Mission: Without a Trace - Nicole Edwards Page 0,80
with. The approval in Brantley’s tone, the need he could sense. Sure, this was physical, but there was more to it.
Reese stroked him faster, releasing his hold on Brantley’s neck, trying to pull back just a little.
“Don’t stop,” Brantley pleaded.
“Never.”
Reese dropped his other hand, let it join in on the action, stroking him firmly as Brantley’s gaze dropped down.
“Close,” Brantley warned.
Reese didn’t hesitate, he went to his knees, never slowing his hands, gripping firmly as he jerked Brantley’s cock, eager to send him over the edge.
When he peered up, he saw the heat flash in those beautiful blue eyes. And when he leaned in, taking Brantley’s cock in his mouth, the erotic cry that escaped the man was nearly enough to have him coming in his jeans.
“Oh, fuck. Reese…” Brantley’s hips jerked forward, his cock pulsing as he came.
Reese sucked him hard, drank him down, loving the contented sigh that came next.
Before he could stand, Brantley was helping him to his feet, pulling him up with one powerful hand. The kiss that followed was explosive, had Reese wishing they had more time so they could move this to a horizontal surface. Unfortunately, he knew there was work to do, but later … later, they would have time for more.
So very much more.
Chapter Sixteen
By the time Thursday rolled around, Brantley was beginning to get discouraged.
Not that he would stop pursuing every possible lead they could uncover, but it appeared William Dugan had disappeared the same way Corinne Greenwood had. There was no doubt in his mind that Dugan had her. The question was, where were they? And what the hell were his plans for her? Was she still alive? Or did he discard her in an effort to cover up the fact he’d kidnapped Lauren Tyler?
It was the only thing that made sense.
The four of them had practically camped out in the barn for the past couple of days, bouncing off ideas, utilizing Baz’s contacts with the police department and JJ’s hacking abilities in an effort to track him down. Unfortunately, they hadn’t gotten anything except for finally a warrant to search William Dugan’s last known address.
Now as Brantley pulled up at the two-story red-brick house, he could only stare, hoping they would find something inside that would lead them to Corinne. They knew from their previous visit that the house was empty, but Baz had convinced them it would be worth a thorough search. Considering the number of homes Dugan had owned since Lauren Tyler vanished nine years ago, the detective figured there was a reason he moved around so much.
“What’s he hopin’ to find?” Reese asked as they sat in the truck.
“At this point, anything,” Brantley told him.
“Well…” Reese unbuckled his seat belt. “Let’s see what we can do to help him out.”
Brantley climbed out of the truck, followed Reese to the front door. It was standing open, and from inside the house, he could hear footsteps on the hardwood echoing throughout the empty space.
“Baz?”
“Back here,” came the response.
Brantley entered the house, looking around. Based on the fact there was no dust, it appeared the house had been cleaned recently, if, in fact, it had been vacant for some time. Had Dugan come by and cleaned it himself? Had he hired a service?
Before heading toward the kitchen, Brantley shot a text to JJ, asked her to reach out to all cleaning services in the area and see if any of them were handling Dugan’s address. Perhaps they could track him down though payments if he was utilizing one.
“I was able to talk to the neighbors across the street,” Baz said when they joined him. Wearing a pair of latex gloves, the detective was opening the cabinet doors, leaving them open as he went. “They said the house has been vacant for three months.”
“But he didn’t sell it?” Reese asked, although it was clearly rhetorical.
“Maybe he’s plannin’ to move back,” Baz said, shifting to the lower cabinets, then the drawers.
“You go through it already?”
“Haven’t been upstairs yet.”
“I’ll cover it,” Reese offered, disappearing toward the stairs at the front of the house.
“You lookin’ for somethin’ specific?” Brantley asked when Baz opened the refrigerator.
“Hopin’ maybe he left something behind that might tell us where he moved to.”
From the looks of it, the house had been gone over with a fine-tooth comb. Brantley didn’t figure they would find so much as a strand of hair.
“I’ve got JJ lookin’ into the possibility he’s usin’ a cleaning service.”