“All good. Chinese food will be here in thirty minutes, commander knows the story and is starting the process on his end, chopper will be here at midnight.”
“Chopper? Wait. Where are you going?” she asked.
“We. We are all going somewhere safe until we can find out more information,” said Mitchell.
“No. No, I can’t just leave,” she said shaking her head.
“I think you need to leave, Lennon,” said Mitchell. “They found your editor about three hours ago. Dead of an apparent drug overdose in his backyard. The problem is, he’s never had a history of drug addiction according to neighbors, friends, and his ex-wife. His computer is missing, his phone is missing, and his house is ransacked.”
She stilled, unsure of what to say or do. Turning, she looked up at Brooks and nodded.
“I guess I’m going.”
CHAPTER SIX
By the time the Chinese food was devoured, and it was devoured thought Lennon, it was nearly eleven.
“You guys just ate enough food for fifteen people,” she smirked.
“Nah,” laughed Brooks. “Trust me, our whole family eats like this.”
“You keep saying whole family like you have a big one. I mean, I know there are six kids in your family. Is there more?”
“Oh, definitely,” laughed Mitchell. “Our father, Christopher Jordan is a triplet. His father is also a triplet.”
“Stop,” she said in shock.
The two men laughed and Lennon couldn’t help but notice they laughed in sync with one another. It made her smile but once again noticed that her eyes stayed on Brooks.
“It’s true,” said Brooks. “There are quite a few multiple births on the property, even quads.”
“Seriously, I am not eating or drinking anything there.”
“You have to eat and drink,” grinned Mitchell. “Besides, we have the best food on the planet. I swear.” Both of their phones pinged and they read the text message, their faces falling.
“What’s wrong? I know that face,” said Lennon. “Something is wrong.”
“The man you saw them shoot was who we believed it was. He was a good man, a good officer. His body was found just south of the border on the beach.”
“If they know it was this man, if I know it was this man, why won’t they arrest him? I’ll testify against him.”
“It’s not always about that, Lennon,” said Brooks. “Sometimes it’s something bigger. We have no doubt that Bora did those horrific things. He had the opportunity, the ability, but we need to know why?”
“Money,” said Lennon. “Money, drugs, women, isn’t that all motive enough?”
“You would think so, but there has to be more to this. Why throw away a twenty-five-year career in the Marines, at the top of his game? He could have retired, then gone and done this. Why now?” asked Mitchell.
“I didn’t think about that,” she said disheartened.
“Hey, it’s a lot to think about,” said Brooks reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. She stared at his massive, palm, lean, long fingers and strong veins pulsing through the flesh. She could feel her face flushing, hot and pink.
“Maybe I’m not cut out for this kind of reporting,” she murmured.
“Is this what you always wanted to do?” asked Mitchell.
“No,” she laughed. “I wanted to write the great American novel. I wanted to rival Dickenson, Angelou, or Morrison. Silly, I guess.”
“Not silly. If that’s what you want to do, you should do it,” said Brooks. “One of our non-blood aunts, we pretty much call everyone aunt and uncle. But anyway, she’s a famous author.”
