Chapter 6
Di’s excitement over finding the beige Chevy that was used in the drive-by shooting faded as she listened to Jarek ask Andrews to send an officer to their location along with the crime scene techs to process the car.
She’d noticed how clean the interior looked.
She didn’t even see any dust on the dashboard.
Easy to imagine the driver taking the time to wipe down the interior of the vehicle before taking off.
If that’s what he’d done, it was unlikely they’d find usable fingerprints.
DNA was possible, but she wasn’t holding her breath on getting those results anytime soon.
Which meant they were right back to square one. They didn’t have any other known associates for Stewey or Gil. They could focus on looking for Pablo Hernandez, but what if he wasn’t the one pulling the strings? What if there was someone else involved that they didn’t know about?
“So much for the BOLO.” Jarek pocketed his phone. “The driver of this car must have assumed the gunfire indicated we took Stewey out of the picture.”
“I guess we can still try to find out who purchased the disposable phones they used.” She grimaced. “Although it’s likely Stewey and Gil purchased their own.”
“We’ll still check it out.” Jarek sighed and glanced around the park. It was too early for families to be there. “If you hadn’t suggested driving through, the park I’m sure this car would have sat here for hours. Maybe days.”
She nodded. “Too bad it looks as if it’s been wiped clean.”
“You never know. Sometimes they can lift prints from inside the door handles or on the seat belt latch.”
She glanced over as a police cruiser rolled up to park behind the Chevy.
She recognized the officer as being Wynn, the first one who’d entered the house earlier.
She’d had more encounters with the local police here than she’d ever had while living on the streets in New York as a teenage runaway.
By the time they’d figured out who was behind this, she was afraid she’d know the Newburgh cops by name.
Not exactly something she’d aspired to.
“This is the vehicle that was used for the drive-by shooting?” Wynn eyed the vehicle with interest.
“Yes. That plate is likely stolen,” Jarek said. “If this is the same car that’s registered to Gilbert Levine.”
Wynn put a hand to his radio and provided the dispatcher the entire plate number.
A moment later, she heard the dispatcher confirm the plate was stolen from another Chevy the evening before.
Wynn glanced at Jarek. “You were right. We’ll get this vehicle processed for evidence too.
As soon as they’re finished with your place. ”
“Thanks.” Jarek glanced at her. “Ready to roll? There’s nothing more we can do here.”
“Yep.” Her stomach was still growling, and the single cup of coffee she’d downed at Jarek’s wasn’t nearly enough to sustain her for the rest of the day. She had packed her peanut butter protein bars but didn’t want to eat one now. They were her emergency stash. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Thanks for coming out.” Jarek nodded at Wynn, then opened the door to his SUV.
She rounded the vehicle to slide into the passenger seat.
Moments later, they were cruising through the rest of the park to the eastern portion of town.
When he drove past the Downing Park Deli, she inwardly groaned when she saw it wasn’t open yet.
“Moving on,” Jarek said, passing the place by.
After two more tries, Jarek found a restaurant that was open.
He parked in the small lot and waited for her to join him.
Inside, the scent of coffee and bacon teased her senses.
The place was empty; they were obviously the first customers.
She followed Jarek to a small booth near the back and sat on the side that offered a view of the front door.
She took the seat across from him and reached for the menu. Their server, a somber-looking woman in her mid-forties brought two mugs and a pot of coffee. She reminded Di of her mother who’d worked a similar job prior to marrying her stepfather, Eddie Ross. “Coffee or something else?”
“Coffee,” she and Jarek answered at the same time. The woman cracked a smile and filled their mugs. Then she disappeared, apparently giving them time to decide what they’d like to order.
“The All-American breakfast looks good.” She sipped her coffee, eyeing Jarek over the rim. “I have some cash on me. We should avoid leaving an electronic trail.”
“I’ve got it covered.” He caught the server’s eye.
The woman hurried back to take their order.
Di asked for the All-American with bacon, and Jarek requested the same.
Once they were alone again, he pinned her with a narrow gaze.
“You don’t seriously think someone within the police department is involved. ”
She shrugged. “I was only trying to point out that it’s strange Stewey was able to find us at your place. I don’t know what that means, but I don’t think we should rule anything out.”
He looked annoyed. “My colleagues are good cops. They wouldn’t sell me out.”
“Even Andrews?”
“Yeah. Even Andrews. He’s a slug who doesn’t work hard, but he’s not crooked.” Jarek waved a hand in a frustrated gesture. “I get you’re trying to cover all bases, but let’s not alienate the guys who are trying to help us get to the bottom of this mess.”
“Okay.” She let it go, realizing he was never going to believe the worst of his fellow officers.
And maybe she was off base. She admired his loyalty, even if she didn’t share it.
To be fair, she would never suspect her fellow army teammates to be involved in anything crooked either.
Her phone buzzed. Glancing down, she saw a text from Rex.
“Looks like Rex has secured a house for us. We can head there after we arrange for a rental car.”
“Works for me.” Jarek drummed his fingers on the table. “After that, we’ll try to find out where Stewey’s and Levine’s phones were purchased.”
“Along with that, we should search for Pablo Hernandez. With Stewey and Levine out of the picture, we might be better off going straight to the top of the food chain.”
He sat back, seriously considering her idea. “It’s time to connect with Bond and Schnor, those narcotics officers you mentioned. They may have a lead on Hernandez.”
“I agree.” She liked knowing they had a plan for the next few hours. Sitting around a safe house with Jarek would only drive them both crazy. Their server returned to fill their coffee mugs. A few minutes later, she brought their meals.
“Looks great,” Jarek said with a smile. “Thanks.”
The woman managed a wan smile in return and left them to it.
Di picked up her fork, then froze when Jarek said, “I’d like to say grace.”
“Ah, sure.” She dropped her fork and bowed her head. To her surprise, Jarek prayed in a soft voice loud enough for her to hear.
“Dear Lord Jesus, we ask You to bless this food we are about to eat. Also, we ask You to keep us safe in Your care. Amen.”
Feeling her face go hot, she mumbled, “Amen.”
He smiled gently. “Don’t look so uncomfortable. We need all the help we can get, and I know God is watching over us.”
She wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m sure God is watching over you, Jarek. But He has never been there for me.”
“Really?” He frowned, his blue eyes searching hers. “Not even during that disastrous exfil from Afghanistan?”
She lifted a shoulder, wishing she’d kept her big mouth shut. “I don’t know. I guess He was there for those who believe.”
“God is there for everyone who needs Him,” Jarek said. “And that includes you, Di. All you need to do is open your heart and your mind and choose to accept Jesus as your Savior.”
“I—uh . . .” She had no idea how to respond to that.
“Trust me, Jesus died to forgive our sins.”
Her sins? Not likely. “I’ll think about it.” She highly doubted God would forgive her for the things she’d done. Yet she wasn’t going to confess about her past to Jarek either.
Not now, not ever.
She picked up her fork and dug into her meal. “Tastes great.”
Jarek continued to look into her eyes as he took a bite of his eggs. Then he, thankfully, changed the subject. “Where is this rental house Rex obtained for us?”
She tapped her phone screen and bent over to unlock the device with her face. “Hmm. The address isn’t far from your place.” She frowned and looked at him. “Is that too close do you think? I can ask Rex to try something else.”
“No, it should be fine.” He took a bite of bacon. “Being close to my house might work in our favor. Whoever is behind this may assume we’d go farther away, like the other side of the city.”
“Okay.” She picked up her phone and tapped out a reply to her boss. “We’re all set.”
“Good.” They ate in silence for a few minutes. She tended to eat fast, something she’d picked up in the army. As the silence stretched between them, she hoped Jarek wouldn’t start in again on his faith. Obviously, he was comfortable praying, but she wasn’t convinced God even existed.
He certainly hadn’t protected her when she’d needed it the most.
“Do you have contact information for Bond and Schnor?” Jarek asked, interrupting her troubled thoughts. “Or should I call dispatch?”
“I have Bond’s number. He was my point person.” She tapped her phone screen again, then brought up Bond’s name. “I’ll share his contact with you, but I need your phone number.”
Jarek rattled it off. She typed his name and number into her contact list, finding it a bit ironic that they’d spent close to an entire day together without having each other’s phone numbers. These days that was unheard of. She quickly sent him a text with Bond’s information.
“Thanks,” Jarek said, digging cash from his pocket. “Let’s hit the restroom, then get out of here.”