Before You

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Halfway home, Roth got pulled over. He knew the cop had likely clocked him at ten over the limit. When the officer, a no-nonsense-looking black woman approached, he told her why he’d taken the risk of speeding. She called in her intention, told him to stay right behind her, and gave them an escort home. When they arrived, she waved and didn’t even wait for thanks.

Joseph held Roth’s hand as they walked up to the front. Too many black sedans parked in the drive to allow them to pull into the drive.

Special Agent Spelling opened the door. “Mr. Garrett, glad to see you.”

He could not restrain his snarled, though hushed response. “What the fuck were you thinking dropping this kind of bomb on him without me present?”

Her black eyes flashed. “Only Mr. Rigley knows about the sister.”

He saw Adam seated on the sectional couch. “Apologies.” Reaching to shake her hand, Roth added, “Much appreciation for your discretion.”

Adam rose, stalking forward. “They wouldn’t tell me fuck-it-all.”

Roth replied, “Let’s sit down.” Joseph rushed to sit beside Nathan. The big man’s face hosted so somber an expression it frightened Roth.

Special Agent Spelling ordered all agents to close the house and withdraw for sake of privacy. When just the five of them remained seated on the sectional couch, she said, “Mr. Taggart, do you remember anything about your younger sister?”

“Tell me what this fishing expedition’s looking for.”

Roth clasped hands with his lover. “Relax, baby. Just think.”

Adam dropped his head to the couch’s back and closed his eyes. “I remember feeding her as she sat in a booster chair. That night before we left to go to some party. She was four and small for her age.” He swallowed. “She couldn’t feed herself because… she was really strongly left-handed and she’d broken that wrist. I think I recall my parents arguing that night. Mom,” he stumbled slightly over the word, “she kept telling Dad he had to stop.” After falling silent briefly, he added, “They kept at it. Not angrily. More like she was terrified for him.” His hand flexed and Roth squeezed in return.

Special Agent Spelling quietly pressed, “Mr. Taggart, do you have any memory of the actual exchange?”

Adam responded, “No.”

Joseph said, “He’s written and drawn in his sleep.”

Roth’s heart jerked. “What?”

The younger man walked into the bedroom shared by Adam and Roth. Joseph emerged with a sketch pad and notebook. Appearing almost guilty, Joseph replied, “He moved around a couple of times when I happened to be up, and I saw it.”

Adam stood. Roth did as well.

SA Spelling held up a small hand. “We need to keep our cool. Mr. Garrett, Mr. Taggart, please take your seats.”

Roth replied, “I’d like to see those before my fiancé does.”

“You bastard,” Adam began, “you’ve got no right.”

SA Spelling said, “I’m acting with considerable latitude here. Mr. Taggart, please allow agents Johnson and White to escort you onto the patio.”

“Like fucking hell.” Adam yanked his hand free.

Roth heard the black rage, saw the swift change in body language. Turning to the man he loved, he spoke quietly. “Please, Adam. I ask little.”

Adam roared like a thwarted predator. Bringing his face very close to Roth’s, he growled. “Only, because I love you.” He stalked off with the agents flanking him. When they reached for the lock on the sliders, Adam turned upon them with impressive speed. “Fuck off. I’ll open my own doors.”

Nathan and Joseph kind of eased in as SA Spelling opened the sketch pad and notebook. Her black eyes widened. “That poor man.”

Roth braced himself as she turned the sketch pad toward him. In an artless pencil rendering, Adam had depicted his little sister in the arms of a large man. “Christ. He saw it.”

SA Spelling replied. “Read the notebook.”

His heart jerked as he opened it and saw pages of scrawled writing. Phrases leapt from the paper.

My sister unbuckled her booster seat as they argued.

Evie climbed from her seat and they didn’t realize.

My baby sister. Adam and Eve. I miss her.

Roth’s entire chest burned and he felt sick. “You’ll need this from him.” He handed it to her and waited as she reviewed. “How can we show him this?”

Spelling’s voice broke. “I don’t know. How can anyone hear this?”

Roth reached over and took back the sketch pad. Facing that image, his gut rebelled. He dropped it and bolted for the bath in his bedroom. Dropping to his knees, he suffered the swell of saliva pre-puke.

Nathan’s bulk sort of covered him. Big hands smoothed back the stray strands of hair. “Go ahead.”

Roth vomited. He erupted until he dry-heaved. The spasms refused to stop. Cold sweat broke out on his skin. “My baby’s doomed.” He stared into the toilet.

Nathan held his hair and stroked Roth’s back. “Not with us behind him. Not with you loving him.”

“I feel so weak.”

Nathan leaned over him, offering comfort. “You’re the core strength of all of us. Apologies for the pressure.”

A tremendous crash brought Roth upright. Nathan followed close behind. They broke from the bedroom to have Roth see Adam taking out agents amid looking at sketchbook. He moved like a ballerina in a dream sequence: smooth, unconcerned, elegant.

Rushing in, he reluctantly used his Krav Maga training. “Baby, stop.”

Adam turned to him, the black rage and disassociation a separate entity gazing out from behind his lovely violet eyes. Straining in Roth’s submission hold, he said, “Kill me or let me go.”

Nathan growled, “I can take him.”

Roth’s heart jerked. He longed for another trip to the porcelain confessional. “I’ll do neither, baby.”

Adam’s eyes rolled up in his head. He went completely limp.

Roth supported his lover’s weight as he collapsed.