Chapter Four

The evening air at the pier was cool and refreshing, unlike the heavy humidity that probably settled over the area in the summertime. A gentle breeze carried the enticing scents of fried seafood and sun-warmed wood, causing one"s stomach to rumble in anticipation of a good meal. It was the stunning view that made for a perfect evening—the way the sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the water and turning the lake into a never-ending expanse of shimmering light.

Brook walked alongside Theo, their strides attuned to the rhythmic creaking of the dock beneath them. Arden had managed to secure them an Airbnb for the next couple of weeks, and it couldn"t have been more suitable to their needs. Tucked away just a few properties down from the pier, the lake house provided a sense of seclusion without sacrificing convenience. With ease, they could stroll a short distance to access food and drinks.

The bar and grill restaurant also happened to be the establishment where Adam Bouras had escorted a drunken patron to his vehicle last weekend. Such an altercation should be easy enough to verify, which was imperative to the investigation. If there were three months in between kills, one could assume that the unsub spent a good portion of that time monitoring his victims" daily routines. Feigning a drunken stupor was a good way to meet his target.

"Looks like we"re not the only ones with a craving for the catch of the day," Theo commented, his voice low and even. The black eyepatch he wore did little to diminish the perceptiveness of his gaze. "How Bit could want a pizza over those mouthwatering entrees we saw online is beyond me."

"You didn"t hear about the list? Bit wants to try pizza and burgers in each state," Brook shared as she took notice of the nearby boats. The majority were ski boats and pontoon boats, though she spotted an occasional fishing craft docked against the pier. "Bit wants to rank the food and put the ratings on some online site that he and Zoey follow. By the way, Zoey"s name is in no way connected to the Bureau"s case into Kuzmich. It took a while to confirm that fact, by the way."

Bit was currently in a relationship with Zoey Collins. The two of them had been seeing each other since last year, although Theo had been concerned the woman had ulterior motives. Given Bit"s personal history with a Russian racketeer, Bit had become a person of interest to the agent investigating Kuzmich"s criminal organization. The only reason Bit had been left alone was due to Brook"s connection with the Bureau, although Theo"s concern regarding Zoey"s intention had been valid.

"How solid was your source?"

"As solid as it gets," Brook replied in a tone that indicated the subject wasn"t up for discussion. The individual who had made such a confirmation could lose his position inside the Bureau if word ever got out that he shared vital information regarding an ongoing investigation. She pointed toward a sign that had been set off to the side. "Looks like we pick up the takeout order at the bar."

The Crestlake Bar Grill was located at the end of a wooden pier. The sound of gently lapping waves of the lake created an idyllic setting for a waterfront dining experience. The exterior had a rustic nautical-themed décor, including fishing nets and small anchors. The string of lights hung above the outside seating area probably twinkled after dusk, but it was too bright to make out the illumination right now.

Wooden tables with umbrella-shaded chairs had been strategically arranged along the edge of the pier, offering an unobstructed view of the sunset. The stools at the bar were occupied, but there was a section at the end for a customer to pick up a take-out order. A waitress with a tray of food came around the side wall, denoting a kitchen entrance around the corner of the small structure.

"Seems like everyone"s trying to drown out their troubles," Theo murmured as he leaned against the wooden counter. He usually dressed in business casual, but since he had driven most of the way from D.C. to Michigan, he had opted for a pair of dark green joggers and a matching dry-fit shirt. "You mentioned driving to the airport with Graham. Where was he off to today?"

"Somalia," Brook replied as she nodded toward the bartender. The man had gestured that he would be with them shortly before taking an order from a couple at the end of the bar. "Graham mentioned that the trip was only going to be a few days, and then he was returning to D.C. to take his mother out to dinner for her birthday next Wednesday."

Brook and Theo had formed a close friendship since meeting on a federal investigation before the inception of SE Investigations, Inc. She never would have guessed that he would turn out to be her best friend. She had avoided having someone in her life who Jacob could target like those close to her in high school and college. Both Salley Pearson and Cara Jordan had been brutally murdered due to their close proximity to Brook, and that was a guilt she would carry with her to the grave.

"And yes, I was invited," Brook said before Theo could ask his question. From the way his mouth curled at the sides, he obviously found her predicament amusing. "Graham knows that we"re working on an active investigation. If this were a cold case, that would be something else entirely."

"No need to get all defensive," Theo ribbed good-naturedly as he reached for the bowl of peanuts that had been set on the counter. "It"s not like the two of you have been together for the past two years."

"Nineteen months is not two years." Brook compressed her lips in agitation when Theo merely smiled his response once again. "Fine. I"m splitting hairs, but I"ll have you know that I had to stop by his estate to pick up two of my favorite business suits for this trip. That should count for something."

Theo popped a peanut in his mouth.

"I bought Elizabeth a present, and I made sure to leave it on the table in the foyer." Brook wouldn"t have shared any of this information with anyone else. She was left asking herself why she had brought it up in the first place. She loathed being on the defensive. "How is Mia doing?"

Theo laughed as he shook his head.

"You don"t get to change the subject. That"s not how it works."

"It can work that way if I want it to work that way," Brook muttered, glancing toward the bartender. He didn"t seem to be in any hurry to make his way over. "Our food better not be cold."

"In all seriousness, you should fly back on Wednesday to join them for dinner. You would have done so anyway for the class you teach at the college," Theo pointed out before he plucked another peanut from the bowl while giving her a sideways glance. "Finals were yesterday, and now you have one less responsibility to worry about. You have a team for a reason, Brook. Let us do our jobs."

Brook"s reason for not wanting to join Graham and his mother for dinner had nothing to do with her lack of faith in the team"s ability. She had handpicked them for a reason. She didn"t doubt their talents when it came to solving cases as complicated as this one.

Her reasons were personal, and Theo was mindful of that fact.

He understood that Elizabeth Elliott fit the criteria of Jacob"s victims. The woman lived what some would call the perfect life, and Brook didn"t want to be the reason it was cut short.

"You being at that dinner isn"t a catalyst," Theo pointed out as he studied Brook. "The motivation for Jacob has been there for a while, and you separating yourself from the situation doesn"t change the facts."

"I blame your father, you know," Brook muttered as she reached for the bowl of peanuts. "There is no one better at giving speeches than a police commissioner."

Theo was prevented from responding when the bartender finally made his way over to them. She still grappled with normalcy after spending a lifetime chasing the horrors of her childhood, though her therapist would convey that she had made great strides to take her life back. Dr. Swift certainly wouldn"t be too pleased with how relieved she was to be in Michigan instead of D.C. at the moment.

"Picking up an order?"

"Neville," Theo said, giving his surname the order had been placed under around thirty minutes ago. "Would you throw in some extra tartar sauce?"

"Sure thing." The bartender swiped the receipt from the counter. He then rattled off the order to double-check the entrees. "Looks like you paid over the phone. Give me a second, and I"ll grab your order."

"Do you mind if we ask you a few questions first?" Brook had already pulled her credentials from the side pocket of her blazer. She unfolded the black leather billfold and made sure he could clearly visualize the contents. "We"re with SE Investigations, working as consultants with the FBI. There was an altercation that resulted in an inebriated patron being escorted to his vehicle last weekend. You wouldn"t happen to know the individuals involved or have security footage of said incident, would you?"

While it was true the owner of the establishment had the right to request a subpoena for such evidence, the owner or manager could also hand over the footage of their own volition. There was no harm in asking for such a favor. While Bit could have easily accessed the footage through unlawful means, the two of them had an unspoken pact to only do so under extreme circumstances. Even then, she trusted him not to leave behind any evidence of such transgression.

"You"ll want to speak with Jason Bracco." The bartender"s attention shifted when a woman at the end of the bar called out his name. Chip raised a hand that he would be with her in a moment. His interest in the conversation was evident, and it was obvious that he wanted to hear more about why consultants with the FBI were interested in the bar's clientele. "Jason only works the weekend, though. You can find him here tomorrow night. As for security cameras, I"m sorry to tell you that you"re out of luck. This place is seasonal, and the owners never bothered to install a system."

"You weren"t here last weekend?"

"Oh, I was working alright," Chip replied wryly after reaching behind him for two large white paper bags. He set them on the counter in front of Brook and Theo. "Not a lot of people prefer seasonal work, so it"s hard to get reliable bartenders. But the incident you"re talking about happened on a Saturday night. This place is crowded on the weekdays, but the weekends are even worse. All I saw was Jason trying to reason with a guy who had too much to drink. Jason and a couple of other customers helped the guy to the parking lot."

"You let the guy drive home?" Theo asked as he didn"t bother to hide his skepticism. "Drunk?"

"No, no, it wasn"t like that. There are always a couple of drivers parked in the lot. They do a reliable business here. I'm confident that Jason took the guy"s keys and handed them to a driver," Chip replied, clearly not wanting to get one of the other employees in trouble with the law. "This might be a tourist spot, but it"s still a small town. People take care of their own around here."

"So the man who Jason helped to the parking lot was a regular?"

"I didn"t recognize him," Chip said with a slight shrug before taking two Styrofoam cups off a stack next to a fountain machine. He pulled the red and white lever. "Like I said, you"ll want to talk to Jason. Wish I could have been more help. Is there something going on that we should know about?"

It wasn"t like Chip would be kept in the dark for long about why a private investigative firm had rented out a lake house. Still, Brook was always leery of giving out too much information. She monitored his movements as he began to fill the other cup with Barq"s root beer.

"We"ll be back tomorrow to speak with Mr. Bracco." Theo pulled a ten-dollar bill from his pocket and stuffed it in the tip jar. He then grabbed both bags off the counter. Chip made sure the to-go cups were secure before sliding the cardboard cupholder across the hard surface. Brook snatched two straws from the container prior to picking up the drinks. "Have a good night."

It was impossible to miss Chip"s smile at the hefty-size tip. A lot of customers didn"t tip when picking up takeout orders, but there could be a chance that they would need more information in the immediate future. Mary Jane Reynolds had mentioned Crestlake Bar Grill as one of her regular weekend hangouts, and there was no better place to sit back and observe one"s next victim.

"Depending on where one sits on the back deck of our rental, I bet we have a clear view of the pier," Brook murmured as she fell into step beside Theo. Her black platform pumps were louder against the wooden planks than Theo"s running shoes. "It"s a public place."

"I"ll set up some cameras tonight." Theo nodded toward a couple passing them. "Do you believe the unsub will try to make contact with Mary Jane Reynolds a second time?"

"We don"t know that the unsub made contact at all," Brook pointed out as they continued to walk toward the parking lot. There was a small trail that led to the rentals around the lake. "The confrontation with the male subject last weekend was odd enough that it stood out in Mary Jane Reynolds" mind. We can"t ignore the run-in, but it stands to reason that the unsub uses the months in between his kills to monitor his victims" routines. If Mary Jane Reynolds decides to frequent this particular establishment in the coming weeks, we"re in the perfect place to monitor those in attendance."

"Are you thinking of bringing in outside help?" Theo asked as they stepped off the pier. The path was wide enough that both of them could walk side by side. "You mentioned that the local police assigned an additional patrol car to the area, but is that enough of a security measure?"

"Mary Jane"s sister is staying with her for the time being," Brook said as she lifted her face to the evening breeze.

The delicious aromas of the bar and grill hung heavy in the air, and Brook hadn"t had a chance to eat during the day. Once she had some sustenance, she would use the rest of the evening hours to dive into the profile.

"If the time comes that we feel Mary Jane Reynolds from Crestlake, Michigan is the unsub"s next target, we"ll make sure a team is in place. In the meantime, once you have the name and photograph of the inebriated male subject who bothered Mary Jane last weekend, I"m going to need you to make the two-hour drive to Mount Pleasant. We need to re-question the families and friends of the previous victims. With any luck, you"ll find something to tie all three cases together before the unsub can claim his next victim."