Page 376 of Sticks and Stones
When Harrison touched his arm, and stared into his eyes, both Ethan and Gene knew one thing.
Someone had a sugar daddy.
AN OLD ONE.
“My love, I have no idea how my name came up. Apparently, they were in my class, and my TA. I was blindsided by this. I saw them on the security cameras loitering around our cars.”
Gene wanted to laugh.
Loitering?
That was funny.
“All I saw was these two casing our cars. I thought they were trying to steal them.”
Ethan stared.
Steal his cars?
Really?
Harrison kept going.
“I don’t know every one of my students. I have over three hundred. As for my TA, kids dropout of school all of the time, I have more than one that helps me.”
Ethan was curious.
“I’m sorry, Sir, can we have your name? It’s for our file and investigation. Now that you’ve joined us, we have to keep it on the up and up.”
The man didn’t hold back, but he absolutely, positively didNOTlook happy to comply.
They weren’t shocked.
Old money and scandal were not good in the same sentence in their social circles.
“I’m Stafford Townsend III. Harrison is my lover,” he stated. “In fact, we’re soon to be married. I’m sure there has to be some kind of a mistake.”
Oh, there was.
That this man thought that Harrison wasn’t involved, and that he was marrying him for love.
Where was that annoying college student now, so Gene could show him whatOLDwas.
“Well, congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, Mr. Townsend. We’ll try to keep it short,” Gene said. “I know that you likely don’t want us here, especially before your wedding,” Gene admitted, making it seem like if they were seen there, people would talk.
Ethan was amused because Gene was playing exactly how he needed to. Both men looked nervous and twitchy.
Now, they needed to see why.
Gene continued.
“Harrison isn’t being cooperative. We have to do this interview, since it’s our jobs. At first, this case was being handled by the local law, but unfortunately, with three brutal homicides, drug implications, and human trafficking, the FBI tends to get called in.”
Gene was making it sound the absolute worst that he possibly could. He was betting they would tell him anything to get him the hell out of there.
At the word‘trafficking’, Stafford sat down.
“I’m curious to hear this,” he said. “I’d love to hear how you’ve connected my significant other to the deceased men.”
