Full Disclosure (Nice Guys 2)

“I know my children. You all are all the same. Flying the nest, being free, and then settling right back here when it’s family time,” she said. “Besides, I always said you got your investigative skills from my side of the family.”

His mom laughed as he absorbed her words. He weighed how much he should say. He loved his family, his mom was the best, but regardless of how he’d acted with Cody, he was an incredibly private person.

“Mitch, did you hang up on me?” she asked.

“No, I’m here,” he answered.

“Well, then, stop overthinking this. I’ve warmed my tea from a little bit ago, and I’m sitting down. I’m alone until your sister comes over in about an hour. Tell me about him.”

“Mom. I don’t know what you’re…” Mitch stopped himself and rested his elbows on his knees. Was he going to tell her? He sighed and hung his head a moment. Apparently so. “His name’s Cody Turner. He’s younger than me. Not that much younger, but enough to say he’s younger—he’s twenty-six. He lives in Texas. He works for Texas DPS, he’s a State Trooper.”

“Oh good, is he friends with Jace and Colt?” she asked.

“No, but I met him the last time I was in Dallas. He lives in Austin, but he was in town for some business,” Mitch said, staring a hole in the small patch of grass at his feet.

“And you’ve spent time with him?” she asked. These were all questions designed to keep him talking. He knew the tactic, had perfected the skill, but it worked like a charm on him nevertheless.

“This weekend, he flew up here. I’m in DC, and we spent the weekend together,” Mitch confessed.

“Was it a nice weekend?” she asked.

“Very nice,” he said, smiling at the grass. “He’s good-looking and funny,” Mitch added and then he trailed off. “He gets my job. That’s a big one right there.”

“Have you told him how you feel?” she asked.

“Not really. I don’t really know how I feel. You kind of took me off guard with all this. I was really just calling to say hi. He’s got a big family like ours. His parents are still married. He’s got pain-in-the-butt brothers and sisters and lots of nephews and nieces. We have a lot of similarities like that in common.”

“That’s important, I think, to have similar backgrounds,” she said. “What does he look like?”

“He’s tall, a little taller than me. He works out pretty heavily, I think. He’s got blond hair…”

“When are you going to bring him home to meet the family?” she asked.

“Not for a long time, Mom. I’m trying to keep him, not send him away screaming,” he laughed. “Now, tell me how you’re doing?”

“Honey, we’re all just fine. All the grandkids are growing so big. You won’t recognize any of them. Your dad’s working too much. He’s always gone, but he loves it. The team’s bouncing back from Colton being gone. It’s an exciting time. We watched Colt broadcast a game this weekend. He did very well. Your father called him afterward. He got a kick out of that,” his mom said, efficiently catching him up.

“That’s good, Mom. I’m glad to hear it. Listen, I love you. Tell Dad too.”

“I will, Mitch, and you need to tell that man how you feel. You certainly aren’t getting any younger, Son.”

“Was that a joke? Did Ellen tell you to say that if I called?” Mitch asked.

“You know, I’ve told you that you get your sense of humor from my side of the family,” she said, laughing.

“I love you, Mom. Bye.”

“Bye, baby,” she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. Conversation about flying the nest and coming back home…Wait! Did she just tell him he was like his brothers and sister? Surely not, right?

Mitch cringed as he realized the truth. He did want Cody to meet his family.

Chapter 30

“Thanks, man, for picking me up,” Kreed said as they drove down the highway toward FBI headquarters.

“Not a problem. I planned to let you walk in the FBI building armed, but I decided to spare you this time. You owe me,” Mitch teased, keeping his eyes on the road.

“What’s that mean?” Kreed sounded completely confused.

“They let me walk in the front doors of the FBI building unannounced. Connors wasn’t there; his kid was in the hospital. I got detained for a little while. Had all the FBI attitude in my face trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me.” Mitch gave an exaggerated eye roll. They’d worked enough with the FBI for Kreed to know exactly what he was talking about.

“Oh hell, I bet that was epic. Sorry I missed that,” Kreed said, laughing out loud.

“I was gonna let you experience the same welcome, but I’ve decided to keep my fun to myself since you came all this way to help out,” Mitch chuckled.

“That’s mighty nice of you, Knox.” He couldn’t help but catch the moment of realization on Kreed’s face. “What’s wrong with you? Are you dying or something?”

“What? No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Tell me why you were already at the airport today,” Kreed prodded, looking at him speculatively.

“No, and stop looking at me like that.” Mitch focused his eyes fully back on the road and angled his body so his right arm rested on the wheel. He didn’t want to explain anything to Kreed right now.

“What’s with you, man? Picking me up at the airport, choosing not to set me up for your own enjoyment? What the hell?” Mitch refused to speak, so Kreed narrowed the questions. “Why were you at the airport? Who were you seeing off?”

Mitch sighed. Kreed would eventually get it out of him, so Mitch broke and spoke.

“I met someone. I showed you his picture” Mitch said casually.

“And he flew out here to be with you while you’re in the middle of a big break for the case you’ve had a hard-on about for the last nine months?” Yep, he knew that was exactly where Kreed would go.

“Fuck you, man. It’s none of your fucking business. See if I tell you anything else,” Mitch countered.