters home for a proper burial. You did that. You should be proud of that accomplishment, and you managed it with almost nothing to go off of. You did more with this case than anyone else. It’s enough, Ellie.”
“No, it’s not.” Brakes squeaked, drawing her attention to the street. “The cavalry is here. I can catch a ride back if you need to leave.”
“And miss all the excitement?” He smiled, his easy manner back just like that. “No way.”