Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Silence stretches, confirming the seed of doubt I’ve planted has taken root. The police will cut her a deal and maybe even throw in a witness protection program, but she may not know that.
Right now, she’s thinking it will be her word against mine, and that they won’t believe her. Even if they do, she knows my power reaches high places in the force as well as the judicial system.
She also knows if her involvement comes to light and the feds lock her up, a single word from me will get her throat slit on the inside.
And above all, she knows if she talks to the cops, the people who orchestrated Tatiana’s kidnapping will come after her.
They’re already hunting her.
So am I.
She’s in a nasty pickle.
That’s what’s running through her mind as the seconds tick on.
When she finally speaks, she takes the bait as I knew she would.
“Fine,” she bites out. “I can give you information.”
“On what?”
“On who took your wife.”
My fury reaches a crescendo. It takes all I have and then some to keep calm and not tear into her.
She doesn’t know I know her identity. If the strippers from the club had told her that I’d been sniffing around, asking questions about her, she wouldn’t have bothered to hide her name. It would’ve been pointless. She would’ve simply announced it when I took the call.
Still, I test my theory. “Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. Are you interested or not?”
I was right. She has no idea that I’ve identified her.
“Well?” Uncertainty bleeds into her voice. “Do we have a deal?”
“Sure,” I drawl. “Meet me at my office.”
She laughs. “Do you think I’m dumb? Give me your cell phone number. I’ll text you where and when we meet.”
Not so dumb after all.
I take a new burner phone from my drawer and give her the number.
The moment she hangs up, I call Reino. While putting a fully charged battery in the burner phone and switching it on, I instruct him to double the number of guards at the house and dispatch a team to my office.
Ms. Foster’s instructions follow three minutes later. She wants to meet in a public place, an outdoor cafeteria in the new reptile park. Getting a million together in cash will take time, even for me. She must be well aware of that fact and getting angsty, because she says in her message that she’s changed her mind.
She wants to meet today, and she wants me to transfer the money to an offshore bank account. Once the transaction has gone through, she’ll divulge the information she promised.
When Ulysses and Reino arrive at the office, I bring them up to speed.
“The meeting is in three hours.” Reino gives me a worried look. “That’s not nearly enough time to put sufficient safety measures in place.”
“It’ll have to be enough.” I address Ulysses. “Get our drones there. I want footage of before, during, and after the meeting. I’ll send her police mugshot to our men. I want to know the minute she enters that park and if she’s alone, bringing support, or being followed.” To Reino, I say, “Put snipers in the surrounding buildings. I want men in civilian clothes throughout that park.”
“What’s the plan?” Ulysses asks, straightening his sleeveless jacket.
“We take her in for questioning. I’m not going to strangle the truth out of her in the open.”
Ms. Foster will soon learn I have no intention of paying her a million for what she and her cronies had done to Tatiana.
Reino steps closer. “What if she brings back-up?”
“I have a good hunch that she’ll be alone. She’s being hunted by her partners and us. She can’t trust anyone. Making a deal for enough money so she can disappear indefinitely is her only chance. She’s not going to risk screwing it up. Just in case, we’ll be ready. I’ll pull in some of Sav’s men too. I want our teams swarming the park.”
Ulysses nods, always in agreement with a more prudent approach. “Where do you want to take her once we’ve got her?”
“The warehouse.”
He nods again. “I’ll have a vehicle ready.”
“Let’s go.” I pat Reino’s shoulder. “We have a lot to prepare.”
“What about Kent?” he asks with caution. “He’s the best sniper we’ve got.”
I’m not trusting him until I have solid proof of his innocence. The only reason he’s still alive is because of Lee. The two of them were more like brothers than Lee and me. I’m going to unravel this plot against my wife and find the people who set me up. When I do, I’ll make sure I get my truth before I end their lives. Until then, I’m going to assume the worst. If Kent was involved in Tatiana’s kidnapping, he’ll pay like the rest of them.
Reino shoots me an inquiring look. “Boss?”
“Keep him in the dark.” I clench and unclench my fingers in an effort to relieve the tension that’s set into my muscles. “I don’t want him anywhere near that park.”