Captive Justice: A Private Investigator Mystery Series (A Jake & Annie Lincoln Thriller Book 4) by Rayven T. Hill
Authors: Rayven T. Hill
Ads: Link
along and from the day he’d proposed to her, her mother was obsessed with driving him away.
Alma continued, “I’d like to take my grandson to live with your father and me until this is cleared up.”
Annie crossed her arms and glared. “Not a chance, Mother.”
“Then at least let me stay here a few days so I can watch out for him.”
Annie threw her head back and laughed. “Yes, that would work out really well.” Then her eyes narrowed, she leaned close, and in a firm voice, “Never.”
Alma feigned shock, her hand going to her mouth, her eyes wide. “I . . . I only want to help.”
“We don’t need your help. Try to understand that.”
Alma glared a moment, then stepped toward the door and put her hand on the doorknob. “I must go now. I have things to do.” She leaned in and brushed Annie’s cheek with hers, gave her an air kiss and pulled the door open. “Goodbye, darling.”
Annie watched her mother leave, wishing she would move to the Arctic Circle. She sighed as she headed for the garage to tell Jake it was safe to come out of hiding now.
Chapter 23
Thursday, September 1st, 12:43 PM
JAKE AND ANNIE weren’t the only ones angry at Lisa Krunk’s news report. Hank was fuming.
He’d talked to Captain Diego and they decided the best way to approach the matter was to hold a press conference, with one stipulation. It was to be broadcast live, the intent to eliminate any clever editing by the likes of Lisa Krunk.
He’d called Lisa right after he was made aware of the broadcast. He demanded she turn the recording over to him unless she wanted to get hit with a charge of obstruction of justice. She balked at first, claiming freedom of the press and a right to protect her sources. Hank had reminded her Jake could pursue a lawsuit against her for slander if he so desired. That seemed to have changed her mind and she promised to deliver the recording right away.
Hank stood as he saw Lisa enter the precinct and approach the duty desk. “Ms. Krunk,” he called to her.
She spun in his direction. “Hello, Detective,” she said, a wry smile on her face as he approached. She held up a small plastic item. “Here’s the flash memory card from my recorder.”
Hank smiled. “I’m happy to see you’ve decided to help us out, Lisa.” He reached for the memory card but Lisa held on tight.
“Detective, you’ll give me first crack at this story, won’t you?”
“I can’t promise you that. Besides, you seem to have a way of getting all the information you need.”
Lisa sighed and let go of the card, forcing a smile. “At least consider it?”
“You’re welcome to attend the press conference like anyone else. I can’t promise you any special considerations.” Hank paused. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Thank you, Detective Corning.” Lisa’s smile appeared genuine now; Hank could never tell for sure. He watched her leave and wondered how any one reporter could cause him so many headaches.
He turned back to his desk, reaching to his belt for his ringing phone and sat in his swivel chair. “Detective Hank Corning.”
It was the M.E., Nancy Pietek.
“Hank, I’ve finished the external examination of Mrs. Gould’s body. I’ll get my complete report to you ASAP, but I wanted to give you a heads-up on what I found.”
Hank sat forward and listened intently.
“I found a note inside the mouth, folded and placed under the tongue. I have someone bringing it over to you now.”
“What does the note say?”
“It says, ‘I said no police’. That’s all that’s written on it.”
Hank frowned. “Anything else, Nancy?”
“Not at this point.”
“Has the lab examined the note?”
“They have. They found nothing unusual. No fingerprints.”
“Thanks, Nancy.” Hank hung up the phone. The kidnapper was making his point about police involvement. But they were involved now and he was going to do everything he could to bring this maniac to
Alma continued, “I’d like to take my grandson to live with your father and me until this is cleared up.”
Annie crossed her arms and glared. “Not a chance, Mother.”
“Then at least let me stay here a few days so I can watch out for him.”
Annie threw her head back and laughed. “Yes, that would work out really well.” Then her eyes narrowed, she leaned close, and in a firm voice, “Never.”
Alma feigned shock, her hand going to her mouth, her eyes wide. “I . . . I only want to help.”
“We don’t need your help. Try to understand that.”
Alma glared a moment, then stepped toward the door and put her hand on the doorknob. “I must go now. I have things to do.” She leaned in and brushed Annie’s cheek with hers, gave her an air kiss and pulled the door open. “Goodbye, darling.”
Annie watched her mother leave, wishing she would move to the Arctic Circle. She sighed as she headed for the garage to tell Jake it was safe to come out of hiding now.
Chapter 23
Thursday, September 1st, 12:43 PM
JAKE AND ANNIE weren’t the only ones angry at Lisa Krunk’s news report. Hank was fuming.
He’d talked to Captain Diego and they decided the best way to approach the matter was to hold a press conference, with one stipulation. It was to be broadcast live, the intent to eliminate any clever editing by the likes of Lisa Krunk.
He’d called Lisa right after he was made aware of the broadcast. He demanded she turn the recording over to him unless she wanted to get hit with a charge of obstruction of justice. She balked at first, claiming freedom of the press and a right to protect her sources. Hank had reminded her Jake could pursue a lawsuit against her for slander if he so desired. That seemed to have changed her mind and she promised to deliver the recording right away.
Hank stood as he saw Lisa enter the precinct and approach the duty desk. “Ms. Krunk,” he called to her.
She spun in his direction. “Hello, Detective,” she said, a wry smile on her face as he approached. She held up a small plastic item. “Here’s the flash memory card from my recorder.”
Hank smiled. “I’m happy to see you’ve decided to help us out, Lisa.” He reached for the memory card but Lisa held on tight.
“Detective, you’ll give me first crack at this story, won’t you?”
“I can’t promise you that. Besides, you seem to have a way of getting all the information you need.”
Lisa sighed and let go of the card, forcing a smile. “At least consider it?”
“You’re welcome to attend the press conference like anyone else. I can’t promise you any special considerations.” Hank paused. “But I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Thank you, Detective Corning.” Lisa’s smile appeared genuine now; Hank could never tell for sure. He watched her leave and wondered how any one reporter could cause him so many headaches.
He turned back to his desk, reaching to his belt for his ringing phone and sat in his swivel chair. “Detective Hank Corning.”
It was the M.E., Nancy Pietek.
“Hank, I’ve finished the external examination of Mrs. Gould’s body. I’ll get my complete report to you ASAP, but I wanted to give you a heads-up on what I found.”
Hank sat forward and listened intently.
“I found a note inside the mouth, folded and placed under the tongue. I have someone bringing it over to you now.”
“What does the note say?”
“It says, ‘I said no police’. That’s all that’s written on it.”
Hank frowned. “Anything else, Nancy?”
“Not at this point.”
“Has the lab examined the note?”
“They have. They found nothing unusual. No fingerprints.”
“Thanks, Nancy.” Hank hung up the phone. The kidnapper was making his point about police involvement. But they were involved now and he was going to do everything he could to bring this maniac to
Similar Books
