“I’d rather spend time at the office, catch up with my folks, and is it okay if I call Jay Yardly? I can do a little fact-finding about the area. By the way, you should know he’s my personal lawyer.”
AJ grabbed some fries before Grace got them all. “Will he help us?”
“He’s family and a great lawyer. He’ll help.”
“Check anything you think will be useful. Skip tomorrow’s formalities. You’ve already been through it.” AJ stared out into the room. “You were right, Tag. Why was that information on Weeks’s computer, not from the local police, and where is the video of the kids by the river that he said he gave to them? Chief, did the—”
The chief’s phone beeped and he held up a finger, asking her to wait.
“I’m starving,” Bonnie said as she sat at the table.
AJ made room for her. Bonnie was Katie’s best friend since high school. They’d worked together at Katie’s father’s security business while they finished college.
Staring at her empty glass, AJ remembered last March. She and Bonnie had been injured when the Michael’s Angels assignment went bad. Bonnie was a good person to have beside you in dangerous situations, as was Grace. She flicked a glance at Tag. Who knew until you were there, the moments that made your heart stop.
“Damned Jock. What an ass,” Bonnie said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
The chief put his phone away. “What’d he do this time?”
“Walked in all the wrong places, shot his mouth off, and irritated the entire arson squad.” Bonnie munched on the fries. “Arson is like our CSIs, looking for clues. Jock threw things all over the place, moving the crime scene around. The man I know said he was sure it’s arson, but they need lab work to prove it.”
“No more bodies, I hope,” AJ said.
“Not yet, but it really did go to the ground, so it’s possible. It’ll take them a while to get it cleared. They wouldn’t tell us anything because Jock got in the way, demanding this and that. Charles should hear this from us.”
“He will,” AJ said. “After you eat, stop at the office and I’ll get you prepped for the swearing-in tomorrow. Then you can go home, clean up, and get a good night’s rest.”
“AJ, they just sent me the security video from your doctor’s office. Let’s go look at it.” Bill stood and tossed some money on the table for a tip.
“Girls, finish your food. Come over when you’re done.”
* * *
The chief put the surveillance video on the big plasma screen in his office but didn’t run it. Instead he put a hand on AJ’s shoulder.
“I want a word. We can’t have you out there with people taking shots at you. You wouldn’t stand for it if it was someone in your group.”
“I’m staying alert—” she began, but he shook his head.
“This is twice. Start taking someone with you. You can use one of my cops.”
“Okay, I’ll think about it. Maybe Bonnie after she’s been sworn in tomorrow.” She took a shaky breath, and they both were quiet for a moment. “Let’s run the video.” At first glance, AJ thought it was a biker guy but then saw it was only a young man. The video was grainy and blurred. All they could see of the bike was the top of the handlebars.
“Stop the video,” she said. “That guy looks familiar.”
“I agree, but damned if I can pin it down.”
“Yeah.” AJ heard the girls’ voices. “Grace, come in here. Actually, all of you. Does this guy look familiar?”
“Maybe, but I don’t know why.” Grace moved closer. “Bad video.”
“Ballistics says it’s the same gun and forty caliber,” the chief said.
“And he was a terrible shot or I wouldn’t be here,” AJ said. “Plus, where was the shooter? I didn’t see anything in that parking lot.” AJ shoved herself up from the chair, and pain ran up her arm. It was time for ibuprofen.
“Let’s go, Bonnie. We’ll review the ceremony for tomorrow. You two,” she said to Tag and Grace, “give the chief a hand on the computers from that house we took down. The new Milwaukee task force is going to take the lead tomorrow or the next day, but he has to get them started.” She started for the door but turned back. “All of you should know that I’m going to contact the FBI-DHS group and bring Peter Adams in as well. We need to integrate information, and I don’t want to involve Lawrence Kelly.” She and the chief shared a look.
AJ’s office still smelled like burned wood from Bonnie’s clothes, so she opened a window. She checked Greg’s and Jeff’s vehicles parked at the back while they were up north. Two men in T-shirts, jeans, and baseball caps walked across the parking lot toward the back entrance below her and she spotted a Confederate flag tattooed on the forearm of one of them. She stepped back so as not to be seen. A Confederate flag?
She checked her email for Tag’s psych eval, but found nothing except an addendum to the ME’s autopsy on the young victim, Kevin Owens. His skin had been yellow because he’d died from an untreated liver infection. The lack of treatment had just hurried the process along. She sent an email to the chief to see if the older brother, John, had commented on this.
AJ looked at the task force file. When she’d returned from vacation and discovered her bureau chief had initiated a task force, she’d called Lawrence Kelly immediately. He’d explained it was a continuation of Michael’s Angels because the information had come from Frog, but she’d felt it was a pissing contest between the FBI-DHS and the ATF.
Pete Adams at Justice confirmed the task force and seemed to think they’d be in Niagara up by the Michigan border, close to Crooked Lake where she and Katie had stayed. He proposed hiding her group in his uncle’s delivery service up there, the area where he’d grown up. Also, he mentioned that the DHS had come in with the FBI because Canada had contacted them. They’d seen activity at the border north of Wisconsin and Michigan.
AJ went over that in her mind. Now that she knew Lawrence Kelly and Clint Weeks were friends, she understood why she had another task force on her hands and that Clint Weeks was trying to keep this out of the public eye. Well, that and Frog’s money from the “cops”…or whatever they were. “Just plain politics,” she muttered under her breath.
Her phone rang with a text from Katie and she smiled. Dinner tonight at Jimmy’s downtown Asian restaurant felt perfect for a little downtime with her favorite person. She sent a confirming text to Katie just as she heard footsteps running in the hallway and people yelling about a fire.
“I don’t believe this,” Grace said as AJ stood beside her in the parking lot. Tag and two cops were working on Greg’s and Jeff’s SUVs with fire extinguishers. Sirens sounded in the distance.
“There were two guys walking toward the back door when I opened the windows. Get the surveillance, Grace. I’ll call the dealership. They have three of our vehicles in storage.”
Back in her office, AJ called for new vehicles and waded through the replacement form on her computer to justify everything. When she finished, she got up for the ibuprofen she’d forgotten.
“Crap,” she said, holding the water. She had to call Charles about the meth lab in Niagara and Jock’s behavior. Charles answered immediately. After, she stood and watched the tow trucks in the parking lot for a moment, then slid down the wall and sat on the floor.
“You okay?” Tag said from the doorway. She held out a plastic bag and folded down to the floor beside her.
“Just stretching my leg. We’ve never had anything like this fire.”
Tag held up the bag and AJ frowned. It looked like a dead snake.
“Check this out. It’s a C-Strip, burn wires wrapped in a kind of cloth, and the only place I’ve seen it is Afghanistan. You push it down into tire treads, light the end for a slow burn, and in about fifteen minutes, the vehicle is engulfed in fire from the bottom up. Everyone uses them over there. Our side, their side, and the fire department said the same. I’m thinking whoever did this is ex-military. I found two of them in the rear tires of one o
f the SUVs and gave one to the fire department.”
AJ examined the strip. “Could you use this on a house?”
“Never saw it used that way, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work. Huh. You’re thinking about that house that just burned, right?” Tag said, changing positions to sit cross-legged. “What are the chances these fires and your shootings are connected?”
AJ shrugged. “Who knows, but it feels a lot like a warning, doesn’t it? Call Bonnie and have her contact her person at Arson about those things you found.”
“Watch your six, AJ. Seriously,” Tag said as Grace walked into the office.
“We’ve got the surveillance video. Why are you two on the floor?”
“Looking at something Tag found.” AJ pointed at the bag. “She’s going to call Bonnie, have her update Milwaukee Arson, and then let’s work together on the computers from the house we took down.” She shoved herself up from the floor. “Tag, I just had a thought. Work on the history of the house itself. When it was built and who built it. I see John Owens’s grandfather owned it, but it doesn’t look like the task force searched any further. If they did, it’s not on the information link we’re all using.”
Grace and AJ watched the surveillance video in the chief’s office but couldn’t get a look at the faces, just approximate heights and body shapes.
“Hard way to learn that we need better cameras.” The chief slapped his desk. “Look, only two angles and none of their faces.”
Tag stepped into the office. “You have to see what I found. That house, the Owens house, has quite a history. John Owens’s grandfather bought it after he came back from Vietnam and started the motorcycle business. Your local police pulled him in multiple times for suspected prostitution, gambling, and money laundering, but it appears nothing stuck. Looks like he retired, moved, and deeded everything to John, the grandson. John’s father runs the La Crosse business. I sent it to you, Chief.”
The chief brought it up on his computer and they all read over his shoulder.
“Is it possible—” Grace began.
“They’ve been in business a long time.” The chief finished for her.
“Tag, good job. Send this to all of us. I’ll take the grandfather and family,” AJ said, starting to the door. “Grace, search the La Crosse Police and the business there, and, Tag, do the land and licenses, and all of that in both cities.”
Hours later, AJ rubbed her eyes. The Owens grandfather had “retired” years ago, moved to La Crosse, and turned this house over to John Owens. She counted eleven attempts to arrest the older man, but nothing had stuck. She wondered what Grace would find in La Crosse and how his new business was doing.
Her phone rang and a cranky tech informed her that her shot-up personal car was ready at the crime lab. They needed the room and wanted her to pick it up today.
“Sure,” she mumbled and hung up before he could go on. She stood and stretched, every muscle complaining. Even her leg was sore, and then she noticed the time.
“Oh hell.” She had dinner plans with Katie and needed a ride with Tag and Grace.
Chapter Eight
AJ drove her personal car home from the crime lab with Grace and Tag following so they could drop her off at Jimmy’s restaurant. There was more to be found on the Owens family, but what they’d seen had made their eyes pop, and they’d talked about it all the way down the road. They might have found a break for the task force on the X-Girl investigation.
AJ stood off to the side, searching the waiting restaurant crowd for Katie. She had a pretty good idea why they were having this dinner. The week had been crazy, almost as bad as when they’d met six months ago. She’d long ago stopped sleeping with a gun under her pillow, but the shootings had triggered nightmares and probably woken Katie.
Thank God Katie would be focused on her job at the bank, but the thought of her in their empty house was creepy, and—her breath hitched. The crowd parted and she saw her. Katie’s daring wine-colored dress made her mouth go dry. She slid through the crowd until she was behind her and placed her hands on Katie’s bare shoulders.
“Hi, love.”
Katie put her hand over her heart but looked up with a smile. “I didn’t see you.”
AJ moved her chair close. “Can’t keep my hands off you. Nice dress. Is it new?”
“For you.”
“I like it a lot, and thanks for this. Have you ordered?”
“Just the tea. I waited for you to make a decision about the wine.”
“I’m done for the day.” AJ picked up the wine list. “The usual?”
“That’d be fine. How’s the arm?”
“I took ibuprofen a few hours ago.” AJ caressed her with another glance, heart speeding up. “Is tonight something special?”
“I only wanted to share a meal and celebrate the best summer of my life.” Katie linked their fingers. “Our first summer.”
“Thanks, but I know I haven’t made it very easy.” AJ fiddled with a spoon, touched by Katie’s words. “Sorry I’m late. I had to drive my personal car home from the police lab. Grace and Tag gave me a ride here.”
“Do I smell smoke?” Katie wrinkled her nose.
“Someone burned up two SUVs at the station today.”
“Are you kidding me? Do you know—”
“We caught them on surveillance video but haven’t identified them.” AJ scooted closer. “You are so beautiful. You make my heart…eager.” It always shocked her how much she loved her.
Katie gave her a warm look through her long lashes. “How did this morning go with the outfits and makeup?”
“Clumsy. I almost lost that first wig.” AJ shook her head. “You’d have laughed.”
“How did Bren Black take the whole thing?”
“Tag? She was stunned when I flew into that room. The chief and Grace tried not to laugh out loud.” They both grinned as the waiter came to take their order.
For dessert, they shared fried apples in sweet sauce, and Katie mentioned Charles had called. “He wanted to know how you were, how we were, and if you saw the doctor like you were supposed to. He mentioned the shootings too.”
“I talked to him today about the new assignment up north. He didn’t say any of that to me. It was all business.” AJ took another bite of the dessert and scanned the room. “Maybe he’s worried about the shootings. The chief wants me to start taking someone with me so I’m not riding alone. I think I’ll take Bonnie.”
“He’s right and you’ve been having nightmares again.” She leveled a hard, straight look at AJ with a deep breath. “Remember the day you threw your boot in the garage and I was in the shower? I rushed to the door in a towel because I thought it was a gunshot.”
“What? God, I never even thought—”
“Whatever this is, it’s picking up speed and you know it.”
“Okay, that cuts it. Unless we catch this person or persons before we go up north, Bonnie will stay at our house while I’m gone.” One look at Katie’s face and AJ knew she’d said the wrong thing.
“No. And don’t give me an order. I won’t even be home except to sleep.”
They stared at each other.
“Katie, don’t do this to me because I’ll—”
“You’ll what? It’s not always about you.”
AJ took a deep breath, placed her fork deliberately on the plate, and stood. “I should have waited to bring that up.” She picked up the bill and left to pay.
“Wait,” Katie said.
AJ heard her but kept walking, determined to discuss this in a less public place. After she paid, she saw Katie leaving through the side entry for her car and scanned the parking lot through the glass doors. Two men in baseball caps, white T-shirts, and jeans leaned against a pickup and turned to look at Katie, saying something to each other. A warning brushed through AJ, and she moved toward the exit.
A twentysomething guy with a square jaw and shaggy blond hair held the door open. He looked surprised to see her, but he wa
lked away as Katie drove up and stopped. She was watching him too.
“Do you know that blond kid?” Katie said when AJ got into the car.
“Go around. Let’s look at him. I thought he looked high…or maybe drunk.”
Katie took the circular drive behind the restaurant and pointed at the kid about to get on a motorcycle. “Does he look familiar?” she said.
“Yeah, there’s something familiar about him, but look at that gorgeous, customized Harley.”
“He handed one of his takeout bags to the two men with the pickup parked next to his bike before they left,” Katie said and drove onto the busy city street.
AJ heard the motorcycle right behind them, and a sudden noise like fingernails on a blackboard. He gunned the bike, flipping them off as he passed.
“Damn,” Katie yelled. “He just keyed my car.”
“Katie, no,” AJ said. She was thrown against the door as the SUV shot forward, but Katie was focused on the bike. A city cop cut the motorcycle off with full sirens and lights. She screeched to a stop.
“Ha,” she said triumphantly, unsnapping her seat belt.
AJ leaned across her and held the door closed. “Uh-huh. Nice job, Speed Racer, but stay right here.” She was out of the car before Katie could argue. Apparently, the police had seen it all, and they were gathered in a little knot around the bike. The blond kid argued, pushed one of the cops, and there was a quick scuffle. He ended up in the back of the squad car. A cop and AJ walked back to look at Katie’s damage.
“I’m driving the bike to the cop shop. Follow us and fill out a report there.” AJ kept her voice firm, holding Katie’s gaze through the open window.
“I know how it’s done,” Katie snapped, starting the engine.
* * *
They didn’t talk all the way home from the police station. AJ wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and felt her headache trying to return. God. Katie could have been hurt. If the cops hadn’t been there she would have confronted that little smart-ass without a second thought. As they turned into their driveway, AJ started to ask if she had the papers on the biker guy but saw tears glittering in Katie’s eyes and swallowed her words.
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