Page 32 of The Last Call Home (The Timberbridge Brothers #5)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Mal:He doesn’t work for CQS.

Cass:Who?

Mal:My brother. Did he work for the Organization?

Cass:I’m working, Mal.

Mal:This is important. The Syndicate has ties to Blythe’s husband.

Cass:Fuck.

Mal:Now you’re catching up.

Cass:It’s concerning that her estranged husband is setting her up, probably planning on disappearing with the excuse of sending her to a center.

Mal:That’s the same thing I thought. Although, I’m stalling things down on my end, I need more information. My brother has links to the Organization. There’s no other explanation. Did you . . . did you know that?

Cass:I might have worked with him a time or . . . a lot actually. It was like babysitting your brother. Good times.

Mal:You worked with him?

Cass:Yep, he was my partner. I caught up early on that you two were related, also that he avoided talking about your family—just like you. He’s good, but I’d say he’s rusty.

Mal:That’s precisely what Gil said when I called him.

Cass:I’ll train with him again.

Mal:I could do it.

Cass:He doesn’t trust you. I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Mal:Fine, but make sure he’s ready. I don’t need a dead brother.

Cass:Trust me, it’ll be fine. I’ll reach out to Finnegan tomorrow. I’m wondering if Atlas is working for the Organization or consulting for CQS.

Mal:Why would he be rusty but working for either?

Cass:He quit several years ago. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t show up when they need him. Once you are part of the Organization, you’re family.

Mal:So they’re your family, but you left them?

Cass:CQS is more like a branch but with different resources and training. Moving with them, was more about doing something new. If Mason Bradley needed me today, I would show up at his office right away and wait for instructions.

Mal:Will you be helping with my brother’s wife?

Cass:I’m already helping.

Mal:So you knew about Blythe.

Cass:Yeah, Sanford called me asking to give Atlas a hand if he needed it.

Mal:You could have given me a heads-up.

Cass:No. This is what I mean about separating the job from us. I can’t just come to you every time, Mal. Only if I think it’s necessary.

Mal:If I need help with this case?

Cass:You can count on me, but we have to figure out the boundaries. We don’t bring the cases home.

Mal:We don’t have a home.

Cass:Hopefully, one day we will, and we have to start practicing.

Mal:You sound like a fucking adult.

Cass:I’m trying to become one. Now, I’m heading back to work. We should be closing in an hour if you need me.