Chapter 16 #2
“Might work,” she said. “Not knowing when the crown was stolen, we have no idea how long our thief might’ve known it was fake. He could’ve already come back to check. Or he might not have found out it’s not real yet.”
“Or we could be wrong about the jewels,” Burke said. “He could have the real crown, and he’s not coming back at all.”
“In any event,” Abby said. “Staying here would require so many of our resources when we need to put all of our effort on the investigation, not babysitting this place. So I say we’re better off installing cameras.”
Burke nodded. “We’ll need Victor’s permission. Might not be easy to get.”
“Actually,” Abby said. “He’s so down after finding the trunk, I think he might agree.”
“It’s a long trek to and from the inn to get our equipment,” Gabe said. “We could have someone on the team deliver it. Still would take a couple hours.”
“No worries,” Abby said. “Gage will not only have cameras, but they’ll be top-of-the-line.”
Gabe rubbed his hands together. “If you need someone to go to his compound, I’m your man. I might get a look at the other gadgets they have to add to our team wish list.”
Abby rolled her eyes. The team had zero dollars to buy additional gadgets, but Gabe could always dream.
She glanced at her watch. “There’s another ferry scheduled to arrive in half an hour. You could get to the Blackwell compound and back here on the six o’clock ferry.”
“Give Gage a call.” Gabe jumped up. “I’ll go meet the ferry, and you can let me know if I should get on it or not.”
“No question he’ll say yes,” Abby said. “He’s one of the most generous men you’ll ever meet so you might as well plan on leaving.”
“Looks like I’m off babysitting duty.” Gabe gave a crooked grin as he slid the journals down the table toward Abby. “Officially handing over the most thrilling assignment on the island. Hope you’re up for the challenge.”
The deep rumble of his laugh as he exited put a smile on her face.
Even Burke’s mouth quirked up on the side. “I’ll keep looking at this journal while you make the call.”
She nodded and dialed Gage to give him a quick rundown of their needs, mentioning they needed Victor’s permission before installing the cameras.
Just as she expected, he readily agreed.
She counted herself blessed to know him.
To know his whole team. On her many visits to Sam over the years, she’d had a chance to interact socially with the entire team, and they’d come to her aid professionally a few times as well.
And, of course, she and her deputies had attended many of their trainings.
The LLL team had been wanting to attend them too, but they’d been too busy to fit any classes into their schedule.
Maybe being here and needing their help was God urging them to get going on developing additional safety skills.
“We’re good to go with Gage.” She set her phone on the table. “How many cameras are you thinking we need?”
Burke placed his finger on the journal page and looked at her. “One on the steps down by the dock. One for every entrance to the building, including the one covered in ivy. One for the greenhouse too.”
“I think we should also place one in the library facing the crown’s hidden cabinet.”
“Agreed, and if Blackwell can spare enough cameras, one in the foyer.”
The plan was really shaping up. “We need Victor’s approval, but we can’t leave him here tonight knowing the thief might return.”
“Which means not only convincing him to leave but finding a safe place for him to go,” Burke said. “Our department doesn’t have an actual safe house. No surprise there. I hate to waste valuable time hunting down a place.”
She agreed. “He can come with me to the Blackwell compound. If they don’t have a cabin for him, he can have mine, and I’ll bunk on Sam’s couch.”
“What about twenty-four-hour protection for him?”
“The compound is one of the most secure facilities I’ve stayed in. I’m confident he’ll be safe there, but I can arrange for someone to stay with him when I’m not there.”
“I could take night duty.”
Burke was the last person she wanted in a nearby cabin or even worse, in her cabin. “I think we’ve got it covered. Let’s go talk to Victor.”
She scooped up the pictures to maintain the chain of custody.
He reached for the journal he’d been reading. “I’ll bookmark the pages we’re reviewing and bring all of them with me.”
She didn’t wait for him to gather the books, but took off, spotting a light on in Victor’s office.
She found him sitting in an easy chair, staring at the fireplace.
When she entered, he looked at her, his expression so forlorn she wanted to offer him a hug.
Not a professional thing to do. She felt for him, but she needed to maintain her distance.
He’d never been ruled out as a suspect, though she honestly didn’t believe he stole his own crown anymore.
He clasped his hands together on his lap. “Don’t tell me you have more bad news for me.”
She sat in the matching plaid chair next to his and shifted on the faded cushion to face him. “We don’t know if it’s bad news or not, but Estelle wrote a cipher in her journal, and Gabe cracked it. She mentions having a replica of the crown made.”
He gasped. “Impossible.”
She waited for him to process the information. “I’m sorry, but it seems likely. We compared the photos from the trunk to the one you showed us of the crown, and we believe she’s holding a fake.”
He blinked slowly, shock flashing in his eyes. “Do you think she replaced the real crown and disappeared with it?”
“Seems likely.”
“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe she would do such a thing to me.” He twisted his hands together, rubbing them over and over as if trying to wash away the pain of betrayal.
“In one of the last journal entries in the year she disappeared, she mentioned being unhappy here and wanting to move back to France, but she was afraid to approach you about it.”
“No! I refuse to believe such a thing.” He gave a weary shake of his head, eyes clouded with emotion. “She never said anything to me. Not a word. How was I supposed to know? I love this place, but if I’d known she was so unhappy I would’ve gone to France with her. Anything, not to lose her.”
A silent ache grew in her chest as she watched him. “I wish she would’ve told you.”
“If she had, maybe she’d still be with me.” He hung his head and began sobbing.
She couldn’t ignore his pain anymore. She knelt on the floor and took his hand. “Let’s pray.”
She didn’t give him the option this time, but offered a sincere prayer on his behalf.
He lifted his eyes to her. “I want to believe in prayer. Want to believe it will make things easier, but I just can’t. Not after all of this.”
She squeezed his hand and leaned back. “I understand. I’ll continue to pray for you to find the faith to believe.”
Burke stepped into the room, the bag of journals tucked under his arm. “We good to go on the cameras and safe house?”
“Cameras? Safe house?” Victor blinked at Abby. “What’s he talking about?”
She didn’t want to add to his worries, but she had no choice and explained the situation to him. “We can’t let you stay here and risk your life.”
“But I…” He clapped a hand over his mouth, then dropped it to his knee and shook his head. “Today’s trip to the bank was brutal. I can’t leave again so soon.”
“We’ll be with you and will take precautions on the transport.” Abby tried to sound confident, something she didn’t feel quite yet, but would once they’d made a game plan.
“I don’t know.” Victor scratched the back of his neck, eyes darting away.
“I need you to trust me. Trust us.” She put force behind her words to get his attention. “We have your best interest at heart.”
His stern expression wavered.
“Think of it as an adventure,” she said, trying to make it sound exciting. “You’ll be staying in a top-of-the-line law enforcement training facility. A tour of the place alone is worth going, and you’ll be protected by tight security.”
“Such a tour might appeal to you,” he said. “It’s not my cup of tea.”
“Then think about being safe.” She plunged ahead. “You won’t have to worry about anyone breaking in here while you’re here alone.”
“I guess I have no option, and I’ll have to try.” He sighed. “I have sleeping pills I can take with me to knock me out overnight. But you will bring me back tomorrow, correct?”
“I would like to say we will, but it’ll depend on what happens tonight,” she said. “We’d like your permission to install video cameras in the house and on the property to record any events that might occur tonight.”
“Cameras.” He narrowed his eyes. “What difference does it make if I’m not here? So go ahead. Let’s catch this thief. Do we need to leave right away?”
Abby shook her head. “Gabe is headed to the mainland to get the cameras. After he returns, we’ll need time to install them. While he’s gone, we’ll arrange secured transport for you.”
“If only you had a helicopter.” He let out a long breath through his nose. “It would make me feel a lot better than crossing the bay in your boat again.”
Burke stared at Victor, his lips parted in stunned silence. “You’re good with riding in a helicopter?”
Victor bobbed his head, firm and assured for once. “I like how it’s enclosed, cocooning. And it’s above all the danger we faced this morning.”
Abby liked the idea too. It was not only safer, but faster. “Is there a helipad on the island?”
“There is. One of the remaining families here maintains it for their comfort, but any homeowner on the island can use it.”
Finally, something positive in Abby’s day. “Then let me look into securing a helicopter.”
Burke flashed her an incredulous look.
She smiled at him. “Follow me if you want to know what I have planned.”
They went in search of Sam and found her in the library, kneeling under the display case where the crown had once been stored.
“You must’ve read my mind.” She stood. “I was just going to come find you.”
“Did you locate something?” Abby asked.
Sam held out a vial holding a pale greenish-gray item.
Abby squinted at it. “What is it?”
“A lichen someone must’ve tracked in on their shoe. I can’t be certain until I analyze it, but I did a quick internet comparison and it looks like a Cladonia species, specifically Cladonia arbuscula.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Well, that clarifies it for me.”
“Sorry.” Sam laughed. “A lichen partners with a fungus and a tiny plant-like organism, like algae. They thrive on rocks, tree trunks and branches, and soil.”
“Okay, I’ll pretend to understand that part. But what does this lichen have to do with our investigation?”
“First of all, this particular lichen isn’t common in Oregon, but can be found in the coastal areas, so it likely attached to someone’s shoe while walking the property and was brought inside.”
“And that’s important, why?” Burke asked.
She gave them an all-knowing look. “One thing I didn’t mention is it can commonly be found on gravestones.”
“Gravestone?” Abby let the idea settle in. “You’re thinking about Estelle.”
Sam nodded.
Burke tilted his head. “But if she was murdered and buried on this property, it’s not likely the killer would’ve put up a gravestone for her.”
“Agreed,” Sam said. “But the lichen also frequently grows on wood chips over a grave.”
“Then we need to get this analyzed ASAP to find out if it really is what you think it is.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Eagerness burned in Sam’s eyes. “My assistant and I’ll be here at least another four hours, and then we’ll pack up and catch the ferry. I can start analyzing it the minute I get to my lab.”
“Speaking of leaving…” Abby explained about needing the helicopter for Victor. “Do you think Gage would be agreeable to such a big ask?”
“Of course he would, as long as the helo isn’t in use and Riley or Coop are available to fly it.”
“Perfect,” Abby said. “Let me know what Gage says. Then after we get cameras installed, I’ll have Gabe stay here until you’re ready to go, in case you need anything.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Sam got out her phone. “Let me call Gage to arrange your flight.”
Abby squeezed her friend’s arm in thanks.
A quick call to Gage, and hopefully they’d soon have Victor in the air, safely winging his way to Blackwell Tactical’s secured compound and out of danger.