He shook off the memory, his full attention turning back to Brantley.
“You said he’s in police custody,” Iris said, her voice soft and even. “Did they arrest him?”
“According to Reese, they haven’t yet. They’ve produced a warrant to search his house, and they intend to question him about her disappearance.”
“So they don’t have any proof that he’s responsible for the girl’s disappearance?” Frank inquired.
Brantley shrugged.
Trey waited, knowing his brother would repeat his question from earlier.
“How long did Magnus stay at your house last night?”
Trey felt all eyes on him, hated that they were. While everyone assumed he was some sort of man-slut, it had never been the case. Yet, the one time he was openly questioned, his answer would give substance to the rumor.
Figured.
“This’ll help us, Trey,” Brantley stated firmly. “How long was he there?”
Trey stared at his brother, exhaled, and resigned himself to sharing more than he cared to. If it would help Magnus, it wasn’t like he had a choice.
“Until at least three,” he said, glancing down at the floor. “We fell asleep around that time. When I woke up at six, he was gone.”
Brantley nodded. “All right. Well, that narrows it down some.”
“What time did the girl go missing?” Frank asked, obviously curious.
“I don’t know. Reese didn’t have any answers.”
“What now?” Trey prompted.
“You have to figure this out,” Iris said smoothly. “Find this woman they’re worried about.”
“Yes, Ma, we do. We need to figure out who saw him next. I figure someone at the dog place did. Question is, when?” Brantley’s gaze shifted back to Trey. “I need to head over to HQ.”
“You gonna call in the team?” Trey asked.
“I’ll wait to hear back from Reese.”
“No!” Trey demanded. “Call ’em in now.”
Brantley’s blue-gray eyes locked on Trey’s, held firmly for a few painfully long seconds before he nodded, his tone less aggressive when he said, “Okay. I’ll call ’em.”
Trey nodded though he wasn’t sure why he did.
*
THIS WAS ONE HELL OF A WAYto be pulled back into the fold, Reese thought as he made his way to Magnus’s front door, Tesha walking alongside him.
He knew the trainer wasn’t home because Reese had witnessed him being escorted to the back of a squad car when he arrived. He’d had just enough time to get the gist from a cocky officer who’d seemed thrilled with the idea of taking a suspect in for questioning.
Reese had absorbed the few details the officer offered, heeded Magnus’s plea to find Ava, then told Magnus he’d take care of things. As the car was driving away, Reese called Brantley, filling him on the little he’d learned in the span of a twenty-word conversation. Magnus wasn’t being arrested, but he was being taken in for questioning, and the police had produced a warrant to search the house.
Now, after receiving a text from Brantley to let him know he was calling in some of the Off the Books Task Force to, at minimum, assist with the case of the missing Ava March, Reese had every intention of inserting himself into this investigation, finding out what angle the cops were playing and how Magnus fit into it.
“You can’t be in here,” someone called out when Reese stepped into the house, Tesha beside him. He closed the door, letting the officer know he had no intention of leaving.
“Actually, I can,” he countered, heading toward the man glaring a hole through his face. “Reese Tavoularis. Off the Books Task Force.” When the man’s jaw set, Reese held up his credentials from Sniper 1 Security, let the guy scan it briefly before tucking it back into his pocket.
