Free BREAKING STEELE (A Sarah Steele Thriller) by Ellie Aaron; Ann Patterson Page A

WAY THROUGH the reception area, I stopped at the front desk. A young woman clicked away at a keyboard and looked up at me when I cleared my throat.
    “Hello, I have to run some documents out to a—” I paused and looked at my notepad and pretended to read. “Heather Dade, I was told to get her address from you.”
    The brown-eyed receptionist smiled and started typing again. I made sure to cover my visitor badge with my purse and waited. Without a word she wrote something on a sticky note and handed it to me.
    Taking it, I thanked the woman and hurried out the front door.
Heather Dade
610 Mockingbird Lane
Eagle, ID 83713
    It was a long shot but her name had come up too many times not to follow up, and Joshua ran into a dead end trying to find her.
    I frowned as my mind reeled with questions. Taking out a pen and notebook, I jotted down a few of the questions right away before I forgot. There was only one thing on my mind now: find this person and see what she had to say about Hank Williams.
    As I walked to my car, I rolled my neck from one way to the other and closed my eyes. The restless nights were getting to me. I was going to have to learn how to tame that nocturnal side, or I might break.
    I typed in the address on the GPS in my phone. It was on the other side of town. I wanted Joshua with me on this one. We could combine our information on the way there.
    And he had a face anyone would trust—those round cheeks and big brown eyes—most people were putty in his hands. No one suspected that he usually had multiple schemes and motivations behind each of his questions.

Chapter 22
    WILLIAMS HAD MONEY, HE had power, and this afforded him the means to hire out. But like his father used to say, “If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself.” Hunting was a solo job, it was a sport really—and one he enjoyed, but the mess, cleaning up and doing the dirty work, that’s what he paid others to do.
    “You see, Marco, if you would’ve done your job, if you’d just once done what I told you to do, this would not be happening.” Marco squirmed, but Williams held him down with a knee in the chest.
    “I’m sorry, you said fix it, so I did.” Blood trickled from his nose and his eyes darted to Williams and to the eight-inch knife Williams was holding.
    “No, Marco, you didn’t fix it, you fixed nothing. If you fixed it then why is she still snooping around, hmm? Tell me, Marco, why is she still alive if you fixed it?”
    In a way he was glad Marco misunderstood him. He needed this, needed to feel again, to see the fear. It fed him like a drug. He was addicted.
    “No, boss, you said fix it, not fix them.” Williams hit Marco in the neck with the palm of his hand. Marco gagged and tried to get free, but Williams was a strong man.
    “Don’t tell me what I said.You failed me and now I have to do it. I have to do your job, Marco. How do you think that makes me feel?”
    Marco couldn’t speak. He spit out more blood and Williams pressed harder into his chest, feeling a rib snap. This felt almost as good as a good scotch …
    “Marco, Marco, Marco …” He lowered his tone as if calming a child. “You made a mistake, it is okay.” Marco stopped struggling and looked up at Williams. A new hope filled his eyes. This was the best part, giving them hope, making them think that they might live.
    “Just tell me, Marco, did you do your job? All I want is the truth and this will all be over, you will be free.Just tell me the truth.”
    Marco was crying now and the sight filled Williams with glee. “No, I didn’t, I failed you.”
    “Lie!” Williams screamed and thrust the blade into Marco’s side. “You weak little man, you did just what I told you and now you are lying to me?” Pulling the knife out, he stabbed him three more times, once in the left side and two in the right. Blood pooled out of Marco’s mouth and Williams stood to watch. His lungs would fill up and he would drown, it was not a