All Lost Things

Book 3 of the Killian Kendall Mysteries

By Josh Aterovis
Copyright 2026

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Chapter 13

Early the next morning, we set off for home. When we got back to the office, Novak ordered me to forget the case for the rest of the weekend and relax.

I didn't argue. I felt like I needed a little time for myself.

When I got home, I found Kane lying on his bed reading a magazine.

He glanced up as I came in. "Did you talk to Adam when you came in?"

"No. I didn't see him, so I just came up here to drop off my bag. Why?"

"Judy and Jake are in town to settle on a house. Apparently, they're coming over for dinner tomorrow night."

I frowned. "So is Novak."

"Your boss?"

"Yeah."

Kane grinned. "Should be interesting."

I'd planned on spending a restful Sunday just lazing around the house, but found I couldn't leave the case at the office. It was all I could think about — especially the mysterious Finnegan Byrne.

Much to my aggravation, Kane slept in the next morning. The second his eyes opened, I pounced on him. Literally. I jumped on his bed, straddling his legs.

"Do you know someone named Finnegan Byrne?" I demanded.

"What?" He blinked up at me owlishly. "Killian, I just woke up."

"I know. You're lucky I let you sleep in. Do you know him?"

He shook his head and pushed me off. "Who?"

"Finnegan Byrne."

He propped himself up on his elbows. "Finn? Yeah. He's a weirdo."

"That's what you said about Caleb."

"Yeah, well, Finn makes Caleb look positively normal. Why do you want to know?"

"His name came up in my investigation. I'm trying to figure out how to get in touch with him. You don't know his number, do you?"

"We don't exactly run in the same circles."

"Okay. Then how is he weird?"

"Let's just say he marches to the beat of a different drummer, or maybe a whole different band — and the music is all in his head."

"What do you mean? Is he like, um, mentally challenged?"

He laughed. "No. He's really smart, just...eccentric."

I raised my eyebrows. "Eccentric?"

"Yeah, but that's all I'm saying. If you're going to meet him, it would be better if you form your own impressions. For now, let's just leave it at...unique. Very unique." He had a twinkle in his eye and a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Do you at least know where he lives?"

"Not really. Outside of town, I think, but I'm not sure."

"Well, that was...unhelpful."

He grinned. "Finding people is your job, isn't it? Can't make things too easy for you."

"You never make anything easy."

I tried to get it out of my mind, but finally I couldn't stand it anymore. I got on my laptop and looked up all the Byrnes in the area. There were a dozen — more than I'd hoped, but at least he wasn't a Smith.

I picked up the phone and started dialing. Eight calls later I hit pay dirt. When I asked if Finnegan was there, a man responded, "Not right now, can I take a message?" I'd grown so accustomed to the "you have the wrong number" response, I was surprised to actually get a different answer, and couldn't think of what to say at first. He had to ask a second time.

"Um, uh, no, that's, uh, okay," I stammered out. "Do you know when he'll be home?"

"That's like asking if I know when the wind's gonna blow," the gruff voice replied. "He comes home when he comes home. Are you sure you don't want to leave a message?"

"I don't think so."

"Just as well. He never answers them anyway."

"Then why do you ask?"

"It usually makes the person calling feel a little better."

"Does he have a job?"

"Finnegan?" He laughed. "No. He's probably at the beach or off practicing the bagpipes. I make him go far enough away that I can't hear him. There're plenty of wide-open spaces for him to make as much racket as he wants around here without driving his mother and me insane."

It took all my self-control not to repeat the word bagpipes. Who plays the bagpipes? It was beginning to sound like Kane's diagnosis of eccentricity was accurate.

"I'll call back later," I mumbled distractedly.

"Try around six o'clock. That's when we usually eat dinner, and the boy seldom misses a meal."

"All right, thank you."

I hung up, but my thoughts lingered on the mysterious Finnegan. He sounded like a very interesting person, and the idea of meeting him left me feeling equal parts excitement and unease.

It turned out I didn't have to call Finnegan back. He phoned me later that afternoon.

"Hello, this is Finnegan Byrne. You called here earlier today and I wasn't available. I was just wondering why you wanted to speak to me. May I ask who you are?"

"How... How did you get my number?" I was thoroughly confused. "I didn't leave a message."

"I know. That's why I called you back. If you had left a message, I wouldn't have. We have caller ID. Is this Adam Connelly?"

"No, this is Killian Kendall."

"Killian Kendall? As in Killian Kendall from high school? Aka He Who Speaks for the Gays?"

"I... Uh, yeah. I guess. I don't speak for anyone though."

"I always thought of you kind of like the Lorax."

"I... I work for a private investigator now?" It came out more like a question, but everything about our conversation so far had thrown me. I struggled to regain some sense of control. "I was wondering if there was any chance we could get together and talk about Caleb Cohen."

"Caleb? What about him?"

"Do you think we could meet and talk in person? I don't really want to go into this over the phone. I'm happy to come to you."

"Sure, no problem. Phones are terribly impersonal, don't you think? You can't read the other person's facial cues. Not that I'm great at facial cues to begin with, but even if I was, then it would be even harder over the phone. And you'll have to come to me because I don't have my license. When's a good time for you?"

"Um, anytime is fine, really. I'm off today and tomorrow. When would be a good time for you?"

"Now?"

I checked the time. I should be able to fit it in before dinner. "Yeah, that would work. What's your address?"

He gave it to me, but I didn't recognize the road.

"Where is that?" I asked, trying to gauge how long the drive would be.

He gave me some sketchy directions that mostly involved landmarks, but it was enough for me to get the gist.

"Great, it should only take me about twenty minutes to get there from here."

"Nifty. That'll give me time to put some pants on."

I hung up, once again wondering just what I was getting myself into.

The Byrneses' house was fairly easy to find. It was just beyond the town limits — an old, two-story farmhouse painted white with green trim, set well back from the road.

I climbed out of my car and walked up to the door. I raised my fist to knock, but before I could, the door swung open to reveal a skinny boy around my height. He had a mop of unruly light brown hair with blond highlights; big, wide-set blue eyes; and full, pouty lips. His face was heart-shaped, and his nose turned up slightly at the end, giving him an impish charm.

His looks, pleasant as they were, were overshadowed by his attire. He was wearing a tight, baby blue T-shirt with the words "Think Big" emblazoned across the chest, but what really caught my attention was the fact that he was wearing a kilt. It was in a dark blue plaid that would have looked right at home on a Catholic school girl.

"Hi, Killian." He held out his hand for me to shake.

"Uh, hi. Finnegan?"

"In the flesh." He flashed me a cheeky grin. He followed my gaze and swished the kilt. "Oh yeah. I was going to put on pants but I got distracted. There was a bug on my bedroom floor."

"Ah." I didn't know what else to say.

"So you wanted to talk to me about Caleb?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Let me change, and then we can go for a walk," he said before disappearing back inside, leaving me waiting on the front porch. It wasn't long before he returned, now dressed in a pair of Army surplus camouflage pants and sturdy hiking boots. Without a word, he strode across the yard with purpose, forcing me to hurry and catch up.

"So, what did you want to ask me?"

"Do you know Caleb?"

"Yes, I know Caleb."

"How well?"

"About as well as anyone, I suppose. Better than most, probably."

We plunged into the woods at the rear of his property. It hadn't been cleared, but there seemed to be a faint trail that we were following. I grew up calling them deer trails.

"Are you friends?"

"I guess you could say that. Caleb doesn't really have friends. He stays to himself. He has a lot of walls to keep people out."

"He's been hurt a lot," I said without thinking.

Finnegan gave me a funny look, but all he said was, "I know."

"Did you ever talk about anything personal?"

"Maybe. If we did, it was told to me in confidence, and I'm not about to just tell all to the first hot P.I. that comes trotting along."

I noted that he'd called me hot, but didn't have time to dwell on its implications just yet. "I'm working for Caleb." I was stretching the truth a little, but he didn't have to know that. "Don't you want to help him?"

"I would love to help him; I just don't know how telling his business would help him."

"Did he ever talk about his dad?"

"Sometimes."

"How did he feel about him?"

"He hated him," Finnegan said matter-of-factly.

"Enough to kill him?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I think it's in everyone to kill if they're pushed hard enough."

"Was he being pushed hard enough?"

"Definitely. But he'd never cracked before, so I don't know if I believe he did this time."

"So you don't think he did it, just that he was capable of it?"

He nodded and gave me a pleased smile. "That sums it up nicely."

"Do you have any reason to think he didn't do it?"

He looked over at me again, as if deciding how trustworthy I was, then stopped walking so abruptly I almost ran into him. I looked up to see that we'd arrived at the other side of the wooded area, which obviously wasn't as large as it had first appeared. He pointed across the field in front of us.

It took me a minute to realize what I was looking at. It was from a different angle than I had seen it from before.

"That's the Cohens' barn," I said in surprise. Next to it, on one side, was Mrs. Fields' little house, and, on the other, a wall of trees where the Hayneses lived. I looked over at Finnegan. It seemed as if Marco had been telling me the truth, and Finn had just handed me the evidence on a silver platter. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"What was me?" His tone was guarded.

"You were meeting Caleb in the barn. You were dating."

He frowned. "I don't think I would characterize our relationship as dating."

"But you were meeting him in the barn?" He nodded. "Did you have sex?"

"Criminy! You get right to the point, don't you? Is that a necessary question?"

"Yes."

He sighed heavily. "Then, yes, we did, but it's not like that's all we did. I was probably his only friend. We talked a lot, hung out, and, yes, sometimes we had sex."

"So you're gay?"

He frowned. "I don't like labels."

"Did you see Caleb on the night his father was killed?"

His eyes shifted away. "What do you mean?"

"He ran away from the group home that night. He claims he was at a friend's house. Was it you?"

"He won't tell you?"

"No, and it would be a huge help if we knew where he was. As it is, he doesn't have an alibi at all."

"If he had an alibi, would that clear him?"

"Probably not completely, but it would help a lot. It might even get him out of juvenile detention."

He thought for a minute, then nodded. "He was with me."

"What time did he get there?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I don't pay much attention to time. Early evening, I would say. It was still light out. He tapped on my window and scared the crap out of me. He couldn't just go up to the door because my parents didn't know anything about us. He sneaked in and hid out in my room overnight. He left the next morning."

Finally, I was coming up with some answers. If only I could get them to make sense. "Were you and Caleb together all night?"

"Pretty much?"

"You never left him alone at all?"

"Maybe for a few minutes at a time. After all, my parents didn't know he was there. I couldn't stay holed up in my room all night. They would have gotten suspicious."

"How long were you gone when you left him? Can you be more specific?"

He shrugged. "I'm not sure. Ten, fifteen minutes, maybe longer."

"That was a pretty big risk for you, taking him in like that."

"It wasn't really a risk — at least, I didn't know it was at the time. He was just a friend who needed help. If your friend shows up and needs help, you do what you have to do."

"Do you love Caleb?"

That seemed to catch him by surprise. "What?"

"I asked if you love Caleb?"

"Love?"

"Yes, love."

"That's, uh, a really strong word. I like him. I like being with him. Do I love him? I don't know."

"Does he love you?"

"How would I know?"

"I think you would know."

"Maybe."

"I think he's protecting you."

"Protecting me how?"

"He refuses to say who he was meeting in the barn or where he was the night his father was killed — two things that could help him. Why is he protecting you?"

He bit his lip and looked away. "I'm not...out to my parents."

"I got the impression that you were pretty much a free spirit."

"It's a long story."

"I have time. What? Are your parents religious or something?"

"Or something." He sighed and sat down on the ground, folding his legs under him like some sort of bird. "I guess I might as well explain. We used to be in a cult."

I wasn't expecting that. "Like an actual cult?"

"Oh yeah. The Children of the Eternal Dawn. Ever hear of it?"

The name was vaguely familiar, but it also sounded like every other cult I'd ever heard about. "Maybe? But I don't think so," I admitted.

"It was all over the news a few years ago. Crazy cult leader, commune, abuse — the whole kit and kaboodle."

He paused like that would have triggered some memories, but I just shrugged.

"It was started by this guy named Elijah Crowe."

"Was that his real name? Because if you name your kid Elijah Crowe, he's either going to be a rock star or a cult leader."

He gave me a look, then continued. "I don't know, and that's not the point. He claimed he'd received divine visions about the coming of what he called the "Great Illumination," some sort of cataclysmic event that would cleanse the world of corruption and lead his followers — who he called Seekers — into, like, a new age of purity and enlightenment. His followers believed he was the chosen vessel, and he commanded absolute loyalty. He demanded that his Seekers abandon their past lives in pursuit of spiritual transcendence."

"Uh huh. And people actually bought that?"

"I guess he was persuasive. My parents joined when I was a baby, so I don't really remember any other life but that. In some ways, it was kind of a fun way to grow up, especially when I was younger. There were a bunch of kids so I always had somebody to play with, and there was a sort of overall lack of supervision so we could do whatever we wanted."

"Okay, but what does that have to do with coming out to your parents?"

"I'm getting there. Relax. For years, The Children of the Eternal Dawn operated in secrecy, hidden away in a sprawling compound deep in Western Maryland. Like I said, it was almost idyllic for us kids, but when you reached your teen years, that all changed."

His face shifted, like a shadow fell across his features. "I was lucky. Everything blew up before I was old enough, but some of my friends who were a little older...they weren't so lucky."

"What happened to them?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"The news called it sex trafficking. It all came out after the raid."

"Raid?" I asked, enthralled despite myself.

"Yeah. The FBI raided the compound. Two girls escaped, somehow, and went to the police. The FBI got involved. There was a big investigation, and some other people who'd left the cult came forward. That all led to a huge raid about three years ago.

"It was...intense. Terrifying. There were all these people swarming the compound, wearing black from head to toe, like full-body armor, and they had guns. We had guns too, so there was a lot of shooting. People died.

"A bunch of us holed up in the main building, and there was a sort of standoff. The leaders told us we were being persecuted for our beliefs. Some of this I learned later. It was all such a blur in the moment."

He paused and took a deep breath.

"They shot tear gas or something through the windows. It was chaos. There were gunshots, people screaming, kids crying, then someone grabbed me. It was a cop. He said we were being rescued. I just didn't know what we were being rescued from."

"So what happened?"

"A lot of therapy. And a lot of arrests. They found Crowe hiding in a safe room underground, along with a ton of evidence of abuse and sex trafficking, including several kids who'd been reported missing, and a bunch more who had no official documentation of their existence. They'd been born on the compound. I doubt Crowe will ever get out of prison."

"I...I don't even know what to say. I can't believe that happened to you."

"That's because it didn't."

"What?"

"It was a Netflix show I watched. I just don't want my parents to know anything about my private life. They're so annoying. I'd never hear the end of it."

He stood up and started walking back towards his house.

"Wait!" Once again, I rushed to keep up. "That doesn't even make sense. Why would Caleb care about that?"

He shrugged. "He's a good friend."

"That's stupid," I tripped over a tree root. "Will you stop?"

"Why? We're done here."

"Done? You haven't told me anything."

"What's your point?"

"You know more than you're saying."

"And what if I do?"

"It would be best if you told me everything."

"Best for who? You?"

"Best for Caleb."

"I'm not really sure you want what's best for Caleb."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind."

"No, what did you mean by that?"

"It doesn't matter."

His expression was stubborn, so I dropped it and changed the subject. "Would you be willing to talk to the police?"

That got him to stop. He reeled around to face me. "What? No!"

"You have to, Finnegan."

"Call me Finn. Only my mother calls me by my full name. And I don't have to do anything."

"But you could get Caleb out of jail."

"And what would it get me? I'd be out to my parents."

"Not necessarily. Maybe the police can keep it a secret, you know, like a confidential source. Besides, isn't Caleb's whole life more important than what your parents might think?"

"That's easy for you to say. You don't live with my parents."

"I don't even live with my own parents. My dad kicked me out when he found out I was gay."

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. We all know your sob story."

"That's not—"

"Save it. I'm not talking to the cops."

"Finn, just think about it. Please? Caleb needs somebody on his side."

We'd arrived at my car, so I opened the door to climb in, then stopped as another question occurred to me. "How did you feel about Caleb and Asher dating?"

He seemed surprised — and maybe a little bothered — by the question. "How did you feel about it?"

I frowned. "Asher and I had broken up by then."

"Not according to the rumors."

"You can't believe everything you hear, but it really doesn't matter. We're not talking about me. Did you care that Caleb was dating Asher?"

His eyes shifted away from mine. "I told you, Caleb and I were never dating. We were just friends...with benefits."

"So it didn't bother you that Caleb was seeing someone else?"

He kept his gaze averted. "Not really."

"What about Marco Martino?"

Finn's eyes snapped back to my face. "What about him?"

I realized I'd slipped up. No one knew Caleb and Marco had dated. My mind raced for a way to cover my blunder. "I, uh, heard rumors that they were dating."

Finn's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I hadn't heard that." He tipped his head to one side. "Wait a minute. How did you know to talk to me? If Caleb didn't tell you about me, who did?"

"Someone saw you sneaking into the Cohens' barn."

"Who?"

I hesitated for only a second. "I really can't tell you that."

His jaw clenched, but then he relaxed and nodded. "Confidential sources, huh?"

"Something like that." I turned away and slid behind the wheel. Before I closed the door, I decided one last reminder was in order. "Will you just think about going to the police?"

He gave me a look I couldn't quite read. "Maybe I will," he said softly, almost under his breath.

I got home just in time to help Adam and Steve in the kitchen. It was the first time I'd seen them together since their big fight, but I couldn't detect any trace of tension or bitterness between them. It seemed Adam was right when he said things were okay after their talk.

Adam was making Chicken Milano, a specialty of his, and Steve and I were pretty much only there to serve as his sous chefs. At Adam's direction, I pounded chicken breasts, diced sundried tomatoes, and chopped fresh basil, while Steve made a salad and set the table. I was a little nervous about everyone meeting Novak, but the busy work helped keep my mind occupied.

When the doorbell chimed, Adam sent me to answer it. I swung the door open to find Judy and Jake on the front porch. With everything going on, I hadn't given the idea of seeing Jake much thought, but when my eyes met his, my breath caught in my throat.

"Hey, Kill." He grinned broadly, as if we'd just seen each other last week instead of last year. "What's up?"

He looked different, though it took me a moment to pinpoint why. His dark blond hair was shorter but still styled in that familiar shaggy surfer cut, his eyes remained the same striking shade of blue, and his skin held the kind of tan that only comes from real time in the sun. But he was thinner now, and despite the healthy glow of his tan, there was a hollowness to him. More striking than the changes to his body was the look in his eyes. I remembered them sparkling with mischief, a glimmer that always hinted he was up to something. That spark was gone.

I quickly pushed those thoughts from my mind and plastered on my biggest smile. "Hey, Jake! Oh my God, it's so good to see you!"

We hugged, then Judy demanded one, too. I led them into the house, where Adam and Steve emerged from the kitchen for another round of welcomes. Kane heard the commotion and came downstairs as well. We were all still in the front entrance when the doorbell rang again.

I was suddenly nervous again. "That's probably Novak."

Judy seemed surprised. "Your boss?"

"I forgot to tell you," Adam interjected as I went to get the door. "I hope that's okay."

"It's fine," Judy assured him. "I enjoyed meeting him when I was here last."

I opened the door, and, sure enough, it was Novak. He came in and a round of introductions ensued.

"Dinner is almost ready," Adam announced after everyone had met one another. "I'll just be a few more minutes. Why don't you all go into the dining room and get seated?"

Steve and I led the way into the dining room, and all the guests sat down around the table while we took drink orders.

Back in the kitchen, Steve caught my arm. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked, still wearing my pasted on smile.

Steve was unconvinced. "You look like a deer caught in headlights. What's up?"

I shrugged. "It's weird seeing Jake again, and then Novak being here and all."

Adam overheard the last part as he hurried by with a steaming pot of drained pasta. "I told you I wouldn't embarrass you," he commented with a chuckle.

"It's not that..."

Steve patted me on the shoulder. "I understand. It must be weird for you, worlds colliding, but try to relax and enjoy yourself. I'm sure everything will be fine."

He was right, of course. Everything was fine. Dinner was delicious, the conversation was good, and, true to his word, Adam avoided embarrassing me. In fact, he was perfectly charming. Novak appeared to be enjoying himself, and Judy looked right at home. The only person who seemed a little quiet was Jake.

After dinner, Adam suggested we go out on the back deck for drinks and dessert. Steve acted as bartender for the adults, while Kane helped Adam serve the chocolate cake.

"Want to go for a walk?" Jake asked as soon as everyone had finished their cake.

"Sure," I said, and we headed down the beach.

"So," he asked once we were out of earshot, "where's the gay scene around here?"

I laughed. "What gay scene?"

He frowned. "There has to be something."

"Look, coming from California to the Eastern Shore of Maryland has to be some massive culture shock, but you grew up here. You know what it's like."

"I might have grown up here, but I wasn't out then. I was just figuring out who I was when...everything happened. Aren't there any clubs or anything?"

"Sure, in DC and Baltimore, maybe Rehoboth Beach. None around here, at least none that I know of."

"Great. So I'm going to be forced to live like a monk to atone for my sins in California. Is that what you're telling me?"

I laughed. "I didn't say that. Even if there were clubs, you're too young to get in."

He gave me a sly smile. "There are ways around that." I gave him a pointed look, but didn't press the issue. "How do you stand it? How do you meet people?"

I shrugged. "I don't. Asher's the only guy I ever dated, and I've not exactly jumped back into the dating pool since we broke up."

"What dating pool? It's more like a dating puddle. No, not even a puddle. It's a dating... What's shallower than a puddle?"

"Is that a trick question?"

"Hey! Are you trying to say I'm shallow?"

"Perish the thought."

We laughed, and I decided I'd been wrong about Jake. Maybe he hadn't changed as much as I'd thought.

"Okay, so there's no gay scene, no dating scene, what about..."

I looked over at him, but he was staring down at the sand under his feet. "What about what?"

He glanced up at me. "Do you know where to score any good weed?"

My eyes widened. "What?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Pot. Ganja. Marijuana." He studied my face for a second, then sighed. "Right. Never mind. Forget I asked."

As we walked along, we fell into an awkward silence. I searched for something to say, but nothing I wanted to ask felt appropriate. Was he doing drugs? Is that why he looked so thin? Didn't weed make you eat? Maybe he was on other drugs. What had happened in California? I didn't ask any of the questions going through my mind, and the heavy silence grew longer.

"This is so stupid!" Jake finally exploded. I looked at him questioningly. "Coming back here. It sure as hell wasn't my idea. I didn't want to leave in the first place, but I made the best of it. I made friends, learned where the good party spots were, built some kind of life for myself. Now, she just decides to pick up and move back. I don't belong here now."

I bit my lip and tried to think of an encouraging response, but Jake rushed on before anything came to me. "Everything's changed. I changed. I can't just come back and pretend to be the same person who left. I can't just pick up where we left off."

"I don't think anybody expects you to be the same person you were before."

He snorted. "That's what Judy's hoping. She thinks if she gets me back here that everything will be fine."

"Maybe we can't pick up where we left off, but we can start over, right?"

He stopped walking and looked me in the eye. "Can we? Really? Do we even want to?" There was a defiant, angry tone to his voice.

"I mean...Why not?"

He rolled his eyes. "You don't even know me anymore, Killian."

I frowned. "Wouldn't starting over entail getting to know each other again? You're not the only person who's changed in the last year."

"You're the same as you ever were, but I'm not. You won't want to be my friend when you get to know me."

"You're not even going to give me a chance?"

He stepped in quickly, bringing his body close to mine. "You want a chance, Killian? Go out with me."

"What?" I took an involuntary step back, but he followed, keeping so close I could feel his body heat.

"Let's go out. On a date. Tonight. We can ditch everybody, go find a party. This is a beach town. There has to be something going on somewhere."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times while I tried to come up with a suitable response. "I can't." It wasn't ideal, but it just popped out.

Jake shook his head and stepped away. "That's what I thought." He turned and started back towards the house.

"Jake, wait," I called, but he kept going. I rushed to catch up. "Come on, Jake. Don't be like that."

"Be like what?"

"I...I mean...I just..."

"Forget it, Killian. In fact, forget this whole conversation. You want to start over? Great. We're starting over right now."

"Jake—"

"Drop it."

There was a finality in his voice that made me listen. We finished the walk back to the house without saying a word.

When we arrived, Judy and Novak were deep in conversation. They certainly seemed to be hitting it off, even if Jake and I weren't. Adam, Steve, and Kane were nowhere to be seen. I excused myself and went inside, where I found them in the kitchen.

Steve looked up from rinsing dishes and smiled in my direction. "Did you have a nice talk with Jake?"

I made a face. "Not really."

Adam looked over. "Oh dear. What happened?"

I sighed. "I'll tell you later. I don't really want to go into it right now."

He nodded. "Sure. Kane, can you finish loading the dishwasher? I think Steve and I should get back outside."

Kane agreed, and I trailed after Adam and Steve as they returned to the deck. Novak and Judy were no longer by themselves. Novak was attempting to carry on an awkward conversation with Jake, who seemed to be giving monosyllabic responses while Judy frowned in the background.

She made eye contact with me as I came through the door. I shrugged and gave her an apologetic look. Disappointment flooded her eyes.

We tried to make small talk for a while longer until Judy announced that it was time for her and Jake to get back to their hotel. Jake sullenly said goodbye and headed for the car. Judy went around giving everyone a goodnight hug. When she got to me, she whispered into my ear, "It didn't go well?"

I shook my head. "No, but I'll keep trying."

She gave me a sad smile. "I'd appreciate that, Killian." She squeezed my hand and left.

"I guess I should get going as well," Novak announced.

"It was so nice to meet you," Adam told him. "I've heard a lot about you from Killian. It's good to put a face to a name."

Novak smiled and shook Adam's hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you as well." He turned to Steve. "And you, too."

"I'll walk you to your car," I volunteered. I was dying to tell him what I'd learned from Finn that afternoon.

Novak gave me a strange look. "I'm capable of getting there on my own."

"I, uh, wanted to talk to you about the case."

He laughed. "It's the weekend, Killian. I told you, give it a rest."

"It'll only take a minute."

He gave in with a sigh. "Fine." He turned back to Adam. "Please tell Kane I enjoyed meeting him, too."

Adam nodded. "I will."

"So what was so damn important that it couldn't wait until the morning?" Novak asked as we walked toward the front of the house.

"I talked to Finnegan Byrne today."

He frowned and stopped walking, which wasn't the reaction I was hoping for. "What?"

"I looked up all the Byrneses in the phone book, as you suggested, and I just kept calling until I found him. He asked me to come over so we could talk, so I did."

He shook his head. "Killian, I appreciate your enthusiasm for the case, but you're going to have to learn to leave it at the office. You can't let it consume you like this. I told you to take the rest of the weekend off, and what do you do? You go out on your own again. You can't keep doing that. You're not even licensed. I could get in trouble if someone complained to the right people."

I felt myself turning red. I thought he'd be proud of my detective work, but, instead, I was getting a lecture. "I'm sorry," I mumbled.

He sighed. "So what did you find out?"

The moment was ruined. "It can wait until morning."

"If it couldn't wait until morning five minutes ago, why now? Don't go all pouty on me."

"I'm not pouting." He raised one eyebrow. "Okay, fine; I'm pouting." I quickly filled him in on everything I'd learned from Finn. When I'd finished, he no longer looked quite as perturbed.

He rubbed his chin. "Not bad. Not bad, at all. In fact, that was some pretty damn good work."

I perked up. "Really?"

"Yes. However, that doesn't change the fact that you went off on your own...again. Killian, I'm the boss. Yes, I gave you the reins on the investigation, but you can't just run out whenever you get the notion. You're doing a good job, but you're mostly untrained, and this is a potentially dangerous case. You followed someone you don't even know off into the woods. If he'd wanted to, he could have killed you and no one would be the wiser."

"My car was at his house. Plus, he's my height but even skinnier. I could take him."

"The point is, I need to know where you are and what you're planning at all times — for your own safety, if nothing else. Understood?"

Grudgingly admitting to myself that he was right, I nodded.

He clapped me on the shoulder. "Good. Then I'll see you in the office in the morning and we can talk about this some more. In the meantime, try to stay out of trouble for the night."

I watched as he walked to his car and drove away. I wasn't looking forward to picking up on the lecture in the morning, but I knew I deserved it. I had gone nosing around on my own after Novak had told me to take the weekend off. I hadn't informed anyone where I was going, and I'd stupidly followed Finn off into the woods. If he'd wanted to hurt me, I'd handed him the perfect opportunity.

I shook my head as I turned back towards the house, resolving to be more careful in the future.

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