Page 36 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

As Adam pulled up in front of Barret's home, he tried not to think of the conversation they'd had the last time they'd talked.

It had been almost all he'd thought about over the last few days, and even though he'd been busy and distracted by work, the moment he was alone, his mind wandered back to Barret and how he'd wanted to explore things between them.

The murder case had kept Barret busy, and Adam had heard from Becky that all the officers were putting in overtime as they tried to track down the location of the suspects.

Becky hadn't known much, so Adam was looking forward to catching up on what was going on with the case tonight, though he would be careful not to ruin the birthday celebration with conversation about murder.

Once out of the car, he went around to the passenger side and got the pasta salad he'd made, along with a bottle of Becky's favorite wine and a small gift he'd got for her.

It had been pure luck he'd recalled Becky talking about wine with him one morning when he'd dropped by the bakery and he'd remembered her favorite.

The door opened as he walked up the walk toward Barret's home.

The house was an older model that was common around town with a small front porch and large windows looking out over the front lawn.

The place was in need of paint and some upkeep, but considering the hours Barret worked, he understood things like painting could take a back seat to work.

Becky grinned at him from the doorway. "I'm so glad you came." She reached out and took the salad bowl from him. "What'd you bring?"

"Just a pasta salad," he told her. "It's nothing fancy."

"Good, because we don't do fancy around here. It's too much work. We like things simple." She led him inside and to the kitchen. "I'll put this in the fridge until we're ready to eat."

"This is for you." He handed her the bottle of wine. "This too." He set the small gift on the table. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you. You didn't need to get me anything." She held up the wine. But I'm glad you did." She laughed as she set the wine down and took the gift. "This was unnecessary though."

"I hope you like it." He watched as she tore the paper from the small, wrapped box, then opened it and pulled out a necklace with an amethyst crystal hanging from it. "I was looking at this when I was in your shop." She held it up.

"I noticed. I hoped you were interested in it for you and not someone else."

"Me for sure. It's my favorite stone. I know it's not my birthstone, but I've always loved amethyst." She grinned. "I'd hug you, but I know I can't. I really love it."

"I'm glad." Adam glanced out the back window and into the yard where Barret was standing beside a large smoker. "Can we trust him with that?"

Becky laughed. "Never trust him inside the kitchen, but with the smoker or barbecue, he's great. I was so excited when he bought that thing. The meat will be falling off the bone on those ribs he's cooking."

"Sounds delicious." Adam's mouth was already watering just from the smell that drifted in from the sliding screen door that led out back.

"Come on out and meet my best friend, Francine. Grab a beer or whatever you want to drink from the fridge." Becky gestured to the appliance.

Adam grabbed a bottle of beer and followed her out back.

He smiled at Barret as he stepped out the door.

"Something smells amazing." He took in the small yard surrounded by pine trees and aspens.

He loved that it bordered the base of the mountain and didn't have neighbors behind him.

The yard itself wasn't huge, but Barret had a nice patio and even an old hammock strung between two of the trees.

It was peaceful and Adam could imagine Barret drinking his morning coffee out there every morning.

"It's me," Barret teased.

"Probably, since you're standing near the smoker." Adam laughed, then turned to the dark-haired woman who was sitting at the patio table. "I'm Adam Wrecker." He offered his hand.

"Francine Bulliton." She shook his hand. "I've been to your store a few times to get oils. I love the place."

"Thanks." He sat down beside her. "Do you work nearby?"

"I work at Up Do just down the street from you," she told him.

"One place in town I haven't been to." He smiled as he ran his gloved fingers through his hair.

"You should drop by. We cut men's hair as well," she informed him.

"Thanks, but with my ability, I don't let anyone cut my hair. Too much contact. I learned long ago to cut my own."

"Oh, I hadn't thought about that. Yeah, that would make sense. Wow, I hadn't even thought about all the stuff you probably can't do that we take for granted." Francine glanced at Becky. "Can you imagine not being able to get your hair done?"

"I'd cry, but I'm guessing it's not the same for most men." Becky held up the necklace Adam had given her. "Look at my gift."

"Oh, that is pretty. It will look great on you. Turn around and let me put it on you." Francine took the necklace.

"Evening." Barret took a seat beside Adam.

"Hello." Adam grinned. "You need any help with things?"

"Nope, just about ready to pull the ribs off the grill, then I'll let them sit a bit.

Sorry I haven't been by this week. It's been insane at work.

Not only are we dealing with the murder investigation, but we also have that art show in the park.

We've been working overtime doing security for it," Barret told him.

"Jacey's been down there. Said it's a great show. I guess his girlfriend paints and is hoping to sell some of her items there next year." Adam waved his hand at the yard. "I love your place. I'd sit out here every morning and enjoy my coffee."

"Come over any time," Barret offered. "I am usually in such a rush, I don't get to enjoy it, but I do come out on my days off and sit. The deer sometimes come down and sleep under the pines toward the back. It's not huge, but it's mine."

"You don't need huge. This is the perfect sanctuary." Adam wished he had a yard to enjoy. Outside his place there were parking lots and roads. Maybe someday he'd look into buying a house.

"I'm glad you like it." Barret smiled as he watched Becky and Francine. "Other than those two from time to time, I don't have anyone over. I'm hoping to change that and have you over when we both have time off work."

"I'd like that. This beats my place any day. Later, you'll have to show me around the inside."

"It's nothing fancy, but I'm happy to show it off." Barret stood. "Got to check the meat."

Adam watched as Barret went back to the smoker and did his thing.

Adam didn't have the first clue how the thing worked.

He'd never lived in a place where he could cook on a grill.

When he lived with Myrtle, the older neighbor who had taken him in, he'd been focused on work and survival.

He never thought to invite people to her home while she was alive, and once she'd died, Adam had mostly cut people from his life because they couldn't understand him.

Dinner was delicious and Adam had a great time getting to know everyone better.

He really loved hearing Francine's stories about working as a park ranger in Yellowstone for several years before moving to Hidden Falls.

They'd laughed and joked and for the first time in years, Adam felt like he had friends.

Not the kind of friends you'd wave to when you passed on the street, but true friends who he could call up and visit with or plan a day out with.

"I need to be going. I have to open the bakery early." Becky stood.

"And my first appointment is coming in at seven." Francine also got up.

"Thank you for everything." Becky hugged her brother, then turned to Adam. "Thank you for the company and this amazing gift." She touched the necklace that now hung from her neck.

"Thank you for letting me be part of this," he told her.

"We'll do it again soon." Becky waved and she and Francine went inside, leaving Barret and Adam alone.

"Thank you for coming. Those two can be a bit much when I'm alone with them. Somehow they think teasing me is as fun now as it used to be when we were kids." Barret played with the label on his beer bottle.

"It was nice to meet Francine. I hear Becky talk about her all the time. Now I can put a face with the name. As far as saving you from them, I doubt you really need backup."

"Still, it's nice to have."

Adam took a bite of the cheesecake that he'd been picking at for a while. It was delicious, but he'd eaten so many ribs he could hardly handle anything else. "So, how are things going with the case? I feel out of the loop this week."

"There's really nothing to tell. We talked to the parole officers for each man and like we figured, they hadn't checked in in months.

There were already warrants out for them due to skipping out on parole, but now they have the murder charges to face as well.

We just need to find them." Barret sighed, his frustration apparent.

"I've combed every trucking company in the area, ran searches on both men's social security numbers, hoping they'd gotten a job somewhere, but everything comes up blank. It's like they're ghosts."

"I wish there was more I could do to help. I wish we had something of the men's that I could read." Adam hated the stress he saw on Barret's face when he talked about the case.

"I wish there was something any of us could do.

Right now, all we can do is sit and pray for something to break.

I just pray they aren't out there killing others while we hunt for them.

" Barret met Adam's gaze. "I missed you this week.

I thought about calling, but it was so late when I finally got home. "

"You can call me anytime." Adam reached out a gloved hand and rested it on Barret's arm.

Barret stared at his arm for a moment, then slowly reached up and started to remove the glove from Adam's hand. "Stop me if you don't want this."