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

were involved,” King put in.
    Diego stared at King a moment. “How would he know?”
    King shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know. There were no uniforms around and no police cars in sight. Perhaps he just took a good guess.”
    “Or perhaps your people weren’t as undercover as you thought,” Diego said.
    “There might be something else going on here, sir,” Hank said.
    Diego waited for Hank to continue.
    “I haven’t ruled out Dr. Gould as a suspect. He has an alibi for the time of the kidnapping, but he was the only person outside of us who knew about our involvement.”
    “The Lincolns knew,” King said.
    Hank looked at King in disgust. “Are you actually insinuating they had something to do with this?”
    “I’m just saying. They knew.”
    “Well, you can stop that line of thinking.”
    Diego asked, “Is it possible they let it slip to someone?”
    Hank shook his head adamantly. “No way. Never.”
    King pulled back the other guest chair, sat and slouched back, tucking his feet under the desk. “Maybe the kidnapper was watching the doctor’s house and saw us show up there.”
    “That’s a more plausible theory,” Hank said. “He does seem to have all the bases covered.” He paused. “But right from the start, he might never have intended to let Mrs. Gould go free.”
    Diego said, “That way he gets his money and there’s no witnesses.”
    Hank sighed. “That’s what I’m thinking, Captain.”
    Diego twiddled his pen a moment before sitting back. He waved his hand toward the door. “Get out of here guys. I need you to catch this maniac before he strikes again. And keep me posted.”
     
    ~~*~~
     
    JAKE KNEW who was calling the moment he answered his cell phone. The rasping breath on the line was the giveaway. He paused a moment before saying, “Jake here.”
    “Jake, my good friend. How are you this lovely morning?”
    He didn’t answer. He put the call on speaker and dashed into the office. Annie looked away from the monitor and leaned forward as he slid into the chair and held up the phone between them.
    Jake spoke slowly, trying to hold back the anger he felt seeping into his voice. “Why’d you have to kill her?”
    “Alas, I deeply regret that and my sympathies are with the good doctor, but unfortunately it was necessary because the rules were broken.”
    “What rules? You got the money and you’re free and clear?”
    “My rules. The police were not to be involved.” A pause, more breathing, then, “At any rate, you’ll hear more about that on the news. Right now I have other things to discuss with you.”
    “It’s over. Mrs. Gould is dead and you got paid. What else is there to discuss?”
    “Jake, Jake, don’t be so harsh. I only called to give you a warning. Please, for your sake and others, keep the police out of our affairs next time.”
    Jake’s eyes narrowed and he took a sharp breath. “What do you mean, next time?” Jake and Annie exchanged a look. Annie frowned as she listened intently.
    “Exactly what it sounds like. You didn’t think this was a one-time arrangement, did you?”
    Jake closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. This was just what they had feared. “You won’t get away with this. The police are on top of it and already closing in. It’s just a matter of time.”
    A deep laugh, eerie and ominous. “The police are running around in circles, Jake. They’re not even getting close and they never will. They might as well try to shoot rabbits from a tree, that’s about as much luck as they’ll have in catching me.”
    “Don’t be too sure of yourself.”
    “Oh, I’m sure of myself. I’m aware of my shortcomings, but I also know my strengths. I’m smart, my friend, and a businessman, and you can be sure you’re a long way from hearing the last of me.”
    Jake gritted his teeth. His fist tightened around the phone, threatening to crack it in two. “I’ll see you dead if I have to kill you myself.”
    “You mustn’t let your anger