Justice for Hire (26 page)

Craig swore. “How long?”

“The new boy has a lot of spirit and may take longer than anticipated, and the other two are still in the middle of the process. Fortunately, there has been a dramatic decrease in the time necessary since the first girl. She was more of a learning process for us, and we have made great strides since her, however, it may be a few days before I can safely offer you the next perfected candidate.”

There was silence. Finally Craig said, “Then, we must wait.” He swore again.

“Sir?”

“Yes, what is it, Wolff?”

“I know you have insisted in the past, after each mission the candidate should eliminate themselves, but I think that will soon be no longer necessary.”

“It’s too dangerous, Wolff.”

Wolff hesitated. “I have been working on a kill chip, sir.”

“A kill chip?”

“Yes. Combining it with the transmitter will allow us to trigger it remotely in the event of a capture. This would eliminate any danger which could result.”

“Why have you not implemented it yet?”

“It’s not ready, sir. Laboratory tests on mice have been successful, however there have been a few failures. I still need to do more testing.”

“How long until it’s ready?”

“I can’t say, sir. Perhaps a week or two. A month at the most. In the last three candidates, as a test, we’ve successfully planted the GPS transmitter next to the amygdala, where the new device will eventually go to function properly.”

“Excellent work, Wolff.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Craig sighed. “So now we must wait for more candidates before we proceed with our plans.”

“Yes, however that may give things a chance to cool off.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. At any rate, it wouldn’t hurt to send the boys out to search for another acquisition.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll send them later today.”

“Keep me posted, Wolff.”

“I will, sir.”

Wolff hung up the phone. He couldn’t understand why Mr. Craig was in such a hurry. The cause had been alive for decades, and perhaps in one form or another, for hundreds of years. It certainly wouldn’t be fully accomplished in his lifetime, and not in Mr. Craig’s lifetime either.

But, like his father, Mr. Craig was one of the elite, and knew what was best.

Chapter 55

Friday, August 26th, 10:44 AM

JAKE PACED THE living room floor, thinking about the case, eagerly waiting for Geekly to get back to him.

He’d picked up his cell a couple of times, but changed his mind. He knew his friend would call as soon as he came up with something.

Annie was in the office doing some vital research for a client; nothing she couldn’t take care of in a few minutes online, and she wanted to get it out of the way.

The Escalade was the best lead they had at the moment, and he was impatient. He grabbed his iPhone and speed-dialed Hank.

“Detective Hank Corning.”

“Hank, did you have any luck finding that guy?”

Sounds of traffic came over the line. “Sure did.” A car honked and King swore.

“What’d you get from him? Did you get the color of the vehicle?” Jake asked.

“It’s black. The Escalade is black. I’ve already called Callaway and he’ll have a list for me when I get back to the station.” Hank paused. “What are you planning on doing with the information?”

“We may do a little research on our own.”

“What kind of research?”

“Not sure yet,” Jake said. “Did he have anything else?”

“No. Nothing at all.”

“You think he’s telling the truth?”

“I think so. King’s not so sure.”

“Why would he lie?” Jake asked.

“That’s what I said. Anyway, King did a number on him and he was too afraid to lie.”

Jake heard King laugh, and then say, “That little weasel had it coming.”

“Let me know if Callaway’s list turns up anything,” Jake said, and then terminated the call. They had something at least, not much, but more than they had a while ago.

He tucked his phone away, wandered into the office and dropped into the guest chair. Annie looked up at him.

“The Escalade is black,” he said, and then filled her in on the rest of the conversation.

“They couldn’t make it easy for us, could they?” Annie said. “Black is the most common color for Escalades. Why couldn’t it be yellow or something?”

Jake chuckled. “The bad guys always like black. Black cars, black hats, and black deeds.”

“To match their black hearts.”

The office phone rang and Annie put it on speaker.

It was Geekly.

“I have something for you. This is definitely a GPS transmitter.”

Jake leaned forward and gave Annie a thumbs-up. He spoke into the phone, “Excellent work, but why didn’t the police lab come up with that?”

“It’s rather sophisticated and different than usual. A GPS transmitter normally transmits at regular intervals and sends the position of the device. This device transmits infrequently, presumably to extend battery life. The police lab likely didn’t allow for a long enough testing period, or perhaps don’t have the right equipment.”

“And you do?”

“My friend does.”

Annie asked, “So, it’s emitting a signal, but can you tell where the signal is being picked up from?”

“My friend was able to locate approximately where the GPS receiver is located. I didn’t think it was possible, but he’s a whiz at this kind of stuff.”

“Spare me the technical details,” Jake said. “Just tell me where the receiver is.”

“Northeast of the city. He couldn’t track it down any closer, but likely less than a couple of miles from the outskirts.”

“That’s a lot of territory.”

“It’s a lot of territory, but a lot of it is farmland with only a few roads in the area.”

Annie had turned back to the computer. Jake glanced over. She was doing something with MapQuest. She had the satellite view up and was leaned in, peering at the monitor.

“Anything else you can tell us?” Jake asked Geekly.

“That’s all there is.”

“Thanks, buddy. I owe you one.”

“You owe me a lot more than one.”

Jake laughed. “Someday I’ll return the favor.”

“I’ll wait. Talk to you later.”

Jake pushed the hang up icon and looked back at Annie. “I should let Hank know about this.”

She nodded and Jake called Hank’s number.

“This is Detective Hank Corning. Leave a message.”

Jake detailed what Geekly had found, and ended with, “We may drive out there and take a look around.” He dropped the phone back in its cradle.

Annie hit a final key and sat back. In a few seconds, the printer hummed and pages eased out into the tray.

“I’m printing the satellite view of the area, as well as a road map.”

“It looks like we’re going on a trip,” Jake said.

“We are.”

Chapter 56

Friday, August 26th, 11:13 AM

AS JAKE DROVE, Annie used a fluorescent green highlighter and marked places of interest on the satellite map. There was beginning to be a lot of green circles.

“There are too many possibilities here,” she said. “It would take all day just to drive past them all, and much longer to check them out thoroughly.”

Jake was taking frequent glances at the map, moving his eyes from the road and back again. “The way I see it, there are only two main roads leading from the city to that part of the countryside.”

Annie looked at Jake. “What are you getting at?”

Jake reached over and pointed to the map. “See that road there, coming from the city?” He moved his finger. “And that one there?”

“Yes.”

Jake put his hand on the steering wheel and turned his eyes to the road. “If the Escalade comes into the city, it would have to use either of those two roads to go there and come back again.”

Annie understood. “You think we should stake out those two roads?”

Jake pulled over to the side and stopped. “That’s what I’m saying. Let’s see the road map.”

Annie handed it to him and he studied it. “Let’s just say, for the sake of argument, they go to the Auburn Street area again. There are too many streets for us to cover, but when they return, I’m betting they would take Valleydale Sideroad.” He pointed to the map and traced the route with his finger. “To here at least.”

Annie said, “And after that, there are a lot of possibilities.”

“Right.” He touched a spot on the map. “But if we stake out here somewhere, we’ll see them if they’re out today.”

“You think that’s a possibility?” Annie asked.

“I think it’s more than a possibility. I think it’s a probability they come into the city every day.”

“Then, let’s do it.”

Jake pulled the Firebird back onto the road. “We should’ve brought your car. Mine’s too easy to identify if they see us.”

“Then, let’s make sure they don’t see us.”

They drove several minutes before reaching the area Jake had indicated on the map. He drove slowly, looking for a place to park where they could watch the road and not be seen from passing vehicles.

Annie pointed to a lane-way on the right, which led back to a farmhouse far beyond, the entranceway partially hidden by a row of trees. “Stop there.”

“Looks good.” Jake pulled beyond the lane, backed in and stopped. From their vantage point, they could see the road between the branches of the trees, just enough to make out oncoming vehicles.

They sat and waited.

And waited.

Annie had brought some sandwiches and bottles of water. They had polished off the meal some time ago, and Jake had stretched back, his eyes closed.

Annie had climbed from the vehicle, and was sitting on the grass, carefully watching the road. Several cars had passed, a few SUVs, but no black Escalade yet.

She was beginning to think they were on the wrong track when she saw an SUV coming up the road, and it looked like an Escalade. Black. She squinted. With tinted windows.

She watched as it came closer, and then she hopped up and opened the door of the Firebird. “Finally, there it is,” she said.

Jake was startled from his nap and sat forward. He glanced toward the oncoming vehicle, started the car and grinned at Annie as she jumped in. “Let’s hope that’s it.”

“Should I call Hank?”

“It’s just a black Escalade. There’s no guarantee it’s the right one.”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Annie said, more sure than Jake they had the right vehicle. They were in farm country, and farmers would be unlikely own that type of vehicle. They would be more apt to use pickup trucks. Why would an Escalade be traveling side roads?

“Whatever you think,” Jake said. “It won’t hurt to let him know where we are.”

Annie slipped out her cell phone and hit speed dial. “No signal,” she said. “They need to get more towers out here.”

“We’ll try again later.”

They watched as the vehicle drove by, and then Jake touched the gas and eased onto the road. He stayed back far enough, so, if the Firebird was seen by the driver, it wouldn’t be recognized.

After several minutes, the Escalade turned onto a side road. Jake hung back, barely keeping the SUV in sight as it kicked up clouds of dust. Jake followed the dust as the vehicle made a couple of turns.

And then, the Escalade disappeared around a curve.

Jake touched the gas and sped up. When they rounded the curve, the SUV was gone.

“He’s pulled off somewhere,” Annie said, glancing around.

They saw a farmhouse with a modern barn off to their left. Across the road was another house, this one with an old barn and a pond in front. Up further was another group of buildings.

Jake pulled to the side of the road while Annie flipped open the glove compartment and dug out a pair of binoculars. She scanned the properties around them, looking for signs of the Escalade.

“I don’t see it,” she said.

“It’s got to be at one of these three properties.” Jake pointed to a narrow service lane leading into a field. “I’ll back in there and we can have a look around.” He turned the steering wheel, kicked up gravel, spun around, and backed into the lane-way. The vehicle was hidden from view of the houses, behind a thick row of pine trees, which separated the two properties.

They climbed from the vehicle and Annie glanced around. She pointed to the house with the old barn. “That one has a pickup truck parked in front.” She waved toward the group of buildings further up the road. “I can make out a couple of cars on that property.” She turned to the house with the modern barn. “But none there. We should try that one first.”

“And what if there’s somebody home?” Jake asked.

Annie thought a moment. “Tell them we’re looking for directions.”

“Then, where’s our vehicle?”

“Good point. Maybe tell them our car broke down and we want to use their phone.”

Jake nodded. “That works for me.”

They went up the long driveway toward the house. There was a garage attached to the dwelling at one end. Annie scrutinized the front windows of the house and saw no signs of life, so she scooted over to the far side of the garage and peeked through a small window. There was lots of junk, but no vehicle inside.

She joined Jake. “The garage is empty. This doesn’t appear to be the right place.”

Jake looked at the front of the dwelling. “And I haven’t seen anyone moving around inside.”

Annie climbed the steps to the front door and rang the bell. There was no answer after the third attempt. She looked at Jake and shook her head.

Jake circled the house toward the back yard and Annie followed. No one was there either, so she climbed the back porch. The inner door was open and she called through the screen door, “Hello?”

No answer.

She tested the door; it was unlocked. She looked back at Jake and he shrugged. She wasn’t sure whether to go in or not. It didn’t appear to be the correct house, but she swung the door open and stepped into the kitchen. She called again, “Hello?”

Still no answer.