“He can’t let it go,” Reese mused. “That’s understandable.”
“You’re right. He can’t.” Brantley glanced out at the barn. “I know Travis, and I know he’s obsessing over this. And I can’t blame him at all. Hell, he’s probably worried that bitch’ll reappear and his daughter might vanish again.”
Reese understood that. And since it was a very real possibility, they should all be worried about it.
“I have to help him get closure on this. Sooner rather than later.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“What I need is someone to fuckin’ find her,” Brantley snarled.
“You know JJ’s been workin’ on it. She set up alerts, keeps a record of everything she’s doin’.”
Brantley’s expression said he hadn’t known that.
“I’m sure Travis has alerts set up, too.”
“Probably. And that’s the issue.” Brantley met his gaze. “We can’t let Travis go off the rails on this, Reese. My cousin … if he gets her in his sights, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll take her out.”
Reese didn’t disagree. He knew Travis, had for a long damn time. He’d seen the man riled up a time or two, but he’d never seen him harboring the sort of rage plaguing him now. And that was saying something because Travis had recruited Reese to deal with one of Travis’s cousin’s ex-wife a few years back. Thankfully she’d heeded the warning. Otherwise, it might’ve been a death sentence instead of an ultimatum Reese had delivered. And if it had, Travis’s hands would’ve never gotten dirty.
“I need to dedicate some time to helpin’ him,” Brantley said. “And JJ’s right. We need more people if we’re gonna get anything accomplished. Lookin’ into one case every month or so … not feasible. And it won’t justify the cost of this task force.”
Reese leaned forward, touched Brantley’s arm. “I agree, Juliet Prince needs to be brought to justice. You find her, you turn her in. That’s your plan, right?”
Brantley’s gaze bounced over his face. “That’s my plan.”
“But it’s not Travis’s?” Reese knew Travis too well, knew the man had crossed that line in the name of protecting his family and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
“Honestly, I don’t know what his plan is, but I have to help him.”
“Okay.” Reese knew he couldn’t argue. He understood Travis’s need for closure on this. The man couldn’t be expected to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life, waiting for the woman who had kidnapped his daughter to wreak havoc on his life again.
Brantley breathed out. “I’m gonna meet up with him next week. See what he has in mind and see if we can map out a plan.”
“And I’ll oversee what’s goin’ on here.” Reese leaned back. “What about Trey? You goin’ to talk to him?”
“What do you think?”
“About hirin’ him?” Reese was surprised Brantley even had to ask. “The guy’s got more experience with this than I do and you took a chance on me. I’m no detective, Brantley. Never have been, but I like to think I’ve got good instincts. I can hold my own. The same goes for you. If you think Trey’s a good fit, I don’t have any arguments.”
As for Cyrus… Reese was just glad Brantley had vetoed JJ’s suggestion before they’d been forced to discuss it.
“I’ll give him a call,” Brantley noted. “But I want you to interview him. See how well the two of you mesh.”
“When do you plan to have all this done?” Reese asked. “The full team in place?”
“By the end of the year.”
At least they had a little time.
Of course, that could change at any minute.
***When Brantley and Reese left, JJ shot up out of her chair and headed for the kitchen. She needed coffee, but more importantly, she needed some distance from Baz.
Her thoughts drifted back to last night, to the dinner they had together, the conversation.
The kiss.
I will catch you. No matter how long it takes.
His words still played in her head, over and over. She had no idea why those words carried so much weight, but they did. No one had ever chased her before. No one had held out long enough to give a damn. Not even Dante.
Her heart fluttered at the memory of Baz speaking those words, so low, so sincere. Her blood began to heat the same way it had when he’d pressed his mouth to hers. It hadn’t been much different than the first and only kiss they’d shared a few weeks ago at Moonshiners when they’d all gone to celebrate the fact they’d closed their first case.
Last night’s encounter started with Baz proving he was patient and unwilling to push, then with JJ all but jumping him. Baz had then taken over, slowing things down, making her head spin with the overwhelming intensity of his kiss.
And then he’d left.
JJ spent the entire night battling the anger and frustration that erupted when he hadn’t taken things any further. It made her a damn hypocrite, she knew. She’d all but declared she had no desire to sleep with him, and now it seemed to be the only thing she could think about.
