Page 62 of What a Wolf Wants
“Hey, thanks for having me over for lunch,” Renault said.
“I’m serious about you taking a vacation. Psychologically, it’s not good to feel everyone could be a threat, and if Kroner or one of his cohorts is following you, that’s not good,” Ethan said. “Especially since you don’t feel you can trust anyone to be there for you if they come for you.”
“Thanks.”
Then Ethan frowned. “Did the Mercedes that’s been tailing you follow you here?” All they needed was for Kroner or his criminal friends to learn Ethan was staying here and then Charlene could be more at risk.
“I don’t believe so. It followed me to Shelby Bay and then I lost it when I left there.”
“So the Mercedes followed you all the way from Portland to Shelby Bay?”
“Yeah. There aren’t a lot of ways to reach Shelby Bay, and though I tried to ditch him, he kept finding me. That’s why I knew I had a tail. I’m sorry. I didn’t think of what that might mean for Charlene, but I don’t believe anyone followed me here. I was really taking all kinds of detours and backtracking to get here,” Renault said, sounding sincere.
“Still, that worries me.”
“I can handle myself,” Charlene said, sounding annoyed that they would treat her like some defenseless heroine.
“I have an idea though.” Ethan thought if he could catch the bastard who had been following Renault, it would be worth it. Especially if it meant stopping him from going after Charlene, if he knew Renault had been to her house. “Oceanside Grocery is five miles from here.Go there and I’ll meet you. I’m driving a dark-green sedan, Honda Accord. I’ll go in, grab a couple of things from the store, get some gas in case it takes a while to ensure you’re not being followed, and then leave. You’ll do something similar and then drive back to Portland. I’ll follow you halfway there and see if anyone’s trailing you. If you pick up a tail, I’ll nail his ass. If nothing happens in the one and a half hours I’m following you, I’ll return to Oyster Bay.”
Renault looked relieved. Ethan was glad he had come up with the plan to protect his back. But he didn’t want to leave Charlene alone. Calling on Noah to come there and watch over her probably wouldn’t go over that big with Charlene. Still, he had to talk to her about it. He was sure Noah would be all for it.
“Okay, I’ll meet you at the store then,” Ethan said.
“Thanks, Ethan. I really, really owe you for this,” Renault said.
“No trouble at all. Maybe we can catch this guy and end his stalking.” And put an end to the stalker coming after Charlene if that was next on his agenda.
“But you’re no longer with the force,” Renault suddenly said, as if remembering that fact.
“We’ll figure it out one way or another, but I’ll watch your back.”
“Okay, I’m off.” Renault left the house then.
Ethan gave Charlene a hug. “Are you all right with all of this?”
“Yeah. You be safe though.”
“What if Noah stays with you while I’m gone?”
Charlene smiled. “No. I’m fine. If I feel like I’m in trouble, I’ll call Noah and he can be here in a couple of minutes, as close as the DEA house is to ours.”
“All right.” Ethan kissed Charlene, hoping she’d be fine on her own. He wanted to make Noah aware of what was going on, but he didn’t want to upset Charlene. He called Noah on Bluetooth as he headed for the grocery store. “Hey, we have a development.”
“Is Renault the mole?”
“He said he was looking into this himself without Grainger’s approval.”
“Hell, he’s going to get himself killed.”
“Yeah, but also from what he says, the car that we spotted at Oakley’s house has been following him. The black Mercedes. I’m meeting up with Renault at the grocery store and then following him halfway to Portland. If I see the Mercedes, I’m going to try to catch the driver and see what’s going on,” Ethan said.
“So someone’s been following Renault and he went straight to Charlene’s house.”
“Yeah, but Charlene said she’ll be fine.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
“Keep out of sight. I’m glad you’re going to be there for her if she needs you, but I don’t want Charlene pissed off at me if she thinks I sent you to protect her.”
