Fatal Stance: A Jade Pearson Mystery (Jade Pearson Mystery Series Book 1)
Page 4
Mr. Yates’ profile was very bland, but it was certainly the Mr. Yates she was looking for. He had pictures of him and his wife. There was a photo of his house. It was very nice looking. Something Jade could never dream to afford. There wasn’t much else, only a link to his LinkedIn profile. She clicked that and hit the jackpot. Everything she needed to know about his work was listed there.
Mr. Yates worked for Wilder Corp. He handled their business affairs when it came to drilling and manufacturing. Jade spent the next half hour researching Wilder Corp. It was a construction company, responsible for building oil rigs and drills. They also surveyed the land to see where best to drill and find oil. What Mr. Yates was doing on a ferry if he worked for an oil company? Jade didn’t know.
Her phone rang just then, startling her. It was probably Edna. She hadn’t arrived yet and must be running late for some reason. Jade answered the phone.
“Jade, we have to cancel tonight. There’s been a break-in at the Grand Harbor Inn. I’m headed there right now,” Edna blurted. She was out of breath and was probably running to her car.
“That might have something to do with my case,” Jade replied.
“You’re welcome to come, but the Chief is in a bad mood tonight,” Edna warned.
“I’ll just come and take a look around. I’m pretty sure this is connected.”
Jade hung up the phone and rushed out to the car. As she drove the short distance to the hotel, she prepared herself for the icy reception of Chief Knight.
When she arrived at the hotel, lit up cop cars surrounded the place. Jade walked past the cops and straight into the hotel. The blue and red flashing lights faded away as she walked into the brightly lit lobby. Plenty of cops were hanging around, watching the scene. No one tried to stop Jade, assuming due to her confident stride that she was allowed to enter.
The yellow crime scene tape led her to the backroom where the hotel safe sat lying open, the door off its hinges. Next to the open safe were Edna and Chief Nicholas Knight. Chief Knight was a no-nonsense man. He didn’t like outside help and he certainly didn’t like Jade. This was likely due to her being both outside help and able to solve cases faster than most of his officers. Chief Knight did not like to be shown up and the only reason he even let Jade work cases was that Edna convinced him to. He trusted that woman with his life. Edna was his best detective. And although he’d never say it, Chief Knight was very proud of her.
When Jade walked into the backroom everyone went silent. Chief Knight was clearly less than pleased to see her. His glare could pierce someone’s soul, but Jade ignored it all and went to work examining the scene. The room was a mess. There was money strewn about and important hotel papers that probably should’ve been locked up in a filing cabinet in the office and not in a safe in the backroom. The safe had been blown open, most likely using a small explosive. Jade couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Johnson would have access to stuff like that if he were into extreme fishing.
The safe was of medium size and a sturdy build, although it looked like it was at least forty years old. It couldn’t have been too hard to crack. Jade suspected the safe had been there since the Inn had opened. Its locks were probably worn down a bit. The safe was big enough to hold quite a few items, including a small briefcase, which was missing from the scene.
“Was there anything stolen?” Jade asked Edna.
It didn’t appear as if the thief had taken anything. The money was still there, as were the hotel documents.
“Yes, our perpetrator took a briefcase. It’s the only thing missing from the safe. Do you think this has anything to do with your case?” Edna inquired.
A briefcase, perhaps Mr. Yates’ briefcase?
“I’m certain of it. Do we have any footage of the crime occurring?” Jade asked.
“There is one camera pointing at the safe, but you can’t see the entire room, and it’s impossible to tell who the thief is,” Edna explained.
“We can handle this, Ms. Pearson,” Chief Knight cut in.
“Respectfully, Chief, you hired me to be on this case. I am going to work it,” Jade stated.
“You don’t know if this is connected to this morning’s murder. I won’t have civilians messing up this case. I have to ask you to leave,” the Chief said gruffly. His icy blue eyes stared her down, but Jade didn’t back down easily.
“That is ridiculous, sir. I know this is connected to my case,” Jade protested.
“What proof do you have?” Chief Knight asked sternly.
Jade thought for a moment. She didn’t have any physical proof. Only the word of the Captain, who was definitely a suspect. It wasn’t exactly reliable. All she knew was that there was a briefcase connected to her case and now there was a briefcase missing. It might not even be the same briefcase. Jade was sunk.
“What proof do you have?” Chief Knight repeated.
“None, sir,” Jade replied, feeling more than a little defeated.
The Chief smirked. Edna looked at Jade with pity in her eyes. She trusted Jade and knew that if Jade had any reason to be here, it would be a good one. But that trust only worked if Jade had evidence. Edna was sure Jade would get it, but until then, she had to follow Chief Knight’s orders.
“Detective Mann, please escort Ms. Pearson out of our crime scene,” Chief Knight ordered, smiling a bit too much. He didn’t like being shown up and here was a perfect time to prove his superiority. Edna took Jade by the arm and led her out of the backroom and past the lobby doors to the parking lot.
“I’m sorry, Jade,” Edna whispered, giving Jade a small pat on the shoulder, “I gotta follow his orders.”
Jade put on a brave face and acted like she hadn’t just been cut down.
“I know. It’s protocol. And he’s right, I haven’t got any evidence, yet,” Jade said.
“I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
“Any chance I could get a look at the security tapes?”
“Give me a couple of hours. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Edna.”
Jade gave Edna a light hug and they went their separate ways. Edna walked back into the Inn and Jade got into her car. It had been a hellish night. First, she almost got into an accident, and then she got into a fight with Mark, and now she was cop-blocked from the case they’d hired her for. She felt like crying, but what good would that do? Instead, she drove home, depressed, and tired.
The oncoming high-beam traffic lights didn’t bother her, although they usually would. The loud sounds of music coming from cars driven by teens who were eager to escape their small-town life didn’t bother her either. After all, she had been one of those teens, desperate to run away. Only she had run away. And here she was running away again. Instead of talking to Mark, she had hung up. And instead of talking to the Chief, she had been escorted out. And instead of talking to her parents, she had moved out immediately after graduating high school. It seemed all she was good for was running. Jade felt disappointed in herself. There was only one thing that could help: jumping right back into work with a nice cup of coffee.
She continued to research Wilder Corp. and any reason they would be out here in Camden. The same links came up over and over again, but after a few hours of searching, with an occasional nap, Jade had found nothing particularly helpful.
She checked her email and there was one from Edna. Jade opened it. There was no message, just a video attachment. She downloaded the video and pressed play. It was the security footage from the hotel backroom. Edna had come through after all!
In the video, someone entered the backroom wearing a flannel shirt and light-colored pants. A big black hat covered their face. It looked like Mr. Johnson. The person bent down, attached something to the lock, and backed out of camera view. Then, the safe door flew open. Before anyone could catch the thief, they had run out with a briefcase and out of frame. It all happened very fast.
Jade replayed the video, looking for any and all small details. This was dif
ficult given that the video was still in black and white. The thief was dressed just like Mr. Johnson, but something was off. They seemed almost too tall and too well-built. Mr. Johnson was certainly a strong man, but he didn’t have a physique like the thief. And the thief had a beard, but certainly not like Mr. Johnson’s. Mr. Johnson’s beard was grey and full. The thief’s beard was short and smart.
Jade replayed the video one more time, looking for any evidence of who this thief was because they certainly weren’t Mr. Johnson. They played the part well, but not well enough. It was then that Jade caught the glean of something on the thief’s wrist. She paused the video and zoomed in. It was a medical alert bracelet. There was only one man connected to this case that that could belong to. Captain Arnold Monahan.
Chapter 7
She knew that she should probably call Edna, but it wasn’t anything more than a hunch. A very likely hunch, but it wasn’t solid evidence. There was no way that Chief Knight would go for it. She had to find proof. And since she didn’t know the home address of the Captain, there was only one place she could look now: the ferry.
Normally, Jade would call Mark to let him know where she was going, especially if it was going to be dangerous. But she didn’t really feel like talking to him yet. He always cared so much. He didn’t want her to get hurt. He didn’t want her to be in danger. It was almost smothering how much he cared. She didn’t exactly like the attention. She wasn’t used to it. She loved that he cared. It just got to be too much for her sometimes. So, Jade ignored her better judgment and didn’t call Mark.
This wasn’t the first time Jade had snuck into somewhere she shouldn’t be. Working on the Gretsky case back in ’10, she had learned that, if you walked into any place with enough confidence and acted like you belonged, you were usually let in without question. Of course, tonight she was sneaking around in the dark, not amongst a crowd. But like any job, she had to play the part. First, she had to change her clothes. It was better to wear soft clothing that wouldn’t make much noise and darker colors for staying hidden in the shadows. Camden wasn’t exactly a dangerous town, but it was scary at night for a woman walking alone on the docks.
Jade chose a black sweater and darker jeans that she didn’t mind getting dirty. She put on her old sneakers and put her hair up into a bun. That would make it harder for anyone to grab her hair. She’d learned that the hard way three years ago working the Teshano case. A maniac of a woman had grabbed her hair and had pulled a fair amount out before Jade was able to run away. Luckily, that woman was now behind bars for the next fifty years for murdering her husband. Jade had kept her hair up on dangerous missions ever since then.
Locking her front door behind her, Jade walked to the car and stopped. It was nearly pitch black and her imagination was running wild. What if another car tried to run into her? What if someone was just waiting out there to get her? She shook her head and let it go. Now wasn’t the time to be freaking out.
It was nearly three in the morning by the time she got to the docks. Jade parked the car and turned out all of the lights. Taking a deep breath, she got out and began the long walk down to the ferry. It was eerily empty here. Jade knew that, in about an hour, the fishermen would be up and about, but for now, she was terrifyingly alone.
First, she walked past a small line of parked cars. Some people had little living spaces above their shops. Stumbling past the cars, she looked into one of them. There was a faint outline of a tackle box with the name Isaac Johnson taped to it. This had to be Mr. Johnson’s car. Was he here, lurking somewhere in the shadows? Or could he be out night fishing? Did he somehow fit into this case after all? Jade didn’t know. She was sure that it was Captain Monahan who had taken the briefcase. Focusing her attention back on the mission at hand, Jade continued down the dock.
Every step she took creaked a little beneath her, letting the darkness know she was there. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and she was able to see little drops of light reflecting on the sea’s surface. The stars were bright in the sky, but not bright enough to light her way. If only the moon was out, she might move a little faster. Then again, moonlight would cast her shadow and could give her away. Perhaps it was better that the night was keeping her covered.
A large shape was taking form out of the darkness before her. It was the ferry. It was tied up to the dock, ramp down, practically inviting her aboard. Jade didn’t hesitate. Using the dim light from her phone’s lock screen, Jade felt her way to the stairs. Her shoes didn’t make a sound as she climbed the metal steps. Ascending all the way to the top deck, she knew that if the Captain was hiding anything here, it would be in the wheelhouse.
Luckily for Jade, the wheelhouse wasn’t locked. She slid open the door and used her phone’s light to search around. It was a small space, containing the wheel, a radio, and a worn-out chair. The instrument panel was shut down for the night. A few small buttons glowed red and there was a small cabinet next to the wheel. Other than that, it was empty. There wasn’t any real space to hide anything.
Just to be sure, Jade checked inside the cabinet and under the chair. There was nothing. Maybe the evidence she was looking for wasn’t here. Maybe it was at the Captain’s house. Maybe it had been foolish to even come here. Especially without telling Edna or Mark. How could she be so stupid?
Jade was about to leave when her phone slipped out of her fingers. It made a loud resounding thud on the deck floor. Jade froze. That wasn’t an ordinary thud. There was a hollow space beneath the floor. Feeling around the wooden beams, Jade’s fingers searched for any kind of lever or latch. With a desperate sigh, she felt something metallic. It was a handle. She grasped at it with all her might, and lifted the heavy door up out of the floor.
Picking up her phone, Jade turned on the light, not caring anymore. She had to have answers. What was in this secret hideaway? The light revealed all of its secrets. A brown briefcase with the initials H.R.Y. lay on the floor next to a large, bloodied wrench. It was all the proof she needed. It was time to call Edna.
Firstly, Jade took pictures of the evidence and sent them via text message. Then she dialed Edna and prayed that she would pick up.
“I’ve got the proof,” Jade whispered excitedly.
“Jade, it’s three in the morning,” a very tired Edna mumbled.
“Edna, I found the proof. I know who murdered Mr. Yates.”
“You do? Who was it?” Edna asked, becoming instantly alert.
“Captain Arnold Monahan. I’ve sent you pictures of the evidence on his boat.”
“Jade, how did you find the evidence?”
“I’m got it on his boat. Well, the boat he works on.”
“Jade! Do you understand how dangerous that is?! Why didn’t you call me?” Edna asked, freaking out.
“I did. Just now. Look, Edna, I had to be sure.”
“So you went on a possible murderers boat?”
“Well, yeah. Ferry, actually.”
“Common sense is not in your nature, is it?”
“Will you just come down to the docks to collect the evidence?”
“You’re still there?!” Edna was completely floored. How could her friend be so stupid?
“Yeah. So, are you coming?”
“I’ll be down there as fast as I can. Just get off that boat!”
“Don’t worry, I’m leaving now.”
“Are you, really?” a familiar voice asked her from behind, followed immediately by the sound of a gun being cocked.
Jade cursed under her breath and turned around to face Captain Arnold Monahan.
“I knew you’d come. I’ve been watching you all day,” the Captain said.
“Can’t have been all day. After all, you took some time out to rob the Grand Harbor Inn safe of that briefcase,” Jade said calmly, nodding to the briefcase still sitting in the hideaway.
“Yes, well, it was a loose end that needed disposing of, just like you.” Pointing the gun at Jade, he barked, “Get up. Out onto the deck!”
“See, that’s the big problem, isn’t it? You’re too smart to be kept alive. You know too much.”
“But?” Jade asked.
“But another body washing up on shore, especially that of a private detective on the case, would be far too suspicious. And you just made a phone call to the police. No doubt they’re on their way. Killing my only hostage wouldn’t exactly be fortuitous for me. So, for now, you are my prisoner,” Captain Monahan explained coldly.
Jade didn’t respond. She was thinking of ways to get out of this situation.