Morning My Angel

by Sue Brown

  “I missed you this morning.”

  “Sorry, I was busy.” Now he sounded curt and unfriendly, and that’s the last thing he wanted. Of course Charlie was going to notice.

  “Is everything okay, my Angel?”

  His Angel. Christ. He’d been having this online relationship for years and now he was going to dump it for what—a hook up? No, not a hook up, Cal was far more than that.

  Josh waggled his fingers over the keys, trying to think what to say. “Need to talk to you.”

  “Go.”

  “I’ve met someone. In London.”

  “Ah.”

  “I don’t want to stop talking to you.”

  “But?”

  Josh hated the monosyllabic answers. Charlie never spoke to him like that. “I like him.”

  “That’s good, Angel. You deserve to find someone special.”

  “I don’t think there’s any future in it.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’s the boss. Callum-fucking-David-fucking-Ross.”

  “Wouldn’t that make the name of the agency too long?”

  “What?”

  “CFDFR.”

  Josh stared in confusion, then he groaned when the penny dropped. “You’re a fucking idiot.”

  “At your service.”

  “Charlie.”

  “It’s okay, Angel, I get it. He’s special.”

  “I can’t even. Charlie, he quoted the fucking handbook at me while we fucked.”

  “Romantic.”

  “He said he knew about me—wanted me, but CDR—he—doesn’t allow inter-personnel relationships.”

  “You’ll just have to work on him.”

  “I know.”

  “You know where I am if you need me, Angel.”

  Unseen by Charlie, Josh choked back a sob. Charlie had been part of his life for two years. The thought of him not being there every morning was more than Josh could handle.

  “I love you, Charlie.” He owed Charlie that. After two years, Charlie deserved to know just how special he’d been to Josh.

  “I love you too, Angel. You hold onto him.”

  “I will.”

  “He really cares about you.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do, Angel. He’s the first one you’ve put before me.”

  “Fuck, Charlie.”

  “I wish.”

  “So do I. Charlie, we can still talk.”

  “No, Angel, not now. I don’t share.”

  “You shared me for years.”

  “Not with someone special. Look after yourself, my Angel.”

  “And you, Charlie. You’re my angel, too.”

  No response. Josh wrapped his arm around his legs and tried not to sob, because it was stupid. He had Cal, for real. He didn’t need Charlie too.

  But what happened when he went home? And why did he feel his heart was shattering into small pieces?

  Chapter 11

  Saturday, 26th November

  Heart and soul weary, Josh would have cancelled the meeting but, as he was the one who’d insisted on it, he had to attend. He was homesick. Travel was part of the job, but he missed his home, he missed his cat yowling in his ear every morning and, Christ, he missed proper food and people who didn’t speak as though they’d got a melon stuck up their ass.

  Cal squinted at him when Josh arrived at Threadneedle Street. “You look like shit.”

  “Thanks.” Josh slumped into his seat.

  “You’re welcome. Want to talk about it?”

  “No,” Josh said shortly.

  Cal frowned at Josh’s sharp tone. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m not really in a caring, sharing mood,” Josh said. “Maybe later.”

  “Josh—”

  “Later, okay? I know you’re the boss, but this is nothing to with CDR and this case.”

  And everything to do with you and someone I’ve never met but who still has a piece of my heart.

  Josh was heartily relieved when Jesse walked in with bags of take-out and beer, distracting Cal from whatever he was about to say. Cal shot him one last worried look then concentrated on the food.

  Josh was halfway through a forkful of Pad Thai when he said, “This is my favorite.”

  “I know,” Jesse mumbled around a mouthful of food.

  “Did Gil tell you?”

  “Cal did.”

  Josh blinked and looked at Cal. “How did you know?”

  Cal took a long while to answer and Josh was about to repeat the question when Cal said, “I know everything.”

  That was a non-answer if Josh had ever heard one. He was about to question Cal further when there was a squawk from Jesse’s computer.

  “Dominic. Great.” Jesse turned the monitor around and connected the call. “Hi Dominic.”

  Dominic’s familiar sour expression filled the screen, making Josh more homesick than ever. “Jesse, Callum.” He blinked when he saw Josh. “Christ, you look awful, Josh.”

  Josh scowled at him. “Thanks, Dominic. I love you, too.”

  “You called this meeting, Josh,” Jesse said, “so I think you should lead off.”

  Josh would’ve preferred to finish his dinner, but he put the Pad Thai aside and grabbed the notebook by his feet. “I want to talk about Jonathan Michaels and Philip Barton, but first I want to ask you three a question.” He saw a wary expression mirrored on all three faces. “We know—me, Gil and Landry—that you sent us here deliberately for reasons that have nothing to do with Jonathan Michaels’s disappearance. What we don’t know is why.” The deadly silence in the room confirmed his suspicions. “Look, for all I know Michaels is on a cruise in the Bahamas and this is just a set up.” He stopped as Cal shook his head.

  “This is a real case, Josh. We didn’t send you here on a wild goose chase.”

  “But we don’t deal with missing people, and neither does Jesse’s agency. So the fact we’re here is by your arrangement.”

  “It’s complicated,” Cal said.

  Dominic huffed. “I told you Josh is too fucking nosy not to work it out.”

  Josh flipped him off. “That’s what you pay me for.”

  “We can’t tell you yet, Josh,” Cal said. “You’re right, it’s no coincidence you three are here, but I need you to wait a little while longer before I explain.”

  “And if we hadn’t worked out who you are, would you have told me that?” Josh wasn’t surprised when Cal shook his head. “Would you have—?”

  “No,” Cal said hastily. “Not that either.”

  “Do you know what they’re talking about, Jesse?” Dominic asked.

  “Yeah,” Jesse said.

  “Are you going to tell me or are we speaking in code for this entire fucking meeting?”

  Josh picked up his Pad Thai, knowing that the next discussion was nothing to do with him.

  Jesse shrugged. “It’s not my secret to share.”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake, it’s not important,” Cal snapped.

  “Then you can tell me what it is,” Dominic shot back.

  Cal squirmed as if someone was waving a naked flame under his balls. “Josh and I are—”

  “Fucking,” Josh supplied helpfully, before forking in another mouthful of food. He blithely ignored Cal’s glare.

  “Oh Jesus Christ on a cracker.” Dominic waved his arms around. “What the hell did you do that for?”

  “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Josh murmured.

  “Shut up!” Cal’s deep voice cracked, and Josh had to work real hard to suppress a snicker.

  “It’s against the rules!” Dominic yelled.

  “I know!” Cal yelled back. “I wrote the fucking rules!”

  “You wrote rules about fucking,” Josh said, shaking his head. “It’s so sad.”

  “You love twisting the knife, don’t you?” Jesse wasn’t making an effort to hide his amusement.

  “Well duh. It makes the day worthwhile.”

  �
�Josh, shut up,” Cal ordered. “Jesse, stay out of this, and Dominic, for Christ’s sake, we’ll talk about this later.”

  “What happens if—” Dominic bit back the end of the sentence and that caught Josh’s attention.

  “What happens if… what?” Josh asked.

  “Nothing!” Both Cal and Dominic snapped at him at the same time.

  “Is this the thing you’re not talking about? The thing that’s sent us over here because you don’t trust us for some reason? Are you fucking Gil and Landry too? Is it some kind of test?” Josh knew he was being unfair but he was tired of tiptoeing around the fucking issue.

  Cal looked horrified. “’Course not.”

  “Guys,” Jesse said tentatively. “This isn’t helping.”

  Josh hunched one shoulder. “I’m not the one keeping secrets.”

  Cal suddenly took Josh’s hand in his. “I’m sorry, Josh. You three are a good team. I just wanted to observe you. I needed to see you in person.”

  “I told you so,” Dominic said unhelpfully.

  “Yes, thanks for that.” Cal didn’t take his eyes off Josh. “I never anticipated you and me.”

  Josh saw the sincerity in Cal’s expression. “Whatever it is you’re not telling us, it’ll be resolved soon?”

  “Yeah.” Jesse answered the question. “I’m sorry to be so vague, Josh, but it’ll be over before you return to Seattle.”

  Cal squeezed Josh’s hand and let go, leaving behind a tingling warmth. “Dominic warned me you were too observant for your own good.”

  “That’s what you pay me for,” Josh pointed out once more.

  “Come and work for me,” Jesse said. “I could do with you on my team.”

  “Hands off! He’s mine!” Cal growled, and yes, Josh’s dick went from zero to hero at the possessiveness in Cal’s voice.

  “If you’re not gonna answer my question, can we talk about the case?” Josh thought it was time to move on.

  “Yes, please God, let’s talk about the case.” Cal’s desperation made Josh laugh.

  Dominic just grunted. “Don’t think you’re off the hook, Callum. You promised this wouldn’t happen again.”

  Again? Before Josh could question Dominic, Cal growled out “I’m the boss.”

  “Who’s behaving like an idiot,” Dominic retorted.

  Josh didn’t even try to hold back a derisive snort. “You keep reminding us you’re in charge, Cal.” He dropped his voice to a husky drawl for the last few words, then burst out laughing as Cal glared at him.

  Jesse rolled his eyes at Josh. “Behave! You should count yourself lucky you don’t have to listen to them bickering every day.”

  “I work with Dominic, remember?” Josh said. “He’s a fucker all the time.”

  “Guys, the case? Jonathan Michaels? Where the hell is he?” Cal said.

  “And Philip Barton. What’s your take on that?” Dominic asked.

  Josh picked up his notebook. “I don’t think he committed suicide.”

  “Why not?” Cal asked. “Barton was on edge of personal and professional collapse.”

  “He could’ve murdered Michaels to take the blame for the missing money,” Dominic interjected. “The mortgage on Brierley hasn’t been paid since June, the other properties longer than that. With the money that’s missing he could’ve waited until we were off his case and cleared all his debts.”

  Jesse leaned back in his chair. “It would have looked suspicious.”

  “Yeah, but why commit suicide if he knew there was a solution to his problems?” Josh asked. “He doesn’t strike me as the kind of man who would have a huge guilt complex.”

  “I agree,” Cal said. “What about the barn? Was there anything that struck you as suspicious?”

  Josh tapped his notebook. “How tall was Barton?”

  “About five-foot eight and he weighed around one seventy-five,” Dominic replied.

  “I don’t think he could’ve stood on the barrel, thrown the rope over and hanged himself. For a start, that barrel wouldn’t have held his weight.”

  “So you think the scene was staged?” Cal asked.

  Josh hummed his agreement. “Once we’ve got the autopsy report we’ll know, but my gut is telling me he was helped into the next life.”

  “Anything else?” Jesse asked.

  “Where was Barton’s car? There were a lot of cars there but I didn’t see Barton’s Merc.”

  “So we’ve got one man missing, our chief suspect is dead, presumed murdered, someone’s driving around in his car and the money is still in the wind. We’re no closer to solving the case than when we started.” Dominic huffed impatiently. “Meanwhile our real cases are piling up here, Callum. We need Josh and the boys back home.”

  Josh’s thoughts precisely.

  Chapter 12

  Sunday 27thNovember

  “He’s too old for you,” Gil said in Josh’s left ear.

  “Never!” Josh scoffed. “I’m not ageist. Besides, he’s got a great ass.”

  The object of Josh’s attention was outside the hotel talking to a pretty girl. Not that Josh was looking at her. The guy was probably in his early forties but Josh hadn’t paid too much attention to his face as he wore a red baseball cap and had his back to the window. Josh’s gaze was focused on the tightest ass in jeans Josh had seen this side of the Atlantic.

  “He’s not bad for an old dude,” Gil agreed. “So’s the girl. Not as good as Kora though.”

  Josh had almost forgotten about Gil’s fling with the hotel waitress. “Aw, that’s so adorable. Does Kora know you’re sweet on her?”

  “Fuck off,” Gil muttered. “Ready for breakfast?”

  “Yeah. Where’s Landry?”

  “He said to go ahead. He wants to talk to Lisa—again.”

  “She must be furious,” Josh said.

  Gil laughed ruefully. “Lisa’s threatened to get on a plane and drag him home if he doesn’t get his ass Stateside soon.”

  “Poor guy.” Josh’s stomach rumbled. “Let’s go eat.”

  “I’m sick of the breakfast here,” Gil admitted. “Let’s eat somewhere else.”

  Like Gil, Josh was growing tired of the hotel’s breakfast, too. It was okay, but he longed for pancakes and real bacon. British bacon just wasn’t the same. “I found an American diner,” he said. “It’s a walk but at least it’s not raining and we don’t have to be at Threadneedle Street ‘til eleven.”

  “Fuck yes. Even if it only pretends to be proper food, it’ll make a change.”

  Josh dug his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll text Landry with the address.”

  A minute later they were heading down the road toward the diner. It took a while for Josh to notice Gil was unusually quiet as they dodged all the people making their way to work in the city. Most days he rated the women as they passed despite Josh’s pleas for him to shut the fuck up. Josh gave him a sideways glance. Gil looked deep in thought.

  “Got something on your mind, Gilbert?”

  “Don’t call me that,” Gil said absently.

  Josh stopped in his tracks because calling Gil by his given name was asking for a punch. He ignored the irritated woman who scowled at them for getting in her way.

  “What the hell’s up with you?” he demanded of Gil, who refused to meet his eyes.

  “What’s going on between you and Cal?” Gil mumbled

  Josh coughed. “Why?”

  “Do you know what you’re getting into?”

  “Fucking the boss, you mean?” Then Josh noticed the shocked expression on the middle-aged woman coming toward him. Maybe standing in the middle of the sidewalk in a London street wasn’t the best place to be discussing his sex life.

  “Come on,” Gil said, tugging on Josh’s arm to get him out of the way. “We’ll talk about it over pancakes.”

  The diner was obviously an outsider’s idea of a 1950’s diner, with shiny chrome and huge images of New York on the walls, but for a brief moment Josh felt less homesick.
A waitress in a pale yellow uniform approached them.

  “Morning, sirs. Table for two?”

  “Three please,” Josh said.

  “You think Landry’ll make it?” Gil asked.

  “He’s the one missing out if he doesn’t.”

  Josh expected her to mention his accent but she just seated them in a booth and said she’d be back with coffee. Gil huffed out a breath and sat back against the vinyl seat. He glanced briefly at the menu, and put it to one side.

  Josh did the same before saying, “Me and Cal?”

  Gil picked up a thin sugar packet as if he needed something to play with. “You’re screwing the boss. What happens when it’s all over?”

  “We go back to Seattle. Cal lives here.” Josh tried to make his tone as light as possible but he wasn’t sure it fooled Gil.

  “Cal doesn’t live anywhere,” Gil pointed out. “If he’s finished the undercover work he’s gonna want to come back to the agency.”

  The waitress returned with the coffee pot, giving Josh a chance to formulate his thoughts. She poured the coffee then took their order. Josh waited until she was out of earshot before he spoke.

  “I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I like my job. I’m gonna be pissed if I have to find another one just because of some stupid rule.”

  “Cal wrote the rule,” Gil said.

  Josh grunted and slurped the coffee. He still thought it was a stupid rule.

  “Don’t make any decisions without talking to me and Landry first.” Gil tipped sugar into the dark brew in front of him and stirred slowly.

  “Aw. You gonna miss me if I go?” Josh teased.

  “We’re gonna hang out the flags if we get rid of you.” Gil shot back, suddenly sobering. His expression more serious than Josh had seen for a long time. “You’re the best we’ve worked with, even with your fussy ways.”

  “Fussy?” Josh spluttered.

  “What do you want me to call it?”

  “Careful. Meticulous. Organized.”

  “Like I said, fussy.”

  Josh had been called worse. He focused on his coffee, frowning.

  “What’s the matter,” Gil asked.

  “Over your left shoulder,” Josh said quietly. “He’s the dude from outside the hotel.”