“Okay,” said Janelle, “But I’ll be needing your help in the stockroom as soon as you get back.”
“Done.” Trish said as she ran out the door.
******
During the drive to the shop, Trish looked over at David and asked, “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” she said as she kissed him on the cheek.
“You’re welcome, but it’s been my pleasure. But I do have one question.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.
“I get off at 6:00 p.m. I don’t have any plans or are you about to change that?” she asked.
“How about dinner and a late movie?” he asked as he stopped the car.
“Sounds like fun,” she said. He waited as she got out and went inside.
The mechanic handed Trish a new set of keys and told her where she could find her car. David waited until she left the lot before heading back to the precinct.
Trish went in and found Janelle in the stockroom. She picked up a box, cut the sealing tape and went to work. Together they had the shipment sorted in less than an hour.
“Now that’s what I call teamwork,” said Trish as she walked back into the shop.
******
David was following up on several new leads. There were stacks of files on his desk.
His phone rang. Picking it up he said, “Investigations, Detective Moore.”
“Hello, Detective Moore. This is James Evans calling from Cedar Bluff North Carolina. I’m letting you know that Travis Conrad has been released from the hospital. He’s been transferred to the county jail. He has already been booked and processed on our local charges,” the caller said.
“A hold has been placed for your agency. We’ll send you an administrative message through the criminal database when he has made bond. Once that paperwork is complete he can be transferred to you,” he continued.
“Thanks… I appreciate the heads up.” David said. Now we wait.
David was composing an email an hour later when his data terminal pinged. He stopped and checked the information coming in.
Travis Conrad had bonded out of jail. He was now ready for pick up.
David called the Fugitive Transport team with the US Marshal’s Office. He relayed the information he had just received. Transport back to Virginia was arranged .
Travis arrived in a wheelchair at the county jail in Charlottesburg a little over one week after his accident. The transfer of custody paperwork was completed and signed. He was turned over to the jail staff to be processed and booked on the new warrants.
The jail staff had placed him in an isolation cell due to his injury. Having been denied bail due to his charges. He sat in his 8 X 9 cell awaiting arraignment.
At his arraignment, Travis pled not guilty to all counts.
******
David’s testimony along with the evidence found at the crash site and lake were presented to the Grand Jury. They returned with a true bill of indictment. Travis Conrad was to stand trial for the kidnapping and murders of Peggy Callaway and Samantha Thompson and for the kidnapping of Patricia Langley.
******
It took the District Attorney’s office three weeks to completely present its case. Trish’s testimony was both emotional and compelling. The DNA and physical evidence were presented during the lengthy trial.
Travis’ public defender argued for a ‘not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect’ defense. The jury didn’t waiver.
It took them three days of deliberation to return with their verdict. Guilty on all counts.
They returned the sentence twenty years for each count of kidnapping.
For the murders, life without the possibility of parole for each count to be served consecutively.
Travis Conrad would never again be a free man.
******
David and Trish were sitting on his back deck sipping a glass of wine and watching the sunset.
She looked over at him and said, “You know…I’ve really grown to love it here.”
“I was hoping you would say that,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek, “I was thinking about asking you to stay… permanently,” he said. She lay her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh.
“I think I’d like that,” she said.
EPILOGUE
Eddie Tremaine owns 12 acres of land outside the Lynxboro, Virginia city limits.
Today he was letting his dog, Dodger, run and play in the open field. Dodger suddenly stopped and sniffed the air. His ears standing straight up. He ran ahead of Eddie and off into the brush.
By the time he caught up to the dog, he found him digging feverishly.
“Whatcha doin’ boy?” he asked. The dog stopped digging and looked up at Eddie, whining.
Stepping closer he grabbed the dog’s collar and pulled him away from the site. He was shocked by what he saw.
Dodger had uncovered the top of a human skull that was sticking out of the tattered remnants of a tarp.
He took his cellphone from his pocket and called 911.
******
The body of Jane Doe #1 still remains unidentified. She was interred in a small cemetery at the taxpayer’s expense.
No frills… just a small metal plaque with a number.
Dr. Westfall still maintains the file for her including the dental X-rays he made at her autopsy. He was hoping that one day he would be able to give her back her name.
Table of Contents
Prologue
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
EPILOGUE
Hidden Angels: Wildfire Lake Book One Page 14