*
Flying was not his favorite way to travel. Luke's stomach bounced along with the tires of the small plane as Marc touched down in Boston. Trying to still his quivering stomach, he alighted from the aircraft, hoping his face was not as green as he felt. Jack had arranged the meeting and Tim surprised them when he suggested they meet at his house. Patrick drove the rental car into the suburbs of Boston, easily navigating the rush-hour traffic.
Arriving at a two-story, brick Colonial in an upscale, older neighborhood with stately trees in each yard, they stepped up to the bright red front door.
It swung open by a small child whose grin peeked up at them in curiosity. "Hi!" she squeaked. "Are you here for my daddy?"
Patrick, at ease with small children, immediately squatted down to be on her level. "We're here to see Tim Kelly. Is that your dad?"
Her smile widened, but before she could answer, a man stepped into view, his smile matching his daughter's. "Gentlemen, come in, come in. I'm Tim and this tyke is Sarah."
Luke noted the tasteful, expensive furniture and decorations as they made their way into the living room. He had investigated Tim and knew that he had secured a job with a large corporation after graduating from MIT and Tim's salary easily afforded him the luxuries Luke was eyeing.
A stately brunette walked into the living room, greeting the Saints, and was introduced as Lisa, Tim's wife. She brought glasses of iced tea on a tray with cookies and set it on the coffee table. Smiling her goodbye, she shooed the little girl out of the room after reminding Tim that they were off to pick up the boys from soccer.
Luke watched as Tim's eyes followed his wife until she was out of sight. Giving himself a mental shake, he brought his mind back to the matter at hand.
"So," Tim began, taking a sip and then setting his glass down again. "I understand you want to talk about Eli Frederick." He smiled and said, "I haven't heard from Eli in a long time."
Luke's gaze shot up quickly to Tim before darting to Marc and Patrick. Clearing his throat, he said, "Um … Mr. Kelly, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but we're investigating his … his murder."
At those words, Tim's eyes bugged, his Adam's apple moving up and down quickly as he choked on the cookie he had taken a bite from. "Murdered? What … I mean … I … what?"
"We assumed the FBI had informed you … but then … have you not been interviewed by the FBI?"
"FBI? No, why would I?" His friendly smile was now replaced with one of shock and irritation. "What's going on?"
"Eli Frederick had been missing for about five months and last month his body was found. The FBI is investigating but has asked us to assist in gathering background information on him." The partial truth slipped easily from Luke's lips as he watched Tim's reaction.
Tim sat silent, blinking rapidly several times. "I … I had no idea," he finally said, after a long minute of silence. Dropping his chin to his chest, he looked at his hands, now clasped in his lap. Sighing heavily, he said, "Jesus, Eli … hell, man."
Giving Tim a moment to grapple with the news, Marc asked, "What can you tell us about him?"
Leaning back, Tim gave a rueful grin. "Honestly, Eli and I haven't been in contact much since graduating five years ago. We shared occasional emails and the requisite holiday card, but," throwing his hands up slightly, "he was always an odd bird."
"Odd?" Luke prodded.
"You know the image that the outside world has of engineers? That we have no social skills, only knowing machines but not people? Well, that stereotype fit Eli to a T."
Luke appreciated what Tim was referring to. He felt at times as though he understood computers better than people but, because he was athletic, he forced himself away from his computers and interacted with others. And, working for the CIA and then the Saints, certainly got me out of the house and around people. He wondered, not for the first time, if he had stayed at home and worked free-lance for himself, if he would have been like Eli. Tim's reminiscing cut into Luke's thoughts, and he had to take a moment to catch up on what Tim was saying.
"We met sophomore year when we had a group project to work on. Everyone in the class quickly formed groups and there were just a handful of us losers who didn't know anyone else, so we got together." Chuckling, he added, "Turned out to be the best thing ever."