I paged through J.T.’s file slowly and deliberately. I didn’t want to miss anything. There could be clues that I hadn’t realized the first time I read through it. I flipped to the tab with the agent investigation report conducted by Internal Affairs. I read it again. According to the witness statements, Sam Dunbar seemed to be the leader of that armored truck robbery. Now, our fictitious C.V. Loomis was in charge, and somehow the two men were connected. I stared at the page, and then it hit me. Dunbar was the name of an armored vehicle service, and so was Loomis. They made a joke of the names and decided their fate would be tied to robbing armored trucks for cash and now diamonds.
But C.V. Loomis isn’t a real name. We’ve already established that. And actually Dunbar wasn’t Sam’s real name, either. He was adopted.
“Sir?”
“Yes, Jade.”
“Is there a way we can get access to Samuel Dunbar’s adoption files?”
“With a court order or subpoena, probably. Why?”
“I think I’m on to something. Dunbar and Loomis are both names of armored vehicle companies. They’re mocking the system, or at least they were until Sam was shot by J.T. I want to know what Sam’s birth name was, but we need those records now.” I grabbed my notepad and drew the tattoo from memory. “Two entwined ovals with a large V over the top of them. Why a V?”
“Victory, maybe?” Maria grimaced. “Or possibly victims.”
“How about a real last name? What if Sam and our mystery man were related, and the entwined oval means they’re connected, or linked, and the V stands for their real last name? There has to be a reason C.V. Loomis used that as his fake name. This abduction could be all about retaliation.”
Spelling nodded at Cam. “Get ahold of that information now.”
Joe burst through the door. “I have it! I found out there are property tax records in Columbia County for a D. Leone. It has to be the same person.”
“The location would fit,” I said, “and it’s between Milwaukee and Wisconsin Dells.”
“I checked with the online plat book for Columbia County and found that name attached to a five-acre parcel near Portage. The property is going to be tough to find given that most of the roads around there are just logging trails or fire lanes.”
“The locals know that area better. Bill, make a call to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department. Tell them to get out there now. There’s a chance that a federal agent and his sister are being held hostage by three suspects. They need to go in quietly and cautiously. If these men are actually planning to rob an armored truck tomorrow, then they’re armed to the teeth. Right now, our main concern is getting J.T. and Julie out of there. Get somebody else to work on the connection between Dunbar and Loomis.” Spelling turned to me. “Find out how far we’re talking. With any luck, we can take the Escalade and a cruiser and be there before dark.”
“Got it, sir. Joe, show me where the parcel is in the plat book.”
Spelling added, “We’ll let the sheriff’s department make the initial move on the cabin. They need to surveil the situation and see if the suspects are actually there before closing in on them. If they feel they can apprehend the suspects and get J.T. and Julie to safety, then we’ll let them take lead, but be ready to move out, either way.”
Bill hung up from the call and let out what sounded like a sigh of uncertainty. He explained the conversation he had with the sheriff’s department. “Their county law enforcement consists of four deputies, two detectives, and the sheriff. That area is a mixed bag. Cabins in the woods, farmland, state parks, and land owned by logging companies make up most of Columbia County. They don’t come across crime of any real significance. The sheriff said there’s a neighborhood watch unit that patrols around the vacation cabins to make sure there aren’t any vandals or suspicious looking people milling about.” Bill checked Spelling’s expression before continuing. “He said he’d borrow the patrol vehicle and act like he was making a routine pass to see if he notices any activity at the cabin. I warned against it, sir, but he insisted. He said it was the only safe way to know for sure. If somebody is actually at the property, he’ll knock, find out who they are, and leave, then come back with the entire department and move in on them.”
“J.T. and Julie could be used as human shields. That sheriff could be opening a can of worms. It’s far too risky for all of them.”
“I told him that, boss, but he said he was only five minutes from the property. He’ll update us after he passes by.”
Spelling dropped down in his seat. “Are his deputies standing by in case the shit hits the fan?”
“He said they have radios, and he’ll update them too. Apparently, he’s wearing street clothes. He assured me he wouldn’t do anything to raise suspicion.”
“I’ll give him fifteen minutes”—Spelling turned his wrist and checked the time—“and then we’re calling back and moving out.”