Threads of Suspicion(3)
“Working those could lead to a major arrest,” Sharon said. “Add that county to the short list, Theo. I like the idea of going where there is the suggestion of a larger pattern. What’s the consensus? Do we want to try for a home run our first time at bat? Or do we play softball while we jell as a group?”
“Attempting a home run first time at bat, you mostly hit air,” Theo cautioned.
“What’s the mood of the locals?” Taylor asked. “Some of these counties’ law enforcement will want our help, while others will be less than welcoming. We’re going to need homegrown assistance. They know the area, the people, and we need that kind of knowledge to run down leads. I’d say we go first where we know we’re wanted.”
Murmurs of agreement came from around the table.
“All three of these counties would welcome our involvement,” Sharon told them. “David, you’ve traveled the farthest to join the task force, so I’ll make this your choice. Which county do we work first? And which case there do you want?”
“Let’s head to Briar County. For full disclosure, I still need to get settled house-wise, and that’s close to where I’ll be buying. And I like the idea of looking for that missing PI. It suggests some interesting work.”
Sharon nodded and continued around the table. “Evie, which case would you like?”
Evie scanned the summary sheet, and it was an easy choice. “The college student.”
“Theo?”
“The teenage boy.”
“Taylor?”
“The businessman.”
She wrote their selections down. “Okay, I’ll take the missing wife and two daughters. Good. We’ve got our opening salvo. We’ll work them both individually and as a group. As we solve one, we’ll double up on the others.” She sorted maps in her briefcase and pulled out Briar County, unfolded it on the table. The locations where the individuals had gone missing were already circled. “We’re going to be spread out across this county. Evie and David, why don’t you base in Ellis, help each other out? Theo and I will head to Park Heights. Taylor’s in Juno. Let’s plan to meet as a group in Juno on—” she pulled out her calendar—“Wednesday, the twenty-eighth of January, to talk through our progress.”
“Drive or fly?” David asked, glancing at Evie.
“I’d rather have my own car than a rental,” she said. “Roads are snowy, but we could make it there by, say, one a.m. if you want to go up tonight, travel in tandem.”
“I’m for getting there, sleeping in,” he agreed.
Sharon folded the map. “The travel budget is going to accommodate what we need, along with decent hotels. I plan to fly north with John and Theo in the morning. It’s faster to make your own reservations and put in for reimbursement, or you can let the State Police travel staff make your bookings—the number is in your packets. It’s taking about ninety days to get repaid right now.”
“Some things never change,” Taylor remarked with a shrug. “I’ll plan to drive up tomorrow.”
“Good. With the exception of David, we’ve all got current jobs that are going to demand attention too. You get called away, be sure to leave your notes. David, can you handle covering interviews if someone needs to step out?”
“Not a problem.”
Evie rose to cut the pies—she’d bought apple, cherry, and lemon meringue. “The case files, Sharon,” she said over her shoulder, “should we call tonight to get evidence boxes pulled?”
“Briar County is one of a handful that has already retrieved their case files from the archives. The boxes will be with the officers who most recently worked the cases, waiting for pickup. I’ll make some calls tonight and locate workspace for us at these various locations—probably a conference room at the local PD or empty office space. I’ll text you specifics as I get them. I don’t want us having to work a case out of our hotel room unless that’s your choice.” Sharon looked around the table. “What else am I forgetting?”
“You’ll handle the press?”
“Only if I can’t get a volunteer.”
“We unanimously vote that one’s yours,” Theo replied for the group with a smile.
“I was afraid of that. What else?”
“We’re good. Come have pie,” Evie suggested after a moment, getting plates out. “We’ll celebrate the start of the task force in style.”
Sharon Noble
Sharon looked around the room at the cops eating pie, getting better acquainted with each other, and felt a deep satisfaction. The Illinois Missing Persons Task Force would do good work over the next two years. In her opinion, the depth of talent in the room was unrivaled. This was her team now, and for the next two years, professionals all. They would get it done.