“Better,” Lany replied. “I'm still a bit sore, but at least I can breathe now without feeling like I punctured a lung.”
I almost growled at the reminder that Lany had been beat to shit. I felt better when I saw Lyn shoot his husband a narrowed-eyed glare.
“How is CJ?” I asked.
Lyn beamed at me. “He's good, really excited to be in school, although his favorite class is recess.”
“The exercise will probably do him good.”
I couldn't believe CJ was almost eight years old. It seemed like just the other days Lyn was announcing that he had bought a house and he was going to be a father. It was right after that that he got together with Clarke.
“Next month they are having parent career day.” Lyn's grin was totally evil. “I'm making Clarke go.”
My chuckle was just as mean. “That will probably do him good as well.”
“Like I care.”
Yeah, Clarke had not been forgiven yet.
“I'll make sure he has the day off.”
I hadn't fully forgiven him either. I would, just not today. Maybe when Lany no longer has bruises on his face and ribs.
“Were you able to gather any more information after I took Lany to bed?”
“I have a few feelers out, but nothing concrete yet,” Lyn replied. “I checked my email before we left the house this morning, and I have a lead I want to follow up on.”
“What lead?” I asked.
“Okay, look, I am totally taking a page out of Lany's playbook here, but something he said yesterday stuck with me.”
They were best friends. It made sense Lyn would think like Lany on occasion.
“I'm listening.”
“He mentioned that he thought this guy's name might be Fernandez and he might be part of the Fernandez Cartel.”
“I remember.”
“Well, that got me to thinking. Brett Carson was an alias used by Brett Carbonados, the son of Jose Carbonados, the man in charge of the Fernandez Cartel. Brett was killed while in police custody, and his father is behind bars. With me so far?”
I nodded. “Go on.”
“What if he wasn't killed?” Lyn asked. “Dirty cops are a thing, as we are all aware. What if one of them helped stage Brett's murder and then got him out of police custody. It would be the perfect hiding spot for him, and as we all know, he likes to hide in plain sight. He tried hiding on the right side of the law. What if he's trying to hide on the wrong side of the law now?”
I hated how much that made sense.
“Call Jerry,” I ordered Lyn. “He said he was going to swing by his office before coming here. Have him track down the records on Brett. I want everything, even autopsy pictures.”
I also needed to call my in-laws and give them a warning. If there was the slightest possibility that Brett was still alive, he could be a threat to Todd, my in-laws’ foster kid. During his time with Brett, Todd could have very easily seen something he wasn't supposed to and—assuming Brett was alive—he'd want to eliminate any witnesses to his actions.
“I'd be happy to look any of the medical stuff for you, Sal,” Skip offered up.
“I appreciate it, Skip.” My face was grim when I glanced back at Lyn. “Keep digging on that idea. I really don't like how much it makes sense.”
Lyn's frown was deep. “Yeah, me either.”
“Could Brett be Anton?” Lany asked.
