Her Final Watch (Lily Blanchette Crime Series)

Chapter 2

December 11, 7:32 a.m.

A bit chilly. Detective Lily Blanchette adjusted her red cowl neck sweater, zipped up her jacket, and swapped her loafers for the crime-scene Nikes she always carried in the car.

She trotted down to the floating dock surrounded by the rip-rapped shoreline of Groeler Road Landing and scanned the water.

Winter had set in, but it felt more like an early spring. A thin veil of fog drifted over the Rock River, obscuring the view of the water and the embankments. The cold water can't be easy on the divers. At least there's no ice on the river.

The river was a popular fishing and boating area during the summer and one of the hottest routes for snowmobiling during the winter. Up river near town, sprawling Victorians and Craftsman-style homes built in the early 1900s lined the streets nearby with Neighborhood Watch signs posted on every third corner. Christmas decorations filled the front yards of the residents and brightened the windows of business owners.

The biking trails that once served as a railroad for the Chicago and Northwestern trains now provided fitness buffs a way to push their exercise limits to the max if they so desired. The paths known as the Glacial River Trail led out of Fort toward Jefferson to the north and Janesville to the south, connecting up with the larger Ice Age Trail. On the outskirts of Fort Atkinson, the Janesville leg of the trail ducked beneath the new Highway 26 bypass bridge over the Rock River.

The thunder of passing traffic on the bridge above Lily accented the bleak woodland landscape. To her left, small river cottages lined the opposite shore. At least there was some form of activity. That was a good thing in this remote area. That meant she had a good chance at finding a witness.

Across the river from the Groeler Road Landing, morning frost covered the guardrail that separated Blackhawk Island Road from a four-foot drop into the cold river. Birds chirped from the naked trees above.

A small gathering of investigators and police officials clustered together by the rocks. The piercing blue eyes of Detective Evan York locked on Lily as he made quick strides in her direction, retrieving a small notepad from his coat pocket. He handed it to Lily. "We found a hundred dollar bill in the victim's mouth. An envelope found next to the victim contained three hundred and fifty dollars."

Evan's cologne caught Lily off guard. Even though it was a scent she'd enjoyed on him, her stomach swirled. She swallowed hard, willing the nausea away. She noted the dark jeans that matched the color of Evan's tamed hair. "Why are your jeans wet?"

"I slipped on the rocks, trying to cross to the other side, and fell knee first into the water. Whoever stashed the victim over there knew this area well. It's impossible to cross in the dark." Evan rubbed the brace on his arm.

Guilt flooded over her.

Seeing Evan's arm confined was a constant reminder of what they went through with her deceased husband. Reminders that were starting to become less with each passing day. "Most likely this wasn't a robbery attempt." Lily looked down at the notepad he'd given her. "The victim has two names. Were you able to I.D. her?"

"I think so. She had a driver's license on her person. Our vic, Ariel Weeks, black female, thirties. Worked as a waitress at a club called On The Edge. We found a pay stub and another driver's license with a different name, same picture. Jasmine Brooks.

"The victim was found behind the deep brush on the flood plain, near the waters' edge. A kayaker spotted the body from the river. It's lucky they did; this area doesn't get much use this time of year until the river is frozen."