Free Web of Justice by Rayven T. Hill Page B

OF Olivia Bragg had weighed heavily on Annie’s mind most of the night, and she’d been up with the sun. With the police manhunt underway, it was a matter of time before Izzy Wilde was apprehended, but she feared what could happen in the meantime. The almost ritual murder, the way the body had been posed in the park, and the trophies found in the shed, were all hallmarks of a serial killer.
    That meant Wilde could very well strike again, and she had tasked herself with finding out who and why. But with little to go on, she was getting nowhere.
    It appeared she wasn’t going to get the much-needed rest she yearned for anytime soon.
    She closed the file folder, pushed it aside, and leaned back in her chair when Jake stepped into the office. Clad in a towel around his waist, his rippling muscles glistened with sweat from his intensive daily workout. He polished off a bottle of water, let out a loud satisfied breath, and grinned at her.
    “You were up early,” he said.
    “Couldn’t sleep,” Annie said. “Too much on my mind.”
    Jake nodded with understanding. “We’ll find him,” he said as he turned to leave the office. “I’ll take a shower and we’ll get back at it as soon as Matty’s off to school.”
    Annie heard her son already rustling around in the kitchen. She’d have to put her thoughts aside until after breakfast and tend to her boys. Though they were capable of taking care of themselves, and often did, she loved to pamper them.
    She rose from her chair and went into the kitchen. Matty sat at the table, beeps, chimes, and ringing sounds coming from an iPad gripped in one hand, his eyes glued to the screen.
    Annie pulled back a chair, sat sideways, and watched the expression on his face change with each triumph. Then his shoulders slumped as the universal sound of “Game Over” came from the iPad.
    “What’s up, Mom?” he said, setting the tablet down and turning toward his mother.
    She smiled. “Nothing.”
    “Why’re you staring at me like that?”
    “Because I love you.”
    He frowned. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
    Annie laughed and stood. “Someday it will.”
    Matty wandered from the room and Annie turned to making breakfast. As the bacon sizzled in the pan, she thought about Izzy Wilde and his brother Carter. It was clear that Izzy had attempted to visit the apartment building where Carter lived. Whether or not the two brothers had met in the last couple of days was unknown, but with no one else to turn to, and with his home under police control, Izzy might’ve been looking to his brother for some refuge.
    Annie laid the finished bacon on paper towels and broke some eggs into the pan. Jake wandered into the room, Matty trudging behind. The boy dropped his backpack beside the fridge and sat opposite his father.
    “I’ve been thinking about Izzy,” Annie said as she flipped the eggs. “And I don’t think he’ll return to his brother’s.”
    “Maybe not,” Jake said. “I don’t know how bright he is, but it should be obvious the police’ll be watching Carter closely.”
    Matty leaned forward and picked up his fork when his mother set a plate in front of him. “Is this another bad guy you’re trying to catch?”
    Annie brought two more plates, sat at the end of the table, and pulled in her chair. “There’s no shortage of bad guys.”
    “Is he a killer?”
    Annie sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.”
    “You and Uncle Hank’ll get him,” Matty said matter-of-factly. “You guys are good at that.”
    “I hope so,” Annie said. She prayed Matty was right, and that Izzy would be caught sooner rather than later.
    When they finished their breakfast, a tapping sounded on the back door.
    “It’s Kyle,” Matty said. Kyle was Matty’s best friend, the eight-year-old son of Annie’s friend Chrissy, who lived next door to the Lincolns.
    Matty pushed back from the table, ran to the door, and pulled it open. “Hey, Kyle.”
    Kyle stepped inside and sported a wide grin,