Page 58 of Simply Perfection
Niall nearly jumped up and kissed the Captain. They had an address! Now, all they had to do was find out who owned the house. As Matt had said the night before—they were one step closer.
Niall’s phone rang on the desk, and he looked at the screen to see Rick’s name.
“We’ve got an address,” Niall said before Rick could get a word out.
He heard the clicking of computer keys through the connection. “What is it? I’ll do a reverse address search.”
Niall rattled off the address and waited while the results popped up.
“Got you fucker! The resident is listed as S. Hampton.”
Niall relayed the information to Captain Fredericks, who held up his hand.
“Just a minute, Mr. Roberge. So far, all we have is a theory. Just because that house is owned by our missing suspect, doesn’t guarantee that he’s the one who has your partner.”
Niall put the phone back up against his ear. “Rick? Can I talk to Matt?”
Niall’s breath stalled in his chest as he waited for Matt’s voice to come through the phone.
“Caro?”
Niall closed his eyes as Matt’s deep voice washed over him. “We’re so close, love. There’s one missing link. Have you heard anything from Logan?”
“No, not yet. Clay’s been on and off the phone with guys from the department. He’s trying to find out if Hampton showed up for his shift at work. Ryan is running a complete background check on Hampton as we speak, that man has some scary information at his fingertips. Conor and Calleigh are making everybody some food. I don’t know what it is, but your place certainly smells delicious.”
“Our place, love. From now on, it’s all of ours.” Niall printed out the image for Captain Fredericks. He saved a copy to both his hard drive and saved one to a jump drive for the police. “What about Rick?” A loud sound like an explosion on a movie reverberated through the phone.
“Rick’s in charge of entertainment. He and Ethan are challenging anyone who’s gotten a little too wound up to a game of Mindseye on Trevor’s Xbox.”
Niall’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Sounds good. We’re almost done here then I’ll be coming home. I could use a little stress relief when I get there.”
“Don’t worry,caro. I’ll take care of you.”
Niall glanced over his shoulder to see the captain’s back turned his direction. “I’ll hold you to that, love.”
Niall hung up with Matt and turned to see Frederick with a confused look on his face. “What’s wrong? Did you hear from Logan? Did dispatch say anything else?”
“I thought you were Trevor’s partner?”
“I am.” Niall handed over the print and jumpdrive.
“Then who did you just call ‘love’?”
“That was Matt. He’s our other partner.”
Fredericks jaw dropped to the floor, and the papers nearly slid out of his hand. “Other … you mean there are three of you … together?”
“Yes. I love and share my life with two men, as do they.” Niall shut down his computer, then faced Fredericks.
The captain’s face didn’t scream hate or intolerance. In fact, Niall had been impressed by how remarkably professional the captain had been regarding his relationship with Trevor. Maybe working with both Trevor and Logan every day had opened Frederick’s eyes to acceptance of gay relationships, or maybe he was one of the few of his generation who accepted alternative lifestyles.
“People actually do that? Not just for sex, but live that way?”
“Sure. We have some good friends who are in a ménage marriage with their wife. They have three beautiful children and couldn’t be happier.”
Fredericks shook his head and turned to leave the studio. “Man, I’m getting too old for this stuff.”
Niall laughed. “We’re not exactly trendsetters. Relationships like ours have existed since the beginning of time. I was raised by my grandparents, who were also a threesome.”
