Slip and Slide

by Patricia Logan

  Souza also told them that they’d found no evidence of a break-in so Boggs must have let them in. His wife reported that she and her husband were the only two people with keys to the house and garage. The Mercedes was parked in the garage and she told investigators that he came into the house through the garage most of the time anyway. It might have been possible that someone slipped into the garage and then the house without Boggs seeing them, but it was more likely that he opened the front door because she’d said that Boggs always closed and locked the door from the garage to the house after he came in.

  Jarrett and Thayne stayed in the room for a while as they talked to Souza and while Thayne continued asking about other details, Jarrett walked around the room. He looked out through the french doors leading outside to a small patio with the backyard beyond, but he didn’t open the door to step out. Fingerprint powder remained on the doorknob and windows where the crime scene investigators had been so he kept his hands pushed down in his pockets as he surveyed the scene. He walked over to the desk where Boggs had probably been sitting when his visitor arrived, noting it was covered with paperwork. He leafed through it. Most of it appeared to be insurance paperwork relating to the explosion in the mine which he’d been filling out at the time his killer arrived. Also on the desk was the previous day’s newspaper with a front page picture of Boggs and Geary standing in front of the sign they’d seen out at the Red Hills Mine. The caption of the photo was: Congressman, Clifford Geary and CEO, Jeffrey Boggs at the Red Hills Mine. The article’s headline was: Red Hills Mine Disaster. Congressman and CEO, Search for Answers. Jarrett snorted when he saw it. What bullshit.

  He glanced up to find Thayne standing beside him and pointed at the article.

  “Can you believe this shit?”

  “Searching for answers?” Thayne said. “The only thing Boggs was pondering was how in the hell he was going to explain why he didn’t use the federal safety money to fix the problems the mine had before four men lost their lives.”

  “Yeah, that and how bad it was gonna hurt to be butt-fucked by Bubba three times a day once he was behind bars for not spending it when he should have,” Jarrett said.

  Thayne chuckled. “Ouch. So, did you learn anything new?”

  Jarrett shook his head. “No. Nothing new. He obviously let the guy in. I suppose I thought I’d see somethin’ the sheriff didn’t but I have to agree that he probably knew his attacker.”

  Thayne nodded. “Yeah, I agree. It was worth a shot though.”

  “Still no call from Snow?” Jarrett asked.

  Thayne pulled out his phone just to check. “Nothing.” Jarrett’s phone began to ring and he pulled his out, glancing down at the screen. “Snow?” Thayne asked.

  Jarrett shook his head as he glanced down at the caller ID. “No, it’s Steel.” He frowned and swiped the phone putting it to his ear. “Steel?”

  “Jarrett. Hey, I’m glad you answered. Please tell me you’ve heard from Jase.”

  Jarrett frowned and he looked at Thayne. “No. Why? What’s up?”

  “We can’t reach him… been trying all afternoon. He went out with his friend Corey Middleton last night and then he had a class early this mornin’. He was supposed to meet Elijah and me for lunch in Bluefield. We were gonna go over to your hotel and see if we could grab you and Thayne for lunch but we must have missed you.”

  “We’ve been out all day. He didn’t meet up with you?”

  “No, he didn’t show up so we tried calling him. He’s not answering his calls and I thought maybe he forgot about our plans. You’re still in town, right?”

  “Yeah, we’re still here. Did you see him at breakfast?”

  “No. Edie said she didn’t think he came home last night. When she went in to wake him up, his bed was made and the clothes he’d worn to go out with Corey weren’t there. It didn’t look like he’d been home to change for school. She didn’t think anything of it, though. He usually calls to let her know if he was staying at a friend’s house but that was unusual on a school night. You know how seriously Jase takes school.”

  “Yeah, I do. Did you call Corey?” Jarrett asked. Jarrett was beginning to get worried. Jase was the most reliable of all of them. Elijah always seemed to be doing his own thing when he came home on leave and Steel often got caught up in whatever project he was working on in his shop out behind the house, but they all knew that you could almost set your watch by Jase. He almost always left notes about where he was going and what he was doing if no one was around. It wasn’t like him not to show up somewhere and to not call Edie was unheard of.

  “Elijah’s here with me at the house now. We were gonna head over to Corey’s. Neither of us know his phone number but Elijah used to date his sister, Melissa. He knows where Corey lives.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” Jarrett said, even though his gut told him otherwise. “Give us the address and we’ll meet you out there. Where’s Daddy?”

  “He had to go back to Langley. He left yesterday. We didn’t want to worry him over nothing, Jarrett. I’m sure he’s fine,” Steel said.

  Something in his voice told Jarrett he was just as uneasy about their youngest brother’s disappearance but he kept his mouth shut on the matter so he wouldn’t worry him even more. “Hang on, Jarrett. There’s a call on the other line.”

  Before Jarrett could open his mouth, Steel had switched over and Jarrett looked glanced back at Thayne. “He had another call. Jase hasn’t called and he was supposed to meet Steel and Elijah for lunch.”

  Thayne nodded. “I gathered from your side of the conversation. They’re in town?”

  “Yeah. They came here to meet Jase for lunch. They were hoping to drop in and see us before we left town. Let’s head out.” Jarrett hung onto the phone as he and Thayne gave Steve Souza their thanks. They were walking out to the rental truck when Steel clicked back over.

  “Jarrett, that was Mr. Middleton, Corey’s dad. He called me because he said his son told him Jase is in trouble.”

  “What?” Jarrett said, stopping on the driveway. “What kind of trouble?”

  “I don’t know but he said Corey’s in Bluefield Regional Medical Center. He’s been beat up really bad, Jarrett.”

  “Where’s Jase?” Jarrett’s heart was in a panic and nearly beating out of his chest.

  “Mr. Middleton said he doesn’t know. Corey’s barely conscious but he said Corey needed him to call us to tell us Jase is in trouble. We’re gonna head over to the hospital right now.”

  Jarrett glanced at Thayne and then began to run toward the truck. Thayne followed right behind him. “Thayne and I are on our way, Steel.” He swiped the phone and made a beeline for the truck, clicking it open with the automatic door lock as he ran. He yanked the driver’s door open the second he got there and Thayne piled in on the passenger side.

  “What happened? Where are we going?” Thayne asked. His partner’s expression was a mask of worry.

  Jarrett spared him only a quick glance as he jammed the keys in the truck’s ignition, turning over the engine with a roar.

  “I’ll explain everything on the way,” Jarrett said, pulling away from the curb.

  “On the way to where? Jarrett, tell me where we’re headed.”

  Jarrett glanced at Thayne. His beautiful blue eyes were filled with worry and dread. “To the hospital.”

  ****

  Jarrett was shaking by the time they got to the hospital. Thayne had never seen him this flustered before and he was freaked out about it. On the way over, Jarrett had relayed the conversation he’d had with Steel over the phone. Jarrett was not the type of guy who got nervous about things. His partner was always in control and to see him this upset unnerved Thayne. Jarrett had lived a huge part of his life in a combat zone so to see him this upset, worried him. When they stopped at the reception desk and learned
Corey Middleton was in the ICU, genuine fear for Jase’s safety filled Thayne’s gut as well.

  They took the elevator up to the fourth floor and stopped at the nurse’s station to ask for his room but as the nurse was explaining that only immediate family could see Corey, Elijah and Steel walked over. Thayne was immediately thrown off when he saw Elijah, the same way he’d been when he’d seen him the other two times. He looked so similar to Jarrett, Thayne had to remind himself it wasn’t him. Jarrett hugged both brothers when they walked over and Thayne shook their hands. They both looked as concerned as Jarrett.

  “Corey’s dad called you to say Jase was in trouble, right?” Jarrett asked Steel.

  “Yeah. He said Corey had been hit over the head with something and was in and out of consciousness but when he was able, he told his dad Jase was in trouble,” Steel replied.

  “How did he have your number?”

  “I used to date his daughter Melissa and I guess Corey’s dad had it,” Elijah said. “I gave my phone to Steel when I went off on my last tour so Middleton thought he was calling me.”

  “Okay. We need to get in there to see Corey,” Jarrett said. They looked helplessly back at the nurse behind the desk; she was shaking her head sadly but then she stood up.

  “I’ll go in and tell the patient’s parents y’all are out here,” she drawled, smiling at Steel.

  “Thank you so much,” Steel said offering the pretty girl a tiny smile.

  They all moved over to Corey’s room and waited anxiously. Thayne could feel the palpable dread hanging between the brothers. Not long after, the nurse came out followed by Corey’s parents. Thayne was surprised to recognize the father as Bertrand Middleton, the unpleasant foreman from the Red Hills Mine. Bert’s wife was a petite woman, dwarfed by her imposing husband. She’d been crying. Bert frowned as soon as he saw Thayne and Jarrett and he walked over with his wife.

  “What’s the ATF doing here? This doesn’t concern y’all.” His voice was pitched low in the hospital corridor but the threat was clear.

  “Jase is my youngest brother,” Jarrett said, his voice calmer and more controlled than Thayne had probably ever heard it. “You know my partner and these are my other brothers, Stewart and Elijah.”

  Middleton looked them over and the expression on his face morphed into one of embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know Jase Evans was your kin.”

  “How’s Corey?” Steel asked.

  Mrs. Middleton let out a sob and raised a Kleenex to her face to muffle it. Bert reached around her shoulders and pulled her into his wide chest where she buried her face. He swallowed hard.

  “They don’t know if he’ll have brain damage or not. He’s unconscious now but the doc knocked him out with somethin’.”

  “They put him in a medically induced coma?” Thayne asked.

  Mrs. Middleton began to sob into Bert’s chest.

  “Yeah, that’s what he called it. He says the swellin’ on Corey’s brain is bad so they have to rest it till it goes down.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Jarrett said.

  “Mr. Middleton, I’m Steel… ah, Stewart. I talked to you on the phone.”

  Just then, Bert seemed to remember calling. “Yeah, I… before they put Corey in the coma…” Mrs. Middleton burst into tears again, stopping whatever he was going to say as he held her closer, leaning down to speak softly in her ear. “Come on now, honey. He’ll be all right. Didn’t I always tell ya the Middleton’s are made of tough stuff?” She nodded and sniffed. He kissed the top of her head. “I need to talk to these men now, darlin’.”

  She nodded into his chest again but Steel stepped forward and put a hand on her shoulder. “Mrs. Middleton, will you come with me to get some water… or maybe some coffee?” he asked softly.

  Thayne was convinced Steel was one of the kindest men he’d met. He’d had that impression the first two times he’d met him as well.

  “Go on, honey,” Bert murmured to his wife. “Stewart’s gonna bring ya back soon. I have to talk to Jase’s brothers for a minute.”

  She blinked her red eyes at Bert and nodded, then looked at Steel, smiling a little and reaching out to take the hand he held out. She was as timid a woman as Thayne had ever seen but then again being married to a guy like Bert Middleton would probably mean she’d have to be. Middleton had treated her very sweetly, though.

  Steel nodded to his brothers and then gave her his elbow like a gentleman, leading her away to the elevators, presumably to go downstairs where the hospital had a cafeteria.

  “We can talk in the waiting room out of the way of people,” Thayne offered. Bert nodded, his fierce frown back in place as he turned and followed them to the waiting room. Fortunately, it was unoccupied and Jarrett walked over to the television and turned down the sound before joining them.

  “Before the doctor put Corey to sleep,” Bert began, “he was awake long enough to say that he and Jase were out at Beats when they were approached by two guys at the bar.”

  “Beats? That nightclub out on Highway 77?” Elijah asked.

  Bert nodded. “That’s it. They’d been studyin’ at our house and when they finished up, they headed out for a drink. Neither one had classes till noon so they figured…” He broke off as his voice began to shake. “I shoulda sent Jase home.” He covered his face with a meaty paw. “Why didn’t I send him home?”

  “They were being kids, Bert. I’m sure they didn’t know they were in danger,” Thayne interjected. When Bert looked at him, his expression was still grim but he seemed barely able to hold it together. Thayne felt really bad for the foreman. He glanced sideways at Elijah and Jarrett who both sat as still as statues. When Thayne looked back at Middleton, he was shaking his head.

  “Ya don’t understand. It’s my fault my boy is in there.”

  “Where’s Jase, Middleton?” Jarrett asked. The expression on his face had turned stony and when his hand shot out and landed on Middleton’s forearm, the man flinched. “Tell us where he is and how you’re responsible… now!”

  “Jarrett…” Thayne quietly implored.

  “It’s okay. Y’all should be angry. Corey was beaten up and Jase is missin’ ‘cause of me and what I did.” Bert flinched as Jarrett lunged at him. Before Thayne could do anything to stop him, Elijah reacted, standing and grabbing Jarrett by the waist, pulling him away from Middleton before he could hurt the guy.

  “Back off, Jarrett! He’s the only one who can tell us what happened to Jase,” Elijah hissed in Jarrett’s ear. His words seemed to calm Jarrett because he immediately stopped struggling and let go of Middleton’s shoulders, sitting back down.

  “Sorry,” came Jarrett’s mumbled apology.

  The foreman straightened his shoulders and sat back in the chair, looking between them. “It were my fault. Boggs told me you ATF boys were gonna be trouble so I tried to run ya off the road.” He suddenly looked desperate. “But he told me he was gonna hurt my boy. I didn’t have no choice!” Tears filled his eyes.

  “You were the one who tried to run us off the road?” Jarrett asked, his voice rising.

  Thayne watched him the fingers of his hands clench into fists and he reached over and placed a hand on his lover’s back, rubbing between his shoulder blades, hoping he wouldn’t punch Middleton. When he glanced back at Middleton, tears were rolling down both cheeks and he reached up and swiped at them in anger or disgust, Thayne couldn’t be sure which.

  “I’m sorry. Boggs and that congressman fella called me… said they was at the Pick Axe… told me they had a job for me… said if I didn’t do it, Geary’s men were gonna hurt Corey. I threatened to go to the sheriff and then they put my boy on the phone. Corey was cryin’ and he said they had his friend Jase Evans too. He said if I wanted to see Corey alive again, I’d better do as they say and kill y’all. After I agreed, they told me y�
�all was drivin’ a silver truck with rental tags on it so I drove out and waited. Weren’t no more’n five minutes before ya drove right passed me.”

  Thayne was dumbstruck. This was who’d nearly killed them the other night and their murder had been ordered by Jeffrey Boggs after Geary’s men kidnapped Jase and Corey.

  “Where’s Jase?” Jarrett growled. His back tensed again and Thayne knew his thoughts were much the same as his had been.

  “I don’t know where they took the kids. I swear it. If I did, I’d tell ya. We always liked Jase. Him and Corey’s been best friends since they started out at New River College. I never wanted them to get hurt. They’s innocent in all of this but I swear I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “How did you get Corey back?” Elijah asked. His expression looked just as angry and terrified as Jarrett’s.

  “Got a call from someone… it weren’t Boggs or Geary… it must ‘a been one ‘a Geary’s men. They’re the ones who took the boys… don’t think Boggs or Geary ever did their own dirty work. The guy on the phone told me where to find Corey and said they was gonna hold on to Jase until y’all left town. Now that I know he’s yer brother, that kinda makes sense now.”

  “Until we leave town?” Jarrett asked. “They ain’t Nickelodeon villains!” He shot to his feet so quickly, Thayne thought his chair was going to topple over. Thayne stood up fast, terrified Jarrett was going to punch Middleton’s lights out before they got more information. Instead, his distraught partner paced away from all of them.

  “Where’d they leave Corey?” Elijah demanded.

  “Found him in the parkin’ lot of the Red Hills Mine,” Middleton said. His breath caught on a sob and tears flooded his eyes again. “They beat him unconscious… he were near dead… might still die…”

  Thayne watched as he clenched his fists. If Jase were beaten too, he could already be dying and they needed Middleton’s help. Thayne leaned forward.