Full Circle by Rj Scott (top 50 books to read TXT) 📕

Immediately, he called through to Sanctuary ops and reported what he thought. That there was every possibility that the body they were looking for was buried with the dogs in the small pet cemetery. He stood to find Manny and tell him but his own stubbornness made him sit back down. He told himself it was nothing concrete and that Manny could find out when everyone else did. Quickly he typed out his thoughts to Sanctuary ops, copied in the Bureau, forensics and pressed send on the email.

With the report filed he sat back in his seat. He glanced at the other folders on the desktop and the one labeled case reports. He had been in and out of that folder all day. He knew damn well what was in there and he had been avoiding it since he gained access to Sanctuary systems. The file labeled with his dad's name. In that single folder would be information on his dad, probably some on himself, and then there would be the transcript of the interview that his dad gave to Adam and Lee. He should read it.

He opened it.

Then shut it.

Then opened it again. He began reading from the top. Every single word hurt. Why his dad did what he did.

How he had felt trapped and unable to free himself from the Bullen web. This big, strong man said clearly that he had become less of a man by putting his family first. That hurt the most. Elisabeth Costain had died because of him and here was his dad telling the interviewers, Lee and Adam, that he felt like less of a man because his family made him weak. Where was his dad's redemption in these words for Josh? Josh couldn't see it.

After closing the file he connected to the safe house where his mom was. Last night when he Skyped her she had looked tired. Today she seemed refreshed. Awake.

"Hey Mom," he said simply.

"Hello you," she smiled. "How is it going at your end?"

He bowed his head. Tears choked in his throat and tugged at his heart. How the hell could he explain to his mom everything that was mixing and churning and hurting inside him? He was just feeling sorry for himself that was all.

"Joshua. What's wrong sweetheart? Talk to me."

Josh stood up and closed the comms room door.

Then he sat back in the chair with his mom's concerned face staring out at him on the main screen.

"I don't know what to say." His heart was breaking.

His life was shattering and the immense pressure of the day was bubbling just under the surface.

"Start from the beginning."

Josh pushed down the emotion. He wanted to start at the day when he realized his dad had two separate personalities. The one who played rough with him and helped him with homework and the one who was a criminal. The day that his world began its descent into having to believe lies and half-truths just to remain sane.

"Mom, do you remember the day dad came home and he smashed his fist into the wall?"

"What do you mean?" His mom looked confused.

As well she should. His dad's temper had left quite a few marks on the family home and they all blurred into one. Josh remembered the first time.

"You must remember mom. It was the night before my eighth birthday."

CHAPTER 15

Manny didn't know how long he stood and watched Josh. It could have been a minute, it could have been ten.

He stood in the doorway and looked in on Josh asleep at the desk. His arms were crossed to form a pillow and his head rested on them. His breathing was deep and rhythmic.

Imperceptibly Manny began to breathe in the same beat and he felt peace trickle down his spine.

"Josh?"

Josh murmured something but he didn't fully wake up. Falling asleep in this position wasn't the most comfortable—it happened to Manny on a regular monthly cycle. Normally ops woke him, to his embarrassment Jake had been the one to wake him last time it had happened.

The screens were silent and still. A couple showed status reports and Manny skimmed the time lines for information from Sanctuary. There was nothing on there that hadn't already been covered by the call from Jake that had woken him up.

They'd found the remains of the woman exactly where Josh had pinned them. Forensics had delivered what was left to the coroner. There would be little evidence to tie the woman to the brothers, he was sure. Decomposition had done a good job of destroying everything and they had to remove dog remains as well. Still, when they pulled together her skeleton they could maybe match her to dental records or something. That would be best case scenario and would give them something to work on.

Alastair Bullen had been re-arrested about ten minutes earlier and was now heading to questioning at APD. A body on the property and probable cause was enough. Frustratingly, he could only be held on this for initial questioning. But, at least the can of worms had been opened. The night had run its course but the morning was early—there had been no hint of what Senator Bullen would do.

"Josh?" He shook Josh's shoulder softly and blinking into the light Josh slowly woke up. He had that sleep-sated smile on his face, the same as yesterday when they had spooned. Regret washed over Manny—he should have pushed back his temper and pulled Josh into bed with him last night.

"Hey," Josh said.

Manny crouched down next to him. Given his height that put him a little below Josh but hell, he just wanted to get closer. "They found the body where you said," he informed quickly.

Josh smiled. "Awesome." His voice was gruff and he coughed.

"Coffee and a shower then we need to talk. Decide what we're going to do next." Manny pushed himself against the table to stand.

"The wife," Josh started. He yawned and then stretching his arms and flexing his