Ball & Chain (Cut & Run 8)

“I’d like to search his room,” Nick told Stanton. “Get a hold of his laptop, phone, any papers. If we could lock that down ASAP to keep anyone from getting in there. In fact, Grady and Garrett could handle that while I’m interviewing people.”

“I’ll get you the key, but Grady and Garrett will be watching Amelia while you’re doing that, thank you,” Stanton promised. He headed for the door, gesturing for his men to follow him. “I’ll meet you gentlemen on the patio in ten minutes for the announcement. We’ll serve brunch and allow you to do your interviews while people are eating. Will that work?”

All eyes turned back to Nick, who was watching Stanton with a frown. When he realized the man was actually waiting for a response, he nodded, obviously flustered. “Yes, sir, thank you.”

Stanton nodded and left the room. The door clicked behind Theo, leaving the four of them alone in stunned silence.

Kelly sat on the back of the couch where Nick was leaning, brushing their shoulders together. “Is this what traveling with you guys is usually like?”

“Yes,” Ty and Zane both groaned.

“No,” Nick said with a sorrowful shake of his head.

Kelly wrapped an arm around his shoulders, hugging him. “It’s okay, Rick.”

Nick snorted. Zane chuckled, even though he felt guilty for laughing. Nick looked so distraught to have been singled out for the job, Zane had to wonder why. He’d been a detective in Boston for at least seven years, and from what Ty said about him, he was good at his job.

Ty sat on Nick’s other side and patted his knee. “You okay to do this?”

“Does it matter?” Nick asked.

“We got your six, man,” Kelly said.

Zane nodded immediately. “Piece of cake.”

Nick rubbed his fingers over his eyes. The very tips of his fingers trembled, barely noticeable. But Zane noticed it. He’d noticed it outside, too, when Nick had made to reach for something in the sand but then stopped. He’d noticed it last night at dinner when Nick had switched his fork from his right hand to his left and then clutched his right hand into a fist before hiding it in his lap. Nick was a lefty, so using his left instead of his right wasn’t unusual, but it had caught Zane’s attention nonetheless. The tremor in his right hand was the same type Zane had developed when he was coming off everything in rehab.

Combined with the other things Zane had noticed—his uncharacteristically sedate behavior, his shorter temper, refusing to go back to a job everyone said he’d loved, the haunted look in his eyes—Zane was almost positive Nick was either using or trying to stop.

“I guess we should get out there,” Ty finally said. As they all stood to file out of the room, Ty grumbled under his breath, “We have a f**king murderer to find at my brother’s wedding.”

“I hope it’s one of those ass**le security guys,” Kelly said from behind Zane.

“Maybe the butler did it,” Nick offered. Kelly answered with a groan.

When they reached the great hall where people were already gathering, Ty went straight over to his parents, whispering to them about the situation. Mara had a hand over her mouth and her eyes were wide, but Earl merely nodded grimly. Burns was sitting with them, and he didn’t show much surprise either. It seemed they’d already gotten wind of the news. From the low murmurs throughout the room, a lot of other guests had as well.

Zane stood watching people assemble for a few seconds before he decided that now might be the best time to pull Nick aside. When this was over, they’d be in the center of an investigation, no matter how unofficial. He approached Nick with a hint of trepidation and caught him trailing after Kelly through the crowd to head back out into the hall. He took his elbow to stop him.

Nick turned to him with a confused smile. “Garrett? They moved the body to the kitchen to store it, we’re heading down there. Might want to order vegetarian tonight.”

Zane snorted and glanced around them. “Can I talk to you first?”

Nick’s smile fell. Kelly had stopped to wait for him, and now he stood frowning a few feet away. Nick looked around just like Zane had done to see if anyone else was paying attention to them, then nodded. “Sure. What’s up?”

“Somewhere private. I’d prefer if Ty didn’t see us talking.”

Nick’s confusion and sudden apprehension were painfully clear, but he turned to Kelly anyway. “I’ll catch up with you, Kels.”

“Okay,” Kelly said, frowning at them but turning to head off to the kitchen on his own.

Nick left the great hall with Zane, but he didn’t ask questions, and Zane was grateful for it. He led Nick into the hallway and found a quiet nook to duck into. He turned to Nick and glanced at the doorway behind them.

“What’s going on, Garrett?” Nick seemed to be losing his patience with the cloak-and-dagger stuff.

“Look, I want to help you, okay?” Zane said in a rush.

Nick raised both eyebrows and leaned a little closer. “Aren’t you pretty much already signed up for that?”

“Not with that. I saw your hand shaking out there. And I saw you popping pills yesterday in the car when you thought I was asleep.” Zane reached for Nick’s right hand and brought it up, then released it. There was a tremor to his fingers as Nick tried to hold it steady. Zane nodded grimly. “I’ve been there.”

Nick looked at his hand, then gave an exhausted, almost relieved laugh as he dropped it to his side. He glanced away for a moment, then met Zane’s eyes again. “Propranolol.”

Zane’s brow creased. “What?”

“That’s what I was taking in the car. I take it every morning.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It’s not a narcotic,” Nick said wryly. “It’s prescribed. One a day.”

Zane took a moment to let that settle in, but it didn’t alleviate his concern. In fact, it only served to double it. His stomach tumbled. “Are you sick, O’Flaherty?”

Nick lowered his head, sighing and turning away. He ran a hand through his hair.

Zane glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone, then took a step after Nick. “What’s it for?”

Nick flopped his hands against his thighs. “I have a tremor. That’s what it’s for.”

Zane’s gaze drifted down to Nick’s right hand, which was clutched at his side. “From what?”

Nick shrugged. “Doctors did tests. No one knows. But the medicine keeps my hand from trembling, so I take it. If I forget, I shake like f**king San Francisco in an earthquake.”