Loverboy

Chapter 13 #2

“That’s exactly what whoever did this needs: Jesus.

” My face tightened at the photographed image of Guy’s bloodied body, torn apart, and stuffed into the bag.

“You see, Kash, I find it really suspicious that you and your friend were so close to the crime scene and yet had nothing to do with this murder. Our little town had been murder free for almost twenty years, that is, until your tour bus rolled into that campsite.”

I brushed the photos away. “A sad coincidence.”

The cop sucked his teeth again, and his dark pornstache moved with his lips.

“Your manager here keeps saying the same thing. But I don’t buy it.

” The man rounded the photos up and returned them to his file as he sat back down in his chair.

“You rockstars think you’re invincible, shouting and playing that damn devil music.

A bunch of sick satanists prancing around onstage stealing the souls of our innocent youth with your violent lyrics, sexualized moves, drugs, and evil agenda.

” I laughed. “Oh? You think that’s funny? ”

I raised a brow. “You don’t know shit about me and my band.

And unless you want me to call a lawyer, we’re done talking here.

Ducky?” I turned to look at my manager. “I’m leaving.

” I stood from the metal chair and kicked it away from me.

Ducky remained seated, unsure of what to do.

I couldn't blame him really. Ducky always did get nervous around cops. “I’m not putting up with this shit anymore.”

“Oh, before you go, maybe you’d like to return this.

” I froze as a loud clunk of something hit the desk.

My body froze as I eyed the item. “Say, Kash, you got a light?” I stared at Motley’s lighter in a small evidence bag.

The cop watched me closely, and I tried to hide my emotions and swallow my nerves.

“Ah. What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” The cop opened the bag and pulled Motley’s lighter out.

Ducky’s gaze burned into my cheek, and I knew he recognized it.

Fuck.

The man opened the lighter and began to play with it.

He flicked it until a single flame ignited.

“Impressive. Even despite being partially submerged in lake water, it still works.” He stared at me through the flame before shutting the lighter.

“You see, my colleagues and I found this in the back seat of that torched vehicle. Thank god whoever did this couldn’t get it fully submerged or we would've never been able to salvage this.” He shook the lighter with a grin.

“Say, Kash, did you know that when a person touches something, they leave behind these invisible oils from their fingers? Little fingerprints.” He wiggled his fingers in my direction.

What?

“Oh yeah. We leave them on everything we touch. Our own personal little calling cards that are unique. No two people have the same fingerprint.” I didn’t like where this was going. “Did you also know that all convicted criminals are fingerprinted when being processed during intake?”

No.

The man placed the lighter down and pointed to a dark smudge along the metal side.

“You see that?” I shot him a look as I stepped closer and eyed the lighter.

There, clear as day, was a fucking fingerprint.

“The nice thing about the justice system is that we store all the fingerprint records of inmates across the country in a single database. Makes it easier for us to eliminate known criminals from open cases. Only in this particular case, well, it did me one better.” He pulled a single sheet of paper from the file and laid it next to the lighter.

It was an official document of some kind with a police logo at the top and a grid of fingerprints.

My stomach began to churn at what I knew he was about to say.

“We matched the fingerprint of this lighter to this very criminal. An inmate who was charged and convicted for a whole list of offenses. I mean, the charges just went on and on! It was pretty impressive in a sick and twisted kind of way. But then I got to thinking, how could an inmate from across the country have committed this crime all the way out in my town?” My face burned.

“Well, as it turns out, this man’s charges were dropped!

Apparently, some half-assed wannabe hotshot messed up during their investigation, and thanks to an anonymous tip, boom.

He was let go. And where is it you suppose this man went?

” He placed a small photo down. It was a mugshot of Motley from years ago.

“He joined a band. And that very same band happened to be at that same campsite where the first murder in twenty years happened in my town.” He glared at me.

“Still think that’s just a coincidence, Kash? ”

My nostrils flared as my face burned with rage. He wasn’t here to take me down. He was here for Kash. And I couldn’t let this smug pig take him from me.

Ducky stood from his chair and gently grabbed my arm. “I think that’s enough. Sir?” The cop looked at him. “I’ve already told you everything. And unless you plan to press charges, I think it’s best?—”

“The lighter is mine.” The two men shot their eyes at me.

“Kash—”

“No, Ducky. You know it is. You’ve seen me use it many times.” I turned to look back at the cop. “And you’ve seen me lend it to Motley.” I pressed my hands against the desk and leaned forward as I picked up the lighter. “This lighter is mine .”

The cop mirrored my stance with a stone cold look. “Then why didn’t I find any other fingerprints on it?”

The corner of my mouth curled up, and I flicked the lighter open.

The flame burned between us, and the tension grew with it.

I watched the flame dance from our breaths before my eyes returned to his.

“I guess you’re just not that great at your job.

” I snapped the lighter shut and tossed it back to him before I stepped away.

Ducky did a double take before he followed me to the office door.

“Motley had nothing to do with this. And I suggest you leave him alone.”

As I opened the door, the cop spoke. “You may be walking away free tonight, Kash. But I’m not going anywhere.

I know that criminal, ex-gang member, drummer of yours had something to do with this murder.

You can try to protect him, but it’s no use.

I’m coming for him. The only question is, are you going to let me do my job?

Or are you going to go down with him? The choice is yours. ”

I tried not to laugh. “The fact that you think I’d ever help you tear apart my family proves that you know nothing, pig.” I flashed him a dead smile.

He didn’t seem to like my response. The man shot around the desk and closed in on me with angry eyes. “I will be back. And the next time you see me, I’m going to be slapping a pair of handcuffs on someone.” So much anger flowed through my veins that I wasn’t even mad. I was numb.

I took a step closer to the old cop and stared straight into his dead soul. “I fucking dare you.” His face twisted and shook, and I knew I had hit a nerve. Good.

The man shoved past me and bolted from the office, shouting over his shoulder while he rushed down the hall. “I’ll be back for him!”

I went to shout down the hall and back at the cop, but Ducky pulled me back into the office.

“You better shut your mouth before you say something we’ll both regret!

” He slammed the door shut and locked it.

“Now, Kash, I’ve known you a long time. And we both know that ain’t your lighter.

” My body plopped down in the metal chair.

My head fell back, and I exhaled loudly.

“I asked you the other day to be real with me, and it’s pretty clear you just fed me a whole bunch of bullshit.

That cop out there isn’t playing, son! You better tell me what the hell is going on!

” My head rotated, and I stared up at him with an annoyed look. “Kash!”

“Alright!” I rubbed my face and groaned. “I’ll fucking tell you everything.” My body hunched forward, and my knee began to bounce with anticipation. “I’ll tell you everything.”

“Everything?” Ducky raised a brow.

I reluctantly nodded. “Everything.”

“There you are.” Twila hugged her sweater tightly around her frame as she walked to my side.

“Motley has been looking everywhere for you. You know, you really worried him by not going back to the motel room.” She sat on the bench next to me while I smoked my cigarette. I could feel her quietly watching me.

A cloud of smoke exhaled from my mouth and into the cool night. “You don’t have to do that with me, Twila.”

“Do what?”

I scoffed with a smile before I looked over at her. “Come running after me. I’m not your problem anymore.” My head turned as I took another hit.

Twila shifted along the bench and sighed.

“Yeah, you’re right. But I still love you.

And Motley loves you. And I’ll be damned if you throw that away.

He’s a good man, Kash. Don’t make the same mistakes with him that you did with me.

” Twila took the cigarette from my fingers and raised it to her lips.

I brushed my hair from my face and leaned back on the bench. “And what mistakes are you referring to? Don’t you know I’m perfect?” We both laughed.

Twila choked on the cigarette smoke. “Fuck! Perfect, my ass!” She laughed and coughed.

“Oh hell, Kash. You’re too much sometimes.

” She coughed some more. “But you struggle with opening up to people. After all that time of us dating, I don’t think you ever fully opened up to me.

Even now, I still feel like you’re hiding shit.

” I am. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but don’t run from Motley.

Not like you ran from me.” She sat there and smoked the cigarette some more.

I sighed and held her free hand. “I don’t know what to do, Twila.”

She handed me back the cigarette. “You can start by telling me why Ducky pulled you aside earlier tonight.” I shook my head. “You know you can trust me. But I can’t help you if you don’t tell me, baby.”

“Fuck.” She was right. And right now, I needed someone to talk to. Someone I knew I could trust. So, I told her everything.

Twila had finished the cigarette and remained there dead silent while she processed everything I had told her about Guy, Motley, the cop, the lighter, all of it. I expected her to freak out and take off, but she just sat there quietly. It kind of scared me.

“Twila?” She stared straight ahead and didn’t answer. “Fuck. I knew I shouldn’t have told you. Look, I?—”

She suddenly interrupted me. “What did Ducky say?” I had to blink. “After you told him everything, what did he say?”

How is she so calm?

“He told me to keep my mouth shut and let him handle it. He also told me that hiding who I really am to protect the band was selfish.” Twila snorted. “What’s so funny about that?”

Twila busted out laughing. “Because it is!”

“Well, I don’t think so.” I was beginning to feel annoyed.

Twila smacked my arm. “Of course you don’t, you ass! Ugh, I am so glad someone else said it! Maybe now you’ll realize the band’s reputation isn’t worth you hiding who you are. I mean, damn. Do you really think the rest of us can’t handle ourselves?”

I furrowed my brows. “I never said that. I just know if I come out and tell the world I love a man, the world wouldn’t accept me or anyone associated with me. People look down on anyone who’s different, who loves differently, like loving someone outside their written norm is a sin or wrong.”

“It’s not wrong. It’s beautiful, Kash. And what you and Motley have is beautiful.

Who cares what the rest of the fucking world thinks?

We love you. Your family loves and accepts you.

And I know there are plenty of people out there who would feel the same!

And so what if we lose some money or gigs?

Being rich and famous is empty and pointless if you can’t proudly share it with the ones you love.

And we all love you. Both of you. So stop hiding, step into the light, and sing your love for everyone to hear.

Because it is beautiful.” Twila squeezed my hand.

I tried to not cry, but my eyes swelled with tears.

“Baby,” she whimpered. “Please don’t cry. ”

I wiped my eyes and sighed. “You really think the world would accept me? The real me?”

Twila smiled. God, she was so beautiful. “I do. And I think it’s time to stop letting this fucked up world define you and your happiness. Stop carrying that burden and fear of what will happen to the rest of us and just be free.” Twila kissed the top of my hand.

The two of us sat there on the bench and listened to the nightlife.

We were a ways from the motel, not far from where I had ended up with Motley a while back.

Twila leaned against me, and I held her close as I tried to keep her warm and just enjoy her presence.

It was a relief to be able to exist in the same space as her with nothing hidden between us.

No more secrets, no more lies, and no more hiding. Just me and her.

“So.” Twila played with my fingers. “What are you going to do about the police? They seem to be obsessed with arresting Motley.”

My head fell back, and I stared up at the night sky. “I won’t let them. I won’t let them have him.”

She sat up and also looked up at the night sky.

“I know, baby. But I don’t think there’s any other way.

” She sighed. “I’m glad no one saw you, but you two were the only ones there.

No one else knows what happened that night.

” Her words sparked a thought in my mind, and I shot from the bench.

“Kash? You okay?” I spun around as the whole thing played out in my head. “Kash?”

“I’m sorry—I just. I need to make a call.”

Please work.