Web of Justice by Rayven T. Hill

his backpack over his shoulder. “Hi, Mrs. Lincoln. Hi, Mr. Lincoln,” he said and followed Matty from the kitchen without waiting for an answer. The boys would be leaving for school in a few minutes, and they would walk the two blocks.
    Jake stood and gathered up the dishes, setting them in the sink. He sat back down and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
    “I’d like to drop by and see Hank later this morning,” Annie said. “Between the three of us, we might be able to come up with something.”
     
    ~*~
     
    HANK PUSHED his plate aside, leaned forward at the table, and looked at Amelia. He hadn’t seen much of her lately, and this early-morning breakfast at a nearby cafe might be all the time he could manage to spend with his uncomplaining girlfriend for a few days. His hectic schedule was crazy enough, but with a killer on the loose, his free hours were going to be at a minimum for an unknown period of time.
    Amelia dabbed at her lips with a napkin, folded it with care, and laid it on her plate. “Thank you for breakfast, Hank.”
    Hank grinned, reached across the table, and smothered her small hand with his. “My pleasure. I only wish we had more time.”
    “More time would be nice,” she said in her usual sweet, soft voice. “But the first time I met you, I knew you were dedicated to your job.” She placed her other hand on his and gave him an understanding smile. “I knew what I was getting into.” She laughed a quiet, wonderful little laugh. “If I was a teenager, I might be jealous of your work.”
    Hank sat back and sighed lightly. He was nuts over this woman. Though he’d only known her a short time, he could see himself spending the rest of his life with her. He was pretty sure she felt the same, and one of these days, he was going to pop the question. Just when, he wasn’t sure, but he knew that coming home to her, even though their time together might be sketchy, would be a lot better than going home to an empty apartment.
    Hank glanced at his watch and wondered where all the time had gone. He had to be at work soon. “We’d better go,” he said with regret, signaling the waitress for the bill.
    A bubbly young girl approached the table, a wide smile on her pretty face. “There you go, Detective,” she said, setting the bill down. She smiled at Amelia and said, “Nice to see you again,” and went to take care of another customer.
    Hank dropped some bills on the table, leaving a nice tip, and followed Amelia to his vehicle. He creaked open the passenger door for her, closed it with care, then got in the driver side.
    He drove the few blocks to Amelia’s near-mansion, pulled into the driveway behind her Mercedes, and was reminded how much he loved her even more for not noticing the wreck he drove.
    After walking her to the door and giving her an extended goodbye kiss, he drove for work, forcing himself to turn his mind to the job at hand. He had to catch a killer.
    When he arrived at the precinct, he was surprised to see Detective King’s car parked in the lot. That was unusual. His partner usually wandered in sometime after nine.
    Hank went into the precinct and headed for his desk. Callaway eyed him as he approached, and the young whiz came over, waving a sheet of paper. “Got a hit on Wilde’s car. Turns out it was bought for cash yesterday through an online ad site.”
    Hank sat, pulled in his chair, and took the paper from Callaway. He gave it a brief glance. “The ownership papers weren’t even changed over.”
    “Guess he didn’t have time.”
    “Or didn’t bother, knowing he was a wanted man.” Hank set the printout down on the side of his desk. “Thanks, Callaway.”
    Callaway grunted and left.
    Hank would get King to pay a visit to the prior owner of the car, though he didn’t expect it would help much. They already knew who was in possession of the vehicle. Not that Hank doubted Jake had correctly identified Izzy