He glanced up and down the hallway, moving closer. “One of the ones who served on the Jacob Jones prosecution.”
I’d made a few calls when I’d arrived at the courthouse. At least Dan had kept anyone outside his office from discovering the list had been leaked. I knew a couple of people in his office very well, one of the administrators mentioning whoever had swiped the list had clearance to activate the files. That narrowed down the list making it very clear the leak had been an inside job. There was no other explanation.
Even the attorney general shouldn’t have access to those particular files. There were reasons there was separation. Like corruption. I’d even made a few clandestine inquiries about James Worthington without trying to draw attention. From what I could tell, he’d completely distanced himself from Luis Delgado. I’d tried to find a direct connection with no success. But I would keep trying.
The nagging about the man and the thoughts driving my intuition raged on inside my head.
“What happened?”
“He was killed last night. I’ve got a buddy down at the sixth precinct who caught the case. He said it was violent. The man was… dismembered. And get this. His family was sleeping upstairs. Can you imagine the wife coming down the next morning?”
My blood instantly turned to ice. “Any suspects?”
“Of course not. No fingerprints, no DNA that they could find, but forensics is still going through everything with a fine-toothed comb. It was made to look like a robbery. I don’t mind telling you, my wife is freaking out.”
A robbery wasn’t something the Undertaker had ever bothered with. That didn’t mean he wasn’t simply throwing off the scent on purpose. That had been done several times by career criminals and mobsters trying to even their playing field.
I gritted my teeth, the same sweep of rage I’d felt the night before driving the same thoughts I’d had just before using the bat. “Do me a favor, Jim. Keep this under wraps. We don’t need a city full of terrified people.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Make certain everyone on the case received an adequate warning.”
He nodded. “Excuse my rudeness, but that man is a freak.”
“Yes, he is. Thanks for letting me know.”
“You bet.”
I waited, watching him walk down the corridor before turning and continuing toward my office. Just before I walked inside, I pulled out my phone, sending a text to Dan. Everyone involved needed to receive a second alert. Was it possible the murder had been anything from a home invasion to a robbery gone bad? Yes, but my instincts told me otherwise.
Even sending the message of ‘you could be next’ would keep everyone involved quiet as church mice.
Jones was picking off low-hanging fruit first likely in cooperation with Delgado. I shoved the phone into my pocket and unlocked my door. The moment I walked in, I realized I wasn’t alone. Every chamber had a panic alert button that would bring members of the security team to my office within two minutes.
However, I had no intention of ringing the bell until I dealt with the intruder my way.
Another moment where my instinct warned me of the identity of the visitor.
Jacob Jones certainly cleaned up well. He was wearing an Italian tailored suit completely different than the slick attempts at appearing suave used by the goons the night before.
He was sitting in one my chairs, casually glancing at his phone. He appeared completely in control and devoid of concern that he was a convicted felon who’d broken into the office of a member of law enforcement.
I closed the door, not bothering to address him or act concerned by his presence. And why? Because I wasn’t. Before rounding my desk, I unbuttoned my jacket, pushing the lapels aside and allowing him to see I’d worn a shoulder holster as an accessory that day.
He chuckled even before I sat down. “You knew I was coming.”
“Men like you do enjoy bragging about their accomplishments.”
“Which ones, Judge? The fact the courts finally believed I was railroaded into prison? Which I was. I’m a law-abiding citizen.” There was such contempt in his tone, as if he’d won a battle.
“More like eliminating your enemies. That’s what you’re doing. Right. Classic narcissistic behavior done by psychopaths.”
The flash in his eyes meant he was enjoying himself. He believed he would gain control of this meeting. What a fool. “I have no idea what you mean, Judge. As I said. I’m a law-abiding citizen. Isn’t that something you respect, sir? I mean you’re a good guy and all, especially since you’re a judge sworn to uphold the law.”
“I see. You obviously don’t know me very well, Jacob, or my background.” He was goading me, which meant I’d unnerved him and his thugs with the activity from the night before. Good.
“Let’s see. What do I know about you? Ah, yes. You’re a decorated Marine serving three tours, saving the lives of six men while serving in Afghanistan. Is that the background you’re talking about?”
