Read Captive Justice: A Private Investigator Mystery Series (A Jake & Annie Lincoln Thriller Book 4) for Free Online

around, pulled the flash drive from the recorder and handed it to Hank. She’d already made a copy of the recording for their own use, in case she wanted to refer to it later.
    Hank took the drive and dropped it into his shirt pocket.
    “And then there’s this,” Annie added. She removed Dr. Gould’s phone from the top drawer of the desk and swiped the screen. She winced at the photo of Mrs. Gould, then flipped the phone around and handed it to Hank.
    Hank took the phone. “The doctor said you had this. I need to get it looked at as well.” His brow furrowed as he studied the photo of Mrs. Gould.
    “We already had Geekly take a look at it,” Jake said. “All he could tell us was the time it was taken.”
    Annie added, “And the number of the phone the photo was taken from, a burner phone.” She copied down the number she’d gotten from Geekly and handed it to Hank. “I called this and got a bum who found it in a dumpster on Benson Avenue.”
    “The photo appears to have been taken in the basement of an old building,” Jake said. “Probably a one, or maybe a two-story.” He pointed to the walls and the beams and explained his theory to Hank.
    “I’ll get King and Callaway to work on this,” Hank said. “We’ll see if they can track down the phone. If King calls the number, he may be able to find the guy. He knows his way around the streets and how to get what he wants out there.”
    Annie had the displeasure of meeting King in the past and didn’t think much of the crass detective. She frowned and asked, “Is Detective King working on this with you?”
    Hank shrugged and slipped the phone into the pocket of his jacket. “Time is one thing we don’t have a lot of right now and we need all the help we can get. I sent him to Mrs. Gould’s workplace to see what he can find out.”
    “I’ve already been there and I found her car in the underground parking.” Annie explained what she’d found. “But I locked the car and the keys are in it. I didn’t want anything to be disturbed.”
    Hank laughed. “I’m sure King’ll know how to get in.” He looked at his watch. “We have to set up your phone to record the kidnapper’s call.”
    “There’s an app for that,” Jake said. “It’s set up and ready to go.”
    “Then let me get this phone to Callaway and give King a call,” Hank said, as he stood. “I’ll be back before four o’clock.”
     
    ~~*~~
     
    HANK TAPPED on Captain Alano Diego’s open door. The captain looked up from his paperwork and motioned for Hank to come in.
    Hank stepped inside Diego’s office, swung a guest chair over to the desk and settled into it. He leaned back and tucked his legs under the desk, crossed at the ankles.
    He filled Diego in on the latest information regarding the kidnapping and then added, “Captain, this is an unusual situation. Jake Lincoln has agreed to deliver the ransom money as the kidnapper requested, but I need your permission for something.”
    Diego sat back, adjusted his navy blue tie and gave Hank his full attention.
    “Captain, do you know the law regarding private investigators and firearms?”
    “Is this a trick question? They’re not allowed to carry them.”
    Hank shrugged one shoulder. “True, but there are special circumstances. If it’s in the public interest, they might be able to.”
    “On rare occasions, Hank.”
    “I think this is one of those rare occasions.” Hank sat forward and leaned his arms on the edge of the desk. “As you know, the registrar of firearms can authorize someone to carry a firearm on a one-shot basis if a senior member of the police service requests it.”
    Diego frowned. “And you’re asking me to request it?”
    “Yup.”
    “Listen Hank, we have no official relationship with the Lincolns. They are citizens, and are not law enforcement. I have to admit, sometimes they’re a help to us.” Diego waved toward the precinct floor. “But there’re some out there who feel antagonistic toward