Dishonorable Conduct

Chapter Seven

Mitch was sitting next to the pool at his hotel when two men approached him.

"Can I help you?" he asked. The two men continued their approach, and one reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

"We can do this two ways. One, you come willingly and get this over quickly, or two, you put up a fight and we arrest you," one of them said. Mitch stared at them, then sighed, standing up. He then followed them out to their car.

* * *

"Why did you come home from a trip overseas?" Charles asked Mitch. The men sat in the interrogation room, staring at one another.

"I already told you, because I felt like it," Mitch grumbled, causing a sigh to escape Charles. The detective pulled out a folder, opened it, then pointed to a highlighted line of text.

"Records show that you received a call from a burner cell. Who was it?" Charles asked calmly. Mitch sat straighter, peering at the report while at the same time watching Charles.

"Fine, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay?" he said. Charles nodded quickly, and Mitch began to talk.

"About a week ago, I got a call from Rick, saying he was in trouble. I thought he was just trying to get me to come home for a holiday, since they had used that tactic before. Then, when I learned that he was found dead, I..." Mitch trailed off, debating on how to continue. "I wished I had a time machine so I could go back and listen to him. I wish I had come back when he called."

"Why did he think he was in trouble?" Charles asked.

"He said that someone had set traps in his office a few days in a row last month, and that they had started appearing again. He said that his co-workers had seen someone going in and out of his office often, but couldn't give him an accurate description. Finally, he told me that-" Mitch took a deep breath, "-he had noticed a car following him all around town; it didn't matter which way he turned, they car turned and continued to follow him.

"If you've ever known my brother, you'd know he wasn't one to tell others about his problems; he'd always find a way to deal with them himself. I don't know why I didn't realize that sooner, when he called." Mitch hung his head. "I should've known."