Chapter 21
I was excited to get to work that Thursday morning.
Unless something significant popped and required our involvement, we had two more days before Taft pulled us off the case.
For the moment, learning anything about Jane Doe would be a good start.
Either her DNA was in CODIS, meaning she might have a criminal background, or it wasn’t, and we would be working blind.
I reached our building and took the elevator to our floor. Taking the stairs would waste precious time. When I reached the office I shared with Renz, he was sitting at his desk with a smile pasted on his face.
“What? Don’t even tell me you already called the lab.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you that.”
I stammered, “Well, did you?”
“No, I was waiting for you. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw your frantic expression.”
“You still suck, Renz. So, let’s find out what they have.” I took a seat at my desk and lifted the receiver of the landline phone. I pressed 6, which connected to the forensic lab.
“Put it on Speaker.”
I did, and seconds later, Butch answered.
“Forensic Lab.”
“Butch, it’s Jade. Did anything pop on Jane Doe?”
“Hold on. I’ll get Hal.”
I gritted my teeth while waiting all of five seconds.
“Hal speaking. I have interesting news for you, Jade.”
“Great! What is it? By the way, I have you on Speaker. Renz is here with me.”
“Well, your Jane Doe’s DNA popped up on CODIS. Of course, it’s up to law enforcement to see why and to take it from there. Her name is Della Moore.”
“Della Moore? Okay, we’re going to check out her history to see if she’s committed a crime or if her DNA is in the system because she was missing. Thanks so much, Hal. Appreciate it.” I turned to Renz and let out a sigh. “Maybe, just maybe, we’re getting somewhere.”
I logged onto the missing persons database and entered the name Della Moore. Nothing came up in the state or in the country. I couldn’t fault the Two Rivers PD for not attempting to find her in the database since they hadn’t known her name to begin with.
“That’s so weird and sad, Renz. Nobody in the entire country was looking for her or reported her missing?”
“Maybe she was a loner.”
“Even loners have bills and rent to pay. Unless—”
“Unless what?”
“Unless she was transient and lived in a hotel.”
“Meaning?”
“What if she was a night worker too? The only reason we knew of Beth was because Leah was her roommate and reported her missing. She was in the system. Remember what you said to Bill Gavin?”
“No, enlighten me.”
“You said prostitutes were easy prey. We need to find out if anyone at the gas station corner knew a Della Moore.”
“There are probably a dozen corners throughout the Milwaukee metro area where ladies of the night flaunt their stuff, and any of them might have known Della under an assumed name.”
“True, but I’ll check to see if she had a Wisconsin driver’s license.
” I tapped away at my computer keys and entered her name into the state driver’s license registration website.
Her name popped up. “Renz, here she is. We finally have a name and a face for Jane Doe.” I tapped the keys again and entered the address that came up on her license.
I was disappointed to see it was an abandoned property, likely used as a crash pad for druggies.
“Her address was fake. It’s an abandoned drug house. ”
“That doesn’t help. She must have been popped for prostitution or drugs to be in CODIS. If nobody ever reported her missing, they didn’t give a sample of her DNA to include in her missing persons profile.”
“I’ll see if she has a police jacket.” I ran her name in the nationwide database and was saddened to see her lengthy record, which ranged from petty theft and forging checks to multiple prostitution and drug arrests.
“Wow, either she really had a tough life, or she was indifferent to the rules of law. She was busted for one thing or another nine times.”
Renz huffed. “You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. Sounds like Della was a real risk taker.”
“Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean she deserved to die because of it. We need to talk to Leah again and ask if she knew Della by that name or any other. We’ll also ask where the other working-women hangout spots are.”
“We need to update Taft first.”
“We will, but we still have until the end of the day tomorrow to show proof that we need to be on the case.”
Renz jerked his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s make this a productive day.”
We saw Taft leave her office to conduct the morning meeting. Renz stopped her in the hallway and asked for a minute of her time.
Taft glanced at her watch. “Can’t this wait until after the meeting?”
“No, ma’am. We need permission to leave now.
The lab said Jane Doe’s DNA was in CODIS.
Her name is Della Moore, and we found out she had a lengthy police record, yet she was never reported missing.
We’re under the impression she was a lady of the evening, just like Beth.
They could have known each other and worked the same area.
That could be what ties them together. Meaning, there’s a good chance we’re looking at a serial killer who targets prostitutes. ”
“Okay, go ahead. Find out something definitive today that links Della and Beth. Call me throughout the day.”
“We will, boss, and thanks.”
Renz and I headed downstairs and out the door, going to Leah’s apartment first to talk to her. She had to know something about Della.
“Do you think all of the prostitutes in Milwaukee know each other?”
Renz chuckled. “What kind of question is that?”
I frowned. “A sincere one.”
“Of course not. Does every FBI agent or cop know each other? Does every Walmart employee know each other?”
“Okay, okay, dumb question. We’ll see what Leah says. Then maybe we’ll go ask Candy and Torrie too. What was that gas station cashier’s name?”
“The young lady?”
“Yeah, her.”
Renz shrugged. “I can’t remember.”
“I’ll remember when I see her. Anyway, we should speak with her too.”
We reached Leah’s apartment on West Scott Street, walked up to the porch, and pressed her buzzer. I was more than sure she wasn’t going to appreciate our intrusion at nine a.m., but we had an important reason to pay her a visit.
The upstairs window lifted, and Leah yelled down. “Who’s there, and what do you want?”
“Leah, it’s Agents DeLeon and Monroe. It’s important that we talk to you.”
“Why can’t anyone visit me at noon?” The window slammed closed, and a minute later, we heard her stomping down the stairs.
Renz grimaced. “I hope she isn’t too angry to talk to us.”
I swatted the air. “Nah. If she was that mad, she wouldn’t bother coming to the door.”
The door swung open, and Leah stared out at us. “Is this about Beth?”
“No, but maybe,” I said.
She cocked her head. “You on something, Agent Monroe?”
I huffed. “Can we come in, Leah? It’s a serious situation.”
She stepped aside and waved us through, and we walked up the stairs and into the kitchen. Leah offered us seats while she started the coffee.
“So, what has you two all spun up this morning?”
I wanted so badly to tell Leah what we really knew, but that would start a panic among the ladies.
Our plans to stake out the gas station for the killer would go right down the drain if Leah spread the news that Beth was dead.
Telling Leah the truth would cause the ladies to scatter, and we might lose the opportunity to catch the killer in the act.
I didn’t want to use the ladies as bait, but I didn’t know what else to do.
“Leah, do you know a working girl named Della Moore?”
“I know a Della slightly, but I don’t know her last name. Cute brunette with rosy cheeks and a perky nose?”
I nodded. “That’s right.”
“She works the day shift, but come to think of it, I haven’t seen her around lately. She was new to the area, and maybe she changed her mind and moved on.”
“Do you know where she was from?”
“Nope. Only that she came in on a bus like most out-of-towners do and started working the corner for Damien.”
“Your boss?”
Leah spat in the sink. “Yeah, that asshole. Torrie and Candy would know more about Della than I do. Ask them. Like I said, Della might have changed her mind about this shitty occupation we hold so dear to our hearts.” She spat in the sink again then offered us coffee.
We declined the coffee, but Renz continued the questioning.
“What time do the girls usually begin their day?”
Leah shrugged. “Who knows? I’m here at home or doing errands until six p.m. If I had to guess, I’d say our boss makes them start working around ten or eleven in the morning.” She gave us a somber look. “Is there anything new on Beth?”
I had to lie. “We’ll take a look at the police department’s tip-line calls to see if any have merit. I’ll keep you informed, and thanks. We really do appreciate your help.”
We left, and as soon as we were out of earshot of any open windows, I aired my thoughts.
“Now what? We know that Della worked that corner too. Two dead prostitutes dismembered by their killer and tossed into the lake isn’t a coincidence.
He killed both of them and maybe more. Did the PD ever put out a BOLO on that Camry, and are we going to stake out the front of that gas station in case he comes back? ”
“Okay, one question at a time. Is there a BOLO on the car? I don’t know. Are we going to stake out that area? Absolutely, but I’d say it would be risky for him to come back this soon. Della and Beth’s murders were three to four weeks apart.”
“I’m going to call the PD and ask about the BOLO.
It’s all we have to work with on the car.
Taft even agreed that if it was a rental, the task of locating which rental company he used would be too daunting.
We don’t have a plate number, but we do have the make and model of the car, and the BOLO is our best bet.
While I’m on the phone with them, I’ll ask about the calls to the marinas farther north and south and how that’s going. ”
After looking both ways, Renz made a U-turn and headed toward the gas station. Within five minutes, he made the left-hand turn into the gas station’s lot and parked alongside the building.
“The sidewalk is empty, Renz.”
“It’s probably too early. Give the ladies an hour to start congregating.”
“Okay. I’m going to call the PD quick.”
I tapped Bill Gavin’s number and waited for him to pick up.
“Hey, Jade. What can I help you with?”
“Plenty.”
He chuckled, but I didn’t.
“Two things. First, how has the expanding search of the marinas gone?”
“We’ve only gotten as far as Sheboygan and Racine. It doesn’t seem like they have any full-time people that work at marinas. If you’re lucky, somebody answers the phone, but most of the time, a message is left, and they don’t bother to call back.”
“That’s not good. Keep trying and call Manitowoc and Two Rivers marinas too.”
“Sure thing. What was the second thing?”
“The BOLO on the Camry.”
“Wait, what? The night shift patrol lieutenant was supposed to contact you or Lorenzo.”
“About what?”
“That the Camry was found and towed to the second district PD impound lot to be gone over forensically.”
My head nearly exploded. “Son of a bitch, Bill. When did that happen, and has it been gone through yet?”
“Um, the BOLO hit last night, and the second district PD has it at their garage. I haven’t spoken to them yet.”
I ended the call sure there was smoke coming out of my ears. “Change of plans for the moment. We’ll come back later after the girls start working.”
“What’s going on?” Renz asked.
“Lazy-ass cops, that’s what. The second district has the Camry in their impound lot’s garage. Somebody has either given it a forensic once-over or intends to.”
“What about the driver? Is he in lockup?”
“I don’t know anything, Renz. Let’s head over there and find out what the hell is going on.”
We weren’t far from the district police station and headed that way.
I was furious, and I had no idea what Renz was thinking.
If the PD wanted to work the case without our help, then we would walk away.
No more favors and no more shared information.
If we were going to work the case alongside the PD, then we needed to be told everything in real time.
If not, we would gladly take over the case completely.
In my opinion, we were working a serial killer case, but there was still a lot we had to learn before we could say that with total certainty.