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Conrad nodded. If Rory needed help, the two of them would head up there and pitch in. Their unwritten rule as brothers.
Liam got down to it. “Did a guy and a woman come in here and talk to you? They’re from Vanguard Private Security and Investigation. Digging up stuff that needs to stay buried.” For all their sakes, it needed to lie where it was.
Liam could control as much as he was able to, but if someone started shaking trees, things would fall. He wouldn’t be able to catch it all.
He ran a hand through his hair, scrubbing at the back of his head. “Anne.”
“Who?”
“She’s going by Roxie now. She was Anne when I knew her in the Marines.” When he’d been so attracted to her he’d hardly been able to see straight. That was then, this was now.
Conrad’s eyebrow rose again, and he stopped stirring for a minute. “Okay, what’s that about?”
More comfortable than talking about the case being reopened. “She was in my squad.” Liam cleared his throat.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“You liked her. Still do?” Conrad winced. “Time to fix that mess, bro. What’s the problem these days? Both of you are out of the military. Nothing to stop you.”
Liam cleared his throat again. What was wrong with him? His brother had found a woman at the end of high school and married her right away, which had been a solid idea since she gave birth five months later and because they were still happy. The girls were great.
Liam had never had a successful relationship in his life. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“Sure.”
Liam frowned.
“Mr. SWAT Team Sergeant. Super cop, kicking in doors and cuffing bad guys.”
“And yet I can’t seem to get a woman to do more than look twice.” Not that this conversation related to Roxie. Their thing was so over it was almost like it had never begun. Liam folded his arms, trying not to be defensive, but this was his brother. Conrad knew.
“It’s not about anyone. It’s about someone. And I’m guessing it’s this Roxie.”
“Anne.” Why would she have changed her name and then come to his hometown?
“Roxanne?”
Liam frowned. “Huh. Maybe.” He’d been so spun out at seeing her, hearing a new name, he hadn’t even put that together. But it was entirely possible. “Okay, so I’m losing my mind.”
Conrad grinned. “That means there’s something to figure out. If you’ve barely spoken and you’re already losing your mind.”
“I don’t have time for this.” Liam blew out a short breath. “Vanguard is reopening a case related to Dad’s death. They’re going to pull the file and look over everything.”
Between work and family, he hardly had time to worry about Roxie being here. If he was honest, he actually liked that name for her. It suited the woman he’d known, who gave all the guys a run for their money and looked better doing it.
She’d captivated everyone—him especially.
“And you think there’s something to find? Maybe there should be.” Conrad turned to look at his sauce. “Could be about time.”
“It’s not good, Con. It’s really bad.”
“Why?” Conrad looked over. “What’s there to find? Dad was shot. The guy who did it died a few days later. What would it hurt to review everything?” He started stirring his sauce again.
“Now it’s your turn to spill.”
“Because you bared your soul to me over a woman that has you in knots?” Conrad chuckled. He tapped the spoon on the side of the pot and then set it in a dish on the counter by the stove burners. “I’d rather talk about Roxie.”
