Premonition (Detective Jade Monroe 4)

by C. M. Sutter

  “What have we got, guys?” Clark asked, knowing it was a redundant question. He lifted his sunglasses for a better look since the tall cornstalks shaded the site.

  Kyle and Dan were photographing the woman and the immediate area.

  Lena looked at us over her shoulder. “Lieutenant, Jade—what we have here is a dirty rotten shame. Take a look at the back of her jacket. This is how she was found, with most likely her own blood rubbed on her back.”

  “The killer wanted to clean his hands? Why would he care?” I asked.

  “Don’t know. Maybe so he wouldn’t get blood evidence in his vehicle,” Jason said.

  Lena rolled her over. “And this is what she looks like from the front.”

  The young woman’s neck was gaping open with a slit that went from ear to ear.

  Jack whistled. “Holy Mother of God, that’s damn vicious.”

  I stared at the young woman. “This is something I’ll never get used to. How can anyone have that much rage and brutality in them?”

  Lieutenant Clark spoke up. “I don’t think it’s rage, Jade. I think it’s pleasure. If this is the work of the Lynch brothers, they’re doing it because they want to. Somehow, she was an easy mark.”

  “It’s because her car ran out of gas, and it’s out here somewhere.” I called Jamison from my cell phone. “Lee, get those deputies that are blocking off the road on the horn. Tell them to start searching a few miles in every direction for a light-colored two-door hatchback stranded along the shoulder. It’s somewhere close by, and it’s out of gas.”

  “You got it, Jade. We found a purse and a shoe in the weeds.”

  “Any ID in the purse?”

  “Nope, the perp must have taken the wallet.”

  “Okay, get that stuff bagged and tagged. Keep us posted.”

  I got more than enough stares from my colleagues in the immediate area. The only people that knew of Kate and her dreams were the lieutenant and the rest of us detectives.

  I knelt down close to the body. Through the blood, I saw the crown emblem on her pink jacket. I lifted her right hand and stared at her turquoise ring and her coral-colored acrylic nails.

  “What is it, Jade?” Lena asked.

  “Kate Pierce, the psychic.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard her name mentioned.”

  “She told me about this nearly two weeks ago. She described this young woman down to every detail.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “Some call it a gift—I call it a curse. I guess no matter how you look at it, it’s something she has to live with whether she likes it or not. Can you give us an estimated TOD, Lena?”

  I watched as Jason bent the victim’s arms and legs. He nodded at Lena.

  “She’s already in rigor, so middle of the night, I’d guess. I’d go with six hours ago, give or take a little on each end.”

  I looked at the time on my cell phone—9:45. “Could it have been around three in the morning?”

  “Yes, three a.m. would definitely fit into those parameters,” Lena said.

  “Boss, can I speak to you privately?”

  Surprise covered Clark’s face. Jack looked hurt.

  “Um, sure, let’s move off to the side.”

  Clark and I walked away but still within sight of everyone else in the field.

  “What’s up, Jade?”

  “I don’t want to step on any toes, boss, but would you mind if I ran with this? I have an idea that would make charges stick against the Lynch boys. Right now, even if they are within a mile of us, we have no solid evidence against them that would justify an arrest. As far as we factually know, they haven’t committed any crimes in Wisconsin.”

  “What’s your plan?”

  “Since no district attorney would try a case against them with weak circumstantial evidence, let’s give them something that will stick. Right now, the only person that can identify Robert is a hooker in Chicago that said he assaulted her. That doesn’t warrant murder charges.”

  “Has anyone heard from Detective Branson?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t know, boss. If that other hooker has already been located—dead or alive—they’d still have to put the Lynch boys at the scene. That’s going to require fingerprints, forensic evidence, and so on. I say let’s find out where they’re hunkered down and tail every move they make, but only with our personal vehicles. We don’t want to spook them out of the state. We owe that much to Kate. I know how to get them with something that will stick.”

  “Okay, I’m listening.”

  The yell that came from Clark startled everyone. Their heads nearly spun off their shoulders as they turned toward us. I felt my face heat up.

  “There’s no way in hell we’re doing that, Monroe, so just get it out of your head.”

  “But boss, it’s the only way. Please, Lieutenant, I know it will work. They have to be caught in the act.”

  Clark ground his balled-up fists into his eyes, then squeezed his temples so hard I thought his head would pop.

  “Come on,” he said.

  I followed Clark back to the group.

  “Lena, Jason, Dan, and Kyle, you got this under control?”

  Jason nodded. “Absolutely, Lieutenant.”

  “Okay, let’s go, detectives.”

  Jack gave me the eyeballs. I shrugged.

  Back at the road, we met up with Jamison, Horbeck, Billings, and Clayton.

  “Have you secured that evidence?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jamison said.

  “Okay, get five more deputies out here to help scour the area. The roadblocks have been put in place?”

  “That’s affirmative, boss,” Clayton said.

  “All right, listen up. Right now Billings, Jade, Jack, and I are heading in. As soon as backup arrives, I want you”—he finger poked the air at Clayton, Jamison, and Horbeck—“back at the station. We’re having a meeting in thirty minutes. Don’t be late.” Clark grumbled, headed to his car, and squealed away.

  “What the hell was that about?” Jack asked.

  “You’ll find out in a half hour. I better call Kate and give her a heads-up.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because she needs to sit in on this.”

  Chapter 55

  I called Kate’s phone as I drove. I had to hurry, and she had to be ready to go. Clark wasn’t on board with my idea to begin with, and being late to the meeting would just anger him more than he already was.

  I pulled into the driveway and honked. Kate ran out through the front door.

  “Why can’t you tell me what’s going on?” She closed the passenger door behind her once she was seated.

  “You’ll find out with everyone else.”

  I drove in silence as I thought about how the meeting would go. My idea wouldn’t make anyone happy, especially Kate. I turned left onto Schmidt Road and then another immediate left into the sheriff’s department parking lot. I checked the time—we had eight minutes before we’d be expected in the conference room. There might be enough time to grab something from the vending machine. We exited my Cobra and crossed the parking lot. I pulled open the glass door and we walked into the building’s vestibule. Once inside the main area, we passed the reception counter and entered the bull pen through the security door, then headed down the hallway. Kate knew the way—she had been here plenty of times in the last few weeks. I peeked around the corner of the conference room and saw everyone except Billings. I took a quick glance at the clock—I still had three minutes.

  “I’m going to grab a candy bar, boss. I’ll be right back. Kate, do you want anything?”

  She shook her head. “I’m good.”

  I was back in two minutes and found an empty seat. Billings walked in right after me.

  Clark stood at the head of the table with his arms crossed defiantly over his large chest.

  “It appears that Jade has an idea on how to catch the Lynch brothers. Everything we know, see, and hear is telling us they’r
e in the area. Normally, finding the perps, taking them by surprise, and placing them under arrest would be the usual modus operandi, but we have a unique problem here. Jade has graciously pointed out that we have no evidence in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Indiana that they’ve murdered anyone. We don’t have an eyewitness that puts them at the scene of an actual killing.”

  Clayton spoke up. “But what about the woman in Chicago? She described Robert Lynch perfectly.”

  “She did, and that he punched her in the face. That’s all she had.”

  “What about the dead EMT?” Jamison asked.

  “No prints and no eyewitnesses that saw either brother. As a matter of fact, other than the hooker, we don’t have anyone that saw them face-to-face at all. The back view of possibly Robert Lynch abducting Deidra Nelson and a red-and-white truck at the scene is all we have. We were also told by prison personnel in Atlanta that Tony Lynch picked up Robert in a red-and-white truck, and he has long hair and a beard. There isn’t a DA in any state that will prosecute them for murder, or even attempted murder—it won’t stick. Circumstantial evidence won’t put these two away for life.”

  “What’s your plan, Jade?” Horbeck asked as he turned toward me.

  “Boss?”

  “You have the floor, Jade. Go ahead and plead your case.” Clark plopped down on his chair with a thud and sighed.

  I stood and took a deep breath—I was prepared to get vetoed. “First, we need to find them, then we’ll lure them in when the time is right. They can be the hunted instead of the hunters. There will be eyes on them at all times, they just won’t know it. We’ll follow every move they make in our personal vehicles so it doesn’t raise suspicion. We know they’re here for Kate, but unless they actually try to kill her, we have nothing. They’re smart, but we’re smarter. That’s why I’m going to let them think I’m Kate. I’m going to dress like her, wear my hair like her, and go to and from her apartment in her car. I’m sure they know where she lives by now.” I turned toward Kate. “I’m taking over your life until they’re caught. That means I’m going to let Robert Lynch try to kill me.”

  “The hell you are! I won’t let you do this, Jade.” Tears sprang from Kate’s eyes. “I feel responsible enough already.”

  “Kate, just because you dreamed about the killings doesn’t mean you’re responsible for any of it. These guys are extremely dangerous, and they have to be taken down. I know I can pull it off. Look at me—I’m the same size as you, our hair is the same color. It’s cold outside. Everyone is bundled up this time of year, and they won’t know the difference.”

  Groans and objections sounded from the room. My idea was stupid, it was too dangerous, and I’d never pass for Kate—it went on and on.

  “Save it. I’m doing this my way. It’s the only thing that will work. Now, we need to find where they’re hunkered down. Let’s put our thinking caps on, guys. What would anyone be doing out there at that time of night? What’s nearby that a person would be heading to? We’ll know more when we find the woman’s car, but for now we need to find stores, gas stations, or motels within five miles in any direction of the crime scene. We can reevaluate our parameters when we find the car. We’re going to look for an older red-and-white truck.” I looked at Clayton. “Chad, will you grab my laptop from the bull pen and bring it here, please?”

  “Sure, Jade. I’ll be right back.”

  Chad returned with my laptop a few minutes later and set it on the conference room table. I typed in the names of the closest roads to the crime scene and plugged them into the maps app. A map popped up showing the location. We crowded around the computer. I typed in businesses within a five-mile radius. The map brought up all of the businesses that were five miles in any direction from that intersection.

  Clark stuck his nose close to the screen—he’d forgotten to grab his reading glasses off his desk. “Okay, there’s a quick mart, a submarine sandwich shop and gas station complex, and a roadside motel. If we go any farther out, we’ll start hitting towns. I’m sure the Lynch brothers want to stay out of sight.”

  “Pull up the street view of the motel,” I said. “We need to see how that place is laid out.”

  Clark tapped a few keys, and the street view of that address came up.

  “What a shit hole,” Billings said.

  “Yeah, perfect for them, and it’s right off of Highway 41,” Jack added.

  I looked over my shoulder at Kate. She sat with her head in her hands, staring down at the table. “Kate, any opinions?”

  “This makes me really nervous, Jade, but I’d agree that’s likely where they’re holed up.”

  “Okay—do you mind if I take the lead, boss?”

  “Go ahead.” Clark wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

  “Jack and I will take my car and do a drive-by of the motel. Clayton, you and Billings go check out the quick mart, and Jamison, you and Horbeck check out the gas station and sub shop. Surveillance only, people, and stay invisible. We’re looking for the red-and-white truck. Don’t worry about plates. They’re likely stolen, anyway, and can be from anywhere.”

  I addressed Jack and asked him to check on the deputies’ progress in finding the car. He got up and exited the room. I turned back to the rest of my colleagues. “Remember, we don’t want to spook these guys. There’s no evidence against them yet that will stick. We need to do this right the first time.”

  Jack returned a few minutes later. “The guys found a white Ford Fiesta along the side of the road a couple of miles from the crime scene. The car has Minnesota plates on it. They’re checking with the DMV for the owner’s name.”

  I looked at Kate, and she nodded.

  “Let’s go over that map one more time and spread our parameters out another few miles.” We checked and found a junkyard on the far north edge of our search area. “I’m not too concerned with that place, but we’ll keep it in mind. Since we’re using our personal cars, our contact with each other will have to be with our cell phones. Anyone that sees that truck needs to call the rest of us. We’re going to put twenty-four-hour surveillance on them. Okay, let’s go.”

  Chapter 56

  “Jack, do you want to take your car or mine? Either way, we have to drop Kate off at my house first.”

  “Let’s take mine. It’s a little roomier.”

  Everyone knew the plan. We would check out those locations, hopefully find the truck, and then reconvene back at the station to set up our plan of action to draw them in.

  “Can I go along, Jade? It’s only surveillance, you said. I could be of some help.”

  I jerked my head at Clark. “It’s his call, Kate. You aren’t in law enforcement.”

  Clark huffed but gave a nod. “Don’t you dare approach that vehicle if you spot it. Promise me.”

  “I promise, boss.” I slapped my hands together. “Okay, guys, let’s go.”

  Everyone took off out of the parking lot in their personal cars and headed north. I sat in the passenger seat of Jack’s Charger, and Kate sat in the back. The motel would take about twenty minutes to get to. We decided the safest way to look for the truck was to pass by the motel on Interstate 41. According to the satellite imagery, the motel was on a frontage road, and the rooms faced the highway. We’d be able to see if a red-and-white truck was parked there.

  “What if they parked behind the building?” Kate asked.

  “It’s possible they did, but we’re going to do it the safe way first. If they aren’t parked out front, we’ll backtrack to the frontage road and check behind the motel.”

  Fifteen minutes later, my cell phone rang—Jamison was calling.

  “No truck in the parking lot at the sub shop and gas station. I’m going to fill up with gas and take a quick look inside.”

  “Okay, after that you guys can head back to town. Keep us updated if anything new pops.” Clayton would probably be calling soon too. I doubted if he’d find the same clerk that was on duty last night, but he could likely get the person’s na
me.

  “The motel is coming up on the right,” Jack said.

  Kate craned her neck out the side window, obviously hoping to get a better look. “I don’t see a truck in the parking lot.”

  I turned in the seat and looked over my shoulder. Kate sat back with a discouraged expression.

  “We’re going to exit at the frontage road entrance and backtrack. We’ll check the motel closer from behind. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  Jack took the next exit off of Interstate 41. It seemed odd to me to call this highway an interstate. For my entire life it was considered Highway 41, and most of us still called it by that name. Nothing about it had changed in the last twenty years. Jack turned right at the top of the ramp, went a block, and then turned right again onto the frontage road. The motel was a half mile back. He slowed the car to a crawl as we neared the building. Tucked in alongside the fenced garbage cans was a red-and-white pickup truck.

  “There it is!” Kate said as she grabbed the back of my seat and leaned forward. “I can’t believe we’re actually seeing it in person. It isn’t just a part of my dream world anymore.”

  I checked the time—it was closing in on noon. “How do you want to handle this, Jack? Wouldn’t they need to grab some lunch sooner or later?”

  Jack looked around. “Probably, which means I need to find a spot to park where we’re hidden from view if they come out. Right now, we’re far too visible.” He backed his car under a stand of trees a short distance from the motel but still within perfect sight of the truck and the driveway. He parked and killed the engine. We were hidden well enough that we wouldn’t raise suspicion.

  I called Jamison and Clayton and told them the truck was parked at the motel. They could go back to the sheriff’s department and get further instructions from the lieutenant. I wanted to get this plan in motion starting today. I clicked off and called Clark.