CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

 

 

May 16, 2015

8:30 A.M.

A home across the lake from the Tamarack Ski Resort,

Near Cascade, Idaho

 

For the next hour over breakfast, they worked out the details on how they were going to shut down the mortuary, then set the trap for the sheriff, assuming he was the one involved.

Julia was convinced he was and so was Fleet. It seemed the sheriff lived far, far higher than his salary. He had told a number of people it was old family money that supplied the beautiful home on the lake, but Fleet could find no old family money. Only money coming through shell corporations from Williams, which had convinced Agent Munn as well. But she couldn’t act directly on that information because she had no probable cause or warrant to get the information. That was going to be up to Lott and Julia to get the probable cause.

Julia knew they were going to have to bluff the sheriff into action. Both she and Lott were great bluffers at the poker table. She was convinced they could get him to act and show his hand in doing so.

So with two hours until the delivery truck with the three caskets arrived at the mortuary, Doc and Annie and Lott and Julia headed for McCall in two cars. Right before they left, they had gotten word that Williams had announced to the cops following him that he was going to head to McCall.

Julia’s stomach twisted. Williams would be here by late this afternoon.

It was all going to go down today, one way or another.

Fleet stayed with Agent Munn to supply information where needed and remain in the background. His silk suit was just a little too noticeable in May in the tourist town.

The four of them ended up eating a sort of small second breakfast at a wonderful restaurant in downtown McCall that was on a second floor of an older building and looked out over the lake. The restaurant was only two blocks from the mortuary and the view was amazing. The morning had no wind and the huge lake was as smooth as glass. The mountains on the other side of the lake reflected in the mirror-like blue surface.

If Trish hadn’t died here, Julia had no doubt she could have come to love this little town. She sure understood why Trish had come up here.

The smell of bacon and fresh bread made Julia slightly hungry, even though they had just eaten. She decided to have a glass of orange juice and some toast anyway to go with her cup of coffee. Better to keep refreshed.

The others did basically the same thing, drinking coffee and eating a light continuation of breakfast.

Doc glanced around, but there was no one sitting close to them. Then he said in a soft voice, “You can see Williams’ mansion along the lake from here. See the point of land sticking out into the water on the far shore. He owns that entire piece of land and his place it tucked along this edge of that point.”

Suddenly Julia knew another part of the puzzle.

An important part.

“What stage is the moon tonight?”

Lott glanced at her, clearly puzzled.

Doc and Annie looked puzzled as well.

“I’ll ask Fleet,” Doc said, hitting a button on his phone.

After a moment Doc said, “Is there a moon tonight?”

Julia watched as clearly Fleet on the other end looked that up. Then Doc said, “No. No moon at all.”

Julia nodded. “Have Fleet look at the disappearances and trips to McCall and I’ll bet he’ll find they are all on nights of no moon. And all during the late spring, summer, and fall, when that pass is clear of snow.”

Doc repeated that to Fleet and sat there silently.

Lott looked puzzled, but sat beside her saying nothing.

After another moment Doc said, “You are right. Why?”

Julia pointed out over the lake. “Because on a dark night, without running lights, in a black boat and dressed in black, no one would be able to see Williams leave his home and come across the lake to the mortuary. And then return.”

Lott smiled and shook his head. He took her hand and squeezed it.

Doc repeated that to Fleet, then said, “Tell Agent Munn we are going to need a couple boats on the lake, running dark and way out from the shore after Williams gets to the mortuary, in case Williams slips from the mortuary after he is confronted.”

He listened to what Fleet said. “They will, I have no doubt.”

Then he hung up.

“He said be careful. Both he and Agent Munn are convinced it will all happen today and tonight.”

Lott nodded.

Julia agreed completely. By sometime this afternoon, Trish’s killer would be facing justice.

And by tonight, the killer of a lot of other women would be facing the same thing.

If they did this right and could pull off a great bluff first, and a great trap second.

And do it without anything alerting Williams that his system had broken down.