Fourth Estate: a fast-paced murder mystery (Double Blind Book 4) by Dan Alatorre

Author:Dan Alatorre [Alatorre, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Great Oak Publishing
Published: 2023-01-29T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

As Sergio’s mouth hung open, the phone went silent. He looked at the screen

Call ended.

“What happened?” Avarie asked. “Did Kerri answer?”

His thoughts racing, Sergio slowly shook his head. “She… didn’t—he did. The killer.” He moved his gaze to Avarie. “I think the murderer has Kerri’s phone.”

“What!” Avarie gasped.

“Wait, that’s right. Kerri sent me the livestream link, but she gave him the phone at start of the recording. Then she ran outside. Remember?”

“So where is she now?”

“Good question.” He rubbed his chest. “Safe, I hope.”

And not involved in these murders.

And not dead in a hallway somewhere, the next victim of this madman.

Holding the phone up, he selected the same number, his thumb hovering over the send button. Sergio pursed his lips. “I’m going to try him again.”

* * * * *

Carly held the phone to her ear with her shoulder and clutched her pencil. “Mr. Ainer, why do you think the killer shot up your office? He didn’t do that at the first two newsrooms he visited.”

“No,” Jamaal said. “There, he merely committed murders. I assume he trashed my place because I wasn’t there—lucky for me. He killed the owners of the other news agencies when he found them.”

“Do you have any idea who the killer could be?” She grabbed a notepad from the top of her borrowed desk, taking down the news agency owner’s words as fast as she could. “You’ve seen the physical appearance. Have you done a story on anybody who would match that description?”

“We do dozens of stories every day. There’s no way to keep track of any particular—”

“Sir, this would be different. Killers rarely start a spree of homicides without a few indications first. Has anyone called your office and made threats?”

“Yes,” Ainer said. “Almost every person I’ve profiled for the last ten years has threatened me in one form or another. That’s our business, Detective—speaking truth to power. And those in power don’t like to be challenged.”

She nodded, rubbing her forehead. “Okay. Well, can I ask a favor? Your people are posting their story about being held at gunpoint by a madman that’s still at large. I’d like to ask you to have them dial it back until they give statements to our officers.”

“Of course.”

A wave of relief washed over the detective. “Thank you.”

“I mean, you can ask.” Ainer chuckled. “I won’t be requesting they do any such thing. I called to see what you’re doing to catch this madman. I could have been killed, and two dear friends were killed. I’m not stopping my people from talking. I’m encouraging them to get the story out and find this guy.”

“Sir,” Carly said, “creating a groundswell of gossip and fear isn’t helpful to the community.”

“You mean it’s not helpful to you, Detective. It’s quite helpful to my interests. FRT hasn’t seen this many clicks since Terrence Big Time got caught stepping out on his wife with Diamond Darrow.”

She sat back in her desk, her shoulders slumping. “Mr. Ainer—”

“Please, call me Jamaal. And call me anytime. But please, at the moment, I must go.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.