Chapter 1 #3
A small smile lifted his lips as he stared out the multipaned window.
He’d never hear the end of it from Liam if he ate the rest of that brownie.
Ethan shook his head. Liam seemed like the kind of guy who could easily become a friend.
Ethan was reluctant to admit he missed the camaraderie of a close-knit team to lead.
But what he needed right now was silence and a solid lead to break open the case he’d been secretly assigned.
Just when he thought he was getting close to ferreting out the mole, another clue surfaced linking his theory to another suspect.
If he didn’t know better, he’d wonder if there weren’t multiple people in charge of the syndicate—or if power kept changing hands.
He raked his fingers through his hair. This was a case he really needed help with. A second set of eyes.
But could he trust Liam?
If he knew Liam a little better, had worked with him more than a few weeks, he might be able to get a better read on the guy. Maybe trust him.
Before his manufactured suspension, Ethan had been invited to join Liam for his weekly pickup game of basketball at the high school.
Even invited to his house for a cookout with some of the other marshals.
Ethan shook his head. Liam seemed to be a good deputy marshal.
Hard-working. Dedicated. But after investing fifteen years into his own career as a marshal, it was easier for Ethan to keep his own counsel than risk facing another career disaster.
He glanced at the brownie on his desk, debating whether to finish it. A knock on his door made him pause, his hand hovering over the baked treat. He cleared his throat. “Come in.”
“You busy?” Aubrey stood in the doorway, her dark-auburn hair shimmering around her shoulders. Her deep-green blouse matched her eyes, and man, she was stunning. She held a stack of manila folders.
Ethan shook his head. “What’s going on?”
She moved to stand in front of his desk. “Supervisor Howard wanted me to give these to you for review. Looks like we’re getting more protectees in a few weeks.”
“Thanks.”
She placed the stack on his desk, and they locked eyes for a moment. He cleared his throat. “Something else I can help you with?”
She glanced away first. “Uh, no. Just making sure you have everything you need now that you’re…uh, back and all.” Aubrey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thanks.”
“Sure.” She gave him a small smile. “I’ll see you later, then.”
“Yeah.”
Butler, you are an idiot.
“Aubrey, wait up.” He stood, and she slowly pivoted toward him. He pointed at the brownie. “Thanks again for making the brownies. They’re really good.”
A smile lit up her face. “Thanks. I tried a new recipe. Less sugar.”
“Well, they’re great.”
They stood there awkwardly, staring at each other. The air shifted and sizzled until the moment was broken by his phone ringing.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Sorry, I have to get that.”
She gave him a little wave. Most days, he might go so far as to wish they weren’t coworkers so he could ask her out on a proper date. But dating a coworker was a bad idea. He needed to keep her at arm’s length.
He glanced at the caller ID and answered, a small smile forming. “Mrs. Hanover, what can I do for you?”
His elderly next-door neighbor was sweet and a little nosy, but he enjoyed their nightly talks. She treated him like a grandson and was the one person in town who had made him feel welcome after his transfer from Denver.
“Oh, Ethan. I’m so sorry I missed you this morning. The girls were glad to see you though. They’re always so pleasant after you visit. When did you get back?”
“Late last night.” He cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder and opened his laptop, scanning through the documents he’d sent himself. “I didn’t want to wake you up, so I just left the cat treats on the front porch.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet.”
If he didn’t get control of this phone call, she would go on for hours. He’d love to chat, but he was working on the biggest case of his life. “Is there a problem? Do the cats need to go to the vet?”
“Heavens, no.” She laughed, almost a girlish giggle. “You’re so thoughtful. No, this is something else.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Anything.” He’d do anything at this moment to end this call, but his grandmother would tan his hide if he was rude.
“Yes, well,” she said. “I don’t know if you can or not, what with your schedule, but I need a huge favor.”
Mrs. Hanover’s sunny personality reminded him so much of his own grandmother, which made it difficult to refuse her requests. Not to mention his work had put her in danger. He didn’t want to say yes purely out of guilt, but he was still going to help her. “Of course. What is it?”
“Could you watch Mittens and Simba for me while I’m away this week?”
He exhaled and a smile tugged at his mouth. He should’ve known this call would have something to do with her “girls.”
This week wasn’t good though. The cats would want extra attention. “I’d love to, but…”
“Oh, thank you, dear. They just adore you. I’m leaving tonight. My granddaughter is having a baby, and I want to be there to hold her.”
Ethan shifted in his chair. He cleared his throat, forcing calmness into his voice. “Now how can I refuse that?”
Despite what she’d said, Ethan heard the fear in her tone, the tremor. The same fear he’d heard when she told him about the two masked men who’d shoved her around while she was loading groceries in her car. Ski masks, broad shoulders…and one idiot who hadn’t bothered hiding he was a marshal.
Did the police follow up with her after? No.
The case had seemingly fallen through the cracks for lack of evidence.
A tight burn settled beneath Ethan’s ribs. Mrs. Hanover had been scared enough the first time. No way was he putting her through a voice-ID lineup that would only drag her back into that moment and maybe paint a fresh target on her. He wouldn’t take that risk with her. Not ever.
The old woman’s voice wavered. “You’re a good man, Ethan Butler. God has a special woman just for you.”
He’d heard this tune multiple times from his neighbor. “As I told you, I’m content being single.”
“Come now. Wouldn’t you like to come home to a special someone every night?”
The question hit harder than it should have.
Once, he’d thought he had that future. An engagement ring.
A promise that should have been ironclad.
Turned out he wasn’t half as good at reading people as he was at tracking fugitives.
If he were, he’d have seen the truth behind his fiancée’s words and actions.
And he wouldn’t be spending his evenings with an elderly neighbor who baked him casseroles out of pity.
“It’s not good for a man to be alone,” she continued gently. “Just be patient. God has the perfect woman prepared for you.”
Perfect. That word scraped along a raw edge he kept buried deep. He’d chased perfect once. It hadn’t ended well.
He cleared his throat. “What time are you leaving?”
“Around four.”
“I’ll drop by tonight after work, and I’ll feed the cats and make sure they’re taken care of while you’re gone.”
“Thank you, dear. I’m praying for you.”
She disconnected the call before he could respond or even ask when she was returning.
He shook his head. Prayer. He hadn’t been praying about the Roger Rousseau case. Who to bring in to help. Or even if he should. Which was the problem. He was forging ahead in his own strength, his own wisdom, without seeking the Lord’s guidance.
The lapse was subtle. If he were honest with himself, ever since he’d been reassigned to Renegade, he’d neglected his relationship with the Lord.
Instead of being thankful for the move, he’d allowed bitterness to creep into his daily interactions with his coworkers.
He’d done this to himself. No wonder no one wanted to be around him.
A knock on his doorframe jolted him out of his thoughts.
“Glad to see you back in the saddle.” Adam Montgomery towered over Ethan’s six feet, two inches and looked like he needed to eat a huge plate of pasta. Montgomery had to be ten years younger than him. Shoot, most of the staff were younger than him. Ethan felt like a grandpa most days.
“Thanks.” Ethan returned to the encrypted files he’d sent himself. The sound of leather squeaking pulled his concentration away from the monitor. “You’re in early.”
Adam leaned back in the chair. “Yeah. I thought you might want to know what happened these past two weeks.”
“I already have the notes from last week’s briefing.” Ethan picked up the single sheet of paper and waved it at the kid.
Adam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m going to close the door.”
“Do whatever you want.” This guy could be the office traitor for all he knew.
“Testy.” Montgomery closed the door and resumed his seat. “Look, dude, I know a lot more than you think I do.”
Ethan snorted. “Sure, kid.”
Adam pulled the notepad that was sitting on the corner of the desk closer to himself and wrote on it.
Your office is bugged.
All the breath froze in his lungs. Ethan pulled his chair closer to study the man in front of him. Montgomery had a lot of nerve, but he sat there unwavering. Ethan narrowed his eyes and responded on the notepad.
How do you know?
Adam shrugged. “Want to grab a coffee?”
“I could use the caffeine.” He picked up the notepad and scribbled another message, then turned it around for Adam to read.
Adam stood and nodded. “Yeah, I need something to counteract all the sugar from Aubrey’s brownies.”
“Montgomery, you could eat an entire plate of brownies and still not gain an ounce.” Ethan chuckled. “Let’s go. I’m buying.” Ethan locked his laptop. “I need a good, stiff black cup of coffee from the Beanery.”
Outside the old courthouse that housed not only the federal courts but also the US Marshals on the third floor and holding cells for prisoners in the basement, Ethan exhaled.