Douglas Dorow - The Ninth District

“What can I get you guys tonight?” the young bartender asked as he expertly spun a bottle through the air and caught it at the neck. “Special is Cuervo shots. And if you’re in the mood to tip tonight, I’d recommend a body shot from one of these lovely young ladies.”

Ross turned to face the bartender with Jack. The bartender did a double take when he saw Ross and almost missed the bottle that was spinning through the air. Jack smiled and said, “He was even scarier looking before the accident.”

Before Jack could say another word, Ross blurted out, “Is Sandy working tonight?”

“Sandy? I don’t know any Sandy,” the bartender answered.

“Maybe she didn’t go by Sandy here.” Jack tried to get control of the situation again and laid his credentials on the bar along with a twenty-dollar bill.

The bartender leaned forward, looked at the credentials, and grabbed the twenty. “Who was it you were looking for?”

“Sandy. Sandy Hoffman,” Jack said.

“She was here earlier, but she left with two of her regulars for a private party.”

Jack put another twenty on the bar along with a business card and picked up his credentials. “Do you know who they are?”

“One’s a real estate guy, developer. The other, don’t know. They come in together pretty often to see Sandy.”

“Thanks. If she comes back, or if you think of anything else, give me a call.” Jack turned to Ross. “We missed her.”

“We have to find her, Jack.”

“I know. Let’s go.” They pushed out through the doors into the hot, night air. Jack pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed while he walked towards the car. “Sure Thing, it’s Jack.”

“I was just going to call you, her phone’s on. Sandy’s.”

“Where is she?” Jack asked.

“What’s going on, Jack?” Ross asked.

“Sure Thing, just a second.”

Ross opened the passenger door and stuck out his good arm. “Give me the phone. I can talk one-handed. You’re driving.”

Jack got in the car and turned the phone speaker on. “You hold it so we can both hear it.” Jack got in and started the car.

Sure Thing’s voice came from the speaker on the mobile phone. “Would you two quit fighting and get going?”

“Just tell me where to drive,” Jack said.

“Did you bring your swimsuit?” Sure Thing asked.

“Why?” Jack asked.

“Looks like she’s on Lake Minnetonka. Head to Excelsior out on Highway Seven. It’s about a thirty minute drive,” Sure Thing said. “I’ll stay on the line.”

The Governor threw Sandy’s purse overboard, with her phone inside it. Then he called Vadim. “It’s good?”

“Yes, that info all checks out. We have everything we need.”

The Governor smiled. “That’s great news. I need to tie up a couple of loose ends. We’re set until tomorrow night. I’ll talk to you then.”

James was still tied to the bed with the tape over his mouth. His breathing slightly whistled through his nose. The Governor sat on the edge of the bed. “Your info checked out. I won’t hurt you anymore.” The Governor reached his hand up to the tape on James’ mouth, stopped, and then pinched his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

A yell rumbled in James’ throat and he thrashed on the bed. The Governor held the nostrils shut with one hand and used his other hand to hold James’ head in place. He climbed on top of his chest to lessen the thrashing. James’ eyes were wide open and panicked.

James thrashed for a few minutes. The Governor intently watched his face. He could see the resolve melt away as James accepted his fate. He struggled hard a few more times and then passed out. The Governor continued to hold on to James’ nose until he was sure he was dead. Then he turned out the exterior lights on the boat and dragged James’ body to the rear deck. There he tied an anchor to his waist, lowered the anchor over the side of the boat, and then lifted and dropped James into the water.

He was still curious where Sandy was, but was happy to move on with his plan without her. He started the boat and headed for the marina on the other side of the lake.

“Sure Thing, we’re standing here looking at the lake. Where were they?” Jack asked.

“Somewhere between you and Big Island.”

“Come on. It’s dark out here. Where’s that?”

“Look straight out, perpendicular from the shore.”

Jack looked out over the dark water. A little to the left and then to the right. “You see anything, Junior?”

“A few boat lights. That’s it,” Ross said.

“You know where I am, Sure Thing?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I have you pinpointed on the map from your phone signal. Her phone disappeared about five hundred yards out from where you’re standing.”

“If she was on a boat, it’s not there anymore,” Jack said as he paced along the water’s shore.

“Jack, the boat still has to be on the water. This is a big lake with lots of bays.” Ross reached for Jack’s phone. “Sure Thing, how many Marinas on this lake?”

“There are about a dozen.”

“That’s it, Jack. We need to check them out and see if we can figure out which boat went out earlier or see which comes in,” Ross said.

“Get us some help and let’s go. We’re so close,” Jack said.

“This is a bust, Jack. We’ve visited three marinas and no boat.”

Jack and Ross stood in the gravel parking lot under the humming lights and swatted at mosquitoes. “Let’s get in the car away from the bugs and call the Sheriff, see if they have any better news.”

Ross yawned while he spoke. “We need to get some sleep, Jack.”

Jack started the car, checked the air-conditioning was on, and called the Sheriff.

“Sheriff, this is Miller, we just finished visiting our third marina and we got nothing.”

“Nobody has anything yet,” Sheriff Looney replied. “Assuming they were on a boat, they either came ashore on private property, docked before we got around and snuck out, or they’re still out on the lake. I’ve got a couple of boats out on the water and we’ll keep patrolling the landings.”

“Thanks, Sheriff. Agent Fruen and I are going to get some sleep. Give me a call if you find anything,” Jack said and ended the call.

“Junior, why don’t you just come crash at my place and we can get right back on things in the morning.”

“Won’t your wife care?” Ross asked.

“She and the kids are staying with her parents for awhile.” Jack spun the wheels on the gravel and pulled out of the lot. “I’ve got a couple of spare beds right now.”

“Want to talk about it?” Ross asked.

“No, I just want to get some sleep and solve this case.”

The noise jerked Jack from his dream. He grabbed the alarm clock on the bedside table and hit the snooze. The noise didn’t stop. He peeked through his lids at the numbers on the clock. Five twenty-three. What the hell? He grabbed the phone. “Yeah?”

“Agent Miller?”

“Yeah.” Jack cleared his throat and tried again. “Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Agent Miller, this is Deputy Sheriff Looney.”

“Looney.” It felt like he just went to bed. Jack looked at the clock again to make sure what time it was.

“I think we got something you’ll want to see.”

Jack cleared his throat again. “You find the boat?”

“No. A fisherman found a body out on Lake Minnetonka. Young woman.”

“I can be there in forty-five, maybe thirty minutes.”

“Make your way to Deephaven, southeast end of the lake, and call me. I’ll talk you in from there. I’ll text you my number.”

“Right, I’ll be there soon. Thanks.” Jack hung up the phone and went into his son’s room. “Junior, get up.”