Ethan Cross - The Shepherd

The Fiction Studio

Praise for The Shepherd :

A fast paced, all too real thriller, with a villain right out of James Patterson and Criminal Minds.
Andrew Gross, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Reckless and Dont Look Twice

The Shepherd is an intense novel that will have you locking your windows and doors, installing a safe room and taking Ambien so you can sleep through the night after finishing. Ethan Cross opens up the mind of a serial killer, exposes you to it, and leaves you with years of therapy bills. But this thrill-ride is worth every penny.
Jeremy Robinson, author of Pulse and Instinct

Silence of the Lambs meets The Bourne Identity
Brian S. Wheeler, author of Mr. Hancocks Signature

The Shepherd is a superbly crafted thriller skillfully delving into the twisted mind of a psychopath and the tormented soul of the man destined to bring him down. Ethan Cross weaves a tale so chilling, I was afraid to turn out the lights. Highly recommended!
D.B. Henson, Amazon bestselling author of Deed to Death

In The Shepherd , Ethan Cross has penned a taut, violent and relentless nightmare designed to prey on a readers darkest fears. Not for the faint of heart!
A.J. Hartley, Bestselling author of What Time Devours and Act of Will

The Shepherd is a nonstop suspense novel with great twists, great drama, and an ending that will knock you on the floor.
Lou Aronica, New York Times bestselling author

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

The Fiction Studio
P.O. Box 4613
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Copyright 2011 by Aaron Brown

Jacket design by Aaron Brown
Cover image by Mike Swope
Section graphic by Kriss Szkurlatowski
Author photo by Madison Kates

ISBN-13: 978-1-936558-06-3

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All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by U.S. Copyright Law. For information, address The Fiction Studio.

First Paperback Printing: January 2011
Publication Date: March 15, 2011

Printed in the United States of America

For my beautiful wife, Gina...

I want to start off by saying that an enormous number of people have helped and supported me with this project and in my life in generalway too many to list here. The most notable of these is my wonderful wife, Gina, who put up with all my eccentricities and supported me as I reached for this dream. I also want to thank the rest of my family for all of their support and encouragement, especially those who served as my early readers and copy-editors (Yes, Teresa, Im listing you by name, as I promised).

But there is also a large group within the publishing industry without whom this project would not have been possible. If I have any success with this novel, it will be due largely to the efforts of my editor, publisher, and friend, Lou Aronica, who helped take my work to the next level. Thank you, Lou, for your patience and wisdom. Overwhelming gratitude is also due to my agents, Danny Baror and Heather Barorfor taking a chance on an unknown writerand to my friend and business partner, Stan Tremblayfor helping to bring the world of The Shepherd to the masses. Big thanks to my copy-editor, Steven Manchester, who helped to add that extra layer of polish onto the book. I also want to thank my fellow authors who have helped and encouraged me on my writers journey: Jeremy Robinson, Andrew Gross, AJ Hartley, James Scott Bell, Karen Dionne, James Rollins, Travis Thrasher, Andrew Peterson, Steven James, DB Henson, Jeremy Burns, Brian Wheeler, and many more. Also, many thanks to the International Thriller Writers. Without the ITW and their collective instruction and wisdom, I would not be anywhere close to accomplishing my dream right now.

Many thanks are also due to the men and women of law enforcement in general and specifically to those who aided in my research, including the Colorado State Patrol, Tom Kearns, JR Johnson, and ATF Supervisory Special Agent Richard Checo. Thanks to the writings of Roy Hazelwood, Stephen G. Michaud, John Douglas, Mark Olshaker, Peter Vronsky, Nigel Cawthorne, and many more for helping me to get inside the mind of a killer.

And apologies to the residents of Asherton, TX, whose town I completely fictionalized and then burnt down.

I also want to thank two people who encouraged me to devote the countless hours it takes to create a novel. First, my friend and fellow author, Brian Wheelerwho made me believe that it was possibleand to my former teacher, Nancy VanMeterfor telling me to keep writing.

Im sure that Ive forgotten to list several people who have helped in one way or another. To all of those unsung heroes, thank you. It really is who you know, and thats not a bad thing. In fact, I think it may be the best part.

Jim Morgan watched as reflections of the patrol cars flashing lights danced across the front window of the remote gas station. He strained to see beyond the strange and ominous shadows into the buildings interior. Although the call from dispatch warranted only a routine robbery report, for some reason, an irrational yet overwhelming feeling of dread crept over the edges of his consciousness. He couldnt explain the sensationcop instincts, intuition, or premonitionbut he knew something wasnt right. He took a deep breath and released a prolonged and deliberate exhalation. As he exited the vehicle, he forced away the feeling that something dark awaited him.

He noted the absence of the moon. The darkness seemed solid and eternal beyond the pool of radiance cast by the lights of the cruiser and gas station. He felt as if he sat on the edge of the world, and nothing else existed in the universe. Turning his gaze back toward the station, the feeling took root again.

He couldnt pinpoint the source of his fear, which frightened him even more. For Jim, the worst kind of fear had always been one without a name. Out of trepidation, he considered calling to check on his wife, Emily, and their daughter. He consulted his watch and decided against it. He didnt want to wake them.

His partner, Tom Delaine, said, You okay? You look like somebody pissed in your cornflakes.

Im fine. Lets get this over with. Its past my bedtime, and I just wanna go home.

The look of concern was still evident on Toms face, but he nodded and walked toward the front door of the station. Neither man had drawn his weapon, since they knew from dispatch that the assailant had already fled the premises. Nevertheless, a proper report needed to be filed, and the stations attendant had seemed adamant that someone should come right away.

As they entered the building, Jim caught the hint of a strangely familiar smell, but he was unable to identify it. He pushed the thought away and focused his mind on the task at hand.

Once inside, he scanned the room. The stations counter rested along the back wall, parallel to the door. A man with dark hair and haunting gray eyes sat behind it. The attendants midnight black t-shirt stretched tight across his chest, firm muscles bunched underneath. The man didnt say a word; he simply stared without expression at the two policemen.