Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(99)

David picked up the journal papers. “Do you know who this AJ is? Once the diamonds were smuggled into the States, it looks like that’s who they were delivered to.”

Her shoulders slumped. “AJ. Adam Jerome Matthews.”

Brad leaned forward. “Do you have a way of tracking your husband? An app, maybe?”

“No. I suggested it once, but Spencer said we didn’t need it.”

David stood. “We’re wasting time here. We need to get to Doskie.”

As they hurried to their car, Brad said, “How long will it take to get there?”

“I checked earlier. About two hours. But I have a friend who flies helicopters. He owes me a favor, and if he’s free, he’ll fly us there in thirty minutes.”





34


THE GPS TOOK WILL AROUND THE TOWN SQUARE to a building on the south side. Will stared at the brick US Postal building as he dialed Brad. “Do you have an updated address? The one you gave me is the post office in Doskie.”

“That’s where they were going for information. We’re in a helicopter and will be there in about a half hour.”

“I’m going on to see if I can find an address for Jillian. I’ll call you, and maybe you can land near wherever they are.”

The 911 office. It should have directions to . . . His shoulders slumped. To where? He didn’t even know if Jillian lived in this area, and if she did, what name she used. Not her own, for sure.

If she lived around here, who might know her? Probably not the police, since she would avoid them. But she would have to come to town for food and maybe medicine. Will grabbed the photo of Jillian and got out of his car. He scanned the buildings, and an apothecary sign caught his eye.

“Good afternoon,” he said to the girl behind the counter. He showed her his badge. “I’m with the Memphis Police Department, and I’m looking for this woman.” He handed her the photo. “I thought she might shop here.”

The teenager stared at the photo and shook her head. “My dad’s the pharmacist. Maybe he knows her.” She turned. “Dad!”

A balding, fortysomething man in a white coat came from the back. “Can I help you?”

“He’s with the Memphis police.” She handed him the photo. “And he’s looking for this woman.”

The pharmacist studied the paper. “Do you have some identification?”

Will showed him his badge. “Sergeant Will Kincade, sir.”

“You don’t mind if I write your badge number down, do you?”

“No, sir.” Will tapped his fingers against his leg, wanting to hurry the man. “Do you recognize her?”

“I think so,” he said slowly. “It looks a tiny bit like Mrs. Darby, except her hair is white and she’s portly.”

“Can you tell me how to get to her place?”

“That I can’t do. All I have on record is a PO box. Not that I’ve ever used it. She pays cash every month. You might inquire at the 911 office since everyone has to register their address with the power company in order to get hooked up to electricity.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that. Where is it?”

“Inside the courthouse, bottom floor. You can’t miss it. It’ll be the only office open.”

Will thanked him again and hurried out the door. The courthouse sat in the middle of the square and was a short walk away. The pharmacist was right. It was the only office open, and Will pushed open the door. After explaining who he was and that he wanted directions to a Mrs. Darby’s house, he was given a detailed map.

“It’s easy to get lost up there,” the 911 clerk said. “So many little side roads. If you get to the river, you’ve gone too far.”

“Can you give me coordinates on her cabin? My friends are in a helicopter.”

“You can’t land a helicopter there—upper air level is too high, and the trees are too close to the road and too much overhang. Had a kid get lost a couple of years ago and somebody tried to land one. Almost crashed it.”

Will thanked him and jogged back to his car. There, he took another look at the map. No wonder the GPS wasn’t working. His cell phone rang, and he answered it.

“Where are you?” Brad said.

“Parked in front of the post office. Where are you?” He scanned the square and spied the helicopter swinging in from the west. “Never mind, I see you.”

He climbed back out of his car and waited while Brad and David landed on the square.

“What are you doing here?” Brad asked when Will reached him.

“The GPS isn’t working, and I backtracked to town. Can you get a location on Andi?”

Brad clicked on the app and waited. “I don’t understand. It’s not giving me her location.”

“We’ll have to depend on this map, and use my car—no place to land a chopper.”

As they sped away from town, Will asked, “What did you find out from Laura?”

“We tried to call you but only got your voicemail,” David said. His cell phone rang, and he answered it. “What?” After listening for a minute, he said, “Thanks for letting me know.”

He hung up and turned to Will and Brad. “The car Spencer is driving is new, and Laura remembered it came with OnStar. She contacted the company and they located the car near Doskie. So Spencer and Adam Matthews are somewhere in the vicinity.”