Read Online Stolen Lives: A Detective Mystery Series SuperBoxset by Roger Hayden, James Hunt - Free Book Online
Authors: Roger Hayden, James Hunt
Tags: General Fiction
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and I’m hanging up. Got it?”
Miriam nodded as a tear streamed down her cheek. The Anderson parents could see her vulnerability, exactly what she didn’t want them to see.
“Good,” he continued. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Mr. Kershner is going to secure the release of my parents and my brothers. Supervised, of course. I can’t imagine the feds just letting them go. Now that I’ve exalted you to a higher position of authority, you will give these decisions for their release your complete support.”
She resisted the urge to argue. Their supposed deal was for the parents, not for the entire family. Again, she thought of Ana and was ready to embrace whatever scheme he set forth.
“You are not to tell anyone anything I’ve told you over the phone. You play your part, that’s all. Secure their release today and I’ll tell you where you can find Ana.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “So now I want you to nod again for yes so that my parents can see that we’re in agreement.”
She did as she was told. “Good…” he continued. “Oh yes. And one more thing. My family and my lawyer will neither confirm nor deny knowing about any of this. Don’t push them. And remember, there will always be eyes on you.”
With that, he hung up. She held the phone to her ear, ensuring that he was no longer there. Hands trembling, she lowered the phone and put it back in her pocket. She said nothing to the parents as she rose and left the room. Everyone was standing outside the interrogation room, having watched her from the window.
“Well?” Captain Porter said as she walked out.
“What the heck was that all about?” Lou added.
Agent Nettles examined her keenly and with suspicion.
“That was him on the phone, wasn’t it?” Lou asked. “That son of a bitch.”
She took a deep breath and looked around. “We need to release the Anderson family today.”
Porter’s eyes widened. “Are you out of your mind?”
Nettles looked increasingly skeptical. “What did he tell you on that phone call?”
“Nothing,” she said. “He’s playing a game and enjoying every minute of it. Releasing his family is the only way to get close to him.”
“But what if we find something at the salvage yard? Some incriminating evidence?” Porter continued. “They just walk?”
“Of course not,” Miriam said. Like clockwork, the door opened, and Kershner entered the room, presumably to check on her. “Unless you have some reason to hold them here, I’m requesting that you release my clients within the next hour.”
All eyes went to Miriam—the odd woman out. “I agree,” she said. She couldn’t believe the words as they left her mouth.
Nettles stepped in her path with his hands on his hips, getting into the lawyer’s face. “This case is under federal jurisdiction,” he said. “We’ll hold the family here as long as we damn well please.”
Kershner mockingly held out both hands. “Looks like we have a constitutional scholar here, ladies and gentlemen!”
Nettles and the lawyer continued bickering as Lou leaned into her ear. “What did he say to you on that call?”
“The same stuff he’s been saying from the beginning. He wants his family released. Those are his terms.”
Lou touched her shoulder. “We’re going to get Ana back. I promise.”
It was a hell of a promise to make, but she wanted to believe every word of it.
Released
A preliminary search of the Anderson Auto Salvage Yard brought very little in the way of evidence. Lee County had deployed half its police department to cover the ten-acre salvage yard in an intense search for any evidence that would incriminate the family and keep them in custody. The FBI was conducting their own investigation as well throughout several of Phillip Anderson’s land purchases in the area.
The underground bunker where undiscovered horrors had taken place over the years was an official crime scene. The investigation had rocked the
Miriam nodded as a tear streamed down her cheek. The Anderson parents could see her vulnerability, exactly what she didn’t want them to see.
“Good,” he continued. “Here’s what’s going to happen. Mr. Kershner is going to secure the release of my parents and my brothers. Supervised, of course. I can’t imagine the feds just letting them go. Now that I’ve exalted you to a higher position of authority, you will give these decisions for their release your complete support.”
She resisted the urge to argue. Their supposed deal was for the parents, not for the entire family. Again, she thought of Ana and was ready to embrace whatever scheme he set forth.
“You are not to tell anyone anything I’ve told you over the phone. You play your part, that’s all. Secure their release today and I’ll tell you where you can find Ana.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “So now I want you to nod again for yes so that my parents can see that we’re in agreement.”
She did as she was told. “Good…” he continued. “Oh yes. And one more thing. My family and my lawyer will neither confirm nor deny knowing about any of this. Don’t push them. And remember, there will always be eyes on you.”
With that, he hung up. She held the phone to her ear, ensuring that he was no longer there. Hands trembling, she lowered the phone and put it back in her pocket. She said nothing to the parents as she rose and left the room. Everyone was standing outside the interrogation room, having watched her from the window.
“Well?” Captain Porter said as she walked out.
“What the heck was that all about?” Lou added.
Agent Nettles examined her keenly and with suspicion.
“That was him on the phone, wasn’t it?” Lou asked. “That son of a bitch.”
She took a deep breath and looked around. “We need to release the Anderson family today.”
Porter’s eyes widened. “Are you out of your mind?”
Nettles looked increasingly skeptical. “What did he tell you on that phone call?”
“Nothing,” she said. “He’s playing a game and enjoying every minute of it. Releasing his family is the only way to get close to him.”
“But what if we find something at the salvage yard? Some incriminating evidence?” Porter continued. “They just walk?”
“Of course not,” Miriam said. Like clockwork, the door opened, and Kershner entered the room, presumably to check on her. “Unless you have some reason to hold them here, I’m requesting that you release my clients within the next hour.”
All eyes went to Miriam—the odd woman out. “I agree,” she said. She couldn’t believe the words as they left her mouth.
Nettles stepped in her path with his hands on his hips, getting into the lawyer’s face. “This case is under federal jurisdiction,” he said. “We’ll hold the family here as long as we damn well please.”
Kershner mockingly held out both hands. “Looks like we have a constitutional scholar here, ladies and gentlemen!”
Nettles and the lawyer continued bickering as Lou leaned into her ear. “What did he say to you on that call?”
“The same stuff he’s been saying from the beginning. He wants his family released. Those are his terms.”
Lou touched her shoulder. “We’re going to get Ana back. I promise.”
It was a hell of a promise to make, but she wanted to believe every word of it.
Released
A preliminary search of the Anderson Auto Salvage Yard brought very little in the way of evidence. Lee County had deployed half its police department to cover the ten-acre salvage yard in an intense search for any evidence that would incriminate the family and keep them in custody. The FBI was conducting their own investigation as well throughout several of Phillip Anderson’s land purchases in the area.
The underground bunker where undiscovered horrors had taken place over the years was an official crime scene. The investigation had rocked the
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