* * *
When the two young men approached Rachel and Luke Paulsen, Burt extended his hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen, I don’t know if you remember us.”
“Burt and Kevin, right?” Luke shook their hands. “Burt, your parents were here earlier.”
“Sir, we were remiss in not keeping in touch with Cassie when she and Garett broke up. We are so sorry for your loss. Cassie was a good person,” Burt offered their sympathy. Kevin kept his head down.
Guilty behavior, Ian watched and noted. Luke waved him over.
The two young men stiffened. “Boys, this is Ian Chase. He was Cassie’s boyfriend.” After introductions, the young men extended their condolences.
“I’m sure Cassie would appreciate you being here. You two are hard to catch up with. I need to ask you a couple of questions. I assume you knew what happened to Cassie before Garett and she ended their relationship.”
Burt shrugged. “It was a tough time for both of them.” His tone was flat.
Ian bit his cheek. “Well, it was for her. I promised Cassie I would help her get answers. I am keeping that promise. The night she was attacked, where were you?”
“Houseman’s,” Kevin mumbled, looking everywhere but Ian’s eyes.
“Together,” Burt answered, too rehearsed for Ian’s liking.
“This is not the place. After this is over, I will sit down with you. I have some questions about Garett.” Ian loomed over them.
“Mr. Chase, we liked Cassie. We’ll be happy to do anything that allows her to rest in peace,” Kevin overcommitted to his statement, setting off Ian’s internal lie detector.
* * *
Eagle’s Talon personnel were stretched thin. Colby, doing double duty, hid and used a camera to document the comings and goings at the wake. He noticed one young man speaking in an active way to another. Looking through the high-powered lens, he tried to read their lips. It was the only positive that came out of being too close to a mortar that ruined his shoulder and left him deaf for six weeks.
Nah, you’re paranoid. It’s just horrible coincidences. Seb was stupid, and Bobby was a freak. You know he probably killed Phyllis. They did all that other stuff without us.
Colby waited for them inside. Slipping from his hiding spot, he moved to where they were standing. “Got ya.” Colby scooped up the cigarette butt and texted Kieran.
The shutter continued to whir, documenting the Beltway power brokers vying for attention. Reporters prowled the front entrance. It saddened him some of the mourners were just morbidly curious.
* * *
Adrienne and Bradford Whitman entered the big room. Due to the large crowd, they managed to avoid Cassie’s brothers, but they couldn’t avoid Luke, Rachel, and Ian. Bradford offered his hand. “Chase, Rachel, Luke. Such a terrible tragedy. That poor child, she never caught a break.”
“What happened?” Adrienne asked.
Child?“A home invasion. A bullet hit her oxygen tank,” Ian said.
Adrienne pursed her lips. “I pray it was fast. Burns are painful injuries.” She turned and walked away.
“Ade, that wasn’t right. She just lost her child,” Bradford said. After they paid their respects, Adrienne became consumed in conversation with one of the other mourners.
“Mr. Whitman, may I speak with you a moment please?” Ian approached him while his wife was distracted.
“What can I do for you, son?”
“I was wondering if you’d heard from Garett.”
“No, nothing. I might need to secure your company’s services to search for him.”
Ian nodded. “Mr. Whitman, I promised Cassie I would find answers about who hurt her six years ago. I intend to keep that promise. I’d like to come by your office and discuss some things.”
“I don’t know what I didn’t tell the police, but for Cassiopeia, anything.” They shared a firm handshake.
