New Growth (Spook Hills Trilogy Book 2) - Plot & Excerpts
Secure Email from Steve Nielsen, 21st August 2014 Mathew, I remembered hearing about certain underworld gangsters who run a string of illicit ops around the nation, most notably in California, Florida, Nevada and Texas. They offer the usual illegal gambling, drugs, prostitutes and so on. The FBI suspects they perform various acts to collect debts, including theft of personal information, embezzlement and kidnapping. They go after sources of big money such as relatives, influential friends and privately held businesses. Two identified instances of child abductions occurred in the last two years in California. Thus far the crimes are not solidly linked to any alleged crime bosses. The kidnappers returned each victim unharmed once they had the ransom but be assured these gangsters will be damn nasty if they suspect a trap. Could Callie or John Henry or even Rick be close to someone with a gambling or drug problem? John Henry is the obvious choice, although someone else could be aware of Rick’s relationship to Callie and Susannah. Rick is the perfect rich uncle for this type of swindle. With the size of the ransom, I guess an overdue debt escalated with interest and so-called collection fees. If this is true, the person who ran up the debt may or may not be in on snatching Susannah. I make two suggestions. First, tell no one about this, not even Rick or Lenny. Second, give me the okay to make contact through the Chief with the head of the San Francisco office. I will coordinate a neutral meeting spot for you, maybe at the bank. We must not let them see you with the FBI, but I think we need this one meeting. They will put you on the Bureau’s scrambled mobile network and work with you on resolving the case. If you want me to join you, I will. Use this encrypted service until you are on the Bureau’s mobile phone network. Standing by until I hear from you. You might let Rick know Sassy is holding up well. All is quiet on the Northern Front, Steve Mathew moved away from his laptop, his palms sweaty after reading the message. Steve possessed an unerring sense about crime. If he thought of this as a plausible explanation for the kidnapping, it likely was. While you could never be 100% sure about people, Mathew ruled out Callie and Sassy as well as Rick, since he would put up a good part of the funds. Mathew wanted to place priority on investigating John Henry, Rick’s two grown children and their spouses, Rick’s first wife and other persons not yet known to him. John Henry claimed to be dealing with his drinking concern after being threatened with the departure of his family and possibly the loss of his position at Berkeley. An addictive personality could get compulsive about making wagers or doing drugs or both. John Henry also might be sexually deviant, given what he said about Callie not being venturesome. Did he risk bringing in the Bureau on this? Callie’s tear-filled eyes haunted him, reminding him of a few words from Virgil – lacrimis oculus suffusa nitentos, her sparkling eyes suffused with tears. Steve’s judgment on the people at the San Francisco office could be trusted. Mathew tapped the reply button.
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