Night Watch (Kendra Michaels #4)(60)

Jessie leaned down to face Powers. “Where’s Waldridge?”

He wrinkled his brow. “Who?”

“Dr. Charles Waldridge. Thin British guy, late forties. Where is he?”

“Can’t help you.”

Jessie jerked her thumb toward Kendra. “Then why did you try to kidnap her the other night?”

He glanced at Kendra before looking away. “Didn’t … have a choice.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He closed his eyes. “I’m not saying another damn word.”

Lynch stepped forward and placed his hand gently on Powers’s shoulder. “You’re pretty beat-up. Where does it hurt. Here?”

“Yeah.”

Lynch squeezed his shoulder.

“Aaah!” Powers cried out.

Lynch squeezed harder. “I suggest you tell these ladies what they need to know.”

“I … can’t…”

“Sure you can.” He applied more pressure on the shoulder.

“Aaah! Shit!”

Kendra flinched at the sheer agony in his voice. She braced herself, tensed, then leaned in closer. “We know it was you who tried to take me the other night. Why?”

He gasped. “I can’t say any more.”

Lynch squeezed his shoulder again.

“Owww!” Powers grimaced. “Keep it up, and I’m gonna pass out. Then you won’t get anything from me.”

“We’re not getting anything from you now,” Kendra said. “And I have to say, I’m really enjoying this,” she lied.

“I’ll bet you are, you b—owww!” He looked up at Lynch. “I’ll have you brought up on police brutality charges.”

Lynch smiled malevolently. “I’m not the police. Just a concerned citizen who’s extremely annoyed with you for what you did to my friend.” He slowly increased the pressure on Powers’s shoulder. “And if you think you’re hurting now, what do you think of this? It’s all in the fingers…”

Powers eyes bulged, and he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Lynch released his shoulder. “Just a little sample. So tell us why you tried to kidnap my friend here.”

Sweat rained down Powers’s face. “We weren’t going to hurt her. We just had to bring her there. They told us they needed her. I promise.”

“Where were you taking her?” Lynch asked.

He shook his head. “Do whatever you want, but I can’t say any more. My life is at stake here.”

“Your life?” Kendra said.

“Yeah.” He was pale and shaking. “Excuse me, if I don’t feel like dying.”

Kendra’s eyes narrowed on him. “Who are you working for?”

He stared at her for a long moment. “For your sake, I hope you never have to find out. But you probably will, they want you real bad.”

“Who? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Not another word.” He looked at Lynch. “Do whatever you want with me.” He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw squad cars coming down the street. “I’m not talking.”

“No?” Lynch smiled. “I’d barely started. Those time restraints really hampered me. Oh, well, there will be another time.”

Behind them, the four squad cars and Metcalf’s car rolled up. The police cars cut their sirens, but the flashers stayed on.

Lynch called out to them. “Get a paramedic unit out here. This man needs a hospital.”

Metcalf jumped out of his car and ran up to them. “Is it him?”

Kendra nodded. “Yes, but he’s not overly talkative. I need to know everything about him we can find out.”

“We have cops swarming through his house, and we’ll subpoena phone records.”

“Good.” She turned back to Powers. She tensed, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “One last question. Is Dr. Waldridge still alive?”

Powers didn’t answer. He closed his eyes and slowly leaned back against the headrest.

No use, she realized in frustration as she turned away from him.

Fifteen minutes later Kendra and Lynch watched the ambulance drive off down the street.

“I’m out of here.” Jessie strode toward her bike. “I’ll see you at Powers’s place.” She glanced over her shoulder at Kendra with a mischievous grin. “I suppose you’re going to opt for riding with Lynch in that opulent jalopy, but you’re welcome to come with me. I bet you’d have more fun.”

“But I wouldn’t,” Lynch said firmly. “I’ve had enough for one day of wondering whether I’m going to have to peel her remains off a truck or light pole.” He took Kendra’s elbow and led her firmly toward the Ferrari. “She might have fun, but it will take me the entire trip to Powers’s to recover.”

“Poor Lynch. I can see what a delicate creature you are.” Jessie laughed and roared off.

Lynch waited until they were back on the freeway before he glanced at Kendra. “I didn’t think. Did I offend your precious independence?”

“If you had, I wouldn’t have let you push me into this car. I was ready for your ‘opulent jalopy.’ I need to get my breath.” She leaned back against the leather headrest. “In more ways than one.”