“As much as I want to remain hopeful, I fear finding Ava alive is slim to none.” Magnus’s tone was rough. “I’ve feared Harrison was going to do something to her for a long time.”
“Why would he call it in if he did something to her?” Trey asked.
“To insert himself into the investigation, take the heat off him. He knows I’d realize she was gone sooner or later, and I’d start lookin’.” Magnus cleared his throat, looked away. “By bringing it to light, he’s puttin’ the spotlight on me.”
“I’ve asked JJ to do a deep dive on this guy,” Brantley said, meeting Trey’s gaze. “To get me everything there is to know about Harrison Rivers.”
Trey had figured as much. Considering the scene earlier, there were a lot of unanswered questions when it came to whatever the issue was between Harrison and Magnus. It was apparent Magnus was protective of Ava. As for his reasons, Trey didn’t know. Was it a brotherly connection? Or was there more to it? More that Magnus didn’t want them to know?
Brantley’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then at Trey. “That’s Evan. He’s gonna pick me up. We’ll head over to talk to Harrison ourselves, get a read on the guy.”
Trey was tempted to offer to go with Evan and let Brantley go with Magnus, but he refrained. He wasn’t a coward. He could survive a couple of hours with Magnus without doing something stupid.
At least he hoped he could.
Chapter Nine
AS SOON ASBRANTLEY LEFT,MAGNUS FELTthe tension ratchet up a few notches. And it wasn’t the good kind of tension, the type that came with sexual chemistry between two people. Although that was still there—despite the circumstances—still going strong even if Trey was fighting it, obviously none too happy to be out in public with him.
“Mind if I ask how they dragged you into this?” Magnus prompted when it was clear Trey was looking for a way out of the building and not necessarily through the door. He imagined a Trey-sized hole in the wall when the man went right through it.
Trey’s dark eyebrows lowered, those steel-blue eyes searching Magnus’s face. “They didn’t drag me.”
“You look like you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
“There’s a girl missin’,” Trey bit out, his voice pitched low.
“I’m aware,” he snapped back, pissed that Trey would eventhinkMagnus wasn’t thinking about that every second. “So why didn’t you go with Brantley? That’s what y’all do, right? Solve missing person cases?”
Trey didn’t answer, merely held his gaze.
“Look,” Magnus finally said on a sigh. “This thing between us … I’m aware it’s superficial. You don’t have to worry about me expectin’ anything from you.”
Still no response from Trey.
Magnus decided to let Trey off the hook. “I’ll just see if I can find someone to call for a Lyft so you can get back to it.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“They didn’t let me get it,” he admitted, remembering how the cops had dragged him out of the house, patient only long enough for him to pull on a T-shirt and shoes. “I need to get home, anyway. My day help’s probably wonderin’ what the hell’s goin’ on.”
“I’ll drive you,” Trey stated, pulling out his wallet and tossing a twenty on the table.
“Not necessary.” The last thing Magnus wanted to do was put Trey in a situation that made him uncomfortable. As it was, their interactions were kept mostly to the privacy of Trey’s house. They didn’t interact in the light of day. In passing, maybe, but not in close quarters, and while Magnus would welcome more time with Trey, he damn sure wouldn’t make the suggestion.
“I said I’ll drive you.”
Magnus heard the frustration in Trey’s tone, peered up when Trey stood. He considered arguing again, but he honestly didn’t want to cause another scene. One was his quota for the day, and he’d met that back at the police station.
Plus, he had to begin his own search for Ava, and he needed things from his house to do it.
Without a word, he followed Trey out to Brantley’s truck, climbed into the passenger seat. Neither of them said a word as Trey pulled out of the parking lot, headed toward the highway. Magnus tried to relax, but there was too much anxiety coursing through his veins. His thoughts drifted to New Year’s after Trey had left and Magnus had gone to check on Ava.
“Hey. You doin’ okay?”
Ava’s big blue eyes peered up at him. “Where’s Trey?”
“He left?”
