“I … uh… Actually, I need to get back to the house. Need to check on the dogs.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He did need to check in, make sure Gia didn’t need anything. Although he trusted her to handle the business, he hated leaving it all on her.
Trey studied him momentarily as though he wanted to argue.
It wasn’t surprising when he didn’t.
*
REESE WAS STUDYING THE BOARD, REVIEWING THEtimeline they’d drawn up depicting where Ava March had last been seen. Based on the text they’d just gotten from Trey, the friend they’d met with hadn’t heard from her since last Saturday. Although Trey’s message had mentioned they didn’t believe Ava had been the one to text the friend back, they were using that as a last-confirmed.
He had updated the details and started the timeline because he was making every effort to stay focused on the case and remember that was the only reason he was here.
Of course, his thoughts were scattered, more so since that intense encounter he and Brantley had shared in the house a short time ago. When they’d succumbed to the passion that seemed to burn out of control the longer they were around one another. He had to keep reminding himself that just because they’d indulged, given in to their desires, it didn’t mean things would work out with him and Brantley. Ever since then, Brantley had been keeping him at a distance, back to business.
Reese refused to be hurt by it all because it was his own fault. The instant Brantley kissed him, he’d known that it was a reaction to the situation.
Didn’t mean he couldn’t use it as a building block for their future. Reese had every intention of using that to his advantage if it meant getting to spend even a little more time with Brantley. He’d missed the man fiercely; only his own insecurities had kept him from coming back. Now that he was here, he didn’t want to leave.
Brantley’s cell phone rang, pulling Reese from his thoughts.
“It’s Trey,” he announced, then answered the call on speaker. “You find anything out?”
Reese went back to staring at the board, shook his head. That was Brantley for you. Couldn’t even say hello. Good to see some things hadn’t changed.
“Jane didn’t know where she is. Said Ava was supposed to go out with her on New Year’s but didn’t show. Hasn’t seen her in the past three months.”
“And she hasn’t heard from her?”
“Just the text I messaged Baz about,” Trey answered, “but Magnus and Jane don’t think it was from her.”
Reese glanced at Brantley, spoke up when he didn’t. “Why doesn’t he think it was her?”
“The tone of the text,” Magnus said, the call obviously on speaker on the other end, too. “It wasn’t Ava. No emojis or acronyms. If I had to guess, someone else answered to throw Jane off.”
“Would that someone be Harrison Rivers?” Brantley asked.
“Could’ve been anyone,” Magnus noted before Trey added, “Jane did say she went by Ava’s house on New Year’s Day, but no one answered the door. She said they only have one car. It wasn’t there, either, but Harrison could’ve parked in the garage.”
“We need to track that car,” Brantley stated, his gaze swinging to JJ, who was sitting at one of the desks near the electronic board that was slowly gaining information, but nothing that would help them find Ava.
“Maybe he has a toll tag,” Reese added.
“I’m on it,” JJ called out.
“I’m gonna drop Magnus at his place,” Trey said, “then head in.”
“Take us off speaker,” Brantley commanded, his tone still all business.
Reese heard the click, then Trey’s voice came in clearer.
“I want you to stay with Magnus,” Brantley told him. “Don’t leave his side. If Harrison’s tryin’ to pin this on him, I want eyes on him at all time.”
“Are you sure about that?” Trey asked.
Reese hid a smile. He could hear it in Trey’s voice, knew the man wasn’t keen on the idea. It probably had something to do with the fact he liked Magnus. Before everything went FUBAR, Reese knew Trey and Magnus had been spending time together. He hoped that was still working out for them because he’d always liked Magnus.
“Yes. Stay with him,” Brantley repeated. “We’ll check in later, let you know when we have something.”
Reese grinned when Brantley disconnected the call. “He’s gonna hate you. You know that, right?”
