Page 2 of Logan

“It’s a long story. Did you hear about that pedophile ring that was brought down last month?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t public news, but it was definitely the talk of the office for a while.” I sat up so suddenly in my chair I thought the poor piece of furniture would collapse under me. “Oh, shit. Was that you?”

“Yep. Like I said, long story.”

“I’ll bet.” The barely started paperwork glared up at me, waiting to be finished. I eagerly pushed it aside for the much more interesting conversation I’d found. “I’m guessing, since you’re calling me and you brought up the topic, that you need my help with something concerning that case?”

“Sort of. It’s…” Another heavy silence passed, this one even longer than the first. “…complicated. I’d rather not explain over the phone. Can you come by the office today?”

I didn’t even need to check my calendar, even though I was fairly certain I didn’t have anything scheduled this evening. Even if I had plans, Sebastian’s serious tone would have convinced me to cancel them. “Yeah. I should be able to come over around six. I’ll bring dinner. You still like that Thai place over by the park?”

“Yeah, sounds great.” Sebastian’s voice was fainter than it was before, as if he’d moved away from the phone or been distracted by something. “And Logan. Thanks.”

“No problem. I’m always glad for an excuse to get takeout.” I kept my tone as casual as possible, trying not to let myself get too worried before I even knew what was going on.

After Sebastian hung up, I sat staring at the dark screen of the phone for a few minutes, lost in thought.

The discovery of a major pedophile ring right in our own swampy backyard had been a shock, but I thought it was over. Baton Rouge’s mayor had immediately set plans into motion to take care of the problem and make sure something like that never happened again.

So, what could still be worrying Sebastian so much?

“Hey,” Roland tossed the same paper ball I’d thrown at him back at me, bouncing it off my head. “What’s up? Problem?”

“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I hope not, but… I really don’t know.”

CHAPTER 2

Logan

Alias Investigations usedto be only a few minutes from the FPA offices where I worked. However, about a month ago Sebastian and Damien had moved to a different location. As I drove to the new location, I realized that the timing lined up with the pedophile ring they had brought down. The two incidents must be connected somehow, and I was already itching for answers.

I’d originally met the Roth brothers right after getting out of the Air Force. The young men were on the run from the Italian Mafia and in desperate need of some clandestine transportation. I owned a small personal plane, which I kept stored in a hangar just outside the city, and offered to fly them while keeping their names off the flight logs. Since then, they’d called on my services a few times, but this was the first time they needed my help as a detective rather than a pilot.

Alias Investigations’ new address turned out to be on the other side of town, where property was much more expensive. It was an impressive building, but it only gave me more questions.

How had they afforded this, and why move in the first place?

All of those questions were immediately pushed aside when I stepped into the new office and was met with yet another surprise.

There were three desks. Sebastian sat behind one, and one must have been meant for Damien, but the third desk was occupied by a man I’d never seen before.

“Hi,” I said as I sat the takeout food I’d brought on a nearby table. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Logan Hollingsworth.”

The unfamiliar man stared up at me with a stern expression, like he was a disapproving librarian, and I was an unruly kid that had dared make too much noise.

“Gabe Long.”

I waited for further explanation, but none came. The man, Gabe, was completely stoic, as if his name alone should have been all the explanation I needed. I did vaguely recall hearing the name from Mason before in relation to some of the FPA’s previous cases but couldn’t place exactly which ones.

Sebastian stood from his desk and headed over to me, a tired smile on his face.

“Don’t mind Gabe. He doesn’t like to talk much, but he’s been a big help recently.”

Gabe’s odd attitude was immediately forgotten the moment I saw Sebastian stand up.

“What the hell happened to you?”

Sebastian walked with a heavy limp, and with a cane clutched in one hand for balance.

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