Cynthia Hamilton - Madeline Dawkins 02 - A High Price to Pay Read Online Free PDF

personally, yet she felt incapable of putting her thoughts in order. She felt as powerless as she had that day three years ago when Steven’s goon squad abducted her, Yeoman with a knife to her ribs, Usherwood at the helm.
    Thanks to her martial arts training, her body would know how to respond if she was ever physically threatened again. At least she’d have a chance to flee. But psychologically, she realized she was still no match for murdering thugs who got paid to terrorize and kill, and sometimes did it for the sake of revenge.
    “What’s the FBI’s response to all this?” Mike asked. Slovitch grunted.
    “They’re not commenting at this time. Which means they’ve royally screwed up and haven’t found a good way to spin it yet.”
    “But they still have Yeoman’s testimony,” Madeline said, her voice low and hoarse. She sat hunched over, elbows on her thighs, her eyes staring at the floor. Mike looked to John Slovitch, hoping he could give her some sort of comfort. The detective pursed his lips and studied his shoes.
    “If they catch Usherwood, he’ll never get out of prison,” Madeline said, alternately glancing at her partner and the detective for confirmation. There was a desperation in her eyes that made both men shift uneasily. “The FBI’s not talking because they’re too busy hunting Usherwood down.” Madeline’s eyes flashed back and forth, reading their doubtful looks.
    “What are you saying, Detective Slovitch—that since the FBI lost their shot at catching him before he got to Yeoman, they’re just going to write it off?” Madeline asked, springing out of the chair to face both men squarely. “I don’t think so. I think they’ll be all over this case now that they’ve botched it and flushed Usherwood or one of his hired guns out into the open. He’s obviously too much for local law enforcement, but the Feds have the manpower and the resources. They’ll find him,” Madeline said confidently as she swept out of Mike’s office.
    Mike started to go after her, but Slovitch stopped him.
    “I’d like to believe that just as much as she does. But the point remains the Feds, with all the surveillance they had on Yeoman, still didn’t see Usherwood coming. They’ve had every port of entry under their microscope since Yeoman was released last week, and there’s been no sign of him anywhere.”
    “Then Usherwood orchestrated this from afar,” Mike speculated.
    “That would be my guess. And whoever did it, they are just as slick as the maestro.”
    Mike’s face clouded over with anger. He had a strong urge to punch a hole in the wall, or at least break his hand trying.
    “What is she supposed to do, play decoy, see if any attempts are made on her life? Jesus, what kind of bullshit is this?”
    “Take it easy, Delaney. Until we get some word from the Bureau, we don’t have anything to go on.”
    Mike shook his head disgustedly, his jaw clenched, as though he were using every 12-step mantra to keep from unleashing on the detective. “Are you saying you’re not even going to be investigating this?” John Slovitch held up his hand to steady the pugilistic P.I. “Yeoman was found in Santa Barbara County,” he needlessly reminded the detective.
    “Which is why it falls into the Sheriff’s jurisdiction.” Mike laughed condescendingly.
    “Oh, I’m sure Madeline will feel so much safer knowing that.”
    “What do you want me to say? That I’ll check out a couple of sniffer dogs from K-9 and track Usherwood over hill and dale? I do what my Lieutenant tells me. This I did out of concern for your girlfriend.”
    “Madeline’s not my girlfriend.”
    It was John’s turn to snigger. “Whatever. Look, you’re both licensed investigators now—use the resources at your disposal. Dig into Usherwood’s past, find his other known associates. Embarrass the FBI and find him yourselves. If Usherwood isn’t in the country, then you need to figure out who would do his killing for