“Tamara Linwood was found in Rafferty Park, right?” I asked. “Near the Missouri River.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “And that is southwest. And, Sarah Hart was found in River’s Bend Park.”
“Northwest,” I murmured. “Again, near the Missouri.”
“I know, I know,” he replied. “You’re thinkin’ ‘So, why dump a body near the Mississippi now. It breaks the pattern.’ Well, believe me I’m thinkin’ the same thing, but it’s still near a river. And, just look at the map.”
“But, why so close to the state line?” I mused aloud. “The plates on the car were Illinois, right? Wouldn’t that be too close to home?”
“Yeah, the tags were Illinois, but the car was from Wisconsin. Remember, they were both hot, Row.”
“I don’t know, Ben,” I replied. “I can see half a dozen spots on the map that look just like the drawing. What do you think, Felicity?”
My wife had been completely mute through the entire explanation, and even now she didn’t reply. I looked over and found her motionless, staring down at the map-covered surface of the table. Her gaze was once again unfocused, and she looked dangerously like she was inches from slipping across the veil yet again.
I reached out and gently placed my hand on her shoulder as I spoke, a thin note of concern underscoring my tone. “Felicity?”
“That’s it,” she finally said in a soft monotone, her fixed stare still aimed at the table. She reached out and placed the tip of her finger against the map, southwest of the location Ben and I had been discussing. The words next to her lacquered nail read, Woodcrest State Park.
“That’s it,” she repeated. “That’s where I am.”
CHAPTER 22:
“Woodcrest is gated,” Agent Mandalay said, looking at the map. Then she tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.
She had arrived almost immediately following Felicity’s announcement pinpointing what she believed to be the location of Brittany Larson’s remains. Ben had filled her in on the necessary details, including his pet theory about the rest area on Highway 270. Now, we were all huddled around the table staring at the maps once again.
“Sorry about that,” she apologized before continuing. “Anyway, if I remember correctly, they open at seven A.M. like most of the other state parks.”
“That’s almost three hours from now,” Felicity objected.
“I’m sure I could get someone out there to unlock the gate,” Mandalay replied. “But I don’t think it would be a good idea. This is still just between us, and if you’re wrong, the whole thing could blow up in our faces.”
“But I’m not wrong,” Felicity objected.
“I believe you think that, Felicity,” she said. “But are you absolutely sure? You’ve been through a lot tonight. Both of you. How do you know you aren’t misreading it all? The map you drew doesn’t look anything like the park you are pointing at.”
“I just know I’m not,” my wife returned.
“That’s not good enough,” Constance told her. “You have to remember what, and most especially who, we are dealing with here. My influence with the Major Case Squad is tenuous at best. If we attract attention from the wrong parties, then this could go very sour. Especially if this turns out to be a wild goose chase.”
“Besides, Felicity,” Ben interjected. “Even if ya’ Twilight Zone in on the right spot, it’s still gonna be dark for a coupl’a hours yet.”
She gave him an animated raise of her eyebrows. “So?”
“So, I don’t think it’d be a good idea for us to go knockin’ around in the woods with flashlights,” he returned.
“But we have more than flashlights,” Felicity countered. “We have me.”
Mandalay forced back another yawn with the back of her hand and then shook her head at my wife. “You’re beginning to sound like Rowan.”
“Aye, and you’re sounding like Ben used to,” Felicity replied.
“Just trying to play it safe, Felicity,” she told her. “You know how touchy all of this is.”
Ben spoke up again. “Like I said, Felicity, even if you go la-la and give us an exact location, we can’t see in the dark. The point is, if we go screwin’ around out there, we might accidentally fuck up the crime scene and lose a crucial piece of evidence without even knowin’ it. It’d be better if we do this at first light.”
“He’s right,” I said.
“I know he is,” she replied, resigned frustration seasoning her words as she made nervous motions with her hands. “But, I… I just… I don’t know… I just feel like I have to do something.”
“I know, honey,” I replied. “I’ve been there, remember?”
“So why don’t we look at a map of the park, then?” she proposed. “Maybe the one I drew is on a smaller scale, then.”
“That’s true, it could be. It would be a starting point at least,” Constance agreed. “Do you have one?”
“No,” she replied in a dejected tone, then let out a heavy breath as her shoulders drooped noticeably. She turned her back to the table and silently walked into the kitchen.
“I can probably download one from the State Parks or Conservation Department website,” I offered, speaking loud enough that I hoped she could hear as well.
“Okay, let’s do that,” Mandalay gave a nod as she spoke.
“Let’s back up for a second. We can go at this from a different angle too,” Ben offered. “Row, you got a phone book handy?”
“Sure,” I replied, starting toward the bookshelves in the living room. “What for?”
“Woodcrest Park is named after the muni it borders,” he told me. “So I’m gonna call Woodcrest PD and see if there’s been anything suspicious happen around there in the last day or so.”
“Good idea, Storm,” Mandalay said.
“Yeah, I have ‘em on occasion,” he replied with a slight sardonic note.
I returned quickly with the phone book. He flipped it open as he took it from me and then began thumbing his way toward the government office ‘blue pages’. “Can I use your phone?” he asked as he searched the hefty book.
“Sure. I’ll get it,” I replied and then stepped into the kitchen to retrieve the handset. When I came around the corner, Felicity was standing with her arms crossed and leaning back against the counter. She was staring at the floor, her chin against her chest, and she was nibbling at her lower lip once again.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Aye.” She gave a small nod. “I’m fine.”
“Ben is going to call the Woodcrest Police Department,” I offered.
“I heard.”
“You know, we can probably get a map of the park off the Internet.”
“Aye, I heard that too.”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
She looked up and gave me a weak smile. “I’m fine, Row. Just very, very tired, that’s all.”
“Here it is,” Ben announced behind me. “Row. Phone.”
I glanced over my shoulder then back to her. “It’s going to be okay,” I said as I started backing out of the doorway. “I promise.”
“I know,” she answered with a nod. “I’ll be sure of that.”
Ben took the phone from my hand as I turned, and then he began stabbing the number into the handset. A moment later, he tucked it up to his ear and waited expectantly.
“Yeah, good morning,” he said suddenly. “My name’s Ben Storm, I’m a detective with St. Louis City Homicide. I need to speak with your watch commander… Yeah… Great, what’s his name? Okay, what’s her name? Sergeant Michelle Marshall… Great… Thanks… Yeah, it’s Detective Ben Storm… Yeah, that’s right, City Homicide. Yeah, I’ll hold. Thanks.”
Ben twisted the handset away from his mouth and reached up with his free hand to massage his neck. After a moment, he canted the receiver back up to his mouth and began speaking again. “Yeah, Sergeant Marshall. Detective Storm. Yeah… I know… Yeah, tell me about it, I’m runnin’ on about four hours outta the last twenty-four… Yeah, kinda… So listen, I’m wantin’ ta’ check if you’ve had any reports of vandalism or trespassing over at Woodcrest Park the past couple of days?… Really?… When was that?… No kidding… You find anything?… Okay… Yeah… Yeah… No, just a theory I’m workin’ on, nothing for sure… No, pretty minor case, nothin’ too serious… Yeah… Uh-huh… Yeah…” He looked over at me and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s me… Thanks, I think…” He let out a forced chuckle. “Yeah… Well I appreciate it… Sure, if it pans out we’ll be sure to let ya’ know… Yeah… Thanks… Bye.”