“Has this been run past my chief?” Mathis asked, pinning Brantley with a hard stare.
“Your politics are not my concern,” he admitted, just as a picture of another man appeared to the right of the video screen. Name, age, and address appeared beneath. “Right now, my only objective is to find Cedric Hawkins. From the details I’ve got, he’s a fifty-seven-year-old male who lives in Lakeway. I assume you’ve been notified that he’s missin’ since he’s associated with your dead bodies?”
Detective Mathis’s eyes shifted, a look of frustrated resignation coming over him. “Yes. We were notified a short time ago by Austin police.”
Brantley glanced over at JJ, nodded, urging her to start digging into Cedric Hawkins’s life.
Before he turned back to the screen, Reese stepped over to join him, taking over the conversation.
“Why do you believe Cedric Hawkins is missin’, Detective?”
“And you are?”
“Reese Tavoularis. Brantley’s partner. Why do you believe he’s missin’?”
Mathis’s gaze bounced between them before finally settling on Reese as though it was a shun to Brantley.
“Personally, I don’t, but his secretary seems to,” Mathis stated. “Like I said, APD notified me that they received a call saying Hawkins did not come into his place of employment this morning, and they are unable to locate him. Since I’ve got two open cases for partners at his firm, they thought it might be connected.”
“I doubt it’s coincidence,” Brantley told him.
“I’m sure it’s not, no.”
“But you don’t believe he’s missin’?” Brantley asked. “So what? You think he’s dead?”
“I can’t make that assumption at this time,” the detective responded with the hint of a snarl.
From the screen, Mathis continued to watch him, and Brantley waited patiently.
“Fine,” the detective finally said. “You want to take these cases, you take ’em.”
“I’m not lookin’ to take your cases, Detective. I don’t work homicides, nor do I care to. I’m interested in findin’ Mr. Hawkins, if he is in fact missin’, and right now, I’m goin’ on the assumption he is. However, if you’re not interested in being a contributing member of this team, I’ll certainly do what’s necessary to solve it.”
That didn’t go over well, sparks seeming to ignite in Mathis’s gaze.
Reese took over. “Detective, if you don’t mind, we do need to focus our efforts right now. The clock is tickin’.”
More information about Cedric Hawkins appeared on the screen, fed from JJ’s computer.
Reese didn’t even pause to read, continuing to address the detective. “Based on what little we have, this does not sound like a random or even run-of-the-mill missing person. If it was, we’re certain you and APD could handle it on your own. However, you’re already workin’ two homicides that are possibly related. We’re here to help with Cedric Hawkins’s disappearance so you can focus your energies where they’re needed most.”
“And,” Brantley added, “as we all know, time is of the essence. So stop wastin’ ours and give us the lowdown so we can help.”
“I think it’d be best if you come here,” the detective stated.
Brantley saw JJ shaking her head. She mouthed, “An hour away,” as her reasoning.
“We’re an hour from you, and from what I understand, Mr. Hawkins was reported missing in Austin. I’m not interested in loggin’ miles unless it’s necessary.” He stood tall, hardened his expression. “Stop with the excuses, Mathis. I’ve got a team behind me who’ll start diggin’ into the information as soon as you provide it, and I assure you, we’ve got more resources than you do.”
The detective exhaled heavily, and Brantley saw the moment he decided to give in, albeit reluctantly based on the gritted teeth.
“Cedric Hawkins. Fifty-seven years old, married, three grown children. His secretary reported him missing as of seven o’clock, one hour past the time he was supposed to show up for work.”
“An hour isn’t a long time,” Reese stated. “Could it be he had a meetin’ somewhere? Maybe stopped off for breakfast?”
“Anything’s possible, Mr.… uh…”
“Just call me Reese. Please.”
