Catching the Bad Guy (Book Two) (Janet Maple Series) Read Online Free Page B

glance. She shuddered to think of the
changes that Alex’s reign would bring.

Chapter 4
     
     
    Alex Kingsley leaned against the back of
his luxurious leather chair and surveyed his new office digs. Not bad for a
day’s work, he thought. Alex had had the men working overtime, delivering
furniture and hanging paintings. The place had been a dump and needed a
complete overhaul. Just how had his predecessor managed to stand his crummy
office surroundings was beyond Alex, but then his predecessor did not have the
favor of the state attorney general.
    Poor Hamilton Kirk. Alex smirked: he did
not feel the least bit compassionate toward the former head of the
Investigations department who had been so unceremoniously discharged. It was survival
of the fittest, and those who did not possess keen political judgment were
forced out. Ham Kirk had been a loyal and diligent servant of the Treasury, but
just like Janet’s principles had not gotten her anywhere at the DA’s office,
Kirk’s diligence did not get him any accolades at the Treasury. On the
contrary, it had gotten him sent out on early retirement. On the other hand,
the chief of Treasury’s Enforcement, Hank Dooley, was a much more reasonable
man. Dooley had gotten the drift regarding the Emperial case right way and
diligently postponed the hearings in response to Finnegan’s directive. Now, it
was rumored that Dooley could very well be destined for Senate or Congress.
    Alex rubbed his hands in
self-satisfaction. Finally, he was getting where he wanted to be in life.
Finnegan trusted him, and Alex was certain that once he got the Treasury
Investigations department under control, Finnegan would propel Alex to roles of
much greater importance. Finnegan’s name reminded Alex why he had been assigned
to his new job in the first place. Today he would have his first meeting with
that reprobate Dennis Walker. Alex had requested the background file on Dennis
Walker and was surprised to learn that Walker was a former crook himself. A
partner of a rogue hedge fund, Walker had been barred from the financial
industry but had been spared further prosecution by the Feds for his
cooperation. After that, Walker had been recruited by the Feds and had worked
for them for several years until he was hired as a senior investigator by Ham
Kirk.
    Alex contemplated Walker’s track record.
Most people were motivated by either greed or ambition, some by both, and some,
especially pathetic examples of human character like Hamilton Kirk, were
motivated by a thirst for justice and truth. And then there were men like
Dennis Walker who were most peculiar. One would think that after what Dennis
Walker had been through, he would be the least likely person to be working as a
white collar crime investigator. What drove him? Some twisted version of
Stockholm syndrome? Perhaps it was desire for redemption? Whatever it was, Alex
would find out.
    “If you know the enemy and know
yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles,” Alex recalled; it
was his favorite quote from The Art of War, a book he perused frequently. While
he fought his battles from behind his desk, they were just as vicious as those
fought on the battlefield. Enough of this, Alex thought. There would be plenty
of time to roll up his sleeves. Right now he was in a mood for some relaxation.
    Alex pushed the intercom button.
“Georgiana, would you come in here, please?”
    “Right away, Mr. Kingsley.”
    A few moments later, Georgiana was
standing in the doorway of his office. “Here’s your morning coffee, Mr.
Kingsley.” Georgiana placed the coffee mug on his desk. Alex took a sip. The
coffee was awful, but then he had not hired Georgiana for her coffee making or
her secretarial skills.
    Alex eyed Georgiana’s ample breasts
prominently displayed by the unbuttoned collar of her white blouse. “Close the
door, will ya?”
    Georgiana smiled slyly, swaying her hips
left and right as she sashayed to the door and flipped the