He hadn’t expected his brother to be at his cousin’s. Trevor lived by his own rules, his own schedule. Turner had always understood that about the brother who was only a year or so younger than he was.
Trevor had demons that drove him, that was for sure. Always on a quest for answers to some of the world’s questions. Damned brilliant, in his own way. Just like Houghton was with electronics.
Turner was glad to see his brother, but he sure as hell wished it was at any other time and place than here and now.
The less eyes on Delancey McKellen, the better. “Trev, what are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d stay with Houghton, flirt with Mel for a few days.” Trevor clapped him on the back. “Happy to see you, too, by the way. What’s the rig for?”
“It’s hard to explain.” Turner started after Daniel McKellen, and Elliot stepped out of the SUV. “Chief Elliot Marshall, and head of Major Crimes, Daniel McKellen, my brother Doctor—of archeology or something like that—Trevor Barratt.”
“Nice to meet you,” Elliot said. “We weren’t aware you’d be here today.”
“Neither were we, El,” Mel started. “But we’ll vouch for him. If nothing else, he’ll be another barrier between her and the outside world. He’s armed; and Houghton assures me Trevor knows how to use it.”
“Her?” Trevor asked. His expression narrowed, and he looked at Turner. “What’s going on?”
Turner looked at Daniel McKellen. As her brother, he got the ultimate say-so. Daniel studied Turner and then Trevor for the longest time.
Trevor was the largest of the brothers—Turner, to his chagrin, was the smallest, even though he was the oldest—and built like a linebacker. He was almost as big as Rafe Holden-Deane. The gun he wore at his waist was highly visible, and Trevor did know how to use it. Far better than Turner did, that was for sure.
And there was a hardness about his brother now; Turner hadn’t missed it. His brother had been out there in the world—and not the safe little corners. “I trust him with my life, Dan. I’d trust him with Mel’s and Annie’s, and every other woman in the world I care about, too. This is the safest place for her. Trevor can help make it safer.”
“Can someone actually explain what’s going on here?” Trevor demanded.
Elliot made short work of it. “An officer on my roster was targeted and shot while undercover. We’re here to prevent another attack. She’s Daniel’s younger sister. We believe she is still a target.”
“We’re offering her a safe place to recover,” Mel added. Turner studied her for a moment. Mel had been shot a few years ago, as retaliation against her sister, he thought. She’d recovered, but would always be partially paralyzed. She’d only had like a ten percent chance of walking ever again. She’d been back on her feet within a year. Nothing stopped Mel when she wanted something.
Mel was one of the most remarkable women Turner had ever met.
Another was currently opening the rear door of the ambulance.
Turner was close enough to reach in and grab Annie by the waist and lift her to the ground. “I have you, honey.”
“Thanks.” Her word was breathless as she looked at him, then turned to Allen. “We’ll need help lowering the gurney out, so she’s not jostled.”
Turner and his brother both stepped forward, as well as Daniel. Between the three of them and Allen, it was a seamless process.
Delancey never stirred.
Annie kept by her head while Rafe and Allen, the more experienced with gurneys, rolled her up Mel’s ramp that Houghton had had installed shortly after his kidnapped bride had moved in.