Page 98 of What a Wolf Wants
Afterward, Ethan talked to Officer Davis. “So whose idea was it to start taking graft money? Yours or Baker’s?”
Davis held his stomach, was pale, and looked like he was feeling sick. He finally released his breath and said, “Baker. He said he talked to Agent Cohen, and he was convinced this was going to be a moneymaker and we would never get caught. Baker was really adamant at the last that we weregoing to get caught and that’s when Kroner shot him. I nearly died. Baker and I went on fishing and hunting trips. We had been best of friends for years. Our kids are about the same ages. They played together all the time.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I agreed to do this with him. Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s coming out of it and he’s testifying against Kroner and the others.”
Davis nodded. “I will too.”
Once Ethan talked to several of the other men who worked for Kroner, he had enough testimonies to put Kroner, Oakley, Thor, and Benny away for life. The rest of the men involved would get prison time too. Now Ethan and his team just had to catch Kroner.
***
Charlene was thrilled when Ethan arrived home. Brad, Josh and his brother, and Quincy and his brother said they would see them later and returned to Leidolf’s ranch for the celebration. Ethan, Charlene, Tori, Adam, Renault, and Noah were seated in the living room in Charlene and Ethan’s house. They had a lot of questions for Renault.
“Okay, we want to know exactly what the deal was with you going to Oakley’s house and speaking with someone there,” Ethan said to Renault. “Noah and I were watching the house for any sign of Kroner or Oakley to appear, and lo and behold, here you show up.”
“You had his place under surveillance?” Renault sounded shocked and he was sweating a little now. “I told you I wastrying to pretend I wanted a deal like fellow agents Pete Cohen and Manx Ryerson had. Of course that was if they had really been the moles but I suspected they were. Kroner’s thugs weren’t buying it, but they said either he or Oakley would determine if I was really willing to play the game. I suspected to allow me to join them, they would have had me kill somebody and then they would witness it. Just like Baker did when he killed Kroner’s competition.”
“Once we saw you go to Oakley’s house, we knew Grainger hadn’t sent you,” Ethan said. “He would have told us he was having you help us with the investigation. And he would have told you about us already being on the case.”
“You did a good job. I never saw you,” Renault said.
“That was the whole point,” Noah said.
“And you. Great work on being undercover with Ethan. I never had a clue that you were here with him. I thought you were really in Florida. The sound of the ocean in the background when we spoke had me convinced of it.”
“I still think the business with the roses you sent me was suspicious,” Charlene said.
Renault sighed. “I didn’t know where Ethan was living, but I easily discovered where you were staying. The two of you were getting together, and then it was like I said. I had someone following me. I wasn’t sure if Ethan would want to stick his neck out for me when he was retired, but I had to take the chance.”
“Why did you make up the other story?” Charlene asked.
“I thought it sounded more reasonable, but in hindsight the truth was better,” Renault said.
“You can’t believe how annoyed I was that you thought someone was following you and could have led him to Charlene’s house,” Ethan said.
“I really believed I had kept him from tailing me to the house. I had made multiple switchbacks and driven to hell and back. I didn’t see any sign of him when I made it to Charlene’s place. I had to tell you I was in trouble. I figured that one of Kroner’s men was going to kill me. I couldn’t do it on my own. In no way did I believe I would have brought any harm to Charlene.”
Charlene said, “It gave Ethan a good excuse to stay with me.”
Renault smiled. “See? I did you a favor, Ethan. But I truly would never have come here if I had known anyone would follow me. At least you were prepared with all your additional muscle watching over Charlene when Cohen and Kroner’s men arrived at the house.”
“Yeah, I was lucky. I’m glad Ferret came through on the warehouse tip,” Ethan said.
“I’m just glad we could be there to help out too,” Adam said. “If we hadn’t been tracking Baker, we wouldn’t have been there in time.”
Tori agreed.
“Yeah, thanks. Great work, everyone,” Ethan said.
Then they said their goodbyes and Renault left to return to Portland. Adam was going to Portland to pick up his mate, Sierra, and head to the ranch. Noah and Tori drove their own vehicles out there.
Once everyone was gone, Ethan gathered Charlene inhis arms. “I can’t believe the rogue agents put their families through all of this.”
“They didn’t think they would ever get caught.” Charlene kissed his jaw. “Speaking of families…”
“We have the perfect place for children.”
“Just my thought. And anytime is good for me.”
