Page 33 of Finding English

“Can we get back to business and leave my love life alone please, or do we all need to start plaiting each other’s hair and sharing journal secrets?”

Henry laughed at Jack’s appraisal to what he thought sharing feelings entailed but bailed him out. “Let’s get an update.”

Jack looked relieved as he began to update them. “What we have so far is that Bunce was close to both his parents until his mother ran off with another man when he was twelve years old. Bunce stayed with his dad until his mum showed up when he was fifteen and fought him for custody.”

Henry knew it was in the file he had, but he let Jack keep going to see if they had found anything else. The tiny secret that would help them crack this.

Jack leaned back against the wall, his leg braced as he addressed Henry. “Mum got custody and Dad shot himself. The theory is Bunce never forgave her because as soon as he graduated, he left home and joined the Navy. He had okay grades at school, was an average student with nothing that would cause a red flag. He got kicked out of the Navy after two years for violent conduct against another female member of the regiment.”

Henry stood straighter hearing this, knowing it was nowhere in his file. “How did you find that out?”

Jack looked him dead in the eye and shook his head slightly. Henry knew what that meant, he’d never be able to tell Henry or the authorities where that information had come from.

“What else?” Henry asked, instead.

“Bunce’s mother is in a nursing home in Ohio, about forty miles from where he grew up. It’s privately run, and a check comes every month to pay her bills.”

“Do we know who pays them?” Henry crossed his arms, looking from Jack to Will, who began typing furiously.

“The account that pays her bills is in the name of Natalie Morgan, who incidentally was engaged to Bunce until he got kicked out of the Navy.”

“How was this missed the first time?”

“Natalie got married. Only a cursory conversation happened with her the first time they investigated Bunce.” Will kept typing. “We also know he’s visited his mother in the home three times in the last six months.”

Will turned the laptop, angling it so Henry could clearly see Bunce’s image on the screen. He was a pleasant-looking bloke who wouldn’t trigger any radar for most people, in much the same way Ted Bundy had been. The fact that the software Will was using stripped the glasses and hat away showing him, saved them precious time.

“We need to tell the FBI this information.”

Jack stood taller, shaking his head. “Let Reid and Waggs go up there and speak to the ex and the care home staff and do some digging. Once we confirm things, we can share everything with them.”

Henry reluctantly agreed. It wasn’t his nature to hold back from the police, knowing that proper procedure was vital to get a conviction, but this case was different. His heart and soul were in danger, and if he had to break the rules to catch this bastard, then he wouldn’t hesitate.

“I know you don’t like it, Henry, but we both know if the FBI go in all guns blazing, we could tip our hand and lose any advantage this might give us.”

Henry glanced at Aubrey and knew she was right. He’d always played by the book while she was more open to the gray areas, but this was different.

He nodded and turned his attention back to Jack. “Any idea where this fucker has been for the last fifteen years?”

Jack shook his head. “No, but we’re running a few theories. One being he skipped the country on a fake passport.”

“Surely he’d have kept killing. People like him don’t just stop.”

“No, but he may have evolved so that his kills weren’t connected,” Jack surmised.

“So, somewhere like Australia or Europe where they have vast areas and government agencies aren’t necessarily connected, apart from Interpol.”

“Exactly. I have a few contacts running this for me and Will’s on it too. Nate, Aubrey, and Zin are going to stay on Micky and Cassie. I will as well when I’m here, but I want to check out the area close to the last kill. Will found nothing on the cameras, but this asshole is too slick to be caught. I want to look for any places he may be using for physical evidence.”

“Fine, I’m coming with you.”

Jack nodded. “Thought you would, English.”

“Now that’s wrapped up, can we eat?” Nate rubbed his flat belly with a grin.

“What is it with you guys, don’t you ever stop eating?”

“Muscle like this needs fuel, Aubrey, not like your puny ass boyfriend.” Nate flexed his arms, grinning at Will and causing him to shoot him the finger.