Web of Justice (23 page)

She tried to break free, but he held on tighter. She kicked uselessly at him as he dragged her toward the wall. Her eyes popped when he picked up a pair of scissors, held them close to her nose, and spoke through clenched teeth. “Now you have to pay for what you did.”

He pushed her backwards, forcing her against the wall. She stood helpless and terrified, her dark brown eyes transfixed on the razor-sharp scissors. He removed his hand from her arm and stroked her long black hair. “This is the cause of it all,” he said, his voice almost calm. “And your eyes. Your eyes have seduced for the last time.”

In a sudden burst of panic, she struck out at him with both fists. He laughed and seized her by the wrists, the tip of the scissors brushing her cheek.

She screamed, knowing her cries would go unheard, but it was all she had.

He forced her to the ground and straddled her as she struggled in vain, unable to free herself from the full weight of his body holding her down.

Then the tears came and she closed her eyes. She lay defeated and still, listening to the soft snip, snip, snip of scissors in her ear.

Chapter 37

Friday, 9:42 a.m.

ANNIE TAPPED HER fingers impatiently on the desktop, and each second that ticked by caused her anxiety to build. It wasn’t just her concern for Lisa’s safety, though that was troubling enough, but Izzy Wilde was on the loose and, unless he’d cut his interview with Lisa short, they knew exactly where he was. And time was wasting.

Jake seemed restless as well. He’d paced the office, then wandered into the living room and ended up circling through the kitchen and back to the office. Round and round. And each time he’d appeared, he gave her an edgy look and circled again.

But now he sat slouched back waiting for the allotted minutes to pass, the chair groaning under his weight as he fidgeted with his hands.

They both jumped when the phone on the desk rang. Annie beat Jake to it, scooping up the receiver.

“Lincoln Investigation. Annie speaking.”

“Annie, it’s Carter Wilde.” He sounded worried, and he spoke with an uneasy hesitation.

Annie leaned forward and looked at Jake, then set the phone on the desk and put it on speaker.

“Hello, Mr. Wilde,” she said politely.

Carter Wilde got right to the reason for his call. “I’m rather concerned about my brother, and I might’ve done something foolish.”

The caller seemed in no hurry to elaborate, so Annie asked, “What did you do?”

Carter took a deep breath and continued, “Last evening, I got a package delivered to my door. I opened it up and found a disposable phone and a note from Izzy inside.”

“I assume you notified the police,” Annie said.

A long sigh came over the line before the caller answered. “Perhaps I should’ve. I considered it and, in hindsight, maybe it would’ve been the best thing. But after I read the note, I changed my mind.”

Jake furrowed his brow and glared at the phone impatiently. “What did the note say, Carter?”

“It was a short note stating he wanted to talk to me. It appears that after the incident in the park, Izzy was positive I was being watched and my phone line was being tapped. So he sent me the disposable phone and asked me to call him right away.”

“And I assume you did?” Annie said.

“Yes, I called him right away. He accused me of double-crossing him by notifying the police earlier. Which I did, but I didn’t tell him that. I think I convinced him otherwise.”

Jake frowned. “Are the police unaware of what you’re telling us?”

“Yes. They’re still tapping my lines, but I’m calling you on the disposable phone.” There was silence a moment and then Carter continued, “I’m in a quandary here. I’m torn between doing the right thing and my brother’s safety. I want him caught, and hopefully he can get some help, but he’s armed now, and he won’t surrender without a fight.” Carter sighed. “He’s getting increasingly violent, and he sounded distraught on the phone. In short, I’m afraid he’ll get himself killed if the police get involved. Suicide by cop, perhaps. He’s becoming more and more unstable.”

Annie understood Carter’s position, though she wasn’t concerned about whether or not Izzy Wilde got shot. She only wanted him stopped by whatever means it took. And she was anxious for Lisa. “Mr. Wilde,” she said, “are you aware your brother had consented to an interview with Lisa Krunk?”

Carter cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, I let it slip when I was talking to him. I mentioned she wanted to interview him, and he sounded interested in the possibility. And that’s the real reason for my call. Did he happen to phone her, and did she follow up on it?”

“Yes,” Jake said. “He called her this morning and arranged the interview. They’re together now. She’s reckless sometimes, and she might be in danger.”

“I never wanted that to happen, but she was insistent, so I foolishly mentioned it to him.” He paused and let out a quivering sigh. “She’s rather a remarkable woman, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. It was foolhardy, I know, but I didn’t consider the possible consequences.”

“And what do you expect us to do?” Jake asked.

“I need your help. I’m desperate. I tried to call my brother again this morning, but he’s either not answering, or he discarded the phone.”

“I believe we know where they are,” Annie said. “Lisa called us and told us exactly where she was headed.”

Carter breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s what I was hoping. I couldn’t convince Izzy to tell me where he is, but I assumed if Ms. Krunk had taken Izzy up on his offer, she’d find a way to let someone know where she was going. Seeing how much she wanted the interview without any police involvement, and given your close relationship with her, I guessed it would be you rather than them.”

“And you thought we would give you his location?” Annie asked. She glanced at Jake and studied his face.

“Mrs. Lincoln, I believe if I knew where he was, and I could talk to him face to face, I could convince him to surrender.”

“What makes you sure we haven’t notified the police already?”

“I didn’t know for sure. But I assumed Ms. Krunk wouldn’t want you to. At least, not right away. I’m familiar with her and her brand of reporting, and she seems willing to do anything for a good story.”

“Mr. Wilde,” Annie said, “the police want a peaceful outcome as well, and if they feel it’ll help, they’ll let you talk to your brother. If he surrenders, so much the better.”

“I can’t chance it.” Carter paused and took a deep breath. “Please try to understand. He’s my brother. And if I can convince him to give himself up, then Ms. Krunk will be safe. I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to either one of them.” He paused before adding, “But if I’m not successful, there’s no harm done, and we’ll call the police. But I have to know I gave it my best shot, and I’m asking for your understanding and cooperation.”

Annie sat back and looked at Jake. After a moment, he nodded his head, his eyes telling her they were in agreement. She leaned forward and spoke with hesitation into the phone.

“We’ll tell you where he is … with one condition.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll go together. If you’re unsuccessful in getting him to surrender, we’ll call the police.” Annie had serious misgivings and had come to her decision with reluctance. She hoped she was doing the sensible thing.

Carter hesitated, and Annie heard him breathing on the line. Finally, he said, “All right. You have a deal.”

Chapter 38

Friday, 10:17 a.m.

WHEN JAKE PULLED the Firebird onto Red Ridge Street, Carter Wilde was waiting by the curb in front of his apartment building. Jake pulled to a stop and Carter climbed into the backseat, laying his cane on the floor beside him. He straddled the hump and leaned slightly forward, looking between the bucket seats.

Annie had turned sideways, and she smiled a hello and observed their anxious passenger. He had lines of worry about his eyes, his brow a permanent frown.

Carter spoke with noticeable concern in his voice. “I hope we’re not too late.”

“We’ll find out in a few minutes,” Jake said as he touched the gas. The Firebird spun from the curb and pulled a U-turn. Jake glanced into the backseat. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”

Carter gripped the seat in front of him. “Just get us there safely, and I’ll take care of it.”

Jake broke a few speed limits and made record time getting to the semideserted industrial area. He turned onto Magnetic Drive, drove a quarter mile, slowed down, and strained to see the fading street numbers.

“There’s six twenty,” Annie said and pointed up the street. “We’re looking for six forty-eight. It’s the next complex.”

“We’ll park at six twenty and walk over,” Jake said, touching the brakes. He swerved into the driveway and eased the car toward the rear of the unit, coming to a stop behind the building.

They climbed from the vehicle and Annie looked across the rear of the property to the building beyond. She pointed. “I think that’s Lisa’s car. It looks like one I’ve seen her driving a time or two.”

“We’re in the right place,” Jake said grimly. He looked at Carter. “Let’s do this.”

Carter nodded and the three crossed the property. Jake detoured to Lisa’s Toyota and peeked inside. He gave a shrug and joined the others again. “That’s her car, all right. She’s got a police scanner in the dash.”

Annie strode ahead, moving silently to the far end of the unit. She peered around the side of the building. Garbage littered the alley between the two buildings. Old newspapers rustled in the morning breeze. A faint odor of something rotting in the heat stung her nose, but Izzy’s vehicle was nowhere to be seen.

She went back and joined the two men, who’d approached the rear of the building. Jake scaled a water pipe, then swung over and gripped a crumbling windowsill, pulling himself up. He scraped away a patch of grime and peered inside, then shook his head and dropped to the ground.

“No one there,” he said.

Annie spun around and glared back toward Lisa’s car, her hands on her hips. The newswoman had definitely met Izzy at this secluded spot. Why else would her vehicle be here? She frowned. Perhaps he’d driven her elsewhere.

Jake must’ve read her mind. “I don’t think they’ve gone far. If they left, wouldn’t they have taken Lisa’s car?” He waved a hand toward the deserted complex. “And this is a perfect place to do his killing.”

“He might be in one of the other units,” Carter said, pointing with the tip of his cane.

Annie agreed. “In case he was double-crossed.” She gazed down the long, wide swath of asphalt that ran along the rear of the adjoining buildings. Lisa and Izzy could be in any one of them.

Jake strode toward the next building, Annie and Carter close behind. The unit had a similar window, but no water pipe to climb. Annie tried the rear door. It was locked.

The lack of a water pipe didn’t deter Jake. He had found a steel barrel, and he lugged it over and positioned it quietly under the window. He climbed up, peered in the window, and dropped back down.

“It’s empty as well,” he said. “We’ll try the next one.”

They crossed the graying asphalt toward the next building. Annie went ahead, past the unit, and peered around the corner.

A red BMW shone in the morning sun.

Izzy was still here.

Somewhere.

She edged toward the empty vehicle and peeked inside, half-expecting Izzy Wilde to pop around the corner. There was some bubble pack on the floor of the backseat. Probably from the burner phone he’d purchased. There were no weapons to be seen, and unless his rifle was in the trunk, he no doubt had it with him.

Annie glanced uneasily around, then hurried to the rear of the building, where the two men moved with caution toward the unit. She told them of her discovery. “He’s either in this one or the next one,” she said.

Carter pointed toward the rear door of the building and whispered, “The door’s slightly open.”

“I’ll take a look,” Jake said, holding up a hand of caution. “You two stay here.” He eased toward the door and stopped, a hand on the knob.

Annie held her breath as Jake pushed the door inwards an inch or two and peered through the crack. A moment later, he pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

Annie exchanged a look with Carter, then hurried to the door, Carter directly behind. She stopped in the doorway. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes bulged.

It was Lisa Krunk.

Even without the long black hair Lisa had once so proudly worn, Annie would recognize that thin, sharp nose anywhere.

She stared at the fearful sight of the newswoman propped up in a metal chair, long locks of hair scattered about the floor around her. She was bound and gagged, her dark brown eyes filled with relief. Tufts of hair stuck out at odd angles where it’d been cropped short.

Jake slipped the gag from the woman’s mouth, then worked at the cord that held her firmly to the chair.

Annie stepped closer and stopped in front of Lisa. She leaned over, her hands on her knees. “Are you all right?” she asked.

Tear tracks burrowed through Lisa’s heavy makeup, running down her face toward her chin. She blinked away a tear and nodded. “I’m okay.”

Jake tossed the now loosened rope aside and helped Lisa to her feet. Annie stood and quietly watched a sight she thought she’d never see. Her husband had his arm around the frightened woman’s shoulder as she cried against his chest, her sobs of relief filling the empty room.

Carter seemed unsure what to do or say. He stood back, his hands in his pockets, and watched the scene unfold. Finally, he stepped closer, put his hand on Lisa’s shoulder, and spoke gently. “I should never have told Izzy you wanted to talk to him. I’m sorry.”

Lisa nodded in recognition of his apology, then freed herself from Jake and stood back. She raised her head and dabbed at her watery eyes, then looked at Carter, forcing a smile. “It’s not your fault. I should’ve known better.”