two days after the meeting with the Russians, when he’d called Charlie to relay the message that they were all clear and he was dropping under the radar for a while. He hadn’t surfaced when Lori got the stomach flu, or when Joshie caught it from her, or when Brian got squished by a sheep and had to get his hand X-rayed. He hadn’t kibitzed about the car dealership Lori was working at, or the location of the office they chose to rent. Without Brian’s Finder sense reassuring them, he’d have wondered if Damon was dead.
Of course, after the flood of relief came a rebound of irritation. He didn’t want his most annoying in-law getting up in his business, even if he expected it. “What now?”
Brian nudged his hand aside to sort through the pages. “Looks like more ID stuff for Lori and me. What does the letter say?”
It was short, a few typed lines with Damon’s “D” as a signature. “Additional documents for Brian and Lorraine. Should be good for that affidavit now. Read the background sheets. Don’t end up fingerprinted. That shit can’t be erased. Tell Lor her manager with initials EH is cooking the books. Time to look for another job. Burn this letter. D.”
“Short and not very sweet,” Charlie muttered. “Typical.”
“But it means he’s okay.” Brian put a finger on the initial, smiling softly.
Nick shoved down what definitely wasn’t jealousy about someone’s brother, just frustration that they were still being told what to do by Damon fucking Kerr. “Burn after reading seems a bit paranoid, even for Damon.”
Charlie said, “If he’s really working for the Russians, maybe not.”
“If he’s really working for the Russians, I hope he stays gone.”
“I can’t wait to tell Lori.” Brian’s eyes were still bright.
“And warn her about looking for another job? Better you than me.” Nick sighed. “Got a lighter, Charlie?”
“Don’t do it in here. We’re finally up to code.” Charlie handed him a book of matches and pointed at the smoke detector.
“We’re headed out anyway.” Nick frowned as Joshie wriggled and almost got a fist on the keyboard before Charlie tipped him away. “Do you need us to babysit the kid? Why do you have him here anyway?” Lori paid Helen a pittance to watch the baby while she worked. Frank said it made Helen happy, so Nick was butting his nose out about the hourly rate.
“Helen’s not feeling good.” Charlie shifted the baby to his good side and jiggled him. “I’m not too busy, just writing up the bill for your Find. He’s no trouble.”
“Better you than me.” Which was half a lie. He was getting used to babysitting now and then, and Joshie always made him think of a little Brian. Still, he was always glad to hand the kid back after a few hours. No full-time parenting dreams for him.
Nick sorted through the documents on the desk, putting Brian’s in the envelope and stacking Lori’s. He stuffed the letter in his back pocket. “Call us if you need a break. If we don’t answer, we’re busy. Call back in an hour.” He smirked at Charlie who gave him the finger behind the baby’s back.
At the door, he paused. Brian was still in his chair, leaning forward to look at Joshie, face peaceful, eyes wide. “Brian! Come on now.”
Brian shivered and blinked, then ran a finger down the baby’s shoulder. “You be good for your daddy. Sorry I’m taking your doggie.”
“Ga-da-da.” Josh smiled widely.
“Good doggie, yeah.” Brian stood and flicked a hand at Luger, who rose and came to heel.
As they left the room, Josh’s baby voice rose in a wail. Nick leaned back in to say, “You need to get your kid his own dog.”
To his surprise, Josh stopped crying at the sight of him, waving both hands his way. “Mo-ma-ma.”
“I’m not your mom.” He worked to keep his tone cranky. He might be fond of the rug rat, might also treasure the rare pictures Ariana texted of his nephew, but he wasn’t going to pretend to be a kid kind of guy.
“Aww, he likes you. His taste is as bad as Brian’s.” Charlie grinned at him. “Go take your man home and have some of that… what do they call it again? The thing I’m not having? Oh, yeah.” He covered the baby’s ears, his bad hand still awkward. “Hot man sex.”
Nick wished life would go Charlie’s way for a change. Dude deserved all the good things. But Charlie was grinning at him, so a one-fingered