Chapter 5 #2
“A laptop? I mean… Well, he set up the online banking, but when I pressed him for details, he told me Kael helped him. Since I knew that was bogus, I assumed… Well, gosh-dang-it, I don’t know what I assumed. He has a laptop?” The question felt rhetorical, so I didn’t respond, and neither did Diem.
Benaiah firmed his lips and stared at his jovial father, who flirted unashamedly with his elderly companions over coffee.
He had an arm draped around one of the women but was making eyes at another.
The elderly gentleman was bright and expressive.
Apart from the clear signs of old age that wrinkled his skin and thinned his hair, he emitted a spring chicken vibe.
In the end, Benaiah convinced his father to join us in a private conference room down the hall, one he’d procured from a nurse who unlocked it and let us inside. I suspected it was a room where families gathered to receive bad news or to discuss end-of-life.
It had a vibe.
A few light-colored couches and cushioned chairs were arranged around a low table. Decorative pillows and knitted blankets offered comfort. Generic paintings of countrysides decorated the walls. The heavy curtains over the window had been pulled aside.
The rain fell in sheets beyond.
Elwood was less than pleased and more than a bit vocal at being dragged away from his group social.
“You know what the kids call this?” he said to his son as he lowered himself slowly into a chair. “They call it cockblocking. That’s when—”
“Dad! You can’t say that.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth, but the laugh escaped regardless.
“Well, why not?” Elwood asked.
“It’s crude.”
“It’s not crude. It’s the truth. I was working my magic. Five more minutes, and Estelle would have gladly gone for a midmorning romp. I had her eating out of the palm of my hand.”
“Stop talking filth. These men are here to investigate your missing money, so—”
“Ah, for Pete’s sake. I already talked to the police and answered all their questions. What more do you need? I’ll be dead before that money is returned. Ain’t worth my time.”
It was then, as he glared daggers at us, that recognition dawned on Elwood’s face. He flinched, glancing between Diem and me. “Hey. They aren’t police. I know you.”
Elwood narrowed his eyes and shook his finger at Diem. “You’re Hazel’s grandson. The queer.”
“Dad! Could you—”
Elwood waved away his son’s admonishments as he switched his attention to me. “And you’re the… partner… the… boyfriend? Gah, I don’t know what you kids are calling it. You’re the other homosexual. Don’t tell me your name. I remember. It’s… Tallus. Your name’s Tallus.”
“We meet again, Elwood. Nothing wrong with your memory.” I held out my hand for him to shake, but he stared at it repulsively, so I leaned in and whispered, “The queer isn’t catching.
I promise. In fact, you shook it last time, remember?
So, if you’re still inclined to flirt with the ladies, you’re probably okay. ”
Elwood’s shockingly blue eyes widened. “Why I never—”
“Shake his hand, Dad,” Benaiah said through gritted teeth. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Elwood mumbled obscenities but shook my hand. Then, reluctantly, he shook Diem’s, too. “All my gears are spinning just fine. Don’t you doubt that. I’m smart as a whip. I don’t have dementia or Alzheimer’s. My IQ is above average. Go on. Ask me anything.”
“No one called you unintelligent or forgetful, Dad. Please cooperate. I paid a lot of money for these men to help us.”
Elwood glanced between Diem and me. “I don’t hate queers. It’s not for me, but I don’t have anything against youse doing your thing, so long as I don’t have to see it.”
Benaiah sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’m terribly sorry,” he said to Diem, who seemed nothing but amused at Elwood’s crankiness.
“Am I still invited to Hazel’s birthday party?” A tinge of regret iced Elwood’s tone. “I didn’t mean any harm. There’s going to be cake,” he told his son. “They invited me. I like cake.”
“They’ll uninvite you if you continue to be rude.”
“I’m not rude. I’m progressive. I state my opinion. So what if I SMH over their… decisions. That’s my business.” Elwood grinned and crossed his arms like he’d pulled one over on Benaiah by using an acronym mid-sentence.
“I’m shaking my head too, Elwood, at your decisions.
” I winked. His flummoxed expression made me smile.
“Yeah, text lingo is practically my first language. I’m a seasoned Gen Z, my friend.
I grew up in the age of the internet and smartphones.
You can’t… What does your generation call it?
Oh, right. You can’t pull the wool over my eyes. ”
The elderly man scoffed. “I wasn’t doing that. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“Cake and ice cream for cooperation and respect. What do you say? Do we have a deal?” I offered my hand again, far too amused by his cantankerous attitude. He was easier-going last time we spoke, and I suspected the performance was for his son’s sake.
“All right. All right.” Elwood shook with less hesitation that time, adding, “But I really don’t hate queers.”
“Great. We’ll send you an invitation to our wedding.
” I regretted the words the moment they were out.
I meant the comment in jest but knew without looking that Diem’s whole body had tensed.
Fuck my life. I couldn’t take them back without making a fuss and could only hope they wouldn’t linger in the attic of his mind.
Of course they would.
Subdued, Elwood glanced between Diem and me. “I already talked to the police. They told me the money’s gone, and I won’t get it back. So be it.”
“Chances are, that’s true,” Diem said, his mouth full of marbles. He coughed and continued with more clarity. “Recovering the money is not likely to happen, but with your help, maybe we can find the person responsible and have them arrested.”
“All right. What do you need to know?”
Diem had shared most of what transpired during his meeting with Benaiah the previous day, so when he glanced in my direction—anxiety over my stupid comment unhidden—and silently begged me to take over, I did, armed and ready to get as much out of a resistant Elwood as possible.
“First, how are the girlfriends, El? Can I call you El?” I wiggled my brows.
“Huh?”
“You know. The ones you were chatting with online. The foxy redhead. Did you make plans for your date?”
Elwood flashed a worried glance at Benaiah. “I’ve got my hands full with Estelle. Why would I be making dates with redheads? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? I thought your memory was as sharp as a whip.”
“It is,” he snapped.
“Okay. I believe you. Still got that laptop?”
The elderly man shared the same bright blue eyes as his son, although his were far more expressive. They widened as he flashed another quick glance at Benaiah, who watched his father with pursed lips.
“Come off it, Dad. The truth, or we’ll never get to the bottom of this.”
Elwood scowled. “Fine, but I don’t know what my girlfriends have to do with any of this.” I earned a reproving glare. “No dates yet. Ginger said she’d get back to me.”
“Are you saying you have a laptop, Dad?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a bloody laptop. It’s in my room, tucked away in a special hiding place so you don’t take it away from me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re always—”
“You told me your grandson gave you the laptop. Is that correct?” I asked, interrupting before father and son spiraled into a tangent and we were there all day.
“He did…” Elwood’s face pinched with scrutiny. “Or rather, I thought he did. I swear it was Kael who came to see me. I’m no dummy. I know my grandson.”
“Dad, Kael hasn’t been home since—”
“I heard you the first time you said it, but you’re wrong.
Kael came to see me before Christmas. He visited a few times.
We chatted about all kinds of stuff. The cabin.
About the ski trip he took to Blue Mountain.
You remember that, Benny? His high school graduation trip.
He broke his arm on a bunny hill. Hell, he went on and on about Marissa.
Showed me pictures of the places they’ve visited across Europe.
Lovely looking girl. Said I could meet her next time he was home.
I know he’s in London for school. Hates his classics professor but doesn’t mind creative writing.
Wants to write a book one day. I’m telling you.
He visited me. I know my goddamn grandson. ”
“Dad, please don’t take the Lord’s name in—”
“Oh, shut your god-loving trap, and stop acting like I’m a senile old fart.
I’m not. Kael was here. He gave me that laptop as a thank-you for helping him.
He showed me how to get on the in-tra-net.
We played games and everything. That boy was my grandson.
I know my goddamn grandson. Don’t tell me I don’t.
” Elwood’s face flushed with anger, and he trembled, the loose skin on his neck wobbling.
Benaiah turned scarlet, balling his fists on his lap.
The air sizzled, and before I could jump in to defuse the situation, Diem held up a hand. “Enough.” His sharp tone cleared the electricity from the air.
I stepped in. “Look, I respect what you’re saying, Elwood, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this. Can you tell Ben where he might find the laptop? Diem will need to go through it.”
“Why? It’s mine.”
“Viruses,” Diem said. “If Kael didn’t put proper security on it, you might get a virus.”
Elwood stared at Diem like he’d grown six heads, and he couldn’t decide if my boyfriend was pulling his leg or not.
“I can give it a flu shot to be sure it stays healthy,” Diem added, and I almost laughed but fixed my face into something serious when Elwood glanced at his son and me to be sure this was really a thing.
“Well, I never…” Elwood shook his head.
“Safety first, El, my man.” I leaned closer as though to impart a secret. “An infection would mean you can’t chat with your girlfriends.”