Amber shook her head. “Sam’s mother died of breast cancer when she was sixteen. Her father died last year of a heart attack. She was an only child. I’m all she had,” she sobbed.
“Again, I’m so sorry for your loss,” said David as he rose and headed to the door. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Thank you,” she said from the couch. As the door closed behind him she buried her face in the arm of the sofa and wept uncontrollably.
******
David had the files for both of the other women in the front seat of his car. He opened Peggy’s file.
He saw that she had an ex-husband, Jonathan, but no children. Her parents reside in Indiana. Their number was in the file. He hated to break this type of news over the phone.
Instead he called their local law enforcement agency. He asked them to do it for him as a professional courtesy.
******
David went looking for cold case missing persons files and found one for Nicole Bradley. She had been missing for five years. The date of her disappearance fit the timeline for Jane Doe #1.
Nicole had vanished without a trace from the parking lot of the Sky View Mall. There was no medical information listed in her file. That made obtaining the records even more difficult.
He would have to visit all of the local dental and doctor’s offices hoping to find the right one. Not to mention that doctors are reluctant to give out any information without the patient’s consent.
Once he located the dentist and doctor he would still have to get a court order for the records. He still had a lot of work to do on this case.
And then there’s Trish.
******
David’s next stop was Smitty’s garage. He was following up on a lead from the call center. He walked in through one of the open bay doors. Jared stopped him before he had gotten too far.
“Customer lounge is through the other door,” he said.
“I’m not a customer,” David said, “I’m Detective David Moore with the Charlottesburg Police Department. I’m here to Speak with Gerald Smith. Can you tell where I might find him?”
“I think he’s in the office, or at least he was.” Jared said. David turned around and found the entrance to the lounge.
The office was inside on the other side of the room. An older man was sitting at the computer on the counter.
David approached the man and said, “Excuse me, but I’m looking for Gerald Smith.”
The man looked up from his work. “Well, you’ve found him,” he said, “Can I help you?”
David introduced himself and took a seat at the counter across from Gerald.
“I’m here about a message you left with the call center. It said that you know the man in the sketch,” said David.
“Well,” said Gerald, “It looks a lot like a mechanic I had working for me a while back. That man’s name is Travis Conrad. I haven’t seen him in months. He left for a short vacation and never came back.”
“How long did he work here?” asked David.
“A little over a year,” replied Gerald.
“What can you tell me about him?” asked David. “Not much I’m afraid,” said Gerald, “He pretty much kept to himself. Never spoke of any family. He did his job and went home.”
“Speaking of his home, where’s that?” asked David.
“I don’t know off the top of my head,” said Gerald, “But I think it’s in his personnel file in the back office. I’ll go get it.”
He got up and went through a door in the back of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a manila file folder. He put it on the counter in front of David.
“This is all I have,” he said. David opened the folder. The first thing he saw was a copy of a Virginia driver’s license.
The name on the front was Travis Conrad. The photograph bore a striking resemblance to the composite sketch.
The address listed on the license and job application was a P.O. box. Not much help there. There were two satellite mailbox shops and a main Post Office in town.
“Can I get copies of these?” asked David as he handed Gerald the papers.
“Sure thing.” Gerald replied taking the papers to the back. He returned with the copies and handed them to David.
“Thanks,” said David, “Just one more question.”
“Shoot.” replied Gerald.
“Where can I find Jared Marshall?” David asked. “He’s in the maintenance bay. He’s the only mechanic I have since Travis left. You probably saw him on your way in, but I’ll get him for you,” answered Gerald.
******
Jared confirmed everything that Gerald had told him. “I can tell you one more thing,” said Jared as David got up to leave. David stopped and turned around.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I saw a man running out of the of woods that night. He looked like a madman and he was full of rage. That man was Travis Conrad. I can promise you that.”
“Thanks, if you remember anything else feel free to call me,” said David as he handed Jared his business card.
That made two positive identifications, but he still needed to talk to the others.
After talking to the others on the list, David had enough information to petition the local Judge for an arrest warrant.
He placed the necessary call.
******
Judge Howard Taylor was presiding over a small claims trial. A landlord was suing a tenant for back rent and possession of a rental property. His judicial assistant approached and handed him a handwritten note which read:
Your Honor,
Detective David Moore is asking that you call him at your earliest convenience. He’s seeking an arrest warrant in reference to a recent kidnapping. His Number is 571-555-2741.
Judge Taylor looked up at the attorneys and said, “Counselors, I’m afraid I have urgent business that I need to attend to. Court will stand in recess for thirty minutes,” he said as he banged his gavel on the desk.
He stood and left the room.
The phone conference with Judge Taylor went better than he expected. He got his arrest warrant. The warrant was entered into the national criminal database. There was only one problem. First things first. They had to find Travis Conrad
But now if he so much as hiccupped they’d find him. All that was left to do now was wait.
******
Trish was in the back part of the house when she thought she heard the phone. She picked it up on the second ring.
“Young residence,” she said into the receiver.
“Trish?” asked David.
“Yes,” she answered cautiously.
“It’s David,” he said reassuringly, “I was wondering if you could come to the station for a photo lineup. We have some new information in the case.”
“Sure, just one problem. I don’t have a way to get there.”
“I’ll send a car for you,” said David, “It’ll be there around 8:30 a.m.
“Okay… I’ll be ready,” she said.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Trish had set her alarm for 7:30 a.m. But to her dismay she awoke at 6:00 a.m. and couldn’t get back to sleep. Why bother, she thought.
After she packed her things, she went to the bathroom and started getting ready. As she was putting the finishing touches on her makeup she heard a car pull into the driveway.
She looked out the window just in time to see the driver get out of the car. Send a car, she thought. Yeah right.
David walked up to the porch and rang the bell. Trish opened the door.
“Send a car?” she asked accusingly.
“Well, if you want something done right you do it yourself,” he said.
Trish shook her head as she picked up her suitcase and followed him to the car.
When they arrived at the station he escorted her to one of the interview rooms. On the table were six photographs. They were lying in two rows of three. Each one labeled with a number. Trish sat down at the table.<
br />
“Take your time,” said David. Trish touched each photo. Picking them up to get a closer look and placing them back on the table. Studying each one individually before finally making her final selection.
“It’s number three.” she said with confidence, putting the photo on the table in front of David. “That’s him.”
The photo was the one of Travis Conrad.
******
Travis parked outside the Feed-n-Seed to wait for his latest angel. He had been watching Amanda for about a week, learning her routine. Right on time she exited the rear door and headed to her car. She got into her SUV and started the engine.
He watched as she disappeared into the night. Such an exquisite beauty, he thought.
She arrived at her apartment and threw her purse on the dining room table. It had been a long day and she was extremely tired. She went to take a shower and get ready for bed.
******
Travis had followed her to the small apartment. He parked on a side street with a view of her bedroom window.
Her sexy silhouette shadowed against the blinds as she undressed for bed. His desire for her was building.
He wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait. He watched until she turned out the light.
It would have to be soon.
******
David visited the two satellite mailbox shops. He discovered there was no record of a P.O. box at either location belonging to a Travis Conrad.
At the Charlottesburg Post Office he hit pay dirt. One mailbox was listed as having been registered to Travis Conrad. The street address on record was 854 Garden View Terrace. David made several more calls.
He had to make sure he got the necessary search warrants. He wasn’t going to take any chances.
With search warrants in hand David and several uniformed officers headed to the Garden View Terrace address. It turned out to be an apartment complex. They went into the rental office to get directions and the keys to unit 854.
The leasing agent told them that an eviction process had recently been initiated for that unit. The rent was three months past due.
The search of Travis’ apartment yielded very little information. The unit looked as if it hadn’t been used in weeks There was an old power bill in a stack of papers in the middle of the kitchen table.
The bill was in Conrad’s name, but not for the address of the apartment. However, it was a local address.
Thinking it might be important David took a small notepad from his shirt pocket and wrote down the address. Other than the address they left empty handed.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Travis finished his morning coffee and set the mug on the counter. He glanced out the kitchen window. The cows were starting to come to the gate expecting their breakfast.
He walked across to the shed and opened one of the bay doors. He walked past the Bobcat to get to the stairs at the back of the barn that led to the hayloft.
As he passed the tractor he noticed that the keys were missing from the ignition. He had plans for this Bobcat and would need to find that key. Right now though, he had other things to do.
He went up to the loft, opened the window and threw several bales of hay down to the cows. Completing the task, he went back downstairs.
A workbench sat against the back wall of the shed. He started rummaging through its drawers and found what he was looking for, the keys.
He put them in his shirt pocket.
******
When David came into work he went straight to the coffee pot. It was too early and he was not yet awake. He opened and started reading one of the many files that lay on his desk.
It was a criminal trespass complaint for a cabin on Wildfire Lake. The owner had been checking on his property and noticed several broken windows. The insurance company had required a report for the incident. Reading through the file he noticed a familiar address.
Pulling the notepad from his pocket he compared the address to the one in the file. The street names matched.
He turned to his computer and performed a property record search for the address he had written down. The name of the owner of the property was George Conrad. Are they related? Is that where he’s hiding?
He grabbed his coat and practically ran to his car. He called Gary and gave him the address. Gary agreed to meet him there. Needing a search warrant for the cabin he called Judge Taylor again.
After explaining the circumstances he got the warrant. David placed one more call to the special teams unit. Their specialty was going after dangerous people in unknown situations.
That’s precisely what they were about to do.
******
Keith Nelson, the leader of the special teams unit, set up a perimeter around the address. He keyed up his portable radio and announced, “In position and standing by.”
David responded, “Hold positions. Any sign of movement?”
“Negative, sir,” answered Keith, “No cars outside.”
“All units… you’re clear to move in,” said David.
The team approached the cabin in standard two-by-two formation. The first two went to each side of the front door.
The next two stationed at the back of the cabin to watch the rear exit. Keith motioned silently with his fingers, one…two…three. He nodded to the door as a signal to go. Both men made entry into the cabin and cleared each room as they went.
After a few minutes Keith keyed up his radio, “All clear. No sign of him.” He stepped out on the porch, meeting David at the steps.
“Doesn’t look like he’s been gone long. Dirty dishes on the stove and in the sink.”
“We have an active search warrant for this place. I want everything you find. We have got to find this guy, before he strikes again,” said David. “I want those forks and spoons from the sink. They’ll have his DNA.”
During the search of the cabin one of the officers called out, “I’ve got something here!”
David ran to the back room where he found the officer kneeling on the floor beside the bed. She was taking pictures of something. David bent to get a closer look.
Wedged in between the bed and the night stand was a single white clog type shoe. One like Peggy was reportedly wearing the last time she was seen.
After taking photos from several different angles the officer put the shoe into an evidence bag.
She opened a drawer of the night stand. Lying inside was a gray portable radio with a Velcro strap and pink earbuds.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Travis started the Bobcat and drove to the back property line. He had walked the entire property the day before. During this walk he found a creek running along the property at south edge.
He had chosen that as her spot. Not quite the view she’d have at the lake, he thought, but it would have to do. He lowered the scoop and started digging.
He had enjoyed creating this special place for her to rest and relax. Satisfied with the results of his labor, he drove the tractor back to the shed.
******
Amanda was getting ready for her shift when her phone rang. “Hello?” she said.
“Amanda, it’s mom. You need to come home, honey. Something has happened to Grandma.”
“What happened?” Amanda asked.
“The doctor thinks she might have had a heart attack, but he’s not sure at this point. They’re running more tests on her right now. Please hurry, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can mom. Please tell her I’m on my way and that I love her,” said Amanda. She started packing a small bag.
She called the store and explained the situation and left less than an hour later.
Amanda drove all day and well into the night. Arriving at the Vicksburg hospital, she went straight to the information desk.
“I was told my grandmother was brought here. Her name is Irma Henderson,” she said. The receptionist directed her to the second floor and room 227.Christine, her mother, was sitting in a chair in the co
rner of the room.
“I’m so glad you made it sweetheart.” Christine said as she stood and embraced her. “She’s stable, for now. The doctor left a few minutes ago, but she’s still unconscious.”
They sat, wept and said a quiet prayer.
******
Travis had planned everything down to the last detail, well almost. He needed to go into town to get some lime and a few other things.
As he was getting into the car he saw a purse lying on the floor mat. He hadn’t noticed it before. When he looked inside it, he found Trish’s wallet. Quickly removing the cash, he threw the wallet back into the purse.
He would burn it later. Can’t use her credit cards, he thought. Cops could follow the paper trail.
He drove to the Feed-n-Seed and went to the garden section. The lime was right up front, but he didn’t get it, at least, not right away. Walking through the store, he looked for Amanda.
Not finding her he asked a clerk, “Is Amanda working today?”
“Are you a friend of the family?” the clerk asked.
“No, just a friend.” Travis replied.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, but Amanda left early this morning. She was heading to Kentucky. Some sort of family emergency,” the clerk answered.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Hope everything turns out alright.” Travis said.
Not wanting to waste a trip he picked up the items he needed. He went to the paint department and looked at the masks. He selected a type used by painters to protect themselves from the fumes.
Going back to the garden section he picked up a large bag of the lime. Taking his selections to the register, he paid for the items in cash. He put his purchases in the trunk.
Hidden Angels: Wildfire Lake Book One Page 11
