Page 30

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Noel

I hated everything about this. Phoenix was being so fucking brave, but I could feel the tremors running through his body as he gripped my hand. I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling, and it was taking everything in me not to throw him over my shoulder and run out of here with him.

“Remember, they can’t see you.” Carmichael motioned to the glass.

There was nobody in the other room yet, but at any minute Rose was going to walk in with one of them.

“I know.” Phoenix swallowed; his hand was clammy, but I didn’t dare let go.

A few seconds later, Agent Rose and a police officer entered with a man. The guy wore a porcelain doll mask and was dressed exactly how Phoenix had described.

“Jesus,” Phoenix whispered, and I immediately wrapped my arms around him.

“I’m right here, baby. He won’t lay a hand on you.”

Carmichael pressed a button and spoke. “Please begin, Agent Rose.”

He handed a card to the man who read it, looked at the agent, and while I couldn’t see his face, there was no doubt he was very unhappy about all of this.

He cleared his throat before speaking “Eat all your food. I’ll return tomorrow, be quiet. Call me Adonis.”

So much for not saying anything triggering. Phoenix was still in my arms, but his face was calm as he listened.

The man handed the card back to Rose and walked closer to the glass, obviously they were instructed before they came in on what to do.

Phoenix didn’t move, but we were close enough to see the man’s eyes. The man turned as well so he could see the hair.

“Mr. Briar?”

“It’s not him.”

Carmichael hit a button. “Next.”

The police officer escorted him out and entered with another man. We went through the same thing, but Phoenix shook his head. Another came in. Five total, and when the last one left. Carmichael looked at us confused.

“None of them?”

“They aren’t who I heard.”

He scratched his head and while I wasn’t one to side with authorities, I had to admit it didn’t make sense.

“Phoenix, you said you heard the voice, though, right?”

“Noel, I swear I’m not being difficult, but the person I heard on the recording wasn’t any of those guys.”

“Are you sure? Because maybe they just sounded different in person,” Carmichael asked.

“None of them sounded close and their eyes…his were fathomless, and blue. These guys, they weren’t right.”

Carmichael sighed. “It makes no sense. Two of the men you just saw were the ones that were with Jaron Zaffy at the café.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, but none of those guys were him. I’m not trying to be difficult.” Phoenix’s cheeks reddened, and his hands began to shake.

“Hey.” I cradled his face in my hands. “Nobody thinks that. It’s possible the voices sounded different from recording to in person. But it doesn’t matter, because you looked at them and none fit. You eliminated them as suspects, and now the FBI can focus on other possibilities.”

I glared at Carmichael until he spoke up, “Yeah, this happens a lot, Mr. Briar. At least we aren’t staying stuck on this if it’s a dead end.”

Phoenix closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I pecked his lips, earning a smile.

“Okay.” He scrunched his nose. “Can we leave now?”

“Yeah, of course.” Carmichael opened the door and led us to the conference room where Hazel, Shep, and JJ were waiting.

“How’d it go?” Hazel was up and hugging Phoenix before we were fully in the room.

“None of them were him,” I answered.

JJ quirked his head. “How’s that possible?”

I shrugged. “There are always reasons. The tone was different in person is one, but Phoenix looked at them, their eyes, backs of their heads. None matched.”

“Shit. Sorry, Phoenix. I’m sure you were really hoping this was the end of it.” JJ walked over and offered him a hug, which he took.

“It’s okay. I just don’t want anyone to think I was wasting their time.”

“Fuck ’em,” Shep grunted.

JJ winked. “You tell em, honey.”

Shep rolled his eyes and when Phoenix laughed, I was so grateful.

“Let’s go home.” JJ held the door, and we filed out.

As we walked out I noticed that neither Carmichael nor Rose were anywhere to be seen, and I was sure they were frustrated and perplexed.

That wasn’t my problem. While I had hoped today would be the end of all of this, it wasn’t, so I’d take Phoenix home and do what I’d been trying to do all along, protect him and find this motherfucker.

“There’s a very simple explanation for all of this,” Matt said as we were sitting around the dining table eating a delicious shepherd’s pie that Mason had made.

“Is there?” Nick smirked.

“Yes, smartass.” Matt put his silverware down and with all the confidence in the world explained, “It was a coffee shop, and everyone assumed the background voice came from one of Jaron’s associates.

At no time did anyone think that another patron’s voice or the barista’s was picked up on the recording?

They stated that there weren’t a lot of people there, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t more than just those guys. ”

“Oh, my God,” JJ gasped. “How are all of us so stupid?”

I looked at Phoenix, whose brows were furrowed, and he was staring at his food. It made a lot of sense.

“But there was a conversation. One guy said black was the way to go, and the other responded with gross, something like that. Aren’t we to assume Carmichael made sure he brought those two in?” Mason asked.

“Probably, if they had brains in their orb sacks.” Angel scooped more food into his plate.

“Orb sacks?” Four grimaced.

Angel tapped his head as if that made it all make sense.

“Should we call Carmichael?” Matt’s gaze moved from one of us to another.

“Why is it that these agents are failing so epically? Like, statistically speaking, they should have accidentally done something right at this point.” Gabe pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I’m going to go call Carmichael.” Nick went to stand, but Angel stopped him.

“No.”

We all panned our heads in his direction. His face was as serious as I’d ever seen him.

“No?” Nick snorted. “They need to go grab the barista or whatever.”

“No,” Angel snapped. “Listen, we’re doing most of the work, and we’re ahead of them at every turn. Let them do whatever it is they’re gonna do, which we can all agree is fuck all. I say we vote on taking it over on our own, hunt this fuck down ourselves.”

I immediately darted my eyes to Phoenix, who’d actively been against this idea when I’d brought it up to him. He met my stare, a small crease formed on his forehead, and then a second later, he nodded slightly.

“Let’s vote on it,” I announced. We were all here—might as well.

“Hold on.” Hazel held her hand up. “You’re all going to go after a serial killer on your own?”

“Well, we’re going to vote on it,” JJ corrected.

“You all know that’s insane…and illegal.”

“You want to just wait it out with the cops and FBI and hope they find the guy before he finds Phoenix?” Four wiped his mouth and sat back. “Because at this rate, that’s what’s going to happen—he’ll get to Phoenix before we get to him.”

Hazel glanced at Phoenix, who was now following the conversation. “Nix?”

“It’s okay, Hazel. I want this to end and you have to admit, the authorities are either in over their heads or clueless. None of those work in my favor.”

Her shoulders fell. “Okay, Nixy.” She made a move along gesture with her hand. “Vote.”

Angel stood. “Anyone not want to do this?” Everyone was silent. “Who wants to get this motherfucker?” Every hand went up.