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David’s momentary uplift faded. “I don’t have a date to the wedding now.”
“Which makes you”—Marsh pointed at him—“the most eligible bachelor.”
“And you’re my best man,” Levi said. “You and Brax are gonna have your hands full.”
“Yes, we know how well you two get where you’re supposed to be on time.” His heavy sigh was half annoyed teen and half beleaguered Uncle Brax. If Marsh didn’t know better, he would’ve bet Brax had been in his son’s life for longer than just a year.
“Well, then, you two,” Marsh said, offering him a hand up, “better get your plan in place.” He drew David into a hug, embracing him as tightly as Levi had. “Seriously, kid, Reese doesn’t know what he’s missing.”
“You’re right,” David said. “He doesn’t.” With a final honking blow of his nose, he gathered up his tissues and pushed out of the pantry, some of his confidence restored and a mission to distract him. He tossed the tissues in the trash, washed his hands, and called to his partner in crime. “Lily! Triple team time!”
Levi waited until they’d disappeared up the breezeway to release the sigh Marsh figured he’d been holding in since they’d first stepped into the pantry. “His first breakup in the books,” Levi said, sounding a little sad but also more than a little relieved.
Marsh held the pantry door open for them, then slung an arm around his waist as they made their way out of the kitchen. “You never liked that guy anyway.” Truth be told, Marsh wasn’t sure anyone would ever be good enough for their son in either of their eyes.
He didn’t have a chance to contemplate that further, though. Jamie and his husband, Special Agent in Charge Aidan Talley, met them halfway down the breezeway with their FBI faces on, even though Jamie was years out of the Bureau at this point.
“What’s going on?” Levi asked, straightening from Marsh’s side, the both of them clicking into LEO mode as quickly as their friends had similarly shifted.
“Break-in at one of my former player’s homes,” Jamie said. “In San Diego.”
Three
“And this,” Jamie said, after introducing Brax and Marsh, “is Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Levi Bishop.”
Levi wrangled his gaze from the ocean view out the balcony doors and extended his attention and hand to the young man standing with them in the middle of his Cardiff home’s living area. “It’s nice to meet you, Press.”
Presley Jackson played basketball for one of the teams in LA, but years before going pro, he’d played at Charlotte University when Jamie had been undercover as a coach there. After impressing at CU, Press had transferred to a D-I school and led his team to a national championship.
“Nice to meet you too.” Press returned the shake, then glanced around again at their gathered group, including Aidan. “Though, no offense, this seems like a lot of folks for a break-in.”
Levi jutted a thumb at Marsh. “We’re getting married this weekend. Again.”
Marsh, in turn, jutted his thumb at Brax. “And he’s my best man, so he was already along for the ride.”
“Well, I appreciate it,” Press said with a chuckle. “It’s certainly more interest than the one local cop on Saturday night showed.” Jamie had told them about how the brush-off by the San Diego County sheriff’s department, which served as local law enforcement for Cardiff, was a big reason why Press had reached out to him yesterday. That and he’d been pretty rattled.
“We’ll get to that,” Levi said as their group carefully followed Press through the tossed living area to the balcony where the furniture was still intact. “But why don’t you start by telling us what happened.”
“Yeah, so, you know I play in LA. Got a condo up there near the facility. But season’s over. Been over for us for a while.” He rolled his eyes and swiped a hand over his shaved head. “Anyway, I wanted to spend some time here since I just bought the place and I’m part-time at UCSD.”
“Press is getting his law degree,” Jamie said, pride brimming over in his voice as he patted Press’s back.
A blush reddened Press’s dark cheeks. “Promised my mom and best friend.”
“How long ago did you buy the place?” Aidan asked.
“Closed the Friday before Memorial Day.”
“And everything was okay at first?” Brax said.
“Yeah, first couple weeks were great.” He stretched an arm out toward the glass and metal balcony wall. “I mean, look at that view.”
“It’s stunning,” Levi concurred. West of the 5 and situated on a bluff over the San Elijo Lagoon, Press’s place had a view that extended all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It was a hell of a perch; the sunsets would be amazing.
“Would sell anyone,” Marsh replied. “But it’s also isolated up here.”
“Also what sold me on it, until the break-in.” Press folded his arms, fingers digging into his biceps. “I got home late Saturday. Been studying with classmates for an exam later this week. I was so tired I didn’t even realize the house alarm was off. Took the elevator up from the garage, flicked on the lights, and found the place trashed. Ripped sectional cushions on the floor, cabinets and drawers open, pictures down off the walls. Then there was a crash from out here. The balcony doors were open, so I guess whoever it was ran out this way.”
