“How many detectives are on this?”
“There’s just the two of us,” Hank said. “Myself and Detective King. He’s looking into leads now.”
Teddy frowned. “Only two? Is there no one else who can help you?”
“I’m afraid not,” Hank said. He knew the victim’s family was always anxious to find the perpetrator as soon as possible. He understood that, and it was the reason he didn’t rest until he found the killer, especially in a case so horrific.
Teddy sat quietly in emotional pain as Hank explained more about how Nina White’s heinous murder had taken place. “Her car was taken to the evidence pound for forensic examination as well.”
“She loved that car,” Teddy said, his eyes far away.
“It’ll be returned to you,” Hank said.
Teddy looked at Hank and nodded.
Hank opened his briefcase and took out a card, handing it to the man. “You can always reach me here. If you think of anything that might help, or need an update on the case, feel free to call.”
Teddy took the card, glanced at it briefly, and tucked it into the inner pocket of his jacket. “Please find out who did this, Detective.”
Hank nodded, picked up his briefcase, and stood. “We’ll get him,” he said, making a promise he shouldn’t. “It’s my only priority.”
The detective followed Teddy from the room, nodded at the principal, and left the building. He had a feeling they could solve this case quickly. There seemed to be plenty of evidence, and he looked forward to seeing what Detective King had come up with.
Chapter 8
Tuesday, 10:46 a.m.
ON THE WAY HOME from the McKinley house, Jake and Annie discussed approaches they could take to discover whether or not Jeffrey McKinley was cheating on his wife. They decided to split up. Jake would stake out McKinley, and Annie would see what she could find out about his supposed lover, Willow Taft.
When they arrived home, they went into the house to pick up the necessary equipment—a pair of binoculars each, along with a couple of Nikon digital cameras with zoom lenses. Jake dropped their only compact video camera into his shoulder bag with two bottles of water.
Their destination was downtown, and Annie followed Jake in her car, then cut off, heading toward Willow Taft’s house in a nearby residential area.
Someone as high-profile and in as much demand as Jeffrey McKinley wouldn’t be easy to get to. Jake called McKinley & Baker and was informed Mr. McKinley was in a meeting and would be unavailable the rest of the day. His helpful secretary offered to set up an appointment sometime next week. Jake declined politely. He didn’t need to visit the man anyway; he just wanted to determine his whereabouts.
He continued toward the heart of the city. Parking was limited, and he circled the block twice before finding a spot on the side street across from his destination. He got out of his vehicle, slung the bag onto his shoulder, and crossed the street.
McKinley & Baker was on the seventh floor of a high-rise office building, one of only a few that made up the small skyline. It wasn’t a large city, but it was growing steadily, the downtown core ever modernizing itself.
He strolled to the back of the building and approached the entrance to the underground parking lot. Vehicle access was granted to cardholders only, but he slipped by the gate into the brightly lit modern parking facility.
It didn’t take him long to find McKinley’s red Mercedes convertible, parked in a reserved spot on the main parking level near the exit doors leading to the lobby. He tried the lobby door. It was locked. He would either need a key or a keycard to gain access, but at least he knew McKinley was in the building.
He left the underground area by the way he’d come, walked out to Main Street, and approached the front of the towering structure. He strode through the revolving door and into the lobby of the luxurious building, lit by an iconic chandelier and pendant lamps that adorned the high ceiling.
A constant flow of drones crisscrossed each other’s paths across the Italian marble floor, scurrying to get their urgent business done. A few workers from the retail outlets that lined the sides of the massive lobby were on break, enjoying a snack or a cup of coffee on the hard stone benches by the tranquil fountain.
Jake sat on one of the deluxe armchairs at one side of the foyer. He had a perfect view of the doors leading to the underground parking. He pulled out his phone and did a quick search, bringing up numerous stories about the successful lawyer. Jake was able to find a clear picture of the man, clad in an Armani suit, shaking hands with the mayor.
More than handsome, McKinley had spectacular looks, warm, blue eyes, and a smile that could distract anyone. He often used that charm on the jury in court, and now it seemed he was using it on Willow Taft.
Jake gave Annie a call. “I’m in the lobby of his building now,” he told her, watching a couple of suits stroll by as they carried on an intense discussion. “His car’s here, so I’ll wait awhile and watch for him to leave.”
“I’m sitting across the street from Willow Taft’s house,” Annie said. “She was out shopping. She just got home and carried a whole load of shopping bags inside. And I don’t mean groceries. The bags looked like they were from high-end fashion stores.”
“Probably out spending McKinley’s money,” Jake said. “With the kind of money he makes, he can easily afford to keep two women.”
“Give me a call if he leaves. And if she goes out again, I’ll follow her. Mrs. McKinley suspects they’re having a daily rendezvous, so I don’t want her to slip away.”
Jake hung up, yawned, and sank back into the chair. He was prepared for a long wait.
Two hours later, Jake almost wished they hadn’t taken this case. Another phone call to Annie confirmed she hadn’t budged from her spot either, and Willow Taft was still at home.
Then a few minutes later, the elevator doors dinged open and McKinley stepped out carrying a briefcase, heading for the parking area. Jake sat forward. Finally he would have some action. He was bored and stiff from sitting so long.
He sprang from his seat, hurried out the front door, and got to his car as McKinley turned from the lot, heading for Main. Jake jumped in and started the Firebird, spun it around, and followed.
He called Annie. “He’s on his way somewhere,” he told her when she answered. “I’m following him, and if he’s headed your way, you should see him in about ten minutes.”
McKinley was headed north, Jake not far behind, keeping a car between him and the object of his attention. The guy was headed in the right direction at least.
McKinley breezed through an orange light. Jake pulled up quickly as the car in front of him stopped. He peered through the windshield. McKinley would soon be out of sight.
When the light turned green, Jake touched the gas and spun around the car in front of him, breaking a couple of traffic laws in the process. But McKinley was nowhere to be seen. Either he was far ahead or he had turned off somewhere.
He called Annie. “I lost him, but we’re nearby. I know a shortcut, so I should be there in a couple of minutes. If he’s heading your way, it should be a close call.”
The engine of the Firebird roared as Jake took a left turn and touched the gas. Several turns later, he was on the quiet street where Willow Taft lived. He saw Annie’s car. He zipped past her, pulled down the next street, and parked around the corner, safely out of sight of Willow’s house. He grabbed his shoulder bag, jumped out, and raced back around the corner.
McKinley’s Mercedes eased down the street from the other direction. Jake slowed to a casual walk until he reached Annie’s car. He opened the passenger-side door and jumped in as McKinley pulled into Willow’s driveway across the street.
Annie gave Jake a quick glance, a hi, and a smile, then turned her attention back to the camera. She continued to snap pictures as Jake dug the video camera from the shoulder bag and switched it on. He trained it on the Mercedes and zoomed in.