Cold Shadow (Cold Country #2)(48)

"Just a friendly Saturday afternoon pick-up game and department picnic. Happens all the time." Drew managed to shoot off a look to Natalie and she picked up her phone. "We're just hanging out. You want to join us?"

"Barbecue is on the way!" Natalie shouted over the music. She didn't notice Drew flinch at the word. "Hey, Quinn, get your guitar. Let's hear something new."

"I don't have mine with me!" he shouted back from his seat on the pavement, his long, thin hand twined with Nathan's beefy paw as if they did this every day … in public. When he looked up at Agent Morgan, Quinn's eyes were defiant, angry, almost hateful.

That's because Quinn's guitar was still in the back of Drew's SUV. They'd forgotten to unload it last night after Quinn made a stink about never going anywhere without it. "I have one in the back of my truck."

Quinn gave him a questioning look but caught the keys he threw. "It's the black one parked beside the motorcycle."

Damn, this hiding thing was not going to be easy. God, he hoped no one recognized that damned guitar case and wondered why Quinn's stuff was in his possession. If anyone would, it would be Natalie and she was already giving him peculiar looks. One exquisite eyebrow raising when Quinn came back holding his own battered acoustic instrument. But since neither Quinn nor Nathan seemed fazed, she let the brow drop, hopefully along with the topic.

"How's the nose?" he whispered a while later when he joined the three of them at one of the tables.

"Not broken," Nathan said with a grin. "Do I need to have a talk with Caz?"



       
         
       
        

"I think it's handled. Your guys read him the riot act. I'd let it go." Drew dropped into a folding chair between Nathan and Quinn ignoring the look Natalie gave him.

"I had every intention to. Quinn is still seething, though; he wanted to rearrange his face for him." Nathan reached for a bottle of beer still dripping with ice. He took a sip and held the bottle to his face.

"Still do," Quinn said quietly, lightly strumming his guitar. "And Special Agent Asshole-What the hell, Drew? Are they serious? They can't possibly think Nate had anything to do with these murders."

"They are following the profile. One of the theories is possible ex-military or law enforcement, probably PTSD-ing out of his mind. Revenge motive. Nathan, unfortunately, fits the profile. He's not looking beyond that." Drew felt his gut clutch. He didn't know Nathan as well as he wanted, but he knew without a doubt he wasn't capable of mutilation, even if he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. But the obvious headaches and his admitted trouble keeping his temper and controlling his dyslexia since the concussion worried Drew. What if there were things he was hiding even from Quinn? What if?

"So far everyone in the department has either alibied him or sat as character witness. Everyone except Caz, of course." Natalie joined the conversation, she looked pale around the eyes, her lips drawn up tight. "This is bullshit. That prick actually believes Nathan is harboring resentment about me taking over as CEO. Nathan was the one who convinced me to take the position. Dad was ready to sell our interest and just walk away. But it's ours; it should stay ours. These are our people, and if we sell out, we can't control anything. Truman Steel is staying here, not moving to China. There was nothing I could say to convince him Nathan had no interest in taking the reins. Prick."

"Let him track the cars." Nathan shrugged. "None of us have been to Georgia in the last month. Dad flew out of Nashville; Mom and Emma, out of Knoxville."

"And you and Quinn did your mysterious disappearing act about the time of the first murders." Natalie raised her eyebrow again. Drew could tell she hated not knowing what they did in their private time.

Nathan grinned and nudged Quinn's knee, nodding. Quinn, who was closer to Natalie, leaned over and whispered in her ear. Drew caught the words house, 'Nooga, sex, and naked. Natalie's face turned blood-red. "Oh! Sorry I asked. Uh, did you tell Morgan that?"

Quinn's face stretched into a grin that had Drew damn near hyperventilating. "Yeah, and I offered to set him up with a couple of the guys we met at one of the bars that night. Needless to say, he wasn't thrilled." 

"Because it corroborates Nathan's story, and because you insinuated he was gay." Drew took Nathan's beer and stole a gulp. "Where the hell can I get one of these?"

"Barrel of ice over there." Nathan took his beer back and tipped it to his lips. "Grab two and sodas for the other two." He gave Natalie a pointed look and a wink. Drew watched as Natalie went very pale, a slight flash of fear cleared her eyes quickly but it was enough for Drew to wonder what exactly Nathan might suspect where his sister was concerned.