“No matter what, it’s going to be a shock. I wouldn’t wait too long. I know how I felt being left out of the loop, Brice. Even now I believe there are things you know that you’re not telling us.”
Brice gave him a blank stare. It wasn’t the answer he wanted. He’d have liked Brice to deny it and say there was nothing left unsaid.
“Is it about our mothers?” Alex asked.
“No. And not something anyone needs to worry about.” Brice turned and headed toward the door. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to say goodnight to my wife and kids before it gets too late.”
Brice didn’t wait for a response and left; Alex and Dean stared at each other. “That was strange.”
“No. That’s Brice. He’s holding back something he thinks is in our best interest. I say we find out what the hell that is when we get back to Boston.”
“Alex, I’m all in as long as you don’t put me in one of your books.”
He laughed. “If I do, I’ll make sure to portray the character as a nice guy so no one will know it’s you.”
“Can you make me a few inches taller too? I seemed to have also gotten screwed out of the tall gene,” Dean added jokingly.
“While I’m at it, I’ll make you good-looking.”
“Since we’re both stuck sitting here with nothing to do, why don’t we grab a beer?”
“Beer sounds good. I know just the place.”
It was a place Ziva had taken him on their way back from the prison. It had been the first time either of them had let their guard down.
They headed out the door when Dean added, “Great, and you can tell me all about you and Ziva.”
Alex didn’t want to talk about her. Not to Dean or anyone else. “I have a few other topics I think we should discuss instead.”
Dean laughed. “That bad, huh? Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out. Just takes us Hendersons a bit longer to get it through our thick skulls.”
“That’s an understatement.” He wasn’t going to argue with Dean. Hendersons were difficult people to love. It took special people to put up with them. At one point I really thought Ziva may have been that person for me. But she’s made it clear we won’t have anything. I wanted solitude. Looks like I’m going to get it.