Free Detective Wade Jackson Mystery - 03 - Thrilled to Death by L. J. Sellers

Courtney’s disappearance get more coverage than Danette’s?”
    Jackson had no good answers. “Courtney Durham is a rich party girl who has willingly disappeared before. Mrs. Durham got air time because the Durhams probably own the news building, maybe even the station.”
    Kera made the connection. “Oh, those Durhams.” A second later. “That’s bullshit.”
    “What’s bullshit?” his daughter asked from the doorway, holding Micah on her hip.
    “You don’t get to say that word.” Jackson tried to never swear in front of his daughter.
    “Kera said it.”
    “She’s earned the privilege.”
    “Sorry, I shouldn’t have.” Kera turned to Jackson. “Could these disappearances be connected?”
    “It’s possible, but I just don’t see how. Zapata believes Courtney will turn up on her own. She has a history of bad behavior that includes running off without telling her mother.” Jackson shook his head. “I wish Mrs. Durham hadn’t announced her willingness to pay a ransom. She’s going to get calls from thugs who will try to shake her down.”
    “What if Courtney was kidnapped? How much money can they demand?”
    Kera was asking what he thought the Durhams were worth. Jackson could only speculate. “ If she’s been kidnapped, they know who she is and they’ll probably ask for millions.”
    “I feel sorry for her,” Katie said. “I guess being rich is not always a good thing.”
    Jackson looked at his daughter with pride. “It can be a problem. It’s too bad making that kind of money can put your children at risk.”
    “In more ways than one,” Kera added. After a moment, “What do we do next about Danette?”
    “We keep talking to her friends. We try to find the boyfriend. We print posters with her picture and put them up all over town.”
    “Can I help?” Katie asked.
    “Of course.” Kera smiled at his daughter. “Once I get the posters printed, you can help me distribute them.”
    And I’ll look for a connection between the two women, Jackson thought.

Chapter 10
     
    Wednesday, April 8, 7:55 a.m.
    Jackson hurried into the U-shaped building that housed city hall and police headquarters. Every time he noticed the non-staggered masonry, he hoped the public safety department would get a new building before the five-hundred-year earthquake hit. If the building collapsed, it would take all the patrol cars parked under it, leaving citizens to fend for themselves.
    He was at his desk only a few minutes when Sergeant Lammers called him back to her office. He stopped in the bathroom on the way, thinking his surgery couldn’t come soon enough. The pain was easier to take than this constant pressure.
    “Jackson, how are you feeling?” Lammers gestured for him to sit.
    “Just fine.”
    “Good. I need you to investigate Courtney Durham’s disappearance.”
    “Why? It’s not my usual department, and Detective Zapata doesn’t believe she’s really missing.”
    “Elle Durham specifically asked for you to be assigned to her daughter’s case. Since you don’t have a homicide investigation right now, there’s no reason not to make Ms. Durham happy.”
    “How did she come to ask for me?” Jackson was skeptical.
    “She said you asked intelligent questions when she was filing the missing persons report. I said you were our best investigator. She said she wanted you to find Courtney.”
    “Money talks.”
    “In this case, it does more than talk.” Lammers let out a harsh laugh. “It may buy us a new building.”
    Jackson opened his mouth to speak, changed his mind. He hated the politics of money. Even more, he hated being manipulated by it. Nothing he could say would change the reality. He was also pleased by the assignment. It would give him an excuse to keep investigating Danette’s disappearance too. “I’ll do my best to find her.”
    “Thank you.” Lammers sounded sincere.
    Jackson headed down the hall to Robert Zapata’s desk. The officer was putting on his jacket. “Hey,