Premonition (Detective Jade Monroe 4)

by C. M. Sutter

  “Boss, we have eyes on the truck. We’re going to sit here for a bit to see if they leave. If they do, we’ll follow them from a distance.”

  “Damn it, Jade. You have a civilian in the car with you.”

  “We’ll be careful, boss. I don’t want to lose them.”

  “No way. Call Clayton and tell him to pick her up. She’ll be at the station when you get back unless you want your sister to come and get her.”

  “I guess you’re right, lieutenant. I’ll call Amber now. Who knows how long we’ll be out here, anyway.”

  I clicked off and sent a quick text to Amber, then called Clayton again and told him the change of plans. We’d have to get Kate out of Jack’s car quickly and transfer her to Clayton’s. I didn’t want her accidentally seen in the process.

  I turned toward Jack. “Do you have any props in the car—just in case we need them?”

  “Yeah, look through the glove box. You can always use the owner’s manual. Put your stocking cap and your sunglasses back on.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, good idea.”

  “This is like a real stakeout,” Kate said.

  “It is a real stakeout, Kate, and we take it seriously. Keep your eyes peeled and your head low.”

  “Okay, sorry.”

  We sat for ten more minutes and made small talk. I looked toward the motel every thirty seconds.

  “Shit, they’re coming out. Kate, take a quick look, then lie down on the seat.” I grabbed the owner’s manual off my lap and held it up to my face. Jack covered his brow with his hand.

  “Did you get a good look?” I asked Kate.

  “Yep, a few seconds was all I needed. I’m sure Tony Lynch is the man in my dream. Jade, my heart is pounding a hundred miles a minute.”

  “I know, hon. Just keep it together.”

  We watched from the corners of our eyes as Robert and Tony Lynch sauntered to their truck. They clearly had no idea we were there, and I was thankful for that.

  “Hurry and call Clayton. Tell him to hold back, they’re heading out,” Jack said.

  I grabbed my cell phone out of the door pocket and made the call. “Clayton, they’re leaving. Stay out of sight. Where are you?”

  “I’m about a mile south of the motel on the frontage road.”

  “Is there any place to pull off?”

  “Yeah, I see a side road. I’ll make a quick turn. Do you want me to take over following them if they pass me?”

  “Absolutely—I’ll call you right back and tell you which way they went.”

  They got in, Tony behind the wheel, and pulled out onto the road. They were heading toward Clayton and Billings. I made the call.

  “Clayton, they’re coming your way. Keep your heads down until they pass, then tail them from a distance. We don’t want them getting spooked. Tell Billings to keep us updated every few minutes. We’re going to drop Kate off at the station and then join you guys. Don’t lose them.”

  “Roger that, Jade. I see them coming—okay, they just passed by.”

  “Good—stay at least five car lengths behind them. I’d venture to say they’re heading somewhere to grab a bite for lunch. Let us know when they stop.” I looked to the backseat while Jack pulled out. “Kate, you can sit up now. I’m going to text Amber again and tell her to head to the sheriff’s department. I’ll go over everything with you later, but for now, you need to be safe.”

  “Okay, I understand.”

  My phone rang again—it was Billings.

  “Hey, Jade, according to the satellite map we printed out, it looks like they’re heading to that sub shop. Is Jamison and Horbeck still there?”

  “I told them they could leave once we spotted the truck, but I’m not sure if they were going to talk to the staff first or not. Give Jamison a call. If they’re still there, tell them to stay put, grab some food, and find a seat in an inconspicuous corner. I don’t want them looking like two cops.”

  “Got it. I’ll let you know.” Billings clicked off.

  I looked at Jack. “According to Billings, they’re heading in the direction of the sub shop. If they had half a brain, they wouldn’t go into town until after dark.”

  “I agree. It’s time to set up the twenty-four-hour surveillance on them. The deputies can handle that while we cast the net.”

  We were a few minutes from town when Horbeck called.

  “Jade, Brian here. Billings told us the Lynch brothers were heading our way. We were about a mile down the road, but we turned back. We’ll grab a couple of subs and find a corner booth with a good view. The parking lot had a few cars, and the gas station was busy. We shouldn’t stand out from anyone else.”

  “Great, I’m glad you were still close.”

  “It’s a good thing we didn’t go inside earlier and talk to anyone. If those two had walked in right after we gave the staff their descriptions—well, you could imagine how that might have turned out.”

  “Yeah, keep me posted. Once you have eyes on the truck, call Billings and tell them to back off. We’re almost at the station now. I’ll have Clark set up a handful of deputies to surveil them in unmarked cruisers going forward. I need to know what they’re doing day and night.”

  I clicked off, and Jack pulled into the parking lot. He parked, and we crossed the lot to the building’s entrance. Just beyond the bull pen, Clark sat in his office, talking with someone on the phone. He nodded our way. We took seats at our desks and waited. The sound of Clark hanging up his phone and his chair being pushed back told us the call was over. He exited his office and grabbed a vacant guest chair from Clayton’s desk.

  “Okay, Jade, the stab vests are on their way from Milwaukee. I asked the metro PD to send six of them, and I requested the ones with the collars for neck protection.”

  “Stab vest? Is there really such a thing?” Kate asked. A surprised and worried expression washed across her face.

  “Yeah, there is,” I said. “Ballistic-proof vests do nothing to protect against knife attacks. We know what the Lynch brothers’ weapon of choice is, and we have to be prepared.”

  Clayton and Billings walked in a few minutes later. Billings peeled off his coat, hung it over the back of his chair, and plopped down. “Who’s up for pizza delivery? I have a feeling we’re going to be putting in a lot of hours until this Lynch brothers ordeal is over.”

  “Yeah, I’ll second that. As a matter of fact, you guys decide on two large pizzas, my treat. Paying for pizza is the least I can do.” I gave everyone in the room a nod. “Your support means a lot to me.” At the beverage station, I heated water in the microwave for Kate’s tea, then turned to Clayton. “Chad, did you hear back from Jamison? Do they have eyes on the brothers?”

  “They definitely do. He said they had just sat down with their subs when Robert and Tony walked in. They got a good look at them from twenty feet away. He said they’re pretty tough looking.”

  “Yeah, we saw them from a hundred feet or so, but I know what he means. Hardened criminals definitely have an ugly look to them. Boss, have you spoken to the North Bend PD yet about working together? We need plenty of people watching these two, especially since I’ll be putting myself right in front of them as often as I can.”

  Clark responded as he cradled his cup of coffee. “Lieutenant Colbert is assigning five officers to work undercover in the downtown area until Robert and Tony are caught. You’ll always have somebody covering you, Jade, whether it’s us or the city boys.”

  “Good to know.”

  Jan entered the bull pen and apologized for the interruption. “Sorry, Jade, but Amber is here to pick up Kate.”

  “Great, thanks, Jan. Okay, Kate, I want you to stay indoors when you get to my place. Don’t wander around town and don’t go anywhere in your car. I’ll be using it for a few days. Until these boys are caught, I’m you.” I handed Kate her coat and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “It will be over with before Thanksgiving Day. Nobody is going to interrupt our holiday dinner.” I smiled reassuringly and l
ed her out the door.

  Back inside, I sat with the guys and explained what I wanted to do. “I want to make sure they see me come and go from Kate’s apartment. With her car and our similarities in appearance, they’ll think I’m her for sure. I doubt if they’ll strike at all during the daytime—too risky. Between tomorrow and Tuesday, they should have plenty of time to familiarize themselves with my routine as Kate. When the time is right, I’ll put myself right in front of them and give them every opportunity to strike.”

  Clark groaned and raked his hands through his hair. “Why did I ever advance you to department sergeant?”

  I grinned. “Because you know I’m capable.” My desk phone rang as I poured myself a cup of coffee. I sat down and answered. “Hello, Sergeant Jade Monroe speaking. How may I help you?”

  I winked at Clark, and he rolled his eyes and retreated to his office.

  “Jade, it’s Joe Amoroso. I called your house, and your dad said you were at the station. I wanted to update you and your department on the most recent news.”

  “Okay, I’m listening. Go ahead.”

  “Chicago PD found the hooker that was with Lucky. She was well hidden deep in Lakeland Park. Her throat was open from ear to ear, and duct tape was wrapped around her head twice to cover her mouth. Detective Branson said forensics checked the prints on the tape—they aren’t in the system.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “Then that must be Tony’s work.”

  “We thought the same thing. Here’s a good one, though. Lucky reluctantly gave Chicago PD the hundred-dollar bill Robert gave her. Of course there were numerous sets of prints on the money, and his were among them.”

  “Damn it, that still doesn’t put Robert at the scene of a murder, but it does prove he left Georgia. That won’t make his parole officer too happy. As of”—I checked the clock above the door—“an hour ago, Robert and Tony were spotted just north of North Bend. This morning a farmer discovered a young woman in his cornfield with her throat slit wide open. Our deputies found her car abandoned along the side of the road, and it had Minnesota plates on it. We’re still waiting to hear on an ID.”

  “Jesus, when is this going to end?”

  “I’ll tell you when—in the next day or two. We’re implementing my plan and watching their every move. Soon enough we can all take a deep breath, because whether they realize it or not, the Lynch brothers’ killing spree is officially over.”

  Chapter 57

  “Okay, I think we have everything under control for now. Jade, there are two deputies that took over surveillance. Jamison and Horbeck are on their way back in. The deputies will check into the motel as civilians and follow the Lynch brothers every time they leave their room. We’ll have unmarked cars stationed at different locations all the way to Kate’s apartment, and the city boys have officers downtown and extra units available at our beck and call.”

  Clark gave me a concerned look.

  “Understood, boss.”

  “All right, then. Go home and get Kate’s car and apartment keys. You’ll carry on for the next few days as her and stay in her apartment. You’re going to wear a shoulder mic at all times, and anytime you’re not indoors, you’ll have that stab vest under your coat.”

  I nodded. “Thank goodness it’s cold outside. I’d be sweating my ass off wearing that thing everywhere during the warm months.”

  Jack’s dimples sprouted on his cheeks when he grinned. “Yeah, plus you wouldn’t have a way to camouflage it.”

  “Smart aleck. All right, I’m out of here. What channel are we going to use during this operation?” I grabbed my coat out of the closet and slipped it on.

  “We’re connecting with the PD and using their channels. That way, we’ll all be on the same radio frequency. Just in case the Lynch boys have a police scanner, we’ve gotten the okay from the public safety department to use the water utility radio frequency. Those brothers aren’t smart enough to think of that. The radio frequency is 159.97500.” Clark stood, rubbed his belly, and sighed. “Be safe, Jade, and keep your head on a swivel. Here’s your vest, radio and shoulder mic. Have them on at all times outdoors.”

  I held the equipment in my hand. “This will be over with soon, I’m sure of it. See you guys on the flip side.” I grinned at my crew and walked out.

  The wind whipped as I crossed the parking lot and climbed into my car. I called my dad and told him I was on my way home. He was glad and mentioned how he hadn’t thought I’d be spending my vacation time this way.

  “Sorry, Dad, but you’re a cop. You know the drill, and I’m sure you’ve interrupted your own plans dozens of times.”

  “I know sweetheart, and you’re right. I can’t even count how many times I’ve disappointed other people by canceling outings, dinners, and the like. How about a fresh pot of coffee?”

  “That sounds great, and I’ll be home in ten minutes. I have a lot to tell you guys.”

  A few minutes later, I turned into Ashbury Woods Condominiums and drove to my street. I pulled into my driveway and pressed the button on my visor for the garage door opener. I waited as the door lifted. My Cobra would be snugged into my side of the two-car garage and would stay put for a few days. Kate’s red Civic sat parked on the driveway. I got out of my car and walked back to Kate’s. I couldn’t remember whether she had a manual or automatic transmission. I pressed my face against the cold glass and looked in—automatic.

  “That sucks. I thought you were way cooler than that, Kate.” I chuckled and walked back into the garage, where I slapped at the wall switch, lowered the overhead door, and entered the house.

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee instantly made me sigh with relief to be home. The days would only get more intense going forward. I’d have a few hours to relax with my family and Kate as I went over the course of events planned for the next few days. After dinner and under the darkened skies, I’d head to Kate’s apartment, hopefully being watched by Robert and Tony Lynch.

  Amber made a delicious beef stew for dinner. I was grateful, knowing Kate kept a sparsely stocked refrigerator and pantry. We spent a few hours enjoying my dad’s stories, catching up with his life and his ailments, and then it was time for me to go. I asked Kate the pertinent questions I needed to know in advance.

  “So, at night you always have to park in the back, correct?”

  “Yes,” Kate said, “and my parking spot is number two. During the day, it’s the same as anyone else. You can park out front if you want. Oh, and the furnace sometimes clunks in the middle of the night. I’ve grown used to it, but it is startling if you don’t know what it is.”

  “Good to know. Anything else?”

  “Will you be able to bring a few things back here tomorrow?”

  “Sure, make me a quick list, but keep it short. If they’re watching me come and go, I can’t look like I’m hauling clothes out. Two outfit changes and anything that will fit in my purse is all I can slip out of the apartment. Feel free to use my washer and dryer if you need to.”

  “Okay, thanks. I don’t have my phone charger, either.”

  “Let me take a look.”

  Kate handed me her phone, and I plugged my charger into it. It fit.

  “No problem. Use mine, and I’ll use yours. Okay, hugs and kisses, I have to go.” I said good- bye to everyone, told Amber not to forget to feed and water Polly and Porky, and took Kate’s keys. I slipped on my stab vest, radio, shoulder mic, and a knee-length lightweight coat.

  Kate stood at my side. “The gold key is for the security door at the street, and the silver one is for my apartment. Be safe, Jade.”

  “I will. I have the city police and the county sheriff’s department watching over me like hawks. I’ll be fine.”

  I climbed into Kate’s Civic and left. For a moment I felt entirely alone with a huge burden weighing on my shoulders. I shook it off and called Jack. It was time to put the plan into motion.

  “Hey, Jack, it’s Jade. I’m leaving my house right now and heading to Ka
te’s apartment.”

  “Okay, got your vest on?”

  I laughed. “Of course I do. I’ll admit this collar thing is a pain in the butt. It’s making my neck sweat.”

  “Better than the alternative.”

  I gave that some thought and agreed.

  “Okay, I’m going to alert everyone that you’re en route and we’re live. I’ll find out from the deputies where the Lynch boys are and call you right back.” Jack clicked off.

  I drove slowly since I’d arrive downtown in less than ten minutes. I wanted to know their whereabouts before I exited the car.

  My cell rang in the cup holder. “Hi, Jack, what’s the word?”

  “I just talked to the deputies that checked into the motel. The truck is still parked outside.”

  “Okay, then I’m good for tonight. I’ll keep my cell phone close by in case anything changes. Doubtful that I’ll go out again once I get to Kate’s place. I’m about to pull into Pit-Stop to get a few snacks and a doughnut or two for breakfast.”

  “Good enough. I’ll check back with you at ten o’clock. Just so you know, there are five city boys keeping watch downtown within a block of Kate’s apartment. Unless you recognize them, you won’t know who they are. Everyone has on street clothes.”

  “Thanks, partner, that’s reassuring.” I clicked off and went inside Pit-Stop and filled the blue basket with snacks for the next couple of days.

  Chapter 58

  Robert

  A TV news station played in the background while the brothers talked. The thin walls in that dumpy motel room couldn’t be trusted. More guests had checked in since earlier that day, and a few cars were parked outside. The brothers spoke in hushed voices as they made their plans. Robert sat, his chair precariously tilted back on the rear legs. A pint of whiskey, half gone, sat on the veneer-topped table in the corner of that small room. Two plastic cups from the bathroom were their rocks glasses for the night—minus the rocks.

  “How long do you want to wait?” Tony asked as he added another splash of booze into each cup.