* * *
“I don’t know if it’s going to do us any good or not,” Jessie said when she met them at the door of the lab. She quickly went over the details of her talk with Miguel. “But there’s a chance and we haven’t been able to identify any other members of the gang. The man who showed up at Dee’s house looking for a job was definitely bogus. I called the orphanage and there was never a Jack Caseman registered there. But he knew the names of some of the teachers, even some of the students Miguel knew before he left there. Caseman had done his research and was well prepared when he came to see Miguel.” She nodded at the techs. “They’re having trouble with the trace or ID on the phone calls because of static interference. But I just gave them a copy of the audiotape taken the day Caseman was schmoozing Miguel in the garden. It might not be the same person, but it could be. Anyway, it was much more clear than the phone calls.”
“Just the audio?” Kendra asked. “You couldn’t get the video of him?”
“No video. I told you he was prepared and very careful not to be seen. He did a masterful job of hiding his face from the cameras. But he could hardly spend half a day with Miguel without talking to him and I guess he considered it safe.”
“Not if he has a record,” Lynch said. “And I’d bet it’s one that will pop up no matter how nice a guy Miguel thought him. The minute we get it, we’ll put it through facial recognition and get a list of known associates.” He took a step toward the techs and demanded, “How soon?”
“Leave them alone,” Jessie said. “They said not long. And we’re not desperate yet. I called Metcalf before I left Dee’s place and set him to trying to locate anyone besides Miguel on the property who could find us a video. Otherwise, we’ll just have to have Miguel go to the sketch artist. At any rate, I don’t want you intimidating these guys, Lynch.”
“Moi?” He tapped his chest. “I’m a pussycat.”
“With tiger instincts.”
“It takes one to know one.”
Jessie nodded wryly. “Yeah, I know about intimidation. I had a talk with Colin about it earlier today. But this is my lead, so you’ll do what I say, Lynch.”
He shrugged and dropped down into a chair beside the door. “Just trying to add a little encouragement.“
“After lecturing me on being patient,” Kendra said.
“That was different.” He grinned. “That was a case of hurry up and wait. This is something I can get my teeth into.”
“And we’re back to the tiger instinct again,” Kendra said. “Do you think I don’t know how pissed off you were to get so close to those bastards and then have the chance yanked away from you?”
His smile faded. “You can’t say I tried to hide it. And there’s no way in hell Kelland is going to let me deliver the ransom this time. I was a little too efficient and probably left a bad taste in their mouths. They might even set up another method of delivery. Which leaves me twiddling my thumbs unless I can figure another way to take them down.” His gaze shifted to Jessie. “So I’ll follow your lead, if that’s the only way I can do it. Give me your marching orders.”
Jessie blinked. “Now, that’s an offer I’ll probably never receive again.”
“Yep. No promises.” His gaze went back to the techs. “So are you sure you don’t want a little help right now?”
“I’m sure. I can wait until they—” The ringtone on her phone was sounding, and she looked down at the ID. She tensed. “Kelland. Why the hell is he calling me? Unless they told him—” Her hand was shaking as she pressed the microphone. “Jessie Mercado. Have you heard about the proof of life on Dee, Kelland?”
“Yes. No. Maybe,” Kelland said curtly. “I’ve just received a call and they say they’re ready to deal. But they won’t talk to me or Lynch. They want to give proof of life info only to you, Jessie.”
“What?” She stiffened in shock. “Why?”
“How the hell do I know? Maybe because you were the one who was furnishing Dee with the question to answer before.”
“Or it could be that she’s already dead and they just want to twist the knife.” Her teeth bit into her lower lip. “The bastards would realize the shock value would be that much more terrible if they told one of her best friends that they’d killed her.”
Kelland was silent. “I won’t deny that’s a possibility. But you’re not going to refuse to come up here to my office and listen to what they have to say.”
“No, I can’t do that,” she said hoarsely. “You know I have to hear it. I’ll be right there.” She cut the connection. “You heard him,” she said to Lynch and Kendra as she turned toward the door. “I seem to be in demand. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out why.”
“I’m going with you.” Kendra was following her. “I won’t let you face this alone.”
“I wasn’t going to argue,” Jessie said. “I’m feeling a bit shaky at the moment.” She glanced at Lynch. “You’re getting your marching orders a bit sooner than you thought. Stay here and get those results for me on Caseman. I might want them very badly after I’m finished with this call.”
“You’ll have them,” Lynch said grimly. “But I’m betting that they weren’t stupid enough to kill Dee. Now get out of here and get that proof of life.”
CHAPTER
10
The hall outside Kelland’s office was just as crowded as when Kendra had left it a short time ago, but Jessie ignored them. She held open the door and whisked Kendra inside the room.
“I’m here, Kelland.” She slammed the door and came toward his desk. “I brought Kendra because I didn’t know whether or not you’d invited me to a private party. Have you?”
“No.” He gestured to a chair. “Sit down, Kendra. Glad to have you here. I don’t know what to expect from these jokers. They keep changing the rule book.”
Kendra nodded. “This is the first time they haven’t contacted us through my cell phone.”
“Who am I supposed to talk to?” Jessie asked. “Some message on the mausoleum wall or a real person?”
“It’s not the mausoleum.” He pulled her down in the chair in front of his computer. “And since the audio bears a strong resemblance to the one we had to suffer through at the drop site, I don’t know how real he is.” He grimaced. “Or she is. I don’t think we’d better indicate we believe her to be a woman. The less they know about the investigation, the better. We’ll refer to her as masculine.”
“Whatever.” Jessie looked at Kendra. “Audio strikes again?”
“Not entirely,” Kelland said. “The goon who called me appears to be the same guy, but when I went back on the line after contacting you to tell him you’d be here to talk to him, he said you wouldn’t be talking to him.” He met her eyes. “He said you’d be talking to Delilah Winter.”
“Thank God.” Jessie closed her eyes for an instant. “Not a trick? That would be so cruel.”