Lost Souls by J. Bishop (the giving tree read aloud txt) 📗

they were stepbrothers, Trick had considered Chad to be as close as Trick’s two biological brothers. Taking a deep breath, he took a seat in the chair across from Trick. “I’m sorry. I know how you felt about him.”

Trick put his mug down and picked up his hat. He fiddled with the brim. “After you left, we hung out a lot. He thought about becoming a Ranger and made it into the Fort Worth P.D., but ultimately decided it wasn’t for him. He became a security consultant and got a lucrative offer from a firm out here. He and Cissy found a place outside of San Diego, and I’d been planning to visit, but just hadn’t made it out here yet.” He studied his hat. “Maybe if I had…”

“You don’t know if you could have prevented it,” said Mason. “You likely would have come out and left, and he’d still be dead.”

“He had something on his mind. Wanted to talk to me about it.” He tossed his hat back on the table. “I should have paid more attention.”

Mason nodded. He understood the pain of regret. “They know who did it?”

Trick rubbed his face. “They arrested Cissy.”

Mason dropped his jaw. “His wife?”

Trick stood and paced. “It’s absurd, but they insist she did it. They picked her up the day after the funeral. She’s the spouse. Has no real alibi, other than she went to the store, came home and found him. They believe she shot him before she left, and then claimed that it happened while she was gone. Chad was killed with his own gun, but it wasn’t a suicide. Whoever did it knew where the gun was, and where he lived. Chad must have let them in because there was no forced entry.”

“How do you know she didn’t kill him? How was their marriage?”

Trick flicked a pained glance at Mason. “Those two were closer than a couch and my butt during a Cowboy game. Chad met her his first year as a cop. He pulled her over for speeding, and they’d been together ever since. They were happy, and she is devastated by his loss.”

Mason studied his hands. “You don’t know for sure. They’d been out here for a year, and you hadn’t seen them recently. Maybe that’s what Chad wanted to talk to you about.”

“Hell, no. I don’t believe it. They were trying to get pregnant. Chad couldn’t wait to be a dad, and Cissy couldn’t wait to be a mom.” He shook his head. “And even if they weren’t happy, Cissy could have easily filed for divorce. She hated guns and doesn’t even like scary movies. There’s no way she would have shot him.”

Mason considered what to say. In his experience, he knew how even the closest spouses could turn on each other. And as a medium, he’d seen and heard plenty of examples from those who’d passed on who’d expressed regret over their perceived neglect or unintended abuse of their significant other. And the ones left behind often struggled with how to deal with it.

Trick returned to the couch and sat. “Listen, I know what you’re thinking. I’m too attached to this, and I need to let the law take it from here. But you and I know that sometimes the law gets a hold of something and refuses to see any other scenario.” He pointed. “I think that’s what’s happening here. The police suspected Cissy from the start, and they’re not even bothering to look for anyone else. And that’s just not right.” He hesitated. “Cissy deserves her chance to be proven innocent, and Chad’s killer needs to be brought to justice.”

“Doesn’t she have an attorney?” asked Mason.

“She needs more than an attorney, Red.” He stared pointedly.

Mason straightened in his seat. “Wait a minute. Is that why you’re here? You want my help?”

“I know you do that SCOPE stuff. God knows I didn’t understand your woo-woo issues back when we were partners, and I still don’t get it, but I also know you were a damn good investigator, and you have a P.I. license out here. Plus, you’re bound to have some connections. You have access to people and things that I don’t.”

“How do you know I have a P.I. license?”

Trick chuckled. “I’m not an idiot. I did a little research of my own before I came out.”

Mason put his elbows on his knees. “Are you serious? You want me to help you investigate Chad’s death?”

“Hell, yes.”

“We haven’t worked together in years, and the last time we spoke, you were very specific about where I should put my head.”

“And you weren’t too kind about what I could do with my mother.” Trick sat back against the couch, looking worn and frazzled. “I know I did things I shouldn’t have done, and if you ever want to talk about it, I’m all ears, but right now, I could use your help. The past is the past. There’s nothing I can do about any of it. If I could take it back, I would. But I need to focus on the here and now, and you’re my best bet if I want to find Chad’s killer.”

Mason moaned and held his head. “And if it turns out to be Cissy?”

“Then so be it. At least I’ll know the truth.”

Mason sighed, uncertain of what to do. “I don’t know, Trick. Something tells me this is a bad idea. Maybe it’s better we go our separate ways. I’m sure her attorney can find a good investigator.”

Trick went quiet, and Mason waited for the outburst, but none came. Trick just tipped his head, and spoke softly. “You owe me, Red.”

Mason’s heart fell. “Hell. You’re gonna pull that card? I figured you screwing my wife made us even.”

Trick grimaced. “Whatever. You two were separated at the time, and you’d already come out here, and she was lonely.”

“Thank God you were around to make her feel better.” He glowered. “I still had hopes that she would join me here.”

“She didn’t want to leave