Page 63 of Facing the Enemy
“How did he know we were pregnant?” Ethan said. “Believe me,the threat got my attention. I walked back inside, told him I had no interest in his money, and asked him why my business appealed to his investor. He said if I had no use for the money, then we’d take a different approach on a partnership. Before I could form the words about what he meant, he left the table. I paid the bill, so there’s no way to trace him through payment.”
I stopped Ethan. “Most restaurants have security cams in place. What’s the name and date?”
“Morton’s steak house on Westheimer. January, I think. I’ll confirm with my calendar later.”
“Thanks. Please, continue.”
“A week went by without hearing from the so-called Smith character, and I assumed the threat had been someone’s idea of a bad joke. But I didn’t tell anyone. The man had information about me and my family, and it scared me when I didn’t know how or where he’d gotten it. My wife and I do our best to keep our private life off social media. The man had given me a business card, but the website didn’t exist, and the phone number went nowhere.” Ethan breathed steady, held firm eye contact, and was upset.
“He contacted you again?”
“Yes, sir. He showed up at my office and insisted we talk outside. I wanted to know why, and he said our conversation must be private, and it was being recorded for security purposes. That sounded like a line of garbage to me, but his tone and my past dealings with him caused me to comply. I hadn’t forgotten his threats. We talked in the courtyard of my office building or rather I listened. He told me the partnership offer had been retracted. At first I was relieved, then he claimed to have a new deal. The person he represented demanded information about those whom my company serviced, or my family faced extinction.” Ethan shuddered. “The man showed no emotion, as though he’d been programmed like a machine.”
“I’m sorry, Ethan. Extortion is a serious offense,” I said. “What kind of information did he want?”
“Security codes to override alarm systems ... across several states. His ultimatums were criminal offenses, and I told him I’dhad enough.” Ethan lowered his head and pressed his fingers into his temples. “He pulled a gun on me and said the negotiations were over. I’d do what he said, when he said, or face the consequences. I called his bluff. Told him I’d already gone to the police. He pulled up a photo of my wife sitting on our patio by the outdoor firepit and Carson shooting baskets at a friend’s house. That’s all I needed. He handed me a phone and said it couldn’t be traced and he’d be calling. After that, he’d phone me for a meetup somewhere, or he’d pick me up at my house. Whenever we met in person, he took both my phones, searched me, and kept my devices until we were finished. He entered the accounts his boss requested on my phone and instructed me to text the related codes to a specific number. Never the same. I assumed his methods eliminated me having a tracker of some sort installed on me or my phones.”
“Right.” I showed him a pic of the man who attempted to gain access to Jack’s room. “Is this the man?”
Ethan gripped his fist. “Yes. Who is he?”
“Our techs are working on his ID. Did Smith ever give you his boss’s name?”
“No,” Ethan said. “I’ve heard him take calls from someone he called sir. I assumed the boss must be a man.”
“Maybe. Depends on the chain of command. When was the last time Smith contacted you?”
“A week ago. I expect a call any day.”
“How many accounts have you provided?” I said.
“Thirty-seven. Across many states.”
“Residences or businesses?”
“Thirty were homes and seven small businesses.”
“What kind of small businesses?” I said.
“Drugstores, pharmacies.”
“Michael and Sarah Addington’s home?”
“Yes. I read their baby was recovered.”
“They were extremely lucky. We need the list of clients before you leave.” When Ethan opened his mouth to speak, I held up my palm. “You’re an accessory to several violent crimes where innocent babieshave been kidnapped. A former agent lost her brother when she was the target. Two women were found executed in a restaurant fire, and a man died from smoke inhalation. An attack on an FBI special agent has him listed in critical condition. You’re facing those charges and about a dozen more. Answering our questions is the prudent response here. You have yet to tell us what happened the night of Trenton Jacobs’s death.”
“Carson is innocent of any wrongdoing,” Ethan sputtered. “I swear, he’s done nothing wrong.”
“Then let’s hear your side of the story.”
“I’ll do whatever you ask. I already despise myself for all those people who’ve been hurt and killed. And sometime, I’d like to share the truth with my wife and son. But in answer to your question, to protect Carson, I made it sound like I’d been a part of the pedestrian murder.”
“How?”
“Carson followed me and Smith the night the man was hit. Smith picked me up in his Lexus, then we changed vehicles to an SUV. We waited outside a high-rise apartment building until a woman left on foot. He followed her until she went into a restaurant a block later.”
My face heated and I lifted a finger. “Do you know the woman’s identity?”
