the typing.
“Not enough coffee this mornin’?”
Her head lifted slowly, eyes coming to rest on him. The expression on her face was one of embarrassment, as though she hadn’t realized he was there.
“When did you get here?” It was a curious inquiry, telling him she hadn’t.
“Long enough to know you’re havin’ a crappy mornin’.”
Her gaze cut to Baz’s desk.
“Problem with the new guy?”
JJ shot him a glare, then turned away.
Smiling to himself, Brantley shifted his focus back to his computer, recalled the conversation he was supposed to have with Reese about Trey. He knew better than to take JJ’s suggestion to hire Cyrus as a potential opportunity. He wasn’t willing to put Reese in that predicament. He knew there was some animosity on Reese’s part thanks in no small part to Brantley’s history with the guy.
Turning in his chair, he glanced up at the enormous whiteboard, noticed it had been cleaned recently, the glass front glimmering in the overhead lights.
Cases.
There should be cases on that board.
His attention shifted to the rest of the blank wall.
“I want more whiteboards in here,” he decided.
JJ looked up again. “For?”
“I want them used to outline the cases we’re workin’ on.”
“Right now, we’re not workin’ on any,” she answered. “Except what Baz is diggin’ into.”
“That’s the problem. There should be at least three active cold cases runnin’ at all times.”
“Three?” JJ looked at him like he’d lost his damn mind. “How are we supposed to handle three with only four of us workin’? Even if you hire two more, at best, we might be able to handle two, although not if you want us to actually resolve the damn things.”
The door opened behind him, so Brantley peered over. Reese and Baz strolled in together, each carrying a cup of coffee, while Tesha trotted along at their feet.
“We’re hirin’,” he announced.
“I already told you,” JJ said with a huff. “Bring on Trey and Cyrus.”
“No to Cyrus.” He wasn’t willing to deal with the drama there. “But we’ll talk about Trey. If everyone’s in agreement, I’ll talk to him. And I was thinkin’ about the structure. Three team leaders. Baz, you’re one. I want two more and each to have a team of two. And JJ, I want you to hire someone to assist you here in the barn. A data cruncher. Maybe two.”
“Are those one and the same?” JJ asked. “The data cruncher and someone to assist me?”
“Depends on who you find. Up to you.”
JJ nodded.
“Wow. Someone’s brain kicked into high gear this mornin’,” Baz said with a grin. “You want an ad in the paper?”
“No.” Brantley peered back at the whiteboard. “But I expect those boards to never be empty. We should always be workin’ on a case. They ain’t gonna solve themselves.”
“I’ve got a list of things to do,” JJ stated. “I’ll give you an update at the end of the day.”
“Sounds to me like this is gettin’ real,” Baz noted, his expression sobered. “I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Brantley met his gaze. “Likewise. Now let’s get to it.”
***
Reese wouldn’t say he was necessarily surprised by Brantley’s abrupt decision to get things moving.
The truth was, he’d been expecting it. It had felt to him like Brantley was wading through deep water, attempting to get a feel for what was going on around him, fearful of stepping off the ledge or onto something that might blow back at him. Likely, in part, due to the PTSD he suffered after the explosion that had ended his career as a SEAL and very nearly ended his existence.
“Let’s talk,” Brantley suggested, motioning toward the door.
Reese led the way, stepping out into the brisk fall morning, holding the door for Brantley and Tesha. “Could probably close in a portion of all that square footage for a conference room,” he suggested.
Brantley glanced behind him before joining Reese outside. “Good idea. You wanna hire someone or tackle it ourselves?”
Reese remembered how they’d built the staircase leading up to the loft. It had been during a dark point in their relationship, but they’d managed to get through it. And even when they didn’t see eye to eye on the personal front, they’d worked well together.
“I’m up for it, but we’ll need to handle it after hours. If you want us workin’ cases, we have to do our part.”
“Good point. I’m sure we can get it done in a few weeks.”
Reese didn’t bother to mention Brantley hated things to be in a state of chaos. How the man intended to work in