“Yeah?And what?”Atticus chimed in.“They’ve got Kylie locked up somewhere?Holding her hostage?”
Holt shrugged.“Possibly.Or it’s possible she’s willing.Depends on what they’ve told her.”
Brantley took a step forward, intent on arguing, but Simon stepped between him and Holt.
“Think about it.A mother of five, Brantley.They could manipulate her simply by telling her that her kids aren’t safe.”
Reese’s hand landed on his arm.“If they’re persuasive enough, I can see it.Kylie would want to protect them all.”
Brantley glanced from one person to the next until his gaze finally landed on Reese.“As ridiculous as it sounds, there’s only one thing we can do at this point.”
Reese nodded.“I agree.”
Looking back at Atticus and Archer, Brantley said, “Keep movin’ forward.But I want this little detail”—he pointed at the computer—“kept on the DL.For now.”
“And the objective?”Atticus prompted.
Brantley looked at Reese momentarily, then addressed the two investigators directly.“I want to prove without a doubt whether Kylie’s alive.And if she is, where the fuck is she?”
“Why don’t we just exhume the body?”Atticus asked.
Brantley canted his head.“If you can convince my cousin to disturb what might just be his wife’s final resting place, you go ahead and try.But when he beats you bloody and leaves you for dead, that’s on you.”
“Very vivid picture you paint, boss.No exhumation.Got it.”Atticus stepped forward.“I’d like to ask that we bring Evan into the fold.Where that’s concerned, I mean.”
“Why?”Reese asked.
“Because Baz is out and Evan can be discreet.We can pursue different leads, and he can assist with that.”
Brantley felt Reese’s gaze on him, waiting for an answer.He had one, but he wasn’t sure his husband would be happy with it.
Without hesitation, he said, “No.”
Atticus looked pained by the response.
Gesturing to Atticus and Archer, Brantley said, “The four of us—” He stopped, looked at Simon.“Make that five.We’ll pursue that lead.You can assign all other aspects of the conspiracy to the team.For the moment, no one outside this room needs to know about Kylie.”
Atticus looked appeased by the response.“Understood.And JJ?”
That was a good question.Brantley knew he couldn’t keep the information from her.She deserved to know.“Reese and I’ll go by the hospital and fill her and Baz in.I’ll see if they have time to help out when they aren’t with the twins.”
“What about RT and Z?”Reese asked.
“No.”Brantley knew it didn’t make sense, but he wanted to keep this close to the vest.For now.
He looked at his husband, expecting an argument.
“Okay.”
He tried to hide his surprise at Reese’s acquiescence.
“I get it,” Reese said quietly.“The fewer who know…”
Exactly.
Looking at Holt and Simon, Brantley said, “I want you both to keep this to yourself.”
Holt nodded.
Taking another cleansing breath, grateful that the panic had subsided and his focus had returned, Brantley started toward the kitchen.
“Let me make coffee, then we’ll get started.”
