Part 21 (2/2)
Angel smiled and didn't answer.
”I smell wood burning from a fireplace or a campfire,” he said. ”The crickets have started their evening chorus, and one is slightly off key. Wind is whispering through the tree branches, a sound I never tire of. And I love the feel of the breeze on my face and in my hair, don't you?”
It amazed Angel how she had used her eyes to paint a picture for him, but Ethan had used what senses he had to describe the same thing. The tone of his voice had a hypnotic feel. It sounded like music. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ethan's handsome face bathed in the pale orange of the sun and his long dark hair tousled in the breeze. For a brief moment, he looked happy, until his expression changed, and the misery returned.
”The only thing that makes this trip tolerable...is you,” he said. ”Being blind makes it hard to block bad memories. Those are always with me. I can't distract my mind from them. This place belonged to the man who violated my privacy and insinuated himself into my life like a vile disease. If he had something to do with Olivia's death, I don't know if I could forgive myself. I can't help feeling that I betrayed her somehow, but if coming here brings closure to what happened to her, it's the right thing to do...even if it's hard on me.”
Ethan reminded Angel that she had come with him for a reason. Even if she and Gabe had other motives for doing it, Ethan had a personal stake that would change his life. She had to remember every murder had a devastating and lasting ripple effect that radiated out to affect many others.
Being a cop working the case didn't make her immune either.
”We'll find who killed Olivia, Ethan. Count on it.”
Angel usually refrained from making promises on the outcome to an investigation, but in this case she was determined to make it happen. It didn't matter if Olivia had deserved Ethan's love. That wasn't for her or anyone else to say. What mattered was that a girl had been murdered and her life taken. Ethan had deserved to be loved, and someone had destroyed what he had for their own cruel reasons. They took Olivia's life as if she meant nothing, except a means to an end they had yet to figure out.
Gabe had been right. There were too many players with motive to risk a clever killer getting away with murder. They had to give the killer not only a good reason to come to Lake Zurich, but they also had to make it look easy, as if they'd let their guard down. Gabe had set things in motion.
He'd contacted the property management company that kept the place rented for McFarland during certain times of the year. A company rep promised to leave a key under the front doormat for her. Gabe had also given the Lake Zurich PD a heads up that they had an operation in the area and that the location would be a stake out. When they offered a.s.sistance, her partner asked for one patrol car to discreetly monitor the road that led to the property and serve as back up.
Angel had a search to conduct, with Gabe watching her back.
Even if she hadn't told Ethan their whole motive for coming to McFarland's place, Angel felt justified in doing whatever it took to expose whoever had butchered a young girl and find justice for Ethan and Olivia.
Angel had Ethan take her arm, and she led him toward the front door. He had his rucksack on his shoulder, and he carried her overnight bag, too. The key was under the welcome mat as promised. After she opened the door, Ethan squeezed her elbow.
”Does it look as nice as it smells?” he asked. ”I smell pine cones...and something floral.”
”It's beautiful in here, too. Real cozy.”
She described the place to him. The lake house cottage had a large stone hearth that dominated the main living area. The wood burning fireplace had been set up, ready for a match to get a warm blaze going. An inviting leather sectional surrounded the hearth and looked comfortable, with a beautiful view of the lake through floor to ceiling windows that spanned one wall. A staircase led to a second floor where the bedrooms were. With warm paint colors, designer touches, and a chef's kitchen, the bungalow looked spotless and homey without being pretentious.
”Looks like the bedrooms are upstairs. Let's check them out, and you can get settled and freshen up,” she said. ”How does pizza sound? I saw a place as we drove in. A sign said they delivered.”
”I never say no to pizza. Order what you like on it. I'm not picky.”
Angel gave Ethan the largest bedroom with the en suite master bath, and she took the farthest bedroom away from him. She wouldn't sleep tonight anyway, but imagining him next door would've made things worse. After they settled in, she ordered a pizza to be delivered from DiPiero's Ristorante on Main Street. She hadn't eaten since breakfast and once the pie came, the enticing aroma of the combo pizza triggered her hunger, even when she thought she couldn't eat.
While they ate, Angel kept her eyes alert, looking for the possible places McFarland would've hidden his surveillance stash. Gabe had told her how the man had hidden his gear in his home and she had a good idea where to look in his lake house. After she targeted her first locations to search, she let her mind wander to Gabe.
She knew what the game plan was, but something about not having Gabe with her had put her on edge. The idea had been for him to watch her back from a discreet distance, to draw the killer out. Local cops were asked to stay clear unless they were called in, but she didn't like anyone else covering Gabe's sweet backside except for her.
”Are you okay?” Ethan asked.
Angel had to smile. For someone without his eyesight, the guy could be d.a.m.ned perceptive.
”Yeah, I've just got a lot on my mind. It's quiet here. I like it, but it's different than the city, you know?”
”I hate that this place belonged to McFarland, but I love being here...with you,” he said. ”Olivia would've hated it. The quiet would have driven her crazy, I'm afraid.”
He finished his last slice of pizza and wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.
”Has the sun gone down?” he asked. ”I hear an owl outside...and the temperature has dropped a little.”
”Yeah, it's dark out now. The moon looks beautiful over the lake,” she said. ”After I clean up, you should sit on the deck...while I search. You might want to wear a jacket, if you brought one. I'll let you know when I find something.”
Ethan's expression took on shadows after she'd reminded him why they'd come.
”With you here, I suddenly feel ashamed of what you might see on those recordings,” he told her. ”I'm not embarra.s.sed over what I find erotic. There were other women before Olivia. They didn't judge me. They taught me what pleased a woman...and I learned how to ask for what I needed, too. It can be a beautiful experience.”
”If you feel that way, why are you ashamed?”
Angel knew she had opened a door to a very frank discussion she wasn't sure she should have with Ethan, but he made s.e.x easy to talk about.
”Not many would understand, that's all. And I suppose that I'm afraid you might judge me...or think less of me. I know we've only just met, but it matters what you think...about me.”
”I'm here to do my job, Ethan.”
”Is that the only reason you let me come with you? The job?” He didn't wait for her to answer. ”Whenever we're alone like this, I feel a connection between us. Am I wrong? The other night on the phone, it felt like you were there with me...in bed. Talking to you helped me sleep. I didn't feel alone.”
Ethan didn't make any move to touch her. She stared into his mesmerizing eyes and let her gaze drift to his full lips. With him being blind, she didn't have to play coy with him. He oozed sensuality without doing a thing. Any attraction she felt had to come from her.
He'd admitted to feeling the same, but could she trust him? Olivia had trusted him.
”Are you trying to seduce me, Ethan?”
He hesitated for only a heartbeat before he said, ”Yes.”
Chapter 16.
”Come with me.” Angel reached for Ethan's hand. His fingers entwined with hers and felt warm against her skin.
”Where are we going?” he asked with a faint smile on his lips.
”To your room.”
She led him up the stairs and took her time. She expected him to be more c.o.c.ksure of his seductive ways, but from the look on his face, Ethan appeared unsteady.
Vulnerable.
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