by Laura Scott
“I’ll come with you.”
“I need to know you’re safe. And I won’t be long.” He didn’t add that it would be faster and easier for him to move through the woods without her. “I just need a few minutes.”
Dana reluctantly nodded. “All right, but please hurry.”
“If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, call Mike.” He punched his brother’s number into his disposable phone, then handed it to her.
She took the phone with a strained smile. “Be careful.”
“Always.” He stared down at her for a moment, fighting the urge to pull her close and kiss her senseless. Somehow he found the strength to turn away. Moving between the trees, he used the map in his head to guide him to a spot that would provide a view of the parking lot.
Five minutes later, he knelt next to the trunk of a large black walnut tree. His heart sank when he noticed the DNR officer dressed in the traditional uniform of a brown shirt and dark green slacks talking to Mike and Noah. The Department of Natural Resources had jurisdiction over state parkland, and he was pretty sure that included homicide investigations.
Getting law enforcement agencies to work together was always a challenge. Sure, logically it made sense that they should, but he knew that egos and hierarchies typically got in the way.
It occurred to Mitch that the killer had made a mistake, choosing this site to murder Janice. In the murderer’s effort to frame Mitch, he’d either forgotten or hadn’t realized the different jurisdictions involved. Actually, three so far...the Milwaukee PD for the warehouse, the Oakdale Police for Simon’s murder and now the DNR.
As a fire investigator, he crossed jurisdictions all the time. It was too expensive for each police municipality to have their own investigators, so between him and Jeff, they’d covered all of the districts in the greater Milwaukee area.
Jeff’s death had left him as the only investigator. Now that he was on the run and in hiding, the role would fall to his boss, Rick Nelson.
Had that been the plan all along? Mitch didn’t want to believe his boss was involved in this. But looking back over the past twenty-four to forty-eight hours, Rick seemed the most likely suspect. The initial call had come from Rick’s office. Rick had access to his work vehicle and knew about Mitch’s breakup with Janice. It wouldn’t be hard to figure out that Janice and Simon were dating.
But how did Jeff fit in? Were both Jeff and Rick involved in a payoff to declare fires as accidental? Had Jeff’s heart attack and unexpected death put a wrench in their scheme? If so, why hadn’t Rick just kept all of Jeff’s files, rather than handing them over to Mitch? Yes, it would have looked odd to Mitch for his boss to keep them, but it wouldn’t have been his place to argue, either.
He glanced at his watch, wincing when he realized he’d already used half his allotted time. Then he noticed the DNR officer was walking away from Mike and Noah. Mitch hesitated, wondering if the guy was calling for reinforcements, but the officer slid behind the wheel and drove away.
Relief washed over him. He stood and quickly made his way back to where Dana waited.
“You sound like an elephant thundering through here,” she whispered as he approached.
“I know, but the danger is over, at least for now. I’m not sure what Mike and Noah said to the DNR officer, but he left.”
“Good, because the mosquitos are eating me alive.” She slapped at one that landed on her arm.
He led the way through the woods back to the trail. From there, it was a short hike to meet up with Noah and Mike.
“What did he want?” Mitch asked.
Noah grimaced. “I was stupid and forgot to put the tag on my windshield.”
“Good thing you had it handy,” Mike said. “I was worried he’d ask for our names and occupations. That might have led to questions we wouldn’t have wanted to answer.”
“Would the DNR know about the BOLO issued for Mitch?” Dana asked. “I would think not.”
“Maybe, maybe not, but it was still a risk I wasn’t willing to take,” Mike said. “Let’s get out of here.”
Mitch was anxious to leave, too. He really wanted to get downtown to the Public Safety Administration office building.
“I’d like a blood sample first.” Noah opened the back door to his car and pulled out an evidence bag and a sterile cotton swab. “Shouldn’t take long.”
Noah jogged up the trail, disappearing from view. Mitch glanced at his brother. “We’ll meet up with you downtown.”
Mike didn’t look happy, but nodded. “Yeah, okay. But don’t touch anything until we get there, understand? And you need to make sure there isn’t anyone hanging around, watching the place, waiting for you to show up.”
“I understand.” He urged Dana toward Hawk’s SUV. “See you soon.”
The trip back to Milwaukee didn’t take long, although he had to stop for gas. The hour was well past lunchtime, but he wasn’t very hungry. Seeing the area where Janice had been brutally murdered had made him lose his appetite.
He took the 13th Street exit, then made his way toward the Public Safety Administration building. “Keep your eyes on the parking lot,” he advised. “The vehicles we use are white and are labeled Fire Investigation along the side.”
Dana stared intently out her window, which was good because he had to keep his eyes on the road.
“Notice anything unusual?” he asked after the first pass.
“No, and I couldn’t see any white cars with lettering along the sides, either.”
He turned left to go around the block. “I’m going to go past it again. This time look at the northeast corner of the lot. That’s where I left it.”
A few minutes later, he once again drove past the parking lot. He did his best to pick out the vehicle, but without success.
“It’s not there,” Dana said. “Is that good news or bad?”
“I have no clue.” He didn’t like it. There should be two cars, unless Rick Nelson was driving one. The other should have been where he left it.
“Pull over,” Dana said.
“Why?”
“It will be easier for me to walk through the lot rather than to keep driving past.”
“I’d rather not.” But the light turned red and when he stopped, Dana used that moment to slide out of the car.
“Wait,” he said, but she slammed the door shut and darted around the vehicle to the sidewalk. “Stubborn woman,” he muttered.
The light turned green, so he made another loop around the block. It seemed to take forever, partially because he hit every single red light, and when he made it to the front of the building again, he saw Dana waiting for him. He pulled over so she could get in, ignoring the irritated honking from the driver behind him.
“Not there,” Dana said as she clipped her seat belt together. “There was only one white car and it was a Mazda, no letters stenciled on the side.”
Mitch tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Where on earth could it be?” Then, suddenly, he knew. “My garage.”
Dana’s eyes widened. “Of course. That makes perfect sense. First they put the vehicle in your garage, then they hid the gun in your closet.”
He sighed. “It’s ridiculously obvious. Only an idiot would set himself up like that.”
“Maybe, but it’s also just a theory. Considering there are cops watching your place, we won’t be able to prove it.”
“Not right now, but we can always sneak in again later tonight.” He glanced at her. “We were successful the first time.”
“Are you serious? Don’t you remember how we were almost caught?”
“But we weren’t. Do you still have my phone?” She nodded. “Call Mike. Let him know the administrative building is a bust and that we’re going back to the motel.”
She pulled out the phone. “Maybe we should check Simon’s apartment comp
lex.”
“That’s brilliant.” And something he should have thought of, as well. “Tell Mike to meet us there.”
Dana made the call, using the speaker option so he could listen in. “We’re heading to Oakdale,” she said. “Neither one of the fire investigation vehicles is at the administrative building, so we’re checking the parking lot behind Simon’s apartment building. Mitch wants you to meet us there.”
“Will do. But stay out of sight until we know the coast is clear.”
She disconnected the call, glancing over at him. “Do you really think the vehicle will be there?”
“I don’t know, but it’s worth checking out. If it’s not there, then all the more reason to check out my place later tonight.”
“I don’t want you to go,” Dana murmured. “It’s too dangerous. Even if the car is there, what does that mean for us? Are you really going to call in an anonymous tip about Langston Peak and the vehicle parked in your garage? Why not just hand over the gun in the shoe box, too?”
He didn’t have a good response to that, so he remained silent.
They reached the Oakdale city limits fifteen minutes later, and instead of driving past Simon’s apartment complex, he pulled into the Gas ’N Go station. “Why don’t you stay here?”
She narrowed her gaze. “Yeah, right. That’s not an option. Are we going in through the field?”
He nodded. “Yes. Figured we can check out the cars easier on foot since all the parking lots are tucked behind the buildings.”
She held out his phone. “Are you going to call your brother?”
“Not yet, but hang on to it.” He pushed out of the car and headed toward the back of the building. They’d be out in the open while crossing the field, so he hesitated for a moment.
He swept his glance over the area. Nothing looked out of place. He wasn’t a cop like his brothers, but he still trusted his instincts. It was broad daylight late on a Friday afternoon, and he figured the worst-case scenario was that there might be a cop making rounds, watching the area.
“Ready?” Dana asked.
“Yes. We’re going to head for that blue truck parked at the end of the closest parking lot.”
“I see it.”
“Let’s go.” Mitch took the lead, crossing the field in a direct line toward the blue Chevy. They’d almost made it to the truck when he caught the glimpse of movement from the corner of his eye.
He looked to his right in time to see a man rise to his feet holding a strange-looking weapon.
A tranquilizer gun!
“Get down,” he shouted to Dana as he leaped in front of her. He heard a pop then felt something sharp pierce his shoulder.
He yanked out the dart as quickly as he could, but the drug must have gotten into his system, because he began to feel woozy. He fought off the wave of dizziness, continuing to move toward the parking lot and the shelter offered there.
Dana was talking on the phone while pushing at him from behind. Three yards, then two, then one. He did his best to keep her covered with his body, expecting a second dart to hit him at any moment.
The truck wavered in his line of vision. He reached the side, leaning heavily against it. “Stay out of sight until Mike can get here.”
“He’s close. We just have to hang on for a few more minutes.”
He tried to nod, then felt himself falling to his knees. What had been laced on the tip of the dart anyway?
“Hang on, Mitch. Do you hear me? Stay awake.”
But he couldn’t. His last conscious thought was that his bad decision made him fail in his promise to keep Dana safe.
TWELVE
“Come on, Mitch.” Dana crouched over Mitch’s heavy frame, where he was slumped against the side of the truck. She shook him, hoping he’d wake up. “You’re too heavy for me to lift. I need you to help me.”
But Mitch didn’t answer.
Her chest squeezed with alarm. He was out cold and she’d never felt so helpless. What kind of drug had been absorbed into Mitch’s bloodstream? What if it was poison? No, it had to be a sedative, right? Why would they risk poison showing up on a toxicology screen?
She hovered over Mitch’s slumped figure, keeping an eye on the reassuring rise and fall of his chest. She glanced at some movement off to her right, shocked to see Mike driving across the field like it was an all-terrain vehicle rather than a car. The way it bounced up and over the ruts and weeds made her fear he’d roll over.
Hurry, she thought. Then she sent up a quick prayer. Please, Lord, give Mike and Noah the strength they need to rescue us.
She placed a hand on Mitch’s chest to monitor his breathing while watching Mike approach. It was hard to tell where the guy with the dart gun was located, and she worried he might have a real gun, too.
Should she call 911? Or wait until they could get Mitch into Mike’s SUV? Her decision was made for her when Mike was close enough for her to see the concerned determination in his gaze.
Slipping her arm beneath Mitch’s armpit, she used all her strength in an attempt to get him off the ground. She didn’t get very far.
Noah lowered the passenger-side window. “Stay down. We’ll help get him into the car.”
She nodded in relief and bent her head to rest her cheek on Mitch’s head. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you to the hospital ASAP.”
Mitch didn’t move or acknowledge her in any way. Was his breathing getting slower? She pressed her fingertips against his carotid artery, relaxing a bit when she found his pulse.
Mike’s SUV stopped just a couple feet away. Noah shot out of the passenger door and dropped to his knees on Mitch’s other side. “Okay, we need to get him into the back seat as quickly as possible.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath, once again asking God to send her strength. “Let’s do it.”
With Noah supporting Mitch on the other side, she levered upright, staggering beneath his dead weight. Somehow, they half-dragged, half-carried Mitch to the SUV. Getting him inside wasn’t as simple as it sounded, but they managed. After what seemed like forever, Mitch was lying on his side, his upper torso and head along the seat, his legs awkwardly bent so that his feet were jammed on the floor.
Dana crawled in after him, kneeling on the floor behind Mike’s driver’s seat. There wasn’t much room, but at least she could monitor Mitch’s pulse and breathing from there.
“Go,” Noah shouted, slamming the door behind her. He leaped into the passenger seat as Mike hit the gas.
“We need to take him straight to Trinity Medical Center,” Dana said as they bumped up and into the parking lot onto pavement. “I have no idea what they drugged him with.”
“That might be the first place they look for us,” Mike pointed out. “I know you work there, but maybe a different hospital would be a better choice.”
“I know the doctors at Trinity,” she protested. “And they’re well equipped to run various toxicology panels. I don’t know if I trust a smaller hospital to have the same resources.”
There was a long silence and she wished she could see their faces.
“Listen, we can drive in through the ambulance bay.” It wasn’t meant for general public access, but too bad, she didn’t care if she got in trouble for not following the rules. “That way the car will be out of view. And if the ER isn’t too busy and I can call in a few favors, I’m sure we can get Mitch an antidote and be out before they find us.”
“That’s a lot of ifs,” Mike said. “But okay, we’ll do it.”
“What about searching for Mitch’s work car?” Noah asked. “Maybe you should let me out so I can head back to find it.”
Mike snorted. “Yeah, right. As if I want to face Maddy’s wrath doing something like that. Did you get a good look at the guy with the dart gun?”
“No,” Noah admitted.
; “I didn’t, either,” Dana offered. “I saw Mitch flinch when the dart hit him, and he reacted quickly by yanking it out, but I wish I still had it. It would be easier to know how to treat him.”
“It’s probably a sedative of some sort,” Mike said.
Dana hoped he was right, but couldn’t get the idea of a possible poison out of her mind.
The drive to Trinity was quick, although it seemed endless. But when they were close, she told Mike how to find the ambulance bay. When he pulled in, no one came out to meet them, because they hadn’t called the paramedic base ahead of time.
Dana pushed out of the car and ran inside to get assistance. Thankfully one of her favorite ER docs, Dr. Ramsey, was nearby. “My friend was shot by a dart gun with an unknown substance. He’s unconscious. I need a gurney.”
“You came in through the ambulance bay?” Dr. Ramsey asked in surprise.
“Yes.” She wasn’t about to apologize for it, either. “Please hurry.”
There was a gurney off to the side of the hallway, so she pushed it into the ambo bay. Mike and Noah were already working on getting Mitch out of the back seat, literally holding him upright.
Within minutes, they were able to get Mitch on the gurney. Dr. Ramsey and one of Dana’s colleagues, Noelle Curtis, wheeled him back inside.
“Take him to trauma bay two and register him as a Male Doe,” Dr. Ramsey directed. Then he looked at Dana. “What happened to his neck?”
“He was attacked a few days ago. Dr. Crowley stitched him up, then I had to replace a few sutures because they broke open. He may need a dose of antibiotics.”
Dr. Ramsey sighed. “Okay, fine. You need to stay back, out of our way. You’re not on duty here, understand?”
“Of course.” Twisting her fingers together, she moved backward to the corner of the trauma bay, watching as the team began assessing and working on Mitch. Noelle hooked him up to a heart monitor and the steady beep of his heart helped keep her calm. Another nurse, Amy, drew several tubes of blood for the tox screen. All the while, Dr. Ramsey stood at the foot of the gurney, directing care. Once the nurses had completed a set of vital signs, he stepped forward and peered at Mitch’s eyes, shook his head at the sutures in his neck, then tried to shake him awake.