Evan smiled down at his menu. “Morgue.”
“Enough said.” Brantley chuckled. “First time to see a dead body?”
Trey didn’t respond, but the glare he shot his brother was hot enough to make sparks.
“I told him it doesn’t get easier.”
No, it didn’t. Reese had firsthand experience from his time in the Air Force. It hadn’t been a common occurrence for him, thank God, but there’d been a few instances he would prefer to never relive.
“Make room,” Brantley commanded. “We’ve got two more.”
Reese looked up, saw Charlie and Slade strolling through the restaurant, speaking as they walked.
“Glad y’all could make it,” Brantley greeted, motioning for them to take a seat.
They took a few minutes to peruse the menu, snacking on chips and salsa. When the friendly waitress stopped by, they managed to rattle off what they wanted while she scribbled it down on a pad. She promised to bring drinks and more chips, then rushed off to another table.
“All right, what’s the lowdown?” Evan asked, surprising Reese with how easily he jumped into things.
“I’ll go first,” Brantley said, then gave a very colorful overview of his thoughts on Annie Hawkins.
“I saw their financials,” Charlie said, nodding toward her phone. “JJ sent them over a short while ago.”
“Not hurtin’?”
“Generationswon’t be hurting,” she confirmed. “For any of them.”
Reese didn’t mention the diamonds, although he figured those things might just suck up a good chunk of that money if the woman didn’t chill.
“The business?” Brantley inquired.
“The investment group is doing well,” Charlie confirmed. “In the black. This recent purchase is predicted to make them quite a chunk of change based on their reported analysis.”
“I didn’t think they wanted that kinda retail out here,” Reese said.
“Based on the threats, you’d think not,” Charlie answered. “However, they’ve done their homework, and it looks like the overwhelming response is positive.”
“If that’s the case, do we still think Hawkins’s disappearance is related to that land purchase?” Slade asked, looking at all the faces at the table.
“I’m not leanin’ that direction,” Brantley admitted. “I don’t see how someone benefits by kidnappin’ him after two of the partners turned up dead. To me, he’d be dead like the other two.”
Reese was in agreement.
Brantley grabbed his iced tea. “Personally, I think it’s somehow tied to the wives.”
Reese stared at Brantley, not surprised he was going down the same path. It was hard not to think that, considering the conversations they’d just had.
“And Nancy Wright’s nowhere to be found,” Brantley continued.
“Speaking of Nancy,” Evan said. “There’s something I noticed that stands out in JJ’s notes, not sure if you’ve had time to see it.”
Reese shook his head. He hadn’t realized she’d been sending them already.
“Go on,” Brantley urged, dragging another chip through salsa.
“Nancy Wright filed a restraining order against her husband six years ago.”
Reese pulled out his phone, too curious not to look for himself.
