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  A Secret To Kill FOr

  Secret & Lies Book 1

  T.N. Lowe

  A Secret To Kill For Secret & Lies Book 1 © 2018 by T.N. Lowe. All Rights Reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Author Name

  Visit my website at www.tnlowe1.com

  ISBN- 9781983215315

  About The book

  Secrets can ruin lives, break bonds, and destroy families.

  Some secrets are so important they are worth killing for.

  Erin had everything she ever wanted, her dream job as a FBI agent like her father and grandfather, assisting the lead agent in a head line catching serial murder case, and a boyfriend who loves her.

  Until she lost everything. The boyfriend, the journalist who she thought loves her, lied on a story causing Erin to lose everything she worked for.

  After rebuilding her life in a quaint mountain town in Colorado, Erin learns her family has a dark secret she was never supposed to learn.

  The Messenger?

  The serial murderer she was hunting.

  For my Mom.

  Thank you for all you do. For all your love and support.

  CONTENTS

  About The book

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Epilog

  Acknowledgements

  OTHER Titles By T.N. Lowe

  About the Author

  The greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

  —Roald Dahl

  Chapter One

  April

  Washington D.C.

  “Erin, can you please come into my office,” my supervisor Paul asks. I hang up the phone, push away from the desk, and walk down the hall to his office. What the hell does he want now? If he tells me one more time we need to review the evidence I’m going to scream. I can only look at rope samples so many times. I know he’s under a lot of pressure from the top brass, the press, and every politician in D.C. We already work twelve-hour shifts. What more does he want? This fucker is smart, leaving only what he wants us to find, nothing more.

  I knock on the door. “Come in,” Paul yells. Paul looks up from his computer, showing every one of his sixty years. Dark bags under his chocolate brown eyes, blond hair that is thinner on top, more lines showing on his face, and he has developed a small beer belly from spending one too many nights at the cop bar down the street.

  “You wanted to see me, Sir,” I ask as I sit in the chair across from him.

  “Yes, have you seen today’s newspaper?”

  “No, Sir,” I say, confused why he called me into his office to talk about today’s newspaper.

  “That’s what I thought,” Paul says, placing today’s newspaper on his desk sliding it over to me. “Please read today’s front page.”

  The D.C. Carver continues to outsmart the FBI

  By Bane Davis

  The D.C. Carver, aptly named for the way he leaves the bodies of victims he kidnaps and tortures. The D.C. Carver has been terrorizing the people of Washington D.C. for more than two years now. Stocking, kidnapping, torturing, and killing the wives of Congressmen, Senators, and Lobbyists. There have been six known victims. Sally Wright, the wife of Congressman Wright from Virginia. Maria Martinez, the wife of Congressman Martinez from New Mexico. Isabela Garcia, the wife of late Senator Garcia from California. Elizabeth Smith, the wife of Senator Smith from Montana. Ava Owen, the wife of Lobbyist John Owen. The most recent victim of the D.C. Carver is Mia Johnson, the wife of Lobbyist Liam Johnson. How many more victims will there be? When will the D.C. Carver be brought to justice?

  What does the FBI have on the D.C. Carver to bring him or her to justice? According to Erin Murphy of the FBI, they have very little information. Agent Murphy told me the D.C. Carver leaves no traces of DNA or fingerprints on the few items found by the FBI.

  The FBI has a detailed profile on the D.C. Carver to help narrow the suspect pool. According to the profile, he is a white male in his late twenties or early thirties. It is projected his father once held a position as a congressman or other government official. His mother is predicted to be a trophy wife more focused on her husband’s career than her son. The profile also suggests he may be a government official or works closely with government officials. One thing is clear; The D.C. Carver is here to stay until he or she chooses to leave.

  I stare at the paper in disbelief. This has to be a joke, a terrible joke. There is no way Bane would do this to me; he loves me.

  “Can you please explain this?” Paul asks, as his eyes study my face, searching for any tells that I’m lying to him about the article.

  With more confidence than I feel, I tell him, “I have no idea why Bane cited me as his source. I have not disclosed any case information to anyone and not to the press.” My heart is beating so fast I think I may pass out.

  “You are in a relationship with the journalist who wrote this article, correct?”

  “Yes, Sir, but he knew I couldn’t talk about work. I never told Bane anything. And he knew better than to ask.” I swear to God, when I find Bane, I’m going to kick his ass!

  “Then how the fuck did he get information on an active case? Why the hell did he cite you as the source of information?” Paul asks standing quickly and kicking his chair over. Paul leans over his desk, pounding his fist, glaring at me, “You better have evidence this is a lie, or you are not only off this case, you are fired.”

  I think quickly, running through everything Bane and I talked about, but there is nothing. The only thing I have to prove I didn’t release the information is my word, and that will not help. “I only have my word, Sir. I did not tell Bane Davis one word about this case. The article is a lie.”

  Paul rights his chair before sitting down, shaking his head, “Erin, I know how much working for the FBI means to you, but with no proof other than your word, I have to let you go.”

  “But Paul, I didn’t do this! I would never put a case in jeopardy by giving information to the press. You know this,” I beg. This cannot be happening! I have worked my whole life to be at the FBI, to follow in my father and grandfather’s footsteps. I’m going to kill Bane when I find him!

  “I tried Erin, but there is nothing I can do. Not even the Director has enough pull to get you out of the trouble you’re in.”

  There is a knock on the door, Paul yells for them to enter. As I turn to see who it is, two large men join us. Turning my attention back to Paul, “I need your badge and service weapon, Erin. These agents,” he gestures behind me, “are here to escort you back to your desk. Please remove any personal belongings, then they will escort you from the building.”

/>   How the fuck am I going to fight this? I have to find proof I had nothing to do with the article. I pull my service weapon from its holster, placing it on Paul’s desk along with my badge. There has to be a way to turn this around. I turn to follow the agents to my office when Paul calls my name.

  “Erin, I am very sorry this happened. You are a great agent, and the FBI will not be the same without you.”

  “I will be back with the proof you need,” I tell him as I storm out of his office, my two escorts hot on my heels.

  ***

  My first stop after being tossed from the Hoover building is Bane’s apartment. That fucker is going to answer for this bullshit! I will gladly go to jail for beating the truth from his lying mouth! I drive past his building to find a gaggle of reporters outside, waiting to talk to him; the vultures will have to wait their turn. Parking far enough away to not be spotted, I pull on a Nationals baseball cap, tucking my red locks under it, and then fish my sunglass from my purse. Using the service entrance at the rear of the building I take the stairs two at a time, to Bane’s third-floor apartment.

  “Open the fucking door, Bane,” I yell at the top of my lungs, pounding on his door. “Don’t be a fucking pussy,” I scream kicking the door. After ten minutes of shouting and kicking, Bane’s neighbor, Dan comes home.

  “Hey, Erin. Bane’s not here. He’s out of the country for a few weeks.”

  “Fuck, do you have a key? I um…left some important documents inside I need for work.”

  “Sure, give me a sec, and I’ll let you in.” Dan disappears into his apartment, coming back a minute later with the key, to unlock the door.

  “Thank you for this; I’ll lock up before I leave,” I promise.

  “No problem,” he says leaving me to go through Bane’s stuff. I open the door, and it’s empty. There is nothing, not even a dust bunny. I walk through this once happy home, looking for anything he may have missed, but everything is gone. Wandering into the kitchen, desperate to find anything Bane might have left behind. Sitting on the counter is a note addressed to me:

  Erin,

  I know you are pissed about the article even though we both know it’s a lie. You love your job too much and wouldn’t tell me shit. I am sorrier than you will ever understand, but I had no choice. I wish I could say more, but I can’t risk it. I know you won’t believe me, but I do love you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to say goodbye in person.

  Love you lots,

  Bane

  “No, No, No, No,” I tell the empty apartment as I slide down the fridge, sitting on the cold tile floor while angry tears stream down my cheeks. Last week everything was perfect. Bane took me to dinner at the W Hotel followed by drinks and dancing at a local piano bar. We finished the night at his place where we made love. Once we were both sated, Bane hugged me to his chest, lightly running his fingers up and down my spine, describing our future together.

  “We will have a huge wedding because my father will insist on inviting the Congressmen and Senators he needs to schmooze. Then I’m whisking you away to Bora Bora for a month-long honeymoon. When you’re ready, I want to buy a big house, with a big yard, outside the city and fill it with as many kids as you will give me.” I wasn’t sold on the kid part, but he always said how much he wanted to have two boys and a girl. Was it all just one big lie to keep me coming back for more? Who plans out their future, then writes an article that destroys all their plans?

  I dry my tears with the back of my hand, then pull my phone from my pocket to call him. It rings once, then a recorded message states that this number is no longer in service. “Why? Why would you do this to me, Bane?” I ask the empty room, pulling my knees to my chest, letting the tears fall again. I should have listened to Cian, my brother; Bane is an asshole. I should have never given him the time of day.

  I’m not sure how long I sat on the floor before I found the strength to pick myself up, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. Maybe Bane’s letter will be enough to clear my name and clean up the mess he made. Locking the door behind me, I retrace my path to my car. Removing my hat and sunglasses, I call Paul. It rings four times before the voicemail picks up, “Paul, this is Erin. I have something I think may help clear my name. Please call me as soon as you can,” I end the call, then drive home.

  As I drive past my apartment complex to the parking garage, I see a horde of reporters and protesters camped out. “How the hell did they find my address?” I bypass the parking garage to park in a privately-owned garage down the block. Paying the attendant for a month’s worth of parking, find a spot, and then walk home. I cut through the garage to the private entrance, walking the four flights of stairs to my apartment. Unlocking the door of my apartment, I hear the phone ring. Rushing into the kitchen to answer it with a breathless, “Hello?”

  “Is this Erin Murphy?” An unfamiliar deep male voice asks.

  “Yes, who’s asking?”

  “This is Robert Santo from Channel Five News. I would like you to ask you some questions about the story Bane Davis wrote.”

  “No comment,” I reply slamming the phone into the receiver. Immediately it rings again. Answering it with a quick, “What do you want?” a woman identifies herself as a report from another local news station wanting a statement. “Fuck off,” I answer slamming the phone down. The damn thing rings again. Pissed, I rip the cord from the wall, throwing the phone in the trash. I pull my favorite bottle of whiskey from the freezer and swallow a quarter of the bottle in on gulp. Marching into the bedroom, with my bottle of whiskey in hand, I wrench open the drawer Bane kept his things in, searching for anything that may help me get my job back. But it’s empty; all of his stuff is gone. I open the next drawer to find a note and a small maroon velvet box.

  Erin,

  I know that you went to my apartment first and saw my note. But in case you are too pissed at me to give a shit, I wanted you to know how sorry I am. I respect you and your job too much, but I had no choice. He would have killed my family and me if I didn’t do what he asked. I love you with all my heart. You may not trust me, but that is the truth. To prove it, I bought this ring two months ago. I never worked up the courage to ask you to marry me. Now I’m glad I didn’t. I hope one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.

  I love you,

  Bane

  I open the Helzberg ring box to find a one-carat black and white diamond halo engagement ring. I gasp, my hand flying to cover my mouth; it’s the exact ring I would pick out myself. “If you loved me, how could you do this to me?” I ask, falling onto the bed, letting sorrow, anger, and pain swallow me whole. While my world falls apart around me, my phone beeps with an incoming text. I look at the screen, hoping it’s Bane telling me this is a bad joke. But it’s from an unknown number:

  Unknown Number: I’m sorry my love, but this is the only way.

  Ignoring the text, I flop my face down into my pillow, crying until I have no more tears.

  Chapter Two

  Stumbling into the bathroom, I take the hottest shower I can stand. I need to wash the defeat off of me and rebuild my strength. Wetting my hair, I hear what sounds like a chair scraping across the floor. Stepping out from under the water, I poke my head out, listening for another sound of someone in the house. Shrugging it off as my neighbor upstairs, I reach for the shampoo, pour some in my hand and begin to massage it into my long red locks. Before I can step back out from under the water, I hear the front door close. Poking my head out of the shower curtain, I yell, “Bane? Is that you?” I listen, but no one answers. Again, I step under the water to rinse the shampoo from my hair. As I see a shadow walk past the open bathroom door, I jump in surprise and scream “Bane, you fucking coward, you better have a good reason for what you did.” When I throw the shower curtain to the side, I find no one standing there. I hear the neighbor’s doors slam. “I need to calm down before I give myself a heart attack,” I mumble to no one.

  Rinsing the soap from my body, I devise a plan. First, I need to
talk to Paul. Next, I need to find Bane. I’ll call his parent’s house. They may know where he is or how to contact him. If they don’t know, maybe his editor will know something. I finish my shower, dry off, and pull on a t-shirt and a pair of sweats, twisting my hair into a messy bun.

  Once I’m clean I feel more like myself, I pick my cell off the bed, the whiskey bottle from the nightstand, and then stomp into the living room, plopping onto the couch. Taking a swig of whiskey, I call Paul. It rings four times before it goes to voicemail again. “Damn it, Paul, answer your damn phone. I found two notes from Bane. I think they might be enough to clear my name. Call me ASAP.” Taking another swig of whiskey, I muster up the courage to call Bane’s father, Joshua Davis. The line rings twice before he answers with a quick, “Hello?”

  “Mr. Davis, this is Erin Murphy.”

  “Yes, Erin. What can I do for you? I’m busy trying to deal with the fall out my son left behind.”

  “That’s why I’m calling. Have you heard from Bane? I really need to talk to him, and his number has been disconnected.”

  “I’m sorry Erin, but he left the country two days ago. If I had known what he was running from, I would have made him stay and face the music on his own. As it is, I have to field his calls about that damn article. I’m assuming you are doing the same.”

  God damn it, if I ever see Bane again, I will kill him! “Yes, Sir. That’s why I need to speak to Bane. I never gave him any of the information. And because of his lies, I lost my job. And on top of fielding calls, I also have protesters and reporters camped outside my apartment building.”

  “I’m truly sorry. If I hear from my good for nothing son, I’ll have him call you,” Mr. Davis tells me before hanging up the phone.