Gilded Craving: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 3) Read online

  "It's just a theory at this point. The investigation is ongoing." Logan sat back in his chair, his gaze intent on Ryan. "May I ask what you thought happened to him?"

  "You can but I'm not sure that I have a simple answer. For a long time after Brad's disappearance we all had various theories. A few even thought that he might have been trying to fake his own death and start a new life. He'd actually talked about that once but I'm sure he was just bullshitting like we always did. He wasn't going to walk away from family and friends. He was - in current terms - living his best life, if you know what I mean. The guy was having a ball and with his family's connections his future was golden. I can't imagine that he'd want to throw all that away. No, I always assumed that he'd trusted the wrong person and got himself hurt. As wild as Brad was, he was always a little naive and trusting. He'd lived a sheltered life to a certain extent."

  "As did you, I would imagine."

  Ryan had always assumed that Logan, Jason, and Jared knew all about his family. They'd never said anything out loud but they knew how often a suspect ordered pizza and what Netflix shows they liked to watch. It wasn't a far stretch to assume that they also knew that Ryan came from big family money and had grown up privileged and wealthy.

  "You could say that I did," Ryan conceded. "Not from choice, though."

  "So what do you think about this?"

  "I'm not sure what you're asking," Ryan admitted. "I think that it's going to be difficult to find out what really happened to Brad after all of these years if that's what you mean."

  "It is going to be difficult which is why the Harrington family has requested that you work on the case. They want to know for sure what happened to their son that night, and if foul play was involved, who did it."

  Charles "Skip" Harrington and his wife Lily were asking for him? How did they even know where he worked?

  Of course...Ryan's parents. They were close friends with Skip and Lily. They had been even before Ryan and Brad were born.

  "I doubt the Chicago police want me nosing around their case," Ryan said, trying to stall while his brain whirled with this new information. He needed time to digest all of this before he responded to any requests. "We don't even know if there is case to be investigated. According to this file that you gave me, the cause of death is still pending. It might have been an accident."

  Logan nodded in agreement. "And if it is the parents still want to know how it happened. If it's not...they want to know who is responsible and have them brought to justice. Apparently, the family has a theory about a serial killer that was operating in Chicago at the time kidnapping college kids, murdering them, and then dumping the bodies. He was never caught. They've always felt that their son was one of his victims but the police didn't think there was enough evidence to tie it together with the other cases. As for the cops, I don't think they have any say in this. The Harrington family is well-connected, as you know, and they want a private firm brought in to assist."

  "Our firm?"

  "Yes, and you specifically. I have to say I think that they're right. You're the perfect person for the job. You already know the people involved in the case and you have their trust and confidence. I could send someone else but I don't think that they'll be able to do the job as quickly as you could."

  "It's...but my family..."

  "I also think that you might want to know what happened to your friend all those years ago," Logan said as if Ryan hadn't just spoken.

  "I do want to know," he admitted. "But it's not a simple thing."

  "Spending time with your family?"

  "We don't have the best relationship. They don't approve of what I do or the life that I'm leading. They want me to join the family business."

  "Parents can be that way." Logan turned to his laptop and tapped on the keys. "I can only guess as to your relationship with your family so I'm going to leave it up to you. If you want to do it, I'll send you out right away and then Luke can join you to help when we free him up here. If you don't want to go, I understand. We'll assign someone else. If I give you the night to think it over, can you give me your answer first thing in the morning?"

  "I can."

  He'd know what he wanted to do by then, right? All of his instincts were telling him to run far away from this case, but there was a part deep inside that wanted answers. Logan was right about one thing. Ryan already knew Brad's friends and family. He knew Brad. That was a huge advantage that another investigator wouldn't have.

  If only he could do the job without having to go home.

  Mariah took a sip of whiskey, letting the burn go all the way to her belly. She and her best friend Liza had just toasted an old friend who had died. Actually, he'd died many years ago when they were all in college but they hadn't found out for sure until today. His body had been found when they'd torn down an old building next to one of the bars they'd all frequented at the time.

  "Brad was a good guy," Liza said with a sad sigh. "At least now his parents will know what happened to him. It has to have been terrible all these years left wondering what happened to their son."

  "I can't even imagine it," Mariah replied with a shake of her head. So many memories of happier times were running through her mind. They'd all been so young and carefree back then. It was a lifetime ago. "I hope this gives them some sort of peace."

  Liza picked up her cell phone from the coffee table between them. They were drinking mid-afternoon in Mariah's apartment after having lunch together downtown. "Maybe I should call Ryan and tell him the news."

  Mariah inwardly flinched but hoped her expression gave nothing away. She hadn't seen Ryan Beck in years, the last time at Liza's wedding five years ago.

  "I'm sure he's going to come for Mom's birthday party. I told him he didn't have any excuse and that he'd better be there."

  Mariah didn't even try to fool herself that it would be easy to see him. Sadly, they'd gone in different directions as they'd grown up mostly because he wouldn't compromise one iota. Ryan Beck was a stubborn jackass but he'd also been more than a boyfriend at one time. He'd been her best friend. Even now, she keenly felt his loss in her life. He was a man that was difficult to get over.

  "I assumed he'd be there," Mariah replied, taking another sip of whiskey. "You should call him. He'd want to know about Brad."

  "They weren't the best of friends at the end. Didn't he punch Brad in the nose when he got too close to you?"

  At a party. The whole group had been there.

  "I handled Brad on my own. I didn’t need Ryan to fight my battles for me.”

  Even though he’d wanted to punch Brad. A whole bunch.

  "He loved you a lot back then. You loved him too."

  "Where are you going with this?" Mariah asked with a heavy sigh. "Because your brother and I broke up a long time ago and we're not going to get back together. Give up on that fantasy."

  Liza made a face and then took a drink from her highball glass. "They say a first love never dies."

  Mariah didn't want to believe that.

  "They also say that a first love is just a rehearsal, a practice run for the real thing. I loved Ryan but we were both kids then. I hope that I'm grown up enough to realize that love isn't always enough."

  Liza nodded sympathetically. "He's my brother and I love him but he can be a piece of work. All of his talk about not wanting to live like Mom and Dad or be like them. He wanted to make a name for himself on his own and all that jazz. I get it and all but you're right. He's so fucking militant about it. It gets on my nerves."

  "He has a point, though," Mariah said. "He wants to be his own man and I respect that."

  Liza's smile widened. "I think that maybe you have the patience for him after all."

  "I said I respect it, not that I want a daily dose of it."

  Liza laughed at Mariah's statement. "You have to admit that my brother won the gene pool lottery. He's still handsome as hell."

  Ryan Beck had been completely and totally gorgeous when she'd know
n him. And he didn't care about his looks at all. She assumed he was still the same way.

  "I wouldn't know. I haven't seen him in years, remember?"

  Liza held up her phone. "I can show you a photo. I have one I took at Christmas."

  Mariah thought it better to ignore the offer. She wanted to see it but it probably wouldn't be a good idea. With the news about Brad today, she'd already be thinking about the past far too much.

  "I feel like we should do something," Mariah said, emptying her whiskey glass. She wanted another, to be honest. "But I don't know what."

  Normally when someone died she'd send flowers to the funeral, but she didn't have any idea what the Harringtons were going to do. They'd never had a memorial service when Brad disappeared because they'd always held out hope that he would be found alive.

  "That's how situations like this make you feel. Helpless."

  Mariah didn't like that feeling one bit. She'd always prided herself on having control of her life. Was she simply fooling herself? Maybe no one had any control. Brad hadn't that night so long ago.

  They'd all been together that evening, laughing and having fun. Then...something had happened. Something awful.

  Funny how a person can think that they left their past far behind them, but the universe always had other plans. She'd be thinking about Brad and Ryan today. She'd be thinking about the girl she once was.

  And what might have been. That was the most painful part of all.

  3

  Ryan went to lunch with the other guys on the taskforce - Luke, Chris Marks, and Knox Owens. As usual, they'd ended up at their favorite sports bar. The food was good, the prices reasonable, and the service friendly. The atmosphere was generally loud and boisterous with darts, pool tables, and about a dozen television screens all around the restaurant. No one was going to overhear them talk about a grisly murder or a bloody crime scene.

  He ordered a greasy cheeseburger, extra crispy fries, and a soda. He'd work it off in the gym tomorrow morning, but in truth, he'd been born lucky with a fast metabolism. He could indulge now and then and today he didn't want grilled salmon with a side of broccoli. He'd only ever met one other person who could burn off their food faster than he could.

  Mariah.

  Nope. He wasn't going to do this. He had more important topics to think about. He had a decision to make.

  Knox elbowed Ryan. "So what did Logan call you into his office about? Is it a new case?"

  Three sets of curious eyes were looking at Ryan, waiting for his answer. What the hell...he might as well tell them. They'd find out eventually.

  "It is," he confirmed, weighing his words carefully. He'd grown incredibly close to these three guys in the last year. Perhaps it was time to reveal a little more about himself. The men weren't the type to judge him. "When I was in college, a friend of mine disappeared and was never found. We assumed that he'd died but of course we didn't know anything for sure. Turns out his body was found in a construction site in Chicago a few days ago. His family wants me to look into the circumstances of his death and disappearance."

  Luke's brows rose. "So when do you fly out?"

  "That's the thing. I'm not sure that I want the assignment. I'm supposed to think it over tonight and let Logan know tomorrow."

  There was silence as if they were mulling over his answer. It was unusual for any of them to get to decide what they worked on. If they were assigned, they were assigned.

  "Is there a reason that you wouldn't work on this?" Chris finally asked, glancing around the table. "It sounds right up our team’s alley."

  Now was the time. Bite the bullet and just do it.

  "I've never really talked about my family much but we don't really get along. They didn't want me to become a cop. They wanted me to go into the family business."

  "What is the family business?" Knox asked.

  "Investments. Hedge funds. Real estate. Wall Street, basically."

  Luke stroked his chin. "Sounds...lucrative."

  "It is," Ryan sighed. "I don't really like talking about my family, to be honest. I'm close to my sister but my parents think I'm a failure and that they raised me wrong."

  "So they have money?" Knox queried. "They're rich?"

  "Old money. The kind that has passed through generations," Ryan confirmed. "And I'm the son that broke the tradition. You can imagine how popular that makes me at Thanksgiving."

  Luke whistled and shook his head. "I can see where that might ruffle a few feathers. We all had figured out that you had some tension with your folks, and we weren't going to pry in your personal business. I can understand how this case might be awkward for you."

  "So that means you're rich," Knox said with a chuckle. "Did you think we'd stick you with the dinner check every time if we knew?"

  "No, but it's a weird topic," Ryan admitted. "Some people are very put off by it. I don't live in a mansion or anything. I'm just like everybody else."

  His friends exchanged glances, smiles playing on their lips.

  "Not quite like everybody," Chris piped up, a grin spreading across his face. "That truck you drive is a limited edition with every bell and whistle that the dealership offers. It probably cost what my condo did."

  "It's just a truck," Ryan protested, shaking his head. "It's utilitarian."

  Knox pointed to Ryan's shoes. "And those? They cost at least a month's salary, and don't argue with me about it. I know my boots and shoes. I worked in a men's clothing department while I was in school. Let's face it, friend. We've all noticed that you have expensive shit but we weren't going to say anything about it."

  His mouth open, Ryan didn't know what to say. They'd noticed?

  "Why didn't you say anything?"

  "Because it was none of our business," Chris replied quietly. "It still isn't. But yes, we noticed that you had a little extra cash here and there for clothes and trips and such. We wouldn't be very good investigators if we hadn't noticed, now would we?"

  "Were you ever tempted to check out my finances?" Ryan asked.

  He had to know the truth.

  "No," Luke said firmly. "It was your damn business. I always assumed that eventually you might say something if the subject came up but frankly, the last thing I want to talk about is someone else's money. I was brought up to never mention it and I plan to stick to that."

  The other guys nodded in agreement. Here Ryan had thought he was fooling everyone, but apparently he wasn't as average as he'd thought he was.

  "I'm just like everyone else," he said again. "I'm not any different."

  "Sure, you're one of the guys," Luke agreed, slapping Ryan on the back. "Nobody thinks of you any differently. Now tell us about this case because if you don't want to do it, I might want to."

  "Me too," Chris said.

  "I have to agree," Knox replied as well. "It sounds interesting."

  Over their meal Ryan filled them in on what he knew, which wasn't much. They didn't even have a cause of death yet.

  "So he walked into a bar and never came out?" Knox said as they finished up their meals. "And no one ever heard from him again?"

  "No one," Ryan confirmed. "He was supposed to meet us at the airport the next day to catch a flight for Hawaii but he never showed. He didn't answer our calls and when we got back, we found out that no one had seen him since that night at the bar."

  "His parents didn't call the police or anything?" Chris asked.

  "Eventually they did when we all got back from our trip. They thought he was with us. They'd assumed that he'd gotten up early and taken a cab to the airport, which could have been the case. We didn't have any proof that he didn't go home after the bar closed down, and we didn't have any proof that he didn't go to the airport. We only know that he didn't make it to the flight. Or any of the later ones."

  "Except that now he's been found in the lot next to the bar," Luke said. "So one could conclude that he never left that night."

  "It's a reasonable assumption," Ryan agreed. "But there are
still unanswered questions. If it was an accident, how did it happen? If it wasn't an accident...well...that's a whole Pandora's Box, isn't it? Who did it and why?"

  Chris shook his head. "And you're telling us that you're not even remotely curious as to the answers? This was your friend and you don't want to know what happened to him all those years ago?"

  It wasn't that simple.

  "He was my friend but we had a complicated relationship."

  Knox's brows pinched together. "So you don't want to know?"

  "I do want to know. I just don't want what comes with this investigation."

  "Your family," Luke guessed. "You think they'll take the opportunity to give you a hard time?"

  "Every chance they get. I don't think they will, I know they will."

  Knox had a strange look on his face, one that Ryan had never seen before.

  "You look like you have something to say."

  His friend shrugged. "Not really. Except to say that I've been a disappointment to my family all my life and that wouldn't keep me from finding out what happened to an old friend. My family has their opinions about my life and I have mine."

  "And you don't care what they think?"

  "Not particularly," Knox said with a smile. "They couldn't convince me when I was just a kid that I was a loser, so now that I'm a grown man I doubt that anything they say is going to sway me. I'm not that weak in my convictions."

  "I'm not either."

  "Okay, I was just making an observation."

  Knox was always doing shit like this. Raising a question, getting everyone all riled up, and then stepping back like it was no big deal.

  The thing was...no one was riled up but Ryan which meant that Knox had hit a nerve.

  Am I weak in my convictions? Is that why I won't go back? Because I could be talked out of the decisions I've made?

  Fuck no. I just don't want to go because my parents are a pain in the ass.

  "Your observations suck," Ryan replied bluntly. "Keep them to yourself."