Chapter Seven

Andrew wanted to shoot Brett Lincoln in the back as he watched him jog away. His question went unanswered, which automatically put Lincoln on his suspect list. Of course, he could have run because of the drugs he'd tried to sell Kyler. Andrew had been a cop long enough to know someone with an agenda when he saw one, and he would bet money Lincoln was the local go-to guy for all things in powder and pill form.

A quick buck wasn't the only thing Lincoln wanted from Kyler, though. The look of lust was unmistakable. That alone made Andrew want to chase Lincoln and arrest him. Since he had a rape victim in the back of the local bar, Andrew needed to focus on that instead.

Andrew was just lucky he had been there when Kyler ran across the parking lot. If it hadn't been for the latest victim being in the back part of the building and first responders coming in and out when needed, Kendrick would have locked up, which would have left Kyler vulnerable. And since he couldn't rule out anyone, including Lincoln, vulnerable had taken on a scarier meaning in Pickleville lately.

Andrew rubbed at the center of his chest and tried to still his shaking hands. He was a fucking cop for god's sake, and a homicide detective on top of that. He'd faced more killers than he could count. He'd questioned a guy who hadn't just raped a person, he'd killed them first and then painted himself with his victim's blood, so Lincoln shouldn't have scared him, but he did because Lincoln would hurt Kyler, given half the chance.

Andrew's gut clenched with dread, and that feeling had never steered him wrong his entire life. He couldn't do anything about Lincoln. Andrew didn't have enough to make an arrest. He didn't even have enough to search his vehicle. Hell, Andrew didn't know where his vehicle was or if there would be anything in it. He had a hunch, and that wasn't exactly evidence.

When Andrew entered the bar, he found Kyler sitting with a shot glass in front of him. The glass was full of a clear liquid. Andrew noted it but didn't give a shit at the moment. Kyler may or may not be of age. What the fuck ever. He had bigger fish to fry.

Andrew slid between Kyler and the stool beside him. He was so close his chest and abdomen pressed against Kyler's side. The dirty look he got didn't make him move either. He needed physical contact.

As much as Andrew didn't want to picture it, Kyler could have been the guy in the back, with his shirt ripped and his bottom half-naked. His face beat to hell so bad, between the blood, swelling, and bruises, it was impossible to distinguish his features. He had blood on his legs. Hopefully, they'd have DNA evidence. Andrew didn't hold out hope, though.

The suspect had been careful so far.

"Are you all right?" Andrew whispered. He needed to hear it, one more time, straight from Kyler's lips.

"I'm fine. Brett's an asshole. He's also the biggest drug dealer in Pickleville. Anyway, he saw me walking and decided I was his next client. I hope you arrested him." Kyler ran a finger along the rim of the shot glass.

"I didn't have probable cause." Andrew winced even before he said the next part. "Since it's your word against his, I couldn't search him."

"Well, I'm not a liar or into drugs, if that's what you think. And I told him that, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. I ran here. Figured the bar might still be open."

"I don't think that of you." God. Andrew's lungs burned with the need to breathe. He closed his eyes and took in air, letting it out slowly. "Why were you walking through town so late at night, carino?"

Kyler lifted his shoulders and hunched in on himself. "Had a bad night."

Andrew couldn't stop himself from running his hand across Kyler's shoulders and pulling him into an embrace. And he certainly couldn't stop the kiss he placed on Kyler's temple. "I'm sorry to hear that. Drinking that isn't a cure."

Kyler straightened enough to grab for the wallet in his back pocket. It was on his right side, so Andrew didn't have to move away to give him room. When Kyler flipped the first flap and sat there with his licenses in Andrew's face, Andrew didn't bother looking at it. "I didn't mean it that way."

Kyler shrugged. "It's the real thing, chief. I turned twenty-one last month."

Andrew winced and didn't know why. Perhaps it had something to do with missing Kyler's birthday. "I'm sorry I missed it. Happy birthday, carino."

Kyler shook his head. "You missed a lot of things. Like the lesson on treating someone with respect and not a piece of ass and how to call."

Andrew sighed. "I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"Yeah? Well, you did. And since I'm just a piece of ass, you don't get to tell me what I can and can't drink because I'm legal now." When Kyler stood, Andrew's hand slid away, and the panic deepened.

Kyler smiled at Kendrick and slid a ten-dollar bill across the bar top. "Sorry I dirtied the glass and wasted the liquor."

When he turned for the door, Andrew grabbed his arm.

Kyler eyed his touch as if it made him filthy before meeting his gaze. "Let me go."

"I'll give you a ride."

Kyler bit his lip as if contemplating his options, and he did have them. Going home alone just wasn't a good one. He must have known it because he nodded.

Andrew sighed in relief. "I need to finish things up here. My car's in the back, but I'll pull it around front. Wait inside until I come back and get you. Please."

Kyler nodded again and sat back down. "Fine."

"Thank you, carino." Andrew kissed him on the cheek and went around the bar into the back. He heard Kyler let out a loud sigh. "God, I want to hate that idiot."

Kendrick chuckled. "Yeah, I think he knows—"

Each step down the hallway took him farther away from the conversation until he couldn't eavesdrop any longer. He would have liked to know what else was said.

Kyler was right. Andrew was an idiot.

Andrew told Olivia about Brett Lincoln and Kyler. He wanted her thoughts.

She'd lived in Pickleville her whole life, and with that came a lot of knowledge about the citizens, Brett included. Even gossip would help some because it might hold a bit of truth. They certainly couldn't rule anything out.

They stood back, whispering to each other as the paramedics worked on the victim. He wasn't stable for reasons Andrew didn't fully understand. Andrew figured he had some sort of trauma to his brain. A concussion maybe. Or the bruise on his chest had caused some type of internal injury. He looked as if someone had kicked him. The bruising was already dark enough that Andrew suspected steel-toed boots.

Olivia nodded. "Yeah, he's always been bad news. He has a record, but it's all juvenile. He's only nineteen. Hasn't had enough time to get charged for anything as an adult. Chief…well, the old chief, can tell you way more. He arrested Lincoln more than once. Mostly for drugs, but I know he's had assault charges as well."

The paramedics lifted the victim onto the gurney. The kid was in and out of consciousness, and he still had enough of the drug in his system that he wasn't aware of a lot. His long dark hair lay around his head all tangled, and just the sight made Andrew's stomach clench again.

The only difference between the other rapes and the victim on the gurney was gender. He would bet money the drug was the same. They'd find out for sure, but Andrew would work with the assumption until the report came.

"You think he's good for this?"

Olivia nodded. "Do you remember that domestic out at the trailer park on Bainbridge Road?"

"Si." He remembered because the perpetrator had beaten the woman more than once and probably abused her in other ways as well. She had that look on her face that some abuse victims got when they waded through hell for years at a time and walked the edge of giving up. She'd endured a lot, and the learned helplessness had lain on her shoulders like weights.

"The victim was Lincoln's mother. The guy we arrested is his stepfather." That little enlightenment clued Andrew in. It also made him grateful for his mother, who wouldn't ever take abuse like that from anyone, love interest or not.

"Guess it runs in the family."

"Yes, because Joan's first husband, Brett's father, beat the shit out of her up the day he died."

"Which was how?"

"Suicide." Olivia shuttered. "I looked up the report on that the last time the old chief arrest Brett."

"How long ago was it?"

"I remember the gossip at school. I think I was in ninth grade. Maybe tenth. So Brett had to be in late elementary or early middle school. It was the talk of the town at the time, not that many liked Brett's father. He was a drunk. Hung out with Flynn's old man, and I'm sure you've heard about him."

Andrew knew enough about Brad Flynn to know that his old man was a piece of shit who had needed to go to jail a long time ago. The system had failed the Flynn brothers, which was why Andrew gave Brad a break and didn't bust his balls every chance he got even though he wanted to for hurting Jaron. Andrew was pretty sure Brad was the only reason the old man stayed on his ten acres and didn't cause trouble, not even with the Flynn brothers. Whatever Brad did or said made Andrew's job a hell of a lot easier. So yeah, he'd stay out of Brad Flynn's way for more than just the remorseful scene at Brian's cookout thing.

Andrew just nodded and listened.

"Well, old man Lincoln put a gun in his mouth."

"But you don't think it's suicide?"

"Nope. I think Brett or Dominic did it, not that I blame them." Olivia gestured to the victim, who was being led out the back door by the paramedics. "Well, the old man beat on Joan not ten minutes before he pulled the trigger. Seems kinda weird for someone to go from whatever rage it takes to hit someone you're supposed to love to the utter despair it takes to pull the trigger. And he wasn't drunk or high. It's all in the police report. But it just seems to me, knowing the Lincoln boys' reputation around town that one of them had enough of the physical abuse and put a stop to it."

Andrew nodded. "But the step-father took over where the father left off?"

"Seems so. He's as much of an asshole for sure."

"Do you think the mother would talk to us?"

Olivia shrugged. "No. If she does, Foley's the best bet. He's been an officer the longest, and people trust him."

"We'll find and interview Lincoln."

Olivia nodded. "Foley and I can bring him in."

"Any excuse to search his truck for drugs."

"Maybe we can trump up a traffic stop or something."

"That works." Andrew could kick himself for not arresting him when he had the chance.

"You need to have a conversation with your guy. Make sure he's not alone ever."

"He's not mine."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Whatever. That's not the point. Kyler fits the victim profile."

"I know."

Andrew pulled his car around the front, parking as close to the door of the bar as he could get. Leaving it running, he went inside.

Kyler slid off the stool when he saw Andrew, waving to Kendrick.

Kendrick looked conflicted as if he didn't want to be alone, but he couldn't stand the company either. "You want me to drop you off. Or you can use the spare room upstairs. Up to you, vato."

Kendrick put down the towel. "If you could just see me to my car. That would be enough. Thank you."

Andrew moved aside when Kyler stood in front of him. "You can wait for me in the car, carino."

Kyler nodded and slid passed him. He kept his hands in his pockets, and his cute scowl firmly in place.

Kendrick did a few things with the register behind the counter, including grabbing a bank bag and filling it with the cash from the drawer. He grabbed his keys from somewhere under the counter and made his way around. "This was the last thing I had to do before I-I found him."

Andrew hoped his smile was reassuring. "I'll catch the bastard."

"I know. I just…wish it hadn't happened to that poor guy." Kendrick met his gaze as Andrew led him outside. There was something fragile about Kendrick that made Andrew's protective instincts kick up about a thousand notches. He'd researched Kendrick, using the system and found a report for domestic violence from a few years ago. It had happened at some point before he came to Pickleville, so Andrew didn't worry that it was still happening.

Andrew let Kendrick lock up and then walked him to his car. "Let me know if you need an escort from now on."

He could feel Kyler followed them with his eyes the entire time.

Kendrick pressed a button on his key fob and opened the door. "You'd do that?"

"Sure. Whatever makes you feel safe, vato."

Kendrick hugging Andrew came as a surprise. He'd never touched Andrew before and had always seemed standoffish where that was concerned. Andrew hugged him back but kept his touch light so he wouldn't scare the poor man. "Thank you."

Kendrick let him go and got in his car. When he started it and put it in gear, Andrew made his way to his car and Kyler, who slumped in the passenger's seat with his arms folded in front of his chest and a pissed off expression on his face.

"Don't hurt Kendrick. He's vulnerable." Kyler spit the words out like venom as soon as Andrew sat down in the driver's seat.

"I'm a cop. I don't make a habit of hurting anyone."

Andrew knew the second Kyler shook his head. "Being a cop didn't stop you from hurting me."

Andrew put the car in gear even as realization dawned. "Kendrick and I have no interest in each other outside friendship."

"Whatever. It's none of my business. I'm just saying that Kendrick is different, so you can't just fuck him and then leave." Kyler didn't have to say the way you did me. That came through loud and clear, anyway.

"I offered Kendrick an escort to and from work. He doesn't feel safe. He hugged me when I made the offer. It was completely platonic, carino." Hell, Andrew didn't want anyone but Kyler. And wasn't that a hell of a thing to realize in the middle of the damned night after wrapping up one of the worst scenes Andrew had ever had.

The silence stretched for long enough that Andrew thought they would go the entire distance without a word, however short. He racked his brain for something to say, but nothing came to mind besides an apology that he knew wouldn't make a difference and was wholly inadequate.

"You're still an asshole."

Andrew sighed. "I know."

Kyler's gaze snapped to him. He could feel the stare burn into him. "I'm not a slut, Andrew."

"Okay."

"That's how you made me feel. Do you get that?"

"I'm sorry, carino."

"I don't give a shit if you think that makes me look like a na?ve kid. Or a small-town country bumpkin or whatever."

Andrew pulled into Kyler's driveway and shut off the engine. He turned in the seat, facing Kyler. "I don't think any of that."

Kyler huffed. "Right."

"I don't."

"Even I think I'm ridiculous." Kyler averted his gaze out the side window. "I've never done that before. At least not as an adult. In high school, it was just experimental kid's shit. And I…I can't just fuck and move on. I'm not wired that way. I connect. I guess it's na?ve of me to think sex means something to everyone."

Andrew wanted to take Kyler's hand, to touch him in some small way, but he didn't think it was welcome, so he kept his hands to himself. "No, carino. It's not na?ve to think that. Maybe it's ridiculous for me to be married to my job. I always was in the city. That's why I've never had a relationship."

Kyler turned and met his gaze. He studied Andrew as if moving what he said around in his mind, digesting every word until he understood every possible meaning. "Are you a workaholic still?"

Andrew wanted to lie and say he wasn't. Kyler might let up a bit if he did. He told the truth. "I came here thinking I wouldn't have to be but this case. It puts me in the same place I was before."

Kyler turned back to the darkness outside. "That's gotta be lonely."

"Si." Andrew ached for Kyler. It lived in his chest, making his heart hurt.

"I understand." Kyler gripped the door handle, and he turned to, smiling at Andrew. "Thank you for the ride, chief. And for saving me earlier."

Andrew sucked in a breath. Something in him panicked. The irrational part of his brain latched onto one thing, and that was, if Kyler left the car, Andrew would lose him forever.

Andrew grabbed his arm, holding him in place as best as he could. "Please stay a little longer."

"I have to work in the morning. And I don't think that's a good idea."

Andrew let him go because short of creating a hostage situation, he couldn't make Kyler do anything he didn't want even if Andrew was sure he'd break in half the second Kyler stopped filling the space beside him.

"Tell me one more thing, and I'll let you go."

Kyler smiled. "What?"

"What caused your bad night?"

Kyler chuckled. "You would ask that. You have a knack for making me confess things I shouldn't. Since I'm on a roll, I had a dream about my mom. She died when I was almost ten years old. It felt real. She felt real, and I remembered things I had forgotten. Little things. Like how her perfume smelled. And what her hair looked like before the chemo made it all fall out."

"I'm sorry, carino."

"I feel like I'll miss her for the rest of my life. That's gotten worse, not better. I'd give anything to bake cookies with her again or watch our favorite television show."

"My mother and I cook together too," Andrew smiled.

Kyler smiled. "My mom always said I was good with my hands and that's why I was useful in the kitchen."

Andrew had to agree with the good with his hands thing. "What about your dad?"

"What about him?" Kyler let go of the door handle, which Andrew saw as a small victory.

"Does he miss your mom too?"

"No idea. Never met the guy. The only family I have left is my aunt, and she doesn't want shit to do with me. Story of my fucking life. Royce is the closest thing to a dad as I'll ever get." Kyler sighed. "Anyway, any more questions?"

Andrew shook his head. He wanted to ask a thousand just to keep him there, but he could see the fatigue setting in and didn't want to keep him up any longer than necessary.

Kyler opened the door and was out in seconds. The cold from the open-door enveloped Andrew a second before the door closed. Andrew watched as Kyler dug his keys out of his pocket and opened his front door. He waved before entering, probably expecting Andrew to back out of the driveway and go home.

Andrew didn't. He stayed right where he was. He would continue to stay put until he knew Kyler wasn't in danger.