“JJ.Labor.Babies.”
“No.”
“Good.”
Brantley stood in the doorway, watching the man who was nose-deep in his computer monitor.He hadn’t looked up once.Not even to ask that random question.
“What’re you workin’ on?”
Reese gestured toward the screen.
Brantley mimicked his gesture, only he was asking him to continue.“And that is?”
Reese still didn’t look up.
With a sigh to show he was completely put out, Brantley said, “Not even married two weeks, and you’re already leavin’ me to fend for myself for lunch.”
Reese didn’t look up, instead pointing at the screen.“How did we not know this?”
Indulging him, Brantley walked around behind the desk.“Not know what?”
“That Kylie’s mother witnessed a murder.”
“I thought we did know that.”
“Not until Holt.”
“Okay.”Brantley would give him that.“You’re sayin’ we should’ve known?”
“Yes.”
“Do we know Kylie’s mother?”Brantley asked, confused as to why Reese sounded so adamant about that.
Reese’s eyes had a glazed, far-off look to them when he finally peered up.“She allegedly saw Max Adorite kill a man.”
“I’m sure a lot of people have witnessed Max Adorite kill a man.He’s not exactly Mr.Rogers.”
“She saw him.”
Since it was clear Reese needed to get this information out, Brantley decided to indulge him.“Okay.Kylie’s mother—whom we do not know—witnessed Max Adorite kill a man.When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can you guesstimate?A decade, two?”
“At least two.Probably.”
He recalled hearing something about Kylie’s mother having left after Kylie’s sister turned eighteen.He didn’t know their exact ages, but he had to assume it was about that time.
“Was it when she up and left?After Jessie turned eighteen?”
Reese frowned.“So you did know?”
“About her witnessing a murder?No.But I’ve heard rumors about Kylie’s parents.”
Reese was staring at him as though he needed more to go on.
Figuring it was only fair to fill him in, Brantley explained.Or tried to.“Travis is my cousin.Small town.Trey mentioned it once.Back when Kylie showed up in town and everyone learned Travis was married to her.Rumor was, her mom left for greener pastures.”
