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“It was just like a casual Wednesday night when he walked into my store. It was unseasonably hot for the city. Earlier that day the sun was beating down on the street, Like an alcoholic drunk on an unwed mother.”
“Dude.”
“The trench coat that he was wearing spoke volumes of mystery. Who was he? Was he in trouble? Did he know that I was the only one capable of giving him what he needed?”
“Dude!”
“Dean, what are you doing?”
“Nothing Sam, why? What's up?”
“That monologue that you just did, that wasn’t just in your head. You were talking out loud. You even scared away my customer. What was that by the way? Some half ass intro to one of your old detective movies? You know you're not a real detective, right?”
“Sorry Sammy I didn’t mean to scare away the one good sale you had all day but as technical sales reps for an electronics store, we have to be part detective.”
“I’m sorry did you guys just say you were detectives?”
And like that the angel in a trench coat was right in front of me. Eyes bluer than the clearest ocean. Chiseled jaw that went with that five o'clock shadow. I waited for him to speak again so that I could fully memorize that rough voice.
“ I’m sorry did you guys just say that you were detectives?”
Dean pulls Sam to the side first before he answers, “Did.. did you just hear me talk out loud about his voice and eyes?”
“No. why?”
“Good, now I'm only talking in my head.” I look back at the angel in need. “Amature detectives actually, But we have several wins under our belt.”
I lie to the angel, my angel to keep him from leaving, then turn to my brother for confirmation. He looks at me puzzled, He knows that I'm still doing the dialog in my head.
“What is it that you need help with?” I ask in an effort to make it look like I knew what I was doing.
“It's a missing persons case. My brother Gabriel has been missing for a while now.”
Sam breaths a sign of relief, “Missing persons huh? How long has he been gone for? One to two days?”
“Four years.”
“Dean, can I talk to you for a minute?”
I go to the corner to discuss private matters.
“Dean, there's more than a good chance that his brother is dead. And any clue we would have about him or his whereabouts have long been gone with him.”
“Excuse me, I need some help choosing a router.”
Sam turns to the customer, “Just one minute ma’am. Dean, I'm gonna go do my job what we are paid to do. You need to let this guy know that you won't be taking his case.”
I walk towards my angel deep in thought looking for a way to let him down, “What was your name again?”
“Castiel.”
“Well I'm sorry Castiel, me and my brother won't be able to do anything for you.”
Those blue eyes that had me mesmerized began to fade a little.
“I mean, me and my brother would not be able to do anything for you yet . We are still on the clock. Just go ahead and write down your name and number and we will do our best to help your situation.”
After the angel writes down his information I try to nonchalantly walk towards Sam. But looking at my behavior he already knows that…I…Fucked…Up.
“Dammit, Dean.”
“What?”
“Did you turn him down?”
“I wanted to; honestly, I did. But I felt guilty. And that's why I'm here, I need your help Sam. You took some criminology classes in college right?”
“No.”
“What do you mean no? I remember you talking about them.”
“No, I mean No, I’m not gonna help you.”
“Come on Sammy, look I made a mistake with this stranger. Help me make it right.”
Sam thankfully came around to helping me out. He deduced that we can get some information about the missing person from his old yearbook. Looking, we were able to find old acquaintances. And numbers for them hopefully. We went to my angel's house in hopes of finding his brother's yearbook or any belongings that could lead to his whereabouts. Cas had no knowledge of anything left behind by the police but stated that we were welcome into his brother’s room. I asked him to come with us so he could answer any questions we had. But really, I just wanted more time to get to know my new spirit.
“Look Sammy, there's a couple of pics highlighted with numbers under them. Cas, who is this Lucy Pentragras?”
“It's one of Gabe’s old flames; I’m surprised that I remember her name. Gabe had so many women chasing after him.”
I leaned in to get a better look of his reaction, “Jealous?”
“Not really. I don’t follow in my brother's footsteps if you catch my understanding.”
“I think I do; now who is this other guy with her in this picture?”
It’s the first time I caught my angel give a look of disgust, “That’s Damien, Damien Brooks.”
Sam leans in for a better look, “Why does that name sound so familiar?”
Cas looks up at Sam, “His father is Judge Brooks.”
Sam slaps me on the shoulder, “That's right. I can see why you hate him. Even in this picture he looks like an asshole.”
“Me and my brother Gabe have always had a problem with that family. And Damien was always in competition with my brother. Damien would get the girls with his power and influence and Gabe would trod in with his pure animal magnetism and whisk them away. Lucy was their last target before he went missing. If I’m willing to bet anything, I bet that that guy had something to do with his disappearance, and Lucy may know why.”
I look at my angel in a serious tone, “Okay walk me step by step on the day your brother disappeared. Was he acting weird?”
“No.”
“Did anything happen after he disappeared?”
“Damien went on a three month vacation right after Gabe’s disappearance and Lucy went to go stay with her aunt.”
“Does she still live around here?”
“She moved back a year ago. Her aunt claims she can’t handle her but really, I think it was because she just turned eighteen and the State wouldn’t help pay for her anymore.”
We make our way to Lucy’s new residence and are greeted by overgrown shrubbery with appliances in the front lawn. I knock on the door like the police, hoping to get her attention.
“Can I help you?” a young woman appears behind her screen door, still locked.
“Why yes I’m Dean, this is my brother Sam, we are private detectives. We are looking for a Lucy Pentragras.”
I flash her my work badge, hoping she wouldn’t catch on. She looks more timid than the pictures we saw her in, she unlocks her door as she steps outside, “We can talk out here.”
“Okay, me and my brother are looking into the missing persons report about Gabriel Novak. We just want to ask you a few questions about him.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Well the two of you were dating before he disappeared.”
“We weren’t dating.”
“That's right you were dating Mr. Brooks.”
“I wasn’t dating him either.”
“Ma’am, the pictures we saw speak a thousand words and looks like you had your hands full.”
“Then look again! I was never with Damien or Gabriel. I couldn't be! it was all for show for Damien’s father. Damien and Gabriel asked for my help and I agreed.”
“Tell us why?” Sam moved away in disbelief.
“Because they both loved each other !”
“So what? Damien’s bigoted father didn’t want a gay son?” I ask, incredulously.
“Judge Brooks didn’t care if his son was gay or straight. All that meant for him is another campaign strategy or another way to garner influence.”
“Then why all the secrecy?” Sam asks.
“Damien saw how corrupt his father became and wanted nothing to do with it. So he hid his real life from his father. He even hid the people he dated for a while. He tried to hide Gabe, but the Judge found out. The next week, Gabe goes missing and Damien’s off to a resort for three months. And me myself, the cops found several ounces of crack in my locker. I had a choice: go to my drug addicted aunt or face a trial.”
“Thank you ma’am if we have any more questions we’ll be in touch. C’mon Sammy.”
***
“So you're saying that my brother was dating Damien? Why would he keep this from me?”
I placed my notes in full view so Cas could see everything, ”Maybe because of the bad blood you have with them? Why is that?”
“Judge Brooks locked up our father. It seemed like everyone was in on it including the lawyers. We tried to get it appealed but the Judge kept shooting it down. So you're saying he’s responsible? You're saying Judge Brooks.. killed my brother?”
I plead to my angel in an attempt to calm him down, “Look, all we have is this story. We don't have any evidence to prove any wrongdoing. We need to confront Damien and get him to confess to helping his father cover up the murder. Do you know where he lives?”
“He still lives with his dad, and his dad is gone for the week.”
Sam sets his duffle on the table, “Good, we will leave at night.”
Me and my group wait patiently in the car for the lights at the manor to cut off. The last light goes off in the living room and we can trace Damien making his way towards his bed. The way into the house was quite easy for us since some of the doors were left unlocked. You would think that a Judge would be more into keeping his possessions safe and locked up. We finally make it to Damien’s room and see his body half anchored to the bed. I shut the door loudly to wake him up.
“Who's there?!”
“We are all friends of Gabriel and we have a few questions for you. Like, why did you help your dad cover up your boyfriend's murder?”
“Wha- What the fuck? You don’t know what you're talking about. Who are you?”
“The Judge finds out about your boy toy. The next week, Gabe goes missing and you're off to a resort and spa? Tell me I’m wrong.”
“That's not how it happened!”
“Did you even love Gabe?”
“Get out of my house! Now!”
“We are not going anywhere until you tell us why you're covering for your dad,” Sam says.
I see Damien on the verge of a breakdown knowing something doesn’t add up, “Word around town is you hate your father, you wouldn't go to this length to protect him. Which means your father didn't kill Gabe. You did.”
“It was an accident! I-I-I would never hurt him; I couldn’t.”
“What happened then?” Dean asks, stepping a little closer to his bed.
“Me and Gabe were fooling around in my dad’s bedroom since he was gone for the weekend. He began to develop a headache and he looked into my father’s drawer for some aspirin. The pills he found had no marker on them. I told him to take one but he said he could handle it. I thought he could; minutes later, he was on the ground foaming at the mouth. I called my father to help but by the time he arrived, Gabe was already deceased. My dad found me on the ground hugging my knees crying. He kissed me on the forehead and told me to go to bed and that it will all be taken care of. I should have known something was off because he never did that before. The next morning, Gabe’s body was gone. No news about it or even indications that he stayed the night. Dad tells me to take a seat then he proceeds to tell me that the drugs Gabe took were illegal. I asked him where the body was. I pleaded with him and even threatened to go to the papers. All that did was make my dad hire a bunch of psychiatrists to state that I was unwell and needed to be locked up at the local nut house. I’ve always wanted to tell you, but was too ashamed of my actions. I’m so sorry, Castiel.”
I look at my angel, the grace I once saw in him is now tarnished by everything that came to light.
“So what’s the plan, Cas?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m gonna be honest, I built up this character in my head since the first day we met. This Cas that I have in my head wants justice for his brother and I want to help give it to him.”