With Caution

the most troubling. “Remi, come sit down.”
    Remi turned and glared.
    Groaning in frustration, Jake got up from the couch and went to fetch him. “Cops, oh hell law enforcement of all kinds, hate child predators. Think about it, especially one who’d prey on young boys.” He caught Remi’s hand, guiding him to the couch cattycorner to the chair Rhys was sitting in.
    As badly as Jake wanted to get rid of the threat to Remi and their happiness, he didn’t dare rush something like this. He wanted to make certain everything would stand up in court. But at the same time the urge to get things rolling was paramount. To do that he needed to keep a clear head and hear the rest of what Rhys had learned.
    “They had a body,” Rhys added.
    “What?” Remi and Jake both stopped at the end of the couch.
    Jake sat.
    “There was a body, a Geoff Clifton.” Rhys leaned forward, his gaze focused on Remi. “According to the story Caspari uncovered, Dirk went to pick you and Billy up.
    The two of you had gone to the movies, with Dirk’s permission, to kill time while waiting 190
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    With Caution
    for Sterling to be born. Dirk had gone to the movie theater first. When he didn’t find the two of you there, he assumed you’d started walking back home. He got back to the house and neither of you were there, so he traced his way back to the theater. He was about to go see if the two of you had gone to Billy’s house when he heard you yelling.”
    Growling, Remi flopped on the couch next to Jake. “Heard me yelling?”
    “Yes.” Rhys held up his hand.
    Jake rested his hand on Remi’s thigh because hearing this made his blood boil. “Let him finish, pup.”
    Rhys took a drink of his water. “He heard yelling and parked the car. He didn’t see anything at first, but followed the direction of the cries for help. Upon searching the field, he stumbled over Billy’s body, at which point he panicked and called out to Remi.
    Allegedly, Remi called back and then went silent in the middle of yelling ‘Dad’.”
    Remi scoffed, his back going rigid. “I’ve never called Dirk dad.”
    Jake patted Remi’s leg, trying to get him to quiet. He did his damnedest to remain calm, but Remi’s anger was infectious.
    “Finally, Dirk said he saw something in the knee-high grass. He raced forward, pistol drawn, but only found Remi unconscious and unresponsive. The day after, a drunk they were holding in the pen had an accident and fell down the stairs on his way to questioning. According to what Caspari heard, the man confessed to raping the boys, killing Billy and leaving Remi for dead.”
    “Un-fucking-believable.” Jake leaned back on the couch. Goddamn, he’d love to get his hands on Lassiter. “You’re telling me that the FBI found this out and let it drop?
    Instead of investigating the prisoner’s murder as well?”
    Rhys nodded. “You said it yourself about law enforcement and pedophiles. And with a cop’s kid being involved…” Rhys shook his head. “Cops take care of their own.”
    Remi leaned closer to Jake and Jake wondered if he realized he’d done it. Probably not, it seemed automatic, but it gave Jake a bit of reassurance. Some of his own tension ebbed away with Remi’s nearness.
    “What’s the word on the alleged pedophile?” Remi sounded tired and defeated.

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    J.L. Langley
    Rhys shrugged. “I’m looking into that now, trying to find out who the man was. I’m looking for a report. I’m anxious to see how his death was explained and where they supposedly found him.”
    Running his hands through his hair, Jake huffed out a breath. Dirk was a fucking genius. If they dug stuff up on the son of a bitch, they’d find this cover-up story. They were going to have their work cut out for them proving Dirk set that scene up to cover for himself.
    Apparently, Remi drew the same conclusion. His shoulders slumped, his head hung and the scent of fear poured off of him again. “What a clusterfuck.” Standing again, Remi paced in front of the coffee table. “So basically, it’s my word against his and he has not only the rez police on his side but the fucking FBI too. There is no way in hell all those cops are going to admit to being duped and covering a crime.” He walked over to Jake’s fireplace and ran his hands over the mantle. His gaze was unfocused and far away.
    “There is nothing else I can do.” He sounded as if he’d given up all