Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers, #4)(48)

I changed into a pair of flannel pajama pants, sweatshirt, and fuzzy socks, and then stepped out into the TV room. Nineteen hotshots were standing behind the sofa, listening to Tyler talk to a stranger in a dark suit and tie. The man was sitting on one of the recliners with a notepad and pen.

I approached the crowd, listening in.

“So, you haven’t spoken to your brother about the fire?” the man said.

“I mean, yeah,” Tyler answered. “I’m an alumnus of Eastern. He’s a student. We belong to the same fraternity, and we lost brothers in that fire.”

“But you’re sure he wasn’t there,” the man said. “I would like to remind you that I’m a federal agent, and it’s imperative that you’re honest.”

“He already gave you an answer, Agent Trexler,” Taylor said, his voice firm.

I swallowed. Tyler had gotten the phone call about the fire back in March. I wondered why they were just now questioning him.

The agent looked up at Taylor. “Did he speak to you about it?”

“No,” Taylor said. “I heard about it from Tyler.”

Trexler pointed his pen at the twin on the sofa. “And you’re Tyler.”

“Correct,” Tyler said.

Trexler looked down at his notepad. “It’s interesting that you’re a…”

“Interagency hotshot,” Fish said. “And a damn good one.”

Trexler suppressed a grin. “Your father is under the impression that you’re an insurance agent. Were you? An insurance agent?”

“No,” Tyler said.

“Why does your father think that you are?”

Taylor shifted his weight from one foot to the other, tightening his grip on his arms. I could see his biceps tensing.

“Our mother died when we were kids,” Tyler said. “It would upset our dad if he knew what we did.”

“So,” the agent said, “do you think it’s a safe assumption that he wouldn’t be aware that Travis fought in an underground fight ring for the purposes of illegal gambling on his college campus?”

“Travis wasn’t at the fire,” Tyler said, his expression blank.

“Is that all you need, agent? These boys just came off almost two weeks on the mountain. They need to rest.” Sage said, his red beard twitching when he spoke.

Agent Trexler scanned each face of the hotshot crew, and then nodded. “Sure. I’ll be contacting your superintendent to let him know I’ll need open communication. This is an active investigation, and your brother is a person of interest. Your cooperation will be the best thing you can do for Travis now.”

“Whatever,” Tyler said, standing. “Good night, Agent Trexler.”

After Trexler left, and his truck could be heard driving away from headquarters, Taylor and Tyler’s crew patted them on the backs, offering their silent support.

I stood back, watching the twins engage in an intense conversation in the corner. Taylor walked off with his hands on his hips, and then returned to his brother, shaking his head. The rest of the crew crowded around the table, resuming their card game. They were Taylor and Tyler’s family, too, but they knew the twins needed to figure out their other family at home.

Taylor retreated to the barracks, and Tyler glanced at me before looking down. I’d seen that look before, many times, mostly in the mirror. He was ashamed.

I padded across the room, stopping just a few feet from him. “What can I do?”

He frowned, trying to focus on the floor.

“Okay,” I said. “You don’t have to tell me. I can … you know … just be around.”

He nodded, keeping his eyes on the carpet. I backed away, settling into the corner of the sofa closest to the wall. I pulled a knit throw over my lap and sat quietly. Tyler crossed the room, sitting on his knees at my feet.

I ran my hand over his buzzed hair, pausing on the back of his neck.

“I lied to you,” he whispered. “But if I tell you the truth, you’ll be dragged into this mess.”

I shook my head. “You don’t have to tell me.”

He looked up at me from under his brow, angry. “Didn’t you hear me? I lied to you.”

“No, you were protecting your brother.”

Tyler looked up at me from under his brow. “And now I’m protecting you.”





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


All but Taylor and Tyler were gone when I woke. After fourteen days on the mountain, the crew had woken up to their R & R and scattered. For two days, they would travel to any friends or family who were close, going into town to hit a bar or an outfitter or to a mom-and-pop café to eat real food.

I rubbed my eyes, squinting at Tyler as he sat on my bed, his elbows resting on his knees. He was wearing a pair of red basketball shorts, a white tee, and a navy blue baseball hat. By his attire and bare feet, it was obvious he wasn’t planning on going anywhere, but he was miles away. His twin was wearing boots, cargo pants, and an Alpine tee, a duffel bag at his feet.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Taylor was leaning against the large wooden square that held the few things I’d brought with me to the dormitory. He was frowning, his arms crossed.

“Taylor’s leaving,” Tyler said.