“What happened about the investigation?”
Eli glanced at Daniel. “The…? Oh, you mean the man that Bo supposedly killed. He didn’t kill him. Bo burns and he could kill, but the perp didn’t die from that.”
“What happened?”
Eli was silent for a moment. “The guy broke into the shop, and despite Bo’s dad being all God-fearing, he liked the booze. So, Dad was asleep on the sofa after drinking, and the perp went around helping himself. He even had a van outside. Then he got so cocky he decided to check upstairs and walked into the bedroom the kids were in. The little ones were asleep, but Bo wasn’t, and he knew instantly that the guy wasn’t his dad. He heard two drawers open, and then just as he was debating what to do, Ruth woke up and screamed because the guy was leaning over her. The guy tried to shut her up, and Bo jumped up and grabbed his arm. Peter woke, yelling at him to leave his sister alone, which woke their dad. By this time the guy was on the floor with severe burns.”
“Not dead?”
Eli shook his head. “The dad said Bo had killed the man and buried him in the yard.”
“But he hadn’t?”
“No. The man was dead and buried all right, but Bo didn’t kill him. Forensics said it was his bashed-in skull that did the trick.”
“Bo hit him?” Daniel asked incredulously.
Eli huffed. “Of course not. It was dear old Dad. Both Peter and Ruth say Dad hit the man, but they were told to say it was Bo that killed him, and never talk about it or Bo would go to prison and they would never see him again.”
“That’s a mess.”
“Yeah,” Eli sighed. “Fifteen years was a slam dunk for child abuse, but he just got criminal conspiracy for hiding the body.”
“If he lasts that long,” Daniel remarked. “Other prisoners don’t like child abusers.”
Eli nodded absently. “Bo’s fifteen next month.”
Daniel smiled. “Yeah? You going?”
“I—” Was he? Molly had certainly asked him, and he knew Bo wanted him to. “I guess.”
“Happy Birthday, sweetheart.”
Eli was so excited he could barely stay still. He raced into the kitchen, and his mom enveloped him with her arms, and he smelled the light flower perfume she wore. Some cheap stuff that Eli loved because of who wore it. Breakfast would be pancakes, not just cereal. He had to go to school, but on Saturday Mom and Jack’s mom were taking them to the beach. And they would get hot dogs and ice cream.
And it would be perfect.
But it hadn’t happened because on Wednesday his mom had died, and he’d spent Saturday being shown what little boys were really supposed to do on their birthday.
“Have I got the right place? Huntington Gardens?”
Eli jerked back into the present and gazed up at the entrance to the tatty apartment block he and Sawyer lived in and for a second wondered why some guy was hammering boards over the ground-floor windows. Then he remembered. “Shit!”
Daniel glanced at him. “What is it?”
Eli groaned, his headache coming back with a vengeance. “I—damn—I forgot.”
“What?” Daniel asked, then pulled over and put the car in park.
“Sawyer.” Eli swallowed. “Sawyer got a call from the landlord yesterday, or his son. The old guy had a stroke. Well,” Eli rushed on. Daniel didn’t need to know all that shit. “He says the wiring basically condemns the block, and he can’t get insurance. He says if there was a fire, he could be liable. He’s closing it immediately.”
Daniel frowned. “Without warning?”
“He gave us all alternatives, but the ones we could afford won’t take enhanced.”
“That’s such bullshit,” Daniel snapped out. Then he sighed. “Insurance, right?”
Eli nodded. Basically, any owner that may have enhanced living in their property had to take out an additional damage waiver that ran into thousands of dollars. Ten years ago, the exclusion for minors had been added, then family members. But as an adult with no family you were out of luck. Even the FBI couldn’t interfere with that. One of the reasons Eli had resented Finn was the swanky apartment he had originally been housed in all on the feds’ dime. They’d even gotten another five for the project and paid to have them stand empty, the difference being it was for the regular team members, not the enhanced ones. Talon and Gael owned their places, but they still paid higher property insurance. Adam was staying at a friend’s, and he and Sawyer had shared a dump.
It was theirs though. Sawyer left him alone, and he had a safe place to sleep. He’d had considerably worse.
“Okay then.” Daniel signaled, pulled out, and did a U-turn. Eli tried to concentrate on who he could ask. Talon? No, Talon’s brother was staying, and while Talon would happily let him crash on the couch, Finn would take finding Eli somewhere to live like a personal mission. It would be exhausting.
And Gael? They both had their hands full with Derrick. It wasn’t fair to ask. He could get a motel. There were a few that wouldn’t care so long as he paid cash. “Just drop me wherever you like,” he offered. He’d manage. Wasn’t like he hadn’t done it before.
In another few minutes they were on West Hillsborough, and Eli was wondering if he should ask Daniel to take him back for his car, but that was in the opposite direction.
Eli closed his eyes. The sun was bright, and he had no idea where his sunglasses were. Where any of his stuff was. He assumed Sawyer would have it. Maybe. It was exhausting. He didn’t sleep well. He was the kind to exist on a few hours. He once got told by some doctor that his childhood had conditioned him to that. To sleeping light. Never relaxing enough to let himself go until finally his body took over and made him sleep deeply. Which always scared the shit out of him when he woke. The thought that someone might come into his room and he might not hear them had kept him awake more nights than he could remember.
Eli felt the car speed up and focused on the road. “Where we going?” He’d expected to be dropped off before they got on the highway.
“My place,” Daniel answered, his voice reasonable. Like it was no big deal. Eli stiffened. No, he couldn’t face Connie. She was cool, but she would fuss and then the lieutenant might start grilling him about the job.
“I just signed the lease on an apartment last week. It’s more or less furnished, and Jacob and my dad helped me get moved in yesterday. There’s another bedroom, and it’s quiet.” He shrugged. “All my stuff is in Washington. I haven’t arranged to get it moved down yet.”
Eli was speechless. “I can’t move into your place.”
Daniel nodded as if agreeing. “Then let’s just call it one partner looking out for another while you get yourself situated.”
Partners? Daniel said it so casually. And for a second, a tiny part of Eli wished it was true; then the bigger part of Eli that knew he would never be anyone’s partner reminded him he had one job.
And no one was going to stop him, especially not a partner who got all in your face at the same time as making you feel like someone actually gave a damn.