Nothing to Fear by Karen Rose Page B

connection other than Rickman. After you called to say that it definitely wasn’t Cheryl, I got Stan and Randi together to brainstorm other women who could have had a reason to plan a kidnapping. Randi took one look at Stan’s guilty face and went ballistic. Leaped at Stan, pounding him, scratching his face.”
    Ethan blinked in surprise. “She accused him of having an affair?”
    Clay’s sigh was pained. “Does ‘You fucking sonofabitch, why couldn’t you keep your dick in your pants’ count?”
    Ethan coughed. “Yeah, I guess it does. What did you do?”
    “I pulled Randi off Stan and made her take something for her nerves. She had quite a collection, by the way, Ethan. Tranquilizers, antidepressants, you name it.”
    “Wonderful.”
    “Then Stan and I had a little talk. He came clean with a list of names.”
    “Names?” Ethan winced. “As in more than one affair?”
    “As in more than ten,” Clay said flatly, his tone clearly communicating his disgust. “And those were the ones whose names Stan knew. Seems like our boy Stan has a bit of an addiction. He’d promised Randi he’d stopped some time ago, but he lied.”
    “Imagine that,” Ethan muttered, glad he wasn’t there with Stan. He might let Randi finish what she’d started. Hell, he’d do it himself.
    “I’ll start checking financials on the women and do the background checks for priors.”
    “What about Stan’s business associates?” They were interested in anyone who had been disgruntled. Anyone who could have benefited financially from a ransom.
    “Nothing so far. I’m still working through his list of suppliers and customers. There are a lot of them. I’ll let you know when I have something.”
    Ethan hesitated over the next question. “What about Alicia Samson?” It was the name on the credit card the woman had shown in the Morgantown copy store when she’d sent her e-mail, the only time she’d shown an ID.
    “Samson’s a student at the university in Morgantown. I called her place a few times yesterday, but didn’t get any answer. I’ll keep trying today, but it doesn’t look good.”
    “No, it doesn’t. Damn.” Another missing person on his conscience. He could only hope her wallet had been stolen and she’d spent the week on vacation. It was summer after all. “See if you can find out where she works and if she’s been there since Thursday morning. If not, report her missing to the local authorities. Anonymously, of course.”
    “That was my plan,” Clay said. “I called in a marker and got an old pal to run the ballistics on that slug from the bedroom wall.”
    “Timing for the analysis?”
    “Two, three days. Maybe four.”
    “This marker you called in, can he be trusted to be discreet?”
    “She always has been before.”
    She. Well, that made sense. “Old flame?”
    “More like a little spark. But no hard feelings so she’s willing to do this for me.”
    “And the shotgun in the shed had nothing?”
    “Nothing that I can see without disturbing the scene. Vaughn’s got to call the authorities, Ethan. Today. That body out there is putrefying. Nobody will believe he just discovered it.”
    Stan was supposed to have done it yesterday. Ethan felt a surge of anger that he hadn’t. “Tell him that. And if he doesn’t comply, report it yourself, anonymously.” It was part of their deal. Stan had to report McMillan’s body to the authorities. That young man had been murdered. He deserved more than having his body dragged out to sea.
    “Maybe the local coroner will find something,” Clay muttered. “We could use a lead.”
    “As I recall the local coroner is a retired ME out of Baltimore. Smart old guy. He should be able to help.” Ethan straightened with considerable difficulty. The security guard was headed back his way. “I have to go. I’ll call you all again later.”
    “Ethan, go get some sleep.” Clay hesitated. “Are you all right?”
    Ethan hissed out an impatient breath. “No