by Victoria Sue
“Possibly,” Agent Simpson agreed. “It would fit, except it’s a bit of a leap at the moment because we still have no identification. No reported missing persons, but we would like your team to take the photograph to Adero’s brother and see if he recognizes it.”
The Tampa Bay case had been ongoing for some weeks, stalled because they still hadn’t identified the victim. They’d asked—but were still waiting—for facial reconstruction. Gael knew Talon had provided Jake with all their case files when he started so he could try and catch up quickly. Their unit would never be asked to investigate a murder—none of them had either the skills or the experience to do so. But the victims all being enhanced made them “consultants,” for want of a better word, to the detectives investigating.
“He didn’t see it already?” Jake frowned and looked at the sheet of paper they had been given. “It says he called 911.”
“It was under Adero’s body,” Agent Simpson said solemnly. “We are waiting for the postmortem, but unless Adero was the actual perpetrator of the first two murders, which is obviously a consideration, the photograph is very suspicious. It looked staged.” Simpson looked at Talon. “Agent Valdez, what we need your team to do is investigate Adero’s ability and speak to friends and his brother. They are very distrustful because Adero was bullied as a child, and we hope you might have better luck.”
Because we share a scar with the victim, Gael thought, which was why they were all sitting here listening to the BAU guy. To be fair, Agent Simpson had been courteous and accommodating. He seemed genuinely interested in their team and had asked a ton of questions of him and Talon before the briefing. Simpson had seemed genuinely apologetic that his knowledge of the enhanced was limited, and with certain exceptions, they had brought him up to speed as quickly as possible.
“The details we have are brief,” Simpson went on. “His only ability that we are aware of is being able to hold his breath.”
“But that’s not necessarily an ability,” Finn said. “There was a regular human from Spain last year who held his breath for twenty-four minutes.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Agent Simpson replied, “but where this is unusual is that Adero could only hold his breath for that length of time while he was underwater. Out of the water, he could manage maybe thirty, forty seconds like the rest of us.”
“You mean, he could breathe under water?” Gael asked.
“No,” Detective Cortes said. “Adero’s family insists he always told them he held his breath.”
“Can we see the Tampa Bay crime scene?” Jake asked in a clipped voice.
It had been six weeks since their partnership had been announced, and so far Gael had managed to avoid Jake, but only because Gregory and Talon had been concentrating on bringing the team’s training up to spec. Gael had gone on a ten-day hostage rescue and negotiation course just after Jake had joined them, and after that, Jake had disappeared for a five-day weapons training update that Gael hadn’t cared enough about to ask for specifics; and then, as if he wasn’t interested in the team, Jake had taken “personal time” for two days, which suited Gael just fine. As far as he was concerned, Jake Riley could take personal time away from him for the rest of his life. He had no idea what Gregory had been thinking, partnering them. Maybe somehow Gael had done something to piss Gregory off.
“Of course,” Agent Simpson agreed immediately. “But the site has been released, as we have had pressure from the developers. Having said that, we are very much aware that we need your team’s help on this and don’t expect you to go in blind.”
“Press?” Gregory asked.
“Certainly not until we have the results of the PM. While damning, we don’t even have confirmation that Adero was a victim. The postmortem results won’t be in until tomorrow, but I’m in court in the morning to give evidence on another case. So while Cortes will be running the investigation, I wanted the chance to meet your team, and I’m grateful you all gave up your evenings on short notice. We’d also like to try to identify the photograph ourselves before giving it to the press.”
Talon stood and shook Simpson’s hand. Gregory left shortly after with him, and the rest of the team stood to leave.
“What’s the plan, Talon?” Vance asked, picking up the photograph of the young man.
“You and Sawyer have your medicals first thing tomorrow. Gael, you and Jake go look at both crime scenes and then see about interviewing witnesses.”
Gael sighed silently. Talon had been trying to get them to work together for the last two weeks, and while Gael understood he had to have a partner—hell, he had been the one to push Talon to give Finn a chance—he simply couldn’t work with Jake. He needed to talk to Talon.
“Finn and I are going to see if we can attend the postmortem tomorrow,” Talon continued. “Eli? How did the weekend go?”
Gael looked up as Eli chuckled—a rare occurrence. Eli was the smallest and quietest of the team. His abusive childhood had made him very distrustful of other people, but their last case had involved finding a young enhanced child in need of specialized care. Bo’s ability could be deadly. He burned anything he touched, and in a desperate attempt to save him, Eli had taken the chance that their abilities might be similar and found he could safely touch him. Eli had taken him to the hospital and stayed with him for nearly six weeks while a company had designed and fitted him with a special suit.
“Great. His spidey suit worked well.”
Gael smiled. The team had teased Bo because the suit fit him like a second skin and made him look like Spider-Man.
“He’s back in the hospital for more tests on his eyesight this week, and then they’re hoping he can go to the Landring’s permanently.”
“Okay,” Talon said. “Are you going back to Jacksonville, then?” Eli had been given permission to stay with Bo as much as he was needed until his new foster family could cope.
Eli nodded. “But I’ll be back on Monday. Molly Landring’s going to come with me on all the appointments this week. She’s been fitted with special gloves so she can help Bo get in and out of his suit, and to be honest, he’s real happy with her.”
Gael scrubbed a hand over his tired eyes and walked to the door.
“Gael?” Talon said. “I need five minutes before you go.”
Gael shrugged and sat back down as the rest of the team filed out. He was exhausted, but it would be good to talk to Talon before this went any further. He felt Jake’s eyes on him as he walked past but resisted the urge to look up. Finn shut the door behind him, and Gael focused on Talon.
“What’s up? I told you my latest tests were clear.”
Talon raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want to discuss your medical, Gael.” He sighed. “How are you and Jake getting on?”
Gael sagged in his seat. “I actually wanted to talk with you about that.”
“What do you know about him?” Talon countered, and suddenly Gael was irritated.
“I’d know a lot more if I could see his file.”
When Finn had started a few months ago, all the team had seen his file, but only Talon and Gregory knew what was in Jake’s.
“You know the decision was made to keep personnel files private to superiors only. Like the rest of the bureau,” Talon replied evenly.
Gael nodded. He knew, and he had agreed. But the team was built on trust, and he simply didn’t trust Jake.
“So I’m asking, in six weeks what have you found out?”
Gael looked uncomfortable.
“Gael, buddy. What’s his favorite color? Drink? Food?”
“I’m working with him, not living with him,” Gael snapped, feeling every throb behind his temples. “And don’t give me that. We don’t all get fringe benefits from having a partner, you know.” Talon’s smile vanished, and Gael knew he’d gone too far. He put his hand on Talon’s arm. “I’m sorry. That was a dick thing to say. I’m just tired.”
Talon regarded him steadily. “You’re not sleeping.”
Gae
l shrugged. He hadn’t told Talon about the latest episode in his fucked-up family saga yet.
Talon blew a deep breath out. “Gael, you have to let go of him being ex-ENu.”
Gael swallowed. “I know,” he said quietly.
They’d first met Jake a few weeks ago when he was in the Human Enhanced Unit, a special SWAT-type human police force that had the power to sedate and forcibly detain any enhanced considered a threat. All the team disliked them, but Gael had his own personal reasons for hating them even more.
“Jake is decent. He stuck up for us with his team when he didn’t have to, and Gregory likes him. We all fought against this, but you know the only way they are going to let this unit exist is if we all get regular human partners. We’ve wanted this for years, Gael. I don’t need to tell you all this.” Talon grinned. “They’ve got Vance’s partner picked out, but he’s on assignment, so he won’t be free for a while yet.”
Gael looked at the evil grin on Talon’s face. He knew something.
“You look like shit,” Talon said.
Gael didn’t respond to that. Talon knew the usual demons that kept him awake. He just hadn’t shared the latest one. “Talon, you know why partnering me and Jake together is a bad idea.” He squinted at his best friend. “Vance likes him. Why can’t he have him?”
“Because someone else is earmarked for Vance,” Talon repeated, like Gael was slow.
“But he’s not here, you said. I don’t see why Vance and Jake can’t team up now.”
“Gael, people are starting to notice. You’ve gone from the most reasonable guy on the team to the most closed off. You’re my voice of reason, buddy. Always. I’ve heard more from Eli in the last week than you.”
Gael swallowed. “You know why.”
“Do I?” Talon shot back. “I know something’s going on with you—something you’re not telling me. What was the course like?”
Gael tightened his jaw with the effort of holding back the sarcasm. It had been shit. “It was like high school,” he admitted.
Talon was silent a minute. “Let me guess: you were supposed to pair up?”
Unreasonable anger surged through Gael. It was pathetic. Like the last kid in the line who’s never picked for the team.
“I’m guessing they were surprised?”
Gael had been the first in their unit to get a course. No, that wasn’t strictly true, because Finn had taken them, but Finn didn’t have a scar. He was more a celebrity than something to be feared. “I had one douchebag who actually asked the instructor if I was safe with a gun.”
“Well, that’s completely understandable,” Talon deadpanned.
And then suddenly Gael was laughing. He was adequate with a weapon, but that was it. Finn was a ton more accurate than he was.
Gael sobered quickly. The explanation of why he had been in a funk was on the tip of his tongue, but talking about it made it real, and he wasn’t ready to go there yet.
“I know there’s something else,” Talon pressed, but Gael sighed and avoided Talon’s gaze. “Fair enough, but if things are difficult, that’s just the sort of time you need a partner.” Gael’s nostrils flared and he barely managed to keep his mouth closed.
Talon walked to the door, signaling their talk was over. “I’m going to let you sort this on your own for now, but team evaluations are approaching, and we need this settled before I get the head-shrinkers in here.” He paused. “If you really don’t think this is gonna work, there might be someone else.” Gael looked up hopefully, and Talon stilled with his hand on the door handle. “Let me see what I can sort out, but I want you to go with him to Port Tampa tomorrow.”
Gael forced a smile, but he knew Talon wasn’t buying it either.
Chapter Two
JOINING THE unit was supposed to be a fresh start.
Jake had been awake most of the night. Did he know? Did they all know?
Gregory had assured him his history would remain private for the time being. Let him establish himself. Make friends. Learn to work with Gael. Gregory had been so sure they would gel, but even though Talon, Vance, and Finn had been accommodating, Gael had seemed to withdraw more with each passing week.
And it wasn’t like he was the first human partner—well, regular human; whatever the shit they called them.
Jake yanked open the door of his battered pickup and ignored the protesting whine from the hinges. He had no idea what to do about Gael, and he had no idea where this intense dislike came from. Sure, they all hated the ENu, and possibly some of them with good reason, but the impression he had gotten from Gregory was that Gael was one of the most reasonable of their team. He often acted as Talon’s second, and Jake knew they were close. Maybe he needed to fuck Gael to be a good partner. It seemed to have worked for Talon.
Jake groaned aloud, jumped up into his seat and banged the door shut as the throwaway thought rattled around in his brain. Except it wasn’t as casual as Jake had been kidding himself. If he was honest, Gael was one of the most beautiful men he had ever seen. The scar on his face didn’t make him ugly. It made him seem different, dangerous. Jake wasn’t into pretty boys, twinks. Guys so thin and fragile, he’d be frightened to break them. He was a big guy, and other big guys really did it for him.
He shook his head. Gael had to be straight. Seriously, what were the odds?
Jake had watched Talon and Finn for weeks—not in a creepy, stalkerish way—but someone would have to be blind not to know they were together together.
He blew out a frustrated breath and started the engine. Why couldn’t he have been partnered with Vance? It would have made his job so much easier. In six weeks Jake knew every name in Vance’s large family, but he didn’t even know where Gael liked to go out for a drink. Would it kill Gael to meet after work in a bar, or even to grab a quick coffee somewhere? Jake liked the Westgate in Ybor. Maybe a little busy on a weekend, and yeah, sometimes guys got hit on as they were leaving if they were into that sort of thing, but it wasn’t like every town didn’t have its certain corners where one could find someone or something to have a good time with.
Jake fingered his cell phone cautiously. He’d gotten the approval from Talon last night to visit both crime scenes, and they needed to start with Port Tampa before the place was demolished. He hadn’t heard a thing from Gael, but they were supposed to go together. He dialed before he had a chance to talk himself out of it.
Gael answered with a grunt.
At least he answered the phone. “I’m heading to Kissimmee Street. Do you want to meet first or shall I see you there?” There, he had given him a choice.
There was a pause. “I’m running a little late this morning. Truck’s got a flat.”
“You want me to swing by and pick you up?” The offer was out before Jake thought twice.
There was another pause. “I’m sure it’s out of your way.”
“Well, I’m in Ybor, but they have the go-ahead to start construction, and I’m only about twenty minutes away, depending on traffic. We’ve an hour at most. How close are you?”
Another silence, and Jake’s irritation got the better of him.
“Look, Gael, I don’t give a crap whether you want to go or not, but the house is part of the site that’s earmarked for demolition for the fancy new port area apartments. Cortes got me an hour, but the mayor is pushing this through because officially the site is released, so I’m going now.”
“I’m barely a quarter of a mile away” was Gael’s careful response. “I’ll text you the address.” He hung up before Jake could respond, which was just as well. The guy was a jerk.
Jake had to wait a minute for Gael’s text to come through and smiled at the irony. They were practically neighbors. He pulled away from the sidewalk.
Less than five minutes later, he was driving down North 21st Street, looking for Eastside Avenue. He nearly missed it, a tiny cul-de-sac before the junction with East Palm Avenue. He just managed to clear a rusted-out car on bricks where the wheels used to be and
saw Gael standing on the far corner. He knew it was Gael from his height and build, even though the black hoodie he was wearing was pulled down and it had to be nearly eighty degrees outside already. Then he saw Gael’s truck, or what was left of it.
Jake pulled in behind Gael’s F-150 and stared. All four tires had been slashed, and there were no intact windows at all. Jake jumped out, immediately feeling bad that he’d given Gael any grief. “What the hell?” he said by way of greeting.
Gael raised his eyes in acknowledgment, and Jake’s breath lodged in his throat, words dying before he’d thought of them. So much pain. Bleak, dead eyes. This wasn’t only about a truck. Jake took a step forward. He wanted to… something, but he didn’t know what, and as soon as Jake moved, Gael stepped back and turned away.
Jake stopped alongside the passenger door. The words Fucking mongral had been spray-painted across both doors. “Did you call it in?”
“They can’t even spell,” Gael muttered by way of an answer and headed for Jake’s truck.
Jake opened his mouth to sympathize but shut it just as fast, knowing his opinion wouldn’t be welcome. He decided to change the subject. “Should take us around twenty minutes,” Jake said, getting in the truck, thinking that might be a little optimistic. “We only got a stay of execution for around an hour.” He’d said that already, so he shut up.
Gael was silent until they got on the Selman Expressway, and then he sighed quietly and pulled off his hoodie, revealing the uniform vest they all had to wear. Gregory had eased up with them taking them home because he’d rather them be in uniform, and having to stop by the field office before they went anywhere was a hassle. Jake glanced sideways at the movement and had to swallow his sharp inhale. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and tried to push the vision of the smooth expanse of skin from his mind.
“What made you guess about the photo?”