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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Noel

The following morning brought nothing but bad news after bad news. It was proof that the investigation had no true leader and the authorities’ grip on it was slipping drastically.

We were sitting at the dining room table, having breakfast, when the first wave of horror came through. We’d all had our notifications on for breaking news since no one had been forthcoming in sharing anything with this investigation.

When all of our phones vibrated, we collectively looked.

“Fuck,” Shep growled.

“What is it?” Phoenix had a phone we’d given him, but he rarely had it on him so he didn’t know what we were reading.

“Another kidnapping,” Hazel answered and showed him. “‘Jason Highland, age twenty-three, was seen on CCTV cameras outside Herman’s Grocers on Porter Avenue last night at seven, being forcefully pushed into a black van,’” she read aloud.

I scrolled the article to see a close-up picture of him. The family had offered one of his theater pictures, and fuck if he didn’t look similar to Phoenix. He was trying to replace him, knowing he couldn’t.

My gaze met Hazel’s—hell, I glanced at everyone at the table, and there was no way they didn’t see it too.

Phoenix wasn’t dumb and once his face fell, I knew he’d seen it also.

“Do we know who’s running this case now, or is Rose still on it?

Because this is fucking insane.” Angel slammed his phone on the table.

“Is everyone sitting around with their thumbs up their asses, waiting for this guy to walk into a police station and say, ‘Hey, fuckers, here I am’? Because that’s what it feels like. ”

“Rose is still on the case, but a new agent is in charge,” Nick answered. He’d been trying to watch the comings and goings of the FBI and other agencies on this.

“Maybe we need to contact the agent in charge. They may be more receptive to our help.” JJ shrugged. “Worth a try.”

My phone vibrated again and when I looked at it, it showed a vehicle coming down our street, a black SUV.

“We have a visitor.” I stood and moved over to the door.

“Who’s that?” Nick was also watching his phone.

The SUV stopped, they talked to the police at the end of our driveaway, and then they were waved in. No one had notified us that we had visitors, which was disturbing since we’d specified that no surprise guests were allowed.

“Something tells me we’re about to meet the new agent in charge,” Gabe mumbled as he started clearing the breakfast dishes.

I had a feeling he was right. By the time the SUV made it to the top of our driveway, we’d gotten the dishes into the kitchen and were getting settled in the living room. All of us except Matt were here, definitely enough to show a united front on whatever shit show we were about to hear.

At the ringing of the bell, Mason answered.

“Hello, can I help you?”

“Good morning, I’m Agent Carmichael, and you know Agent Rose.”

“How may I help you?” Mason wasn’t letting them in, and I wanted to laugh at how frustrated the agents no doubt were.

“May we come in?” Agent Carmichael didn’t sound upset yet.

“And why would I allow that?”

There was a pregnant pause before Rose spoke up. “They’re unreasonable, Darren. I warned you.”

Mason hummed. “But we’re not. See, this isn’t public property.

We were hired by the Briar family to protect Phoenix Briar.

We don’t work for the FBI or any authority, and per our agreement to cooperate with any of the agencies, professional respect is to be given in the form of notice upon arrival for any questions or other.

This was agreed upon not only with the chief of police but also the FBI, and Phoenix’s doctors.

You’re both in violation by showing up here, so no, Agent Rose, I’m not being unreasonable.

I’m following orders drawn up by your boss. Shall we call him?”

Mason was a firecracker when he wanted to be, and I was glad he was on our side. One look at Gabe and I could tell he was proud of his man.

“Mr. Saint, I—” Agent Carmichael began but was quickly cut off.

“Daws, actually.”

“Excuse me?”

Mason sighed. “My name is Mason Daws, not Saint, though maybe someday.” Mason peered over his shoulder at Gabe and winked. Of course, we all chuckled.

“Mr. Daws, my apologies. I am well aware of the agreement, and I would have contacted you prior to our arrival if it wasn’t an emergency.”

And this is where more bad news decided to rear its ugly head.

“What emergency?”

“May we please come in and explain?”

Agent Carmichael didn’t sound like half the douche Rose did, and even though we were sick and tired of the FBI dragging ass, if there was an emergency, we needed to know.

“Very well, come in.” Mason opened the door wider, and Agent Rose walked in followed by Carmichael.

He nodded to all of us when he came into view. He wore a suit like they all did, was clean cut with blond hair and blue eyes. He was younger than Rose, I was certain, and I wondered if Rose hated that he was older than the agent in charge.

“Good morning,” Carmichael greeted everyone. “I’m sure you heard I’m Agent Carmichael, in charge of this investigation going forward.”

“I certainly hope you’re more competent.” Angel smirked and to Rose’s credit, he merely glared.

Carmichael ignored Angel and focused on Phoenix. “I do apologize for just showing up, Mr. Briar.”

Subconsciously or not Phoenix, slid his hand in mine. “Why are you here?”

“Thanks to your impeccable hearing, we were able to narrow down a few of Jaron Zaffy’s work associates that could possibly be the man who took you.

What we’ve found out was that Jaron outsourced some goods for his family’s funeral home but not the embalming fluid.

That actually was Hank’s job. However, the associates we uncovered as the possible suspect work in different businesses that Jaron uses. ”

“While fascinating, how is this an emergency? It sounds more like a break in the case, and you very well may have the guy,” I interjected.

Carmichael nodded. “And we may. But that’s also the emergency.”

“I don’t understand.” Phoenix scooted closer.

“I’m sorry to do this, Mr. Briar, but we’re only able to hold Jaron’s associates for forty-eight hours due to lack of evidence. We tried to fight it to hold them longer but they lawyered up, and the judge is only giving us two days to get some sort of proof that we have the right guy.”

“How does this affect, Phoenix? He already said who the voice was.” I couldn’t understand what more Carmichael wanted here.

“I’m going to be honest. All of this sucks, but this case is too vital and my boss, my boss’s boss, needs Phoenix to try and identify him…in person.”

Phoenix gasped, and the room pretty much fell into chaos. They wanted Phoenix to leave the safety of this house to go across town and be in the same building with this psychopath again.

“No way!” I shouted.

“We don’t have a choice. If Phoenix doesn’t come with us, we’ll have to set them free. We picked them up this morning, which means time is dwindling, Mr. Saint.”

I looked over at Phoenix, who was staring at our joined hands, his complexion almost gray.

I got up and pulled Phoenix with me. “We need a minute.” I didn’t wait for anyone to argue; I tugged Phoenix away from everyone and down the hall, not saying a word before we were in my room and all sounds of people arguing ceased.

He peered up at me with those hazel eyes so filled with sadness and fear.

“I have to, Noel. You know that.”

“You know there are other options.”

His smile was shaky. “If I don’t do this and he’s let out, Jason dies, all the people he has die, and I’d have to live with that, and I don’t think I can.”

I cupped his cheeks with my hands and kissed him until I felt my heartbeat calm.

“Then you do it with me right the fuck next to you.”

He released a breathy laugh. “I always want you next to me.”

“Then I always will be.”