Frank, who was driving, nodded in acknowledgement and then pointed at an opening on the right.
“That will get us off the highway and take us south too. I know these roads, Owens. I used to date a girl who lived in this area when I went to high school.”
“I thought you were from Vermont?”
“I am now, and I was born there too, but we’re headed to New York City. I know another girl there that will help us.”
“As long as we’re headed south. I got family to reconnect with in New Jersey.”
“That’s a bad move,” Aaron said. “The cops will be there waiting for you.”
“I know, but I still have to risk it. I have to see my daughters at least one more time.”
They came to another road that crossed the bumpy gravel road they were driving on. It was pitch black out and the sky had begun spitting rain. Frank stopped the truck and stared over at Owens, then, his eyes went to the gun in Owens’ hand.
“It’s time to take care of that tow truck driver.”
“You want me to kill him?”
Frank smiled.
“No, I have a better idea, but first, I want Aaron to take a look at the car we’re towing. Aaron’s a hell of a mechanic, maybe he can get it running, if so, we’ll split up and make it harder for the cops to nab us.”
***
Aaron used the lights on the rear of the tow truck to look under the hood of the car. When Owens saw that he was grinning, he knew that their streak of good luck was holding.
“It was just a loose cable on the battery. Go start it up, the keys are in it.”
Owens hopped in the car and the engine roared to life as he turned the key. The car also had a gas tank that was nearly full.
After unhooking the car from the tow truck, they made plans. Owens would stay with Frank in the tow truck and head to New York City, while Aaron would travel to Boston. He had a cousin there who he said was, “cool,” and would let him hide out on his boat.
But first, they had to make the tow truck driver think they were all headed to the Canadian border. Frank opened the trunk while Aaron aimed a flashlight at it and Owens pointed the gun.
The tow truck driver looked up at them with a terrified expression, as he shielded his eyes from the flashlight Aaron was beaming on him.
“Please don’t kill me.”
The driver was in his thirties and had curly dark hair and a moustache. His brown eyes looked enormous in the glare of the flashlight, and he was trembling.
Frank let out an exaggerated sigh and began playacting his part.
“I still say we should kill him. What if he tells the cops which direction we went in?”
Aaron wasn’t much of an actor. He shrugged in such an exaggerated manner that his shoulders nearly touched his earlobes.
“So what, they have to know that we are headed for Canada.”
“Maybe, or maybe not,” Owens said, “but we’re wasting time here.” Owens jabbed the gun against the ribs of the tow truck driver. “Get out of the trunk!”
When the man scrambled to his feet, Owens saw that there was a patch on his blue work shirt. The patch had the name, Gary, sewed on it.
Frank grabbed the driver by his collar and gave him a shove. The driver stumbled, but managed to stay on his feet.
Owens pointed the gun at the man and told him to run.
The tow truck driver ran, but clumsily at first, as he was glancing back over his shoulder.
Frank pointed at him.
“I still say we should kill him!”
That got the driver’s feet to moving. He lowered his head and poured on the speed. As the driver moved beyond the range of the flashlight beam, Owens, Frank, and Aaron chuckled.
Aaron and Frank wished each other luck while sharing a handshake and then they were off again. Sometime after reaching I-93, the two vehicles separated and Owens found himself alone with Frank.
After entering New York State, Frank pulled the tow truck into an industrial area and drove to the rear of a building that sold plumbing supplies. After finding an old box truck with a caved-in roof sitting among weeds, Frank went to work removing the wreck’s plates to put them on the tow truck. The New Hampshire plates would be tossed away once they were back on the highway.
As Frank removed the rusty screws that held the license plates, Owens ask him a question.
“This girlfriend of yours, what’s she like?”
“She’s cool. Not only is she a hot little number, but she makes a living by stealing other peoples’ identities, and she’s good at it.”
“Do you think she can track my daughters down?”
“Hell yeah, and she used to do that type of shit for a private investigator, that is, until she wised up and started working for herself. If your daughters are out there, Li Ming will find them.”
“Her name is Li Ming?”
“Yeah, she’s Chinese, you ain’t got a problem with that, do you?”
Owens smiled.
“No, as a matter of fact, I just love Chinese.”
CHAPTER 18
The following morning, Pierce was glued to the TV in the kitchen as he watched the coverage of Owens’ escape.
The older jail guard who survived, Sam, had required surgery. The operation was to prevent swelling on his brain, after the injury he had received from the falling ceiling debris. It was actually a minor surgical procedure, but it kept Sam unconscious and unable to talk. Darren had been shuttled to the hospital as well, but had been locked up in a treatment room.
By the time anyone interviewed Darren and learned about the jail break, Owens had been free for hours. It seemed as if the bodies of the father and his two sons had initially been mistaken for Owens, Frank, and Aaron, by the first investigators on the scene.
With the jail in ruins, the holes in the ceiling went unnoticed, as the entire rear of the building had collapsed.
The body count was right as far as anyone knew, and so no one was looking for them, nor had they connected it with the missing tow truck driver. That driver, Gary, had found it impossible to get anyone on the highway to stop for him, and had to walk over seven miles before gaining access to a phone.
Gary the tow truck driver told the authorities that Owens and the others were headed into Canada. The search was focused in that direction, but Pierce had doubts about Owens fleeing the country. When the news reported that Owens was dying of cancer, Pierce was certain that Owens would try to reach out to his daughters.
It wouldn’t happen; Pierce and others had made certain of that years earlier. There was no way for Owens to discover the whereabouts of his ex-wife and surviving daughter. Not even their other family members knew their location.
When Val came downstairs with the girls and learned of Owens’ escape, she looked saddened.
“Why did this have to happen today, of all days?”
Pierce sighed in agreement.
“It sucks, but she’s strong, and she’ll deal with it, and so will her mother.”
“Are you certain that he can’t find them?”
“Absolutely, I also think he’ll be back in a cell before too long.”
“Still, poor Cynthia,”
Pierce grinned.
“Remember, that’s now Officer Cynthia.”
Pierce sat at the kitchen table and remembered the day he first met Owens’ family. It was also a day he became acquainted with a woman who would become one of his closest friends, Stacey Hightower.
***
EIGHT YEARS EARLIER
Pierce, and his partner at the time, Bob Jerold, had driven to Owens’ home to escort Owens’ wife to the station for questioning. Neither man could imagine that Mrs. Owens had been aware of her husband’s depraved acts, and yet, stranger things had happened.
Pierce recognized the cops guarding the front door and was amazed that there were already three news vans on the scene. The two uniformed cops were Tubbs and Collins. Jake Collins had been instrumental in the Murphy and Owens case and Pierce saw
that the kid was beaming.
“You got the guys, Detectives, great work,” Collins said.
Pierce reached over and shook Collins’ hand.
“You were a part of it and I’ll make sure that goes into the report. If not for you, we wouldn’t have known what type of van they were driving.”
Tubbs threw an arm around his partner’s shoulders.
“We have a future police commissioner here.”
Jerold pointed at the door.
“We need to speak with Owens’ wife.”
“She’s not here,” Tubbs said. “The first cop on the scene drove away with her and her daughters before the news vans arrived.”
Pierce frowned in response to the news.
“What? Where did the cop take them, to the station?”
Tubbs eyes looked right and Pierce followed his gaze.
“Go down to that corner and take a left. There’s a blue house at the end of the next block, 44 Ryan Street. That’s where the wife’s best friend lives.” Tubbs shook his head. “The woman is devastated and Owens daughters are in even worst shape. Someone at the station must have leaked the story big time, along with the fact that Owens’ confessed.”
Pierce cursed under his breath.
“What’s the name of the cop who’s with Owens’ wife.”
“Stacey Hightower, she’s out of the north ward.”
Collins grinned.
“You can’t miss her, Rick, she’s gorgeous.”
“She’ll also be the only one dressed in a police uniform,” Tubbs said. “So yeah, she’ll be hard to miss. Excuse my partner, gentlemen. I think he’s in love.”
Collins blushed and Pierce and Jerold drove off to find Owens’ wife.
***
Pierce introduced himself to Janet Owens and then he was attacked by Sammi Owens. The sixteen-year-old refused to believe her father was guilty and accused Pierce and Jerold of framing Owens.
The girl had placed a scratch on Pierce’s cheek, but he ignored it. The girl’s eyes told him that she knew her father was guilty, and if it helped her to cope by striking out at him, so be it.
Janet Owens hugged her daughter as she apologized to Pierce. Pierce touched his cheek, realized that the scratch hadn’t drawn blood, and told Mrs. Owens that it was all right.
“We need to talk to you, ma’am. Is there a place where we can do so in private?”
The house was owned by Janet’s best friend, Carol Richards, a recent widow and a woman she had known since childhood. Carol escorted Pierce, Jerold, and Janet Owens into the kitchen and pointed out the fresh pot of coffee.
“Help yourselves to that. Janet knows where to find the cream and sugar,” Carol Richards said, and then she gave Janet Owens’ hand a comforting squeeze before leaving them alone.
The interview was quick and consisted of only a few questions. Pierce was certain that Janet Owens had been clueless about her husband’s dark side. The woman was barely holding it together. Her life and her daughters’ lives had just changed forever and she knew it.
Plans were made for a second interview to take place on the following day, and Pierce and Jerold decided to take their leave.
Before heading back to the station, Pierce spoke to Officer Stacey Hightower. He found her in the back yard talking to Owens’ youngest daughter, Kathy, and saw that she and the girl had bonded.
When Pierce signaled to Hightower that he wanted to speak with her, she left Kathy’s side after the girl gave her a hug.
As Hightower approached him, Pierce saw the worried look in her eyes and the docile body language she displayed. After introducing himself and Jerold, he eased Hightower’s worries with a smile.
“If you were expecting me to chew you out for bringing the family here instead of the station house, you’re wrong. You did a good thing, Officer Hightower. These people don’t need to be in the public eye.”
Hightower lifted her head and smiled back at Pierce. The rookie, Collins, had claimed she was gorgeous, and Pierce had to agree with him.
“Thank you, Detective Pierce, Detective Jerold, I just didn’t want those girls to be put through a media circus.”
Pierce held out his hand.
“Your first name is Stacey?”
Hightower shook his hand.
“Yes, Detective.”
“Call me Rick, and Detective Jerold’s first name is Bob. You did good work here today, Stacey. I’ll make sure that it doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Stacey looked back at Kathy Owens, who was sitting on the porch wiping away tears.
“What’s going to happen to her?”
Pierce sighed.
“She’s got tough times ahead of her, but if she’s strong, she’ll come out whole on the other side.”
Stacey frowned.
“I wish there was something I could do for her.”
Pierce smiled.
“You already have, by bringing her and her family here. We’ll see you around, Stacey, and again, good work.”
***
PRESENT DAY, PENNSYLVANIA
Police academy cadet Cynthia Gannon rushed to greet her guests and fell into the open arms of Detective Stacey Hightower-Collins.
Cynthia Gannon, who had begun life as Kathy Owens, hugged her friend and mentor while whispering words of gratitude. Cynthia was about to fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer, and Stacey had always been her role model. Were it not for the greater chance of her being recognized back in her home state, Cynthia would have become a cop in New Jersey.
Pierce and Collins also received hugs along with Val, but then Cynthia returned to Stacey’s side.
“Thank you all for coming today. It means so much to me, and Mom will be happy to see you guys too.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Pierce said. “We’re just saddened that your father had to place his shadow over this day.”
Cynthia nibbled her lower lip.
“I was shocked to hear of his escape, and I’m so afraid that he might hurt someone else.”
“He’ll be captured,” Pierce said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“Is there any chance that he could track me and Mom down here?”
“There’s zero chance,” Stacey said. “Janet, Sammi, and Kathy Owens all ceased to exist on any database the year your father went to prison. Unless he hires a computer geek with NSA credentials, he’ll never find you.”
Pierce nodded in agreement. He had asked his friends in the FBI, agents Daniel Rogers and Carl Abrams to see if there was anything they could do to help. While there was no reason to place the Owens and Murphy families in Witness Protection, there was a similar federal program. Members of both families received new identities, along with new social security numbers and manufactured personal histories.
Jack Murphy’s children were younger than Owens’ daughters, and the transition had gone more smoothly. Murphy’s twelve-year-old daughter, Jennifer, barely remembered him, and she called her mother’s second husband, Dad.
Cynthia smiled at Pierce and Stacey.
“To hell with my father. This is my graduation day and I’m going to enjoy it.”
Pierce sent her a wink.
“That’s the spirit.”
CHAPTER 19
“What do you mean there’s absolutely no record of my family?” Owens said. “I thought you were supposed to be a genius hacker.”
Owens was talking to Frank’s girlfriend, Li Ming. He and Frank had made it to New York City at dawn and were in Li Ming’s Greenwich Village apartment on Perry Street.
Li Ming stood only five feet tall and was beautiful. She had long raven-dark hair, while her eyes were green, giving her an exotic look. Those eyes were squinted in anger as she spoke to Owens.
“I am a hacker, but I can only do so much. The government must have changed your family members’ identities. Besides, do you really think they want to be around you anymore?”
“She’s got a point, dude,” Frank said.
Frank had
known that Owens was a murderer, but he hadn’t known he was a serial killer of young women. However, by the time they reached Li Ming’s apartment, Owens’ face was plastered all over the news. Frank’s picture was also being broadcast, along with Aaron’s photo, but Owens was receiving the bulk of the coverage.
Both he and Frank had changed into new clothes after Li Ming went out and bought them jeans and T-shirts.
“I need to see my daughters,” Owens said. “If I see them... I can explain.”
Li Ming laughed.
“Explain? Like what, you had a good reason for being a serial killer? And about that, why were so many of your victims Asian? That shit is creeping me out.”
Owens stared at Li Ming. She was his type, just the sort of woman he had loved to hunt alongside Jack Murphy. He would have taken her if Frank wasn’t around. Frank had also armed himself, as Li Ming had given Frank her gun.
Owens tried a smile.
“I didn’t mean to get angry, but are you sure you can’t locate my daughters?”
“Yes, I’m sure, and I want you out of here too. Anyway, Frank and I are leaving.”
Frank handed Owens the keys to the stolen tow truck.
“You can have the truck, but be careful, the cops have to be looking for it, new plates or not.”
Owens took the keys, and then gave Li Ming a lingering look. He wanted her, wanted to use her and hurt her until she learned some respect. He stopped his staring and doubled over, as a sharp pain knifed through his middle. It was the cancer. He had skipped a dose of his medication and wouldn’t be getting more anytime soon.
The pain ceased as quickly as it came, and after releasing a gasp, Owens straightened.
Frank gave him an odd look.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have escaped. At least in the can you would have received medical treatment.”
Owens shook his head.
“I don’t need treatment. I need to see my daughters.”
Owens turned and headed for the door, then, he had trouble undoing all the locks. Li Ming assisted him, and soon he was back out on the street.
In his pockets was a gun, along with a twenty dollar bill he had found stuffed down inside one of the tow truck’s cup holders.
He had no clue about where to search for his daughters, but knew of someone who might know. Owens climbed into the tow truck and then let out a loud curse. He hadn’t driven a stick since he was a teenager and the multiple gears of the tow truck looked like something that belonged in a high-tech aircraft.
Angels (A Detective Pierce Novel Book 3) Page 8
