He gathered the chips slowly and pulled them towards him. “What riches!” he breathed. “I started with a sweet young thing. Pure, innocent, and completely worth killing. Then I land a celebrated actor – of no use to me personally, but excellent bait for a beautiful woman. I have a thing for redheads, if you don’t mind me saying so. I’m going to enjoy teaching you a lesson in manners.”
Kim found herself rising, an instinctual desire to flee. “Ah, Miss Daniels. I’m quite sure we have a deal. You don’t want Mr. Kane to die a particularly gruesome death, do you? You come with me, and I’ll keep it clean.” He drew his sword out of its cane sheath and brandished it close to his captive’s jugular. Alex’s eyes bulged, alarmed.
“As for you, I might just let you live, if you learn your lesson properly. I’m not so bothered that you can identify me. After all, identities are easy to change. And I’m too smart to be caught.”
Kim willed herself to step forward. The game had just been the warm-up. Surely she could think of something before things got too serious. She smiled brightly. “I’m not a sore loser. Lead the way.”
The killer nodded his head courteously. He drew out two pieces of rope and grabbed Kim, wrapping her wrists. Yanking Kane to his feet, he tied the two of them together.
“Can’t be too careful. Let’s go then. If you don’t mind, I have a nice little setup just that-a-ways. We won’t be disturbed. We can have a nice little chat.”
Kim forced the corners of her mouth upwards to hide her disgust. She would really enjoy arresting this guy, prosecuting the hell out of him, and letting him rot in jail. That was just about all he deserved.
Chapter Eighteen
Jacob stood at Daniels’ desk, staring at her innocuous ceramic mug with a frown on his face. It was about 9:30 p.m., and though he could have gone home, something was keeping him there. Craig Phillips sidled up alongside. He looked the detective up and down questioningly.
“Thinking about nabbing it?” he said. “Don’t see too many quality mugs like that anymore.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes without taking his gaze off the cup. “I detect a hint of sarcasm in your tone, Officer. Therefore I choose not to address your question as asked.”
Phillips raised his eyebrows slightly and shrugged. “All right, then try this question: what’s so interesting?”
Jacob sighed slightly and crossed his arms. “I don’t like to submit to intuition. As you know, it goes against my beliefs. However, I do believe in the importance of details. I’ve just spotted one which is holding my attention, though it may be insignificant.”
“About the case?”
“Probably not.” Jacob lifted the mug up and examined it. It was an ordinary white ceramic cup with simple black lettering that declared ‘I Love Chicago!’ “What I am about to tell you is of a personal nature. And if I weren’t so concerned, I wouldn’t share it. Therefore you should consider yourself bound to secrecy.”
“Wow, this mug is serious business,” Phillips quipped. Jacob shot him a severe look that quickly killed his mirth. “OK, sorry, Detective. Your secret’s safe with me. Go ahead.”
“Detective Daniels’ sister gave her this mug. As you may know, the young lady died quite a number of years ago. Daniels brings this mug in every day for her English breakfast tea and takes it home every night to wash it. I’ve observed that she’s very particular about this cup and never forgets it. Likely due to her attachment to her late sister, as far as I can tell. In any case, today I noticed that Daniels left on time, which, as we both know, is highly unusual. In the process, she forgot this cherished mug. This tells me that something was preoccupying her greatly.”
Craig took this in with a frown. “This all sounds a bit far-fetched, Newport. Still, I know you’re not a guy given to stretching the truth.”
“I certainly hope not, Officer. That wouldn’t make me a very good detective.”
“Sure. But what do you want to do about it?”
Jacob eyed Phillips with newfound interest. “You specialize in tracking people via technology, am I correct?”
Craig looked skeptical. “That’s right, Detective.”
Jacob grinned. “Thankfully, Detective Daniels doesn’t have the technical skills of whoever encrypted that email. I think a check in might be in order.”
**
Phillips ran Kim’s smartphone details through his software program and let the computer do its work. He ran a hand through his hair.
“Detective Newport, I feel a little uncomfortable about tracking your partner. She’s probably just got a date or something. I’m going to feel really bad if the program lands on the bar at the Four Seasons.”
Craig pursed his lips. “With all due respect to Detective Daniels, I don’t see that happening.”
The program beeped, indicating it had found Kim’s phone. Manhattan popped up on the map. The policemen leaned in further in anticipation. The program began focusing in towards Harlem.
“See, she’s probably at dinner,” said Phillips.
The program’s focus shifted, though, and began seeking downwards, downwards, until it hit the north end of Central Park. There it rested for a moment before rapidly zooming in on the North Woods. Jacob’s frown deepened.
“There’s no way that Detective Daniels would go there at night. It’s essentially unlit and a hot spot for drug deals.”
Craig nodded. “I know you don’t believe in intuition, but something about this just doesn’t feel right.”
Chapter Nineteen
Bats flitted through the maples and oaks that crowded the slim path. Kim and Alex pushed forward in front of the killer, branches snapping in their faces as they stumbled onwards. There was nothing to light their way, only the dim glow of the old moon. The dense brush on the forest floor contributed to the sense of enclosure. They could have been deep in the Adirondacks, not in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the United States.
Kim found herself praying they’d meet a dealer, homeless person, anyone. But then again, people out in the North Woods at this time of night weren’t looking for company, just like their killer. If anyone were out here, they’d stay well away.
There is no way I’m going to go like this, she thought. Cut down like a dog just because I tried to save the department’s hide? That’s no end for me.
Kim turned around to direct a fierce glare at Alex. His puppy dog eyes grew wider, and he noticeably flinched. She could almost hear his thought: What’d I do?
“Onwards, dear Miss Daniels!” chimed in the killer from the back. “I do love taking this moonlight stroll with you two fine young people, but I’m tingling to reach our destination.”
“Let’s get on with it now. Unless your destination involves two cheeseburgers, strawberry milkshakes, and a get out of jail free card, I’m not keen to keep walking,” Kim said with a bravado she didn’t feel.
The killer chuckled. “Unfortunately, I don’t deal those types of cards,” he said.
Kim realized that she should be buying time, not throwing it away. “Well, since you’re going to be flame-roasting our hearts in about half an hour, why don’t you satisfy my curiosity about a few things first.”
“Oh, Miss Daniels, it’s not very mannerly of you to ask for a gentleman’s secrets,” came the smooth voice.
“It sounds like you’re going to school me soon enough. You might as well quench my unmannerly curiosity. After all, you could have just laid low with those secrets of yours. Instead you chose to make yourself known to me.”
The killer laughed. “Goodness, Miss Daniels! You may be pert, but you’re right, too. OK, I’ll indulge you. What do you want to know?”