Page 34 of Haunted By Sin

“There could be a way around that, Big T.”

Bit’s voice became clearer when he turned down the volume of his music. The fact that he was blaring anything other than light jazz told Theo that Brook had yet to return to the lake house for the day.

“No,” Theo stated matter-of-factly. “We stick to the rules this time around.”

Theo wasn’t proud of the lengths that he had gone to a few months ago after Sylvie had been attacked and Brook had basically been abducted and taken hostage. Theo had crossed lines that his parents never would have during their careers. While he was still coming to terms with his previous decisions, he didn’t regret doing what was necessary to pinpoint Brook’s location at the time.

“‘O ye, of little faith,” Bit exclaimed before correcting Theo’s assumption. “What I meant to say was that if I can prove that someone is just out of frame on the security footage, preventing us from identifying said person on Wallace’s floor, then we can put in for another warrant on the grounds that we need access to some of the entrances from other angles.”

“Just for that potential workaround, I’ll buy you a jumbo bag of Skittles on our drive back to Crestlake,” Theo said right as Dr. Burrow appeared in the doorway. She held a blue folder in her hand, which he was sure would include the names of the administrative personnel who had access to the list of donor recipients. While Theo had been vague with those he spoke to about his reasoning for such probing questions, he had been truthful with Dr. Burrow. “I’ll touch base with you later tonight.”

Theo disconnected the line while studying Dr. Burrow’s features. The thin, vertical lines above her upper lip deepened as she frowned in what appeared to be disappointment. Maybe frustration, but he was about to find out which one as he set his phone on the table.

“Mr. Neville, I don’t know if this helps your investigation, but it’s come to my attention that Sheila Wallace’s heart was initially meant to go to another patient,” Dr. Burrow advised after she stepped into the conference room and closed the door quietly behind her. She stepped forward and handed over the folder. “The only reason the heart was not flown to the recipient at the top of the list was due to inclement weather. Every effort was made, but in the end, it was decided that Mary Jane Reynolds should receive the organ due to her proximity and the fact that she was second on the list.”

“Thank you, Dr. Burrow.”

Theo spent a few minutes discussing with her the best approach to speaking with the administrative personnel, and they both agreed that she should take the rest of the evening to set up the interviews to begin tomorrow morning at seven o’clock sharp. Once he was left alone to gather his belongings, he tucked the phone on his shoulder as he waited for Brook to pick up his call.

“We have a problem, Brook. There was a thirty-three-year-old man by the name of Reggie Hollins who was supposed to receive Sheila Wallace’s heart. He has since died, and his family is now suing the hospital. I’ll spare you the details for now, but suffice it to say the heart went to Mary Jane Reynolds instead. We’re going to need Tirelli’s help to weed through all the interviews. Our suspect pool has now turned into a damned lake.”

Chapter Eighteen

Bobby “Bit” Nowacki

May 2024

Saturday — 7:48 pm

The relentless rain beat against the glass panes of the bar with such ferocity that it was obvious something had upset Mother Nature. Every flash of lightning illuminated the outside world through the windows to display leaden drops slamming against the hoods of parked vehicles and the asphalt below before plunging the chaotic scene back into darkness. Thunder rolled in the distance, but it was a dull roar compared to the laughter, clinking glasses, and the pulsating beat of music inside the bar.

The heavy bass reverberated through the wooden floorboards and up into Bit’s chair. He always wondered if such vibrations altered the rhythms of people’s heartbeats. He rubbed his chest at the thought of having a heart attack so young.

Brook had claimed a chair to his left at a table in the back of the bar. The original plan of her bringing dinner back to the lake house had been altered by the storm front. Mary Jane Reynolds and her fiancé had decided to stay in town and join friends for some drinks at a local bar. The Crestlake Bar & Grill had closed down for the night due to the inclement weather, so their usual hangout hadn’t been an option.

The group was at a nearby table, where Mary Jane laughed as her friend leaned in to share something private. Adam’s arm rested on the back of her chair. Unless one had firsthand knowledge that a killer wanted her dead, no one would ever be the wiser.

"We don't really do things like this one-on-one, huh?" Bit said as he attempted to find a topic unrelated to the case. He glanced her way, wondering if she would rather discuss the investigation. Just in case, he quickly spoke so that Brook didn’t have to comment on his previous question. “I thought a federal agent was supposed to be with Mary Jane twenty-four-seven.”

Brook gave a discreet nod toward the far end of the bar. A man occupied one of the three stools, though the dim lighting obscured his features. The baseball cap helped with that endeavor, as well. He remained inconspicuous, nursing a drink with an easy indifference that belied his true purpose.

"He's good.” Bit reached for a shelled peanut before squeezing it with his fingers. Once it broke apart, he picked out the two nuts. “Hey, you don’t think our unsub has police training, do you?”

Brook shook her head, her long black hair moving slightly up and down as the strands rested over her left shoulder. It always amazed him that she had features that were so different than those of her brother. Whereas Jacob’s jawline was square like his father's, Brook took after her mother. Her heart-shaped face with high cheekbones made for a beautiful combination. Not that Bit thought of her as anything other than his boss and friend.

“No. Our unsub has had too many missteps. I'm convinced he works remotely, which gives him the flexibility to stalk his victims at will. Plus, his DNA isn’t in the system.” Her gaze never actually landed on Mary Jane, but Bit figured Brook wasn’t missing a single action that took place at the woman’s table. “He didn’t have to work that hard with Mary Four, did he?”

As if on cue, Mary Jane raised her phone, capturing the pink hues of the beverage inside her glass. With precision, she made a few swipes on her phone before setting it down and rejoining the conversation. Bit's phone vibrated almost immediately against the wooden tabletop. He glanced at the screen, noting the social media alert. Mary Jane's post was already gathering momentum online…but her location had been turned off. At least she had taken some of Brook’s advice.

“I had a long conversation with Mary Jane today during her break.” Brook reached for her club soda. She took a sip before meeting Bit’s gaze. “We came to an understanding. At first glance, Mary Jane appears to be enjoying herself. She is laughing with her friends, reaching out and casually touching her fiancé’s knee, and even joining in on the conversation as if nothing was wrong. Look closer. Her gaze darts to the door every time someone enters the bar. When she reaches for Adam’s knee, it’s usually when someone walks by their table. And her drink? She’s nursing it, which is why she was able to take a picture ten minutes after it was delivered to her table.”

“Why even post to social media then?” Bit asked in confusion, reaching for another peanut. “I mean, she has gotten hundreds of reactions in seconds. She’ll have thousands within minutes. Also, everyone in the comments is asking for an update on the case.”

“On one hand, Mary Jane has to keep her daily routine the same. She can’t put her life on hold. That doesn’t help her, and it certainly doesn’t help us.” Brook set her drink on its designated napkin. “I did request that she omit the location tags on her posts. It’s one thing to maintain a day-to-day schedule, but there is a fine line between being in danger and taunting the man who wants to take her life.”

Bit was prevented from continuing the topic of discussion when a waitress came toward them with a tray of food. Granted, it was bar food, but he wouldn’t complain. Just the sight of a greasy burger and fries had his stomach rumbling louder than the thunder. Or the bass. He wasn’t sure which was louder at this point.

“Mary Jane wanted to go straight home after work,” Brook said as she spread a thin paper napkin over her lap. She had ordered boneless teriyaki chicken wings and a basket of fries. Normally, she would have requested traditional wings. The way she casually kept examining their surroundings had him realizing that she wanted to be free to draw her weapon with ease should something unforeseen take place. “It was Bouras who talked her into staying out tonight.”

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