Fletcher, page 6
Fletch couldn’t help his angry tone when he asked, “Why did you tell me you shouldn’t’ve kissed me?”
Elias reached up and cupped the side of Fletch’s face. “I said I shouldn’t have done that. I meant embarrassing you in front of the bar, which encouraged Edwards to start with his bullshit. I should’ve been able to control myself. But around you, everything gets twisted.”
“You mean you liked kissing me?” Let’s get that one thing straight.
“Hell yeah. I’d do it again if I didn’t think you’d break my jaw.”
“Try your luck.” Fletch raised his eyebrow, daring Elias to follow through.
His eyes flew open, and he didn’t waste a moment before he was leaning over Fletch and ran his calloused hand over the side of Fletch’s face, causing goosebumps to rise across his arms. “You sure about this? ’Cause when I start, I don’t intend to stop until I make you mine.”
“Positive.” Now that they were on the same page, Fletch was all in.
Fletch’s head sunk into the pillow as Elias’s lips covered his. This time Elias wasn’t as forceful as he’d been during their first kiss, but Fletch was soon lost in the feel of Elias’s lips, the glide of his tongue, and the taste of mint and coffee. Elias’s big hands roamed over his chest, leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touched.
Too soon, the kiss slowed, and when he opened his eyes, his vision was filled with Elias’s handsome face. His chocolate brown eyes shone with desire.
Now, this was what he was talking about.
And it only took him getting shot to figure it out.
Chapter Seven
Fletch stretched out on the lounger, took a pull off his beer, and watched the small waves breaking against the shore. He’d been home for one day and he was already in hiding from the well-wishers, helpers, and pseudo-doctors living with him in the lake house. They meant well, but they were driving him nuts.
He knew he was a horrible patient, and sure, his arm hurt. But it wasn’t hanging off his body or gushing blood, which was the way everyone was acting. Elias had already stopped in twice and called once. Talk about what a difference a day makes: When the man was all in, he was all in.
“You sure you should be drinking beer?” Shaw asked as he came around the corner.
“I’m not on painkillers, so it’s fine.” Fletched moved his beer onto the other side of his chair in case Shaw got any crazy ideas.
“They didn’t give you any at the hospital?” Shaw looked incredulous while tying his shoulder-length blond hair into a ponytail. “That’s not right. You were shot.”
“I didn’t accept them,” Fletch snapped. “I’m fine.” He moved his beer a little farther away.
“Easy, man. I wasn’t going to take it from you.” Shaw sat in a nearby chair. “But I think I’ll join you for a bit. It’s sunny and quiet here.”
“Rick being here have anything to do with that?” Fletch asked with a grin. Rick was Roman’s assistant and best friend who was visiting from Dallas. He stayed with them every other week when Roman was at the lake house for more than five days. He and Shaw had a special kind of relationship: they drove each other nuts.
“The guy never lets up,” Shaw huffed. “It’s like he enjoys torturing me.”
“He probably does.” Fletch laughed.
Rick was a good guy and was cool with the rest of the team, but he and Shaw were like oil and water. Astonishing, considering they were so much alike personality wise, but not in stature. Shaw was over six feet and Rick barely broke five foot two inches. They both had an abundance of confidence, a razor-sharp wit, and quick mind, as well as an ego to match. Maybe they were more like repelling magnets than oil and water. Made of the same stuff, they couldn’t coexist in the same space.
“Okay, okay,” Fletch said at Shaw’s exasperated look. “Let’s talk about someone who makes you happier. Bryan. You guys seemed to hit it off the other night.”
“Yeah, he seems like a decent guy.”
Fletch waited for more, but Shaw stayed silent, not at all like his usual self. Something was up.
“And…?”
“Nothing.” Shaw didn’t look at him when he answered.
“Okay, what gives?” Fletch asked. “You’re typically full of information about your latest conquest.”
“He’s not a conquest,” Shaw clarified.
Fletch sat up higher in his chair. “Says the man who once told me that there was no man who could resist your charms once you set your mind on having them.”
Before Shaw could answer, Fletch’s phone rang. He looked at the screen, hoping it was Kyle, only to find Brick’s name.
“Hey, boss, whatcha need?”
“Could you and Shaw come inside for a moment? We have some news.” Brick’s voice sounded not quite right, making alarm bells sound in Fletch’s head.
“We’re on our way.” He knew better than to ask Brick for more information. If he said to come inside, that was where he’d tell them.
Fletch looked over at Shaw. “Brick needs us in the house. He has news.”
“News about what? A new case?”
“Could be.” Fletch stood and accidentally knocked over his beer. “Damn it.”
“The fates are conspiring against you, my friend.” Shaw laughed as Fletch retrieved the now empty bottle.
“Aren’t they always.” Sometimes it felt that way.
They made their way around the side of the house and Fletch noticed Elias’s cruiser was back in the laneway.
“Looks like your man can’t stay away,” Shaw jabbed, causing Fletch to clamp his jaw tight. This attention was wonderful, but even he had his limits.
They climbed the porch stairs and walked into the living room through the garden doors. The entire team was waiting for them, along with Elias, Roman, Rick, and Julia. Yeah, they were about to hear something bad.
“What’s wrong?” Fletch asked as they neared the waiting group. “Is it a new case?”
“You could say that,” Brick stated, and those warning bells were growing louder by the moment. “We have news about Kyle.”
“My brother?” Fletch asked. “What kind of news?” He noticed Elias moving closer until he was by Fletch’s side, and he laid his hand on Fletch’s shoulder. “What’s happened?”
“When you told me it’d been days, and he hadn’t called you back,” Spence moved a little closer, “I decided to look into it because your brother always calls you back within forty-eight hours.”
Fletch’s mouth was so dry he could barely speak. “Is he dead?”
“No. Not from what I’ve been able to find. But he’s missing and has been for over two weeks.”
“Weeks? Why hasn’t someone called me?” The moment the question was out of his mouth, he knew the answer. “My fucking family.”
Elias squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll find him.” Fletch kept his eyes straight and his breathing regulated.
“Is there an active investigation going on in Seattle?” There had to be. He’d be on the first flight back, even though he hated going there.
“Yeah, but they don’t have much to go on. Kyle was last seen on the twenty-first of last month by his assistant, and we haven’t been able to reach him.”
“Is that why you had your phone glued to your hand over the past couple of days?”
“Yeah. We got confirmation a few minutes ago. I didn’t want to say anything without facts.”
“We can be in Seattle by late this evening,” Brick stated. “We’re ready to go.”
Fletch looked at his friends. Each ready to drop everything to help him find his brother. “Thanks, man.”
***
Elias had packed before coming out to the lake house. Brick had given him the heads-up about heading to Seattle to find Fletch’s brother, and there was no way he’d sit by while they searched. His officers could hold down the fort for a few days while he helped Fletch and his team.
Brick had told him that there was no love lost between Fletch and his family, but Kyle was different. That was all he knew. If his man needed him, he’d be there.
“Thanks for coming. You didn’t have to,” Fletch said as he zipped up his duffle bag. “I know we’re new.”
“A couple of days, a couple weeks or months, makes no difference.” Elias walked over and took Fletch into his arms. “What matters is how we feel about our relationship. I’m all in, and that’s all I need to know.”
Elias enjoyed holding Fletch. It wasn’t often he found someone as big as he was who’d allow being held. It always turned into a wrestling match for dominance. Not saying that Fletch wasn’t dominant—Navy SEAL—but he allowed Elias to hold him in a way many men felt they were being subdued.
“My brother is the only one in my family who loves me even though I’m not a brainiac.” Fletch shook his head as if to say, It’s no use even trying.
“That’s bullshit. You’d mentioned something about this when we talked during your run last week.” There was no way in hell he’d allow Fletch to feel inferior. “You know, IQ scores don’t make a man.”
“Not according to most of them. I always had Kyle though.” Fletch’s voice turned rough with emotion. A brothers’ bond was in jeopardy.
“We will find him. I swear it. We’ll all move heaven and earth to see you two reunited,” Elias promised. “I’ve made a few calls to old friends in Seattle. They’ll help us to get where we need to be.” Some of his old Marine buddies had settled there.
Fletch looked up to him and said, “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
Elias gave him a gentle shake. “It’s what I do when someone means something to me.”
Fletch gave him a half-hearted smile. “You’re being too good.”
“Remember that when I inevitably piss you off.”
Now he got a real smile. “Roger that.”
Elias lowered his head to kiss Fletch when someone started banging on the bedroom door. “Saddle up. We’re out of here in five,” Spence yelled from the hallway.
“We’d better get going.” Elias stepped back, but it seemed his man had other things in mind.
“Right. But first…” Fletch pulled him closer and dove in for a possessive kiss that promised so much more. Their bodies molded together as if they’d done this a thousand times. When they parted, both were gasping for air and sporting sizeable hard-ons.
Unfortunately, everything Elias wanted to do to and with Fletch would have to wait.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah. Let’s find my little brother.”
Chapter Eight
Seattle was hot and sunny, a marked change from its normal rainy, gray bleariness. There was a heat wave working its way up the west coast into Canada. Instead of heading to the house they’d rented, they picked up the two SUVs at the car rental and went straight to the local police station where the missing person’s report had been filed.
They’d talked to the desk sergeant, who contacted the chief, and then they were ushered into a small conference room to wait for Police Chief Roady to appear and give them a rundown on Fletch’s brother’s case. Since he was Kyle’s brother the information flow was smooth, but brows were raised at the presence of his investigative team. Fletch didn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thought. All he wanted was his brother back.
There was a knock on the door then a man walked in carrying a thin file. He wore a suit with his badge clipped to his belt, and his gun in its shoulder holster was visible under his jacket.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” He set the file down on the table in front of him. “I’m Police Chief Roady, and you’re here about the Kyle Daniels case.”
“Yes. Kyle is my brother,” Fletch replied. “Do you have any leads?”
The chief opened the file and handed the information over. “We received a missing person’s report from Mr. Daniels’s assistant, a Mr. Franklin Davies.”
He looked up from reading the file. “Not my family?” Fletch asked.
“No. When we contacted them, they stated they didn’t know he was missing, especially since Kyle tended to take off now and then.” Roady looked at his notes and nodded.
“Kyle doesn’t take off.” His family was way off base. They knew better and it pissed him off they told the cops what they had.
“Have there been any sightings?” Elias asked. “Have you had a chance to run his credit cards to check if he used them?”
“No sightings and his cards haven’t been used. We searched his apartment. There were no signs of foul play. Everything was spotless, and his car was in his parking spot. We checked with the airlines, trains, and vehicle rentals around town and came up dry. It’s as if he vanished.”
“He’s out there,” Fletch said. “We need to find him. Someone or something is keeping him from contacting me.”
There was another knock on the door and a large man with black hair walked in. The moment he and Elias saw each other, Elias stood. “Ray, good to see you, man.”
“Hell, it’s been years.” Ray laughed and gave Elias a man-hug, then slapped him on the back a few times. Fletch kept his expression neutral, but inside he wasn’t thrilled someone had their hands all over his man. Their relationship was new and he knew it was a knee-jerk reaction, but he didn’t like the handsy shit. “Is this Fletcher?” Ray asked as they broke apart.
“Yeah. This is Fletch. My man,” Elias said. And with that one phrase, Fletch felt himself relax. “Fletch, this is one of my old Marine buddies from way back in the day.”
“Hey, man. Wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” Ray said as he held out his hand.
“Good to meet you, Ray. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find Kyle fast.” Fletch wanted to make it clear that was the priority.
“We’ve assigned Detective Sommers to the case, and he will be your liaison with the police department going forward,” Chief Roady announced. “He can take over from here. If you have any further questions Ray can’t answer, please come to me.”
Fletch had expected a little pushback from local LEOs, especially since the team came in together. But Roady and his crew treated them like colleagues. This must be what Elias meant when he said he’d be calling in a few friends.
Once Chief Roady left, Ray turned to Fletch and asked, “You haven’t heard from your brother?”
“No. I’ve left several voice messages, but Kyle hasn’t responded.”
“And that’s not like him?” Ray took out his notepad.
“No. It isn’t. Kyle usually gets back to me within a couple of days.”
“When was the last time you spoke to him?”
“About a month ago. Right after I decided to stay on at the lake house.” Kyle had been happy Fletch had found a place to call home with his team.
“Did he seem odd, or agitated at all?”
“No. Kyle was celebrating the sale of his start-up. He’d worked hard to make that happen, and I was proud of him.” Fletch remembered how excited Kyle had been and how plans were in the works for his next venture.
“Do you know of anybody who might target your brother?”
“Nobody that I can think of. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of anyone that might have a grudge against him, but he never complained of anyone. At least not to me.”
“How about we pick this up at your parents’ house in the morning. You can get more out of them than the officer did,” Ray said.
“If we don’t get the door slammed in our face, the best we can hope for is revulsion and derision. Don’t be surprised if things spiral and full-on hate makes an appearance.” Fletch ground his teeth.
“I’m takin’ it you don’t get along well with your parents,” Ray said.
“We’re estranged. I haven’t spoken to my parents and my sisters in years. Kyle is different. He never cared about me not being like the others.”
Ray blinked, tilted his head and asked, “Care to clarify that?”
“Black sheep. Not intelligent enough. Most likely to be blown up out in the field. You name it, and I’ve disappointed them.”
“Gotcha. Well, that could work in our favor,” Ray said with a gleam in his eyes. “I assume they don’t know you’re here looking into Kyle’s disappearance.”
“Right.” Like he’d bother to call them.
“Good. Let’s shake ’em up a bit. They’re entirely too calm about your brother’s disappearance, and it bothers me.”
“You thinking they’re involved somehow?” Brick asked, making Fletch’s stomach flip.
“Possibly. I never rule anyone out without proof they weren’t involved,” Ray stated.
“We’ve tried to reach Kyle’s assistant but haven’t been able to track him down,” Spence said.
“He hasn’t come here since the day he made that report. We haven’t needed to re-interview him.” Ray looked down at the file.
“That’s odd,” Brick grumbled.
“You bet it is,” Ray agreed. “I’ll have a black-and-white swing by his apartment to check in on him.”
“Thanks,” Elias said.
“Let’s get settled in at the house and try to get some sleep before we meet up with Fletch’s family tomorrow,” Brick said, but as always, it was a veiled order. “I have a feeling we’ll need fresh eyes on this situation.”
“Agreed,” Ray said then looked to Fletch. “We’ll meet up here before going on to your parents’ house.”
Fletch couldn’t imagine how and why his parents would be involved in Kyle’s disappearance. He was their golden boy. The young, rich entrepreneur who was the poster boy for all they believed their family represented. They’d have nothing to gain.
***
Less than an hour later, Fletch and Elias were lying in bed in the four-bedroom house they’d rented near the police station. He hadn’t been in this city since college and never thought he’d be back.
“Try to get some rest, Fletch,” Elias said while pulling him in closer. “You’ll need your strength to deal with whatever happens tomorrow.”
“I haven’t seen them in over twenty-five years.” He wondered what they’d look like, and if time had been kind to them. He was certain they’d be surprised at how he’d changed. All for the better. Even though he was battle hewn and unafraid, they wouldn’t notice his confidence and how well he knew his abilities. His team knew, and they were the family he chose so they were the only ones who mattered.
