It was Riley’s voice that brought him back.
“Timmy Jacobs!” Riley yelled. Liv’s head snapped up and she looked to the woods, following the sound of Riley’s voice. Riley yelled it again, louder this time. “Liv, now, Timmy Jacobs!”
Luke had no idea what Riley yelled, but Liv did. Liv slammed her head back into Michael with all of her might and got loose enough to punch her tied fists into his groin. He dropped the ice pick as one hand went to his bloodied nose and the other to his crotch. Once free, Liv sprinted off in the direction of Riley’s voice.
Luke reached for his holstered weapon and advanced on Michael, kicking the ice pick out of the way. Luke grabbed the man by the hair. Liv had already brought him to his knees. Luke pointed the gun right at his forehead and steadied his finger on the trigger.
Luke wanted to pull the trigger. He wanted nothing more than to end this scumbag’s life right there and then. Save the cost of a trial. Save the families. Put an end to the sick twisted thing right then and there. When Luke looked up, he saw his sister’s face. He blinked once and then twice. She shook her head and smiled at him sweetly. Luke knew he had to be imagining it, but it was so real.
Luke pressed the cold muzzle harder into Michael’s head, fighting his demons inside. Michael begged for Luke to kill him.
Jack and Frank approached from the right. “Luke?” Jack said, cautiously.
Riley approached from the left. “Luke, this isn’t the way. I know you. You wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.”
“You have no idea what I could live with,” Luke snapped. His fight wasn’t with Riley. It was with himself.
Luke pressed the muzzle harder and looked into Michael’s eyes.
“Kill me, kill me, please,” he pleaded and closed his eyes.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
In the end, Luke had done the right thing in the cemetery that night. He had jerked Michael up off the ground and slapped the cuffs on him. Cooper had my sister safely back at the car, assuring she didn’t need medical attention. The four of us had walked Michael Bauer out of the cemetery together, two flanking him on each side. Before I left, I had taken one long last look at the headless angel and hoped I’d never have to see her again.
By the time we had breached the perimeter of the Troy Country Club grounds, the police had already been there. Luke had handed the cuffed man to the FBI agent. “Try not to lose him this time,” was all he had said.
In the end, it was Luke who had secured the confession. I brought my sister back safely to my mother. She hadn’t said one word about putting my sister in danger. Liv had explained that Michael had shown up at her house in the middle of the night wearing a cap and reading glasses. He had flashed a fake badge and told her that we were all in danger. She had gone with him willingly to help me. It was when she had settled into his car and he took off the cap and glasses that she had realized her mistake.
Over the next two months, Luke, Cooper and I had helped Jack and the Troy PD, Frank and the police in Virginia, and other jurisdictions contact the victims’ families so the FBI could secure sample DNA to make positive comparisons to the bones found in the root cellar. It had been a long process, but rewarding. Families could finally grieve, knowing the truth.
Michael had confessed again and again, basically to anyone who would listen to his story of how he had been wronged by the love of his life. It was clear his psychosis ran deeper prior to that. Michael had explained that he had used an ice pick and had another sawing blade to cut off the fingers. The murder weapons he’d discard in each city and buy new ones the next year. He often stole rental cars on the nights of the murders to conceal any DNA evidence. He scouted the car rental places that had no surveillance. He’d return the car and no one would be the wiser.
He’d kill the girls near where he left their bodies but never in the same exact location. Separating the two ensured that less evidence would be found. He was right about that.
Michael had driven to and from the universities from Troy so he’d never have to fly. It made sense. He wasn’t going to get sawed-off fingers through airport security. Michael had at least explained to local police departments where bodies had been left so one day possibly the remains of other victims could be found.
Little Rock was tapped to hold the first sentencing hearing, and then from what we understood, Michael would face justice and sentencing in all of the cities where he had taken a young girl’s life.
Six months after the night in the cemetery, once all the cases had been closed, we threw a party. Luke had invited all of the family members that we could reach as well as the detectives, many of whom were retired now.
My mother and Jack came down. Liv was on vacation with my ex so she missed out but sent her congratulations to us all. Frank brought his wife, who looked pleased as punch that her husband had finally gotten off the couch and was active again. Jack and Frank had been talking about maybe digging into some other cold cases together. I think they really just wanted more excuses to play golf. Even Emma and Joe were there. They had found a sitter for Sophie. Emma’s round swollen belly grew a little more each day. It was going to be nice to have another little one in our circle.
Cooper stood at my side as we both surveyed the scene in front of us. “This is a pretty great party. Think your wedding reception will be this good?”
I swatted at him. “Luke hasn’t even proposed yet. Don’t be silly. Where is Adele?”
“She’s in the middle of a big case, but she will be here next week. You can meet her then.”
“How’s it going with you two?” I gave him a sideways glance.
“Great,” Cooper said, sounding surprised at himself. “She is forever grateful we solved her sister’s murder. More than anything, she’s relieved she can move on with her life. If nothing else comes out of it, at least we gave her that.”
A glass clinked and Luke’s father cleared his throat in the front of the room. Spencer commanded our attention. He said loudly, “I’d like to take a moment and say a few words to my son. Luke, we never dreamed that we’d be standing here. We never had any doubt about your ability, but we were so afraid of losing you in the process. You are more than any father could hope for in a son. I could stand here all night listing your amazing qualities, but anyone who has met you knows. We cannot thank you and Riley, Cooper, Jack and Frank for all you have done not only for our family but all the families. There is no closure. The victims will be a part of all of us for the rest of our lives, but in time, we will make our peace with it. Thank you.”
We all raised our glasses to Luke and then took a sip. We thought Spencer was finished, but he got the crowd’s attention again. “Now, if you could just marry that beautiful woman and give us grandkids, we won’t ask for anything else.” A chorus of laughter followed.
“Here, here,” my mother yelled from the sidelines.
My face reddened, but I quite liked the idea of being Luke’s wife. Luke gave a quick but heartfelt speech and thanked everyone for being there.
When he was done, he crossed the room and stood by my side. “What do you think?”
I looked up at him. “I think ‘What do you think’ is not a marriage proposal.”
“Oh, I see, you’re getting all romantic on me,” he teased. “I have to do it right then.”
“You’ll have to do it right.” I grinned. Was he really going to do it in front of all these people?
Thankfully, no.
Luke grinned down at me like he had a secret plan. I’m sure he did. Luke always had a plan.
About the Author
Stacy M. Jones was born and raised in Troy, New York, and currently lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a full-time writer and holds masters’ degrees in journalism and in forensic psychology. Stacy is an avid reader of the mystery genre. Whether a reader likes their mysteries more hard-boiled or prefers a cozy, Stacy offers two series – the more hard-boiled Riley Sullivan Mystery Series and the cozy Ha
rper & Hattie Magical Mystery Series.
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Missing Time Murders - Spring 2020
Private investigator Cooper Deagnan blinked himself awake after what should have been the night of his life. He had helped solve Det. Luke Morgan’s sister’s murder, and in the process met an incredible woman. His life finally felt on track.
Slowly opening one eye and then the next, Cooper’s head pounded. He searched the recesses of his mind but came up blank. He was missing time. Cooper had no idea how the party ended or even how he had arrived home.
Rolling to his side, Cooper came face to face with a dead woman. Her eyes open, coldly staring back at him, blood trailing down her forehead from a bullet wound. The cold grip of the gun pressed into Cooper’s belly, the muzzle pointed right at her. She wasn’t a stranger. She was a one-night stand from Cooper’s past that went horribly wrong. How did she get into his bed? More importantly, who killed her?
It’s the question men across Little Rock are made to answer when the slayings, known as the Missing Time Murders, paralyze the city.
The Bone Harvest Page 30
