3:13 p.m.:
Investigator observes the blue 2010 Toyota LandCruiser enter the parking lot designated for the El Dorado 76located at 8 Mile Road in Stockton CA 95209 and pull up in front ofthe gas pumps. Investigator observes Mr. Brandt exit the vehiclewith a German shepherd dog and cross the street to a deserted lotto play fetch. Investigator observes Mr. MacAllister exit thevehicle and enter the mini-mart. Investigator initiates stationaryvehicle surveillance with a view of the entrance/exit of thebuilding and the deserted lot.
3:27 p.m.:
Investigator observes Mr. MacAllister exit themini-mart carrying two cups and a brown paper bag and proceed tothe blue 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser. Investigator observes Mr.MacAllister pay for gas and enter the vehicle. Investigatorobserves Mr. MacAllister pull across the street. Investigatorobserves Mr. Brandt and dog enter the vehicle.
3:30 p.m.:
Investigator observes Mr. MacAllister driving awayat a speed estimated in excess of 70 miles per hour. Investigatorwas unable to pursue due to the arrival of a big rig truck whichpinned in investigator’s vehicle.
3:35 p.m.:
Investigator is forced to terminate surveillance.
Chapter Three
It was raining.
More of a mist than actual rain, but it wasmost definitely wet, and Will spared a moment’s regret for Taylorwho did not like rain or the cold. Then they topped the rise, andthe house seemed to materialize before them. Will experienced analmost painful sensation of time standing still. He could have beena kid of seventeen again, driving home in his truck after footballpractice.
“Wow,” Taylor said, beside him. “Your dadbuilt that himself?”
The house was constructed of lathe turnedhand-peeled logs. It was a rambling, two- story ranch-style, with along front deck and a wide covered back porch. The front gabledormer windows offered the always breathtaking view of thesurrounding mountains and pine forest. Smoke wisped from thefireplace, ghostly against the dark trees and darker mountains. Themany windows reflected the smoky purple sunset.
Will answered, “When he got out of themarines, yeah. My dad and my Uncle Grant and my Uncle John.”
“It’s beautiful. Really beautiful.”
Growing up, Will had taken home forgranted, but seeing the place through Taylor’s eyes, he realized itwas beautiful. Just looking at it gave him a lump in histhroat.
He grinned. “Relieved?”
“Hell, yeah. This looks like there mighteven be indoor plumbing.”
“There is, but we only use it for specialoccasions.”
“No worries,” Taylor said. “A real man canhold it.”
Will laughed. He’d teased Taylor about theplace being a log cabin. Or maybe subconsciously he’d made it soundworse than it was to discourage Taylor from coming. He hoped thatwasn’t true, but there was no denying he could feel himself tensingnow that the moment of truth was upon them.
Riley stood on the backseat, tail waggingfuriously, tags jingling. Will glanced back at him. “You know whereyou are, don’t you?” Will asked him. “You recognize thisplace.”
Riley licked his chops.
Will drove up the hill and parked in frontof the double garages beneath the open deck at the front of thehouse. He turned off the engine, cutting Emmylou off. The silencewas instant and profound. Just the ticking of the falling rain.
He could feel Taylor looking at him and hewished — and was immediately ashamed — that he could have made thistrip alone. Or arrived first. Something. He’d told his dad he wasbringing Taylor, but he’d left it at that, and now he wished he’dgiven more of a clue as to what that really meant. He should haveprepared them, his dad and Grant, for this.
Not least because he was liable to dumpTaylor in an embarrassing situation.
And yet at the same time he was glad Taylorwas here. He wanted Taylor to meet his family. Wanted Taylorto see where he’d grown up. So he unsnapped his seatbelt, turned toTaylor, and smiled. It was probably a grim sort of smile becauseTaylor studied him and then said, “If you want me to be yourfishing buddy this weekend, I can do that.”
Will felt his face redden. “I hope you’rekidding, MacAllister.”
Taylor didn’t answer, just kept watching himwith those enigmatic green eyes.
“Hell no, I don’t want that!”
“Okay.”
“I don’t want that. I’m not in thegoddamned closet!”
“You are up here, Brandt.”
It was a jolt to hear it. In particular, ajolt to hear it from Taylor. Will said, “Look, I want my dad and mybrother to know…you. Us. I’m not going to pretend we’re anythingbut what we are. And I appreciate what you’re offering in anunconditional support kind of way, but I don’t want that fromyou.”
“Okay.”
“I mean, I want support, yeah. Idon’t want you thinking you need to support me byencouraging me to be gutless.”
Taylor said again, mildly, “Okay.” Heglanced over his shoulder. “Incoming. Six o’clock.”
Will ignored that, reaching over, lockinghis hand on the back of Taylor’s neck. He drew Taylor forward for aquick, hard kiss.
The next minute Will was out of the SUV,raising a hand in greeting to his father and brother, who werewalking down the wide fieldstone path to meet them. He opened thepassenger door so Riley could jump down. Riley immediately sprangaway to greet Roxie, his sister. Roxie greeted him by trying tochew his face, her tail wagging as furiously as Riley’s.
Will was aware, as always, of Taylor in hisperipheral vision, taking his time getting out of the SUV, givingWill time to go ahead and do his meet and greet. He strode up thehillside to meet his dad.
“Son.” Bill Brandt was in his early sixties.They were the same height, but his father was a little heavier anda lot grayer since the last time Will had seen him. Even his dad’smustache was iron gray.
“Pop,” he said gruffly.
“Welcome home, William.” His father’s big,muscular arms closed around him and they embraced briefly buttightly. Will shut his eyes for an instant. That was something youjust didn’t outgrow — the pleasure of getting a hug from yourdad.
He smiled over his dad’s shoulder at hisbrother Grant. The
