Chapter 17 #3
And there it is—the threat. Owen has expected it, but it still angers him to be in this situation with a man he respects, or used to respect.
“I appreciate the warning, sir, but if that is all, I need to start closing the library now. And… I won’t be doing any more of that undercover work.
Turns out this isn’t the kind of community I wish to risk my neck for.
” It hurts him to say it, but it’s the truth.
The sheriff sighs. “History always repeats itself, it seems.”
Once he’s alone, Owen leans back in his chair, drained and agitated. At least he’ll be going to see Will soon, where he could find some peace after this shitty day. He deserves that much at least.
*
He finishes cleaning the library, then steps outside to lock the doors. It’s relatively late, and the town center is all but deserted. That is, except for Nate, who is leaning against his police car.
Owen grips the straps of his backpack, looking around him to check if someone else is close by, but they’re alone.
“Hi there, Owen.”
He takes a breath and walks to face Nate, unable to hide how he feels. He never viewed him as a friend, but they were friendly.
“What do you want?”
Nate raises an eyebrow. “Someone’s in a mood.”
“I’ll give you three guesses why.”
“Forgive me for trying to be a friend.”
“A friend? You told everyone about me and Will, didn’t you?”
“Nah, not everyone. Tell a piece of gossip to two or three people around here, and it will catch on like lice. You’re welcome.”
Owen forces himself to relax. He’s not violent, but he wishes he was with this horrible man. “You have any idea how much crap I’ve been getting because of you?”
“Because of me? I’ve been warning you about him for weeks, but you didn’t listen because you were thinking with your cock. Don’t blame me for this reality check. I knew it would end up like this.”
“We weren’t going to make it public!”
Nate rolls his eyes. “Like you can keep secrets around here. It was only a matter of time. Listen, it’s not too late. Leave Will behind and let the fire die on its own.”
“Don’t tell me how to live my life.”
Nate lets out a long breath as if he’s tired of this conversation, even though he’s the one who initiated it. “I really hoped you’d make my life easier.”
“It’s not my job to do that. How about you leave me alone from now on? You obviously have some sort of obsession with Will, and I can’t help you fix it. Maybe a therapist will.”
Something dark flashes in Nate’s eyes, and Owen knows he hit a sensitive nerve. “That’s where you’re wrong, buddy. You can help me by getting out of my way.”
“So you could do what? Ask him out on a date?”
“Nah, Will and I… we roll a bit differently. Have been for a while now.”
There’s so much venom in Nate’s voice that Owen isn’t sure what to say. He’s both curious and dreading knowing.
Nate smiles. “He didn’t tell you yet? Well, it makes sense, honestly. Why would he tell his new boyfriend that he and I used to hook up so I could kick his ass? Last time was less than two weeks ago.”
A shiver trickles down Owen’s spine. “You’re sick for even coming up with that lie.”
“A lie?” Nate takes a step closer. “Remember when I asked Will to come take care of my leak?”
He does. It was strange, and Owen knew something was going on. Will didn’t want to go. He begins to remember seeing marks on Will, thinking he had a cat because of his scratches. Even when they first met at Rodie’s, Will was in some sort of pain.
“There it is,” Nate says with glee, “the look of someone who finally gets it. You thought you knew Will? No, buddy, I know Will. You can have sex with him as much as you want and have him sing to you while he plays his guitar—”
“How do you—?”
“—but at the end of the day, you’re just a distraction from what he really wants—for me to hurt him hard enough to atone for his sins.”
“His… sins?”
“For what he did to Joel.”
“He did nothing to Joel! The man was insane.”
Nate rolls his eyes. “Yeah, so? Will still feels guilty, and he needs yours truly to help with that. We were doing just fine until you showed up and spread your legs for him. I can’t have it, Owen. Best for you to move on before it’s too late.”
With a voice he hopes is threatening, he says, “I don’t like your tone, Nate. I’m not going anywhere, and you should find someone else to do that undercover work. I’ve already told the sheriff.”
Nate exhales and cranes his neck. “Damn, I can’t believe you’re making me go there. I hoped you’d be smarter.”
Owen tenses as Nate slips his hand into his back pocket, but he only pulls out an envelope. Nothing about an envelope should scare Owen, yet he’s scared nonetheless.
“How is Mr. Molloy doing these days? You speak with him often? I mean, you should, since he’s your probation officer.”
Owen clenches his fists as he stands very still. His lungs ache because he’s not breathing properly.
“I’m sure that you two speak every few weeks to make sure you’re still on the right track to becoming a productive member of society.
The thing is, you haven’t been doing so great recently, which is a real bummer.
I mean, shit, you’ve been doing drugs again, Owen!
What the fuck? And on private property? Jeez.
I doubt Mr. Molloy would let that one slide.
You skipped prison last time, right? Went straight to rehab.
It likely won’t play out like that again. ”
He’s so lightheaded, he might faint. “You can’t prove it.”
“I’m literally holding a mysterious envelope, Owen.
It’s not for coupons.” Nate opens the envelope and pulls out a stack of photos.
He holds them in front of Owen’s face until he has no choice but to take them.
His brain needs a few moments to catch up with his eyes.
The quality of the photos isn’t great, as if they were taken from a video recording.
Like a security camera. But it’s clearly him on that couch, snorting coke like a damn fool.
“You made me take those drugs.” He sounds pitiful, but his fear is paralyzing.
“First of all, I’m not in any of these photos. And second, it doesn’t seem like anyone is holding a gun to your head, junkie boy.” Nate snatches the images from Owen’s hands and slides them back into the envelope. “You look like you’re about to cry.”
“I’m not.” He is. He can feel the itching in his eyes. “I need to sit.” He stumbles to a nearby bench and slumps on it. The fear of going to prison is more than he can handle. “Please don’t show these to anyone. I’m begging you.”
Nate comes over. “I hate that you’re putting me in this situation, man. I would never have tricked you if you’d just listened to me about Will. He’s bad news, but he’s my bad news. You get that?”
“I…” He wipes his eyes. All that he has fought to achieve is crumbling. “I really like him.”
Nate puts his hand on Owen’s shoulder. “I know you do, but I think you like freedom just a bit more.” He holds Owen’s chin and raises his head. “Will or freedom, Owen. What will it be?”