“Good enough for me,” Baz said as he headed to his computer. “I’ll start prepping the board.”
“I’m gonna call Round Rock PD, talk to some buddies of mine, see what they can give me,” Evan said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
“You might talk to Weatherby,” Reese said. “See if you can smooth the waters with him. I don’t think he was all that impressed with my questions.”
Evan smirked. “I’ll do that.”
“While you do, I’m gonna head down there, see if I can spring Magnus,” Brantley stated. “Trey, you’re with me. Everyone else, let me know as soon as you find out more.”
“You should warn him Brantley’s comin’, too,” JJ told Evan, chuckling. “Maybe send donuts to let him know you care.”
Trey grabbed his cell phone, tucked it in his pocket, and followed Brantley. He caught up to him in the driveway, where Brantley was standing beside his truck, phone to his ear.
“I understand that. I’m not askin’ permission.” Brantley rolled his eyes, nodded for Trey to get in the truck.
While Trey walked around to the passenger side, Brantley climbed into the driver’s seat.
“I understand that,” Brantley repeated slowly. “And I’m not steppin’ on your toes. I will if I have to.” Brantley paused, then exhaled. “We’re on our way now. But just know this, if you’re not chargin’ him—” Another pause, followed by a gruffly rumbled, “We’ll be there in ten.”
Brantley disconnected the call, started the engine.
Trey didn’t know what to say, so he kept his mouth shut. Not that it helped, because a minute into the drive, Brantley began his interrogation.
“Trust me when I tell you, I don’t wanna know the details of your personal life, but you can understand why I have to in this case.”
He understood, all right. He didn’t like it, but he got it.
“When you left the bar last night, you went straight home, right?”
“Yes.”
“Did Magnus ride with you? Or did he follow you from the bar?”
“Followed.”
“How long’d it take him to get there?”
“He literally followed me,” Trey said through gritted teeth. “He was parked in my driveway before I had a chance to start flippin’ on lights.”
“Okay, so you had eyes on him from roughly twenty thirty until oh three hundred.”
“Yes.” Trey didn’t bother to mention he had more than eyes on the man. Definitely didn’t need to sharethatmuch information with his brother.
“Have you talked to him since?”
Trey cleared his throat, kept his eyes forward. “No.”
Brantley remained quiet for a moment.
“What is it?” Trey asked, knowing Brantley had something on his mind.
His brother cut his gaze over briefly. “Tell me this. Is it serious between you two?”
“Define serious,” he retorted.
“Trey,” Brantley drawled. “I’d like to know what I’m dealin’ with.”
Trey huffed, stared out the window, and opted to tell the truth. “It’s serious.”
