by Sutter, C M
“Good, then we can let the family know if it’s confirmed,” Renz said.
I muttered under my breath. “If they even care.”
It was closing in on six o’clock, and my stomach rumbled. I was sure Renz had to be starving too. I stood and stretched. “We’re in for a long night of looking at video footage. How about I run to a fast-food joint and pick up something?”
“That sounds great. I don’t care where you go as long as I get a giant burger, a double order of fries, and a large coffee.”
“You got it. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes or so.”
As I crossed the lot to the Explorer, I remembered passing Tony’s Burger Shack yesterday on our way to the dump site. It was only a mile or so away and would do just fine. Going through the drive-through would save even more time.
I reached the restaurant at ten after six and saw a line of cars.
Damn it. Must be people picking up dinner after work. Looks like going inside will be faster after all.
I parked, grabbed my purse, and entered the building. As I waited in line, I stared at my options on the meal board mounted on the wall behind the counter.
Chapter 23
“It’s about time.” Robby turned the key in the ignition and pulled out behind the female agent who had just left the sheriff’s office. “Going somewhere alone, are ya? Ballsy move on your part, but I bet that big gun of yours goes everywhere with you. Now, let’s see where you’re headed.” Robby stayed a few car lengths behind the Explorer as the agent drove south. Several minutes later, he saw the right turn signal blink, and she pulled into a fast-food restaurant. “Ah… it’s suppertime for you and your sidekick. I’m sure I can use this to my advantage.” Robby pulled in and parked three vehicles from the SUV. The agent had already reached the restaurant’s door.
After climbing out of the truck, he scurried over to the Explorer and jammed his knife into the front passenger-side tire then casually walked into the restaurant. He scanned the two rows of people standing in line for counter orders but didn’t see her. He looked at the patrons seated, but she wasn’t among them.
Where the hell did you go? Oh, there you are. Had to pee, did ya?
He waited until she was in line then walked up behind her. Only inches from her head, he inhaled deeply. There was a definite flowery scent to her hair. He couldn’t wait to taste her too.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity when someone passed behind him, Robby deliberately bumped into the agent. She turned and frowned.
“Excuse me. I’m so sorry.” He pointed at a random person who had already passed. “That idiot wasn’t watching where he was going.”
She gave him a half smile. “It’s fine.”
He chuckled, and she looked back again. “Something wrong?”
“No, not at all. Just that you stand out like a sore thumb.”
She raised a brow. “I do? In what way?”
He wagged his finger at her clothing. “It’s damn near one hundred degrees outside, and you’re wearing pants and those short heels. Must be a professional of some sort, but your accent definitely isn’t from this neck of the woods. Some kind of traveling salesperson, are ya?”
“Something like that.”
He chuckled again. “Or not.”
She turned around a third time and looked irritated. “What does that mean?”
He pointed at her exposed sidearm. “You a bounty hunter?”
It was her turn to laugh. “Hardly, but I will say you’re observant.”
“Can’t help it. It isn’t often you see a lady wearing a gun, and most people in these parts are more likely to be rifle and shotgun users.”
She moved ahead in the row with only two people left in front of her. “Because they hunt wild pigs?”
He was impressed. The agent had done her homework. “Yep, but you can’t take that sport lightly. A group of crazed pigs can consume an entire human in under eight minutes.”
She wrinkled her face. “So I’ve heard, and that’s too disgusting to imagine.”
He needed to step up his game. “If you’re interested in those critters, I can be your hunting guide and show you where they live.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ve already learned what I need to about them from a couple of hunters a few miles south of here.”
Robby’s ears perked. “Ah, you must mean off Bayou Dularge Road.”
She pulled back. “That’s exactly where I mean. How would you—”
“Know that? I’m a hunter and know all the hunters in the area. Actually, most men in Louisiana are hunters except maybe the big-city boys.”
“Interesting. So do you know Mark LaFleur and Billy Bennett?”
He laughed. “Small world. Yeah, everyone knows them. Great hunters, those two. How would an out-of-towner like you know those boys?”
“I was introduced to them yesterday. Oh, looks like it’s my turn to order. Nice talking to you, um…?”
“Bob. The name is Bob. Just here getting dinner for the family.”
“Well, take care, Bob.”
“And you too—”
She smiled. “My name is Jade.”
He watched as she placed her order, waited, and then walked to the door with it. She looked back and waved. Robby nodded then ordered a cheeseburger and fries.
After he paid for his food, he stood by the window with his bag in hand and looked out. He saw her climb into the Explorer, the lights came on, and she backed up. He would give her a minute then walk out when she realized she was up shit creek. Seconds later, her brake lights flashed, and she climbed out. That was his cue to walk out of the restaurant. After exiting the building, Robby made a sharp right and walked toward his truck. When he heard his name called, he looked over his shoulder.
“Bob, can you help me?”
He turned around and headed her way. “What’s wrong?” He heard her cussing as he approached.
“Somebody slashed my tire. The same thing happened yesterday.”
“You sure? I mean, kids do stupid things like that all the time, but what are the odds of it happening to you twice?”
She scanned the parking lot. “I don’t know, but it’s obvious somebody doesn’t appreciate me being in Houma.”
He waved off the comment. “It’s probably just bored kids who are looking for a little excitement. Which tire?”
She rounded the vehicle and pointed at the front right tire. “Yesterday, it was the back one.”
Robby scratched his cheek. “Yep, that’s as flat as a griddlecake. Pull off to the side, and I’ll change it for you.”
She shook her head. “Yeah, that won’t work. We haven’t taken the other flat tire in to be repaired yet.”
“Looks like you’re in a pickle, then. You’ll have to get towed.”
“Damn it.”
He watched as she dug through her purse then opened the Explorer’s door and looked in.
“Well, I’m totally striking out. I left my damn phone in the office.”
“How far do you have to go?” He glanced at the position of the camera—there was only one at the drive-through window on that side of the building.
“Just a mile back into town.”
He held up his hand. “Let me call the missus and tell her I’ll be home in a jiffy. Gotta do my good deed for the day.”
“No, really, I can walk a mile. It isn’t a big deal.”
“But fries taste like crap when they’re cold.”
“Well, you do have a point. You sure you don’t mind? I’d really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mind one bit. Go ahead and lock up your vehicle.” He tipped his head to the left. “I’m right there in that blue pickup.”
“Okay, give me a second.”
In the truck, Robby made sure none of his victims’ IDs were left out. He glanced up as the agent locked her vehicle and crossed the lot to his truck. He reached across the seat and opened the door.
“This is really nice of you, Bob. Di
d you call your wife?”
“Sure did. She said she was proud of me for helping out a stranded lady.” Robby didn’t even own a phone, but the agent smiled, and that was all that mattered. He backed out of the spot and turned opposite the drive-through lane, not wanting the camera to catch his vehicle as he went by. He looked left and right at the exit. “Toward town, you said?”
“Yep. Actually, to the sheriff’s office.”
“Ah, so you’re a cop.”
“Yes. I’m an FBI agent.”
“Impressive. So why are you in town?”
“Can’t really say much, just that the locals asked for our help after some recent discoveries.”
“And that’s how you met Mark and Billy, because they found something while hunting?”
“Yep.” She looked across the seat. “And you said you’re a hunter?”
Robby stopped at the red light. “Sure am, and probably the best hunter and tracker in Terrebonne Parish. The thing is, are we talking about hunting for game or tracking a murderer? Last I heard, the FBI doesn’t involve themselves in unusual animal deaths. That would fall on the shoulders of a wildlife preservation organization.”
“Smart guy. Maybe your skills could be useful to us as a consultant in our investigation. Would you be open to that?”
“Absolutely, and I’d consider it my civic duty to help, but a little compensation goes a long way.” He turned right at the main driveway of the sheriff’s office and pulled up to the front door.
“Of course, and here’s my card. We probably won’t be going anywhere until the tires are repaired, but if you can come by here tomorrow, that’d be great. Guess I should have asked if you work during the day.”
“Nope. I work the graveyard shift, so I’m available any time after eight in the morning.”
“Okay, thanks so much, Bob. Call me in the morning, and we’ll arrange a time for you to come in.”
“You bet. Nice meeting you, Jade.”
She climbed out of the truck with her bag of food and coffees then looked back and smiled before disappearing into the building.
Robby looked at the card she’d given him and flicked it with his fingernail. “Yep, SSA Jade Monroe, you’re going to taste mighty fine.”
Chapter 24
I pushed open the door with my foot. The bag of burgers and fries was under my arm, and the coffees were in my hands.
“What the hell took so long?” Renz reached for the coffees.
I grumbled, “You aren’t even going to believe it.” I gave a dirty look to my phone lying next to the computer. “Damn phone. I left it behind.”
Renz grinned. “And somehow that’s the phone’s fault? Give me my food, and then you can explain why you’re pissed off.”
I groused as I took my seat. “First off, we need to address who’s slashing our tires.”
“Yeah, remind me to take that spare somewhere tomorrow.”
“Well, now we have no way of getting around. Somebody slashed the front right tire while I was in the restaurant.”
Renz pulled back. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious, and I couldn’t even call a tow truck since I left my phone right there.” I pointed at the table.
“Back to the tire slashing. Maybe we need to have a deputy shadow us while we’re in town. It sounds like there’s someone who doesn’t appreciate the fact that we’re in Houma. This could spiral out of control.”
“Bob said kids do shit like that, but our vehicle, and twice? Just our luck.”
“Who the hell is Bob?” Renz asked.
I chuckled. “Coincidentally, I struck up a conversation with the guy standing in line behind me at the restaurant. He’s a local and an avid hunter. He even knows those men who discovered the remains yesterday.”
Renz took a bite of his cheeseburger and wiggled his finger for me to continue.
“Then I went outside to leave and saw the flat tire. I yelled out to him when he walked out, and then he offered to change the tire once I realized I didn’t have my phone.”
“And then what?”
“And then I had to tell him we didn’t have a spare with air in it. That’s when he said kids do things like that. You know, troublemakers with too much free time on their hands. Bob gave me a ride back here. He seems like a nice guy, and there’s a chance he could help us by giving us the insight we need to get into the head of the killer.”
“Okay, so meanwhile, we have to cut into what we’re doing and get the SUV towed and the tires repaired.”
“Yeah, let’s address that and get back to the videos. Shit!”
Renz shook his head. “Now what?”
“I locked the Explorer.”
“Okay, hold on. I’ll have Polsen drive me to the restaurant, we’ll meet a tow company there, and—wait, I need to call Conway. What’s the name of the restaurant you went to?”
“Tony’s Burger Shack.”
He smirked. “That’s original.”
I ate my burger as Renz talked to the sheriff. He hung up within a minute.
“Okay, the impound lot and parish garage is only two blocks away. Conway is having their tow truck meet us at the restaurant, they’ll bring the Explorer to the garage, and they’ll repair both tires and put one back on. Give me the keys.”
“Great idea.” I dug in my purse for the keys and handed them to Renz. “So has anything shown up with the perp’s face yet?”
“Nah, he got up once and went to the men’s room. Kept his head down the entire way and back. We still have camera three to review, though.”
“Okay, I’ll do that while you’re gone.”
Renz left the room, and I clicked over to camera three, settled in, and shoved a handful of fries into my mouth. My mind flashed back to Bob. I was hopeful that with his assistance, we would solve the murders before another innocent person went missing.
Chapter 25
Robby returned to Dulac, the town he called home, and searched on the library’s computer for information about Mark LaFleur and Billy Bennett. He looked up the various hunting clubs in Terrebonne Parish and found both men listed as board members at HCLL—Hunting Club of Lower Louisiana. After he printed out everything he needed to know, Robby headed home. He would set his plan in motion the next night by stopping in at the hunting club to check it out. His intentions were to befriend both men, invite them to hunt on his property, then make use of those bullets he’d been saving for emergencies.
For now, he needed to feed Pete and the cats. He was sure there was some leftover stew still in the pot on the camp stove.
Once he was home and had fed the pets, Robby grabbed a bottle of beer and looked at the red-stained ground beneath the live oak that he used as his place to restrain and bleed out his prey. Agent Monroe came to mind as he tipped back the bottle and guzzled. She would be a pleasure to deal with, and chances were that she would live far longer than the others.
He planned to gain her trust, show her around the known wild pig habitats, and if more bones were found, say that it likely meant the killer had left them there in hopes that the pigs would polish off all traces of evidence.
Chapter 26
I didn’t have any luck with the footage. It was clear that the perp knew where each camera was located throughout the bar and made sure to lower his head every time he faced one.
Renz returned to the office forty-five minutes later with good news. The Explorer was at the impound garage, and the tires were being repaired. It would be ready for us to leave with in less than an hour.
“Did you finish watching the footage?” Renz plopped down on the chair at my side and grunted.
“Yep. Done and useless. We’re going to need Carla’s DNA to compare to the bones that were found yesterday. It’ll either rule out that she was one of those deceased women, or it’ll confirm it. Either way, we have to talk to Gayle. It’s much later than I had hoped we’d finish up here, and she’s probably wondering why we never stopped by. Maybe she can brin
g something to us rather than us waiting until we have wheels to go over there.” I glanced at the wall clock. “It’ll be ten o’clock by the time we get out of here.”
“I agree.” Renz tipped his head toward my phone. “Go ahead and call her.”
I made the call and kept it short. Once Gayle was sitting down in person with us, we would explain what we knew up to that point. I asked her to bring either Carla’s hairbrush or toothbrush with her and to place the item in a sealed zipper bag.
“So what’s the plan for tomorrow?” I took a swig of my cold coffee and wrinkled my nose. “Weird how iced coffee is delicious because it’s meant to be cold. Cold coffee that was meant to be hot just doesn’t give me that same vibe.”
“Yeah, funny how that works. Tomorrow, after we learn the DNA results from Carla, we’ll talk to Gayle. After that, we need to continue getting DNA samples from the families of the other missing people. What I’d like to do is match all the bones that were found to people missing from this parish, if that’s even possible, and see if they visited any of the same places or knew any of the same people. If the perp is dumping remains of people who lived outside Terrebonne Parish, then I’m at a loss. Dental records won’t help if skulls aren’t among the bones found and if we don’t know who we’re looking for.”
“What about talking to Bob?”
Renz raised his right brow. “Did you get a last name for this Bob guy?”
“No, sorry, but I gave him my card and told him to call me in the morning. He said he’s an expert tracker and hunter. Maybe he can get into the mind of the killer for us.”
“Maybe.”
My phone buzzed, indicating that a text had come in. Gayle was saying she’d arrived.
“I’ll go let her in,” Renz said.
We spent the next half hour with Gayle. She’d brought both the hairbrush and toothbrush along in baggies. We explained what we’d seen on the video, and I showed her the only screenshot I’d printed out of the perp’s face, which was that sideview with the ball cap on. It was useless for identification purposes, especially in that darkened space, and she said she had no idea who the man was.
