“Come on in, Jethro,” Nari called from the kitchen, which was to the left beyond the great room, with its thick sofa, chairs, and other furnishings, which all faced a white stone fireplace. A flat-screen was above it.
Angus strolled out of an adjacent home office. “Hi. I thought we could have a smaller briefing as the team regrouped.” He handed over a beer and Jethro took it, ready to down theentire thing.
Nari strode from the kitchen with a tray of snacks she placed on the coffee table, her dark hair up in a ponytail and a glass of wine inher free hand.
A knock sounded on the door and it opened. Wolfe stomped inside and toed off his boots, placing his coat on a hook next to Jethro’s.
Nari paused in arranging little napkins by the tray. “Hi, Wolfe.”
Angus frowned. “I told the team to take the night off and we’d interview Jethro so we could brief everyone tomorrow. No offense, but what are you doing here?”
Wolfe’s eyes were sharp. “I’m Jethro’s best friend. Figured I should be here.”
Angus’s eyebrows rose. “You were serious about that?”
“Yeah.” Wolfe moved past them as if he had been there many a time and headed right into the kitchen, returning with a beer. “Let’s do this.”
Jethro’s head reeled. Best friend? Had he ever had a best friend? “Huh.” He looked around. “Where’s Roscoe?”
“He’s with Dana right now,” Wolfe said. “I’ll bring him over to your place after wemeet tonight.”
Nari nodded. “That’s a good idea. A dog will help Trudy to feel more comfortable in the new situation. Never underestimate the power of an animal,” she murmured.
“Plus, there’s no alcohol there,” Wolfe said, loping around to drop into a plush gray chair. He frowned, shifted his weight, and yanked a baby-blue throw pillow out from his back and set it on the floor.
Nari picked up a notepad from the sofa and sat.
Sighing, Jethro followed suit, taking the chair across from Wolfe, while Angus sat next to his love. Great. Two shrinks and a Wolfe. That summed up Jethro’slife right now.
“Spill it,” Angus suggested when they wereall in place.
So Jethro did. He started with the childhood he’d shared with his brother and told all about their mother and her problems. Then he described how Fletcher joined the agency and created a cover as a barrister, and Jethro did the same, not creating his cover as a professor until much later. An identity he now truly inhabited. Finallyhe wound down.
Wolfe was on his third beer, but his eyes remained clear. “That’s fucked up, man.”
Jethro coughed out a laugh. “Aptly put.”
Nari tapped one red fingernail against her lips. “The question is, why is Fletcher here now?”
Jethro had been thinking of little else. “We managed to freeze most of his bank accounts, but I always figured he had one or two we couldn’t find. He must’ve accessed those after sneaking into the US, and now he’s taking contracts to kill as a way to rebuild his coffers, so to speak.”
Angus reached for an olive from the tray. “It’s not a coincidence that he’s taken up work in your area of the world, Jet.”
“I’m aware,” Jethro agreed. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking he’s some type of game player like Lassiter was. Fletcher is only leaving notes as a nod to youand your team.”
Nari sipped her wine. “In other words he’s letting you know that he can get to anybody in your life. That he not only knows about the team but is well versed on our last big case.” She set down the glass. “He’s also kind of making fun of you. That you’re working with Yanks who’ve corresponded with note-making serial killers in the past. It’sfunny to him.”
Jethro nodded. “Yes. I think it’s more that he’s showing off and trying to make me feel vulnerable, but I don’t know why.”
“It’s revenge,” Angus said easily. “You put him away. You betrayed him and he’s going tomake you pay.”
“There’s more to his motivation than just that.” Jethro sat back, his mind oddly calm. “Fletcher doesn’t like to waste energy. I think he enjoys killing, but not just for the sake of killing, you know? Not like a normal serial killer. He does it for money; the enjoyment is on the side. He no doubt hates me, but if he wanted to put a bullet in my head, he could’ve already done it. His main goal here in town is to make money so he can disappear again.”
“No,” Angus said, his profiler look stamped hard on his face. “He could’ve done that anywhere, but he’s here. He’s your brother, and while he might feel hatred for you, there’s probably love in there somewhere, too. Or if he isn’t capable of that, there’s still a family tie. You hurt him and he wants tohurt you, Jet.”
They didn’t understand Fletcher, but Jethro didn’t quite get him either. “He already killed our mother and I failed to save her. That means he’s already won.”
“Yet you put him in prison,” Nari said gently.
