“Kendra already emailed me. This is what? Thirty-five? Forty?”
Brand laughed. “You wish.”
Zach grinned. He’d be staring down forty in another year. Thirty seemed really young. “See you at the airport tomorrow night?”
“Damn straight. But if you need to talk before then, I’ll be here.”
“Thanks.” He hesitated, then decided to take a chance for a change and go with his gut. “Listen, Brand? When I get back, I’d like to talk about next steps.”
“Next steps?”
“I want you to move in with me.” He missed Brand so much he ached. “You’ve been spending most nights with me anyhow…. Oh, and Arlo thinks you’re pretty cool for a human.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line; then Brand said, “I’d really like that. And we wouldn’t want to disappoint Arlo, would we?”
“No, we wouldn’t.”
“I love you, Zach.”
Zach drew a long, happy breath. “I love you too. Good night.”
“Good night.”
“YOU ZACH Caldwell?”
“Detective Klein, good to meet you.” Zach offered the detective his hand. “I appreciate your taking the time to speak with me.”
“Of course. Jesse said you need help with a case.” Dressed in a pair of jeans, a button-down shirt, and a neatly knotted tie, Ray Klein had a comfortable, laid-back manner that was just as he’d expected from Jesse’s description, even if he was a bit older.
“He told me you two were in the same class at Carolina. Small world.”
“I’d just gotten out of the service, and I was older than most of the students. He helped me out, made me feel like I wasn’t totally out of my element.” Ray chuckled. “I offered him a job a few years back, but he turned me down. Said he’d leave North Carolina when the surfing up here was as good as in Wrightsville.”
“I didn’t realize Jesse surfed.” Zach made a mental note to ask Jesse about it when he got home.
Ray motioned Zach down the hallway to a small, windowless office. “Every summer in college he waited tables in Wrightsville Beach just so he and his buddy Noah could catch a few waves.”
Noah? That was the name of the man who’d nearly gotten into a fight with Jesse at Craven’s. The pieces fell into place. Noah had to be more than just a “buddy,” judging by the way Jesse had reacted. No wonder Jesse’d been so rattled.
“But you didn’t come here to listen to me reminisce….” Ray’s words brought Zach’s focus back. He gestured to one of the chairs in front of the desk, then sat behind it. “What can I do for you?”
Zach opened his briefcase and handed Ray the folder Karen had given him. Ray opened the folder, frowning as he read through the documents. A few minutes later he looked up and met Zach’s gaze, recognition dawning. “You were the evening anchor for BeaconCorp’s local news, weren’t you?”
Zach nodded. “I was.” He swallowed hard. “Rick Greenburg was in charge when I decided to leave New York.”
“These are pretty explosive allegations,” Ray said. “Have you spoken to any of these men?”
“I haven’t. I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to investigate this particular case.” Being too emotionally involved in a story usually led to shoddy reporting.
“So I take it there’s a connection between you and Mr. Greenburg?”
Zach took a deep breath to steady himself. “Five years ago, Rick Greenburg groped me and offered me a national anchor spot in return for my body. I’m pretty sure he tried to drug me. He may have done the same thing to the three men in this file, maybe worse. I want you to investigate the case. I want him prosecuted.”
“You’ll testify to what happened to you?” Ray asked.
“I will.”
“You realize that once this story hits the media—and it definitely will even if we try to keep it under wraps—you’re going to be in the news. Things these days are a bit better than they used to be when it comes to victims’ names, but Greenburg probably still has a lot of power in this city.”
“I know that.” Zach sighed. “But I’m not backing down on this.” Zach knew the business well enough to understand that messing with the reputation of someone like Rick Greenburg would open him up to being identified publicly.
Ray nodded. “I’ll do everything I can to try and make a solid case, but I can’t promise anything.”
“I realize that. And if it helps, you can use my name when you speak with the men in that file.” Zach figured it might be easier if they knew they weren’t alone.
“Thanks. The more people willing to come forward, the less likely Mr. Greenburg will be able to weasel his way out of any charges.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Thank you.” Ray picked up the folder. “Do you have a time for me to take your statement, ask you a few questions?”
“I have a 7:00 p.m. flight out of LaGuardia I’d need to catch,” Zach said. “The rest of my day is yours.”
ZACH WOKE as the airplane touched down in Wilmington. He exited the secure area to find Brand waiting for him, an enormous bouquet of sunflowers nearly obscuring his face.
“Whoa. Are those for me?”
Brand’s face lit as he exchanged the flowers for Zach’s carry-on and briefcase. “First time I went to see you at the paper, I nearly brought you flowers.”
“But you didn’t,” Zach pointed out.
“I thought better of it. Figured I might scare the shit out of you.” Brand grinned.
Zach laughed. “Good guess.”
Brand dropped the bags and kissed Zach, who nearly dropped the flowers. Brand’s warmth reminded him of sunshine in the morning over the Cape Fear River. Even now, Brand sparkled just as brightly. Zach figured he’d never get tired of Brand’s blindingly hopeful presence. Everything about Brand radiated kindness. Love.
“Whoa,” Zach said as their lips parted. “You sure this is a good idea in the middle of the terminal?” Several people had turned to look at them, some clearly recognizing Brand.
Brand shrugged. “I think it’s a great idea.” He was about to pick up Zach’s bags when a woman walked over to them.
“Mr. Josephson?” She blushed to the roots of her hair. “Would you mind signing this for me?” She handed him a Starbucks napkin.
Zach repressed a chuckle as Brand struggled to write on the flimsy paper, but when the woman left, she was smiling like she’d just met a Hollywood superstar. Only a matter of time. She wasn’t the only one who’d fallen victim to Brand’s charm.
“By the way,” Brand added as he happily showed Zach his new Jeep Wrangler a few minutes later, “I’ve got something I’d like you to read once we get home.”
“Home?”
“Your place? Our place?” Brand grinned.
“Our place.” It felt less strange to say that than Zach expected.
“Our place,” Brand confirmed. “So that thing I want you to read? It’s rough, but I think it’s a good start.”
“You started to write the story?”
“I’ve had a lot of time on my hands with you away the past few days.” Brand pulled out of the airport and onto the highway. “I’ve got a few ideas about tie-ins with your reporting. I was thinking we might coordinate.”
“You mean stagger the coverage between print and TV?”
“That’s the idea.”
“Great idea.” It would be good for both of them, and the paper might be able to entice a few more people to subscribe.
“I’m thinking we see if some homeowners are willing to talk about how the scam affected them and their families,” Brand said. “Kendra’s been poking around, looking for archival footage of the houses. She even sent a cameraman out to get some shots of what’s left of Tessa’s house.”
“Tessa’d be happy to tell her story to anyone who’ll listen.” She’d sent Zach an email a few days before, thanking him for giving her story a chance and letting him know she’d spoken with la
w enforcement.
“I know you’re not big on TV”—Brand glanced over at Zach, as if gauging his reaction—“but if this thing works, we might be able to do more stories like this.”
“It’s been good working together, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah. It has.” Brand put his hand on Zach’s thigh and rested it there.
“I can’t guarantee how much time I’ll have to work on the stories,” Zach said. “Reed’ll probably being doing that.”
“It’s all good. We’ll work together when we can. Besides,” he added with a hungry grin, “I’m going to have your nights entirely to myself.”
Zach laughed. He could handle that just fine.
“ANY NEWS from Jesse about the SBI investigation?” Zach settled into Brand’s arms after a not-for-public-consumption welcome home in Zach’s bedroom. They’d spoken briefly about Zach’s meeting with Ray Klein in New York, but Zach hadn’t wanted to dwell on it. There’d be plenty of time to talk about it later.
“The SBI’s taken three people into custody, including the man they think was driving a silver car that just happened to have a few spots of baby blue paint on the fender. Turns out he’s the same upstanding citizen who owns a hunting rifle that matches up with the casings they found near the Warfields’ home.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised.”
“There’s more. That attorney—Haynes?”
Zach nodded.
“They’ve taken him into custody. Jesse said he’d fill us in on Monday. I’m assuming we’ll learn more about how things are going then.” Brand kissed Zach’s head, and Zach sighed.
“You really do make it hard to focus, you know.”
“Good. Because that’s enough work for one day.” Brand pushed Zach onto his back and began to trace a line over his naked body with his tongue.
“This is… ah… oh yeah, right there…better than work,” Zach agreed.
Chapter Forty
“GENTLEMEN, THANKS for coming by.” Ren Weston, the senior prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office, shook Zach’s and Brand’s hands, then led them into a conference room where Jesse, Jesse’s supervisor, Scott Marcus, and John Barkley, a Wilmington PD detective, waited.
Brand pressed Zach a few times as to how their little meeting with Jesse had morphed into a meeting at the DA’s offices downtown. “Not that they’ve been difficult to work with in the past, but they haven’t exactly welcomed me with open arms when I’ve tried to get information for a story. I’m thinking this is about the rumors that the elected DA’s eyeing a congressional seat.” The DA, Quinn Reeder, had been elected only two years before, but from what Brand had heard, the state-level Republican Party thought Reeder had potential.
Brand knew Ren from weekly drinks at Craven’s, but they hadn’t had any professional dealings. “Seems like a good guy,” he told Zach the night before. “He and Jesse went on a few dates, but it never went anywhere.”
“I’m just glad you didn’t tell me that you and this guy dated.” Zach looked relieved, which made Brand feel pretty damn good.
“I have to admit, when you called to invite us,” Brand told Ren, “I wasn’t sure what to think.”
“Apparently hell just froze over,” Zach joked after they’d all said their hellos. “I never thought I’d see the day when I was invited in for a briefing.”
“I admit it’s a bit unusual.” Ren chuckled. “But the DA made it clear that once all the paperwork was complete, he wanted you looped in. Without both of your work on this case, we’d have pretty much nothing.”
“I think that’s a thank-you,” Zach told Brand.
Ren laughed. “Okay, okay. Next time you come knocking, Zach, I promise not to kick you out immediately.”
“So I hear you’ve taken Mr. Haynes into custody,” Zach said. “No claims of attorney-client privilege?”
“Amazing how looking at a few years in prison for aiding and abetting can loosen tight lips,” Ren said. “He’s taking a plea deal, just like your man Warfield. Jesse will fill us in on that part of the case.”
“Sheriff’s workin’ on roundin’ up the crew who worked on the houses and the scammers who hired them.” Jesse glanced to his supervisor, who nodded. “We’ve got about a dozen arrest warrants out so far. I’m expectin’ another three or four may shake out once everyone’s been interviewed.”
“Anything new from the FBI?” Brand asked.
“They investigated and couldn’t find an out-of-state connection.” Ren shrugged. “We’ve got plenty to keep us busy now that they’re out of the picture. I’m guessing most of the lower-level players will plead like Warfield and Haynes.”
“We’ve been working with the folks who supervised them and their lawyers,” John Barkley put in. “Nothing yet, but I think at least one of them will cave and take a deal. The other two may open up when it gets closer to trial, but as long as that can take….”
“Regardless,” Ren said, “I think we can safely say that even if we haven’t caught all of these folks, Raleigh’s going to be looking at tightening oversight of inspectors out this way. At least that’s what we’re hoping for. There are even some rumblings that the General Assembly is looking at reinstating some of the rollbacks on housing standards.”
“And the existing homes Warfield inspected?” Brand asked. “The ones that haven’t collapsed?”
“Local building folks are putting together a list from the documents Warfield supplied. They’re going to enlist help from some of the surrounding counties to get them all inspected before next year’s hurricane season,” Ren replied.
“Good.” Zach glanced at Brand, who nodded. “All of it’s good, and we appreciate the update.”
Brand met Ren’s gaze and held it. “Mind telling us why we’re really here?”
Ren smiled but shifted almost imperceptibly in his seat. “We wanted to give you an update.”
“Sure. Like Zach said, we really do appreciate it.” Brand lowered his voice, and this time Ren visibly squirmed. Zach had been right—Ren’s boss was pulling the strings here. Ren, decent guy that he was, felt uncomfortable coming right out and asking.
“You want us to break the story that the DA’s decided to run for the open House seat.” Zach raised his eyebrows and pressed his lips together. Brand was sure he was trying to repress a grin.
“Not a bad story to break,” Zach had told Brand the night before. “But there’s no way I’m going to let the DA think he can manipulate me into being his lackey.” Zach had a point. They’d simultaneously agreed to run the story about Reeder, Brand on TV and Zach in the paper, but they’d also agreed not to commit to anything during the meeting. CCBN and the River Watch were the largest news outlets in the area, with the best reach, and Reeder knew it.
“Of course, I can’t tell you gentlemen how to do your job,” Ren said. “But if you’d like to interview Quinn—District Attorney Reeder—I’m sure he’d make himself available.”
“We’ll be back in touch.” Zach’s smile reminded Brand of when he’d first seen Zach on TV, confident and practiced.
“Of course.” Ren also knew how to play. He smiled back and stood. “Thank you both for your time.”
BACK AT Zach’s place that night over dinner, Brand laughed as he recalled the conversation. “It was great watching you today.”
“Me?” Zach smirked.
“You were having way too much fun.”
Zach nodded. “Yeah. I was.” He stuck his fork in his spaghetti and turned it so the noodles wrapped around, then lifted his prize in the air. “I’d forgotten how much fun it is to play with your food.”
“Is that what you called it when you were in the big leagues?” Brand teased.
“We called it a lot worse.” Zach took a long breath and smiled. “I’ve always liked chasing a story. But after I left New York, I forgot how much I actually loved it.” He paused and eyed the pasta for a moment. “That bastard took a lot from me—my job, my boyfriend… my love of what I do.”
Zach looked at Brand. “I did what I needed to do.”
“How does that work for you? Not you the reporter, but you, Zach Caldwell?” Brand had wanted to understand ever since Zach returned, but Zach had clearly not been ready to share his feelings about the trip before.
“I’m okay.” He seemed to consider something, then said, “I put in a call to a psychologist I did a story about a few years ago. Asked him if he’d have some time for me. I hadn’t really thought about it until I’d been home a day or two, but this is going to be big, and there’s no way it’s going down without my name getting out there.”
“You came to North Carolina to get away from the rumors.” Brand got up and put his arms around Zach from behind, his cheek pressed to Zach’s.
Zach nodded. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to the media circus.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Brand kissed the top of Zach’s head.
“There is.” Zach seemed to hesitate. “But if you’re uncomfortable with it, you don’t have to….”
“I’m here, Zach. Whatever you need.”
“I want to get ahead of the story. I want my side out there, because you know Rick Greenburg will come out guns blazing. I’m not going to hide in the shadows anymore.” He leaned back against Brand. “What better way to fight fire than with fire?”
Brand’s eyes grew wide. “You’re giving me the exclusive?”
Zach nodded. “If you want it. There’s no one I trust more than you.”
Brand didn’t hesitate. “Of course I’ll do it.”
“There’ll be questions about our relationship,” Zach pointed out. “I don’t want you to regret this.”
“I won’t regret it. Besides, I don’t care if there are questions. I’ve never lied about who I am.”
“I expect you’ll handle this like any other story. No special treatment. I’m giving you the scoop because you’re good at what you do, not because you’re my partner.”
Chasing the Story Page 20