The Betrayal of Lies by Debra Burroughs Read Free Book Online Page B

deputies there.
    “Mr. Murphy is holed up in the study with his attorney,” Ernie reported, “trying to get the two million dollars together.”
    “I hope he can do it,” Emily said with reservation. What would happen to Elise if her husband was not able to raise the amount the kidnapper demanded in time?
    Ernie handed Colin a folder. “Here’s the stuff I uncovered on Jake Mitchell. Is he a suspect?”
    “He could be.” Colin opened the file. “Or at least a possible accomplice.”
    “Well, guys, it’s been fun,” Isabel said. “Now that the Governor is gone, I think I’ll head back to my office.” She gave Emily a sideways hug. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
    “I will.”
    Isabel leaned close to Emily and spoke in a low voice. “I mean that—anything.” She waved a hand in the air as she walked out the front door.
    Emily’s gaze followed her until the door shut. The word anything echoed in her mind. Was Isabel saying she’d be willing to help no matter what, even if it could get her in trouble?
    “Hey, Emily,” Colin drew her attention. He was intently scanning the pages when she turned her gaze toward him.
    “It looks like Mitchell was telling the truth about the ex-wife.” He briefly glanced over at her before he focused back on the folder. “He’s got a couple of kids in Arizona, and this report shows he spent some time in prison there for Involuntary Manslaughter.”
    “What did he do?” she asked.
    “According to this, he accidentally killed a man in a bar fight,” Colin replied.
    “He could be our guy, but…” Emily paused as her mind continued to consider other scenarios.
    “But what?” Ernie asked, seeming impatient for her to finish her thought.
    “Well, on one hand, he did say he needed money for back child support. If he wants to see his kids again, he just might be desperate enough to try pulling off something like this. But on the other, he seemed to care about Elise, at least enough not to want to hurt her.” Emily’s gaze briefly shifted to the closed door of the study down the hall. “I wonder if the mister knew about Jake.”
    The words were barely out of Emily’s mouth when Patrick and his attorney emerged from the study. “Detective Andrews, I’m glad you’re here. You’ll want to hear this. You too, Ms. Parker.”
    “What is it?” Emily asked with eagerness.
    “I was just on the telephone with the manager of my bank, and he informed me that Elise came into the bank yesterday afternoon and withdrew everything we had in our personal checking and savings accounts.”
    “How much did she get?” Emily asked.
    “Almost fifty thousand dollars.” Patrick glanced at his attorney. “Fortunately, she doesn’t have access to my other accounts, or whoever has taken her could have forced her to withdraw that money, as well.”
    “Russell Gray,” the attorney said, extending his hand to Colin.
    “Detective Colin Andrews.” Colin shook the man’s hand. “And this is my consultant, Emily Parker.”
    Mr. Gray shook Emily’s hand as well. “Consultant?”
    “I’m a private investigator, but on occasion I’m hired by the Paradise Valley Police Department as a consultant, an extra detective you might say, on a case-by-case basis.”
    “I see.”
    Emily returned her attention to Patrick Murphy. “So, you think she was forced to take the money out?” She recalled Elise’s sister had said Elise had been thinking of leaving her husband. Perhaps she was cleaning out the accounts as part of her plan to disappear.
    “Of course. Why else would she have done it?” the attorney asked.
    Emily remained silent, content to keep her thoughts on that to herself for now.
    “My guess is,” Patrick said, “they broke in, ransacked the house, and then took her with the intention of making her get them money, but the fifty thousand dollars wasn’t enough, so they kept her and now they’re asking for the ransom money. Perhaps they assumed she would have come