Page 151 of Family Affair

Cade chuckled as he took a step back, giving his brother one last long look, taking in his untrimmed hair, the stubble, the lines of stress around Ross’s statling gray eyes. Ross hid it well, but the strain showed.

As if to confirm his conclusion, Ross’s shoulders slumped and he blew out a breath. “Will this game ever end? Ever since the Pollock drawing reappeared, our lives have been hell. Mom’s gone. Father’s working his way toward a major heart attack. Alex’s is all bent out of shape with Frank’s old police files. Dan’s drinking. Like in the old times, not a day goes by without drama.”

Cade stopped listening at the mention of Frank’s police files. “Alex is looking for Frank’s files? Since when?” he asked sharply. Warning bells started to ring.

Ross frowned, remembering. “Is it important? After you came to town. Yeah, at about that same time he asked me to look around for electronic records.”

“What did you find?”

“Frank’s old cases, what else. All closed. The scanned copies are in the archives, and I had them fetched for Alex. He wasn’t interested in them, though. He wanted fingerprints.”

“And?”

“There weren’t any. Alex was pissed and acted crazed, like the world came crashing down. Hehad already beenlosing it big time over the Pollock drawing, so I guess he overreacted.” Ross stopped as if a thought occurred. “Was it you? Did you get Frank’s prints out?”

Boom. The anvil dropped, rocking his world, ringing out and abruptly stopping.

“No,” he said hoarsely. “Ward had Frank’s prints.”

“Ward? And… Alex wanted them.”

“Yes.”

Ross’s face became guarded. “Why?”

“Because I came to town. Alex didn’t want surprises.”

“Why did you come?”

“I wanted those prints, too.”

Ross was looking at Cade so intently he could practically feel his gaze touch him. “You better tell me all of it,” he said in a warning tone.

To hell with it.Cade stepped forward and enveloped Ross in a hug. “I love you, Ross. I don’t think I ever told you that.”

“What the fuck, Cade, stop weirding me out,” Ross pushed at him, breaking the embrace. “Tell me what’s happening.”

“Alex went to Ward, that’s what’s happening. He was looking for the prints, not the Pollock drawing. To stop me from ever using those prints. Mother said that we have never fooled Alex.”

Ross pointed a finger at him. “This shit you just said, it’s a serious accusation, right here. And what did Mother have to do with it?”

“Nothing. Everything. I have to go, Ross. I have to catch Willis before it’s too late. Just watch over Coco.”

Ross moved with him, physically blocking the door. “You aren’t going anywhere before you tell me what thefuckis going on.”

Cade grunted from frustration. “I’d love to wrestle with you, but really, Ross, I have to go. There isn’t much time.”

“Start. Talking.”

“The prints are the identity proof, the only one that’s left of Frank,” he spoke fast, counting on Ross to make the connection.

But his brother only shook his head in denial. “Frank’s been dead for close to two decades. Why are we talking about his identity proof?” Ross wouldn’t look Cade in the face.

“You can figure that one out.” Cade headed for the door.

“What are you saying?” Ross whispered hoarsely. He looked panicked, and Cade noticed that he didn’t call him by name.

Hand on the door handle, he turned and looked at his brother. “You have all the numbers,” he said quietly. “Do the math.”