Placed with precision was a grave of roses, complete with a headstone. Exactly as had been at the church. But this time, there was a note attached to the headstone.
How many flies need to be trapped before the time runs out?
Brett’s hands tightened on the gun he still held against his shoulder, the barrel pointing towards the sea of red. He wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and blow away the implications of what he saw, and his finger even pressed against the trigger, ready to do it, but he heard Felix’s voice telling him to take it easy and breathe, and he let the gun fall to his side.
“Fuckers are gonna die,” Nick muttered beside him.
Brett agreed, but said, “Nina, is the signal still going?”
“Yes.”
“His phone must be here then. Try not to disturb anything while searching,” he said. “And obviously keep your eyes open for any surprises.”
He wouldn’t put it past whoever was doing…whatever this was to blow them up. He thought it unlikely but not impossible. This was a game, and whoever it was seemed to be enjoying it.
“Nothing, but we haven’t checked under the roses,” Colt said, appearing at his side.
“Let’s get Fe…forensics here.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I want nothing touched until we know we can get prints or DNA or whatever from them. Felix isn’t here, and his phone will hold another game, I’m sure.”
He heard Colt on the phone, along with Nick and Jade. Nina and Eric disappeared, leaving Brett to stare at the grave. If he was honest with himself, he didn’t think Felix was dead, but that, in many ways, might be worse. As much as he wanted Felix alive and well, if hewasalive, he doubted it would be well. Those people who had him—and he was certain someone did—would undoubtedly be using Felix as a punching bag. For what reason, Brett still couldn’t figure out, but it wouldn’t be anything good.
“Team’s on the way, along with Commissioner Thomas,” Colt confirmed.
Brett nodded and finally tore his gaze away from the reminder that the man he…cared for wasn’t with them. “Good. When they get here, I want all the surrounding buildings checked as well. For all we know, they could’ve been watching us this entire time.”
Within an hour, forensics scoured the place, and his team checked through each building, finding nothing of note.
“This is far too clean,” Nick said.
Brett nodded slowly. He didn’t want to entertain the idea that was percolating in his mind. The idea that he had to admit had been there for a while. The idea that it was someone too close for comfort. Someone he couldn’t easily touch.
His stomach churned, and he swallowed back bile. If the people in his head were the ones to have anything to do with this, then there was no telling the horrors Felix could be facing.
“Boss?” Colt called him. He turned to face him. “We found Felix’s phone. You might want to see this.” His voice held barely restrained emotion.
Colt held the phone for him as he didn’t have gloves on, and Brett stared at the photo. Heat built in his stomach. Felix stared back at him, eye freshly blackened, hair messy and sweat dripping from his chin.
“When I find them…” he said. “What other photos?”
“Just one of his housemate.”
“Let me see.” Colt swiped left. “Wait.” Brett squinted. The second photo was of Felix with his housemate’s arm over his shoulder, but it was what his housemate held in his hand that caught his attention.
A red rose.
And the housemate?
Austin.
****
Brett’s hand pounded against the front door, never letting up as his fist met wood again and again. The door flung open, and he barely stopped from punching whoever it was, and then regretted stopping himself as Austin appeared, eyebrows disappearing into his hairline.
“You don’t need to break the door down,” Austin said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Brett glared at him and pushed past him into the house. “Search the entire premises,” he said to the guards and police officers following him.
“Excuse me?” Austin said, keeping up with him as he headed for the room that he knew belonged to Austin, with Dominic one step behind. “You have no right—”