“Long time, no see,” Brian said as he walked around the counter. He extended his hand to Jude and pulled him in for a quick hug. When he stepped back, he gave a quick little nod to Snow. “Are you and the mister enjoying a day off?”
“Actually, I was looking for you,” Jude said. He paused and cleared his throat. “When was the last time you and Jordan hung out?”
Brian made a noise and shook his head. “I haven’t seen Jordan in person in probably six months. Maybe even longer.”
“What? I don’t get it. You were always close.”
Brian gave an awkward shrug and moved from one foot to the next. He stared at the ground, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Yeah, well…things change, I guess.”
“Don’t give me that shit, Bri.”
Brian’s expression hardened when he looked up at Jude again. “Man, I don’t mean no disrespect, Jude. I’ve always liked you, but Jordan’s gotten to be kind of a dick. Ever since he started working that construction job, he just kind of blew me off like he was too good to hang out with me. He stopped answering my text messages, and he says he doesn’t have any interest in just kicking back with some video games or movies.”
“And you said you last saw him six months ago?” Snow said.
“Yeah…he stopped in one evening. Bought a new hat. We talked for a while. He was acting cool and said we should get together at his place to watch a movie. I even offered to bring the pizza. When I texted the next day to work out some plans, he never answered.” Brian shrugged again. “I got the fucking picture, so I stopped trying.”
“Did he ever mention to you who he was hanging out with? Or did he come in here with anyone?”
Brian shook his head. “He was alone that last time I saw him. What’s going on?”
Jude turned and walked toward the entrance of the store, shoving both hands through his hair. This didn’t make any sense. Who the hell was Jordan hanging out with? Why would he stop talking to the guy who had been his best friend for years?
“Jordan was found shot and beaten the other night,” Snow said in a low voice.
“Oh, fuck!” Brian cried. There was a soft scrape of shoes on the floor like the man had stumbled back a step.
“He’s in a coma now, but we’re trying to determine how this happened to him,” Snow continued.
“I’m so sorry. I have no idea how this could have happened to him. He and I…we just don’t talk anymore. I always kind of wondered if it was because I was going to college and didn’t do construction like him, but he’s always known I wanted to work in computers and coding,” Brian babbled. Jude turned to see the younger man shake his head. “What hospital is he in? Can I go see him?”
“He’s at UC, but they aren’t letting visitors back. Just immediate family.”
“Well, if there’s anything I can do to help you or your mom. You guys always treated me like family when we were growing up.”
Jude walked over to the counter and grabbed a pen and the first piece of paper he could find. After quickly scribbling down two sets of numbers, he handed it over to Brian. “This is my cell number and Snow’s cell. If you can think of anything that might help, anyone that you know Jordan was hanging out with, please contact me or Snow.”
“Oh yeah, of course!”
Jude led the way out of the store and through the mall. When he reached a quiet section, he dropped down onto an empty bench while Snow sat down beside him. A large hand settled on the back of his neck and started to rub in slow circles, easing some of the tension that was tightening all the muscles in his neck and shoulders.
“I just don’t get it,” Jude muttered under his breath. “Jordan has known Brian forever. They were inseparable for years. Why would he suddenly stop hanging out with him?”
“Do you think they might have had an argument about a girl?” Snow suggested.
Jude shook his head. “Brian would have mentioned it. The kid has always been a straight shooter. He reminds me of you—no filter between his brain and his mouth. If he and Jordan fought over a girl, Brian would have said that Jordan was being a douchebag about some girl.”
“Then it sounds like Jordan made a new set of friends who might have gotten him into some dangerous shit.”
“Like what?” Jude snapped. “Drugs? Gangs?” Jude shook his head again and then pushed to his feet as renewed nervous energy filled him. “He knows better than that crap. I pounded that idea into his head so many times as he was growing up. He’s too smart for it. I know Jordan. He wouldn’t do that.”