Captive Justice: A Private Investigator Mystery Series (A Jake & Annie Lincoln Thriller Book 4) by Rayven T. Hill Page A

describe me. But it’s much more than that.” A pause, then, “I’ll dumb it down for you, Lisa. Linda Gould was held to facilitate a trade—money for her life. Our contract stipulated the police were not to be involved. Alas, the good doctor failed to understand the seriousness of the situation, the police were notified of our bargain and a change had to be made in the agreement.”
    Lisa arched a brow. “And so you killed the woman?”
    “It was a necessary penalty. A forfeiture, you might say. I’m a man of honor, Lisa, but I expect others to be honorable as well. I’ve expressed my regret to Dr. Gould, however my regret only goes as far as being disappointed in the eventual outcome.”
    This guy was crazy, but she liked crazy. It made for a compelling story.
    Don had pulled the van over to the side of the street. He was twisted sideways in his seat, leaning in, listening intently to the conversation.
    Lisa spoke into the phone. “Did you not get the payment?”
    “Oh, I got the payment. It was delivered by someone you know well. Jake Lincoln was kind enough to do the delivery.”
    Jake Lincoln. So, he was involved in this. She’d had occasion to run into him several times in the past. He and his ditzy wife were always sticking their nose in somewhere.
    “I know the Lincolns,” Lisa said. “But why are you calling me?”
    “I like you, Lisa. You’re my kind of woman. Another place, another time, who knows . . .”
    A sneer twisted Lisa’s already unattractive mouth. “I don’t think so.”
    “You’d like me Lisa, however I’m calling you because I know you’re always anxious to get the word out.”
    “What word?”
    “That I’m serious, and next time, the rules must be obeyed.”
    “Next time?” Lisa was at an unusual loss for words.
    “Yes, next time. If the people can be made aware a human life is nothing to be trifled with, then perhaps they won’t be so quick to break a bargain, should they be in the same position as Dr. Gould and his late wife.”
    Lisa paused. She had some morals, howbeit rarely put into practice.
    “Can I count on you, Lisa?”
    And now, she had to weigh the value of a good story against the value of doing the right thing. The good story invariably came out on top. This would be no different. She had a duty to the public and of course, to herself.
    “You can count on me,” she said.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 20
     
     
     
    Thursday, September 1st, 11:21 AM
     
    DETECTIVE KING was climbing from his vehicle when Hank pulled into the parking lot behind the precinct. Hank jumped out and hurried to join King, who looked like he hadn’t changed his clothes since yesterday. He wore the same sloppy shirt and pants, and his unkempt hair and beard were a bit scruffier.
    “Got anything?” Hank asked.
    King slammed his car door and turned to face Hank. “Officers are canvassing the city checking the white vans,” he said. “But there’s a lot of them and it’ll take some time.”
    “It’s the best lead we have at this point,” Hank said. “Let me know as soon as anything turns up.”
    They made their way in silence around to the front of the building, up the steps and into the precinct.
    “Hank, King,” Captain Diego called as they passed his office door. “Come in here a minute.”
    Hank followed King into the office, slumped into one of the guest chairs and sat back, while King leaned against a filing cabinet and crossed his arms.
    Diego peered at King and then addressed Hank. “Fill me in.”
    Hank cleared his throat. “There’s not much to report, Captain. We’re on every lead and we’re hoping something will turn up.”
    Diego brushed aside a file folder, leaned forward and dropped his arms on the desk. He frowned. “I have a dead woman on my hands, a distraught husband, and there’s a killer on the loose. What happened?”
    “I don’t know. The doctor kept his end of the bargain and the money was delivered.”
    “Perhaps he wasn’t happy we