No Stone Unturned

by C. J. Johnson

  “You got it Killer.”

  Frankie finished the search warrant for Tre’s car and reports from the evening. She left a note on the warrant asking the day shift to get it signed. There was no rush, so no need to bother a judge at home this late.

  As they walked to their cars Mia asked, “Did you ever hear from Derek?”

  Frankie didn’t immediately respond.

  “Frankie?”

  Stopping at Mia’s car, Frankie turned to her and said, “No, but I did see him.”

  “What? When?”

  Adjusting the bag on her shoulder she said, “On my way back from Bank of America.”

  “Where was he?”

  “Leaving the courthouse,” Frankie looked down at her shoes then back up to Mia. “With Jessica Moon. He had his hand on the small of her back as they walked to his car. They seemed pretty cozy.”

  Mia stared at Frankie incredulously. “Did you say anything to him?”

  “No. He didn’t see me. I called him and he sent me to voice mail. I don’t really have a claim on him…”

  “But it kind of confirms what you already thought. What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Wait ‘til I see him and confront him I guess.”

  Mia reached out and touched Frankie’s forearm. “Maybe he’ll have a good explanation. Like you said, maybe they’re just friends.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Changing the subject Frankie asked, “Are you and Erik going to drive down to Jake’s this weekend?”

  Mia shook her head, “Erik is working off-duty so I’m going to go see my family. Tell Jake I said happy birthday… and tell Craven I said hello.” Mia winked as she put the key in her car door.

  Frankie laughed, “I will. I’m kind of hoping he and Sophie hit it off. She deserves a nice guy.”

  “I thought she was seeing someone.”

  “She is, but it must not be too serious. He’s not coming to the party.”

  Frankie and Mia said their good-byes. Before she could pull out of the parking lot her cellphone dinged with an incoming text message.

  “Working tomorrow night? Want to swing by for a drink?”

  “Can’t. Getting up early Saturday to head to mom’s. Need my beauty rest.”

  “Okay. Have fun at the farm. XO D”

  Frankie wasn’t surprised Derek wasn’t coming but she was a little disappointed. She was tired of keeping her life compartmentalized.

  Chapter 54

  Frankie called the office on her way into work on Friday. The day squad had been working a case all day and didn’t get the search warrant signed for Tre’s car. Although she was frustrated, she understood.

  “It’s still early,” she said aloud to her empty Jeep. “I should be able to walk it through before everyone’s gone.”

  It took Frankie about two hours to get the search warrant signed and a Crime Scene Unit en route to the garage.

  “Mia, you want to come?”

  “I can’t. Baker just assigned me a new case. Call me if you need any help.”

  “Copy that. See you in a bit!”

  While Frankie was waiting for Crime Scene she snapped a few photographs of Tre’s car to show Sarah. She had just finished when she heard Rhino’s booming voice.

  “Frank-eee!”

  They exchanged small talk and then got down to business. Frankie told Rhino the case facts and gave him the information he would need for his report along with a copy of the signed search warrant. When he was finished photographing the outside of the car they opened the doors to start working on the inside.

  “Rhino, make sure you get a photograph of the inside of the passenger door, okay? She mentioned there not being a door handle. And this one is definitely missing.”

  Rhino finished with his camera then began dusting for fingerprints and swabbing the car for DNA. Last, he pulled out the alternate light source.

  “You said one of the rapes occurred in a car, right?”

  “Yeah. Pretty sure it was this one. The other one didn’t light up and from what Sarah and Tre’s cousin said, I think this was the first car they were in.”

  With glasses on and the overhead lights out, he scanned the car with the light source. The front seat illuminated on the passenger side. Rhino marked the areas of illumination and turned the overhead lights back on.

  “Want me to cut it?”

  “Do you think you can you get any evidence by swabbing?”

  Rhino leaned on the roof of the car and said, “Honestly, probably not. If they were leather I could probably swab and get what you need but since this is upholstery it needs to be done in the lab.”

  “Cut them.”

  After Rhino finished, Frankie started looking through the car with hopes of finding something that would put Sarah inside. She was about to give up when she noticed something underneath the passenger seat on the floorboard.

  “Rhino, can you take a photo under the seat? I think there’s something under there.”

  After snapping a few photographs Frankie reached under the seat and found two buttons. “I wonder what the chances are that these are from Sarah’s blouse?”

  Rhino recovered the buttons and promised to email Frankie the photographs of Sarah’s clothing so she could see if any buttons were missing.

  Frankie was preparing to leave when she heard her phone beep with an incoming text message. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw it was from Craven.

  “What time’s the party tomorrow night?”

  “Probably eat about 6.”

  “See you then.”

  Chapter 55

  Frankie didn’t need an alarm clock to wake her. Tyler yelling at Isabelle to quit chasing the cat jolted her from a fitful sleep. She rolled over and looked at the clock on the table next to her bed. 730 AM.

  “Ugh. Guess at least I’ll be able to get a run in before we go.”

  Frankie put on her cold weather gear, grabbed her sneakers, and headed to the kitchen. Tyler was putting cereal in a bowl and watching a Sponge Bob Square Pants cartoon on the television.

  “Hey mom. Are you going for a run?”

  “Yep. Want to join me?” Frankie tousled Tyler’s unkempt hair, bent down, and kissed him on the top of the head. Occasionally she could get him to jog with her.

  “Naw. I’m watching my show. You and Izzie can go.”

  Frankie laughed as she snapped the leash onto Isabelle’s collar. “Let’s go girl.”

  She returned forty-five minutes later to Danielle fixing herself breakfast and growling at her brother. Frankie fed the dog and was preparing to jump in the shower when it dawned on her she had not sent Craven directions to the farm. She grabbed her cell phone and texted him the details.

  “Thanks. See you in a bit!”

  “Both of you - pack an overnight bag. Ty, you are going to stay at grandma’s. Dani you are going to stay at your dad’s.”

  “Why can’t we go to the farm with you?” whined Danielle.

  “Because it’s a grown-up party. There won’t be any kids there.”

  “I’m not a kid,” Dani said as she stomped off mumbling down the hall.

  Tyler looked up at Frankie, “But I want to tell Uncle Jake happy birthday too.”

  “I’ll tell him for you bud. Maybe you can make a birthday card for me to take to his party.”

  Tyler grabbed his crayons and construction paper from the cabinet. Frankie watched as he carefully picked out the paper, folded it in half, and started drawing on the front, taking special care with his artwork.

  Two hours later the trio was on the road to Frankie’s mom’s house. The Jeep was quiet except for the sounds coming from the radio. Danielle had her earbuds in and was still pouting about not being able to go to the farm while Tyler was reading a book he had gotten for Christmas. Frankie watched in the rearview mirror, smiling at his intense facial expressions while he read.

  Frankie dropped Dani off with her ex-husband then drove the short distance to her mom’s house with Tyl
er and Isabelle. As they made their way down the lane towards her mother’s home décor shop Frankie said, “Looks like grandma has a full shop today Ty.”

  Not looking up from his book he said, “Mmhmm.”

  “Put your book in your bag so we can go inside.”

  Slamming the book shut Tyler said, “Fine.”

  “Tyler Nathaniel Thomas.”

  “Sorry mom,” Tyler said, shoving his book into his backpack.

  “You head on in, I’ll walk Izzie.”

  Tyler grabbed his bag and jumped out of the Jeep. Frankie grabbed Isabelle’s leash and watched Tyler bound through the shop door, shouting hello to his grandmother. Frankie laughed as she watched him through the windows entertaining the women in the shop.

  Frankie finished walking Isabelle just when the last customer left. She visited with her mom until the next customer came, then took her leave. She hugged Tyler and told him she’d see him the next morning, climbed in her Jeep, and headed to the farm.

  Chapter 56

  Frankie drove the Jeep down the rough gravel road leading to the farm. The flat road became a steep descent ending at a small stone bridge that crossed a creek. She was glad it had not been raining or it may have been impassable. She slowed the Jeep to a crawl when she reached the bridge, stopping briefly to look down the creek. The afternoon sun was beginning to fall behind the trees; rays of light floated through the trees in a soft glow.

  Frankie looked forward as she crossed the bridge and felt her heart warm at the site of the land that had been in her family since before she was born. Over the years the farm had belonged to her uncle, her cousin, and finally her father. For the last ten years her little brother had made the small farmhouse on the property his home. Over time Jake and her dad, Frank, had built a large barn and made subtle improvements to the property but it had maintained a rustic, yet warm, appeal. Countless hours had been spent there as a family, but it was Jake who would always call it home.

  The barn door was standing open when Frankie parked the Jeep. Old-school country music blared from the speakers and a giant heater was warming the space. Jake was outside, standing by the smoker he and their dad built, checking the brisket he was cooking.

  “Happy birthday little brother,” exclaimed Frankie. Jake bent down and enveloped her in a bear hug.

  “Thanks sis. Where are the munchkins?”

  “Dani’s at her dad’s and Ty is with my mom. I’ll pick them up tomorrow before I head to work. Assuming, that is, I can crash here tonight.”

  Ruffling her spiky hair, Jake said, “You know you don’t have to ask.”

  Frankie laughed.

  “Ty and Dani said to tell you happy birthday too. Dani was mad I wouldn’t let

  her come. Ty made you a card.”

  Jake looked at the card and smiled. “Tell Ty I’ll hang it on my beer fridge!”

  Smiling, Frankie went about getting things ready for the party.

  “Is your new girlfriend coming tonight?”

  Sophie’s booming voice masked Jake’s answer. “Happy birthday big brother!” The trio laughed and raised a beer in celebration.

  Jake’s new girlfriend, Ann Marie, was the first guest to arrive. Frankie smiled as Jake kissed her chastely, keeping his arm around her while he tended to the smoker. Ann Marie laughed at anything he said that was remotely funny. It was obvious how much they cared for one another. Frankie said as much to Sophie when they went to the kitchen to finish cooking the side dishes.

  “Oh yeah, I think he’s going to pop the question this spring. I’ve never seen him like this with a girl before. I bet at the very least he asks her to move in with him.”

  Frankie smiled. She watched through the window at Ann Marie standing on her tiptoes to kiss a smiling Jake. Wistfully she said, “I hope so. He looks really happy.”

  Frankie was back in the barn, bending over the cooler, grabbing a beer when Craven arrived. He snuck up behind her, bent down and whispered, “Got anything in there for me?”

  She about jumped out of her skin, then broke into laughter. Flicking water from the melted ice into his face she said, “I’ve got something for you alright!”

  Craven laughed and tried to duck the drops of cold water. Frankie handed him a cold beer and began the introductions. “Jake. Sophie. You remember Jim Craven?”

  Jake, a man of few words, simply nodded. Sophie boisterously greeted Jim, slapping him on the back.

  “And this is Ann Marie, Jake’s girlfriend,” finished Frankie.

  Jim extended his hand, “Nice to meet you ma’am.”

  Sophie said, “You came to the hospital when dad…”

  “Yep. How’s he doin’?”

  “Much better. Thanks for asking.” Sophie turned at the sound of someone calling her name and bounced away.

  “Squirrel,” Frankie and Craven both laughed. “That’s my sister.”

  “Where’s the counselor tonight?” Craven asked, assuming Frankie had invited Derek.

  Frankie started picking at the label on her beer and thought about how much she should tell him. “I invited him. He said he’d let me know, but then texted that he wasn’t coming. I kind of knew he wouldn’t.”

  “Has he ever met any of your family?”

  “Nope. We keep our lives pretty separate. I’ve never met his family either.”

  “You all ready to eat?” Jake’s booming voice unwittingly changed the subject.

  The party-goers lined up to pile food onto their plates. Frankie turned to Craven, “Jake spent all day smoking the brisket. It’ll melt in your mouth.” It was obvious how proud she was of her little brother. “Sophie made the baked beans and I whipped up the potato salad. There’ll be a bonfire after everyone’s done eating.”

  “Smells great,” said Jim as he piled the meat onto his plate.

  The pair found a seat and chatted amicably while they ate their dinner.

  “You’ve got a little something’…” Craven smiled as he pointed to Frankie’s cheek.

  Frankie blushed and used a napkin to wipe the bar-b-que sauce from her cheek.

  “This is definitely not the kind of bar-b-que I’m used to,” said Craven.

  “You mean because it’s good?”

  “Don’t misunderstand, this is really good. I mean, really good. But, come on you don’t like pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw on top?” Craven teased. “My mouth is waterin’ just thinkin’ about it.”

  Frankie scrunched her nose up in distaste. “Let’s just say I stick to seafood when I go to North Carolina. I’m not a fan of vinegar-based bar-b-que.”

  “When are you goin’ back out there?”

  “The kids and I are planning to go for a couple weeks in August. Sophie’s talking about riding along this year.”

  “That’s usually about the time I go. I like to visit right at the end of the season. Maybe we can go out on the boat if we are there at the same time. Where are you all stayin’ at?”

  Frankie smiled at Craven. She and the kids had gone to Topsail Island the past five summers. She actually counted down the days between visits. When they started working together Frankie discovered Craven was from a fishing village near where they stayed. His mother owned a bookstore on the island that she and the kids loved to visit and his father owned a commercial shrimp boat and a deep-sea excursion company.

  “We’ve got a little house we stay at right on the beach. My friend, Nadine, lives out there. She comes to Missouri to visit her kids for the summer and rents the cottage to us pretty cheap. It’s down by one of the old missile towers.”

  “It’s not Miss Paceley’s house, is it? I think it’s called Dolphin’s Delight or something like that.”

  “Is there anyone you don’t know on the island?”

  Craven shared in Frankie’s laughter, “Miss Paceley worked at momma’s bookstore for a couple seasons. Then after Hurricane Fran, Daddy and I spent a winter helping her repair all the damage done to her place. We got to know her pretty well. She’s a
doll. How’d you all meet?”

  “I was looking at the Sunday paper and saw an ad for a place to rent on Topsail Island. The kids and I were planning to go back that summer so I called her. She was in town for the holidays so we met at Westport Flea Market for a burger. It was like we were destined to be friends. We still meet there for a burger from time to time. Now she makes a point of coming home early so we can have dinner on the island before the kids and I head back.”

  Chapter 57

  Over dinner, and a few more beers, Craven regaled the group with stories. He talked about growing up on the Carolina coast, life as a detective in Chicago, and finally as an agent with the FBI. The men enjoyed hearing all of his crazy escapades. The women enjoyed his southern charm and easy-going manner.

  Sophie leaned over and whispered, “What’s up with Craven?”

  Innocently, Frankie replied, “What do you mean?”

  “Is he dating anyone?” Sophie nudged Frankie’s shoulder, “Or is he trying to date you? You could do worse you know.”

  Peeling the label from another beer bottle, Frankie said, “I don’t think he’s dating any one person. Want me to try and set you two up?”

  “Mmmm…maybe.”

  The rest of the evening went by quickly. Friends came and went, and the groups alternated between the bonfire and the barn. As the temperatures dropped the crowd thinned out and the bonfire was left with Craven, Ann Marie, Jake, his friend Bill, and his sisters.

  Jake grabbed a cold beer and asked, “Who wants to go hill climbin’?”

  Craven looked at Frankie and whispered, “What’s he talkin’ about?”

  “I’m in!” Standing up, Frankie looked down at Craven, stuck her hand out and said, “Let’s go and you’ll find out.”

  Jake pulled his 4X4, king cab pick-up truck around from the side of the barn. Window down he shouted, “Climb in!”

  Frankie, Craven, and Sophie climbed into the back seat. Ann Marie and Bill climbed into the front seat. Jake drove down the hill and across the creek, then made a sharp turn into the woods instead of continuing up the steep hill. The ride through the woods was bumpy but laughter filled the cab as their bodies knocked into each other. The full moon lit the trail as they explored the dark hills around the house.