Dak hung up the phone and stared at it, his mind replaying the conversation with the mayor.
Still no ransom demand. No word from the kidnappers at all, in fact.
Why had Noelle Orson’s kidnappers immediately demanded a ransom when there’d been no demand on either Boggess or Andrews?
Only two good options came to mind. Either Boggess and Andrews hadn’t survived the abduction or they were looking at two different kidnappers.
He had trouble believing there’d be a second set of kidnappers active right now.
Unless the second set was a copycat.
Movement at the doorway caught his eye.
Kevyn.
“How’d it go?”
The conversation with OPR had taken a little longer than he’d expected. Which could be good or bad.
Her smile lacked its usual luster. “Well, he wasn’t happy, but he didn’t suspend me.”
That was good. Meant that he likely believed her.
Or maybe he didn’t think he had enough ammunition to bury her yet.
He’d hope for the former. Either way, he could use her on this case. “Good. I called Mayor Boggess.”
She took a chair opposite him and leaned in. “Has he heard from the kidnappers?”
“Not a word.”
She winced. “That could mean bad news for our vics.”
“Or it could mean that Noelle Orson didn’t fit their purposes and they decided to make a quick buck off her.”
She quirked her head. “Then why take her at all? If she didn’t suit their purposes? That’s a huge risk.”
“Maybe they didn’t know until they had her.” He flexed his fingers, the popping of the joints sounding loud in the office. “Until we know how they’re choosing their victims and what they’re doing with them, we won’t know why Noelle was released and the others weren’t.”
“I’m also bothered by the fact that they didn’t drug Noelle.” She lightly tapped her pointer finger on the arm of the chair. “That’s a break in MO.”
It was, but it didn’t bother him too much. “Sure, but she’s also a petite woman. Both Boggess and Andrews are healthy and fit. Our kidnappers might have worried about not being able to subdue the guys, but figured they could handle someone as small as Noelle.”
Her jaw tightened. “Could be. But why take the chance? They’ve clearly perfected their MO. Why deviate?”
“Ran out of drugs? I don’t know.” But they needed to figure it out. Fast. Before someone else fell victim to this crew. “The only other option is that it’s another set of kidnappers. Maybe a copycat. But the odds of that…”
She nodded.
They all knew the odds.
“Let’s run with that for a minute.” He blew out a short breath. “Jason Boggess has been in the news a lot. Then you add in Wes Andrews, who has been linked to the Boggess abduction. What if someone saw all that and decided to use it as a smokescreen to grab Noelle Orson?”
“I can roll with that. But why?”
That was the eighty thousand dollar question, wasn’t it? “Could be as simple as a quick ransom. Or maybe it’s personal. Someone with an axe to grind against her father?”
“Or her.” Kevyn held up her hands as if to stop a protest, which he didn’t have. “With the kind of money her family has, they all might have some enemies.”
“I think we need to look into that.”
Kevyn pushed up from the chair. “I’m on it.”
“I’ll have Sid help you.” They needed to either support or discard the theory quickly. If Orson’s case wasn’t connected to the Boggess and Andrews abduction, it was stealing valuable time.
₪ ₪ ₪
Tio strode through the warehouse, relishing the still-new smell. This place had cost him a pretty penny, but it’d been worth it. He’d already recouped every dollar he’d sunk into it, with interest.
Lots and lots of interest.
His lack of record keeping made it difficult to determine how much profit he’d made, but his offshore account told him it was hefty.
And there was still more where that came from.
A door opened ahead and Russ stepped out, his chino pants and button-down shirt still crisp.
He pulled the door closed behind him and used a key to lock the deadbolt before facing Tio head-on.
Tio slowed his steps. “Everything going well?”
Russ offered a tight nod. “So far.”
Good. Failure could cost him dearly. “And you have everything you need for this afternoon?”
“Of course.” Russ crossed his arms and pressed his lips into a tight line. “I always do.”
Russ hadn’t let him down yet, but there was a first time for everything. “Very good. Let Zane or one of the guys know if you need anything.”
Russ nodded, his body relaxing slightly.
Continuing down the hall, Tio headed for the stairs. Sure, he could take the elevator, but the stairs helped keep him in shape.
He climbed to the top floor and headed for the room at the end of the hall.
Where Mitch waited.
A sigh slid out as he pulled the key from his pocket.
How had it come to this? He and Mitch used to be tight. The enterprise they’d built… he couldn’t have done it without Mitch’s expertise.
And now he was trying to figure out the best way and time to end Mitch’s life.
If only there was a way to bring Mitch into this enterprise, but Mitch would never go for it.
He passed the other three rooms until he stood outside Mitch’s door.
Two bolts ensured that no one inside could get out. He slid them, unlocked the knob, then pushed the door open.
Mitch jerked up from the sofa and rose warily to his feet.
The suspicion was warranted, but it still hurt to see it. There was a time when they’d trusted each other.
After using the key to lock the knob, Tio turned to face his former partner.
“You ready to level with me?” His
