Read Chapter One of But I Love You…

APPLE BOOKS AMAZON NOOK GOOGLE KOBO CHAPTER ONEEthan

On the way back to the scene of Bryan Howler’s murder, Ethan couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling that something wasn’t right. Everything he had experienced since coming to LA reminded him more of a movie script than coincidence. And even though it was the land of acting, he hadn’t planned on playing a part. But for some reason, he couldn’t help feeling that he had been swept up into someone else’s story.

Sure, Howler had a reason for killing Cassie and Max. According to what Sarah had read in the notes Cassie was keeping, they had been bribing him for years. But since he died the same way, it meant the real killer didn’t know about any of it. Or maybe he just didn’t care. The killer could have set Howler up several ways, including making it look like suicide, but for some reason, he made no effort. He even posted this death on the internet as if it were all part of his bigger plan. It made Ethan wonder what the killer’s end game was and who was next on his list? He had to find him before he killed again.

“We’re closer than ever to finding them,” said Thomas when they arrived to see the crowd of cop cars.

He had celebrated since finding the deposit box full of cash as if he himself had just found gold. And while Cassie’s notes might have given them more as to where Katherine and Starr were being kept, it created another problem that Ethan wasn’t sure Thomas could see.

“I think we’re screwed,” said Ethan. He needed to let Thomas know where he stood before going into the scene.

“Why?” asked Sarah, just over his shoulder.

Thomas stopped on the walkway. “Yeah, what is wrong with you? You’ve been in a weird place ever since we went to the bank.” He kept his voice low and glanced over his shoulder as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear him.

Ethan didn’t want the attention either. “If there was ever a good time for Roald to pull out and disappear forever, it would be now.”

Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “So, we’ll just have to do what we can to keep them here until we can figure something out.”

“We still don’t know where his plane is, and we don’t know the lengths he’ll go to keep them hidden.” There was a lot he didn’t know. And it seemed like Thomas forgot they still had a lot of work to do.

Sarah sighed, making a frustrated sound. “Do you think he’d kill them if you get too close?”

“He’d have to know we are close first,” said Thomas. “As long as you don’t go telling them or the papers, we should be fine.”

Ethan didn’t understand why it was so hard for Thomas to understand. At least Sarah seemed more on his page. “Their head of security just got shot in the face, and you don’t think that will scare them away? If that happened to Howler, what’s to say they won’t think it could just as easily happen to them? Unless you think they are responsible. Because if you do, please tell me. I’m just short my number one suspect.”

“It’s fine. We just have to give them a false sense of security,” said Thomas. “And that’s where I come in. I can convince them to stick around while you investigate. I can make them think that I’ll take care of them and look out for them. They still have security, and I’m sure Roald will tighten things up. But I doubt he’ll move the girls. If anything, he’s going to retreat to his lodge. You heard Patti. It’s more like a compound. And where else do you think he’s going to feel safe? We just have to use what we have and find it.”

“Patti left us a map,” said Sarah, holding up the stack of papers from the bank box. “And now that we have Cassie’s notes, maybe we can figure out where it is.”

Thomas snatched the folder from her hands. “I’ll just hold on to that. I think it’s time you take a step back.”

“What?” Sarah gave him a glaring look. “Why should I do that? You agreed that I could help.”

“And this is where I think you’ve served your purpose.”

“My purpose?” Sarah shot him daggers.

Thomas crossed his arms and looked down his nose at her. “And because you have other work to do. And while your job might give you certain liberties, I think at some point, your new supervisor is going to start looking for you. I don’t need anyone else knowing what we have going on.”

“And so you just decided that you’d tell me what I can and cannot do? Like you’re my boss, right? Well, excuse me, Officer Asher, but I don’t take orders from you.”

An angry voice caught their attention, causing Sarah to jump nearly out of her skin. “Agent Charles,” said Bowden, causing Ethan to grow even more frustrated.

He turned around to see Bowden coming across the yard of Howler’s place. “It’s about time you showed up.” Bowden gave a quick glance to the others but turned his frustration back at Ethan. “I’d think that you would have stuck around, seeing that this is your case. Or maybe I should check with your supervisor again. Maybe you’re needed someplace else?”

Ethan wasn’t going to play his game. He could keep his power trip to himself. “I left the scene in the capable hands of your department while I went to chase another lead.”

“Really? I’d like to hear all about it. And I’m sure your supervisor would as well.” He turned to Thomas. “And I’d also like to know what you think you’re doing following him? I’d hope it was worth it.”

“Just doing my job,” said Thomas. “And as he said, we left it in capable hands. Surely you can’t argue that, seeing it’s your own department.”

“Well, maybe you can tell me how you found out about this? What tipped you off?”

Thomas looked at Ethan and let out a sharp breath. “The murder was on the internet like the others, and while we were working on a different lead, I got a notification that the killer had posted the new video. When I saw it was Howler, who we have been investigating, we knew we had to check here first. We found his body when we arrived.”

“And did you get one of these notifications as well?” Bowden asked Ethan with a smug look on his face.

“Yes.” He didn’t like the interrogation, though he knew his phone hadn’t given him notice. But he had a bad habit of not turning his media-sound back up after going silent.

“So? What made you leave the scene?” Bowden wasn’t quite done grilling them.

“I’m sure you can wait for my report,” said Ethan, knowing he didn’t owe the man anything. “For now, if you’ll excuse me, I really should get back to work.”

Bowden narrowed his eyes and glanced over at Sarah. She seemed to stiffen when his eyes met hers. 

“Sir?” she said nervously.

“I’m going to want to see you later.” He glanced back at the men to see if they had any objections.

Sarah quickly nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Bowden turned his attention back to Thomas. “Did you at least find his next of kin?”

“I’ll take care of it,” said Thomas. “As I said, I’ve been investigating him, so I know who to call.”

“Good. See to it that you do that before you take off again. And the next time he wants to step out of line, Asher, make sure you don’t follow. If you want to work the case with him, work the fucking case.”

Bowden stepped away and stopped to look down at his shoe. “Son of a bitch. Who let their goddamn dog on the lawn?” He scraped his shoe on the grass as a slow smile spread across Thomas’s face.

“Watch where you step,” he warned.

Sarah made a face but followed along with Ethan as he started across the lawn, careful where he put his feet. “I guess the next time I see him will be interesting,” she said.

Thomas glanced back at her. “Not a word.”

“I’m not telling him anything.” She gave Thomas a glaring look. “You may not realize it, but I’m on your side.”

“It’s kind of hard to tell these days.”

“Enough,” said Ethan, with no desire to play referee. “You should go notify Lana and Roald. But I’m serious, Thomas, you have to urge them to stay put. Tell them that they can’t leave town, not after this. Tell them that I am going to need to see them in person. With or without their lawyers.”

Thomas nodded and waved his hand as if he had it all under control and Ethan was a fool to worry about it. “I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure to have Roald trust me, no matter what it takes. If he thinks he’s got me looking out for him too, it will keep him at ease.”

Ethan nodded. “We have to find the plane as soon as possible. If they do run, I want a locator on it.” He turned his attention to Sarah, knowing she was going to be unhappy to hear what he said next. “And he’s right, Sarah. You really need to watch yourself at work.”

“But I want to help!” She raised her voice too high for Thomas’s liking, and he pegged her with a hard look.

But Ethan spoke up before he could respond and kept his own voice calm. “You can. Look over the notes.” He gave Thomas a glaring stare. “Give them back to her. She’s the one who actually has time to look them over. I need you to make notes of everything, Sarah.”

“You should like doing that,” said Thomas, still with an acidic tone.

Ethan ignored him. He wasn’t going to take such drastic measures to get rid of her. “And if you find out more about the specifics, just let us know right away.”

Sarah agreed. “I’ll call you right away.”

Thomas smiled and shook his head. “You do that.”

Ethan walked away, going inside to where the body had just been released for pick up.

He went to one of the forensic investigators, who was holding a camera. “Did you get plenty of photos?”

The man nodded. “Joseph Jori,” said the man. “And yeah, and I already turned it over to the team. I hope you don’t mind, but Bowden didn’t want me waiting around for you.”

Ethan gave an apologetic look. He was so focused on what was around him. It was as if he forgot that no one there really knew him. To him, they were all just men in uniforms. But he was the outsider. “Sorry. I’m Agent Ethan Charles, FBI. You did great, Jori. Did you find anything?”

“We found the slug. In and out. It struck the trim on the door. I cut the piece out instead of digging it out here. I’ll do it back at the lab.”

He felt better knowing that things had been done right. “Perfect. I want to know if you happen to match it.” He handed the man his card.

“I’ll let you know.” The man stepped away, and Ethan was forced to look at the bloody wall behind where Howler had probably knelt, begging for his life.

Whoever had come in had to have caught him by surprise. The man was head of security at Roald Collier’s mansion, and he would have known how to handle an intruder. Whoever got to him was most likely a professional, and they were most likely already in the house and on him before he ever knew it.

Now he just had to figure out who would want Howler dead. If what Thomas had told him was true, there were a whole lot of men in line that could have done the deed. But whoever it was, they had to have a reason to kill Cassie and Max too. Ethan wasn’t sure it narrowed things down at all, but he was going to do his best to find out.