“Damn. Now the question is, did he head north or south?”
Hanson and Booster reached the county road and Booster indicated Jaxson had turned north. Hanson commanded Booster to “Stop,” and waited as Smoke and I got out of the car and caught up to them. “Should we keep tracking?” Hanson said.
“Maybe a quarter mile or so, see if Jax headed back into the refuge. My guess is he kept on going. Or he wouldn’t have gone down the drive to the county road in the first place,” Smoke said.
“Right.” They resumed the search.
Vehicles passing by slowed down and two of the southbound ones pulled onto the shoulder to watch the K-9 Unit move with their full attention directed at their assignment. It was not meant to be a spectator sport, but whenever the public caught view of the team working, it was. Big time.
Hanson and Booster went the distance then stopped. We couldn’t hear Hanson’s command from that distance, but we knew what it was. The search had ended. And we’d hit another dead end in our efforts to locate Jaxson.
Smoke turned to the Sherburne deputies. “Well, that about wraps up this leg of our journey. We need to determine the next step. Either we tow the vehicle tonight or post someone here, see if Jaxson returns for it. Do you have the name and number of the nearest towing company?”
“Sure.” Deputy Walters pulled out his phone and recited the info. Smoke and I both plugged it into our phones.
“Thanks,” Smoke said.
When Hanson and Booster returned, Smoke said, “I guess that’s a wrap for tonight.”
“Glad to help. Anytime,” Walters said, and the deputies took off.
“You and Booster can hop in this fine vehicle and we’ll give you a ride back to yours,” Smoke told Hanson.
We got in and Booster energetically sniffed around as far as he could reach. If Hanson had let him jump into the front seat, he would have. I cringed, thinking about the possible activities that had occurred in the beater and what we might be sitting on.
“Detective, you sure picked the bottom of the barrel from our undercover fleet,” Hanson said.
“Yeah. I hope I make it back to Oak Lea.”
“You’ve got contact info for a towing company if you don’t,” I said with a smile.
Smoke glanced at me with one eyebrow raised. “Thanks for the reminder.” He pulled to a stop by Hanson’s squad car, and we all piled out.
“We were hoping we’d find Jax, but hey,” Hanson said.
“It’ll happen. Meantime, it’s Friday night so it might get crazy for you,” Smoke said.
“That’s how she rolls sometimes. Catch you later.” Hanson secured Booster in the backseat, climbed in himself, and drove off.
“Randolph’s on the edge of his seat, I’m sure.” Smoke picked up his phone and called him. Their conversation was brief. “He’s sending a deputy to stand guard until zero-eight-hundred tomorrow. If there’s no sign of Jaxson by then, we’ll bring the vehicle back to the sheriff’s garage.”
“When Jaxson left it here, he did it on purpose. I don’t think he’s coming back for it.”
“Nor do I, but Chief wants the bases covered. He’ll brief the sheriff, hopes it’ll give the Kenners some relief knowing their son is still in Minnesota, and pretty damn close to home.”
“Good. Do you suppose Jax bought another phone and contacted a friend to pick him up?” I said.
“That crossed my mind. But would anyone be dumb enough to get involved and not contact the sheriff’s office? Let’s hope not. Looks like Jaxson will miss his high school graduation, and if one of his friends gets charged with harboring a fugitive, he probably will, too.”
“What a mess.”
Smoke looked at his watch. “Our relief should be here in a half hour, give or take. You need to head home, get your gramps’ old vehicle safely tucked into its garage bed for the night.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, it is pretty old. I hate to keep it out too late.”
“Is anyone looking?”
I glanced around. “What?”
“You’re not officially on duty. We’re not in Winnebago County, and I need to do this.” He pulled me into his arms and kissed me, intensely passionate. It left me breathless, on fire.
Both of our faces were flushed when we separated.
“I hope that’s a promise of things to come.” My words came out as a breathless whisper.
“I promise.”
I had to keep my attention focused on driving and not on Smoke. But at times I caught myself and needed to redirect, not get distracted. It was after 8:00 p.m. and the sun was lower in the sky, starting its slow descent to set in about forty-five minutes. I’d be home by then, waiting for the love of my life to join me and live up to his promise.
Even though I headed south, and Jaxson had gone north, I kept a lookout for him. In case. Oak Lea’s High School graduation ceremony was set for a week from tonight and Jaxson had forfeited his seat there, lost the right to claim his diploma with his proud parents and grandparents in the audience, cheering. I blinked away threatening tears. All week I had gone from grieving over what Jaxson and his family were facing to Sawyer’s tragic death and his family’s sorrow.
As much as the resulting tragedies from that school fight tugged at my heartstrings, I was drawn back, time and again, to the investigation of the seven victims recovered from Coyote Bog. To learn their identities, flush out the killer, and help the families find closure. Those were the primary goals.
Gramps wore the pajamas I’d given him for Christmas, and I sat with him for a while, mostly to have some time together. The dogs laid by our feet, content to be where we were. “I really appreciate you letting me use your car again, Gramps. I topped off the gas tank on the way home.”
“You wouldn’t a had to do that, Corky. Did you put the Buick to good use?”
“I did. Smoke and I have been looking for someone for a few days and got a lead he was in a neighboring county,” I said.
“That wouldn’t be your sheriff’s son now would it?”
Gramps had followed the news. “You may be onto something, but I can’t say who it is at this point.”
“I shouldn’t have asked, put you on the spot like that.”
“Gramps, you can ask me anything, anytime. But I can’t always give you an answer.”
That tickled his funny bone, and his laugh sounded a lot like Santa Claus’s “Ho Ho Ho.”
I gave him a parting hug. “Do you need anything before we go?”
“No, no, can’t think of a thing. I’m glad you brought the pooches over. They sure seem to like me.”
“What’s not to like?”
Queenie and Rex were happy to be home and burned off energy chasing around the yard in the dark. Queenie had energy to spare. Rex was older, but didn’t want Queenie to show him up, so he kept pace. I called them in, went upstairs, and filled the bathtub with warm water and foaming lavender bath salts.
I climbed into the tub, laid back and stretched with most of my body submerged. I closed my eyes and inhaled the relaxing scent. It seemed like a year since I’d last soaked in the tub. After ten minutes of appreciating the lap of luxury, I got out, patted dry, lathered Smoke’s favorite scented lotion on my body, and put on pajamas.
I’d gotten in the habit of parking my squad car in the driveway if Smoke was staying over so when I heard the overhead garage door open, I knew he was pulling into the open stall next to my GTO. We wanted to maintain a measure of privacy in our relationship, and if he spent the night, anyone who happened by didn’t need to know about it.
I opened the door from the kitchen to the garage with Queenie and Rex on either side of me, their wagging tails slapping against my legs. Smoke’s wide grin brightened his face. “Now that’s the kind of welcome home I love best.”
I stepped back to give him room. The dogs brushed up against him when he leaned over and captured my lips in his.
“Mmm, you smell good,” I whispered into the crook of his neck.
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“Showered at the office. But I don’t smell as sweet as you do.”
“Did you eat anything on the way home?” I said.
“Nah, my appetite has come and gone for the last five or six hours. But now that you mention it, is there something in the freezer we can nuke?”
“Probably.” He gave the dogs some attention while I pushed containers of food around in the freezer. “Here are the choices. Leftover offerings from my mother include goulash, a chicken and wild rice casserole, or a hamburger, zucchini, and carrot casserole.”
“My stomach rumbled louder as you listed each one. That zucchini one is especially tasty, if I remember right.”
“Yes, it is. Coming right up.” I loosened the cover of the container and set it in the microwave. As it thawed and warmed, I opened the fridge and looked for a side dish to go with it. “There’s a cucumber salad I got from the deli that should still be good.”
“Sure. And a beer?”
I found two bottles and set them on the counter, along with the salad. Smoke pulled the opener from the drawer and popped off the tops. He handed one to me and lifted his. “Cheers to a better day tomorrow.”
“Hey, today could’ve been worse. We got IDs on three victims, got leads on where our prime suspect probably lives, and found out Jaxson was nearby earlier in the day.”
“Thanks for looking on the bright side. Carlson was right with his longest week comment. It seems like we’ve been on the bog body investigation and looking for Jaxson for a month. At least.”
I laid my head on his chest and put an arm around his waist. “I know.” The microwave dinged. “Let’s get some sustenance. We’re going to need it later.”
Smoke kissed the top of my head. “If you’re referring to a particular promise I hinted at earlier, you are so right, little lady.”
30
Mama and Rufus
“Rufus, I’ll bring our patient home tomorrow, so she’ll be ready to leave on her heavenly journey on the twenty-sixth.”
“But, Mama, the road is all tore up. How will we be able to get there?”
“Not to worry, Son. The information I got from the county website said the project will be done by then. It’s a short stretch of road. And even if it’s not done, we’ll find a way.”
Rufus did not like that thought one bit. He didn’t like any of it in the first place. “I’m scared about that.”
“We will succeed, no reason to let it upset you. I’ve tried to let go of the way I feel about the disruption the road project caused, and the poor souls who were disturbed out of their graves. I’m waiting for direction of what we need to do about that. In the meantime, we’ll get our next patient tomorrow, and maybe another one on Monday. I’m working out those details.”
“Mama, I think one at a time is better.”
“Hush, Son. Don’t get caught up in negative thoughts that go against your mother’s calling.”
“Okay, Mama.”
31
I opened my eyes Saturday morning to Smoke’s smiling face, his sparkling eyes on me. Memories of our night together flooded my mind and warmed my body. He was the most loving lover. The way he coaxed passion from the deepest recesses of my soul made my toes curl. He awakened sensations so sweet nothing this side of Heaven could begin to compare to them.
He kissed my nose. “I was about to wake you, Sleeping Beauty. You go on duty in an hour.”
“Do I have to?” I said in the whiniest voice possible.
“No, but knowing you as I do, I’m confident you want to.”
I dropped the whine. “You’re right. Somewhere out there’s a death angel and her helper we need to flush out. And find Jaxson, wherever he is. Maybe hiding in plain sight.”
We arrived at the sheriff’s office less than an hour later. For all the balls the department had up in the air, as we walked down the corridors, it felt unnaturally quiet at 6:48 that Saturday morning. Chief Deputy Randolph was at his desk; other command staff and office personnel were off for the weekend. He expected us, but when we stepped into his office, it took him a few seconds to process we were there. His worry lines were deeper and the circles under his eyes were darker. I felt a measure of guilt that Smoke and I had rested peacefully through the night after we finally fell asleep.
“Clayton, you been here all night?” Smoke said.
Randolph rubbed his cheeks vigorously. “I can’t seem to get enough coffee in me this week to make much difference.”
“I hear ya. But you gotta get some rest. Caffeine only works to a point. If I was your boss, I’d make you go home.”
“As soon as I tie up some loose ends, that’s where I’m headed.”
“You said you have some updates,” Smoke said.
“Yeah. No sign of Jaxson, so we’re bringing his vehicle in.” Randolph looked at his watch. “Should be loading it in about an hour. Sheriff’s on board with that and if he could drive the tow truck himself, he would.”
“Poor guy, chomping at the bit to do something,” I said.
Randolph raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Natural, I guess.”
“I know what he can do. Jaxson left his burner phone in the car and likely picked up another one. He knows we had his number—his father called him umpteen times—and Jax must have figured we used it to track his whereabouts. We’re concerned he may have phoned one of his friends for help. If Mike or April can call Jaxson’s contacts again, ask them that, that’d be good. Or maybe even pay them a visit. It’s easier to lie over the phone than it is face to face,” Smoke said.
“I like that and will ask them.” Randolph thought a moment. “I’ve had deputies posted at the two apartments with no luck.”
“Seems to be the prevailing theme, unable to locate people we’re on the lookout for.”
“I’ve got four-hour shifts around the clock. That angel of death has got to show up sooner or later. If not her, then the young man the neighbor saw coming out of her apartment in Emerald Lake.”
“You’d think,” Smoke said.
“It’s possible she has a live-in gig, caring for someone,” I said.
“Perish the thought, but could be,” Smoke said.
“You might get a new lead from either Sherburne or Meeker when you meet with them,” Randolph said.
“Speaking of which, we better get on the road, Sergeant. They expect us around eight thirty.”
We arrived at the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office at 8:22 and met with Detective Tanner, a seasoned officer close to retirement, in a conference room. “I paid Mildred Dryer’s son an early visit. He was shocked but relieved, and real happy they’ll be able to bury her next to her husband, his father,” he said.
Detective Tanner gave us time to digest his words and the impact Dryer’s recovery will have on her family. He opened a folder and pulled out a thin stack of papers. “Here’s the employee printouts from the facility where Mildred was living. Based on the physical description you provided, we narrowed it down to two females.” He slid the sheets to our side of the table.
I picked them up for a closer look and passed them to Smoke. He studied them then laid them on the table between us. I had the file with our suspect’s photos and gave them to the detective. “What do you think?” I said.
Tanner examined them, looking back and forth from one to the other. “Yeah, I can see how these two could be the same person.” He pointed at the employee record he had. “And a likely match to Jasmine Kerry here.” The brown-eyed brunette was listed as age thirty-four, five years before.
“Yep. Corky?” Smoke said.
“My thoughts exactly. It says she worked there for a short time. Left in July, two months after Mildred went missing.”
“I’d guess she hung around for a while to make it look less suspicious,” Tanner said.
“You checked the address in her file?” I said.
Tanner nodded. “An apartment in Elk River. A young family living there now, so I ran her DL for a current address and searched
for her other places, including the state prison system. No trace of her. Anywhere.”
“Stands to reason, seeing how she’s an expert at making others disappear,” Smoke said.
Even knowing that, his words still sent a chill up my spine and down my arms.
I picked up the copies of the possible suspects. “May we keep these?”
“Sure, they’re for you.”
“Thanks.”
It was my turn to drive. “Why don’t you swing by the wildlife refuge? It’s not that far out of the way,” Smoke said.
“Sure.”
He sat in the passenger seat looking at photos of our suspect in three different personas. “It fries me how this deadly chameleon, posing as a caregiver, has been operating in and around our county for years, undetected. Three elderly people went missing and every investigation led to a dead end.”
“Dead end is the sad truth. But that’s not what you meant. She managed to fool investigators when she was questioned, or when they checked out her whereabouts at the time of the disappearances.”
“Hindsight makes things we missed look way too obvious,” Smoke said.
“Hence the expression. People fly under the radar all the time. Take the Unabomber, for example. He hand-delivered his bombs, had over a hundred FBI agents working full time for a while trying to figure out who he was. Where he was.”
“Yeah, I remember that it took seventeen years and it was his own slip-up that finally led to his capture. Quite the deal.”
“So don’t beat yourself up about what happened with past investigations. Dolly/Rhoda/Jasmine has been hiding under a rock for years,” I said.
“There’s still that nagging shoulda woulda coulda deal.”
“That’s because you care, and what makes you the best detective we’ve got.”
Remains In Coyote Bog Page 18
