Chapter 25

They reached the turnoff where they had found Mallory’s car by nine forty-five. Frank got the dog out and was ready to get started.

“If he picks a direction, we can follow for a while and then put him back in the car. We can drive until we see a road where Mallory might have been able to drive his car. By the process of elimination, we might just get lucky.”

“Okay, Frank, you’re calling the shots.” Matt handed Jessie the radio. “Let me know when you all are ready to get back in the car.”

“Sure enough.” Frank bent down by Radar. “Radar, it’s time to get to work. Find the man Radar, let’s find him.” He held Mallory’s shirt for the dog to smell.

“I’m glad we found the shirt in Mallory’s car.”

“It makes it easier for Radar, that’s for sure.”

Jessie watched the dog begin his track. “Thank you for taking the time to meet Sadie. I’ve told her so much about you and your dogs.” She kept pace with Frank step for step.

“You’re just like her you know.” He smiled at Jessie. “She’s spunky and game. There’s still a twinkle in her eye that makes me wonder if she still doesn’t cause a little mischief now and then.”

“You can bank on it. She loves to give my dad a run for his money.”

“I think Matt, too. She’s checking him over pretty thoroughly. He’s holding his own so far in this match, but then again, so is she.” Frank chuckled.

“Did you know Agent Henderson wants to use me to lure the stalker out into the open?”

“I know. Matt told me.” Frank frowned. “And he’s not happy about it.”

“Matt worries too much about me, and he’s not thinking like a cop. We have an excellent chance to get our guy. What none of them understands is that it’s all about the mind games with him. I don’t have to lure him. He knows I’ll be there tonight.” She noticed Frank’s worried expression. “I’ll be wearing a vest, which is good.” Jessie touched his arm to reassure him. “If he shoots at me it could be easy for him to hide in the crowd. We might need Radar to walk along with us so he could find him. Remember how you told me he could pick a man up even in a crowd.” She adjusted her sunglasses and used her hand to shield them so she could see Frank’s face.

“I remember, and he can.”

“You have to come along tonight. You can keep him on a leash and walk with us.” Her eyes pleaded with him.

“I already told Matt I would be there. If they’re going to put you out there, then I’m going to make sure we get the guy if he’s in the area.”

“Thanks, Frank. I knew I could count on you.” She kissed his cheek.

“Radio Matt, and let’s ride or this could be a long day.”

They rode in the car until they reached the first dirt road and got out, but Radar didn’t hit on it. They did that for the next twenty miles. Nothing other than the highway. They came up empty-handed. Twenty-five miles out of town, they came upon another dirt road. “Frank, let’s try this last one. If nothing else, it’s a good place to turn around.” Matt looked back at him in the mirror.

“Sounds good. He’s capable of doing it, but this is a big challenge and a lot of ground to cover. At least we know Mallory stayed on this road for some distance.” Frank took Radar out. He knelt beside him letting him smell the shirt once more and gave the command. Radar took off down the dirt road. Jessie and Frank followed him as he moved down the road for a couple of miles. Suddenly, Radar veered to the right onto another smaller road. At the end of the small dirt turnoff, it stood, a gleaming silver piece of metal, with the sunlight reflecting off its roof. Out in the middle of nowhere, right where no one would have thought to look, was the trailer that had been Adriana’s prison. Jessie had seen it the night that Adriana had escaped. The dog was pulling hard. Matt and Balasco’s cars sped past them as soon as Jessie radioed Matt that this was it.

Jessie watched as they secured the perimeter with guns drawn. Henderson waved to them to stop where they were. Henderson was at the front entrance of the trailer, and Matt and Tony were at the back. They disappeared inside on Henderson’s command. Before long, they came outside again. Jessie heard Balasco make a call for the crime team.

She walked over to Matt. “Nobody there?”

“Nope, but that is Rodney’s car, the one that Mallory hijacked.” Matt pointed. “The plates are a match. Frank, what is Radar doing?” Matt noticed the dog digging and pawing at the ground.

“You might need to get someone digging over here. I think we might have some decomp or blood evidence the way he’s acting.” Frank pointed to the spot, and two officers started digging. As soon as they were digging, Jessie saw Radar go to another spot and do the same thing.

“What about in there? Can I look around?” She pointed at the trailer, glancing at Matt.

“Believe me; you don’t want to go in there. The smell alone will kill you.” He held his nose. “I’ve never seen anything like in all my years of police work.”

Balasco walked out of one of the outbuildings. “It’s better out here than in there. I don’t know how that poor girl stood it.”

“As she told me, she had no choice.” Jessie shook her head.

“Well, Frank, he did it again.” Tony walked over to them. “There’s a body buried in each spot he hit on. Forensics will work on identifying them. You can add another successful case to your file. This dog is good. I read your file the other night. I’m impressed. We should use these animals sooner rather than later in cases. I was impressed with how many cold cases he helped to solve.”

“Thanks, sir.” Frank looked shyly proud. “He still amazes me.”

“We might’ve found this place eventually, but it would have taken a lot longer. I’m not sure we’d have found the bodies without probable cause to look, though.”

Henderson walked over and shook his hand. “He did a damn fine job. When Matt told me his abilities, I thought he was exaggerating a little. Your dog took care of business, which is no small thing. You can count me in to write you a glowing report about your work here.”

“I would appreciate that.” Frank patted Radar’s head.

“I hear you’re going to be there tonight?”

“Jessie asked me to, and so did Matt.” Frank glanced at Jessie standing beside him.

“I’m glad. We may need you.” Henderson smiled thinly.

“You’ve got it, and I’m happy to do it for her.” Frank looked pleased. He nodded at Matt.

Balasco walked over to where Matt leaned against the car petting Radar’s head. “You know, Matt, I feel a little sorry for my crime unit. I wouldn’t want to have to go through that mess.”

“I was just thinking the same thing. It will be a miserable task. With the sun beating down on it, I imagine it must have felt like being in a tin can.”

“If that’s how you live when you have the kind of money Mallory has in his account, what’s the use of having any?” Balasco wiped the sweat from his forehead. “This sun gets warm when you’re standing out in it with no shade.”

“You could always go in and turn on the AC.” Matt smiled at him.

“I think I’ll pass that up. I would rather be hot.”

The minute the crime unit arrived, Henderson started barking orders. Jessie couldn’t believe the way he talked to Matt. Henderson told Matt to get on his way—to take Balasco back to town, and he would make sure the crime unit didn’t mess up.

Once they were in the car, Henderson strode toward them, motioning Matt to roll down his window.

“Jessie, make sure you’re ready tonight.” He pinned her with his gaze.

“I will be.”

“We’ll do our part to keep you safe if don’t you do anything stupid.”

Stupid? Jessie could see the angry look on Matt’s face in the mirror. “I’ll do my part,” she snapped back.

“Matt, be sure to get her in a vest, and I suppose you’ll need one, too.” He turned his stony gaze on Frank. “We’re doing this by the book. Do you have something for your dog?” He waited for Frank’s terse nod. “Okay, you won’t know where our guys are, but we’ll keep you covered the entire time. Let’s hope he tries something tonight.”

“I hope he doesn’t try anything tonight for Jessie’s sake and her grandmother’s,” Balasco said to him.

“You can leave.” Henderson straightened and shoved away from the car.

“Sorry, Jessie, I don’t think that guy has an ounce of diplomacy in him.” Balasco frowned at Henderson’s back as he walked away.

“Don’t worry, Tony. I understand the waiting part of any case is the hard part.”

“He could use some work in the area of people skills. He’s shown poor judgment in that area since I’ve been here. I wonder if he missed that class when they were teaching it at the Academy,” Frank muttered.

Tony and Frank got into a conversation about the dog, and Jessie’s attention wandered. She kept looking at Matt in the mirror. He still had a grim set to his lips. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that look.

“Hey, Tony, I’ve put up with some dumb crap to work with that guy. I’m warning you, don’t leave me alone in a room with him for long, or he might be picking himself up off the floor. There’s no reason a seasoned officer or agent should talk to his peers the way he just did. When this case is over, I’m going to file a formal complaint.” Matt’s lips tightened.

“I can’t say that I blame you, I might have to do the same.” Tony winked at Jessie.

“I wouldn’t mind adding my two cents worth,” Frank chimed in.

Well, I’m glad that’s settled.” His tense face visibly relaxed. “Jess, you don’t have to do this tonight if you don’t want to. I want to make that clear. You aren’t a cop; you’re a civilian.”

“I’ll do it.” There was no way she’d look at his expression in the mirror. She kept her eyes on the arid landscape sliding past the car. Jessie knew it would take him a little while to adjust to the idea. He was only looking out for her. She wouldn’t put it past him to trip Henderson tonight on the sly, he was that mad.

The ride back to town was quiet and gave her time to think.