by Dani Gray
“I also would like to have more suites built, so that each person would have their own space. I know that most only have a bedroom for now, but rooms can be combined to make the suites and so on.”
“How many do you plan on having here?” Eric asked as his brows rose almost to his hairline.
“Won’t know till they are all here, but I don’t think we are quite done yet.” Shane had a thoughtful look in his eyes. “Something is telling me we are still waiting for someone else. I don’t know who.”
Michael nodded his head. “I agree with Shane. Even my gut is telling me we aren’t done by a long shot.”
A few more heads also started to nod around the table. It seemed they weren’t the only ones who were worried. Just then the doorbell rang. Abe got up to answer the door, and after a moment came back with the detectives.
“Hi,” Shane said. “Would you care for some coffee while we talk?”
“Thank you,” Trent said. “That would be really appreciated. We haven’t been home yet, so it’s been a long night.”
As Travis got up to get it, he asked, “Would you like something to eat, too? I can heat up something quick for you.”
O’Conner looked at Travis with near devotion. “Real food, not fast food? Please. I know they say cops live on that stuff, but my stomach is getting pissed with me.”
That earned O’Conner some snickers, but when the plates were put in front of them, they both devoured the food. Michael wasn’t sure they stopped to breathe or chew at the rate they ate. Once they finished eating, both men looked at Travis with hero worship in their eyes.
“Please, tell me you aren’t taken?” Trent asked.
After Abe reached over and hauled Travis into his lap, O’Conner just whined. “Why are all the good ones taken?” he asked Trent.
“Enough,” Eric said. “What is going on? Why wouldn’t you tell me over the phone?”
Michael was glad Eric said something, since he was curious to know, as well.
Trent began. “As you know we have the two cousins in the jail pending trial. They have been denied bail as they are considered a danger to society. The judge classified this as a hate crime.”
“The problem,” O’Conner continued, “is they claim they know nothing about the letters. Since they were computer generated, we don’t know where they came from. Amazingly enough, it also turns out that none of the men owned a computer.”
“So,” Trent added, “the bottom line right now is this. We don’t know who is sending the letters, so that part of the investigation will remain open.”
This caused an uproar at the table. Eric and Abe started demanding answers and any information the detectives might have.
Henry held Andy tighter as he started to shake.
“Quiet,” Michael boomed out. After all the noise settled down, Michael turned to Andy. “Do you want to stay here for this, or go up to your room?”
Andy thought about it for a minute. “I’ll stay.”
“Good,” Shane said, giving Andy a look of pride. “The only way to protect yourself is by having the information to do so.”
“Next, Steve,” Michael said as he turned to look at him. “Shane and I would like to ask you to consider moving in here, not just stay here for a bit. We believe that you could still be in danger from whatever is going on, and we know for a fact that Andy loves having you here. Please, don’t give us your answer now. Speak to Andy and think about it, we will be here when you are ready to let us know.”
Steve nodded. “As soon as I decide, I’ll come find you.”
Shane then added. “Eric, we need that contractor ASAP. Please have him call me once you reach out to him.”
“Done,” Eric said, pulling out his cell phone and sending off a text. “This guy has some government contacts, so he can get things moving fast, too.”
“Any security issues,” Shane went on to say, “everyone will need to speak to Abe. I’ve put him in charge. This also includes you, please, detectives, any issues you need to see Abe and he will handle it as he sees fit.”
Michael asked the detectives, “What else do you need from us? What should we be doing?”
“Not much else you can do for now,” O’Conner said. “For now, we will continue to investigate. If you get any more letters, call us. I hope that we get a break in the case soon, but for now, it’s unfortunately a waiting game.”
Shane turned to Michael. “Somehow, I didn’t think it was the cousins. I was calling them Dumb, Dumber, and Stupid.”
That had Michael snickering. “I know what you mean. The amazing thing about this is our meeting. Who knows if we would have met had they not been beating you up? God help anyone else who tries. I’ll destroy them.”
“We’ll be ready,” Shane said.
The look of love that was shining in Shane’s eyes was a beautiful thing to see. Michael hoped that he was telling Shane the same thing with his.
“Love you, hun.”
* * * *
Abe was holding Travis, absently rubbing his back, while everyone was sat at the table discussing who could have possibly sent the letters. He had a bad feeling it had to do with Travis’s family. He still had to let Travis know that his mother had passed away in jail.
When the conversation moved to what they wanted with the expansions, Abe was thinking about what was going to be needed for security. There would be some updates to the kitchen. He was going to make damn sure Travis was safe in his own home.
While having everyone together was great as a family, it could become a logistical nightmare. Abe knew his men would be able to help keep track of everyone, but if time became a factor, he was concerned about Shane making it to safety quick enough.
The contractor had better have some good ideas, or Abe was going to throw the man out the door. He might even open said door first.
THE END
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