The character of Caitlin Bergman began in a screenplay in 2007. Although based on several of the strongest people this author has known, the part was written specifically for my college friend—and later Broadway, TV, and film actress as well as wife and mother—Karen Walsh Rullman. Whenever I write a line of Caitlin’s dialogue, Karen’s voice fights on.

Unlike Caitlin Bergman, I’ve been blessed with fabulous parents and a supportive family who love the arts, problem solving, and a mean game of Clue. Thanks Norm, Barb, Pete, Cami, Logan, Zach, and the extended Norman-Michalek-Rusnak-Thoemings for all of your support—despite the swearing! Same goes for my in-laws, Jim and Ruthann, and all of the extended Stevens-Burns, who weren’t quite sure what I meant when I said I wrote crime fiction. Thanks for being more proud than scared.

Indiana University, the city of Bloomington, the Bloomington Police Department, and the FBI all play parts in this fictional episode of Caitlin Bergman’s life. Although all four have dealt with horrible real-world events, in no way is this work meant to denigrate the hard-working police officers, federal agents, college professors, or local businesses of a beautiful college town. This Indiana native and IU alum chose the idyllic location to show that suffering is universal and that no one place is immune from corruption and abuse, no matter how lovely. My longest lasting friendships began in and around the creative jewel of the Midwest and continue to this day.

This work also touches on sexual assault, drug use, trauma, and psychology. My personal therapist, Annie Armstrong, was instrumental in the handling of this material, but in no way does this author claim ownership or expertise in the subjects presented. If you or someone you know is suffering, please seek help from a trained professional.

Finally, actor-comedian-writer Rebecca Stevens, also known as my wife, has been my inspiration, harshest critique partner, and biggest fan. Thank you for understanding that sometimes writing means searching for ways to commit murder, eating a basket of steak fries, or staring at a computer screen instead of doing laundry. Every day with you by my side is a sexy, fun-filled thriller, and every day without you is a mystery that must be solved.

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

1

“I SEE THE WAY you look at girls,” his mother had said. “Like they’re toys. Like you want to own them.”

Almost ten years ago now, but the moment came back to him like the words to his favorite song, the way her lips wrinkled when she sucked the last of the menthol through her lipstick-coated Newport, the glazed-over stare from under her heavy, half-closed eyelids, the pointless, but repeated glances at the empty pill bottles on the table.

“You can’t own a woman. It’s like trying to control a river.”

After all this time, he still didn’t know if she’d intended the irony.

Hadn’t the pills owned her?