Tahoe Dark (An Owen McKenna Mystery Thriller Book 14)

by Todd Borg

  “But you have no clues to Flynn’s whereabouts.”

  “No. So I’m examining all the extraneous stuff I haven’t been able to track down. Montrop’s gardener, Mr. Kang, who pretends he doesn’t speak English but is actually fluent. I’m looking for any possible reason that Jonas Montrop was tied up in a boat instead of being killed outright like everyone else. How the truck robbers got inside details about Reno Armored’s operation. Why there was a black Audi parked in Montrop’s driveway the morning he was killed. How come…”

  “Wait,” Diamond interrupted, “what about a black Audi?”

  “When Washoe County Sergeant Lanzen had two of her deputies canvas David Montrop’s neighborhood after he was killed, the neighbor across the road said that on the morning of Montrop’s murder, she saw a very dark car drive partway into his drive and then stop. She noticed because the tail end of the car was just visible when it stopped, and she thought it wasn’t up the drive enough that it could even be seen from Montrop’s house.”

  “And it was a black Audi?”

  “Maybe. The car was parked in the shade, so she thought it could have been black or midnight blue or midnight green. She didn’t say it was an Audi, but she said the logo reminded her of the Olympics.”

  “Interlocking rings,” Diamond said. “Not that there’s any connection, but we got a call this morning from a man who lives on the East Shore, across from Hidden Woods.”

  “South of Cave Rock,” I said.

  “Right. He said his neighbor is out of town in winter and won’t be back until July. But he thought he saw his neighbor’s car going down the drive at twilight. The reason it made an impression was that its lights were off and its brake lights never flashed. The guy said the car driver must have used the parking brake to stop. He called the phone number he had for the owner but didn’t get an answer.”

  “And the neighbor’s car is a black Audi?”

  “Sì. So the neighbor gave me the address and gate code, and I sent out two deputies, and they found a dark house. No answer at the door. At the top of the over-sized garage doors are horizontal rows of little square windows. So they backed up their patrol unit and used the bumper to boost themselves up. Inside was a black Audi and a red Lexus. There was also an alarm sign, so I called the company, and they had no intrusion code on their computer.”

  “Did their computer show if anyone had entered the property in the proper way using the key code?”

  “I asked that, and the guy launched into a sales pitch about new alarm systems and how he’d tried to convince the owner to upgrade. But the owner wouldn’t. So they don’t have data on when anyone enters the house as long as that person has the code.”

  “Who’s the homeowner?”

  “He said he couldn’t reveal that without a warrant. Of course, property ownership is a matter of public record, but I haven’t pursued that. I asked if he could forward a request to the owner to have him call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. He said he would. But we haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Maybe I should go out and have a look. Talk to the neighbor.”

  “You think you can find something my deputies can’t?”

  “I doubt it.”

  My phone rang. I held up my index finger to Diamond. “Hello” I answered.

  “This is Evan.” She sounded panicked. “I had to clear my head, so I went to the store. I just got back, and Mia’s gone! Something is very wrong!”

  FIFTY-SIX

  “Take a deep breath,” I said. “We’ll figure this out. What’s the norm when you go to the store?”

  “Sometimes I take her with me. But Mia was tired. She just wanted to sit and watch the Peter Pan DVD in my computer. When I got home, the DVD was still playing, but she’s gone!”

  “Was the door locked?”

  “I locked it when I left. But it was unlocked when I got home.” I heard Evan’s breath catch.

  I spoke slowly and softly, trying to sound calm. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. There could be an innocent answer. If she went out for a walk or something, where would she normally go?”

  “She wouldn’t. She never goes out alone at night. She’s even more afraid of the dark than I am.”

  “Did you check with Mattie?”

  “Yes. She hasn’t seen or heard anything.”

  “Has she given you a fright like this before?”

  “No! You’ve got to help me!” Evan said.

  Diamond had stopped petting Spot as he listened to my side of the conversation. His frown was intense.

  I asked, “Has she ever gone out during the day?”

  “I don’t remember. During the day. Let me think. Once, she saw a cat outside the window. She went out to try and find it. She said she thought it might have been a cat from Neverland.”

  “Did she get lost, or did she come back?”

  “She got lost, way down by the shore. It was terrifying.”

  “But she was okay,” I said, trying to reassure her.

  “Can you come here now and help me look? Please?!” Evan was pleading. “It’s so dark out!”

  “Okay,” I said. “It will take me most of an hour to get there.”

  “Hurry! I’m scared. I know something terrible has happened!”

  “Don’t go far, Evan. And remember that Mia has always been okay before. She’s probably okay now, too. See you soon,” I said, and hung up the phone.

  I stood up. Spot jumped to his feet. I gave Diamond the basics as I grabbed my jacket.

  “Do you suspect a crime?” Diamond asked.

  “There is no evidence for it,” I said. “Evan said that Mia’s gone missing before during the day and turned up okay.”

  “But…” Diamond said, prompting me as I opened the door of my cabin.

  “But Jonas Montrop was kidnapped, tied up, and left to die. And Mia isn’t that many steps removed from Jonas.”

  I pushed out the door. Spot ran ahead to the Jeep.

  “Let’s take the patrol unit,” Diamond said. “The light bar will get us there faster.”

  I ran to his patrol. I jerked open the rear door and let Spot inside, then climbed in the front passenger seat.

  Diamond started the engine, turned on the light bar. The forest flashed blue and red as he raced down the mountain.

  I got Street on my cell.

  “Sorry it’s so late,” I said. “But you said I should call you if something critical happens with Evan. It just happened. I’m in Diamond’s patrol unit, coming down the mountain.”

  “I’ll be ready,” Street said.

  “We’re stopping at Street’s?” Diamond said.

  “Yeah. She can help with Evan.”

  Diamond drove faster, hard on his acceleration, steering, brakes. Street opened her door and ran out as Diamond pulled up. She got in back with Spot.

  Diamond raced out onto the highway. I kept my hand on the door handle as he pulled G-forces on the curves.

  I explained to Street what had happened. She asked very few questions, no doubt thinking about Evan.

  Diamond maybe sensed me looking as we shot past the sign that said we were entering Carson City County rural area, the narrow strip of territory that extended from Carson City up to the lake.

  “Tahoe Vista is Placer County, out of your jurisdiction,” I said in answer to what I thought was his unspoken thought.

  “The Fresh Pursuit doctrine allows us to operate in other jurisdictions,” he said. “Law enforcement officers like to cooperate with each other.”

  “Even if there’s no pursuit?”

  “Maybe the bad guy got away from me.” I saw Diamond in the lights of the dashboard. His dark skin glistened. His intensity would frighten anyone who didn’t know the circumstances.

  We raced through Incline Village, around Crystal Bay, through Kings Beach, and over to Tahoe Vista. A few times, Diamond got on the radio, talking in low tones, probably explaining to other LEOs what he was doing in their territory.

  I p
ointed where to go, and Diamond braked to a fast stop in the narrow lot in front of the converted motel. The door opened in the end unit, and Evan peeked out. When she saw Spot jump out, she knew it was me.

  “Did you find Mia?” I asked.

  “No! I ran around the block calling her name! I ran down to the beach! She’s gone!”

  The woman shook with fear. “We’ll find her,” I said.

  I saw Evan looking at Diamond. “This is Sergeant Diamond Martinez of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.”

  Street had gotten out of the patrol vehicle. “And this is my girlfriend Street Casey. She came along to help. Can we go inside and talk?”

  Evan made a rushed, half-nod and ran in through her open door.

  We followed. Spot raised his head, nostrils flexing, maybe smelling hints of his friend Mia.

  “How does Mia contact you if she wants?” I asked.

  “She knows to call me. She has a phone just for that purpose, and I buy her those pants with the special phone pocket to keep it in. She’s good at taking it out of the drawer whenever she leaves and putting it in that pocket.” Evan pointed at a kitchen drawer. She walked over and pulled out the drawer as if to show us.

  Then she melted, sagging forward, leaning one of her arms on the counter to catch her weight.

  “She didn’t take it! Her phone is here!” Evan pulled a phone out of the drawer. “Something terrible has happened. I know it!”

  There was a chime. It took a moment for Evan to reach into her pocket and pull out her own phone. She glanced at it, tapped at the screen, dragged her finger. “It’s just an email. Mia doesn’t do email. She always calls.” Evan was about to put her phone back into her pocket, when she looked at it again. She dragged her finger on the screen, then frowned.

  “This is weird,” she said. “This is scary. I don’t know this email address. But the subject line says, ‘Tell Owen McKenna.’ Let me open it.”

  She tapped on the screen, then read aloud, “‘Evan, Since McKenna managed to convince the cops that you weren’t the murderer, he and you leave me no choice. Tell him you’re guilty and to bring you back into custody. This is your only chance to save what’s left of your world. If not, I won’t go so easy as you wanted me to with Jonas Montrop. We agreed that he was supposed to suffer, not escape. I won’t make the mistake of listening to you again.’”

  Evan frowned and stuttered, “It’s lies! All lies! I don’t know who’s sending this. I never knew Jonas Montrop was kidnapped. I didn’t…” She stopped in mid-sentence as she dragged her finger to scroll further down the email.

  Her sudden gasp was so gut-wrenching, it froze part of me, and I had trouble breathing. A guttural, moaning wail came from her mouth and rose to a full scream.

  She held her phone out like it was on fire. Her eyes were fixated on the screen with such horror that I couldn’t imagine what she was seeing.

  I reached out, took the phone from Evan, and turned it so that Street, Diamond, and I could all see. The screen showed a close-up picture of Mia’s face, a wide piece of duct tape over her mouth. The fear and terror in Mia’s red, weeping eyes was like a gut punch.

  FIFTY-SEVEN

  I handed the phone to Diamond. “Evan’s sister Mia,” I said.

  He took the phone. Anger shone in his dark eyes.

  Evan’s scream had died down to a terrified whimper. Her hands went to her mouth, and she sobbed and shook and gasped and choked.

  I reached out and took Evan’s hand. She was quivering as if being electrocuted.

  Street stepped forward and gently put her arm around Evan.

  “Come sit down,” she said in her calmest voice.

  She led Evan over to the couch, easing her down. I sat next to her, still holding her hand, trying desperately to think of a plan as I grappled with the statements in the email, the accusations of Evan’s involvement in the murders and the reference to the kidnapping of Jonas Montrop. Maybe the statements were true. I couldn’t tell. Either way, Evan’s shock and distress were real.

  Diamond set Evan’s phone down on the kitchen counter where Evan couldn’t see it.

  Evan was gasping, her head and upper body jerking with each choking breath.

  “Breathe,” Street said. “Deep breaths. Again. Good.” Street rubbed Evan’s back.

  Evan didn’t move beyond her labored crying sobs and efforts to breathe.

  I said, “I have some questions, Evan. Would Mia have kept the door locked when she was here alone?”

  “Yes. We rehearsed it. The door stays locked unless it’s me or a friend that she knows.”

  “What friends are in that category?”

  “The night swimmers. Nan and Gabby. Mia’s met them several times. She would probably open the door to them. Maybe there’s others, but I can’t think of any right now. I don’t really have friends other than my swim group.”

  “What about Mia’s friends?”

  “Her only friends are imaginary. Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy.”

  “If someone knocked and said their name was Nan or someone else Mia knows, she would probably open the door, right?”

  Evan frowned, wiped tears off her face. “I don’t know. I never thought of that. Maybe. Oh, God, I’ve screwed up so bad.”

  “The person who murdered David Montrop was probably connected to the kidnapping of his son Jonas Montrop. Evan, you and Mia were both regularly at Montrop’s house. Can you think of anyone you saw there who knew about Mia, anyone who paid her any attention?”

  Evan tried to inhale, her breath catching. “No. Just Montrop. And his gardener, Kang. But they paid Mia no attention. I parked her in front of the TV, and they went about their business without regard to either of us.”

  “Kang didn’t pay her attention?”

  “No.”

  “If Kang had come to your door, here, would Mia have opened it to him?”

  Evan looked into space, her eyes looking horrified. “I once found him sitting on the couch with her in front of Montrop’s TV. He was speaking softly and pointing at the TV, and she was giggling. I don’t know what he said. But it made me realize that he knows English much better than he reveals to the rest of us. So yes, she probably would open the door to him.”

  “You don’t know what he said to her?”

  Evan shook her head.

  “Did you ask her?”

  “Mia doesn’t track like that. If you ask her about something that happened, she won’t remember. If you show her a face, she can tell you if she’s seen that person or not. But she won’t be able to tell you where or when.”

  Looking at me, Diamond said, “You mentioned the black Audi at Montrop’s the day he was killed. I told you about the call we got. A vacation homeowner’s black Audi seen coming and going when the owner is nowhere around.”

  “That could be it. Montrop’s son Jonas said that Montrop looked after three houses that belonged to bands he represented. One each on the West Shore, South Shore, and East Shore. Kang probably knew about them. Maybe knew where they were. It wouldn’t be impossible for him to get the alarm codes.”

  I turned to Evan. “It’s a long shot. But it’s possible that someone has been using these bands’ vacation houses and their vehicles, both boats and cars. If that person has taken Mia, it’s possible he has her at one of those locations. Does that possibility fit with what you know of Kang? And if Montrop had written down the alarm codes to the vacation houses, would it have been possible for Kang to find them?”

  Evan was shaking her head, not in denial, but in confusion. “I don’t know. He was the gardener, mostly outside. But sometimes he’d come inside to ask a question. I once found him in Montrop’s bedroom. When he saw me, he said Montrop’s name as a question, as if he was looking for him. So I guess anything is possible.”

  I turned to Diamond. “You want to go to the house with the black Audi and look for Mia?”

  Diamond nodded. “It’s a long shot.”

  “Evan,” I said. “Can
you think of anywhere that would be a more likely place for someone to take Mia?”

  “No.”

  “Then let’s go,” I said.

  FIFTY-EIGHT

  Evan and Street squeezed into the back seat with Spot. Diamond turned the light bar on and raced back around the lake the way we’d come.

  A mile south of Cave Rock, Diamond slowed, shut off the light bar, then pulled off the highway on a no-see-um drive that was shared by several houses. He drove a short distance toward the lake, came to a split and took the right fork, turning off his headlights so that he was driving by just his yellow parking lights. He came to a locked gate, turned the patrol unit off. We all jumped out.

  “You still carry that megaphone?” I asked.

  Diamond nodded, opened the rear hatch, pulled a small megaphone out of his supply box, and handed it to me.

  “Follow me,” Diamond said.

  He ran around the gate, which blocked the drive but had no attached fence. Diamond would have disappeared into the darkness were it not for the moon, which was still fairly high in the sky even though it had been a few hours since it had illuminated Bosworth’s hockey mask in the forest at my cabin.

  Street held Evan’s hand as we ran.

  I held Spot’s collar. Partly, to keep him from running ahead. Mostly, because, like all dogs, he reads the darkness with his nose and constantly makes mini-alerts if he senses a person or a dog or something more unusual in the dark. I’d learned his tells and his physical vocabulary. With my knuckles against his neck muscles, I could get a good idea if we were heading into dangerous territory.

  Fifty yards down, Diamond turned right and angled off through the woods.

  Diamond picked his way through the forest, heading north. There was just enough moonlight coming through the branches to give us a sense of where to go. The air was thick with the scents of pine needles and moist dirt and the herbal scents of nightshade plants. Every smell seemed to be made more pronounced by the dropping temperature, a crisp presence of cold that felt threatening. The cold flowed over us like an evil spirit, warning us away, letting us know that if things went wrong, they would do it with intensity and without forgiveness.