CHAPTER 24 #2
“First off, you know what I’m going to say,” Jake said as calmly as he could.
“We can’t file a missing person’s report until it’s been twenty-four hours.
” He was standing in the street with Robert by Lainey’s abandoned car along with three other patrol units blocking the street.
"But this doesn’t look good. I’ve put a BOLO on her in case she’s out walking somewhere.
Hopefully, a patrol car spots her and this is some sort of misunderstanding. “
Robert looked at him like he was going to slug him, his chest heaving and his face red.
Jake sighed. “Okay, I’m hoping that’s what this is,” he admitted. “But yes. I see what you see. She wouldn’t leave her purse and phone behind. It looks like the flat tire was deliberate. This was probably a setup,” he said.
“Which fire station is Mac at?” Robert asked.
Jake shook his head. “No. No man, not a good idea. You can’t go in there all Rambo.”
“You can tell me, or I’ll find out one way or another,” Robert demanded.
“If he’s there, that means he didn’t do this. And if he’s not there, it still doesn’t mean he did this.” Jake was trying to reason with his friend, who was transforming into the Incredible Hulk before his eyes.
“I don’t trust that motherfucker. Even if he didn’t take her, he might know who did,” Robert said. Jake noticed a vein bulging on his temple now.
Jake saw an unmarked unit pull up. It was Detective Moore. “Listen, I need to talk to him,” Jake motioned. “Then we’ll go together and see if Mac’s at his station house, okay?”
Robert nodded.
Moore walked around Lainey’s car, inspecting it with his own flashlight. He stepped aside with Jake. “Lieutenant, you’re right. This doesn’t look good,” Moore said.
“With the break-in at her house and now this ... I think it’s connected to those missing coins,” Jake said.
Moore nodded. “I finally nailed down Samantha Cosgrove yesterday. I didn’t get anywhere with her.
She said Geoff Wickham was a regular, but she didn’t know him outside of work.
She said the same about Richard MacKenzie too.
And she said the two from the drug bust are good workers.
That’s why she bailed them out,” Moore sighed.
“I hit a brick wall with her. My gut says she’s lying, but without something concrete... ” he shrugged.
Jake sighed. “I have Lainey’s boyfriend in a bull chute about to rip this town apart, so we gotta do something.”
Moore gazed over Jake’s shoulder. Robert was pacing in the middle of the street. “I remember seeing him at her house when I interviewed her. But now he looks like he could kill somebody with his bare hands.” Moore studied him. “Military?” he asked.
“Yes, and Army intelligence. Some sort of Special Forces too.” Jake glanced back at Robert. “I’ve known him since high school. He’s a buddy of mine. He actually met Lainey Wickham through my wife and me, and....” Jake looked down, shaking his head. “And he expects action, or he’ll take it himself.”
Moore nodded. “I’ll get Jan Bingman down to the station and find out who she’s been talking to. Maybe she’s got an idea of who’d go after Wickham’s widow.”
“Good. I’m going to track down Richard MacKenzie, see if he’s got any ideas,” Jake said.
* * *
Robert followed Jake to the west side fire station. He parked on the street behind his patrol car. Jake walked back to Robert’s window. “I’m gonna go in there. If he’s here, I’ll question him. If he’s not, then we’ll go by his house.”
Robert started to push open his door. “Oh, no.” Jake shoved it closed. “We’re doing this by the book. You’re staying here, because you in jail won’t make matters any better.”
Robert wanted to throw something, punch something; instead he said, “Fine,” letting out an exasperated breath.
Ten long minutes later, a big garage door raised, revealing a dormant fire truck on the other side.
Jake walked out of it, got in his patrol car and drove off.
Robert followed, thinking they were heading to Mac’s house, but Jake pulled his car into a nearby gas station.
He parked on the side of the convenience store and got out.
Robert rolled his window down. “What’s up?”
“He’s there.”
Robert raised his hands. “What are we doing then?”
Jake leaned his shoulder against the door. “When I told him it looked like Lainey had been abducted, he was shocked. I could tell his reaction was genuine, but ...” Jake grimaced.
“But what?”
“I have this feeling he knows something, but wouldn’t say. He became antsy, and his answers were short. He acted as if he had someplace else he needed to be.”
“See! He’s shady.” Robert wasn’t crazy. He had good instincts about people.
Jake looked around in thought.
“Spit it out, man! What are you thinking?” Robert was on pins and needles.
Jake pressed his call button. “This is O’Connor. Be advised, I have a ride-along. Robert Lane, the BOLO, Lainey Wickham’s boyfriend, will be in my unit.” He motioned for Robert to hop in with him.
With Robert sitting shotgun, Jake drove back towards the fire station. “They’re getting ready to do a shift change, and I wanna see if MacKenzie goes home or somewhere else,” he explained, parking out of sight, across the street from the station.
Robert was hoping the son of a bitch would lead them to her. However, valuable time would be wasted if he didn’t.
* * *
“Do you have a break in the case? Why am I here at nearly ten o’clock at night?” Jan asked Moore after being escorted to an interrogation room.
“Have a seat, Ms. Bingman.” Moore slid a legal pad and pen in front of her. “I need a list of everyone you’ve shared your Geoff Wickham theory with.”
“What theory would that be, Detective?”
“That you think Wickham stole your uncle’s coins the night of the fire.”
“I don’t appreciate your tone, Detective. Why are you treating me like I’m the enemy?” Jan crossed her arms. She had no intention of being bullied into doing his job for him.
Moore leaned over the table and looked her square in the eye.
“Someone broke into Lainey Wickham’s house a few weeks ago.
The place was torn apart, they were searching for something.
Now as of,” Moore glanced at his wristwatch, “three hours ago, Lainey Wickham is missing. And it appears someone abducted her.”
Jan’s mouth gaped.
Moore’s voice was steady, but restrained. “If you planted rumors around town, I’m not surprised a crazy person believes they can find the four-million dollar coins before you do.” He smacked his hand on the table. “A six-year-old doesn’t have a daddy anymore, and now her mother’s missing!”
Jan swallowed. Her mouth became dry.
Moore’s nostrils flared. “I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that little girl doesn’t end up an orphan. So again, Ms. Bingman ... give me a fucking list.”
Jan grabbed the pen and started writing.