by Sheila Kell
“It’ll be okay, Dad. They’re actually in more danger where they are. Remember? Killer in the dining room?” A wry smile grew on Jesse’s face. “Besides, they’d ditch you in less than a minute.”
“Hey,” he said jokingly. “Are you saying I’m old?”
“No. I just know my daughter.”
Like father, like daughter. Always the leader, always the most mischievous. Brad excluded.
A heavy sigh slid from his son as if resignation took over him. Not only had this seemed a big decision, but no one seemed 100 percent sure. In reality, Blake realized that was how things were in their day-to-day business. Letting those emotions bleed home must not be comfortable to them.
“AJ, give them handhelds and fifteen minutes.”
“AUNT MEGAN,” REAGAN pleaded, “I’ve got some pics for Dad, but he won’t look at them, and I think they’ll help.”
“What’re your pictures of?” Aunt Megan was always so sweet even though she’d heard her Uncle AJ call her a hellcat. Reagan really needed to learn the meaning of the word.
“Men entering the bathroom, like, maybe last.” She hated to admit that, but she’d hate the wrong person—like Cousin Lee—to be arrested.
With a cocked brow as if she expected Reagan to tell her why she’d been there. “Oh, sweetie, that’s nice, but your Uncle Devon is looking at the whole video which will show that.”
What her aunt told her was a blow. Of course, he’d have it on video. All of it. She felt like she’d failed. She’d be so sure they’d be able to crack the case with her pictures. That meant starting from scratch.
Aunt Megan smiled. “Show me.”
With Amber and Brandon completing the circle with her and Aunt Megan, she pulled out her phone and tapped to the pictures starting with before Cousin Lee.
Accepting the phone, Aunt Megan flipped through them. There weren’t a lot because apparently men peed less. “Are these time stamped?”
Noticing Amber shake her head with her, Reagan felt support, and she’d never expected it from her cousin.
Her aunt looked at her. “Are you sure he was last to leave the men’s room?” She pointed to the photo of Aaron Bruback.
Reagan shuffled a little. She had to tell the truth. Her dad and mom told her that all the time. Especially when she’d done something wrong. “No. I left for a while after that. But it wasn’t for long.”
“From experience, it doesn’t take long if someone knows what they’re doing.” Her aunt handed her phone back. “Reagan, you did well with these. Although I’m not sure why you were taking pictures of men leaving the restroom and I don’t want to know. But if you can’t be sure Aaron was the last man to leave, then you can’t accuse him of murder.”
“But it can show he was after Cousin Lee.”
“True, but we need to make sure.”
Reagan had hoped by showing her, they could get past Grandma and show it to her dad or Poppy. Instead, she huffed like a child and dropped her head. Now would’ve been a good time for Amber or Brandon to step in and support her. Although she had no idea. “No.” She looked up. “But we know Brandon’s dad didn’t do it.”
“True,” Aunt Megan said again, and Reagan knew the next words were not what she wanted to hear. “But, you don’t know that Aaron is guilty. We don’t exchange people because they’re family. We exchange them because we’ve found the guilty party.”
“But what about showing Dad these pics?”
“Maybe later you can show him how good you are at taking covert pictures. But you’d best think of a reason to explain why you took them and why you were outside that door. Reagan,” she said as she looked at all three of them. “Remember what I said. Uncle Devon has the actual videos of the whole building, and one covers the hallway with the restroom exits. He’ll know who left last. Once they do, they’ll look for evidence.”
Brandon’s voice surprised her. “Like what?”
“The murder weapon would be a priority. Imagine if they can’t find it with the search they’re doing, they’ll probably pat everyone down.”
“Shouldn’t they have done that first?” Amber asked with her head cocked to the side. “Dad says they always do that first when cornering a bad guy.” She leaned in and, in her loud whisper, said, “He called them a name that makes Mommy mad when he says it in front of me.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “Like I hadn’t already heard the words from Uncle Brad.”
Reagan smiled a bit at that. She’d made a lot of money from her Uncle Brad when she’d set up something in hopes to bring down the cursing. It’d worked for a month, and she became rich.
“Well,” Aunt Megan said, but Reagan thought she might be trying to make something up, “I imagine, knowing the brothers, they assessed each person for any noticeable weapons on them. You know this, Reagan. They secretly assessed everyone, front and back, up and down for possible weapons while someone’s always watching the group close, including your Uncle Devon from the security room. Maybe they figured whoever it was couldn’t leave to toss their weapons, and doing that up front might’ve put Mrs. Sterling into a full fit of hysteria.”
The three of them giggled. Brandon chuckled instead of giggled. She had no idea why boys got mad when a girl said they giggled. It pretty much meant the same thing.
“Besides, they’re all carrying now. Their sidearms were snuck down to them. Just trust them.”
“Do you think they’ll let me see Dad?” Brandon sounded like he was almost crying again.
Megan studied him for a moment, and Reagan didn’t know why. Then she opened her arms and said to Brandon, “Come here.”
Turning to look at Brandon, she saw him hesitate for a moment, then throw him arms around Aunt Megan’s waist. She hugged him tightly with one hand and rubbed his back with the other. Reagan couldn’t hear what she said to him because her voice was too low.
No one had spoken about his mom and Reagan didn’t want to ask in case she’d died. But she sure was curious. Maybe his mom just couldn’t come with them. Surely her dad or mom would know, so she’d ask them.
Before Brandon and Aunt Megan separated, she kissed him on the head like he’d always been part of our family.
“All right,” Aunt Megan said before looking at them all. “Stay put, and I’ll wave you over when we know it’s clear. When you do, you go straight back. AJ will be watching, and you can see your dad.”
As her aunt left, she turned to Brandon. “Are you okay to see your dad?”
His sly smile surprised her. “Aunt Megan said that when investigating she’d want to talk to the accused as early as possible. At first, you know?”
Also smiling, Reagan told him, “We’ll make an investigator out of you yet.”
After speaking with Reagan’s mom, Aunt Megan waved them over, and the two of them walked over, with Brandon in the lead. Reagan was excited because talking to Cousin Lee could be critical in freeing him. Aunt Megan said no question was insignificant.
They stopped and almost bumped into each other when a shout came across the room. They turned to see Aaron pointing a finger at them.
“Where are they going? You said no one could leave.”
Reagan turned to look at her mom and had never seen her so angry. “First, it’s not possible they committed this crime. They’re too short.”
“And just how do you know this?” the man Reagan still thought was the real killer said. Maybe she didn’t like him, and Aunt Megan said that couldn’t be on her mind if she really wanted the truth. She didn’t want to be biased and embarrass herself and her cousins.
Dr. Manner—who she hadn’t known was a doctor—strode out of the men’s room with a confident stride that impressed Reagan. “Evidence.”
Before anyone could argue, Mom finished, “Second, the boy is going to see his father.”
“What are the rest of them doing? Going to wipe out evidence?”
“For Christ’s sake, Aaron,” Poppy said as he came out from the hallway, “they
’re here for his support. They can’t wipe out any evidence where they’ll be going. Sit your ass down and shut up.”
Mouth agape, Reagan almost missed when Poppy gave Brandon the go-ahead with a nod to the side that led to the offices. She grabbed onto the sleeves of her cousins and quickly ushered them into the hallway.
“That guy’s an ass,” Brandon surprised them with.
Amber, mouth agape, chided, “You said a bad word. You can’t say that around me.”
Brandon rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I wanna see my dad.”
Scrunching up her mouth, Reagan wondered what they could ask Brandon’s dad. She’d not been able to sit in a HIS interview before or watch it later. She’d have to remedy that when they went home.
“There you are,” Uncle AJ said.
“What d’ya mean?” Brandon asked, his back up tight.
Uncle AJ waved a walkie-talkie that she really wanted. “My wife told me.”
Reagan pointed at the radio. “Where’d you get those?”
“The staff. They keep some for emergencies.”
“Can I have one?” Amber asked hopefully.
“Actually, I have three for you. There are rules,” Uncle AJ said as he handed one to Amber. “You are not to change the channel, and you only use it when needed to relay pertinent information. This is not a chitchat line.
“Who’s all listening?” Reagan asked, all excited about having HIS communication.
“I’ll be monitoring it.”
“What about everybody else?”
Instead of answering her, Uncle AJ placed a hand on Brandon’s shoulder and spoke to him like he was a grown man. “You hanging in there?”
Brandon shrugged. “I’m fine. I just wanna see Dad.”
For some reason, Reagan thought only her dad and mom had perfected that long stare that wanted you to tell them everything, but after seeing Aunt Megan and Uncle AJ do it, she’d have to learn how to do it as well as they did. Maybe they could get someone to confess based on that stare. If that were the case, they didn’t need to investigate. Reagan wouldn’t take any chances with Brandon and Cousin Lee.
“While Brandon goes in, why don’t you show me those pictures, Reagan?” Turning to Amber, Uncle AJ smiled and opened his arms. “Come here, lil bit.”
“I’m not a lil bit with you. That’s what Uncle Jesse calls me. You call me”—she tapped her lip as if in deep thought—“I don’t remember, but you can call me Agent Amber.”
Uncle AJ squatted down and looked at her for a long time. “I can? Hmm. Maybe I’ve decided to change it.” Then, quick as lightning, his hands were tickling her and Amber giggled so much Reagan couldn’t help but do so also. She continued when Amber was on the floor, and her uncle still tickled her.
“Say uncle,” he teased.
Reagan never understood that phrase since he was her uncle.
“Okay,” Amber squealed, so high-pitched Reagan wanted to cover her ears. “Uncle, uncle.”
By this time, Reagan was doubled over holding her stomach, hoping to stop her crazy laughing. Her side hurt and tears ran down her face like she was a baby.
Standing, Uncle AJ told them, “Deep breaths, ladies. Slow, slow. Don’t be impatient.”
At some point, Reagan sat on the floor and hadn’t realized it. It’d been like he’d tickled her too. Amber still had that baby giggle when she was tickled; it was cute and contagious.
Holding his hand out to her to help her stand, Uncle AJ said, “Okay, ladies,”— She liked it when he called her a lady—“Let me see what you’ve got, Reagan.”
“Here.” Reagan slapped her phone on his palm a bit too hard. She knew her face decided to do something funny, but she didn’t know what it looked like. “I’m sorry, Uncle AJ.”
After he smiled, he ruffled her hair. Reagan hated that. She wasn’t a boy or a dog. One day she’d ask her dad to tell all her uncles to stop it. Her hair may’ve been long and dark, but it took time to keep it straight and not frizzy.
He seemed really curious when he looked at her phone. “Is Aaron the last man who entered before you and Brandon discovered the body?”
Here she went again, admitting to her failure. Truthfully, she hadn’t expected a murder, maybe a mystery, but nothing more. She dropped her head in embarrassment. “I don’t know,” she said sheepishly. Next thing she knew, her uncle’s two fingers were under her chin and lifting it to him.
“It’s okay, Rea-Rea. You couldn’t have known this would happen.”
She huffed out a loud whoosh of air. “If I hadn’t been frustrated waiting for Brandon, I wouldn’t have moved and then I could’ve caught your killer and Cousin Lee wouldn’t be here, being watched by you and a killer sitting out with the family.”
“Ah. I’m glad you weren’t there. Do you want to know why? If the killer had caught you taking his picture or spotted you even seeing him leave the men’s room, he could’ve killed you. And I don’t want that to happen. And we’re protecting the family. Don’t you worry.”
Amber stilled beside her, and although she couldn’t see her face, she imagined her eyes and mouth were wide. She could predict her little cousin almost every time.
As her heart beat fast, Reagan hoped she wasn’t having a heart attack like Poppy had. He’d been fine, so she would be too.
“Listen to me, very clearly,” Uncle AJ stressed, “you never go into a situation without backup. Never.”
“I had Brandon,” she protested. Had he really thought she’d ignored that rule? She’d heard it a gazillion times.
“Didn’t you say he wasn’t there? Your backup should be close enough to actually back you up if shi— something happens. A killer might’ve grabbed you and then what would you do? At least if you have Brandon at your back, he could raise the alarm, and we’d all come running. Now, besides the fact, you should never put yourself in that type of situation, why wasn’t he there?”
“We were tracking different men. He had the ugly sweater guy, and when the man went to the bar, Brandon went to his room.”
“Hmm. A little training might be in order. When you both get older, your lives may depend on each other,” Uncle AJ informed them.
Brandon trusted her to teach him and spoke like they’d be HIS all the way. That made her giddy inside.
“Who were you following?”
Not wanting to admit it, but knowing she had to, she delayed by shifting her foot across the floor and watching it slowly move from one point to another.
“Reagan, who?”
“Okay, it was Aaron.”
“Is that why you want him to be guilty so badly?”
“Yes. No. I just think he’s creepy.”
Her uncle chuckled. “I think we all agree there, but creepy doesn’t always equal murderer.”
Not agreeing with her uncle on the creepy thing, she shifted the conversation. “Where did you get the guns? Do they have them here?”
“We, um.” He coughed, and Reagan knew he was trying to cover his words. “Brought them.”
Amber sucked in a big breath. “You can’t do that. It’s illegal to carry guns on a plane unless you’re an officer or have special approval. Daddy told me that when he took a gun with him escorting a prisoner to Georgia.”
“Yeah,” Reagan piped in, “even though it was a private plane, we still went through security.” Then excitement grabbed her. “What else did you bring?”
His chuckle told her he was giving her his uncle answer instead of a full one. “Nothing.”
“Oh.” Amber copied her disappointment when she said the same thing. Although she wasn’t sure what she was disappointed about.
He didn’t look comfortable when he leaned against the wall and bent one leg to hold him up. “Okay, I’m guessing you’re playing Nancy Drew?”
Insulted, Reagan gasped. “HIS agent. Nancy Drew is small time.”
With a grin and chuckle, Uncle AJ said, “Okay, future HIS agents.”
To set the record straight, she offered,
“And future leader.”
“Me, too. I’m going to lead with her,” Amber added.
“Huh,” AJ said. “We’ll discuss that later. For today, I’ll give you fifteen minutes to look around upstairs, and that’s all. You have to promise to stay together and not touch anything. Brandon shouldn’t go with you, but we’ll allow it as long as you ensure he doesn’t touch anything. If you think there’s evidence, take a picture then come back and show me. Again, do not touch any potential evidence.” He put his leg down, and she thought he’d lost his balance. “This is serious. If you mess up anything, we won’t get to prosecute the killer.”
The impact of that statement made her almost want to give up, but she knew she could help. HIS had already checked everything and found nothing. That is why they were letting her, Brandon, and Amber upstairs. The adults knew there’d be nothing up there for the police to find. That wouldn’t stop her. “We promise.”
Pulling something from his back pocket, he made another stern face. Tonight was the night of stern looks for her. “These are going to be big, but you have to wear them.”
The purple latex gloves did look big for them. “Do you always bring them with you?”
“No, we got them from the kitchen.”
“Oh. If we can’t touch anything, why do we have to wear them?”
“In case of an accident. Which reminds me, no using the bathrooms upstairs—even the ladies. This employee bathroom is it. Do you understand?”
They nodded.
He handed them footies, which also were large, but thankfully the elastic helped keep them on their feet.
“No trying to break into rooms.” They nodded again. “I can’t believe I’m allowing you to do this alone. There’s a murderer in our group.”
“But HIS cleared the building and everyone is in the dining room.” Reagan’s response may’ve been too swift. “So, he or she shouldn’t bother us.”
“Good girl, you’re already thinking smart, not assuming it’s a male.”
Brandon opened the door and exited the room, leaving it open behind him. Uncle AJ asked him, “You okay?”