Ground Zero, page 19
part #1 of Zero Hour Series
“Simon, did you happen to see anything unusual yesterday when you stopped by when we weren’t home? Any strange vehicles or people?” Alicia asked him.
Simon thought about it for a few seconds then shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He turned big eyes back to Alicia. “Can Stevie play or is it too close to dinnertime?”
Alicia smiled and ruffled his hair. “Stevie is in his room cleaning. Help him tidy up the mess you contributed to, and you can stay for dinner.”
Simon tilted his head and considered Alicia’s offer. “What are you eating?”
“Does it matter, kid?” Alicia asked dryly.
Simon smiled up at her adoringly. “Not really. Thanks, Mrs. O’Malley.” He darted down a hallway.
“Might as well call me Mom,” Alicia yelled after him. “I’ll expect you to draw me a card for Mother’s Day next year like the rest of the knuckleheads.”
“Okay, Mom,” Simon’s voice came from deeper inside the house.
Alicia shook her head and smiled back at Sawyer. “We have this conversation every night. He’ll call me Mom for the rest of the evening then he’ll revert to Mrs. O’Malley tomorrow.”
“Rough home life?” Sawyer asked.
“Single mom who does the best she can working two jobs. When she’s not working, she’s sleeping. She looks like skin and bones, but I truly believe it’s from exhaustion and not drug use or an eating disorder. She tries hard, but I worry so much about Simon. We’d keep him in a heartbeat.”
“He’s lucky to have your family looking out for him,” Sawyer said.
“It’s the right thing to do. Besides, we’re the lucky ones; he’s a great kid.”
“How’d you know he stopped by when you weren’t home?” Sawyer asked. “Your Ring Doorbell app?”
“Yes,” Alicia said, nodding.
“Do you have the video recording plan or basic?”
A smile ghosted across Alicia’s face. “We have the video recording plan. Maybe I can help after all.” She pulled up her app, and they went through each recording on her phone from the previous day. As if fate were smiling down on him that week, Sawyer and Alicia could see the image of a man walking around the side of DeShaun and Caroline’s house as soon as Simon stepped out of the frame.
Got him! The distance was too far to make out the features, but the height and build were identical to Wayne Miller’s. The recording cut out just as the man approached the back door, so Sawyer never saw him enter, but with another neighbor seeing a Jeep Wrangler like the one Sawyer suspected Miller owned, it was a coincidence he couldn’t ignore. “Can you go back and screenshot those images and either text or email them to me?”
“Of course. I can also send you the videos.” Sawyer pulled a business card from his wallet while she captured the images on her camera roll. “What’s your preference?” she asked when she accepted Sawyer’s card.
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Email is probably more professional,” she said as she tapped away on her phone. “I hope someone can help you get a clearer image of this guy.”
“We’ll see what we can do.”
Alicia snapped her head up. “You already know who this is, or you at least have a pretty good idea, don’t you?”
Sawyer wondered if she’d heard something in his tone. “I can’t comment. I’m sorry.”
Alicia stopped tapping and set her phone on the counter. A second later, Sawyer’s phone chimed to let him know he had a new email. She waved off Sawyer’s apology. “Don’t worry about it. Just catch the bastard. Would you like more lemonade before you go?”
He would love to drink another glass or two, but Sawyer settled for finishing what was already in the glass after he verified the photos and videos came through okay. “I’m good,” Sawyer said. “Thank you for the lemonade, photos, and video clips.”
Alicia walked him to the door and wished him luck. As soon as Sawyer was on the sidewalk, he dialed Locke. “Miller is our guy,” Sawyer said when Locke answered. “I think I have enough to get a warrant to search his residence.”
“Meet me at the Charger,” Locke said excitedly.
Sawyer jogged across the street and through the yards and discovered Locke was already sitting in the driver seat of their car. The engine was running, which meant he probably had the air-conditioning running full blast.
“How long have you been sitting here?” Sawyer asked once he lowered himself onto the passenger seat and closed the door.
“Just a few minutes. My canvas was a bust. What do you have?”
Sawyer smiled, drawing out his big moment. “A witness placed a camo Wrangler in the vicinity. We saw one of those at the dealership. What do you bet we find one registered to Miller?”
“Well, it’s the South and there are a lot of camo-painted vehicles, but I’m not taking that bet,” Locke said. “What else. You’re too smug for just a Jeep sighting.” Sawyer pulled up his email and showed Locke the images captured by the Ring Doorbell. “Son of a bitch. I bet we can get one of our super nerdy tech people to clean up the images a bit. Zoom in for a closer look maybe.”
“Zooming in too far will only make the images blurrier. Let’s find out what vehicles are registered to Miller and see what we can do to clear up the images and videos. Maybe we can find a nice judge to issue a warrant tonight.”
“Your family knows people. Do you have a connection who can help us out?” Locke asked.
“Possibly, but I’m wary of throwing my weight around. Then again, solving a double homicide is worth it.”
“Attaboy,” Locke said, patting his shoulder. “Let’s do this.”
The search warrant was signed by Judge Grimshaw within an hour of Sawyer requesting it. He wouldn’t allow himself to think about what the special favor might cost him. Probably a dinner with the judge’s grandson who’d recently come out as gay.
Joining Locke and Key were four of the detectives from the MCU—Blue and Tara South from arson and Shawn Ashcroft and Kyomo Chen from vice.
“Always ready to bring down a neo-Nazi,” Blue had said when he swapped out his suit jacket for a bulletproof vest with Savannah Police Department emblazoned on the front. His big smile looked exceptionally bright at the prospect.
“You know we’re going to ask you boys to return the favor,” Kyomo Chen said, sliding his .40 in his leg holster.
“We’d be happy to,” Sawyer replied.
“Ky means an early morning bust where we end up seeing a lot of the scum buck-ass naked when we drag them out of bed and cuff them,” Locke informed his partner.
“Sounds like a party to me,” Holly Stein said, sauntering into the bullpen. She had replaced her fishnets, cutoffs, and thigh-high boots with a black tactical uniform and combat boots. “Room for one more?”
“Always got room for you, pretty girl,” Locke replied with a purr that made Sawyer wince inwardly, at least he hoped his disdain didn’t show.
Fifteen minutes after they received the signed warrant, they filed out of the precinct and into their cars. Carpooling wasn’t something cops did when heading to execute a warrant or bust unless it was the SWAT team in their armored vehicles, so Sawyer was surprised when Holly decided to ride along with them. Maybe it was because she was without her partner or perhaps she just wanted to verbally fuck Locke during the ride. Either way, Sawyer was annoyed and decided to tune out their incessant flirting by looking out the window and thinking about anything besides the way Locke made him feel.
Locke pulled Sawyer into the conversation a few times when they veered away from the sexy banter that made him feel uncomfortable. Neither Locke nor Stein ever crossed the line into an inappropriate territory, but it was too close for Sawyer’s liking. He would’ve felt the same way even if he weren’t jealous. Damn. Sawyer hated the green monster growing inside him and couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt that way.
Liar. You wanted to punch the flirty art teacher who couldn’t seem to keep his hands off Vic. Sawyer didn’t like remembering the fights that had always escalated whenever Sawyer felt threatened by their close relationship. That was different. Vic had been Sawyer’s husband, and he’d only known Locke for less than two days.
“Not much of a talker?” Stein asked Sawyer, which made him feel bad because the woman had done nothing wrong. It wasn’t her fault he was insanely attracted to his partner who couldn’t seem to stop glancing at Stein in the rearview mirror when they chatted.
Pulling his head out of his ass, Sawyer said, “I’m usually a lot more talkative, but my brain tends to go into overdrive in situations like these. Guys like Miller are fucking dangerous, so I tend to plan things out in my head. We looked up the property layout on the auditor’s website, so I’m thinking about the best ways to protect our asses while approaching his home.”
“At least the bastard doesn’t have a basement where he can hide and pick us off one by one as we try to come down the stairs,” Locke added.
“We got this, fellas,” Stein said positively. “I have a good feeling about this. You do good work, Key,” she said, leaning forward and patting him on the shoulder.
“What about me? I helped,” Locke whined, sounding like a toddler.
“Yeah, you too,” Stein said, ruffling Locke’s hair. “Maybe we can celebrate later.”
“Sounds great. Oh, Key has probably never been inside Joe’s Pub since the sheriff’s department has their own haunt. Joe’s is much better than Reno’s,” Locke said. “Wait. You probably have better plans for tonight with the café owner.”
Sawyer shrugged. “I’ve been to Joe’s plenty of times, and any plans I might make with Levi would depend on how long this search takes. With any luck—”
“Which you seem to have a lot of,” Locke interjected.
“—we’ll end up arresting the son of a bitch. It’ll take another few hours to process and interview him. I think I’ll stop by and see Levi in the morning on my way to the station instead of calling him late tonight.”
“In person is a nice approach,” Stein added. “It’s more meaningful. Take notes, Locke. This guy is smooth.”
“Thanks,” Sawyer replied.
“I don’t need to take notes, Stein. I don’t hear many complaints.”
Stein snorted. “Not to your face.”
“Kids,” Sawyer said firmly. “Let’s not lose our focus.”
“Yes, Dad,” Locke and Stein mumbled, making Sawyer smile for the first time since they got in the car.
A Chatham County deputy cruiser was parked at the end of Miller’s road waiting for them. Even though the homicide had been committed in city limits, Wayne lived outside their jurisdiction. As a courtesy, Sawyer phoned the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department to make them aware of the arrest warrant. It looked like they decided to provide backup.
Locke pulled up beside them in the lead car and rolled down his window. “It’s a great evening to execute a search warrant, right, fellas?” he asked.
“We’re just here to provide backup if you need it,” the deputy said, gesturing between his partner and himself. “Is that you, Key?”
Sawyer looked around Locke and waved at deputies Knight and Dayton. “How’s it going, guys?”
“Better than you, I think,” Dayton said from the passenger seat. “Who’d you piss off to get stuck with Locke?”
“They decided our last names would make us good partners,” Locke quipped dryly. “You guys with Knight and Dayton are pretty close, but not as cutesy as us. We ready to do this, or do you need to crack a few more jokes and chat with Key like long-lost pals?”
“We’re ready,” Knight said with a cocky grin.
They didn’t pull up to Miller’s house with lights flashing and sirens blaring because it would give him extra time to mount his defenses. When Locke put the Charger in park, Sawyer exited with his right hand resting on the butt of his .40 Smith and Wesson and clutching the search warrant in his left. Sawyer noticed the Jeep Wrangler registered to Miller was nowhere in sight, but there were plenty of outbuildings he could’ve parked it in. The only vehicle there was a silver Chevrolet sedan which matched the description of the car registered to Marla. Sawyer felt eyes watching him from inside the house as he approached the steps up to the front deck.
His footfalls on the warped wooden steps and deck boards sounded loud, and there was no way whoever was inside the tiny house hadn’t heard him approach. The rest of the team got into position. Locke had his back while Blue and South went around back to guard any rear entrances. Chen, Stein, and Ashcroft placed themselves where they could watch the front door while keeping the sides of the house in their periphery—Stein went left and Ashcroft and Chen took the right.
Knight and Dayton acted as sentinels in the driveway, making sure unwanted visitors don’t ambush them from behind.
Before Sawyer could knock, the ruffled curtains over the door window parted to reveal Marla, but she looked nothing like the woman they’d seen that morning. Fury raged through Sawyer when he cataloged the bruises, cuts, and dried blood marring her swollen face. Fucking bastard.
Sawyer tamped down the urge to rage and roar and held up the piece of paper in his hand instead. “We have a warrant to search the house and outbuildings, Marla,” he spoke through the door.
She slowly nodded as if the motion had cost her a significant amount of energy or pain to execute. Sawyer heard the metal slide of a chain lock and click of a deadbolt before Marla opened the door.
“Come on in,” Marla mumbled, barely moving her jaw. “He’s not here. He took a stash of cash and drove off in his Jeep a few hours ago.”
Heavy footsteps vibrated the sketchy deck, indicating Locke was coming up behind him. “Call for an EMT,” Sawyer said over his shoulder. “Marla needs medical care.”
“No, I don’t. I’m fine, Detective,” Marla said weakly.
Locke came up to stand directly behind Sawyer and sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m calling them.” He stepped off to the side and radioed in for an ambulance.
“Can you step outside?” Sawyer asked. In response, Marla hobbled out of the door then started to topple forward, but Sawyer’s quick reflexes prevented her from falling. “I got you, Marla.”
She buried her head against Sawyer’s chest and cried heartbroken pitiful sounds. After a few minutes, Marla pulled back and looked up at Sawyer. “I think he did it, Detective. I think he killed that woman and her fiancé.”
Sawyer guided her over to an old metal glider and helped her sit down. He crouched down in front of her and noticed her right ankle was swollen to twice the size of the left one. “Why do you think so?” He gestured for Chen, Ashcroft, and Stein to go on inside the house and begin the search.
She pointed to her face. “This is the result of me asking Wayne if he did it.” Marla’s words were measured and slow, and her voice trembled.
“What made you decide to ask him?” Locke asked her.
“Wayne has a bad habit of talking in his sleep. I’ve known every time he’s cheated on me because he rats himself out. Sometimes I’m barely aware of his early-morning ramblings, but he woke me up this time because his body was jerking and twitching hard enough to shake the bed. I flipped on the small lamp next to my side of the bed and looked over at him. He was still sound asleep and wore the evilest grin I’d ever seen. His words shocked me. He said, ‘I’m glad the bitch is dead.’ Now, I know you’re wondering why I didn’t tell you this morning, but I didn’t know someone he’d dated had been killed until after you showed up at the dealership. I thought maybe he was dreaming about a movie or television show he’d watched. I wrestled with what to do all day long. Wayne noticed my unusual quietness and asked about it when we got home tonight. That’s when I confronted him. It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, and I am thanking the good Lord I’m still alive. Afterward, he left me lying on the floor while he grabbed his emergency go bag he keeps filled with cash, a few guns, and clothes.”
“Do you have any idea where he might’ve gone? Does he, or anyone he knows, own a secluded property he might use as a hideout?” Locke asked.
“Most of his family members and friends own fishing cabins on various lakes around the state. I don’t think he’s stupid enough to go to any of them.”
“Why?” Sawyer asked. Wayne didn’t strike him as a particularly smart man.
“Those would be logical places you or the state police would look,” Marla said.
“You think Miller is smart enough to think it through or is he just running on instinct right now?” Locke countered.
“He’s much smarter and more manipulative than either of you are giving him credit for, Detectives. If Wayne killed Caroline Wembley and her fiancé, then he would’ve been planning this for a while. He had a bag packed and an escape route planned out. He’s dangerous, Detectives. Very dangerous.”
Chen stepped out onto the deck and said, “There’s something you need to see, guys.”
“Be right there,” Locke told him, looking hesitant to walk away from the interview with Marla. “Is there anything else you can think of, any hint he might’ve given you?”
Marla shook her head then winced. “Wayne only said for me to keep my fucking mouth shut. He said he’d come back and kill me if he found out I’d talked to anyone about my suspicions.”
Stein stepped out on the porch. “I can wait with her for the ambulance if you guys want to go inside.”
Sawyer rose to his feet but didn’t look away from Marla’s face. “We’re going to catch him, Marla. He’s going to pay for what he did. Do you have someplace you can stay? Family or a friend?”
Marla sniffled. “I’ll call my mom to pick me up after you leave.”
“Call her now, honey,” Stein said, extending her phone. “We’re not leaving here until we know you’re going someplace safe. There’s no guarantee Miller won’t come back here to silence you for good.”
A shudder racked Marla’s body, and she began to cry again. Stein met Sawyer’s narrowed gaze with a firm and unapologetic expression. It wasn’t that he thought she was wrong. Misleading Marla could have fatal consequences. Sawyer just wouldn’t have said it so bluntly.
