“It’s not an idea. It’s just a feeling, and he needed to talk about it.”

“News flash. Nine times out of ten when a man says he’s talking about his feelings he’s just talking about an idea for how not to have any. And this is a really, really bad idea, Charley.”

“How do you know? You weren’t in Seattle. Maybe he could help.”

“Cole doesn’t need Luke’s help. Cole doesn’t need anyone’s help. He’s one of the richest men on the planet.”

“He needs my help.”

“That’s different. You’re special.”

“Luke’s special. He’s whip smart, supereducated, and speaks a bunch of different languages.”

“You going after Russian serial killers now?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Charley, you’re not hearing what Luke’s really saying.”

“Fine. What’s he really saying?”

“I’m too hotheaded for basic police work, but you should drop me in the middle of an operation so complicated and crazy there isn’t even a name for it. And while you’re at it, you should expect me to keep my cool while my girlfriend’s placed in mortal peril, even though Lacey Shannon’s bruises made me lose my mind.”

He lets this sit.

It does.

Hard.

“I mean, come on,” Marty continues, “that’s like the busboy saying he should be promoted to manager because he’s so good at dropping dishes.”

“That’s a little harsh, Marty.”

“Maybe, but it’s also clear. Which Luke is not right now. Look, he’s hurting because he can’t accept who his brother really is. I get that, but this is not the solution.”

“And how’s that supposed to work, accepting Bailey for who he is?”

“Cut him loose. I mean, for Christ’s sake, Bailey’s why Luke’s life was so messed up when you got here. If my little brother’s crimes kept me from having a shot at the career of my dreams, I wouldn’t be wandering around worrying about my family obligations. Let Bailey be Bailey, is what I say. And that means let Bailey go.”

“How’s he going to let him go when he’s working for my boss?” Charley asks.

“Well, I have a suggestion. Luke shouldn’t go to work for the same boss.”

She can’t argue with him there.

“I don’t know,” she says. “I think Bailey’s only part of it.”

“Yeah. I agree. The other part is that Luke’s acting just like one of those tools who whines and feels threatened because his wife makes more money than him. And you’d be able to see that if he wasn’t lighting up your Christmas tree in the bedroom.”

“OK, now you’re just being crude.”

Her cell phone makes a text chime on the counter. Marty doesn’t seem to hear it.

“I’m serious, Charley. Don’t let him manipulate you like this.”

She gets to her feet and heads to the open door. It’s probably Luke, texting her to check in.

“I’m not being manipulated because I’m letting my boyfriend tell me how he feels.”

“Fine. But you already let him tell you once. You had the talk and that’s great. But the next time he brings it up, that means he’s trying to convince you. So distract him or change the subject, or I’ll be over here to read him the riot act.”

“Oh, what? You’re spying on us, too?”

“I’m serious, Charley!”

At the open sliding door, she spins. “Marty, I invited you over so we could relax, not so you could lecture me to death.”

“You invited me over because you knew what a bad idea this was, and you needed someone to talk about it with.”

“We are not talking. You are lecturing. Jesus! What if both of the men in my life chilled out for, like, I don’t know, ten minutes? Would the world stop? Would birds fall out of the sky?”

“I’d probably grill some of ’em if they did,” Marty says.

“In the BBQ sense, or the ‘you don’t know when to shut up’ sense?”

“Both, maybe. If they were hiding something.”

“Charming.”

She steps inside the kitchen and picks up the phone. The latest text message reads: Tell Marty to leave.

She doesn’t recognize the number. Who the hell is this?

Who do u think?

Not in the mood for games.

Cole just bypassed me and sent something 2 digital services he wants them 2 review. They won’t tell me what it is except it has something to do w/ Altamira.

Bailey. Of course it is.

She types, Don’t you hear everything we do?

Not lately. I work in different areas. I’ve tried 2b respectful.

Of us? Or your new boss?

Both.

Should we be talking? Don’t THEY hear everything?

Not right now. I bought us some privacy.

What does that mean?

I kicked yr monitoring system offline.

Won’t they notice?

Nope. Looping some archive from last night.

How long will that work?

Not long enough for U2 keep asking questions like this. Or for Marty 2 hang out. Tell him 2 leave please.