Death by Chocolate (The Davenports 2)

“I feel like it. The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been.”

Luka frowned. “Because it’s your first case?”

Micah shook his head. “Yes and no.”

“How can it be both?”

Micah cleared his throat. “I met a woman.”

Luka’s eyes widened. “Wait. We’re going to need to take a seat for this.” They walked to a table in the corner beside the window. “What does one have to do with the other? Why am I just now hearing about this?”

“That’s where things get complicated. Daize is our current client. I know it sounds fishy, but you don’t let a woman like this get away. She’s beautiful. Her father’s from Hawaii and her mother is African American, giving her a beautiful golden complexion, fat, glossy black curls, and huge brown eyes I swear see through you. More than her looks, though ... she’s smart, funny, and driven. Her passion for marine biology is inspiring. She moved here from San Diego to take her dream job.”

“You’re skating on very thin ethical ice, little brother,” Luka cautioned gently.

“I know. We’ve tried to ignore it. It didn’t take. I’ve been taking it slow and following her cues.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not proud of myself. It’s likely the team won’t approve, but we feel how we feel. No one’s being hurt or taken advantage of.”

“Are you defending yourself to me?” Luka inquired.

“Shouldn’t I be?” Micah asked quietly.

“Life happens. All we can do is respond. I’ll be honest, I’m relieved.”

“You are?” Micah asked, shocked.

“For the past year, you’ve thrown yourself into ghost hunting. It’s become an obsession that overtook every other aspect of your life. Even when you’re here at work, I feel like you count down the moments until you can join your new family.”

“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. The family comes first. My marriage to Olive and the impending birth of our first child don’t change that. I do hope you know that.”

“I do. For so long, all we’ve had was each other. Our world is broadening. Marriages, babies, new friends, and interests are changing our dynamics. It’s a blessing that came with unexpected growing pains. I know working with the team fulfills an empty place inside of you. I don’t understand it, but I respect that. All I ask, is you don’t forget to live and remember the other people in your life. It seems like Daize snapped you out of that.”

“I won’t forget.” This case felt like the final boss in a video game. His gut told him this was the investigation he’d been waiting for.

“Good. Be careful how you proceed. If it goes sideways, it could ruin the reputation in the field you’ve worked so hard to develop a good reputation in and kill any chances of your relationship prospects. When you get a chance, I want to meet the woman who returned my brother to the land of the living.”

“I didn’t realize how much I’d pulled away from everyone. It felt like you were all pairing up, so I had to focus on my own thing.” Micah paused. The subject of their parents wasn’t taboo, but it didn’t come up often. The untimely loss of a loved one wasn’t a wound that fully healed. It became less irritated, but remained prone to flare-ups, and altered you indefinitely. “When Mom and Dad died, the thing that bothered me most was the unknown factors. I wanted to know where they were, if they were happy, and if they could see us. I never felt able to let go and move forward with those questions plaguing me.” He felt guilty and relieved purging the truth he’d kept hidden from Luka. With everything he’d taken on after his parent’s death, he never wanted to add to his worries.

“That’s why you suddenly got really into the supernatural,” Luka whispered.

Micah nodded. “I want to believe in everything we’ve been taught in church, but like a doubting Thomas, I need to touch the wounds. Leaving their fate up to wishful thinking never sat well with me.”

“I had no clue you felt that way.”

“Only Asher did.” Micah shrugged. The closest to him in age, and his one-time roommate at the condominium, Asher was his go to confidant pretty much his entire life. “We all dealt with it in our way. This was mine.”

“How can I help?” Luka asked.

The corners of Micah’s lips curved up. “You already are by listening to me.”

“Of course. I’m glad you shared this with me. It’s helped me understand you a lot better.”

“I’ve seen things that prove there’s more after we die. I no longer doubt that. Yet, I still wait. For what, I’m not sure.” He snickered. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”

“No. You sound like a man living on faith. The very thing you believe you don’t have enough of is guiding your every step. Trust your gut and see where this journey takes you. You’re past due for peace where our parents are concerned.” Luka’s words were encouraging. “What’s your next move?”

“I’m meeting with the team later tonight after hitting the public library to research the Claymore apartments and land surrounding it. Daize will try to meet me once she gets off work. She’s staying with me in the spare bedroom.” He mumbled the last line.

“Umm. How did that happen?” Luka asked.