Chapter 10 #2
He climbs carefully onto the long table, now covered with a white, silk tablecloth.
The table is wide enough to have space for Will’s body and the silverware on both sides.
He watches the chandelier above him as it spreads amber light across the room.
The tall windows are covered with thick curtains, making the room feel secluded as if it were underground.
Veronica returns to place wooden trivets on Will’s chest and stomach.
She then brings a big pot and places it on the trivet over Will’s stomach.
It’s hot, but not enough to burn. The weight presses his lower back against the table, making his spine ache.
The next pot is luckily lighter, but it still rests uncomfortably over Will’s lungs, forcing him to breathe carefully if he doesn’t want to accidentally tip the pot.
The mayor, Doctor Levi, and Hal enter the dining room and sit across the table, with the mayor facing the other two.
“It smells wonderful,” Doctor Levi says and claps. His smiles always look too big for his head, reminding Will of the Joker from Batman. “And the decor is exceptional. Oh, Veronica, more wine, please.”
They begin to eat while jazz music plays on a nearby turntable.
“Business is good in Eminence,” Hal says. “I’m told no one has been snooping there for a while.”
“Or maybe they’ve become better at snooping,” Doctor Levi says as he slices through his red meat. “The sheriff isn’t one to give up, not with those junkies dying from time to time.”
“If someone is careless enough to overdose, it’s their own fault,” Hal says.
Will tries to make sense of their words.
They’re clearly talking about drugs, but not in a way he would have expected.
He’s been suspecting shady dealings among the mayor’s business associates, but it’s the first time he hears something concrete.
He wonders how involved these people are in the drugs that are flooding the county.
Nothing about Ray Walker would surprise him.
“Maybe we should mind what we’re saying around a certain someone,” the mayor says with a warning.
“Will knows to mind his own business,” Hal says. “Am I right?”
“Yes, sir.”
They continue to talk about other things, and at some point, Will’s stomach growls.
“Someone’s hungry.” Hal dips his fingers into the pot on Will’s chest and scoops up a piece of beef soaked with gravy. “Open up.”
The second Will’s lips part, Hal slips the piece of beef deep into his mouth and leaves his fingers inside. Will can’t chew out of fear of biting down on the fingers, so he tries to swallow the tender meat while not choking. He barely manages as gravy and saliva slide down the corner of his lips.
Doctor Levi chuckles. “When one works in the woods, one becomes barbaric.”
They talk about politics while Hal moves his fingers inside Will’s mouth, reaching deep down his throat. Will breathes through his nose, but he’s seconds from throwing up, which is likely what Hal is going for.
“It’s getting late,” Doctor Levi says while Will’s stomach churns. “I think it’s time I took William upstairs. You don’t mind me going first, right, Hal? You tend to leave him like a used rag.”
Hal chuckles. “I won’t deny that. Go ahead.” He leans to whisper in Will’s ear, “I’ll see you soon.“
*
The mayor is waiting by the bedroom door when Will steps out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. Hal has been an asshole as expected, but at least he was tired and finished off quickly.
Will ignores the mayor and removes his towel so he can get dressed. His clothes are waiting on the bed.
“You gave them a good time, boy?”
“I’m thirty years old, Ray.”
“Answer the question.”
He turns around as he finishes putting on his shirt. “Yeah, I gave them a good time. They would’ve told you otherwise.”
Ray nods. “Practice makes perfect, I suppose.”
Will ignores that and puts on his shoes. He walks toward the door, but the mayor moves to block his way. They don’t usually talk after Will is done with his “commitment.”
“What is it?” Will asks.
“How’s Julie?”
“Dying.”
The mayor slaps him. “You’re giving me attitude?”
Will takes a breath to calm himself. “Sorry. She’s doing fine, all things considered.”
“I’ll try to come see her this week.”
“Okay.”
The mayor holds Will’s gaze. “Tonight you’ve heard some things you likely shouldn’t have.”
Will is aware of that, but he’s not sure what the mayor wants to hear—an apology?
“I don’t know what you think you understood, but you better forget every single word spoken here tonight the second you leave this house.”
“I’m not looking for trouble. Didn’t hear a thing.”
The mayor reaches for Will’s face, grabbing his jaw tightly and sending needles of pain across his face. “I need you to swear on your dead mother, boy.”
“Don’t talk about my mother.”
The mayor grips harder. Will holds his fists next to his body, wishing so badly to hit this man.
Shortly after Julie dies, when he’s ready to leave this town behind, he’ll make one final stop at this house so he can smash his fist into the mayor’s face.
It scares him how deeply he’s eager to hurt someone, but Ray has taken so much of his dignity throughout the years.
“I’ll talk about whoever I want to in my own house, you ungrateful bastard. If I just think you said the wrong word to the wrong people, you’ll see no more money from me, and I’ll have the police make your life a living hell.”
Will breathes heavily through the pain. “I said I won’t say a thing. I mean it.”
The mayor nods and lets go. “I’m glad we understand each other. Now, get your ass out of my house.”
*
It’s a short drive from the mayor’s house to Will’s place, but he drives around town to cool off.
As the years pass, these dark events have become easier to bear, but he still needs time to let the filth flow out of his system.
He tells himself that all things considered, this was far from the worst evening he spent in that house.
His mind wanders and lands on Owen. That alone is enough to spread a nice, warm feeling in his chest. Maybe he’s selfish for letting in anyone new into his life, but he never promised Owen anything more than friendship.
He loves the few friends he has, and he loves his sister, but there’s a void in his life that none of them has been able to fill.
With his mood less bleak, Will is ready to return home and put this day behind him. He takes a right and drives up the path leading to his house. His stomach tightens when he spots car lights up ahead.
Not tonight.
He slows down and parks next to Nate’s police car. He kills the engine and exhales, telling himself he’s not about to let that man inside his house, no matter how much he might insist. He remembers Julie’s words. Focus on how good you’ll feel when it’s over, and let that be your motivation.
He doesn’t know if he’s strong enough to end things with Nate. It’s not because he doubts it’s the right thing to do, but because there’s a part of him that is terrified of that man and the darkness inside him.
Nate kills the engine of his car and climbs out. Will takes a shaky breath and does the same. With both of them standing close to the porch, the light automatically turns on, illuminating them in a milky glow.
Nate is wearing his uniform, his hands on his hips. “It’s a bit late. Had a busy evening?”
“Yes. It’s time to call it a night.”
Nate frowns as if he’s not sure whether he’s being dismissed. “It’s not that late. You had fun at the mayor’s house?”
Will tries to keep his face expressionless. The last thing he needs is Nate poking at this part of his life. “It was fine. Have a good night.”
Nate moves to block his way. “You know how this is about to go. Aren’t we past playing games?” His thin lips stretch into a smile. “I’m starting to think you’re getting off on me chasing you. Does it help your ego or something?”
“Yeah, it’s all about my ego.”
Nate once more moves to block Will’s way when he tries to go past him. “Are you trying to get me angry?”
“I’m trying to get the hell into my house. Alone. I’m not looking for a fight, but whatever it is you came here for isn’t going to happen.” Will takes a breath, mustering the courage to say, “It’s never happening again.”
Nate crosses his arms. “Those are serious words. Look at you acting all brave.”
He doesn’t feel brave, just fed up and pissed off. He might have gotten a temporary sense of redemption from Nate, but the toll on his soul was not worth it.
“Whatever you think I got out of it—I don’t want it anymore.”
“And what about what I want? You used me.”
Will rubs his face. “I used you? Fuck, you have some nerve.”
“Is this about Owen? You’re still pissed off that I took you away from your pretty date?”
“It’s not about Owen. I just don’t want this to continue.”
“So you’re redeemed now? What you did to Joel is already forgotten?”
His blood boils as he grabs Nate by the shirt, bringing them face to face.
“The last person in the world who can get me redemption is a scumbag like you. There’s poison running in your veins, and I want nothing to do with it.
I’m going to say it one last time so you can get it into your thick skull. Get the hell out of—”
Pain explodes in his ribs. He’s sure he’s been stabbed, but the pain is like fire, scorching his nerves.
He loses control over his muscles and slumps back, hitting the ground and luckily not banging his head.
He’s never been electrocuted before, and the feeling is horrible.
Nate enters his line of sight, though Will can’t see him clearly.
The pain subsides, but his muscles remain clenched tight.
His heart beats so fast that it might explode.
Nate leans down, holding something dark above Will’s face. “Never leave home without a taser. It’s a dangerous world out there!”