Morning My Angel

by Sue Brown

  “Ready?” Cal said, addressing Brenner. Somehow he managed to maneuver so he was standing behind Josh, so close that Josh could feel his warmth down his back.

  Brenner’s face infused an angry red and Josh realized that, without saying a word, Cal was staking his claim. Josh is mine. Hands off! Cal may as well have pissed a circle around him. Cal was fucking possessive—of him! Josh couldn’t help the explosive noise that escaped him. A pent up mixture of emotion, including smug pride. They all looked at him and Josh decided it was time to move it along.

  “Where’s the barn?” To his annoyance he sounded breathy rather than professional. Josh told himself firmly to get a grip. He was Josh Cooper, not a fucking teen boy in the grip of his first crush.

  “This way.” Brenner stalked past them.

  Josh already knew where the barns were situated. He’d studied the layout of the property before they left, but he followed Brenner, leaving Cal and Landry to follow them. The rain had gotten heavier in the few minutes since they’d entered the house, and ran in streams down the officer’s yellow waterproofs. Josh flicked his collar up and muttered miserably as they walked around the side of the house, trying to avoid the worst of the puddles, and toward the back of a small group of buildings.

  “Hell, the barns are nicer than my apartment,” Landry muttered.

  Josh grinned, as Landry lived in a brand new, state of the art condo, but he had a point. The buildings were in immaculate condition. He remembered that Barton and his wife were locked up to the eyeballs in debt, and wondered how much the estate cost to maintain.

  More officers guarded the entrance to the barn, but they moved out of the way as their small group approached.

  “Don’t touch anything,” one of the policeman said.

  Josh grumbled under his breath, subsiding when Cal scowled at him. He blinked at the sudden darkness as they entered the barn, his eyes taking time to adjust. He surveyed the scene, working through it in a methodical fashion, including Philip Barton’s lifeless body gently swaying from one of the rafters, and the over-turned barrel beneath him. Josh was pleased it was gloomy enough to mask Barton’s face. He wasn’t used to seeing death up close and personal, and he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man, even though Barton had been their prime suspect. Death was so fucking… final.

  “He’s here.” Brenner pointed to the middle of the beam, somewhat unnecessarily.

  “No effort to hide the body,” Landry observed.

  Brenner shrugged. “He wanted to be found.”

  “You’re assuming it was suicide?” Josh said.

  “You’re not?”

  Josh fixed Brenner with the brightest of smiles. “I don’t assume anything, Detective.”

  Brenner flushed again. Before he could snarl a response, Cal intervened. “When’s the ME getting here?”

  “CSU are on their way, although the crime scene’s been trampled by the plod looking for him,” Brenner said. “Fucking amateurs.”

  “The ME’s here, sir.”

  Josh looked over his shoulder to see the speaker, another police officer, glowering at Brenner, obviously overhearing his less than flattering remarks.

  Cal sighed. “You’re such a fucking charmer, Brenner.”

  Brenner shrugged. “I don’t have to make nice with the uniforms. They’ve just got to do their job.” He wandered out of the barn and into the heavy rain. The air seemed fresher without his toxic presence, even with the dead body.

  “Dickwad.” Landry spat out the word.

  No one contradicted him.

  They retreated back to the house to let the CSU do their job. Josh was in need of strong coffee and five minutes to make notes. He got one of them. The coffee was brown water as far as he was concerned but at least it was warm. They’d shed their wet coats in the hallway, handing them to a member of Brierley’s staff, a black-suited man who looked as if his world had come to an end.

  Josh settled in a side room to scribble in his notebook, while Cal and Landry went to interview Barton’s wife, and Brenner vanished the fuck off. Josh didn’t care where he went as long as he wasn’t within ten feet of him.

  Although he was as close to the open fire as he could get without climbing into the flames Josh shivered, not happy to be sitting in wet pants. “Is it too much to ask for central heating?”

  “Can’t afford to run it in a place this size,” Cal said as he came in, handing Josh another mug of something disgusting. “Just had a word with the butler. The house was on the market. The bank had lost patience.”

  Josh slurped half the mug, grimacing at the watery brew before he said, “How much does a place like this go for?”

  “The asking price is five million. It’s not London prices.”

  Josh added another bullet point to one of his lists.

  Cal looked amused. “How many notebooks do you get through a year?”

  “I keep Amazon happy. So this place is being sold.” Josh looked for his notes on Barton, cursing as he realized they were in the notebook that went missing. “Have they got other properties?”

  Cal consulted his phone. “A London apartment near Chelsea, a villa in Tuscany and a condo in New York. All of them are on the market. All mortgaged to the hilt.”

  “So Mrs. Barton has inherited nothing but debts?”

  “It looks like it.”

  “Poor woman,” Josh murmured.

  “You have to feel sorry for her, even if she did create most of the problem.”

  “Big spender?”

  “And totally in denial,” Cal agreed.

  “Where’s Landry? “Josh had been so busy making notes that he’d forgotten about the presence of his bodyguard.

  “He made Mrs. Barton uncomfortable looming over her—her words—so I sent him to talk to the staff.”

  “I’m sure he appreciated that.”

  Cal’s lips twitched. “He couldn’t get out of the room fast enough. I wish I could’ve left.”

  “Oh? Is Mrs. Barton hard work?” Josh hadn’t met the woman.

  “She’s high maintenance for a lawyer. I’m not good around crying women. I didn’t get the feeling the grief was for her husband.”

  “Oh?”

  “I think she was crying because her lifestyle is going to come crashing down around her ears,” Cal said, pulling a disgusted face. “She was looking at me like I was going to be her white knight and ride in to rescue her.”

  “Poor you,” Josh said insincerely. “Hard being the boss man.”

  Cal flipped him off. “At least Landry realizes I am the head honcho.”

  Josh rested his gaze on Cal. “So you are.” He managed to add just an element of doubt to his tone.

  “Brat.”

  “Undoubtedly.” Josh winked at Cal who burst out laughing.

  “No wonder Dominic wants to beat your arse on a regular basis.”

  Josh giggled into his nearly empty mug. “I live to annoy Dominic.”

  “I get regular reports.” Cal sounded resigned.

  Josh tried to feel sorry for him, but it didn’t last long. “Why did you walk away from your agency? I thought you wanted to get away from the work Jesse did.”

  “I was the right person for the job. I’d worked in the area before and people trusted me. She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

  “She?”

  Cal grimaced. “Jesse’s boss. Balls of steel, heart of stone.”

  “You like her then?”

  “I don’t know if like is the right word, but she’s the best in the business. They asked me to work for a year and somehow it ended up being five.”

  “But you’re done now?”

  Cal nodded. “That’s it. I’m flying back to Seattle after this is over. Whatever ‘this’ is.”

  Josh chewed on his lip. He’d been making notes and now he needed to talk to Jesse and Dominic, probably Cal too. “When we get back to London we need to talk.”

  Cal looked wary. “What about?”

  “
The case.” Cal’s expression eased and Josh realized Cal had thought Josh wanted to talk about them. Not that there was a them. “Ease up, boss man. I don’t want to interfere with your precious rules.”

  “Josh, you always interfere with my precious rules. Why do you think Dominic’s blood pressure is so high? And don’t give me that innocent look. I know you.”

  “He loves me really.”

  “No, no he doesn’t.” Cal got to his feet. “I need to talk to the local LEOs and the ME.”

  “I’m done here. I’ll come with you. I need to look at the barn again.” Josh wasn’t going to get any dryer sitting by the fire. Most of the heat went straight up the chimney.

  Cal glanced at him curiously. “Something bothering you?”

  Josh hummed. “Yeah, but I can’t put my finger on what it is.”

  They walked across the hallway, their footsteps loud on the polished wooden floorboards. The same member of staff approached them, his elderly, wrinkled face still set in a pattern of grief.

  “Here are your coats, gentlemen.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Johnson.” Cal took both coats and handed one to Josh. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Tears shone in Mr. Johnson’s eyes. “I’ve known Mr. Philip since he was a baby. He was a great man. I will miss him.”

  Josh murmured his condolences. At least someone would miss the man for something other than his money.

  Both men shrugged on their coats, still wet. Josh grimaced as the damp collar touched his bare neck, then Mr. Johnson opened the front door and ushered them out. It was almost dark by now but at least the rain had stopped. As the door closed behind them, Cal huffed out a long breath. “Even if the widow isn’t grieving for Philip Barton, at least someone mourns his death.”

  “You sound angry,” Josh said.

  “Not angry,” Cal said slowly. “Just… everyone needs someone in the world to miss them. To know their death leaves a hole in the universe.”

  “Have you seen a lot of death?” Josh asked softly.

  “Too much.”

  Josh heard the unspoken request to drop the subject. “I’m sorry.”

  Cal looked around. They were momentarily out of sight of the police wandering the grounds. He pulled Josh into the lee of the building and held him still. Startled, Josh clutched at Cal’s jacket. Cal bent down and brushed Josh’s mouth with his. “Never change, Josh Cooper.”

  “I won’t,” Josh promised, shaken by the intensity in Cal’s expression.

  As if he couldn’t help himself, Cal captured Josh’s mouth in a bruising kiss and they stayed where they were, the outside world, death and misery, momentarily pushed aside.

  Of course, some dickwad had to interrupt and it had to be Dirk Brenner.

  “Christ, can’t you two keep your fucking hands off each other?”

  Josh took a few seconds to catch up as Cal growled under his breath. Then Cal let him go, obnoxiously slowly and obviously designed to annoy their voyeur.

  “You want something, Brenner?” Cal growled.

  Josh ducked his head to avoid being caught snickering at Cal’s loudly unspoken; “You can’t have this!”

  “The ME is removing Barton’s body,” Brenner said, sounding disgusted.

  Cal sighed and put some distance between him and Josh. “Did he say anything?”

  “Barton’s been dead about six hours. Puts time of death about 8.00 a.m. Cause of death is unknown at the moment.”

  “When are they doing the autopsy?” Josh asked, making sure to look Brenner in the eye. He refused to look embarrassed even if he had been caught necking with Cal.

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  Josh glanced at Cal. “I need to look at the barn again and then get back to London.”

  Brenner shook his head. “CSU are processing the scene. They don’t want us trampling around it again.”

  “I need to talk to one of the techs,” Josh insisted.

  “Something you want to share with the class, Cooper?” Brenner said sarcastically.

  Josh was two seconds from punching the sneer off Brenner’s face. “Not yet. It’s only a theory.”

  “Josh, go and talk with the CSU guys. Brenner, I need a word.” Cal insinuated himself between Josh and Brenner.

  Josh jogged around to the barn, leaving the two men to shake feathers or lock horns, or whatever they had planned, without him. He found the barn a hive of activity, bathed in temporary floodlights. The policeman guarding the perimeter was the same one as before and went to wave him through, but Josh stopped at the tape.

  “Who’s the Grissom?”

  To his credit the police officer didn’t blink. “Her.” He pointed to a white-overalled individual, taking measurements by the door of the barn. “She doesn’t bite.”

  Josh smirked at him. “Thanks.”

  Pleased he didn’t have to go back inside he ducked under the tape and headed toward Grissom, who scowled at his approach.

  “This is a crime scene. Go away,” she snapped.

  “Been here already. You’ve got my prints and DNA to eliminate me.” That didn’t seem to lessen her irritation. “Look, I just need you to look out for dyed human hair.”

  “Any particular color?”

  “No idea, but you’ll find it.”

  She tilted her head. “You don’t think this is a suicide?”

  Josh held up his hands. “I’ve no idea, but I’ve got a feeling the hair will be here.”

  “Dyed hair. Got it. Go away.” She turned back to her tape measure.

  He did as he was told, thanking the policeman as he left. The officer looked surprised and Josh guessed he was probably ignored most of the time.

  Cal and Landry were deep in conversation as Josh reached the SUV. Brenner was nowhere to be seen. Cal looked up as Josh splashed through the puddles. “Done?”

  “All done.”

  “Gonna share?”

  Josh shook his head. “No.”

  “You know I’m your boss, right?”

  Landry rolled his eyes. “Give it up, Cal. Even Dominic can’t get information out of Josh when he wants to keep his mouth shut.”

  “But—”

  Josh patted Cal on the arm. “Let it go. If they find it, I’ll tell you.”

  Cal shook his head and opened the door of the SUV. “Get in.” Josh clicked his heels together and saluted him. “Get in,” Cal growled.

  “Yes, sir!” That earned Josh a swat on the butt as he stepped into the vehicle.

  Landry ignored the byplay and slid into the front seat. It seemed Cal didn’t mind showing his employees that he and Josh were involved.

  What happens in London stays in London?

  Josh shook away the thought. He needed to spend the return journey focusing on the case, not Cal.

  Cal was on the phone most of the time and Josh took the opportunity to zen, formulating his thoughts. He knew Cal and Jesse weren’t going to be happy with his conclusions.

  Josh had asked for a couple of hours break so he could shower, eat and dry out. Cal needed to get back to the agency but, after Landry promised to drop him off first, they arranged to meet in Jesse’s office at seven. They drove through the London evening traffic at snail’s pace. When they pulled up outside the building, Cal squeezed Josh’s thigh before he got out of the SUV.

  “See you later.”

  “Make sure you get a break,” Josh said.

  “I will,” Cal promised.

  Josh rolled his eyes at the blatant lie. “You do that.”

  He watched Cal walk swiftly into the building and took a deep breath. He needed time away from his intense presence. Cal was sinking into every pore and Josh was starting to feel as though he was drowning.

  Gil jogged across the sidewalk to the SUV and opened the passenger door. Landry grunted at his brother then pulled out into the traffic.

  “Good day?” Josh asked.

  Gil looked over his shoulder. “Better than yours. Heard about Barton. Poor dude.”

>   “He didn’t commit suicide,” Josh said.

  “You sure?”

  “No, yes.”

  Landry laughed. “Way to be decisive, Josh.”

  “I’m not sure, but I’m damn sure if it was suicide he was encouraged.”

  Gil nodded his agreement. “I think so, too.”

  “You do? Why?”

  “He received ten phone calls from the same number in forty-eight hours. A burner phone. Untraceable. No other women or men in his life, so who was it?”

  Josh wrote in his notebook. “The old dude at his pad said Barton had been very agitated the last couple of days.”

  “I’ve got the number in my phone,” Gil said.

  “Have you tried it?”

  “No, I thought I’d wait all day and let you do the honors. Of course I’ve tried it. Phone’s off.”

  Josh absently gave him the finger. “So someone spooked him. It’s looking more like Barton was the patsy.”

  “Yeah,” Gil agreed.

  “We need to find that money.” Josh gnawed on his knuckle. “It’s key to this whole thing.”

  Landry sneezed loudly.

  “Christ!” Gil wiped his face, obviously caught in the side-spray. “You could’ve put your hand over your mouth.”

  “Sorry.” Landry shivered. “I’m so fucking cold.”

  “You two take the night off,” Josh said. “Go talk to your girls.”

  “We’re supposed to be working as a team,” Gil objected.

  “And we are. But I need to talk to Dominic and Jesse. You’re only going to get bored. Beside, I’ve got plenty of work for you tomorrow.”

  Gil grunted but Landry yawned loudly. “I’m cool with a night off. How’re you going to get back to Threadneedle Street?”

  “I’ll call a cab,” Josh said. “First, shower.”

  Josh also had something else to do, but it was nothing to do with his team or Cal and Jesse. He needed to talk to Charlie and he wasn’t looking forward to it.

  Finally warm after an extensive shower, Josh sat in front of his laptop, wrapped up in sweats and a hoodie. It had taken him five minutes before he could hit enter.

  “Good evening, Angel.”

  Josh sat in front of the computer for a long while before he typed a response. “Hey Charlie.”