by C. M. Sutter
I woke to Jack’s cursing. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry, it’s the car in front of me swerving from lane to lane. Every time I try to get past him, he weaves in front of me again. I think the guy is sleep driving.”
“How much farther?” Kate sat up and rubbed her eyes.
“About a half hour, but I’m pulling off at the next exit. I’m sure we could all use a bathroom break, some coffee, and a little fresh air, especially since we’ll have to wait for the sheriff’s department deputies to show up after we confirm we’re at the right place.”
“Sounds good to me, and I’ll drive the rest of the way if you want to relax,” Kate said.
“We’ll see. Here we go.” Jack pointed out the windshield at the large green road sign. “It looks like there’s a minimart, gas station, and restrooms in two miles at Exit 443.”
I glanced at the gas gauge. “Humph.”
Jack turned his head. “What?”
“We’re nearly out of gas. I guess our calculations for gas mileage were pretty close.”
“Yeah”—Jack clicked his blinker for the exit ramp—“I better fill up just in case we end up in a wild car chase.” He gave us a tired grin.
I smirked. “I hope that isn’t the case. They never seem to go well.”
Jack exited the ramp and turned right. A quarter mile down the road stood a nearly deserted gas station, minimart, and truck plaza. Three cars were parked on the side of the building in the shadows and likely belonged to the gas station employees. Two idling semis sat in the back lot—probably with worn-out over-the-road truckers inside and catching a few hours of shut-eye. Jack slipped our cruiser in alongside pump three and killed the engine. Kate and I climbed out of the car and stretched.
I headed across the asphalt lot. “We’re going to hit the bathrooms then grab some snacks and coffee.”
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll fill up this beast and meet you inside.”
Kate and I stepped into the minimart, and a bell dinged, probably meant to alert the cashier if he was in the back. Kate reached for a plastic basket at the entrance and headed to the snack aisle. I noticed several late-night customers, possibly truckers, milling about. I excused myself as I passed a man looking through car magazines. The other, several aisles away, was already heading to the checkout counter.
I looked at Kate. “What do you want to eat?” I absentmindedly stared at the sugary and salty snacks.
She shrugged. “Chips, I guess, or maybe chocolate snack cakes.”
“Yeah, let’s get both. I think we should grab some water too. Go ahead and get whatever looks good. I’ll do the coffees.”
The basket hung from the crook of Kate’s arm, and she filled it with snacks and water then walked to the counter and waited in line. I filled three cups with coffee and placed them in the cardboard drink carrier then headed toward Kate. The man at the counter was paying for his scratch-off tickets and snacks. He turned to leave, and our eyes met. It took only a second for recognition to kick in. My drink carrier dropped to the floor, and everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I yelled for him to hit the ground as I drew my weapon and called out his name.
“Nick Connor, get on your knees with your hands behind your head. Now!”
Kate spun and met my eyes but not before he had her by the hair. With a hard jerk, he pulled her backward and wrapped his thick arm around her neck. He shielded himself with her body as he tightened his grip on her. I saw him reach into his back pocket and pull something out.
“Keep your hands where I can see them! Let her go, Nick. You don’t want to do this. She’s an officer of the law. Now get on the floor, facedown.”
His laugh made the hair on my arms stand up. “Well, look at you—Amber Monroe in the flesh. It’s been a long time, kiddo. You’re a foot taller and a dozen years older, but I’d never forget a face. I’m not a fan of women telling me what to do, so I’m ignoring your command and walking out of here. This friend of yours is going with me.” Nick pressed whatever was in his hand against Kate’s neck.
“No she isn’t.” I held my gun steady and aimed it at his forehead. I was sure he knew I didn’t have a clear shot.
“You won’t shoot me. You might accidentally hit your partner instead. Now back away, Amber, or I’ll bury this ice pick in her throat. I’m not kidding!”
I tried to focus on my partner. “Kate, stay calm and don’t do anything rash. Are you okay?”
She tried to nod, but she couldn’t move her head—his chokehold was too tight. I saw the fear in her eyes when he tapped the point of the ice pick against her skin.
Where is Jack? Can’t he see what’s going on? Why hasn’t he come to the door?
“Toss the gun on the floor, Amber, and kick it over here. You’ve got two seconds or the pick is getting buried in her neck.”
“Okay, okay, I’m lowering my weapon.” I knelt and placed my gun on the coffee-soaked floor.
“Kick it over here, now!”
I did as he commanded and watched as he gave the gun an extra hard kick. It spun twice and disappeared under the ice cream cooler.
“What’s behind that door?” Nick yelled at the cashier, who was crouched in the corner.
“It leads to the office and the side parking lot.”
I thought Kate might have a chance until Nick grabbed her service weapon from under her jacket and stuck it in his waistband.
“Lie flat on the floor, Amber, and don’t move, or I swear I’ll shoot all of you. You don’t want innocent blood on your hands, do you?”
I shook my head then dropped to the floor. I looked beyond the glass doors and had a good view of pump three a hundred feet away. Jack had just set the hose back on the pump and turned to replace the gas cap on the car. It looked as if he was talking on his phone.
No wonder he isn’t paying attention. He’s gabbing on his damn phone.
I turned my head in the direction of Nick and Kate, but they were gone. I cautiously stood and looked around. “Son of a bitch, where did they go?”
The cashier pointed at the darkened area behind the counter. “They went that way.”
“Find my damn gun!” I swung open the outer door and yelled to Jack just as a burgundy car barreled out of the parking lot and hit the curb. The car’s taillights disappeared in the direction of the highway. “Jack, that was Nick. He has Kate!”
Jack spun his head, pocketed his phone, and ran toward me. “What did you say? What the hell is going on?”
“Nick was inside the minimart buying something. I recognized him right away and ordered him to the ground, but Kate was too close to him, Jack. He grabbed her and—”
“That was his car that just jumped the curb?”
I nodded while trying to hold back tears. I couldn’t get emotional—I needed to focus. “He swore he’d hurt her if I didn’t kick my gun over to him.” I ripped open my purse and flipped my notepad pages. “He has a burgundy 2015 Honda Accord, Minnesota plate number BB7-K63.”
“Good. Call in a BOLO to the state patrol. He went toward the highway, right?”
“All I know is that he turned left out of the lot. He could have gone anywhere.” I sucked in a deep breath. “Jack, he has Kate’s gun and an ice pick. What the hell are we going to do? We only have one vehicle.”
Jack ran to the cruiser. “Go get your gun. I’ll pick you up at the door.”
I rushed inside, where I found the cashier lying on the floor and swiping at my gun with a broom handle. “Can you get it?”
“Yeah, I can almost reach it with my hand. Here you go. I have it.”
I thanked him and ran outside. Jack was waiting by the door. I jumped in the cruiser, and the tires squealed and broke loose from the pavement as Jack stepped on the gas.
“I need to call the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. What the hell was the name of the lieutenant in charge?”
“We didn’t call them, boss. We called Vilas County.”
“Shit, that’s right. I�
�ll try 911 and see who answers.”
Jack made the call as he drove. I read the description and plate number of Nick’s car as Jack spoke to the dispatch operator.
“Yes, we’re leaving the truck stop minimart off Exit 443 right now. The perp has about a three-minute lead on us, but we aren’t positive of the direction he went. Once we lost sight of his taillights, all bets were off. The car turned left out of the truck stop, and that’s all we have. I understand you’re in Rhinelander, but this man has murdered three women in the last few months. He’s holding one of my detectives hostage, for God’s sake.” Jack pounded his fist on the steering wheel. “You must have deputies roaming the county. I need Highway 51 blocked off in both directions immediately. I’ll call the Minocqua Police Department too. I need every available agency on this.” Jack hung up and asked me to call the Minocqua PD. “Get them out to Deer Path Trail right away. They need to take Brian into custody.” Jack glanced at me. “You have a picture of him on your phone, right?”
I nodded.
“Good. Send it to the PD so they can use it to positively identify him. Nick could have called Brian by now, and there’s a chance that he’s in the wind too. Tell them that Brian is armed and dangerous and is holding his wife hostage. He’s likely in the first cabin with the carport, the largest one, and he was last known to be driving a tan 1999 Lumina. We need them to block Highway 51 going north. Call Woodruff too. Any town in the area that has a police department needs to be searching for that burgundy Accord.”
“I’m on it, boss.” My fingers couldn’t tap the keys fast enough. I had one eye on the road—hoping to see Nick’s taillights ahead of us—and one eye on my phone. I made calls to every police department in a twenty-mile radius, explained the problem, then whispered a prayer for Kate.
Chapter 53
The Minocqua Police Department was dispatched to the cabin on Deer Path Trail. The location was only a few miles northwest of town. With a photo ID sent to every officer’s phone, they knew who to look for and what was at stake. Brian Cox was a dangerous man who had already shot his father-in-law and taken his wife against her will. He was mean, ruthless, and armed.
Four officers crept in on foot after using their cruisers to block the only way in and out of Deer Path Trail. The first cabin was a quarter mile in. Two officers hugged the tree line on the left side of the trail, and two walked the right side. Their guns were drawn and ready.
The officer in charge, a Mike Shepherd, led with hand signals once they reached the cabin. He motioned for the two officers on the right to join him and Officer Joe Rudd at the side of the cabin.
He whispered to his colleagues. “This looks like the right place, guys.” He pointed over his shoulder. “Let’s check out that carport and see if there’s a vehicle inside.” He tipped his head at Aaron Luiz and Brett Moore. “Check the rear of the cabin to see if there’s an exit back there, then meet us at the carport. Watch your footing and stay off the driveway. The gravel crunching underfoot is too noisy. Keep on the grass as much as possible. Quick flashlight bursts and that’s it.”
With a nod, they disappeared to the back of the cabin. Mike and Joe skirted the tree line until they reached the carport, where they were out of view from the cabin’s windows.
Mike clicked the flashlight and tipped his chin. “There’s a vehicle under that tarp. Let’s see what we have.” They lifted the tarp to find a Chevy Lumina hidden beneath. “We’re at the right place. Let’s tell Aaron and Brett what we’ve found.”
The men met at the side of the carport and went over their plan.
“According to the Washburn County lieutenant in charge, it sounds like there’s only one man inside with his estranged wife. We have no idea what her condition is, but we do know he is armed and a loose cannon. What’s the status on the back of the cabin?”
“No rear exit, Mike. We’ve got the front entry, and that’s it,” Brett said.
“Okay, that means we have to go in fast and hard. We don’t know the layout, but it appears that the bedrooms would be on the side nearest the road. The front, with all the windows, is likely the living room. We’ll storm the entrance and head for the bedrooms as fast as humanly possible. The element of surprise and the fact that he’s likely asleep will play to our benefit.” Mike looked from man to man. “We get the woman to safety and apprehend the husband. Wooden porches squeak, so we have to move in quickly before he has time to react. Follow my lead. I’ll kick in the door, and then we spread out. Okay, let’s go.”
The men stayed against the cabin, low and out of sight, as they approached the porch steps. They put their weight on each step carefully to avoid making noise.
Mike whispered when he reached the door. “One, two, three, go!” He gave the door the full force of a hard kick and broke it off the hinges. The men stormed the living room and found Trish tied to the couch. She began to flail and screech as they moved in. “Aaron, secure the woman and get her outside!”
When he heard cursing, Mike charged down the hallway. Joe and Brett followed close behind. Mike shouldered the bedroom door, and it flew open, bouncing off the back wall. He flicked on the light and in two strides was on top of Brian before the suspect had a chance to grab his gun. Brett rolled him and jammed a knee in his back while Mike handcuffed him.
“Flip him over so we can get a positive ID on him.” Mike opened the text attachment with the photo Amber had provided the dispatch operator. He nodded. “Trying to hide your identity with that shitty dye job isn’t cutting it.” He pulled Brian to his feet and read him his rights. “Let’s make sure this cabin is clear, then I’ll notify Lieutenant Steele that his man is in custody and the woman is in our care. Lock up Mr. Cox in the cruiser for the time being.”
“What’s wrong with the woman, Mike?” Brett asked. “She’s babbling incoherently.”
“I don’t know, but according to Lieutenant Steele, she probably needs medical attention. Let’s get her to Howard Young Medical Center so they can check her out. I’m sure Lieutenant Steele will fill us in on the details later.”
Chapter 54
“Keep your eyes peeled,” Jack said as he picked up the ringing phone. “Lieutenant Jack Steele speaking. You did? Great work, Officer Shepherd. How’s the condition of his wife? I understand, but she’s coherent and that’s something. Right now, finding our detective is our first priority, but we’ll definitely deal with Brian Cox later. Yes, we can use all the help we can get. We’re south of Minocqua on Highway 51 at the moment and hoping to see a roadblock soon. The sheriff’s office is coordinating the highway’s shutdown in the southbound lanes. We’ll need the highway closed north of Minocqua too. Anywhere Nick Connor can get through needs to be blocked. I don’t want that man slipping through the cracks with my detective as his hostage. You bet, thanks.”
I finally dared to take a breath. “What did he say? It sounds like they have Brian in custody.”
Jack squeezed my shoulder. “They do, and they took him without incident. He didn’t have time to react once they barged through the door. They found Trish tied to the couch but alive.”
“That son of a bitch.”
“She isn’t right in the head, and you and I both know what that means.”
“Boss, we have to find Nick before he hurts Kate.”
Jack nodded. “I know, Amber—believe me, I know.”
I sat up straight in my seat and clenched the dash. “There! I just saw a flash of taillights about a half mile ahead.”
“Where? I don’t see anything.”
“They disappeared, likely around a curve, but who else could it be at this time of night? Gun it, let’s catch up.”
Jack pressed the gas pedal to the floor, and the cruiser lurched forward and barreled down the road. We followed the sweeping curve, and I saw it again. “There it is!” I pointed at the car ahead of us. “We’re closing the gap.”
“And he’s picking up speed. It has to be Nick. Call the sheriff’s office and see how far ahead the r
oad is closed or if they’ve even closed it yet.”
“Where are we exactly?”
“We just passed mile marker 439 heading south. Hurry, Amber, he’s really stepping on it. I’m sure he realizes we’re after him. The road needs to be blocked south of us so we can box him in.”
I made the call to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and barely gave the dispatch operator a second to speak. “This is Detective Amber Monroe with the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office. Lieutenant Steele requested a roadblock on Highway 51 south of Minocqua. Where is it? We’re in pursuit of a possible suspect at mile marker 439.” I waited impatiently as she checked with the night shift lead deputy.
“What’s happening?”
“She’s checking with the person in charge of the roadblock. What was his name?”
“I didn’t get a name. I only spoke with the dispatch operator. Why haven’t they gotten their captain or lieutenant involved?”
I shook my head, knowing it was a rhetorical question. Seconds later, she was back on the phone. “Yes, I’m still here. How much longer? Damn it, Lieutenant Steele called a half hour ago. Minocqua PD already has one suspect in custody! What’s the holdup?” I bit my tongue as she went into an explanation of how they had to coordinate a location and call some off-duty deputies to come in. She added that Rhinelander was an hour from Minocqua. I hung up before I said something inappropriate. “How about the state patrol? Can they set up roadblocks?”
Jack groaned. “They’re usually too far away from each other to coordinate anything.” Jack gunned the gas again. “It looks like we’re on our own.”
I yelled out. “Shit! What is he doing?”
We watched in horror as the car ahead of us swerved violently from left to right.
“Damn it, Kate must be fighting with him, and he’s going to crash if she doesn’t stop it. They’re going way too fast to keep that vehicle under control,” Jack said.
