Buying Time Read Free Page A

DEA. “But then again, if the people are dying and need the money, maybe it’s a good thing.”
    “It would be if Live Now was playing it by the book,” Angela replied. “But they’re targeting people too sick to know what they’re signing and convincing them to take peanuts for their insurance policies. Once we catch them in the act, it won’t be hard to get an indictment.”
    Criminals didn’t realize that no matter what the offense, the feds could usually nail them on mail, wire and internet fraud charges since they routinely used these methods of communication to further their fraudulent operations.
    “I wish this case had more pizzazz,” Zack sulked.
    Angela ignored the comment. Zack was still put out that she had been selected to head up the task force even though he had a few more years of practice.
    “Any complaints filed yet against Live Now?” asked Jon.
    “Just one.” Angela pulled a document from the stack of papers in front of her. “It’s actually a little strange. The daughter of a woman who sold her policy through Live Now claims her mother was murdered and thinks the viatical broker or the investor are responsible. Says they killed her to get a faster return on their investment.”
    Zack had been staring off into space, but immediately perked up. “How did the woman die?”
    Angela perused the complaint. “She had brain cancer. The hospital where she died found no evidence of foul play.”
    “It wouldn’t be in the hospital’s interest to find any,” Salina said.
    Zack’s face blazed with interest. “That would certainly be a clever racket,” he mused. “Invest in the policy, then kill the policyholder. The police wouldn’t waste much time looking into the death of somebody who was already dying. Are we investigating that angle, too?”
    Zack the Hack, as everyone called him behind his back, was always on the hunt for a high-profile case that might evolve into a highly paid talking-head job. He actually told people he was going to be the next Anderson Cooper.
    “Murder is the D.A.’s jurisdiction, not ours,” Angela said. “Besides, the police don’t buy the daughter’s theory and there’s been no evidence of anything like that going on in the other states.”
    “It might not hurt to talk to the woman,” Zack pushed. “We may find some information that could strengthen our case.”
    Angela pursed her lips in frustration. Maybe appeasing Zack on this would make him more cooperative down the line.
    “Salina, why don’t you talk to the woman over the phone? See if you think there’s anything to her allegations. If there is, I’d like you and Jon to interview her in person.” Angela slid a folder across the table. “Her name is Veronika Myers. Here’s a copy of her complaint.”
    “I’m on it,” Salina said.
    Angela handed out a three-page document to the team. “We have a lot of work to do over the next few weeks. This memo lays out everyone’s role. We received the go-ahead to stage a sting operation.”
    “How’s the sting going to work?” Salina asked. “Is somebody going to go undercover as a terminally ill patient and see if they get the screws put to ’em?”
    “That’s exactly how it’s going to work,” Angela said.
    Jon smiled. “Sounds like fun.”
    “Glad you feel that way because I think you’d be the perfect undercover patient.”
    “Hold on.” Zack turned to Rob, the case agent sitting to his left. “I think Rob could also do a pretty good job.”
    A smile masked Angela’s true feelings. The ultimate designation of their undercover patient would be made by the Postal Inspection Service.  Still, Angela planned to lobby hard for Jon. Rob was way too passive for a case like this. He hadn’t even opened his mouth during the entire meeting. On top of that, he was basically Zack’s puppet. With Rob as the undercover plant, Zack would effectively control the investigation.
    “Jon has more experience doing undercover work than anybody else