Page 34 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

Barret stared at his computer screen but didn't see a thing that was on it.

His mind was on the shocked look on Adam's face as he'd dared to touch his face again.

So far Adam hadn't told him to stop. That was good.

He wondered what Adam saw during the brief touches, but he would never ask.

That would go against everything he was trying to prove, which was that he had nothing to hide from Adam, and didn't fear him seeing into his past.

He had no idea if Adam would allow it to continue, but Barret hoped he would.

He wanted to get to the point where they could hold hands during a movie or a walk through the city park.

Hell, he wanted to kiss Adam, but he was sure that wouldn't be happening for quite a while.

He had to move slowly so he didn't scare Adam away.

"Whitestone, you alive over there?" Vance called.

"What?" Barret shook his head to clear it from thoughts of Adam. "I'm digging through Stevenson's past."

"I know that. I asked if you were having any luck." Vance narrowed his gaze on him. "What has you so distracted?"

"Nothing, it's just this case. I'm trying to think outside the box.

Figure out what Stevenson was up to since getting out of prison.

I've got a full history on him from birth to being kicked out of school at fifteen, but from there, it's just pieces.

" Barret tapped his pen on the notebook he'd been writing info on.

"Both parents dead. A sister in Iowa, but as far as I can tell they don't have any contact.

I've left a message for her to call me, but so far, nothing. "

"His parole officer has promised to forward his file to me, but so far I haven't gotten it."

"Considering it's almost five here, I'm guessing you might not get it today.

" Barret sighed. "Don't people understand we're working a violent murder?

" He knew the parole officer probably had a million things going on, but it was a simple request to have him copy and send Stevenson's file to them.

Hell, they'd already gotten records from the prison and even the county jail he'd been held at before being sentenced to prison.

He had yet to weed through the case files, but he had nothing better to do tonight.

"I'm going to stick around here for a few more hours and look through all this information.

If the parole report comes in, I'll see it.

Why don't you go home and spend some time with your wife? "

"If she lets me into the house. She claims she's forgotten who I am with the hours we've been working." Vance stood. "You're right. I need to remind her who she's married to. I'll drop by Ally's and get us dinner. She'll like that."

"Tell her I'm sorry I've been keeping you from her."

"You haven't. The job has. We've been married long enough that she knows I have weeks like this.

She'll forgive me if I get her a slice of Ally's chocolate cake.

Don't you stay here all night. Go home and get some sleep.

" Vance tapped his fist on Barret's desk.

"You're a lot easier to work with when you're not tired. "

Barret flipped him off.

"Night, partner." Vance left the office.

"He's probably closer to you than he is his wife with the hours you spend together," Officer Murphy told him from across the room. He was working a double, and like Barret, was trying to find any information on their suspect.

"Hell, if being with him is what marriage is like, count me out of ever walking down the aisle," Barret teased.

"Besides, he's too old for me. I'm fine with a small age gap, but twenty years is pushing it.

" His mind went to Adam, who definitely wasn't too old for him.

In fact, Adam was around the perfect age for him.

He'd ran Adam's name through the police database when he'd first met him to see what would come up and found out his age and birthday.

December second was now marked on his phone calendar so that he didn't forget.

"So, I think I might have something. You want to come look at this?" Officer Murphy pointed at his screen.

"What ya got?" Barret walked across the room and looked over Murphy's shoulder. "Holy shit, you found him." On the screen in front of him was a booking photo from an Arizona county jail. The face staring back at him was almost an exact replica of the younger man that Adam had Maggie draw.

"It is him, isn't it?" Murphy asked.

"I think so. He's got shorter hair and looks a bit thinner, but yeah, I'd say it's him. If not, it's damn close. Who is he?"

"Martin Wallace Cohen, twenty-nine years old. He was arrested for assault after beating another man in a bar fight. Put the man in a coma. You'll never guess who his cellmate was in jail." Murphy smiled up at Barret.

"Let me guess. One Michael Ray Stevenson?" Barret pulse raced as he realized that Murphy had not only identified their second suspect but also linked their two suspects together. "Great work."

"Thanks." Murphy hit print and the sound of the printer filled the room.

"Okay, get me everything you have on Cohen. Let's pray he's not a ghost like Sevenson is." Barret started back to his desk. "Send me copies of all that, would ya?"

"Sure thing." Murphy tapped away on his keyboard. "He was arrested eleven years ago. Served five years before being paroled. Did his time at the same prison as Stevenson, though they weren't cellmates then. That was only in county. I'm looking up his parole officer's name now."

"I doubt he's been checking in regularly with his parole officer. Usually, he wouldn't be allowed to leave the area if he's on parole. Still, it's possible I guess if he's appeared to be behaving himself and got a job as a truck driver."

"Would he be allowed to get his C.D.L. with felonies?" Murphy asked.

"Depending on the state laws and the company hiring him.

" Barret opened the file and stared at the mugshot of their second killer.

"So, the two meet in jail, then go on to serve some time together in prison.

More than enough time to form a tight friendship.

Cohen gets out and manages to keep himself out of trouble until Stevenson gets out.

The two hook back up and what, decide to kidnap and murder a woman? "

"Might have been a spur of the moment decision. Who knows? There had to be some planning I'd think. I mean, you do have Stevenson buying zip ties." Murphy stood. "I need a smoke after all this. I'll be back in ten." He got up and headed outside.

Barret focused on the information he had.

He needed more. But since it was late in the day, there was a chance he wouldn't get more until morning.

He searched what information he could on Cohen, running his social security number and other information through every database he had access to.

If the guy had a job, he wasn't paying taxes.

His listed address was a small town outside of Tucson, and as Barret dug deeper, he found the home belonged to his mother.

Cohen's father was deceased, and he had two older brothers, both who appeared to be married and were living a crime-free life, unlike their little brother.

He was so close to catching these guys, yet so far away. He knew who he was looking for, but he had no idea where they were. Hell, they could be in New York by now. He could put out warrants for their arrest and still go years without finding them. It was so frustrating.

Barret spent the next hour filling out forms and getting things sent to the judge who would have to sign the warrants for the two men. With the D.N.A. hits, there was more than enough evidence. Still, the warrants were nothing more than paper until they found the men they were issued for.

"I've got to head out. Jefferson's cows are out again.

I swear if it wasn't so much more work, I'd impound the cows and make him pay to get them back.

" Officer Murphy got up from his desk. "Don't stay at this all night.

Tomorrow is a new day. You'll be able to contact their parole officers and hopefully get more information then. "

"I'll head out soon. You need help with the cattle?"

"Nah. At this point, I just sound my siren and the damn things run back through the broken fence.

I swear it's a game to them. I'll rig the fence and write another ticket.

Mrs. Jefferson is going to lose her mind, but she's got to do something.

We're lucky nobody's hit a cow yet." Murphy waved as he left the office.

Barret wished he could escape this investigation and deal with a few rogue cows for a while. Not that the cow issue wasn't serious. Someone could die if they hit one of them. The danger was real, and Mr. Jefferson needed to either fix his fence or sell off the cattle.

He forced his mind off the bovine and onto his murder case.

There wasn't much more he could do this late in the day, but going home now that he knew exactly who he was looking for didn't feel right.

Yet he could hardly sleep at the station, and that was what he would be doing if he didn't get some rest.

After shutting down his computer, he headed out to his car.

He stood beside it for a few minutes, taking in the darkening sky and wondering how such a horrible crime could happen in such a beautiful place.

He hated that such violence intruded on such a peaceful community.

Death was expected. It was part of life.

But this, this wasn't part of the circle of life.

This was dark and evil, and he hated that he even had to face it.

He wondered if he ever had children how he would ever let them out of his sight knowing what might lurk behind every corner. How would he ever let go to let his child grow and become an adult? He'd want to always protect them. Always keep them safe.