Prickly By Nature (17 page)

Avery went on to tell him about Otis and becoming friends with the older man. He told Ribeiro about Lacey and how the pack had barely put forth an effort. Avery, however, did not give the detective every bit of information he had. The subject of Troy, for example, was something he held back. Dylan agreed with Avery. They didn’t know Ribeiro, and laying out all their cards could be a mistake.

Ribeiro listened, nodding when appropriate and jotting down the occasional note. When Avery told him about his conversation with the alpha and betas, Ribeiro stopped him.

“They told you to check with the bureau?” he asked.

Avery nodded.

“And did you?”

Instead of answering, Avery looked at Dylan, his brow arched as if to say “You take this one.”

So he did. “We did,” Dylan answered the question, facing the detective again, whose lips were drawn in a thin line.

“When was this?”

“I don’t know—a week or two after the meeting with Odell. A month or so before Avery was kidnapped.”

Ribeiro started shuffling through his files—flipping open one, scanning its contents, then tossing it aside to rip open another, over and over again with the same results. Apparently he didn’t find what he was searching for because when he looked back up a moment later he asked, “Who did you report it to?” Then he went back to looking through his documents.

Avery snorted. “Seriously?”

Ribeiro froze in his frantic search and snapped his gaze to Avery’s, glaring. “Yes,” he barked. “Seriously.”

Dylan straightened up but didn’t say anything. He’d let his mate handle it.

Avery’s eyes went cold, and the smirk fell from his face. “Denis Melnyk and Frank Harris in Missing Persons,” he told him, in a flat, harsh manner.

His papers seemingly forgotten, Ribeiro sat back. “I see.”

“Do you?” It was Avery’s turn to snap.

Ribeiro’s eyes, when they found Dylan’s, were imploring and confused at the same time. Dylan, in turn, simply watched, giving the man nothing.

“Can you understand what it’s like to be told by men who are supposed to uphold the law to ‘mind your own business’?” Avery continued, working himself up into an impressive frenzy, with his face flushed and his breaths coming harsh and fast. “I came to them. I told them what was going on. They were supposed to help. They were supposed to be the ones to protect Lacey, to save the other girls like her, and instead, they were the very ones out there snatching kids up and making them disappear without a fucking trace and covering it up right here in this very building, living double lives, and lying to those kids’ families.” Avery’s voice clogged with tears, and Dylan felt the burn at the back of his throat too. Reaching down, he grasped Avery’s hand and squeezed, lending his support. He’d been there as well, disappointed by a system designed to serve and had turned out to be on the wrong side of the line. “So don’t tell me you see because you don’t. You can’t.”

Avery sat back with a huff, his eyes shining. It was all Dylan could do to not gather him into his arms and never let him go. The past several months, the entire beginning of their mating, had been full of stress and drama and there were times when Dylan missed his mate and wanted him home. Then he was reminded why Avery was doing what he was doing. He didn’t necessarily want to save the world, but Lacey Acker—Dylan was pretty sure his mate would give almost anything to save her.

Ribeiro looked stunned, then cleared his throat and sat forward again. “Okay, so tell me what you remember about that night at the warehouse.”

Employing a deep-breathing moment, Dylan forced himself to calm before he ripped the asswipe’s head from his neck. He felt every ounce of Avery’s rage, his frustration, and anger. Yet Ribeiro sat across from them seemingly impassive. Avery rubbed slow circles on the back of his hand, silently soothing him.

“I’ve told Wallace everything. He has a report,” Avery answered. “Even if it is off the record, it’s all I know.”

Ribeiro narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you start from the beginning and let me be the judge of that.”

The staring match between Avery and the detective held until Avery sighed. “Fine,” he said. Then he recounted everything from waking up in the warehouse on. He and Avery had discussed it back before they’d talked to Wallace. Avery wasn’t willing to give up his lead on the auctions, nor how they’d found out about the events. Dylan wasn’t worried about himself so much as Avery’s connection to Victor.

As Avery spoke, Ribeiro glanced between Avery and one of his folders. Dylan thought he may have been following along, making sure Avery’s facts were straight. Every now and then he’d scribble a note in the margin then turn his attention back to Avery. When Avery finished, the detective studied him.

When he nodded, Dylan wasn’t expecting what came out of his mouth next. “You’re working with Corbin Reid to get your investigator’s license, right?”

Avery drew still and his posture tensed. “I am.”

Ribeiro gave him a jovial grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Reid and I go way back. Good guy,” he said. When Avery only nodded, the detective continued. “So, what types of cases are you working with him?”

“If you know Reid at all, you know any cases he works are confidential. Which means any case I work is as well.”

The happy-not-really-happy façade fell from Ribeiro’s face. “Fine,” he said, all humor fleeing from his voice, and something niggled at the back of Dylan’s mind. He didn’t think this guy would hurt Avery. At least Dylan didn’t smell any rage or malice that usually accompanied violence, but Dylan was on alert nonetheless. “I’m going to tell you this once. I know you’ve been looking into this case. Whether it’s on your own or with help, I don’t care. My case is not your responsibility. It is a tragedy what happened to you, and even worse, what’s happened to those girls—found and still missing. On behalf of the Portland Police Bureau, I can’t apologize enough for the deception and treatment you encountered at the hands of two of our own men. We are not all the same, thankfully.

“That being said, I intend to find those missing kids, and I don’t need you fucking things up for me. Stay out of my way, Mr. Babineaux.” He pointed at Avery. “If I catch you in or around my case, I will have you arrested for obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. Don’t think I can’t do it.”

With that, Ribeiro stood, walked to the door, and opened it. Dylan took the hint. Time to go. A relief if you asked him. Avery didn’t let go of Dylan’s hand as they followed one of Ribeiro’s lackeys, who led them back the same way they’d come into the office. Wallace had conveniently disappeared, the coward. He had to know Avery was ready to rip into him. Dylan was too.

Outside the precinct and away from prying ears, Dylan glanced down at Avery as they made their way to Dylan’s bike. “You okay?”

Avery stopped in his tracks. When he looked at Avery, his features smoothed out in indignation. “I’m not going to stop searching for her, Dylan.”

“I know.” Dylan nodded.

“I don’t care what he says,” Avery went on. “That jerkoff didn’t say anything those dicks Melnyk and Harris didn’t say to me. I don’t know him and I don’t trust him. I’m not stopping.”

Dylan reached up and held Avery by the shoulders. He waited until Avery met his gaze. “I know,” he repeated slowly. “I agree with you. I do. If anyone gets it, it’s me, babe. I was there, remember? I’ve been here with you since before the warehouse. I know how important it is for you to find Lacey—for yourself, for the pack, and for Otis.”

For a moment, Avery only blinked back at him, and then he nodded slowly, a wobbly smile coming to his lips. “Thank you, Dylan. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get worked up so bad. I just…. That guy….”

Dylan chuckled. “Is a dick,” he finished. After placing a kiss on Avery’s forehead, Dylan added, “Now, don’t you have work to do and a meeting to arrange?”

In a heartbeat, Avery snapped up straight, his grin sly. “Yes, I do.” He kissed Dylan, nothing but a quick press of lips, and even that Dylan felt to his toes. Everything involving his mate’s touch lit him up.

“Do you want me to give you a ride to Reid’s?” It wasn’t exactly on the way, but he’d do it for Avery.

Avery shook his head. “I’m gonna take MAX.” He smiled. “I love you, Dylan Green.”

“I love you too, brat. Be safe and call if you need me.”

AVERY REREAD
the e-mail for the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes.

Meet me at Perfect Grounds, tomorrow @ 9am

The clock on his phone displayed 11:07. Avery had been sitting in the dim, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop since eight thirty. He’d triple-checked to be sure it was the right location. It had to be—there was only one Perfect Grounds in Portland—but there’d been no sign of Joel all morning. And no updates either.

Dammit.
Avery reread the message a sixth time. He should’ve insisted Joel give him his number when they were exchanging e-mails after the meeting with Detective Ribeiro the previous day. But then, Joel had seemed pretty adamant in his refusal the first time he asked, and he had all Avery’s info. If it were a simple matter of being late, he could’ve contacted Avery in multiple ways.

Maybe he’d changed his mind. The guy had seemed skittish from the very start. Avery wouldn’t be surprised, even if he’d pinned every last hope on the potential leads Joel could provide. Disappointment threatened to crush him. Worse than that, he had a bad feeling about the entire situation, though he couldn’t say why. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if there was a more ominous reason for Joel standing him up than a case of cold feet.

Avery shook his head and took a nervous sip of the tea he’d been nursing for the past hour.
No. I’m just letting my imagination run away with me. That’s all.

Only Reid, Jaden, and Dylan knew about Joel. And no one but Dylan knew he and Joel planned to meet today. There was no reason to suspect foul play. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling, the slither of unease, that said something was wrong?
Seriously
wrong.

Avery glanced at his phone again and tapped an anxious beat on the screen. 11:15. He’d stay until twelve. Then, whether he’d agreed to stay away or not, he was going to Capri.

AVERY GOT
to Capri at a quarter to one. Still no word from Joel, and he didn’t even know if the guy was scheduled to work, but maybe one of the staff could tell him
something
. He hadn’t been able to rid himself of that creepy, disquieting feeling. He needed some assurance of Joel’s well-being. If Joel had decided not to talk, fine, Avery could deal with that. Better a change of heart than a darker, more sinister reason.

As he entered the restaurant, nausea tickled at the back of his throat. He might be working himself up over nothing, but Joel’s sudden silence didn’t sit right with him. Not after Joel had kept consistent contact with him since that first e-mail he sent while Avery was in New Orleans.

The atmosphere in Capri seemed subdued. Most of the tables sat empty, and the girl at the hostess stand was the same one who’d seated Avery in Joel’s section a few weeks back. Her eyes were red, and she gave him a short-lived smile as she picked up a menu.

“Just one today?” she asked.

Avery stepped close to her. “No. Actually I was wondering if you could help me. I’m looking for Joel. Is he—”

He broke off when the girl burst into tears.

The unease in Avery’s belly erupted into full-blown turbulence. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and rubbed at her eyes with her sleeve. “S-sorry. I can’t t-talk about it. I t-told them I’d be able to handle staying, but maybe I should go home.”

The last word stretched into a sob, and though Avery didn’t usually enjoy touching strangers, he set a hand on her shoulder. “Are you upset about Joel?” he asked, his voice gaining urgency when he realized her crying was drawing attention. “Did something happen?”

She dropped her chin to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. “C-can’t.”

Avery resisted the urge to shake her and yell that she answer him immediately. He sucked in a calming breath and peered at her name tag. “Please.
Please
, Emily. He was supposed to meet me today. It’s really important.”

Emily sniffed and glanced over her shoulder. A man who looked to be some type of authority figure was headed in their direction. “He’s dead,” she whispered unsteadily. “His roommate is another waiter here. He f-found him this morning. S-said it looked like a s-suicide. Pills.” She wailed and started crying even harder.

Oh God.
Avery’s stomach was caving in on itself. He squeezed Emily’s shoulder and thanked her before fleeing the restaurant.
Oh God. Oh God.

Had he done this? Had he pressured Joel into killing himself?

Avery couldn’t
breathe
. His thoughts raced and his feet carried him in some unknown direction. He bumped shoulders with someone and weaved until he had to grab on to a light post for balance.
Oh Jesus.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there. Vaguely, he realized people were giving him strange looks and more than one person asked if he was okay. Avery just waved them off, his head spinning.

A persistent buzz from his pocket finally brought him back to himself.

His phone. Someone was calling.

Avery ripped his cell from his pocket and answered without looking at the screen. “Hello?”

“Av?” Dylan sounded anxious. “Thank fuck. I was about to lose my mind. I’ve been calling for the last five minutes. All I can feel through the bond is chaos. What happened? Are you okay?”

“He’s dead.” Avery felt disconnected. His tone came out flat and distant.

“Who’s dead?” Dylan asked in alarm. “Avery? Talk to me.”

“Joel. Joel is dead.”

“What? How?” Dylan loosed a string of curses. “Where are you?”

Avery looked around. He didn’t recognize the area, but he was close enough to the intersection to give Dylan the cross streets.

“Stay right there,” Dylan said. “I’m coming.” Avery heard him shouting Lucas’s name before the line disconnected.