Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

several Case Agents before I landed with Agent Kim. He seemed to get what I was trying to do. Other Agents and lawyers just wanted a file or two so they could land a fat, happy fraud case or something. Agent Kim understood that I could tell him which little threads to pull on to start unraveling the whole thing. He could see a bigger picture."
    "And any one of those other Agents could have been whispering in your family's ear."
    "Oh, hell, some of the lawyers at least could be Delawares, or at least cousins. I might be the direct-line heir, but I've got first, second, third cousins, half and step, plus the general hanger-ons. There might actually be a few who have actual real jobs."
    "How shocking."
    There was a knock at the door that sent them both jumping, even if it was expected. Sebastian looked through the peephole before letting Rachael in. She was in her desert camouflage BDU and carrying a large duffel. "Seriously?"
    "What?"
    "We're trying to be inconspicuous."
    "I'm your loving sister freshly returned from deployment. Anyone who questions this is unpatriotic."
    Rachael had let herself into the living room as she spoke. Daren was waiting. "Daren, Rachael. Rachael, Daren."
    Rachael put down the duffel as they shook hands. "Nice to finally meet you."
    "Same here. Thank you for doing this."
    Rachael looked Daren over, taking in the splint, the cane, and the last patches of yellow on his face.
    "Do I want to know what's in the duffel?" Sebastian asked.
    "Give yourself a little plausible deniability."
    "Copy." Sebastian knew what he nicked when he got discharged with commendations and an honorable discharge. He didn't want to know what Rachael may have stolen when she got kicked out after being spotted drunk, off base, with a supply sergeant of the female persuasion.
    "Okay," Rachael clapped her hands together. "You've got three hours before engagement. Let's start going over escape strategies, continuity plans, and codes for the days."
    "Can I put the lasagna in first? It's not supposed to sit out once it's thawed."
    Rachael turned to Daren. "Congratulations, you've domesticated the most feral hetero-esque gay man I know."
    "I even got him to buy new shoes."
    "Watch it, or I won't make any garlic bread."
    Sebastian spent the next two hours feeling like he was back in the Navy. They worked out codes, even the color of the day. Rachael went over every inch of the house, locking down possible entrance points. She re-parked her car around the corner for easy access in case they went out the back. She hid Sebastian's briefcase as best as she could in a hollow space between the cupboard and dishwasher. Then she put Daren's and the duffel bags where they could easily be grabbed if they ran for it. There were knock codes and phone codes and text codes if he thought he was being followed or if he'd been grabbed and they needed to get out.
    Daren did his best to keep up with Rachael's rapid-fire orders, but this was a kid who'd possibly never followed an order in his life. By the time Sebastian put dinner on the table, he looked exhausted and worried. He picked at his dinner.
    "It's going to be fine." Sebastian tried to sound confident even though he didn't entirely believe it himself.
    Daren grabbed his cane. "I'm going to the bathroom."
    "Need a hand?"
    "No. I can make it."
    Sebastian still followed his every move as he limped from the room.
    "You've known this kid a bit over a month, right?" Rachael asked.
    "I guess. Feels a hell of a lot longer."
    "I was just thinking. You know I cover a lot of celebrity gigs, and something about his face…"
    "Give yourself some plausible deniability."
    "Jesus. I think I'd feel safer going up against the mob! Really, what were you thinking?"
    "I was thinking that if no one helped this bloodied-up kid, that I didn't recognize from Adam, he was going to die. He was also begging not to be taken to the hospital or the police because someone would find him and kill him. And considering the state he was in, I believed him."
    "You are a good man, Sebastian. I hope it doesn't get you killed."
    "Yeah, me too."
    It was a bit before seven when Sebastian pulled on his new suit jacket over the trendiest T-shirt he had (at least by Daren's standards), pulled on his best jeans (again by Daren's standards), and slicked his hair back. He had the very simple cover of being on a blind date, should anyone ask. Rachael and Daren looked him over.
    "I think that is the gayest I have ever seen you look."