Page 38

“Y ou got the address?” Nate asked as Ethan slipped into Nate’s rental car, passing him one of the two coffees he’d bought.

Getting out of Riley’s house in broad daylight had been a challenge.

But he’d used the alleyway and snuck in his backyard.

He’d changed clothes and drove by the diner and sure enough, Riley’s car had sat in the parking lot.

Nate opened the lid of his coffee and sipped.

“Yup.” He pointed Nate in the direction of Brian’s house. “I even got his work schedule, how good am I?”

Nate’s eyebrows rose. “That’s pretty good. Your hacking skills kind of freak me out to be honest.”

Ethan shrugged. “Not much to it, just got into the fire department’s database. I don’t think security is their top priority. Brian was off between the days Riley had been attacked and when we had found the snake.”

He buckled his seat belt and took a sip of the warm brew.

He hated that Riley was at work and that he couldn’t watch over her.

It was important for her to stick to her regular schedule, but part of him wanted to sit in the parking lot and be nearby if something happened.

But Brian would be at work in an hour. If he didn’t question him now, it would have to wait until tomorrow morning. They couldn’t wait that long.

“We could have our guy.” Nate backed out of the parking lot and pulled onto the road. “Michael is squeaky clean, but that other dude, Brian, has a restraining order from his ex-girlfriend.”

Ethan’s fingers gripped his coffee; the scalding paper cup burned his fingers. He didn’t flinch. “Shit.”

“Nothing too serious, there weren’t any charges. But she claimed he’d uttered threats and was stalking her.”

“When was this?”

“Eighteen months ago.”

Ethan exhaled through his nose. “I guess we’ll find out more in a few minutes.”

“Damn right.” Nate loosened the seat belt across his collarbone and cleared his throat. “I’ve been meaning to ask, how’s Maddie doing?” Nate’s voice squeaked.

Ethan’s eyebrows snapped together and he settled back in his seat and narrowed his eyes at Nate. His friend kept his gaze on the road.

“She’s good. A pain in the neck as usual. Hang a left at the light.” He gestured ahead, and then turned his attention back to Nate. “Why do you ask?”

Nate looked at him, his brow furrowed. “Just curious, man. I haven’t seen her since Aubrie’s wedding. What’s with the tone?” Nate’s voice had returned to normal and Ethan shook his head.

He was bent out of shape about Riley and it was starting to show.

“Sorry, dude. I have a lot on my mind. Thanks for asking. Truth is she’s driving me nuts.” He slammed back the rest of his coffee and let the liquid burn his throat. He set the empty cup in the holder next to him. “Did I tell you she wants to get into the bureau?”

Nate grunted. “Yeah, I could see that.”

Ethan shook his head, frustration seeping into his veins. “She’s too damn cocky.”

“That’s what you get for training her in combat hapkido and MMA. She’s a tough girl. I’m pretty sure she could kick your ass.”

“I don’t doubt it, but that’s her problem. She’s going to get herself hurt. I don’t know why she can’t be happy as a bank manager. She always wants more than what she has.”

“I take it you shut down her ambitions?”

Ethan clenched his hands into fists. “I didn’t shut down any of her ambitions for fuck’s sake. I’m trying to save her from a world of danger and devastation.”

“You know you can’t protect her forever, right? Besides, she doesn’t need your permission.”

Ethan massaged the spot between his eyes. He didn’t need to have this conversation again. Riley had already said the same damn thing.

“Let’s drop it. I’m getting a headache.”

“Sure. We’re here anyway.” Nate pulled up in front of the light blue colored duplex and slammed the car into park. “Holy shit. Is that—?”

Ethan’s gaze snapped to Brian’s porch. Sure enough, Riley stood talking to Brian in her work uniform. Anger coursed through him, igniting his veins.

“Yeah,” he hissed. He flung the door open and stalked down the sidewalk.

His eyes never left them. Brian stood with his shoulders tense, his hands clenched into fists and his gaze zeroed in on Riley.

“Riley,” Ethan barked. She whirled around as he advanced up the steps and he caught her wrist in his hand. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Her gaze shifted from him to Brian, but he didn’t miss the relief that relaxed her shoulders. “I, uh, had some time before I had to be at work. I just wanted to talk to Brian.” She straightened her spine and turned her attention back to Brian.

Ethan locked his jaw, biting back the irritation that prickled his skin. As if coming here alone wasn’t bad enough, she hadn’t even told him.

Ethan’s Glock nestled snugly against his spine, and his fingers itched to pull it out and press it to Brian’s reddening face.

“Can I help you?” Brian crossed his arms across his chest. His brown eyes turned chilly. He stood a couple of inches shorter than Ethan, but was in good shape.

“S’up? We just want to chat with you.” Nate flipped his badge out and Brian’s eyes widened. “Mind if we come in?”

Brian’s surfer boy tan faded. “Uh…do you have a warrant?”

Ethan’s blood pumped through him. He pressed his feet into the concrete step to resist the urge to shove Brian through the door.

“A warrant?” Nate nudged Ethan exaggeratedly. “No, bro. We aren’t here to raid. But if I feel I need a warrant you can bet I’ll get one. Are you going to let us in, or do you have something to hide?”

Brian’s face tensed and the corner of his eye twitched. He stepped back and the door fell from his fingers. “Of course not. Come in.”

Ethan moved Riley to the side and Nate followed Brian inside, leaving him with Riley.

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

Her eyes flared. “He’s not dangerous, I just—”

“Are you sure about that?”

Her eyes shifted over his face and she released a breath.

“He stalked and threatened his ex-girlfriend. Dammit, why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”

She wiggled her wrist and gripped his fingers in hers. “I came on impulse. When I got to work Jenny told me Brian had been asking about me. I needed to see him and gauge his reaction when I brought up Hanna.” Her teeth dragged over her bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”

The anger left his muscles like a plug being pulled from a drain. He smoothed his thumb over the back of her hand. “It’s all right, but please go to work now.”

Her feet planted firmly to the porch and she shook her head. “No. I have every right to be here. Besides,” She said, lifting her wrist to check her watch. “I have to be at work in twenty minutes. I’ll stay long enough to try to read him and then I’ll go.”

Ethan groaned and shook his head. Dammit, he didn’t have time to fight with her. As it stood, he was missing part of Nate’s interrogation.

“Fine, but things could get messy.”

She arched an eyebrow.

“I mean it. If you can’t handle it, then leave, okay?”

She shrugged. “Fine.”

He led her into the apartment and to the kitchen. Brian stood with his back against the counter, his arms folded over his chest.

“What’s this about?”

He met the hard glint in Brian’s eyes. Brian rested his palms on the counter on either side of him, and stretched his legs out in front of him.

A glance around the kitchen showed he was in the middle of cooking breakfast. Freshly popped toast sat in the toaster, bacon, and eggs steamed from an iron skillet on the stove.

Nate stepped up and Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, his feet braced apart. Brian’s glare waned. “I’m investigating the disappearance of Hanna Wilson. You were off this week, right?”

Brian’s eyes shifted from Ethan to Nate and back again. “Yeah, that’s right. I have to be at work in an hour; I just had four days off. What’s that got to do with Hanna?”

Ethan lifted his hand to scratch his jaw. “Do you own a silver Dodge truck?”

One of Brian’s eyebrows rose. “You can get my work schedule but you can’t find out the vehicle I drive?”

Ethan’s face tingled as a smirk tugged at his lips. “That’s fine if you don’t want to answer. If you think we don’t already know the answer, you’re not getting the point.”

Annoyance rippled Brian’s forehead. “I drive a red Ford F150. It’s in the garage if you want to see it.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Riley moved to step in front of Brian. “Where were you Tuesday night, between eight and nine p.m.?”

A thin band of sweat covered Brian’s brow. He snorted. “I can’t believe this. You want an alibi from me and I don’t even know what this is about.” His voice teetered on erratic.

Fire shot through Ethan. In one swift movement, he snagged the collar of Brian’s shirt and pressed his back roughly into the counter.

“If I find out you’re who’s been harassing Riley, I will kill you with my bare hands. Understood?” He spoke each word carefully.

Brian grabbed at his wrists. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, I swear,” he breathed.

“Set him down, E.” Nate clapped him on the shoulder and Ethan let Brian go. The muscles in Ethan’s forearms bunched.

Riley’s fingers rested on his arm, her feather-like touch eased his tension. “Ethan, I need to leave for work now.”

Ethan cracked his knuckles at his side and tore his attention from Brian. “All right. Text me as soon as you get there, please.”

She squeezed his forearm. “I will.” She lifted her hand in a silent good-bye to Nate and her eyes landed briefly on Brian before she turned toward the front door.

Ethan inhaled deeply through his nose while Nate stepped forward. “If you know anything about the disappearance of Hanna or the harassment of Riley, you’d better talk. Ethan here can be pretty persuasive.”

Brian’s lips pressed together. “I was at Drew’s Tuesday night. Ask anyone.”

Nate scratched his head and rested his foot on the top rung of one of the kitchen chairs, studying Brian.

Ethan’s tongue moved along the inside of his teeth. Brian had a bad attitude and was defensive as shit, but that didn’t make him guilty. “How long were you there?”

Brian shrugged. “Two, three hours. I had a couple beers, ate dinner, and played a few games of pool with some coworkers. I’d say I was home by ten thirty.”

Ethan slid his hands into his front pockets.

It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination that Brian could own a second vehicle and have it in storage.

But if he was at the bar that night and had witnesses, he couldn’t have run Riley off the road.

Unless he’d hired someone, which was another possibility.

He made a mental note to confirm his alibi with the staff at Drew’s and to do more digging into the friends Brian kept.

“You have any ex-girlfriends?” Ethan asked, keeping his words casual and his voice light.

The sweat that had collected at Brian’s forehead rolled down the side of his face. He exhaled in frustration. “Of course I do. What are you getting at?”

Ethan smiled. “We’re talking about Jessica.”

Brian’s eyes flew to Ethan. He wiped the sweat off his sideburn with the back of his hand. “Look, Jessica is a liar. She—”

Ethan cut his hand through the air, silencing him. “Save it,” he growled. “I’m watching you, dude. And until we find who’s behind Hanna’s disappearance and who’s been harassing Riley, you’re a suspect.”

Nate pulled his card out and slapped it on the table. “If anything useful comes to mind, gimme a call.”

Ethan straightened up and covered his fist with his hand. His fingers dug into his knuckles. “I strongly suggest you don’t tell anyone we were here.”

Brain swallowed and nodded. “I don’t want any trouble. Believe me, I want Hanna brought home and the bastard caught. I’d never want anything to happen to Riley, either. I’m eager to help in any way.”

The anger slowly ebbed out of Ethan. He met Nate’s face and his eyes reflected Ethan’s doubts. Ethan’s gut twisted. As much as he wanted to catch someone, he wanted to catch the right person. This wasn’t their guy.

“You can help by keeping this quiet. If we’re onto someone and he gets spooked, something bad could happen.

” Ethan massaged his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

If things didn’t go as planned and their guy didn’t come for Riley while she was home alone—or while he thought she was alone—Brian could be of help. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

Brian nodded.

Nate jerked his head toward the door. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

Ethan lifted his hand to wave. If he wasn’t determined as hell to find the bastard, he’d almost feel bad for interrogating Brian.

Outside, the heat beat down on him, making his T-shirt cling to his back. Nate rocked back on his heels. “You don’t think he’s our guy, do you?”

Ethan dragged his palm across his jaw. “As much as I’d like to think so, no. He doesn’t fit.”

“I agree. On paper, he seemed like a suspect. But I didn’t get that vibe from him. What the hell are we going to do now?”

Irritation rippled through him. Hitting a dead end at this stage was damn discouraging. Nate pulled out a pack of gum and popped a piece in his mouth. The light scent of spearmint filled the air as he held out the package. Ethan shook his head.

“And her neighbor, Michael, nothing concerning showed up for him?”

Nate shook his head slowly, dropped the gum back in his pocket, and pulled out his cell phone.

His thumb moved over the screen. “Nothing remotely interesting. He’s lived here ten years and is from North Dakota, owns a dental practice in town, he has no known relatives, though his mother died three years ago.

” Nate handed him the phone so he could read the email himself.

He stared at the screen after reading, his fingers dug into the phone. They couldn’t overlook him, even if he was as clean as a whistle he could still be guilty. Not all criminals had a rap sheet.

“He’s almost too clean.” He passed the phone back to Nate.

The corners of Nate’s mouth dropped into a frown.

“Let’s keep our eyes on him. I don’t see anything suspicious about him, but with him living right above her, he’d have the best opportunity.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Is there anywhere we can grab some takeout? I know we can’t be seen together, but I’m starving.”

“Yeah, I can get us breakfast sandwiches and we can eat in the car.”

“We’d better start compiling another group of suspects. These two are looking pretty grim.”

Ethan nodded and slid into the passenger seat while Nate rounded the vehicle. A deep throb started behind his temple. If he’d overlooked someone, they were fucked.