by C. M. Sutter
Jack scratched his eyebrow. “We can’t say he’s wanted for attempted murder and kidnapping and is likely hiding out nearby. We don’t have any proof of that.”
“Okay, let’s make something up, then.”
Jack chuckled. “You do realize you work for law enforcement, don’t you?”
“Come on, boss. How are we ever going to get a lead if we don’t color outside the lines now and then? Anyway, we lie all the time.”
Jack coughed into his hand. “We do?”
“Sure, it’s allowed and even encouraged.”
“Amber, that’s only during interrogations, which is quite a bit different than lying to news stations and John Q. Public.”
“Okay, then let’s stretch the truth a little. We can say we need the community’s help in finding this man and his wife. That’s when we put the pictures of Brian and Trish up on the screen. Then we’ll say her father was shot several days ago and the family is frantically trying to reach their loved ones. They believe they’re staying at a cabin somewhere in north central Wisconsin.” I felt overjoyed. “That’ll work, won’t it? We aren’t lying about anything.”
“Wouldn’t the family just call their cell phones?” Clayton asked.
“Maybe the phones are dead or they don’t get good cell reception out in lake country. It isn’t our responsibility to explain everything to the viewers. Our only concern is tracking down Brian and Trish.”
“But if Brian sees that news coverage, he’ll bolt. It’s been established that wherever he’s staying has a TV in the unit, and there’s a reason he has that television on.”
Clayton added his opinion. “Yeah, he’s watching the news.”
“And so are other people. We only need one person who recognizes him to call the cops, then they can swoop in on him.”
Jack looked at the clock and tipped his head toward the door. “I’ll consider everything you suggested, Amber. It’s almost six o’clock. Jamison and Horbeck will be here in a few minutes, and they can take over answering calls and checking emails from those contact forms. Go home, give this case some more thought, and come in tomorrow with fresh minds and new ideas. Go ahead. Beat it.”
We left for home again without a solid plan in mind.
I buckled my seat belt as Kate drove out of the parking lot. “Aren’t you coming up with anything?”
Kate’s eyes widened. “Why me?”
“Never mind.” I stared at my cuticles and tried to remember when my last manicure was. “You know, all we need is one resort manager or owner to recognize Brian and it will be over with. I wonder if he’s changed his appearance.”
“Humph, I never thought of that. He could have dyed his hair, put on a baseball cap, and glued on a fake mustache. Even with his face broadcasted across the TV, nobody would recognize him. That’s especially true if he’s laying low and doesn’t spend much time outside. We should study those pictures closer, particularly the one from farther back. There could be a clue in plain sight that we didn’t take note of earlier.”
Kate pulled into the driveway and parked. We entered the house through the front door, where I could see the living room from the foyer. Jade was sitting on the recliner and watching the news. She paused the TV and walked into the kitchen, and we met her halfway.
“How was your day? Get any further in the investigation?”
I took our holsters and placed them over the hooks in the laundry room then took a seat at the breakfast bar while Kate popped open two soda cans.
“Unfortunately not. We’re hitting a brick wall when it comes down to tracking that rat. We know the general locations he would likely be in—if he’s there at all—but the callbacks from the resorts are barely coming in.”
“Yeah, this is their busiest time of year, and they’re likely booked out for months. Calling people back is probably low on their to-do list. To be honest, I doubt if resort managers give a crap if a kidnapper is staying in one of their cabins as long as the rent is paid.”
Kate let out a puff of air and took a seat next to me. “That’s a reassuring thought.”
I took a sip of my soda. “Any more coverage on Candy Dennis?”
“Tons of it, and it’s one of the most bizarre cases I’ve ever followed. The authorities are pretty sure the perp is the same guy who killed the three women before Candy,” Jade said.
“How did they come to that conclusion?”
Jade turned to Kate. “Like I said the other day, the physical appearances of the four women were the same, blond and petite, plus they were all in their twenties. Each dead woman had evidence of black-and-blue eyes, and Candy’s eyes were also deeply bruised.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t even want to go there. Can you imagine being beaten to death? Those other women must have had severe brain trauma. In fact, it was enough to kill them, but somehow Candy survived.”
Jade went on. “The fact that Candy is even alive seems to have stumped everyone. The authorities can’t figure out if that was a mistake on her kidnapper’s part or a deliberate act. Maybe he wants area women to see what he’s capable of.”
I smirked. “And to instill more fear in the St. Paul, Minneapolis, area than he already has.”
“That’s my theory, but unless the perp always had his or her face covered, she’d know what he looks like and would be able to work with a sketch artist once her mind clears.”
I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a can of soda for Jade. “Yeah, about that. Does a person actually lose their ability to walk and speak properly from blows to the head?”
Jade thanked me for the soda. “I’m not a neurologist, but I guess so. Why else would football players wear helmets?” She tipped her head toward the living room. “Let’s watch some more of the coverage.”
We followed Jade and took our seats on the couch.
“They aired the interview between the police and Candy’s parents, who have been caring for her kids for the last several days, and here’s the weirdest thing of all. Mrs. Dennis said the clothing Candy was found in doesn’t belong to her. The pants were way too large, and the green sweater looked old and tattered. And then what happened to her shoes? She was barefoot and her feet were torn up from being in the woods.”
“That’s totally bizarre,” Kate said. “Only Candy and the perp know what went on during her captivity. I imagine the questions will have to wait until she’s able to remember what happened.”
Chapter 28
Brian’s phone rang at 7:55 p.m. He dashed across the room and picked it up off the kitchen table then pulled aside the curtain above the sink and peered out. “Hello.”
The man in the car waited at the edge of the driveway. “I see you at the window, Brian, and I’m flashing my headlights right now.”
“Yep, got it.”
“Good. I’m going to snug my car in next to yours where it’ll be well-hidden. This process takes a while, and we won’t be sure of the outcome for a few days.”
Brian dropped the curtain and walked to the bedroom where Trish lay sleeping. An hour earlier, he forced more vodka and sleeping pills down her throat. That would keep her sedated for some time.
“Come on in. The bitch is out for the count, anyway. We’ll discuss everything once you’re inside.” He tapped End Call and stepped out to the porch. Brian took a seat in one of the chairs as he waited for his friend to park the vehicle. When he heard the car door close, he stood and rounded the corner. The men shook hands.
“It’s been too long, Brian. What is it now, almost a year?”
“Probably. Let me give you a hand with your gear. Looks like you grabbed some beer and groceries too. Thanks, man.”
“Not a problem. I like to eat now and then, and beer is a necessity of life. Too bad Mark couldn’t make it. It would have been a great reunion.”
“We’ll definitely do it in the fall.”
Brian pushed open the door with his foot, and they entered the cabin. They placed the supplies on the kitchen table.
“Ah, this cabin certainly brings back fond memories. You’ve stayed out of everybody’s sight, correct?”
“I guarantee you, nobody has seen my face.”
“Good. I blocked out availability of the two nearest cabins to keep some distance between us and the closest neighbors.”
“Smart thinking, and owning the resort helps. You’re the one calling the shots.”
“I do like having that control at all of my properties. At the resort, all of the reservations come through my personal email address. I don’t like that automated stuff or constantly updating websites.” He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. “The resort is my cash cow, and the clientele comes through word of mouth thanks to longtime friends like you. Everything I make from these cabins is invisible to the IRS since there’s no paper trail showing I rent out the units.”
“You’re a damn smart businessman and a good investor. Privately owned property of seventy acres on pristine water and the income hidden from the tax man? Hell, you even own all the land around the lake.” Brian put the beer and groceries away while they talked. He kept out two cans of Bud Light, pulled back the tabs, and passed one to his friend.
“Thanks, buddy. The way this place is maintained is why the same people come back year after year. The lake hasn’t been fished out by tourists, and there’s no motors allowed. The resort is well-cared for by a local friend who gets a free unit whenever he likes. Everyone else gets their cabin for half the price of the others in the area as long as the units are only rented to them and their closest friends. Nobody else is allowed back here.”
Brian made a toast. “Here’s to old times, current times, and better future times. Cheers, man.” They clanked the cans together and guzzled the beer.
“So, let’s see the little lady.”
“Sure thing. She’s napping in the bedroom.” Brian spun the four-digit combination lock to the right numbers and popped it off the latch. He swung open the door. “That’s Trish, the pain in my ass for the last nine years. She’s due for an overhaul.”
The man sat on the edge of the bed and looked her over. “She’s a pleasant surprise, Brian. I had no idea she was a blonde.” He stroked her long, fine hair. “A perfect specimen, if I do say so myself.”
Brian tipped his head toward the door. “Yep, she’s a beautiful blond bitch. Let’s talk about what you can do for me, Cole. I’m sick of her disrespect and disobedience. I’m the man of the house, and I make the rules, nobody else.”
Cole laughed. “Put your mind at ease. I have the remedy, and it’s been perfected to a T. Let’s have another beer, and I’ll tell you all about it.” He tossed his empty beer can in the trash and opened another one, then took a seat on the couch. Brian sat facing him in the arm chair and waited. “Have you been watching TV at all?”
“Sure, ever since I got here. You can never be too careful.”
“Good, then you must have seen the coverage of Candy Dennis of St. Paul earlier today.”
“Sure did.” Brian hesitated, and his eyes zeroed in on Cole. “That was your work?”
“Absolutely.” An expression of pride spread across Cole’s face. “The three test subjects before her were unsuccessful. Let’s just say I scrambled their eggs too vigorously, but Candy turned out perfect. You may want me to go a bit lighter on Trish, but I have the formula figured out.”
Brian’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together. “What can I expect?”
“The real question is, what do you want? Going forward, Candy will function as a severely challenged invalid with not much going on upstairs. She’ll never speak coherent words, won’t think above a one-year-old’s level, and won’t walk a straight line. Do you want that much or less?”
“I want Trish to do everything I say without back talk. She has to obey my every command one hundred percent, no matter what it is. She has to be my personal slave and remain loyal to me and only me.”
“Okay, do you want to give her the ability to think and speak?”
Brian rubbed his chin. “I want her to be able to respond to my commands but not have the knowledge to voice her opinions.”
“So, something like a five-year-old’s mentality?”
“Probably less. As long as she can speak simple sentences, I’m good with that. She doesn’t need anything else.”
“I can manage that. Candy is far more challenged, and it’s the only reason I released her back into the world. She’ll never speak words again, so there’s no chance in hell of her identifying me. The woman is in a state of catatonia with the simple exception that she can stumble and drool. I’ll turn Trish into whatever you want.”
“Then we’ll start in the morning. Tonight is all about catching up and having a good time. We can even hit the local strip club if you want.”
“I’d like that. Finish your beer, and then we’ll go.”
Chapter 29
Brian’s temples pounded to the beat of the deep bass playing in Weasels, the nearby strip club. Both men sat front and center in the darkened, smoky room and watched the featured dancer.
Brian chuckled. “That’s the way all women should behave. They need to do everything they can to keep us men interested. It isn’t hard to have a wandering eye, you know.”
Cole nodded and ordered two more beers. “Seen but not heard, right?”
“Absolutely. Their purpose is limited to sex, cooking, and cleaning—they aren’t good for anything else. That’s why Trish doesn’t need to keep much of her brain.”
“One more round, Brian, then it’s back to the cabin. I need to have steady fingers when I do my magic tomorrow.”
“Sure, not a problem.”
By midnight, the men were seated in Cole’s car and driving the fifteen minutes back to the cabin.
“How many cabins are rented out right now?”
“Only two until the weekend, and they’re across the lake. The nearest cabin on this side is reserved for my cousin and his wife, but they won’t arrive until Saturday, and they have no idea I’m here. We’ve got this side of the lake to ourselves for the time being.”
“So why did I need to stay out of sight?” Brian threw the trash from the floor out the window then rolled it up.
“Because Deer Path Trail is a one-lane road that circles the lake. It passes by my cabin, and there’s only one way in and one way out. I don’t want anybody to know I’m here, and I don’t want the cars seen. By the time my cousin shows up, I’ll be gone, and you’ll be on your way to the rental I have in Watersmeet.”
“Yep, that’s the plan.”
Cole turned onto Deer Path Trail and drove the quarter mile to the first cabin. He tucked his vehicle inside the carport, against the Lumina, and covered it with the tarp. The men climbed out and crossed to the porch. Brian unlocked the cabin’s front door, and they entered the cozy living room.
“Do you watch the news at night too?” Cole asked.
Brian nodded as he opened the refrigerator and held up two beers. He gave Cole a questioning glance.
“Okay, just one more while we watch the news. I want to see if there’s any more coverage on Candy.”
Brian handed Cole a beer and took a seat on the rocking chair. “Channel 6 comes in the best. That’s where I saw the earlier segment on that woman you altered.”
Cole laughed as he pressed the remote and landed on Channel 6. He made himself comfortable on the couch and pulled the tab on the beer can.
“Damn commercials. I’ll give Trish a quick check.” Brian pushed himself up from the rocking chair and walked down the hallway. He entered the combination, pulled off the lock, and opened the door. “Son of a bitch, she’s gone!” He ran down the hall to the living room, where Cole had already pulled two flashlights out of the cabinet.
“How the hell did she get away?” Cole grabbed the car keys, dropped them in his pocket, and jerked his head toward the door.
“I don’t know how she got loose, but the window is open. The ropes are unti
ed, and she’s gone. How the hell did she wake up already?” Brian asked.
“Are you sure she swallowed the sleeping pills?”
Brian sneered at the question. “Obviously she didn’t, but at the time, I thought she did. We have to find that bitch and quick.”
“Hang on, we have to make sure she really left. Search the cabin first.”
Five minutes later after confirming the cabin empty, the men ran outside. The beam of Cole’s flashlight bounced up and down as he ran toward the lake’s edge. Brian locked the cabin door and caught up to Cole within seconds. Out of breath and in a frantic voice, he whispered to his friend. “You know this place like the back of your hand. I’ve never wandered beyond the cabin and the lake. Where do you think she could have gone?”
“She doesn’t have access to a phone, and she doesn’t know where she is, right?”
“Nope, she was out for most of the drive. She doesn’t have the slightest idea how close the nearest town is or even what town that would be.” Brian peered across the lake. “No lights on over there, she doesn’t know how to swim, and she’s deathly afraid of water, anyway. She’s afraid of the dark for crissakes.”
“Then maybe she’s hiding nearby and waiting for dawn to make her move.”
“That would be a stupid decision on her part, but her fear of the dark could be her undoing.”
Cole rubbed his chin. “Okay, I can think of several places she may be.” He pointed at the rowboat and cupped his hand to Brian’s ear. “She could have crawled under there. Let’s flip it over.” The men shined their flashlights in that direction as they walked toward the boat. A loud crash sounded directly behind them near the carport. Cole smiled and turned around. “Either it’s a raccoon or Trish just knocked over the garbage can.”
A figure sprinted out of the carport and ran in the direction of the empty cabins.
Brian pointed and began the chase. “There she is, don’t let her get away! Come around and close in from the front. I’ll force her right into your hands.” Brian’s adrenaline was pumping, and he chased her like a lion in pursuit of an antelope. He wouldn’t stop until he had her by the throat. It took only seconds before he was close enough to grab her blond ponytail, and he gave it a hard jerk. She screamed as her feet flew out from beneath her, and she landed flat on her back with a hard thud. Grunts sounded as the air was forced out of her lungs and she tried to catch her breath. Brian sat across her chest and held her arms down with his knees. He leaned close to her head. “Going somewhere, bitch?”
