questioning how an agent was able to access private information unrelated to any open case. The actions of the agent in question will be fully investigated.”
The attractive brunette segued back to the main reporter. A few platitudes were exchanged and the next story was opened.
I don’t know how or why I was convinced the agent in question was Jack. I was though. I knew, somehow I just knew. Somehow Jack, trying to help me … Jack, questioning what was going on, had led to him being pushed out of the case, and his career in danger.
I turned the TV off and tried again to call Jack. Voicemail. Frustrated and worried , I packed the car and within half an hour I was on the road headed toward Atlantic City.
_____
I took a small detour on the way to Atlantic City to stop by a library. I had so far avoided libraries, but I thought they might have more easily accessible information related to warehouses in my search area. Within an hour I had obtained more information than I would have thought. I found listings of several warehouses, lots, and investment properties. I pulled up a map of Atlantic City and mapped out the locations of the properties I had found. Then I looked at where Linda had first seen the man. With what I knew of Linda’s path following (a man who in my estimation was likely) the killer, I was able to limit my list to four properties.
After my library visit , I headed into Atlantic City. I figured I had a few hours and a good chance to get all of these properties looked at today. What exactly I expected to find out by looking at the properties I don’t know. Even if I identified the property he used, I didn’t really know what that would tell me.
Despite my lack of conviction that I was on the right path, at least while I was looking for the property I was doing something, and something was infinitely better than nothing.
The first property was a bust. The second no longer existed. The third looked possible, but somehow not right.
I was starting to feel a little frustrated. It had been three hours of driving and looking, stopping and walking around a place just to decide I needed to move on.
I had just pulled up to the fourth and final place when my phone rang. Since the list of people who had that phone number could be counted on one hand I jumped to answer.
“Hello, Jack?”
“Hey Char,” his voice sounded tired, worn.
“Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“I’m okay. I’m on suspension, but I am okay. What have you been able to find out?” Obviously, he didn’t want to talk about what happened.
“I haven’t been able to eliminate anyone else as suspects since we last talked. I am taking a slightly different route. What happened?”
“Someone tipped my boss that I was looking at classified files and employee records. Privacy laws frown upon that sort of thing.”
“Did you tell your boss about me? What we are doing?” The idea of anyone else knowing I was out here looking for a killer made me nervous.
“No I didn’t mention you. I told him I was looking into a cold case. He didn’t take it well when I wouldn’t tell him more.”
“I’m sorry, is your job in trouble?”
“I will be fine; to be honest, I am more worried about you. I can’t help but think that whoever this guy is he used an opportunity to remove me from a position where I could best help.”
“You think he is the one who reported you to your boss?”
“I do.”
There was dead silence. Whoever this monster was , he had some power and some influence.
“Tell me where you are . I think we should stick together.”
Despite everything, I was afraid to tell him where I was located. I had been alone so long; I had been fighting this battle on my own. I wasn’t sure I was ready to give that much trust to someone else. I planned to put him off. I planned to evade, maybe to meet him the following day or something. No one was more surprised than I was when what came out of my mouth was …
“I’m in
The attractive brunette segued back to the main reporter. A few platitudes were exchanged and the next story was opened.
I don’t know how or why I was convinced the agent in question was Jack. I was though. I knew, somehow I just knew. Somehow Jack, trying to help me … Jack, questioning what was going on, had led to him being pushed out of the case, and his career in danger.
I turned the TV off and tried again to call Jack. Voicemail. Frustrated and worried , I packed the car and within half an hour I was on the road headed toward Atlantic City.
_____
I took a small detour on the way to Atlantic City to stop by a library. I had so far avoided libraries, but I thought they might have more easily accessible information related to warehouses in my search area. Within an hour I had obtained more information than I would have thought. I found listings of several warehouses, lots, and investment properties. I pulled up a map of Atlantic City and mapped out the locations of the properties I had found. Then I looked at where Linda had first seen the man. With what I knew of Linda’s path following (a man who in my estimation was likely) the killer, I was able to limit my list to four properties.
After my library visit , I headed into Atlantic City. I figured I had a few hours and a good chance to get all of these properties looked at today. What exactly I expected to find out by looking at the properties I don’t know. Even if I identified the property he used, I didn’t really know what that would tell me.
Despite my lack of conviction that I was on the right path, at least while I was looking for the property I was doing something, and something was infinitely better than nothing.
The first property was a bust. The second no longer existed. The third looked possible, but somehow not right.
I was starting to feel a little frustrated. It had been three hours of driving and looking, stopping and walking around a place just to decide I needed to move on.
I had just pulled up to the fourth and final place when my phone rang. Since the list of people who had that phone number could be counted on one hand I jumped to answer.
“Hello, Jack?”
“Hey Char,” his voice sounded tired, worn.
“Are you okay? What’s going on?”
“I’m okay. I’m on suspension, but I am okay. What have you been able to find out?” Obviously, he didn’t want to talk about what happened.
“I haven’t been able to eliminate anyone else as suspects since we last talked. I am taking a slightly different route. What happened?”
“Someone tipped my boss that I was looking at classified files and employee records. Privacy laws frown upon that sort of thing.”
“Did you tell your boss about me? What we are doing?” The idea of anyone else knowing I was out here looking for a killer made me nervous.
“No I didn’t mention you. I told him I was looking into a cold case. He didn’t take it well when I wouldn’t tell him more.”
“I’m sorry, is your job in trouble?”
“I will be fine; to be honest, I am more worried about you. I can’t help but think that whoever this guy is he used an opportunity to remove me from a position where I could best help.”
“You think he is the one who reported you to your boss?”
“I do.”
There was dead silence. Whoever this monster was , he had some power and some influence.
“Tell me where you are . I think we should stick together.”
Despite everything, I was afraid to tell him where I was located. I had been alone so long; I had been fighting this battle on my own. I wasn’t sure I was ready to give that much trust to someone else. I planned to put him off. I planned to evade, maybe to meet him the following day or something. No one was more surprised than I was when what came out of my mouth was …
“I’m in
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