Chapter 17 #2
I cleared my throat and sat back down, taking a second to check my line before I turned to Derrick. “There’s something I never told you about myself. I should have, I know, I should have a long time ago, but I was a fucking coward back in high school.”
He looked confused for a second, then glanced back at Chris who just looked at him then back to me. Derrick turned back to face me. “What are you trying to say?”
“It’s not Audry or Mara that I’m sleeping with,” I said. “It’s Elijah.”
He looked so stereotypically shocked it was almost funny.
He stared at me, eyes wide and mouth dropped open.
No words came at first. Obviously Derrick had not suspected back then like I was certain Chris had.
“Wh . . . you mean, you’re gay?” I just nodded.
“Wow, man, I never would have guessed.” He still seemed confused but then looked thoughtful as well.
“Yeah. I tried to make sure no one would guess back then,” I said simply.
He glanced back at Chris. “You knew about this?”
Chris shrugged. “Only recently. Because Mason was there when I went out to Elijah’s house yesterday.”
Derrick was still looking at him. “Why did you go to Elijah’s house? Everyone told me he got arrested at work.”
“I went out there to tell him there was another murder. I know he didn’t do it. Mason can testify to that as well.” The little smirk came back.
The surprise cleared. “Well, hell, man,” Derrick said, “You could have told me back then. I never would have told anyone.”
I smiled. “I really appreciate that. But I didn’t tell anyone back then. I didn’t come out until I moved to Chicago and started hooking up with guys. Even then, I didn’t tell anyone from here. Not even my parents, although they figured it out on their own.”
Derrick still looked thoughtful. “So you weren’t dating Elijah in high school, then, right?” I knew he was thinking about the whole gym fiasco, and that would have made me an even bigger asshole than I already was.
“No,” I said. “I did like him like that, even back then. That scared the hell out of me, though, so I did everything I could to hide it. Including beating him up because he liked me too.” Chris looked away and I looked down.
“Well, I’m glad you guys figured it out and made up,” Derrick said simply. Then he caught a fish, and we got excited about it. Things went back to normal, and I sat there wishing I’d come out in high school, because so much would have been different if I had.
◆◆◆
We headed back to shore in the early afternoon. Derrick gave me a hug goodbye and told me he was glad I was back home. He took his fish, and the ones Chris had caught and given him, and headed back to his truck.
Chris walked with me to my car. “I know you have to go meet your man, but I wanted to talk to you real quick, because I saw the look on your face when I gave Derrick my fish.”
“I shouldn’t have thrown mine back,” I groaned. “He told me last time that he was fine and didn’t need them, but he’s not fine, is he?”
“He’s struggling a bit to make ends meet.
I told him a while back that I just don’t have time to clean them and cook them, but I like to catch them, so if he was willing to do the work, he could have them.
I go eat dinner at his house sometimes, so he doesn’t feel like it’s charity.
He wouldn’t want you to give him the fish because you feel bad.
In fact, he would have refused again, I’m sure.
I find little ways to help out so he doesn’t know I’m helping. I’ll let you in on some.” He grinned.
I nodded. “Yeah, please do. I’d like to help him out.”
Chris nodded. “We’ll talk more later. He’s watching us right now, wondering what we’re talking about.
His cousin helps him out too. Danny doesn’t need help with his business, but he lets Derrick help him out a lot.
And you know I don’t have time to take care of my yard, busy life of a cop and all. ” He grinned again, and I smiled back.
“I bet you pay well,” I commented.
“Oh, I do.” I watched Derrick drive off, waving to us as he pulled onto the highway. We waved back.
“I feel bad for him,” I said. “I’d like to help any way I can. Thanks for the afternoon, though, I needed it.”
“We all did,” Chris said, giving me a smack on the back. Then he paused, apologized if he’d hurt my “love stripes,” and headed back to his own car with a chuckle.
◆◆◆
I had plenty of time when I got back to town, so I headed to the diner for a late lunch.
I was a little surprised at how much I’d missed it.
Jodie took my order and I sat back and unlocked my phone.
I heard a snicker, so I glanced up to see Jaron and Tanner at the counter.
They were looking at me. I looked back. If they thought they were intimidating to me, they were out of their minds.
I could take them both at the same time while holding my drink.
They’d turned into drunken idiots. They finally turned back to their food, and I went back to my phone.
I pulled up the hookup app again, searching the name Will in a wider radius.
Elijah had already vetoed most of the ones that popped up, and none of the new ones matched his description either.
I sighed. My phone rang as I sat it down, and when I saw it was Miller I snatched it right back up.
I answered quietly, looking at Jaron and Tanner’s backs.
He replied to my hello with, “So, your boy was getting some high-class dick, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “Did you find out anything important?”
“Eh. I’m sure this guy had plenty of enemies too, for different reasons than the first. Old money, inherited the business he owned.
Did a lot of charity work, but it was that upper-class charity work that’s all for show and tax write-offs, not anything that would actually help someone who needs help, you know?
It looks like he always had a girl on his arm in public, but I guess that was just for show too, huh?
I did find him on a gay hookup app. Did a pretty good job of covering up who he was, but not great if someone was really digging. ”
“Yeah,” I replied. “He all but had Elijah signing NDAs.”
“Not surprising. This guy wanted his private life to stay private. No arrests, nothing blatantly obvious, but certainly wasn’t some bleeding heart rich guy who was out to help people either.
He put some smaller companies out of business, bought out others.
I’m sure there were people gunning for him, without your boy being involved. ”
“Yeah, I know all that,” I said, speaking quietly enough Jaron and Tanner wouldn’t be able to make out the words without moving closer. “There’s more to it, though. Listen, one more favor?”
“More?” He sighed dramatically. “What is it? And what the hell is going on in this ‘sleepy little town’ you were supposed to be going back to that would help you stay calm and heal yourself mentally and spiritually?”
“Okay, that description’s a little dramatic and nothing like what you were told. But that was also before I realized that my old friend’s lovers were all being murdered, and definitely before I realized he was on the list too.”
“If this list does in fact exist, you realize you’re on it now too, right?” He sounded a little worried.
“I’m aware of my surroundings,” I assured him.
Hyperaware, to be technical, as I watched Jaron and Tanner eating and mumbling to each other.
“And I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.
You know that. Anyway, the favor. They found a bracelet at Brock’s house, one that belonged to Elijah.
The funny thing is, he never had it there.
He last remembers having it in a shit motel where he hooked up with a guy from the app. ”
“So what’s the favor?” he asked me.
“The guy from the motel. His name is Will. He told Elijah he lived in Greenview, Indiana. His page is gone now, though. You think you could find out who he is?”
There was a pause. “You want me to try to hack into a deleted hookup account with that little bit of info?”
“I mean, you love me, right?”
He chuckled. “I wish you’d come back home so we could hang out again and put that place in your past for good.”
I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “Can’t do that right now. Elijah’s life is on the line.”
“Well, bring Elijah with you.”
“For starters, he’s not really supposed to leave town, and I have a feeling his problems would follow him even if he did leave. Someone is out for him, and they’re serious about it. Can you see what you can find?”
“This is seriously an ask. I mean, how common is the name Will? I’m supposed to find this guy with no last name, a first name that’s probably fake, and a town that he probably doesn’t even live in? What’s your friend’s whole name?”
“Elijah Stallard.”
“When were they messaging?”
“It’s been a while. Over a year, I guess.”
Another deep sigh. “You said they hooked up in a roach motel in Greenview, Indiana? Was your friend even concerned about his safety? Are you sure you’re okay, Mason?”
“I’m fine. It’s complicated. There’s a lot in our history. I just need him to be okay, Miller. I need this. Badly.”
“Yeah, alright. I’ll see what I can dig up. This one’s probably going to take longer, though.”
“Just knowing you’re on the case makes me feel better. I’m going to keep nosing around here.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. You take care of yourself, Mason.”
“Will do.” We hung up, and I felt a little better. Jodie brought my food, Jaron and Tanner finished theirs and left, and I ate my lunch in peace.