The teasing in his tone was meant to put Reese at ease and it worked. “If there was anything good about you, I’da talked more about you, but…” He shrugged a shoulder.
Z laughed. “Go sit down.”
“I was referrin’ to Sniper 1 Security,” Brantley clarified as the two of them sat at the table while Z and RT set down full plates at all four spots. “Heard a lot of good things.”
“We aim for good press,” RT replied with a grin. “Family business and all.”
Z pointed at Brantley, then to the refrigerator and back again. “Somethin’ to drink? Beer? Wine? Water?”
“I’ll take a beer,” Brantley said easily.
When Z looked Reese’s way, he nodded in agreement.
“I was wonderin’,” Z said, his expression thoughtful, “does it make the Tavoularis men the submissive sort since we seem to fall for our bosses?”
Again, Reese’s face flamed, but he managed a response. “In my defense, Brantley wasn’t originally my boss.”
“I’m still not,” Brantley said, glancing over. “I consider us equals. He’s my partner. Hell, he’s probably more competent than I am when it comes to runnin’ a team.”
“Says the decorated Navy SEAL,” Reese countered. “Master chief if I recall correctly.”
He got a wink from Brantley and he suspected it was meant as warning he would get payback later.
“Thank you for your service,” Z said, his tone serious.
“Yes, thank you,” RT added when he joined them at the table. “So, tell me what this task force entails.”
The four of them started to eat, the conversation moving steadily as they did. Brantley filled them in on how the task force came about, their first cases.
“Talk about trial by fire,” RT stated. “First case involved your family?”
“My cousin, yeah.” Brantley took a bite, chewed. “It was instinct. I didn’t think about what needed to be done, I just did it. Reese was right there with me.”
Reese could feel Z’s eyes on him, knew his brother was watching. They’d never discussed what had happened to him during his time in the air force, but he knew his brother believed something had happened.
Thankfully, the topic shifted to their current case, and RT and Z were riveted.
“Four women.” Z seemed to mull over the information. “In a year, you said?”
“Yep.” Brantley took a swig of his beer. “All abducted at the lake, all during their daily run.”
“The only connection we’ve made,” Reese explained, “is that each woman lived in a household with a child. Sister’s kid, roommate’s, their own. But our investigation’s given us no clue that they actually met this person because of a child.”
“Grocery store?” Z mentioned.
“Nope. According to their family members, they shopped at different places.”
“Gas station?” RT said.
“Same. Not that we could find.”
“Bank? Dry cleaners? Gym?” Z took a swallow of beer. “Liquor store? Coffee shop? Ice cream? Donuts?” He grinned. “Sorry. Just thinkin’ about the places I frequent.”
Reese shook his head with amusement, as did RT.
“Police department?” RT glanced between the two of them.
Brantley was the one to respond. “You mean for an issue?”
“Yeah. Traffic violation, court date, complaint.”
Reese glanced at Brantley and a surge of hope flared inside him. “The complaint Debbie Struthers filed.”
“Oh, damn. Didn’t think about that,” Brantley answered, evidently thinking about it now. “We’ll look into that.”
“You said the detective mentioned his ex-partner thought it was a serial? That these women aren’t the guy’s first?” RT said, glancing between the two of them
“That’s what he said,” Brantley confirmed, “but the old partner’s not around for us to talk to.”
“You track him down?”
“Not yet. But I think it’s a trail we’ll have to follow.”
Reese glanced at Brantley. “That’s interesting.”
All eyes turned to him.
“What’s that?” Brantley asked.
“Baz and Trey mentioned the victim’s husband said no one had come to take his official statement. No one other than the initial uniform. But that doesn’t jibe with the detective’s notes. He had a lot of information for someone who hadn’t paid a visit to the family yet.”
“What’re you thinkin’?” RT inquired. “That the detective might be involved?”
“I don’t want to think that,” he said quickly, “but there’s been an itch between my shoulder blades since I met the guy.”
“Go with that,” Z stated firmly. “In this line of work, the gut’s rarely wrong.”
Brantley was staring at him. No, studying him seemed a more accurate description.
When Brantley looked away, he was reaching for his phone, pushing his chair back. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to make a call.”
“I like him,” Z said when Brantley left the room.
RT laughed. “You say that like Reese needs your approval.”
“He does.” Z shot him a beaming grin. “He’s my kid brother.”
Reese laughed, relaxing. “I like him, too.”
It still felt awkward to say it aloud, but it was getting easier. Reese found the more he ignored his own nerves, the doubt that crept in at the most unexpected moments, and focused on the fact he truly loved Brantley, the more he didn’t feel the need to hide. Not entirely, anyway.
