Behind Her Eyes (A Riley Thompson Thriller Book 1)

by Robin Mahle

  “He said that a couple of my officers showed up and started harassing one of his employees.”

  “What? We talked to Bayliss. He let us take a look at the contractors,” Riley started. “Why did he have a problem with that? I can tell you, Captain, we were nothing but respectful. I don’t know why he would say otherwise.”

  “Neither do I, but it sure makes me think there’s something else going on,” Ward added. “Don’t worry about it. I apologized and said we wouldn’t come by unannounced again.”

  “That sort of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?” Ethan said.

  Riley followed as Ward started back inside with Ethan in tow. “We did find a concrete company. An LLC named Capital Concrete. A man by the name of Virgil Howard, Bayliss’ foreman, signed the contract and was there to accept delivery of ten yards the day before we found Chloe.”

  “Interesting,” Ward replied.

  “What’s even more interesting was that when I brought it to Bayliss’ attention, he tried to contact the guy but got his voicemail. Said he was in Fort Wayne or something on another job. So I said I’d make it a priority to reach out to Mr. Howard myself.”

  “Must be why I got the call,” Ward said.

  “They don’t want us looking into their people,” Ethan added. “But why?”

  “Maybe because we’re onto something,” Ward replied.

  Jacob waited for a call on one of the men’s cell phones. There was a boss somewhere who would be asking how this little pow wow of theirs had gone. And when that call came, Jacob would demand Rachel be set free if he wanted his men to live.

  “I’m getting tired of sitting on this floor. My ass hurts. I need to stand up and stretch. We’ve been here for two hours,” Costa said.

  “You can stand up when your boss calls and tells me he’s letting Rachel go.”

  He laughed. “You are going to find yourself in a world of hurt, man. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  “I haven’t gotten into anything. It’s you people who’ve dragged me into something I know nothing about. I don’t know why or how, but I guarantee you, I won’t fold. You all have seriously underestimated me. Even you, Blake.”

  “Man, I don’t have anything to do with this.”

  “Don’t lie to me. You set this up from the beginning. You and George both. Figured I’d make a pretty good scapegoat, right? Small town kid and all? Guess that’s probably what you thought about your girl, Chloe. And now she’s dead.”

  “She didn’t deserve to die,” Blake said. “She was a good kid. We were just having fun. I don’t know how she got pulled into any of this, but I’ll damn well find out.”

  One of their phones rang. “Finally,” Jacob said. “Let’s see who this is.” He answered the line. “Hello?”

  “Who’s this?”

  “I’ll tell you who I am after you tell me who you are.” He didn’t recognize the voice or the phone number and the ID showed “unknown caller.”

  “Where’s Virgil?”

  “Is he one of the men you sent here for me? Names didn’t seem a big priority for either of them.” He turned to the man who hadn’t shared his name. “You must be Virgil?”

  Virgil Howard eyed Jacob.

  “I should’ve figured.” He returned his attention to the call. “Yeah, Virgil’s here. But before you talk to him, I need to know where Rachel is.”

  “Who’s Rachel?”

  “Dude, I’ve got a gun on your boys and I really don’t have a problem shooting either or both of them, which is exactly what I intend to do unless you let Rachel go.”

  “You must be smarter than you look, son. Okay. You want to play this game? I’ll give you the girl in exchange for my men, but that won’t release you or your friend, Rhodes, from getting the money you owe me.”

  “I don’t owe you shit and you know it. My boss took your money. Maybe Blake did too. I don’t know and I don’t care.”

  “That really doesn’t matter to me. I just want it back. So either you find your boss or the money comes out of your ass one way or another,” the man said on the other end of the line.

  “Bring Rachel here and I’ll give you back your men.”

  “You have a deal. She’ll be there inside of the hour.”

  “We’ll be waiting.” Jacob ended the call. “So, Virgil, I guess your boss is willing to work out a deal. He’s bringing Rachel here within the hour. And then you’ll both be free to go.”

  Virgil Howard bared a sly grin. “I hope you have an exit strategy for you and your girlfriend. Cause I’d be real surprised if he lets you both live.”

  Jacob checked the time again. It was almost 6pm. He knew what would happen if Riley hadn’t heard back from him. It would jeopardize everything and potentially cost his life and Rachel’s. He was close to a solution, but if what Virgil Howard said was true, he needed a way out.

  “Oh, I can see the wheels spinning, friend,” Virgil said. “You know I’m right and now you’re starting to realize you’re shit out of luck.”

  “I think your boss wants his money too badly to end my life,” Jacob said. “I think he knows I’m his only chance at getting back his sixty grand.”

  Virgil spit on the floor in front of him. “When the money doesn’t turn up, you’d better get your affairs in order.”

  Blake sat on the bottom step of the staircase and eyed Costa and Howard. “Why’d you kill her?” He turned to Jacob. “Man, I’m sorry about this. I am. I didn’t know what they did to her. If I had…”

  “Then what, Blake? You would’ve put an end to all of this? I doubt that. I figure you must be getting some kind of cut or else you would’ve been in the wind along with George.”

  “He’s got your number, Rhodes,” Virgil replied. “Your boy’s been setting you up to take the fall. Once he realized he couldn’t get Georgie to give back the money, he figured he could squeeze it from you.”

  “Well, I guess you figured wrong, Blake, didn’t you?” Jacob eyed him. “I won’t be the one to pay for what you and George did.”

  13

  With a pocket full of cash, a gun in his hand, and three hostages, Jacob’s day had played out in a way he never expected. He’d devised a plan of escape once the handoff occurred. It was pretty simple really. Go outside, have the boss man send Rachel over, leave the cash. Both would then jump in his car and drive like there was no tomorrow. Because if they didn’t, there might not be one.

  These guys were clearly mafia. Construction contracts, kickbacks, payoffs. Yeah. And they’d been here before. They’d dealt with far more dangerous adversaries than Jacob Biggs. But he couldn’t show weakness. These types of men responded to strength and so he had to muster as much as possible to pull this off.

  As Jacob kept his sights locked on the men he held, only occasionally breaking away in anticipation of the arrival of the boss, Virgil Howard’s cell phone rang. Jacob still held both of their phones and eyed the caller ID. “Owensville PD. Oh shit.” He knew immediately who was on the other end. How Riley got this man’s number was beyond him. Her gift was exceptional, but she’d never met this man. It seemed to be beyond even her abilities. “Hello?”

  “Virgil Howard?” she answered.

  “Riley, is that you?”

  “Jacob? How do you have this phone?”

  “I’d tell you, but I don’t think you’d believe me.”

  “I need to speak with Virgil Howard. Is he there?”

  “Um, yeah, but I’m kind of holding him hostage at the moment. Can I take a message?”

  “What? Are you being serious right now? This guy is a foreman working at the plant. I think he has something to do with Chloe Dawson’s murder. You’d better explain to me what the hell is going on right now, Jacob, or I’m sending PD in there.”

  “No, you can’t. Look, I have this under control. I’m about to get Rachel back. It’s a long story, but I’m fine, for now. I just need you not to call in the dogs, you understand? It’ll be a blood bath i
n here if you do.”

  “Where are you?” she asked.

  “Still at my old office. I’ve arranged a handoff with the man who says George took his money and is making me repay him.”

  “Look, Jacob. This guy—I think he could be the killer. You can’t let him leave.”

  “If I don’t, I won’t get her back.”

  “I’m calling PD now,” Riley replied.

  “No! Please. Don’t. They’ll kill her for sure. Just trust me, okay? This is the way it has to be. I’m sorry.” He ended the call.

  “Sounds like you got problems,” Virgil said.

  Jacob eyed him. “Shut up.”

  Riley stared at the phone. “Oh my God.” She looked at Ethan. “Jacob’s holding Virgil Howard hostage. And some other people too.”

  “What? Holy crap. Why? How did this happen?”

  “I have no idea. He says he’s making an exchange for his ex-girlfriend. They’ve got her.”

  “Who’s got her?”

  “These people, I guess. I have no idea what’s happening. Last thing he said to me was that he was going to the office with Blake Rhodes and that he thought the guy was setting him up.”

  “Sounds like he was right. How does Chloe fit into all this? What did we stumble onto?” Ethan asked.

  “I wish I knew.” She stood from her desk. “We can be there in an hour if we hurry. He’s going to need help.”

  “We can’t go there. For one thing, it’s not our jurisdiction. For another, did he say when this handoff was scheduled to happen?” Ethan asked.

  “No. Just that it would happen soon.”

  “Then we could be too late. There has to be another solution. And I think it’s going to have to involve IMPD.” Ethan returned to his desk and picked up his phone.

  “No. Don’t. We need to talk to Ward.” Riley started toward his office, when the night shift arrived.

  “You two still here?” Abrams asked in his usual arrogant tone. “The A-team’s just arrived. You can go home now.”

  They both ignored him and continued to Ward’s office.

  “Captain? Can we have a word?” Riley entered without waiting for a response.

  The captain sat up at attention. “What’s going on? What happened?”

  Riley told him what had happened and about the call with Jacob. “I think we need to go there and help him.”

  “No. Pruitt was right to want to call IMPD. I should’ve done it sooner. Jacob could be dead by the time they get there. I’m making the call now. I won’t have Jacob’s blood on my hands or anyone else’s.” Ward picked up the phone. “I need to speak with Captain Pryce. It’s Captain Daniel Ward, Owensville PD.” He waited while the line was transferred.

  “Don’t do this, Captain. Please,” Riley said.

  “Captain Pryce. Thank you for taking my call. I’m afraid I have an urgent situation.”

  Two cars pulled alongside the front of the office building where Jacob had taken the hostages. It was the boss and his lackeys, and they’d blocked the entrance. That could be a problem and might contravene Jacob’s plan of escape.

  “Looks like our people have arrived,” Virgil began. “I hope you’re ready, Jakey boy.”

  Jacob watched as two men from one vehicle stepped out and two men from the other car emerged. “Where is she?” he whispered. Then he saw her. The men flanked her on both sides, holding her arms. She appeared terrified, but he was grateful to see her unharmed.

  He was outnumbered, outgunned, and had begun to see the flaws in his plan. These guys were professionals. He was a second-rate architect from a small town. Not exactly a level playing field, but he couldn’t falter now, not when she was standing right there.

  Jacob pointed the gun at the men. “Stand up. You too, Blake.” He waited for them to stand. “Start walking toward the door. The three of you will stand in front of me.”

  “Smart move, kid,” Virgil replied. “Didn’t think you had it in you, from what your boy here has said about you.”

  He eyed Blake. “Just keep moving until I say so.”

  The men continued toward the glass doors.

  “That’s far enough.” Jacob stared ahead in the small gaps between the men. He watched as the others moved in toward the front doors. They were using Rachel as a shield. Guess they were smart too.

  The man who Jacob assumed was the one in charge used the knuckle on his index finger to knock on the glass.

  His dark eyes held a pointed contempt. “Jacob Biggs. Are you ready to do this?” His voice was slightly muffled through the thick glass doors.

  “How do you want to handle the exchange?” Jacob asked.

  “Like we talked about, son. Let my men go and you’ll have your girl back. But I want the six-K down payment or this deal goes away and so does she.”

  Jacob regarded the man who stood just outside the doors. Would this guy stick to his word or would he gun them all down just for the hell of it? He’d come this far, so there wasn’t much point in turning back. He and Rachel both stood a better than fair chance they’d find themselves with bullets in their backs, but better than fair was looking like decent odds right now. “Send her in.”

  The man laughed. “How about you send one of my men out and I’ll send her in at the same time, but you’ll need to give him the money.”

  “Fine. I assume you’ll want Virgil. He seems like the smart one.”

  “Right you are, son. Now give him the money.”

  Jacob reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the fat envelope that contained every last dime he had; money he didn’t owe but was being forced to relinquish. And all because of Blake Rhodes. “I’m handing him the money now.” He slipped the envelope inside Virgil’s coat while the man remained with his hands in the air. “Go outside. Walk slowly.”

  Virgil Howard started toward the door, each step measured with caution. No one wanted an itchy trigger finger from anyone. He pushed open the door and placed one foot over the threshold.

  “Send her over now,” Jacob said.

  “A deal’s a deal.” The boss looked at his lackey. “Let her go.”

  Rachel walked to the door and she met Virgil in the middle.

  “You got yourself a brave boyfriend, little girl.” He continued past her.

  She made her way inside and toward Jacob. “Oh my God.” Tears streamed down her face.

  “It’s okay, you’re safe now. Get behind me,” Jacob said.

  She slipped behind him and huddled at his back.

  “Okay. How do we move…” Jacob’s words were cut short at the sound of sirens and racing police cars. “What the hell?”

  “What did you do, son?” The man turned to his people. “Go. Now!”

  Jacob could hear him shouting orders. Police cars, SWAT trucks, the entire damn force had just arrived. “God damn it, Riley!” He still held the gun at two of the men.

  “We need to get the hell out of here!” Blake shouted and watched the cop cars race to the front of the building. “Shit! What the hell did you do, Jake? Are you crazy?” Blake ran toward the back of the building, nearing the rear exit.

  Jacob held his gun on him but couldn’t fire. In fact, he’d never fired a gun in his entire life.

  “I knew you were too chicken shit to use that.” Costa bolted through the doors.

  “Stop! Police!” an officer yelled from a distance as he brandished his weapon, still running head-on toward the entrance.

  Meanwhile, the boss and Virgil Howard managed to get inside their vehicle. The tires spun and they hauled ass out of the lot. Shots fired at the back of the car, but they had escaped. And that meant Jacob was going to have even bigger problems.

  As Costa made his way outside, an officer yelled, “Stop!”

  But Eddie Costa didn’t stop. He pumped his legs hard and tried to make it to the end of the building. The officer fired his gun and Costa went down.

  Jacob watched and was rendered speechless, but only for a moment. He grabbed Rach
el. “Come on!”

  “Where are we going? The cops are right there. No!”

  “I can’t stay. They’ll take me in and keep me there. I won’t get a chance to warn Riley they’ll be coming for her. Blake knows about her and he’ll sell her out the way he sold you out.”

  “Let go of me! I’m not going anywhere with you! You did this!” She yanked away her arm.

  Jacob eyed her, then the scene outside. “I’m sorry. I have to go.” He ran toward the rear exit and pushed through the doors. Outside, he had only one option: veer right and he’d make it to the car dealership nearby where he could hide, then he could figure this out. Now he had IMPD on his tail. He didn’t know what they could charge him with, maybe nothing, maybe something. But either way, it would take hours to sort it out. He didn’t have that kind of time, not anymore.

  Riley should have heard from him by now. It had been at least an hour since Ward made the call. In fact, she thought IMPD would’ve made contact.

  “Why don’t you go home, Thompson?” Decker began. “There’s nothing you can do.”

  “I have to know what’s going on.”

  “I know you do, but you won’t get answers until Ward gets answers,” he continued.

  Ward opened his door. “Thompson.”

  “There you go,” Decker said. “Maybe he’s got something for you.”

  “Maybe.” Riley entered Ward’s office. “Please tell me you heard back from them. Is Jacob okay?”

  “Sit down.” Ward closed his door and returned to his desk. “I just got off the phone with Pryce. They took down one man. They’re working on an ID now. The others got away before they pulled in. They were just minutes too late. Except Rachel Freemont was there.”

  “That was his ex-girlfriend. What about Jacob?”

  “I don’t know what happened exactly or where Jacob fled to, or why. Kid should’ve stayed put. Now I’ve got IMPD wanting to know what’s going on. I told them about our investigation. Riley, whatever went down over there, I have a feeling will spill into Owensville. We know there’s a connection to the plant. You have to find Jacob. He’s at the center of this and we need to keep him safe. Do you know if anyone was aware that he’d been in town?”