Chapter Twenty-One
Behind the glass partition of the Denver Sheriff’s waiting room, Cai huddled to check his phone as far as he could from his brother, Austin, and Riley. He sat cross-legged, partially facing the wall to conceal the screen from reflections. After checking over his shoulder, he navigated to the website he used to communicate with Julian.
On the other side of the partition, the lobby’s marble floors echoed chatter, phones ringing, alarms going off, squeaks and clacks from shoes, as well as the static from police radios. A constant flow of people moved in and out. The distraction of noise and movement rattled Cai’s nerves and made it difficult to type. What genius thought of marble floors in a building where people constantly walked in and out in dress shoes? Whoever it was also thought that the waiting room only needed a plexiglass partition. Didn’t they know it made everything louder and more irritating? Cai’s hand-tremors caused several mistaken keypresses. He was ready to scream.
Everything was loud.
Everything was wrong.
Everything irritated him.
Loud.
Loud.
“You doing okay?” Riley asked.
The phone flew out of Cai’s hand. He jumped to his feet and snatched it off the floor and then pocketed it quickly.
“Yes. Fine.”
“Cai?” Riley came up behind him to whisper in his ear.
“Hm?”
“Were you looking at porn?”
Oh no. “Not…um…not really?” Cai brought his fingers up to chew at the nails, but with none left, he attacked his cuticles.
“Bubblebuttboyz.com?”
Crap. Though, at this point, the secret hardly mattered. One less burden. He made eye-contact in the glass and then turned slightly with a wince. “Okay, don’t get mad.”
“Let’s go over the last three times you’ve made that statement.” Riley held up a finger. “You—”
Cai grabbed his hand. “It’s how I communicate with Julian and Rachel.”
“I didn’t see any mail from that address.”
Well, now Cai knew why they hadn’t confiscated this phone. They’d been waiting for him to contact Julian. He’d guessed it would happen but, with all the encrypted apps he could use, he thought they wouldn’t risk leaving him with a phone. Considering the circumstances, he couldn’t really be mad about Riley being sneaky. “We… hide short messages in the Terms of Services page.”
“Sometimes I wish you were stupid,” Riley said. “What were you typing?”
“Before we left, I told him to meet me here. Was just asking if he was coming. I want to tell him in person about everything.” I need to tell him that I’m sorry I betrayed him. “Will we be done here soon? It’s been two hours.”
“I told you it would take a while to process him.” Riley checked his watch. “You can take my car home and get some sleep, but you’ll need to wait until one of the agents can ride back with you. I’ll call you when his interrogation is finished.”
“I don’t drive much since my meds were upped. I’m okay. Standing helps. It just feels like everything moved really fast after the arrest, and now time is swimming in molasses.” Cai glanced to his left, catching his brother’s concerned blue eyes before he turned to look at the lobby. “Doesn’t help that Peter and Austin are staring at me like I’m going to crack into pieces any second now.”
Riley pulled him close enough to feel his heartbeat against his back. “You’ve given them a lot to worry about.” They received a few curious stares and one scowl from a guard manning the metal detectors.
Cai hooked a hand around Riley’s forearm, relying on that strength to brace him in case he accidentally saw Tommy. He felt protected in Riley’s arms, even from himself. Or maybe Riley was protecting Tommy? Was that paranoid thinking? “I won’t go after him. You know that, right?”
“You don’t know what you’ll do if you see him. They brought him round back to booking, so I’m not overly concerned. Anyway, I’m more worried about your brother than you.”
“Don’t be.”
“Too many witnesses?”
“Yes.”
“There it is,” Riley sighed. “Your assurances don’t have much assurance.”
Cai felt the shake of laughter as his ear was kissed. He turned, capturing Riley’s smile a second before it fell and he whispered, “Shit!”
Following Riley’s line of sight, Cai looked to the main entrance. He gasped and unconsciously pressed his palm against the glass as he twisted to look at Austin. “Oh no!”
By the time Desmond Glass strode through the metal detector, Austin had torn past everyone to block his father’s path. Peter followed close behind. The marble blasted their conversation better than stereo speakers.
“Are you here for Thomas Cole?” Austin demanded.
Under the yellow lights, Desmond’s hair turned from silver to blond as he smoothed it back. “What are you doing here?” Desmond asked while collecting a soft black briefcase off the conveyor belt.
“Answer the damn question!” Austin demanded.
“You know I can’t divulge that information.” Though he appeared relaxed, Desmond clasped both hands over his briefcase, using it as a shield.
Peter spoke into Austin’s ear. Whatever he said made no difference. Austin loved Cai and he barely tolerated his father. This wasn’t going to end well.
When Riley moved to intervene, Cai shook his head. “Don’t. Peter’s the only one he listens to.”
An officer spoke quietly while motioning for them to move away from the crowd.
“Do you know what Cole did? Do you know who he raped?” Austin asked, ignoring the cop. He pointed at Cai. “Tell him you’re going to defend that animal!”
Cai’s hand fell away from the glass, fingers curling into his palms. The muscles in his legs tensed in readiness to run. If not for Riley’s arms tightening around him, he’d be out the door. Everyone stared at him and whispered to each other. Only a few proffered disapproving glares at Austin’s father.
Desmond locked gazes with Cai. His brows drew in, and then he turned back to Austin. “I didn’t—”
“Defend that shitstain and you can kiss me and Stuart goodbye,” Austin continued. “You will never see either of your sons again.”
A few officers edged closer to the two, hands at their tasers or near their guns as they watched warily. More than one directed Austin to calm down and lower his voice.
Riley pulled away again, probably with the intent to help by flashing his badge. “Don’t,” Cai repeated. “I’ll go over. He’ll listen to me. Just give me a second. Don’t let go yet.” Riley’s arms came around him again, wrapping tightly, holding him close. The pain in his heart eased, but not even Riley could diminish the embarrassment. He kept his gaze on the ugly black marble that had broadcasted Austin’s every word.
A rush of whispers deafened Cai for a second, like the hiss of churning water. Then he heard sirens. Someone laughing. He looked around at faces staring at him in a combination of fascination or horror. No one looked amused. But he had heard laughter. He had.
Riley said something, but there was too much noise. More laughter. Louder sirens. He slapped at his ears.
Laughter and sirens.
Cai scratched his face hard.
“Hey.” Riley, loud and present, pulling his hand away from his face. “What are you doing?”
“Sorry. Sorry. Sometimes the pain is helpful. Grounding.”
“I asked four times if you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” Just a little lie. He’d be okay. “Yeah, I’m okay.” The laughter and hissing receded enough to only be mildly distracting. “I’m embarrassed is all.”
“Got to get out. Got to run.”
“Run where?” he whispered
Everyone was staring at him like he was a dissected pig. Why weren’t they watching Austin and his dad? Cai wanted to scream at them, “Look over there!”
Desmond tried to go around Austin, keeping his head down. His face had turned both pale and pink. Austin moved again to block his father’s path.
Like his son, Desmond Glass never backed down from anything. But Austin was Stuart’s legal guardian, and he could make good his threats. Desmond’s attaché case banged against his leg. “The threat is unnecessary, Austin. I had no idea, but I have a duty to meet with my client.”
Angling to pass once again, Desmond was stopped by Austin’s hand on his arm. “Walk away, Dad.”
The pleading note in Austin’s voice spurred Cai into action. Ducking out of Riley’s embrace, he jogged across the lobby and slid between them, and then gently pushed Austin’s chest. The urge to cry made his voice shaky. “It’s okay. If it wasn’t him, it’d be someone else.” Cai couldn’t let the bridge collapse between these two men. Not when it had taken thirty years to build.
“Listen to me,” Austin said, pulling Cai’s chin down to force eye contact. “It can be someone else. It can’t be my family. If he wants to remain family. Understand?”
“I do,” Cai said, “but I don’t think he knew. And I don’t think he would have taken this case if he did.”
Desmond cleared his throat. “If you will all excuse me.”
“Kill him.”
“What?” Cai looked to his right, searching for the voice’s owner, but no one was there.
“It don’t matter,” Peter said, pulling Austin’s shoulder. “We’ll work through thi—Jesus Christ!”
The slim figure standing in front of the revolving door suddenly sprinted forward.
Peter called out, “Dare! Don’t fuckin’ do it! Fuck! Fuck!”
Austin scrambled to stop the attack but he was too late.
Darryl darted by in a blur of orange leather. The metal detectors sounded off. Cops rushed forward but not before Darryl’s fist slammed into Desmond Glass’s face. More alarm bells blasted. As the older man crumpled to the ground, Darryl leapt on top of him, fists pummeling. Dozens of footsteps clattered against the floor. Shouts echoed as guns appeared. A crack like a dried branch snapping in half resounded against the walls. Seconds later, blood poured from Desmond’s nose. Swarms of police descended on Darryl, ripping him away and then slamming him down onto his stomach to cuff him. Before they hauled him away, he tossed his hair out his eyes, and then winked at Cai. His satisfied smirk was plastered across his face until he disappeared behind a pair of security doors.
“Crap. Damn. Hell! My fault. My fault.” Cai laced his fingers behind his head and paced. “Stupid to tell Julian. Stupid.”
“ Save him.”
“Save him? I can’t even save myself!” Cai spun in search of the person, but they’d moved.
Riley cupped his cheek. “Who are you talking to?”
“I…myself. Aloud.” Terror slipped into his chest. He lost his breath. “I was thinking and then said it.”
“Okay.” Riley studied him intensely until Peter and Austin drew his attention away.
“They can’t put him in jail here,” Peter said quietly.
Austin handed his dad a handkerchief. “Dad, listen. Listen! You can’t press charges. Go tell them you’re not pressing charges.”
An officer approached the group. “An ambulance is on the way, sir.”
“You can save him.”
Cai eyed the officer’s gun.
Shut up! Shutupshutupshutup!
Cai covered his ears and then looked around. Why were they all staring at him? He frantically dug his pills out of his pocket.
Desmond sat on the floor while pinching a handkerchief over his nose. The white cloth filled with blood and dripped onto the front of his formerly immaculate dress shirt. His two incredulous brown eyes blinked back at Austin. “He broke my nose and I’m not supposed to press charges?”
“Yeah, and he’s about to get booked and thrown into the same jail where your client is housed. Do you get it?” Austin asked.
Riley stepped in to mediate. “Austin, go with your father to the hospital. I’ll arrange a special holding area for our punchy little friend.” When Austin started to argue, Riley cut him off. “You’re not thinking straight. That was witnessed by fifty police officers. Your father is not going to stop Darryl from getting charged. Go. I’ll make sure he can’t get into more trouble.”
Cai stared down the hallway hoping the doors to the booking area would open again so he could catch a glimpse of his brother. This was his fault. Dare wouldn’t have been here if he hadn’t told Julian. Wait. Cai searched the crowd, then craned to look out the front doors and windows. Where was Julian?
The crowd whispered to each other and cast glances at him. It sounded like thousands of papers rustling against a fan. Cai couldn’t concentrate on the conversation in front of him. He closed his eyes until the noise faded.
“I’m stayin’.” Peter’s low tone implied a threat and dripped with disapproval.
Cai had missed whatever happened between his brother and Riley. And somehow he’d missed Austin leaving with his father. But he’d only been looking for Julian for a few seconds. Hadn’t he?
“I can’t make you go,” Riley said. “But I’m the one who’s going to take him home, Peter.”
“You’re gonna be busy in there tryin’ to help Dare.”
Riley looked at Cai.
Cai stared back. “What?” He wanted to drive something into his eardrums.
“What do you want to do?”
“Me?” Cai asked. They were waiting to hear what he wanted? “Oh. Yes. I’ll go home with him, Rabbit.”
He felt the callouses on Riley’s fingers as they threaded through his. He had his anchor to reality, and he held on to it.
This was real.
The murmurs faded more.
“Rabbit?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be over in a minute. Okay?”
Peter hesitated, as if he didn’t want to leave. “Okay, Cai.” He glanced at their entwined hands and breathed out. “Okay.” His blue eyes were slightly glassy before he turned and left.
“Riles,” Kelly called from across the lobby.
* * *
“What the hell happened?” Kelly asked, her pace slowing as she passed the mess on the floor.
“Darryl didn’t like Cole’s lawyer,” Riley answered. “Took it out on his face.”
“That’s the oldest brother, right?” she asked, eyeing the bloody bandages on the floor. “Damn. Broken nose or worse?”
“Some facial fractures,” Riley said. “Cole will have to wait for another attorney.”
“Guess it could have been worse,” she said, tipping her head for them to move further away.
He extricated his hand from Cai’s. “I need to talk to Kelly. I’ll be close by.” Loathe though he was to leave Cai alone, Riley had to talk to her privately. He breathed a sigh of relief when Peter ran over, wrapping a supportive arm around Cai and then ushered him toward the waiting room.
“We need to get Cole out of holding,” Riley said to Kelly, though he was laser-focused on the two brothers.
Cai crossed his arms and then stuffed his hands under his armpits and paced. He mumbled to himself, while slapping at the air. Peter grabbed Cai’s wrists and said something but, whatever it was, it had little effect. A meltdown was coming, Riley was sure of that. Unless they minimized Cai’s stress levels, he was going to snap.
“Cole's not in holding. He's in interrogation." Kelly broke into his thoughts. “He’s asked for both federal and state attorneys,” she said.
She had his full attention, now. Only one reason Cole would ask for both of those. “He wants to make the deal?” If Cai could be spared a trial that involved cross-examination it’d make this process a lot easier on everyone. “That’s good news.”
“Yeah, seems like it. If we wait much longer, he may change his mind.” Her eyes flicked to Cai as he covered his ears and shook his head. “He okay?”
“No,” Riley admitted. “This is a nightmare of stress. We need that deal.” Cai needed that deal.
“Cole’s asked for a lawyer,” she reminded him.
“It’s our case. When will we have custody?”
Kelly pulled up the cuff of her blazer to check her small gold watch. “I sent the paperwork in an hour ago. We’ll have it soon, but I told the detective on the case that I’d had success getting suspects to waive. He agreed to let me have a go at Cole.” She massaged the empty ring finger on her left hand. Shit. All these late nights, and he hadn’t asked her about Dev and Lena. She saw the direction of his gaze and tucked her hand in her pocket. “It is what it is.”
In other words: end of discussion.
“If you need…” Riley offered.
“Yeah, when this case is over.” She popped a piece of gum in her mouth. “Where’d Glass go?”
“Taking his father to the hospital.” Riley pointed to the mess of blood.
“His fath—oh damn”, she said. “This is one really fucked up family.”
Riley lost his answer to her as Cai twitched sideways, like someone kept slapping him upside the head. He waved wildly as if fighting off the invisible foe. Peter was nowhere in sight.
A different kind of fear crept into Riley’s heart. The kind that made him feel shame. On top of their other issues, Cai’s mental state would make this relationship oppressive. Peter jogged from the bathroom, and then mercifully pulled Cai out of sight back into the waiting room.
“Riles?” Kelly prompted.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you want to watch the interrogation?”
“You think he’ll waive?”
“I’ve had tougher ones do it. He wants to make a deal, which means he’s scared.” She squinted while rolling a thumb over her bare ring finger again. “Cole doesn’t seem smart enough to know Cai is an unreliable witness.”
“I’d like to avoid a jury trial if we can.” The image of Cai mumbling to himself struck deep in his gut. Was it too late?