With Caution

by J. L. Langley

  “I love you, and…” Remi pulled back, making sure Sterling was looking at him. “I do understand, but no matter how hard it makes things you can’t let anyone know right now. Do you understand what I’m telling you? You can’t let Mom and Dirk ever find out about you or me…or Jake. Okay?”

  * * *

  Jake ran his hands over his face. Looking up at the office’s fluorescent lighting, he groaned, before turning his attention back to Rhys. “I swear to you, if you’d seen his face, you’d have no doubt that it happened.”

  “I don’t doubt it. What I can’t figure out is how the fucker got them to that field without getting caught. And why the hell no one figured out they’d been moved there. I know forensics have come a long way in the last fifteen years, but this shit could have been determined back then. So why the fuck wasn’t it?”

  “Because he’s a crooked son of a bitch and he had the time and opportunity to do it.”

  Rhys gritted his teeth, giving a crisp nod. “I can’t seem to get Caspari to call me back. I know damn well he could point me in the right direction to find out who else might be in on this and why.”

  “You think your ex-boss was involved?”

  “No, but Caspari knows something he doesn’t want to tell me. Apparently I’m going to have to corner him and make him talk to me.” Rhys would do just that too. He was a good investigator. He paid attention to everything and filed it away for later use, and he wasn’t above blackmail. Not many people were ballsy enough to call his bluff.

  Jake got up, stretched his legs and walked to the window. It wasn’t much of a view, only an alleyway, but it let the sunlight in. He needed something to do to distract himself from the images rattling around in his head. After listening to the vivid description of Remi’s dream, Jake could not help but imagine it. It was like a horrible movie playing over and over in his mind. He wanted to hunt Dirk Lassiter down and make him pay for what he’d done.

  Shaking his head, he stared out at the brick wall of the office building behind theirs. He was going to do this the right way. Killing the bastard would be too easy, but Jake wasn’t going to go to jail for the bastard or sign his own death warrant by going rogue, unless he had no other recourse. “What did the other kid’s family say? You said on the phone you’d talked to them.”

  “Yeah, I stopped to talk to the brother on my way in to the office this morning—”

  The intercom buzzed.

  Rhys growled and pushed the button. “Yes?”

  “Can I go to lunch now?” Matt asked so softly he could barely be heard even over the intercom.

  Jake opened the office door so he and Rhys could watch the front with Matt gone. “Go ahead, Matt.”

  Matt swiveled his chair toward Jake, making it turn all the way around once before he stopped and smiled. “Thanks, Jake. I’m just going to go get a burger and bring it back. I won’t be long. You want something?”

  “No thanks, Matt.”

  “Okay.” Matt hopped up and headed out the door with a wave.

  Jake and Rhys watched him leave, both shaking their heads. Jake turned to Rhys. “Do you think he dresses in the dark?” Matt was wearing khaki shorts, a long-sleeved pink shirt with a gray striped tie and black dress shoes with no socks.

  “I was leaning more toward him being colorblind, but that doesn’t explain the shoes.”

  Which would support Jake’s theory that Matt dressed in the dark. Matt was a wolf so even in the dark he could see. Rhys was right, what the fuck was up with the shoes? Jake shrugged and sat back down in the chair across from Rhys’ desk, positioning himself where he could see the front office. “Tell me about the brother.”

  “Jonathon Ikaz, thirty-five, married with two kids, a boy and girl, the boy is named William after his deceased uncle. Ikaz works at the casino as a cashier. He has no love lost for Lassiter. He didn’t seem to have anything against Remi though. He made a point to tell me what a good kid Remi had been and that he was always very polite when he was at their house. He also hinted Remi and Billy were maybe more than friends, but he wouldn’t come right out and say it. I got the impression Ikaz’s parents suspected it as well.”

  “Which adds validity to Remi’s dream.”

  “He also said no one questioned him or his parents about Billy’s whereabouts, possible enemies or anything. Said it sort of fizzled out and went cold, no investigation by the police whatsoever.” Rhys raised an eyebrow at Jake. “And Dirk was the one who told them Billy was dead.”

  “He told them himself?”

  Rhys nodded. “Ikaz said Dirk told them Billy was dead and Remi wasn’t going to make it. Ikaz remembers smelling alcohol on Lassiter’s breath. And get this…apparently after talking to Lassiter, the whole family got in the car and headed up to the hospital to see what was what, and not only had Billy’s body not been taken in, but Remi hadn’t arrived at the hospital either.”

  Fuck me. Jake sat there staring at Rhys, not believing what he was hearing. “You think he came from the scene? After he dumped them in the field?”

  Rhys shook his head. “Not sure. The report says he was the first on the scene and called it in.”

  The door opened and Remi’s scent assailed Jake’s nose, making him smile.

  Remi came to the office door and leaned against the doorway, looking dazed. “Hi.”

  What was he doing here? He seemed sort of down. His scent was off, not scared or mad but not exactly normal either. Jake stood, going to his mate. He caught Remi’s chin and kissed him. “Everything okay?”

  Remi nodded, then stopped and shook his head. His stare was unfocused. “No—no it’s not. Sterling told me he thinks he’s gay.” Remi raised his face, meeting Jake’s gaze almost pleadingly.

  Oh shit. Jake got a hollow feeling in his stomach. He drew Remi into his arms. “He won’t say anything, will he? He knows not to tell Dirk or your mother that, right?”

  “Where is he?” Rhys asked.

  Jake had forgotten all about Rhys.

  Pulling back, Remi peered over at Rhys. “At home with my mom.” Then he glanced up at Jake, his eyes almost blank. “Yeah, I told him not to let anyone know.”

  It was all Jake could do to keep from pulling Remi back to him. “We’ve got to hurry this up.”

  Remi was quiet for a few seconds. Then he swallowed audibly and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got to remember. I wish I knew if that dream was real.”

  “I think it was,” Rhys said from his seat. “Both of you sit, we need to talk.”

  Rhys told Remi about his meeting with Billy’s brother and suggested Remi talk to the man. Hopefully Ikaz would tell Remi more than he had Rhys.

  After a few minutes Remi got up. Jake went to stand too, but Rhys caught his gaze and shook his head. Jake opened his mouth to tell his best friend to back off when Remi started pacing back and forth.

  “I heard you say Dirk was the first on the scene?” Remi asked Rhys.

  “That’s what the report says. And Ikaz talked today like Lassi—your father had come from the scene while the investigation was still going on to tell them Billy was dead.”

  Remi stopped pacing and looked at Jake. “He was off work that day.”

  “Are you sure? I thought you didn’t remember much about what led to the attack?” Jake asked.

  “I don’t, but it makes sense that he’d be off. Wouldn’t he?”

  Jake must have missed something because it didn’t make sense to him at all, but judging from the look on Remi’s face it made perfect sense to Remi. “Why, pup? Why does it make sense?”

  Remi stopped pacing, turning toward him and Rhys. “I think that was the day Sterling was born.”

  “What?” Rhys pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “And why would I go to a movie instead of going to the hospital? It was a weekday when Sterling was born, but…” Remi closed his eyes and planted his hands on the side of Rhys’ desk. “I was at school. There was a note when I got home telling me Mom and Dirk were at the hospital a
nd Dirk would be back around five o’clock to pick me up.” He opened his eyes, staring right at Jake, and bobbed his head. “I remember it. I remember the note, that’s why we…” He shot a glance at Rhys then back to Jake, his cheeks tinged red. “Well, I know what Dirk is like, I’d have never risked getting caught if I thought he’d be home earlier.”

  “Fucking A.” Rhys stood, slamming his fist on the desk. “Are you telling me it was the middle of the afternoon when you were attacked?”

  Remi nodded.

  “What’s up, Rhys?” Jake motioned to Remi, wanting him closer.

  Rhys’ jaw ticked. “Dirk reported the incident in the evening. It was already dark. That son of a bitch killed the kid hours before and left Remi lying around to die before getting him help.”

  Snagging Remi’s hand as he walked closer, Jake pulled him into his lap. Resting his head against the top of Remi’s head, he closed his eyes. He felt sick again. Remi is here, he’s alive and safe. But Sterling. Oh God, they had to work fast. They had to get Sterling away from that monster. Dirk was getting closer and closer to meeting an angry werewolf in a dark alley.

  Remi patted Jake’s back like it was no big deal and turned to face Rhys. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

  The door opened and Remi jumped out of Jake’s lap, looking toward the door. His forehead wrinkled, then the corner of his lips turned up.

  Matt. Jake didn’t even have to look. He smelled the kid and McDonald’s French fries. Jake grinned. Apparently he and Rhys weren’t the only ones amused by Matt’s sense of style.

  “Oh my God.” Matt ran into the office, so excited he must have forgotten Rhys was there. Amazing, as terrified as the kid was of Rhys. He dropped his bag of food in Jake’s lap and reached for Remi. Remi stepped back but Matt managed to snag his hands and pull him into a hug.

  Chuckling, Jake just watched. The look on Remi’s face was part surprised, part cornered wolf.

  Finally, Remi patted Matt on the back, sort of hugging him in return.

  Matt drew back without letting go of Remi’s shoulders. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’ve wanted to since I found out Jake found his mate. Dad said you are coming to dinner tomorrow night. I was going to see you then, but, wow, just wow.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “You think you can talk to Jake about letting me be a beta?”

  Remi’s eyes widened and he shot Jake a panicked look.

  “This is Matt. Our office manager.”

  The phone rang. Rhys answered it, “Romero and Waya investigations.”

  “Matt? Gadget’s son?” Remi blinked.

  Matt opened his mouth to speak, but Jake beat him to the punch. “Yeah, Matt is the oldest.” Wait. Did Matt say— “We’re going to Gadget’s for dinner tomorrow?”

  Matt nodded, a lock of his black bangs falling into his eyes. “Yeah, he said you were bringing Remi.”

  “Motherfucker.” Rhys slammed the phone down.

  “What?” Remi and Jake asked at the same time, turning toward Rhys.

  Matt grabbed his lunch from Jake and darted out the door. “Nice to meet you, Remi. See you tomorrow night.” He closed it behind him.

  “He’s checking on you.” Rhys turned the phone around and pushed the caller ID button.

  It read: Lassiter, Dirk.

  The smell of fear surrounded Remi for the first time since he came into the office, and Jake growled, unable to hold it back. “What did he say?”

  “Nothing. He hung up as soon as I answered it.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Cut it out, fag!”

  Remi winced at the slur from his fellow firefighter and continued reading his book. It wasn’t directed at him, but damn it was hard not to take notice of it. Funny, the word had never bothered him before. He’d thought nothing of calling one of his friends a fag or queer when they did something less than manly.

  Jamison launched himself at Cortez. They fell off the battered brown firehouse couch and rolled across the floor. Tortilla chips came raining down in their wake. One pelted Remi in the cheek and landed on his book.

  Remi picked it up and ate it, flicking the salt off his page. Catching Baker’s gaze in the chair across from him, he shrugged.

  Baker shook his head and went back to his Game Boy.

  “You fucking faggot, get off me,” Cortez snarled, shoving at Jamison’s shoulder with one hand while still holding the TV remote above his head with the other. They flipped over again, heading toward the small end table next to Remi’s chair.

  Remi rescued his can of coke off the table just in time to keep them from spilling it.

  “I was in here first, asshole.” Jamison grunted. “Give me back the damn remote. We aren’t watching fucking TV Land.”

  “Fuck you, dick breath, no one else wants to watch NASCAR, you damn redneck,” Cortez shot back.

  They rolled again, crunching chips and plowing into the rickety particleboard coffee table someone had donated to the firehouse when Remi first started working there.

  “No one wants to watch Leave it to Beaver either, you fucking cocksucker.”

  Finally, Baker turned his game off and got up. “I’m going to the grocery store for more chips, wanna come with me, Lassiter?”

  Remi closed his book and stepped over the two firemen wrestling around on the floor like a couple of punks and followed Baker to the door leading into the garage. He turned back. “Hey, assholes, clean up the fucking mess. We’re going to get shit to make dinner.”

  “Fuck you, Lassiter,” Jamison growled out before bursting into laughter.

  Cortez soon joined him. “Hey, Remi. Get stuff to make cookies.”

  Grinning, Remi flipped them both off and jogged past two more of his coworkers—Duncan and Thomas, who were straightening hoses and talking—to catch up with Baker.

  Duncan hailed Remi as he went by. “Hey, Remi, y’all going to the store?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Get some chocolate ice cream.”

  “Got it.” Remi slid into the seat and buckled his seat belt, looking out the passenger side window. The number two engine towered over the truck as they drove out. It looked like shift three had washed the big red beast yesterday. Someone needed to wash the truck too.

  “Does that bother you?”

  “What?” Remi glanced over at Baker. Baker was one of the two paramedics on first shift. He was also the only white man on first shift. The rest of the men were Latino or Apache.

  “The gay jokes.”

  Oh shit, had he given something away? Remi’s stomach sank. “No. Should it?”

  Baker shrugged. “Just wondered since your friend is gay and all.”

  How did Baker know Jake?

  “The vet?”

  “Oh, Chay.”

  “Yeah, the animal doc. That was wild. Never would have guessed he was gay. Lots a folks were surprised.”

  “Tell me about it.” Remi squirmed in his seat, trying to think of something to change the subject without being too obvious he was doing so. Sadly, his father wasn’t the only person in town who was homophobic. If anyone suspected Remi was gay… Actually, he didn’t much care what people thought so long as Dirk didn’t find out, but in this town that would be a long shot.

  They pulled up in front of the grocery store, and Baker cut the engine and got out. “We should get a cart. The cupboards are bare. We can take up a collection when we get back.”

  Yeah, they were, someone forgot to put the lock on their fridge and someone from second shift had eaten their leftovers from the other night. Remi got a shopping cart and shoved it toward Baker. He hated pushing the damn things. Which was why he always took Sterling shopping with him. Sterling loved to push them. Unfortunately, not only did he play on them, but he snuck things in behind Remi’s back. A small price to pay as far as Remi was concerned. “Whose turn is it to cook dinner?”

  Groaning, Baker took the cart and pushed it toward the first aisle. The right front wheel wobbled, not touching the brigh
t white floor. “Mine.”

  Remi laughed and followed his coworker. The smells of different produce tickled Remi’s nose, making him have to concentrate to keep it out.

  Most of the guys hated to cook, but they all took turns. Remi didn’t like to cook, but he was used to it. He had been cooking for himself and Sterling almost from the day Sterling was born. Something niggled at the back of Remi’s memory.

  Sterling was crying.

  Remi could barely walk, fresh out of the hospital. Why wasn’t Mom getting the baby?

  Getting up, Remi slowly made it to his parents’ room where the bassinet was.

  Sterling was red-faced and screaming his lungs out. His little fists were balled up so tight his tiny knuckles were white.

  Lifting the baby up, Remi realized not only did it hurt his ribs, but the kid was sopping wet. Somehow he managed to get Sterling changed and into the kitchen.

  Sterling quieted for a little bit when Remi found his pacifier, but it didn’t last long. He spit it out and started wailing again.

  Remi just wanted him to shut up. He was tired and he hurt and his pain medication was making him sleepy. He found a note in the kitchen telling him his mom had gone to the store, and who the hell knew where Dirk was, probably at work.

  With Sterling screaming in his ear, he had to figure out, by himself, how to make a bottle.

  “Remi, you all right?” Baker asked, stopping in front of the produce area.

  “What? Oh yeah, sorry. I was just thinking.”

  “Yeah? What about?” Baker started pushing the cart again.

  Remi picked up a head of lettuce and put it in the cart. “My little brother.” He frowned. He never thought about that period in his life. Come to think about it, he’d never really had many memories of it. That was the first time he’d remembered how he’d started feeding Sterling.

  “Remi.”

  Jake. Remi turned around.

  Jake was coming up behind him, smiling and holding one of the blue handbaskets.