Chapter 38
Renz backed our car into one of the empty employee parking spots.
He picked the one with the best view of the docks and boats.
Luckily, nobody could park their car in the public lot, walk to the gate, and reach the docks without us seeing them.
We were set for the duration, and I wondered how long that would be.
Would we be there for a few hours or all night long?
If we were there overnight, then that meant we’d calculated James Smith’s intentions incorrectly.
“What if he doesn’t show up, Renz?”
Renz groaned. “Then he outsmarted us and we’ll end up working that cold case. Plain and simple. Taft told us no more extensions. We can’t prove it’s a serial crimes case.”
“But if he doesn’t show up, then what did he do with Torrie? Taking out the boat and dumping the bodies was his way of getting rid of evidence.”
“And it worked for a while. Maybe he found a different disposal method, but we’ve only been here for fifteen minutes, Jade. This stakeout is going to be a wait and see situation.”
I let out a slow breath, settled in, and wished I had bought more food. We would likely be there for a long time.
Hours passed without a single sighting of a vehicle turning in or a person walking the area. I double-checked the time on my phone—12:17 a.m.
“I need to pee, Renz.”
He chuckled. “I doubt that the building is open. You’ll have to go behind a bush or a rock.”
I grabbed the fast-food bag and dug through it until I found the napkins at the bottom, and with a grumble, I pulled a few dollars out of my purse.
Renz seemed amused. “Whatcha doing?”
“I’ll be out looking for a place to pee, so I might as well look for a vending machine too. If I find one, do you want something?”
“Sure, coffee and a snack.”
“Okay. I’ll be back when I’m back. Keep your eyes peeled for that lunatic.”
“Will do.”
I was gone only ten minutes and came back a happy woman. I relieved myself, found a vending machine outside the marina store, and bought snacks that I stuffed into my pockets. While carrying two cups of questionable coffee to the car, I smiled. Questionable coffee was better than no coffee at all.
I kicked the door so Renz would open it and take the coffee. He did, then I walked to the passenger side and climbed in.
“Feel better?”
“Absolutely, plus I scored on coffee and snacks.” I pulled several candy bars and two bags of crushed chips out of my pockets and set everything on the console. Renz could take whatever he wanted. “The coffee is probably bad, but it’s still coffee, and I’ll drink it.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“So, nothing going on?”
Renz sighed. “No movement anywhere. Not even a feral cat roaming around.”
“Humph. That’s really going to suck if we have to go back with nothing to show for it. We’ll never find Torrie or catch him red-handed in the act of trying to get rid of her, if that’s the case.”
“Well, prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario if he doesn’t show up soon. We’ll be working the Michael Lenstein cold case for the umpteenth time.”
“I don’t even know about that case. It was before my time with the FBI.”
“And maybe that’s why Taft gave it to us. You’re the fresh pair of eyes, so to speak. Another case where a victim was murdered and we were sure who the killer was but were never able to prove it. Insufficient evidence, uncooperative witnesses, and the list goes on.”
“So, was Michael the killer or the victim?”
“He was the victim, and the alleged killer, Matt Shane, was never convicted. The accusations against him were all from people who hated him. No DNA, fingerprints, or any weapon belonging to him were ever found. Nobody else was considered a suspect since tunnel vision seemed to have taken over law enforcement. We only got involved because more accusations against Matt Shane surfaced in Ohio, but they didn’t go anywhere either. ”
“Wonderful. Another killer who’s able to go about their life free from a murder charge and a prison cell.”
We continued to stare out at the harbor as we sipped our coffee in silence. All I wanted to do was see James Smith show up.
Another hour passed then several more. I could barely keep my eyes open any longer. Renz suggested we get out, stretch, and take in some fresh air instead of recycled car air.
“I’ll buy the next round of coffee,” he said.
“Yeah, you don’t have to twist my arm. I’m ready to get out and stretch.”
Renz and I walked to the coffee-vending machine. He fed two dollars into the slot while I disappeared into the bushes again. I returned, and we walked to the car together.
“He isn’t coming, Renz.”
“Yeah, I agree. How long do you want to stick this out?”
“Until morning.”
“What? Why?”
“So I can ask the office personnel to let us through the gate. I want to see his boat for myself. Is it a large boat that can be out on the water for days at a time or a boat without amenities or dual motors that can’t even get across the lake?”
“Why does it matter, Jade? We can’t confiscate it without proof that he did anything wrong. We can’t even board it.”
“I don’t need to board it. I just want to see it. All I’m asking is for them to let us through the gate. They can walk us down to his boat and back. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
“Right, but that means we have to sit here until eight in the morning.”
“You can go to sleep. I’ll keep one eye open for him while I’m playing games on my phone.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I know, but it’s Saturday, and we aren’t scheduled to work. Taft can’t yell at us for being here all night since she won’t even know about it.”
Renz groaned and continued staring out the windshield.