Blake and I walked into Cal Potter’s office and asked him what he could tell us about Isaac.
He said, “I looked him up after you called this morning and about all I can tell you it that, yes, he was born here four years ago. The birth was routine, no issues with delivery. I’m sure you already know, he was given up by the birth parents and was released to his adoptive parents two days later. The folks at St Francis handle the adoption process.”
I nodded, “yes, we do know all of that, do your records give the name of the birth parents?”
He shook his head, “no, it was a closed adoption, but even if the birth parents were listed, I probably couldn’t tell you because of HIPPA laws.”
I knew that was the answer I was going to get, but I had to try.
Blake asked, “so you said birth parents, does that mean both the mother and father were present at the birth?”
Cal looked at his computer screen, “I can’t say for sure that they were both present at the birth, but the birth certificate lists a mother and a father, they are redacted on my copy, of course. Usually if it’s only the mother, and the father is not involved, they will list the father as unknown. What I know about adoption laws is that if a father is listed, both he and the mother need to sign to relinquish their parental rights.”
We asked Cal a few more questions, I knew we wouldn’t get much new information due to privacy laws. I was glad that we did confirm everything that the Groves and Lawsons had told us. It also confirmed that the parents or the neighbors weren’t hiding anything. I hope the adoption agency will be able to provide a little more insight.
As we left Cal’s office, Blake said, “you go get Lucas, I’ll meet you in the cafeteria.”
As I walked into the lab and saw Lucas looking into that microscope, I immediately remembered the first time I met him.
***
Ridge Flashback.
I was in the last couple of months of my enlistment in the army. I had become close friends with Bill Murphy, or as we called him, Murph. We each had two weeks leave coming to us.
He asked, “what are you going to do on your leave, Ridge?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know, I guess I’ll sit around here and try to decide if I am going to reenlist or see if I can find a job. What about you?”
He smiled, “I’m going to Miami with my girlfriend, her family is there. Do you have a girlfriend or a family you want to go visit?”
I chuckled, “nope, no family, no girlfriend, I can’t even say I have any real friends.”
Murph paused for a moment, “well, I’m your friend, you could come to Miami with me. My girlfriend could probably even fix you up with one of her friends, if you want her to.”
I shook my head, “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to be a third wheel, and I’m afraid I wouldn’t be too interested in any of your girlfriend’s friends.”
He nodded, “I guess what I heard was true then. My girlfriend does have a few guy friends.”
I laughed, “thanks Murph, but I don’t want to intrude.”
He said, “you won’t be intruding, if nothing else, you can just spend a few days relaxing on the beach while you think about your future.”
After I thought about it for a few days and Murph constantly pestering me, I decided to go to Miami, a couple of days on the beach sure did sound good. I hadn’t had a real vacation in the two years I was in the army, well actually, I had never had a real vacation. I insisted on staying in a hotel and getting my own rental car, I didn’t want to intrude on Murph’s time with his girlfriend. We did meet for lunch on a couple of days, and I was invited to Murph’s girlfriend’s parents’ house for dinner one night. I spent the rest of my days on the beach or driving around Miami seeing the sights. I had never been to Miami before and the more I drove around the more I liked it.
I went to a diner for breakfast one morning and sat at the counter and ordered my bacon and eggs. As my waitress brought my food, a man in a suit took the seat beside me and ordered a coffee and a muffin.
The waitress smiled as she set the cup in front of him, “so George, are you working on a big case today?”
He chuckled, “not really, just trying to find a guy who has been writing bad checks.”
The waitress looked at me and nodded toward George, “he’s a big-time cop on the Miami Police Department, so be careful.”
An hour later George and I were still talking about his work on the Miami Police Department and my work as an MP in the army. George told me about a training program the department had for new officers and that my MP background would be a big asset in getting a job. That afternoon I went to the police department and after an interview was accepted into their training program. A few weeks later, I was leaving Missouri and on my way to Florida to start my post-army life.
I found a small apartment and started my training, it was a lot like my army training, but with more of an emphasis on robbery and drug crimes. While those things weren’t unheard of in the army, they were certainly more prevalent in the civilian world. I tried to take the best training from both, and I found that I was really enjoying the investigation portion of my training. The investigating I did in the army was mostly background checks, now it was looking at clues and trying to tie those together to solve a case.
I passed my training and began my career with the Miami Police Department as a patrol officer. I had been on the job about six months when I and my partner, Mike Wilks, were called to a robbery scene. A house in a middle-class neighborhood had been broken into, the robber gained entry through a window on a side of the house that was not visible from the street. It was the third such robbery in the area in the last two weeks, Mike and I had provided patrol support on all three calls. Once the area was secured by several of the other patrol officers, Mike and I were aiding the detectives as they worked the scene. I noticed that all three robberies were very similar, and as I looked at the three houses that were robbed, they all looked the same as well. I also noticed that there was a different lead detective in each case.
Todd Green was the lead in this scene, I walked around to the window that had been used for entry as he was looking it over for any clues.
He shook his head as I approached him, he looked at my name tag and said, “I hate these cases Ridgeway, these thieves are pretty slick, we never solve these.”
I nodded, “yes sir, but this one looks just like the other two, this thief has a pattern.”
He gave me a disgusted look, “what did you say?”
I swallowed hard, “I’m sorry sir, I don’t mean to overstep my bounds, but this is the third call like this I have been on in the last two weeks. They are all the same, entry is gained at the side window, the perps steal any electronics they can easily carry, and any cash or jewelry that may be laying around.”
He looked at me again, “and what else have you noticed?”
I asked, “is the room on the other side of that window the laundry room and was the back door unlocked?”
Green yelled, “Jack, does this window lead to the laundry room?”
Another detective disappeared into the house and reappeared at the window, “yeah, this is a laundry room, why?”
Green asked, “and the back door?”
Jack said, “it was open, that’s the way we think he left, we found tracks leading to that back alley, we think his car was parked there. What’s going on?”
Green looked at me, “What else smart guy?”
I said, “well sir, like I said, this is the third house in the last two weeks, the other two are within three blocks of this one. When these developments are built, there are usually only about 4 or 5 contractors building the houses. They each only use 2 or maybe 3 floorplans, all three of the robbed houses are the same, they just painted the exterior a different color. Again, I don’t want to overstep here, but I would find the construction company that built these houses, it looks like the robber knows the floorplan, he may be an ex or current employee.”
Detective Green and Jack just looked each other, Green said, “Jesus Christ.” He pulled out his phone and began talking, “I’m at a robbery on Lexington St. Have there been two other break ins in this neighborhood?”
“Ok, who were the leads?”
“I’m on my way back to the station, tell them both I want to see them as soon as I get there.”
Detective Green turned to Jack, “finish processing the scene, have him help you.” He turned away and drove off.
Mike and I helped Jack for the rest of the afternoon, I was still unsure if I pissed Detective Green off or not. Jack just looked at me and shrugged, “I don’t know kid, I’m sure he will let you know the next time he sees you.”
The next morning, Mike and I were turning in our paperwork from the day before, as we walked down the hall, I heard someone yell, “Ridgeway, come with me.”
I quickly turned to see Detective Green at the other end of the hall, his hands on his hips.
Mike said, “I’ll turn your report in, you better go, he looks pissed.”
I took a deep breath as I walked down the hall and followed Green into the captain’s office.
The captain looked over the top of his glasses and sighed, “what is it Green?”
Green said, “this is the one I was telling you about, a damn patrol officer telling me how to solve a case.” He turned to me and asked, “how long have you been on the department?”
I said, “a little over six months, sir.”
Green rolled his eyes, “Jesus Christ, a fucking rookie just solved the case. This is why I have been telling you we need to split up into teams. One for robbery, one for homicide and one for missing persons.”
The captain looked at me, “how did you know all three of those break ins were related?”
I swallowed hard, “I was at all three scenes, aiding in the investigation, sir.”
Green said, “see, I told you captain, we had three leads and none of us talked to each other, we all thought we had separate cases. The pattern was simple, and Ridgeway was right, we found the builder of those houses and one of their employees was off work on the days of the break ins. We found most of the stolen goods in his garage. If Jenkins, Hansen or I would have been the leads on all three calls, we would have figured it out too.”
Captain shook his head, “ok Green, I get your point. I’ll bring it up at my next meeting with the commissioner.”
Detective Green and I were dismissed from the captain’s office and as I turned to go meet Mike, Green said, “thanks kid, and keep up the good work.”
I was relieved that I wasn’t in trouble and was feeling pretty good about myself. I was glad that I spoke up and that I was able to use all my training. About a month later, I was summoned to the captain’s office again.
Captain said, “have a seat Ridgeway.” Detective Green was sitting in the chair next to me.
He continued, “Green is getting his way, we have divided our lead detectives into new teams, and he is going to head up our missing persons team.”
Green interrupted, “I want you on my team, report to me on Monday morning.”
Captain chuckled, “relax Green, let’s ask the young man if wants to be on your team.”
I said, “yes sir, I do want to be on your team.”
Captain laughed again, “fine, I’ll get all the paperwork completed and yes you can start Monday.”
Our new team got along well, there were three of us, Green, Jack Meyer, the other detective from the robbery scene, and me. We started on all the open missing person cases first thing on Monday. Jack and Green were going out and conducting interviews and following leads, while I was doing background checks getting information on our victims and suspects. It was a lot like what I did in Germany, so I was happy to help. As we were working on one of those cases, Jack gave me some blood samples that we needed to have analyzed, I headed to the lab in the basement.
As I walked into the lab, a man in a white lab coat was leaning over a microscope, I cleared my throat and said, “excuse me.”
I gasped when he turned to face me, God, he was beautiful. Dirty blonde hair, a sweet smile and the most gorgeous blue eyes I had ever seen. The first thing that came to my mind was that he was the cutest, nerdy, lab geek that I had ever laid my eyes upon.
He smiled, “hey, how can I help you?”
I stuttered, “I have, um… I need to get, well, I mean this is for you.”
He laughed, “thank you, I’m sorry, but I didn’t get you anything.”
I finally gathered my thoughts, “no, I’m Rake Dridgeway, with the missing persons squad, I need these samples analyzed.”
I shook my head as I realized what I said, I corrected myself, “I’m Drake Ridgeway.”
He was still laughing, “well, Rake or Drake, whichever it is, I would love to analyze your samples.”
I composed myself, I said, “please call me Ridge.”
He said, “ok Ridge, I’m Lucas Mills, if you give me the chain of custody papers, I’ll sign those, and I will get started as soon as I finish the analysis I have already started.”
I smiled, “thanks, you can call me at extension 1429 when you are done, and I’ll come back down to pick up the results.”
Our eyes had remained locked on each other during the entire exchange, Lucas said, “I’ll be happy to call you, but I think I will call you Drake instead of Ridge, I like Drake better.”
I just stood there with and goofy smile and nodded, “that’s fine.” Even though I hated people using that name, I would let this guy call me anything he wanted.
I went back to my desk and tried to get back to work, my mind constantly drifting back to Lucas and his beautiful eyes. The next day when he called to tell me the report was ready, I nearly ran down to the lab, I couldn’t wait to see Lucas again.
He greeted me with that sweet smile as I walked into the lab, I was a little smoother with my conversation this time, at least I don’t think I sounded like an idiot. He gave me the report and I headed back upstairs to pass the information onto Green and Jack. The case took some turns, so I was able to not think about Lucas for a couple of days, but I was sure dreaming about him every night.
On Friday afternoon, I went to the breakroom for a cup of coffee, my heart skipped a beat when I saw Lucas there doing the same thing.
He smiled, “hey Drake, how’s it going?”
I returned the smile, “good, how about you?”
He nodded, “going well thanks, how’s is your investigation going?”
I said, “yeah, ok, fine, I guess. So do you ever go out for a drink?”
He chuckled, “Drake, are you asking me out for a date?”
I stuttered, “I just thought… if you want… I don’t even know if you are… shit, I’m sorry I don’t…”
Lucas shook his head and smiled, “relax Drake, yes, I am gay, and I would love to go out for drinks with you.”
I sighed, “thanks, how does tomorrow night at the Pink Parrot sound.”
He smiled, “it sounds great, 8 o’clock?”
I nodded, “8 is perfect, see you then.”
I was much more relaxed when we met for drinks and the conversation flowed flawlessly. I told Lucas about my childhood and my stint in the army.
He said, “I am so sorry you had to grow up like that, I almost feel guilty for having such a great family.”
I shook my head, “no need to feel guilty, we just have to play the cards we are dealt in life.”
Lucas then told me about his life and all about his best friend Travis, a tear rolled down his cheek as he told me about Jace.
I took his hand, “wow, that is so sad, he sounds like a special guy.”
He squeezed my hand, “he is, especially next to Brody.”
I made up my mind right there, I was never going to hurt Lucas, he had already endured all the pain he needed to.
After that first night, we saw each other every weekend but were careful at work. We both agreed to not go public with our relationship just yet. As we had neared one month of dating, Lucas invited me to his apartment for dinner. He opened the door with a smile and gave me a kiss as I walked in, causing me to smile. We hadn’t been physical yet, with hearing about Jace and how Brody hurt Lucas, I wanted to let him initiate it. We kissed, but that was as far as we took things.
I said, “wow, something smells good.”
He took the bottle of wine that I brought and said, “I hope you like lasagna, this wine will go great with our meal.”
I smiled, “yeah, I do like lasagna, I just have never learned to make it, so I don’t have it very often.”
Lucas said, “it’s my mom’s recipe, she’s a great cook.”
I opened the wine and poured two glasses as Lucas pulled the lasagna from the oven and set the salad on the table. It was the best meal I think I have ever had in my entire life. After seconds on the lasagna and finishing off the bottle of wine, Lucas and I were sitting on his couch holding each other.
He asked, “do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
I said, “no, nothing exciting, did you want to get together and do something?”
Lucas shrugged, “I was thinking that we could have breakfast together.”
I smiled, “sure, that would be great, did you want to meet at a restaurant?”
He paused, “well, I was thinking we could cook breakfast here.”
I said, “yeah, that would be great, I have some bacon and eggs, I can bring them along when I come over.”
Lucas sighed, “Drake, I have bacon and eggs in the fridge, and bread for toast and orange juice. I am asking you if you want to spend the night.”
The light in my brain finally lit up, “oh, yeah, I would love to spend the night. Are you sure you want me to.”
Lucas gave me a kiss, “yes, I am very sure.”
He pulled me to my feet and led me to the bedroom, we continued to kiss as we shed our clothes. I paused to get a good look at Lucas, damn, that white lab coat had been hiding a perfect body. Two pert nipples in the center of his well-defined smooth chest, his thin stomach with just a hint of a six-pack. A fine light treasure trail led from his small outie belly button to his magnificent uncut dick. He smiled as he pulled me in for another kiss as our now hard cocks smeared precum all over each other’s stomachs. We fell onto the bed and positioned ourselves into a sixty-nine, he tasted amazing. We only released each other’s cock to give the other’s nuts a lick or suck. We each ran a finger over the other’s hole, causing me to sigh in pleasure. Lucas pulled away from me and began to rim me, the disappointment I felt from losing his cock in my mouth was quickly replaced with pure ecstasy as his tongue worked over my hole. After a few minutes, I was begging Lucas to impale me with his love stick. I spread my legs as wide as I could and pulled them into the air, holding on to my ankles. He leaned for another kiss as he penetrated me until he was balls deep in my love tunnel. We continued to kiss as Lucas slowly pistoned in and out, every nerve ending in my body was dancing. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his back, never wanting to let him go. When Lucas announced he was getting close, I just tightened my grip on him, I wanted to be bread. Lucas pushed in as far as he could as he exploded, leaving the first of many deposits that would mark me as his own. He panted as we kissed, and his deflating manhood slipped from my cum-fill hole. I finally released my death grip as Lucas smiled at me and then began kissing his way down my hairy chest and stomach. I sighed as he wrapped his lips around my still rock-hard cock, and he fondled my swollen nuts. He gave my cock one last lick and grinned up at me, “your turn to fill me with your seed.”
I was too worked up to argue as Lucas rolled onto his stomach, with a pillow under his waist and his ass in the air. I quickly gave his tasty hole a few licks, coating it in my saliva. I crawled on top of Lucas as I aimed my pole at its target and kissed the back of his neck. He began push his ass back to meet my thrusts as my nuts began to tighten. Lucas’s ass was so warm and tight, I knew I wasn’t going to last long. I gave one last push and unloaded the biggest load I had shot in a long time, I lost count of the spasms that filled Lucas’s guts. I fell limp on top of Lucas as I tried to catch my breath.
I rolled onto my back as Lucas followed and we shared another kiss, he said, “that was incredible.”
I nodded in agreement, “yes it was, I think I love you.”
I saw a tear run down his cheek as he laid his head on my chest.
***
Blake and I finished our lunch with Lucas at the hospital cafeteria, we had a 1:30 meeting scheduled with Donna Hogan at the St Francis office. I was hoping she would be able to give a little more information on Isaac’s adoption.
The receptionist greeted us as we walked in, she said, “Donna is waiting for you, please go right in. Her office is the first door on the right.”
Donna was franticly typing on her keyboard as we walked in, I introduced Blake and myself as she stood up.
She said, “detectives, I think we have a problem. When you called asking about the Grove adoption, I looked the file up on the computer, just to remind myself of the details. Well, we have a tracking system on all closed adoption files, and this is not good.”
“What’s the problem Mrs. Hogan?” I asked.
She sighed, “the file was accessed last week, by someone who didn’t have the proper authorization.”
To be continued…
