The hour passed with more coffee and brainstorming. Our plan was about to take on a life of its own, and the pieces would be put in place tomorrow. The confirmation of Maria and Mark Conway’s deaths wouldn’t reach John until Sunday, though, since moving too quickly might make him suspicious. To be convincing, Bell needed John to think it had taken time to buy the online products and have them sent by overnight delivery.
“How were you supposed to contact him with proof of death?” I asked. “You can’t sit in Mark and Maria’s cells all day, waiting for them to die just so you can take pictures of their bodies.”
Frank snickered. “Plus, that would sort of incriminate you as the killer.”
“He said as their attorney, I could request the forensic pictures of how they were found. He texted me a random phone number to send the photos and the autopsy reports to, and I assume everything will pass through a dozen other phone numbers before it ever reaches him.”
“How did he call you?”
“From a blocked number.”
“First things first,” Bob said. “You’re leaving with us, and we’ll set you up in a hotel near our district police station. I want you to call or text your wife and have her and the kids meet us there. Now go pack some things. You’ll be in too much danger if you come back to the house later to get necessities.” Lutz gave him a nod. “It’ll all be okay. Go ahead.”
While we waited, Frank conducted a DMV search for the plate number of the car outside. He found that it was registered to a corporation and not an individual. We had no reason to detain the men sitting inside unless we found out who they were and whether outstanding warrants were in the system for either of them. Frank forwarded the photo of their faces to Tech. If we were lucky, facial recognition software would get a hit on at least one of them.
I glanced up from my phone as Jared reentered the room with a packed suitcase in each hand.
“I hope this is wrapped up in a few days. It’s all I packed for.”
Lutz stood. “Grab your house keys, phone, charger, and wallet, and let’s go.”
I checked the alley for cars or people that hadn’t been there before. We were clear to leave. Moving quickly, we returned to Lutz’s SUV, tossed the bags in the back, and climbed in. Finally taking a breath, Jared texted his wife and told her to meet us at the Holiday Inn Express Wentworth, and there, in the safety of the two-bedroom suite, we would explain everything we intended to do to shut down John Vance once and for all.
Elizabeth and the two kids joined us at the hotel at nine o’clock. With the children tucked away in the second bedroom with their video games, the five of us sat in the living room area, and Jared explained the phone call he’d received from John Vance.
With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth blurted out her fear. “I thought defense lawyers were safer from harm than prosecutors. You’re defending the criminals for God’s sake. Why is that man threatening you?”
I tried to explain to Elizabeth how the mind of a sadistic maniac worked. “He wants to cover his tracks, so he’s having everyone killed that’s associated with him. Honestly, a madman like John Vance not only lacks empathy but also the ‘telling right from wrong’ gene. He kills as easily as he orders a meal at a restaurant and feels no remorse afterward. It’s what’s in his best interest that matters. He’s a dangerous man, and the best and safest place for you and your family is right here at the hotel, and our station is less than five blocks away.”
Elizabeth pulled the curtain aside and looked out over the half-full parking lot. “This isn’t home, that’s for sure.”
Frank poured a glass of water and handed it to her. “With any luck, you’ll be back home before Monday. Just consider it a weekend getaway for the kids, and try to make the best of it. There’s a nice restaurant downstairs, a game room, exercise room, and of course, the swimming pool. I think the kids will like it here. Temporarily, I mean.”
She gave Frank a weak smile. “I’ll do my best to keep my anxiety to myself. The kids don’t need to know the real reason we’re here.”
With that comment, we wrapped up the night. Frank, Lutz, and I said our goodbyes to Jared and his wife. We still had to go back to Wild Willy’s and pick up our cars, and tomorrow would be a full day of getting the paperwork in order, confirming our intentions with the chief, and going over the fake “coroner’s findings” with Don. Everyone had to be on board in order to pull off the deaths of Maria Vasquez and Mark Conway and make them seem believable to John Vance. Our plan to get him back behind bars had to go off without a hitch.