by J. C. Fields
JR nodded as the conversation lagged. The comfortable silence of two old friends deep in thought ensued. Five minutes later, JR asked, “What’s it like being a father?”
Kruger took a quick glance at his friend.
JR kept his gaze forward watching the road. “I’ve been trying to imagine being a dad, but so far I can’t.”
“It can be scary. Your concerns turn away from yourself and concentrate on your child. Even when they grow up and leave the house, you worry about them. But being a father has more wonderful moments than scary ones. Watching them grow, their first words, accomplishing new things, laughing, becoming a person you enjoy being around, your first deep conversation, the list goes on.”
“I hope I can be a good father. I never really knew my parents. They died when I was six in a car wreck.”
“You’ve never talked about them.”
“Don’t remember much. I don’t even have a picture of them.”
“Did you live with your grandparents?”
JR shook his head. “No, both pairs died before I was born. I was placed with foster parents. They adopted me within a year. I was lucky; they were good people.” He paused briefly, a catch in his voice. “They died while I was in the service. I still miss them.”
“How old were you when you joined the army?”
“On my eighteenth birthday. It was the only way I could afford college.”
“Was that when you crossed paths with Joseph?”
“Yeah, I don’t remember him, but he followed my career. Particularly the marksmanship awards I won.”
“I remember him telling me about those. Long and short guns.”
“Yeah, my dad taught me how to shoot.” JR’s eyes stared ahead. “A .22 long rifle and squirrels. We lived on ten acres of walnut and oak trees, far more squirrels than trees. During the fall my father and I gathered up walnuts and took them to a local huller. He let me keep the money.” A smile came to his lips as he reminisced. “I haven’t thought about that for a long time.”
A long silence occurred. “You never mentioned where you went to college.”
JR glanced over at his friend. “I didn’t?”
Kruger shook his head.
“MIT, graduated summa cum laude. Lot of good it did me.”
“MIT, really?”
“Yeah, that’s where I met Stephen Blair. He was smarter, but I did better in classes neither one of us liked.”
“Huh…”
The silence returned for ten more miles. Smiling, Kruger interrupted the quiet. “What do you want, boy or girl?”
“I think Mia would like a girl, but she’s like me; she just wants the child to be healthy.”
“That’s every parent’s wish.”
“I’ve never been good at sports. Not sure I know how to be a father.”
“None of us do until it happens. Some do it better than others. You’ll do fine.” Kruger watched the road for a while as the mile markers passed by. Finally, he turned to his friend. “Go by how your foster dad acted. He sounds like a good role model.”
JR nodded, “He was.”
“Thanks, JR. I needed something else to think about.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Another long silence transpired before Kruger asked, “Do you still shoot? You never talk about it?”
JR nodded. “Yeah, Sandy’s been working with me. It’s like riding a bicycle. You don’t forget.”
Kruger chuckled, “I’ve heard that.”
Part Four
Two Months Later
Chapter 40
Springfield, MO
Kruger sat at his home office desk finalizing a report to Paul Stumpf. The room was isolated on the west end of their house away from the living area where Kristin played. A mature white oak tree dominated the front yard and provided shade for his window during the heat of summer. His desk chair faced away from the window, preventing distractions of the busy neighborhood from gaining his attention.
It had taken six weeks for Sandy Knoll and his team, utilizing local law enforcement agencies throughout the country, to wrap up their take-down of the individuals on the list provided by Randolph Bishop’s laptop. Only two were in the process of carrying out their part of the conspiracy, but were stopped prior to any actual attack occurring. His report summarized the operation.
Stephanie walked into the office, a big smile on her face. Kruger looked up and chuckled, “What?”
“Have you talked to JR in the past few days?”
“No, he’s been tied up with a client. Why?”
“Mia called. They know the sex of the baby.”
“Are you going to tell me or make me guess?”
“They’re having a boy.”
Kruger leaned back in his chair and nodded. “I think he secretly wanted a boy. He’s never said one way or the other, but from comments he’s made, you could tell.”
Stephanie bent down and stared out of the window behind her husband. Her smile disappeared. “Why are two Highway Patrol cars parked in front of our house?”
Kruger turned in his swivel chair and watched as Allen Boone stepped out of a dark gray Ford Explorer with the Missouri Highway Patrol emblem on the front door. Kruger shook his head. “Don’t know, but I assure you it’s not good news.”
As he spoke, two officers exited the vehicles and stood by the cars as Boone walked toward Kruger’s front door.
Kruger opened it just as Boone stepped onto the porch. “Allen, I hope this is a social call.”
“Wish it was. Can I come in?”
Kruger stood aside, and Boone entered.
***
One of Stephanie and Sean’s favorite spots in their house was a breakfast nook next to the kitchen. It allowed a panoramic view of their treed backyard and deck. When possible, it was the place where the busy husband and wife caught up on each other’s day. The small glass table with four chairs was perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch or early morning cup of coffee. Kruger and Boone sat across from each other with Stephanie between.
“When did he escape?” Kruger asked.
“Early this morning. I was conducting a budget meeting here at Troop D when I was told. Thought I’d better get over here to let you know.”
“What happened?”
“He was being transferred to St. Louis County Court in Clayton for arraignment on the four murders you investigated six years ago. We’re guessing, but we think a truck ran the Boone County sheriff’s car off the road. One of the deputies was found outside the car, and the other still in the driver’s seat. Both were killed with a shotgun.”
“Ah, boy.” Kruger took a deep breath. “Why do they think it was a truck?”
“There was a 911 call received a little after 5 a.m. about a large pick-up and a sheriff’s car stopped along I-70. The caller said it looked like an accident.”
“I take it the pick-up wasn’t there when first responders arrived.”
Boone nodded and hesitated for a second. “Uh… One more thing.”
Kruger frowned.
“A Ford F-250 was stolen from a lot in St. Louis yesterday. It was found forty miles south of I-70 on Highway 19, near Drake. Damage on the passenger side contained traces of paint the same color as the sheriff’s car transporting Bishop. Our lab is analyzing to see if it matches. A shotgun was found in the back floorboard. In addition, two bodies were found, a male in the truck and a woman on the side of the road. Neither had identification.”
“Tell me about the male.” Kruger turned to look out the window.
“Short black hair, mid-twenties, small frame, and of Asian descent.”
Kruger nodded. “The woman?”
“White, mid-to-late sixties, curly gray hair, overweight.”
Everyone at the table was silent. They could hear birds chirping in the back yard. After a minute, Kruger returned his attention to his visitor. “Concentrate on identifying the woman. Bishop’s got her car.”
Boone nodded. “I’ll see if we have an
y missing person’s reports from the area.” He stood and was about to walk out of the kitchen, but turned back to Kruger. “Something else.”
“Yes.”
“The weapon of the deputy killed outside the car is missing.”
Kruger’s expression did not change as he turned back toward the bay window. With a grim smile and a nod, Boone left the kitchen.
Stephanie reached for her husband’s hand. “Do what you have to do. Stop him, Sean. Just don’t lose your soul.”
Kruger turned to his wife but remained quiet. Finally, he closed his eyes and nodded.
Boone returned to the kitchen several minutes later. “They have a possible ID on the woman. Her name was Janet Pratt, sixty-seven, lived in Hermann, Missouri.”
Looking over his coffee cup at his friend, Kruger raised his eyebrows. “That was fast. How?”
“Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the woman’s daughter. She didn’t show up at her sister’s house, and her cell phone isn’t being answered. Description matches the female body found near the truck.”
“Do you have the cell phone number?”
Boone nodded and handed Kruger a slip of paper. “It’s there along with the make, model, and license plate of her car.”
Silence returned as Kruger stared at a bird hopping around on the deck hand rails while he absorbed the news. Stephanie turned her attention to Boone, her hands intertwined in front of her. “Do you think he’s headed here?”
“We have no proof, but, yes we do.”
Kruger’s gaze was still directed out the window. “If he follows his normal pattern, and I have no reason to believe he won’t, he’ll switch cars again.”
“I agree with you.” Boone paused, took a deep breath and continued, “You three need to take a vacation.”
Kruger took out his cell phone and pressed a speed dial icon. “Damn, I’m tired of reacting to this guy. It’s time to get aggressive.”
The call was answered on the third ring. Kruger said, “We have a situation.”
***
A white Ford Transit van arrived at the Kruger household thirty minutes later. It pulled into the driveway just as the garage door opened. Two men hustled out of the side door and went inside the Kruger home. Joseph stepped out of the passenger door and followed. The two Highway Patrol vehicles remained parked in front of the house with their drivers watching the street.
Joseph stepped aside as the two men returned, carrying several suitcases back to the van. Boone and Kruger stood in the breakfast nook when Joseph entered the kitchen. Turning his attention to Boone, he extended his hand. “Allen, good to see you again.”
Boone smiled grimly as they shook. “You too, Joseph.”
Kruger tilted his head slightly. “Is there anyone in this state you don’t know, Joseph?”
“If they’re in law enforcement, probably not. Sandy will be in town in an hour. Meanwhile we’re going to get Stephanie and Kristin to my property in Christian County. We’ll swing by JR’s and pick up Mia before we head that way.”
Kruger frowned, “Why Mia?”
“A precaution. You told us Brian and Michele are visiting her father in North Carolina, so we don’t have to worry about them.”
“Yeah, they left last Saturday.”
Joseph lost his smile. “Sean, I think you should come, too.”
“I will. I’m going to secure the house and head over to JR’s. I’ll finish my report to the director there.”
“Joseph, I’ll stay here with my guys until Sean leaves.” Boone gave his old friend a mischievous grin. “You can stop worrying.”
Clearing his throat Joseph muttered under his breath. “Someone has to worry about him.” He walked out of the kitchen into the garage and disappeared.
Kruger’s half-smile betrayed his true feelings. He walked back to his office and shut down his laptop. As he placed it in his back pack, Allen Boone appeared at the office door.
“I’ve seen that look before. What’re you thinking?”
Looking up, Kruger stopped packing. “Running and hiding isn’t going to end this. Bishop’s out there, probably watching the house right now.”
Boone stiffened.
“If he is out there, you wouldn’t recognize him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a psychopath with an uncanny ability for self-preservation. He’s also a chameleon who will blend into his surroundings. He blames me for forcing him to flee the country six years ago. The fact he killed four women doesn’t matter to him. Internally he justified the killing because it helped him gain the position of CEO at Harmon, Harmon, and Kinslow. He is psychologically incapable of feeling remorse. Nor does he feel guilt that his brother killed himself trying to take the blame for the murders. He just doesn’t have the ability to feel emotions like you and me.”
Boone listened, remaining quiet.
“Is he out there? Yes, he can’t help it; he’s driven. He will die trying to reap revenge on those who have crossed his path. I’m the one who started this, the root of all his problems. Pull the root out, and he believes his problems go away. This isn’t going to end until one of us is dead.” Taking a breath, he paused for a few moments. “I’d prefer it be him.”
“I’d prefer that as well, Sean. What’s next?”
Putting the remaining files he needed into his backpack, he looked at Boone again. “During my last interview with him I saw something in his eyes. It’s hard to describe, but it was almost like he knew this would be over soon.”
“Is he dumb enough to think he can get to you through all the security we’ll throw around you?”
“I don’t think dumb is the right description. More like his ego won’t let him believe otherwise.” Kruger paused for a second, trying to put his thoughts into words. “Allen, he doesn’t think like you and me. I made the mistake of not recognizing how strong his narcissism was six years ago. He thinks—no, that’s not right. He knows he’s smarter than the rest of us.” He stopped talking and lifted the backpack onto his shoulders. “Right now I need to get to JR’s and then I’m going to find this guy.”
***
“Janet Pratt’s cell phone was recognized by cell towers here, here, and here.” JR was pointing to a Google Map of Missouri displayed on a twenty-two inch flat-screen monitor.
Kruger noticed the locations were all on Route 42 heading west toward Osage Beach. “Has he made any calls?”
JR shook his head. “No, it’s almost like he didn’t know it was in the car.”
“What about now?”
“There aren’t any sign of it past Osage Beach. The phone is dark, so he must’ve found it and taken the battery out.”
Kruger stood and started to pace.
JR was sitting in his favorite cubicle on the second floor of his building watching his friend walk from the cubicle to a spot ten feet beyond and return. “Do you think he’s ditched the car?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“What now?”
Kruger stopped pacing and stared at the computer screen with the map. “He has no money and he’s probably still in his prison jumpsuit. Since one of the dead Boone County deputy’s service weapon wasn’t found, we will assume he has a gun. So he has two problems to solve. Money and clothes. Plus his other problem is the Highway Patrol concentrating their search for him in the counties around the lake.”
“That’s a big area, Sean.”
“I know.”
Silence prevailed as both men stared at the computer screen, deep in their own thoughts. JR broke the silence. “Another victim.”
“Yeah, another victim.”
JR frowned. “Lots of places to hide around the lake.”
Kruger nodded.
JR suddenly turned back to the computer and started typing. Kruger watched, as soon as JR stopped typing he frowned.
“What was that all about?”
“Looking for robberies between here and Jeff City.” He stared at the monitor, the
n back at the Google Map and pointed. “Bank of Mack’s Creek was robbed at two this afternoon by a man wearing a ski mask. He shot the surveillance cameras out before forcing everyone in the bank into a storage room. He cleaned out all the cashier drawers but left the bundles with the dye packs behind.”
“How much?”
“This report doesn’t say.”
“Lots of back roads in the area and few deputies. He wouldn’t have trouble eluding a search.”
“You think it was him?” JR looked at Kruger, who was staring at the computer monitor.
Kruger nodded. “I’d want to see the surveillance video of the robbery before I made a determination. But odds are, it was. I’ll call Allen and see if we can get a look at it. After all, I’m with the FBI, I’m entitled.”
***
Thirty minutes later, the video file arrived attached to an email from Boone. JR opened it, and they watched. The time stamp read 13:32 and the date. The customer count was low. Only three individuals entered the bank, completed their business, and left before a man wearing a ski mask entered at 13:57. He pointed a gun at an object out of visual range and fired. He then pointed the weapon at the camera making the recording. The image blacked out.
“JR, back it up to where he points the gun at the other camera.”
They watched again until Kruger held a finger up. “Stop.”
JR froze the image. Kruger got closer to the screen. “Blow up the image of the gun.”
JR did so. When the pixel count was compromised, JR reduced the image in size.
Kruger touched the screen where the shooter and gun were frozen. “Looks like a Glock. The deputies at the Boone County jail in Columbia had Glocks in their holsters. Back it up to the beginning. I think I saw something.”
During the next viewing, the second person entering the bank kept his head down as he went to a teller window. Kruger leaned closer to the screen. “Stop and enhance the man’s profile.”