Chapter 4
FOUR
CASEY – MONDAY AFTERNOON TO EVENING
“Well.” Gabe glanced toward where Elton was standing in the kitchen and fiddling with glossy nobs. “Althea asked Elton to ask me if I could retrieve that necklace for her.”
“Keep talking, I know this part.”
“Yeah, so Hero’s douchebag—”
Elton interrupted with a throat-clearing sound and Casey suppressed a chuckle.
“I can’t think of a better word. You come up with one, Elton, and I’ll start using it.
Anyway.” He turned his attention back on Casey.
“Hero’s tool of an ex-boyfriend took something that didn’t belong to him, and I took it back.
It was almost like falling off a log.” He pursed his lips.
“Actually, it was a lot like falling off a log. Long story short, he left for work, so I thought it was safe to go inside, but he must’ve forgotten something or been fired for being late.
Anyway, he surprised me at his hovel and tried to take me down.
” He nodded in Elton’s direction. “But I got it, didn’t I? ”
Elton reached over and lifted a gold-colored necklace from where it had been sitting on the counter.
A thumbnail-sized locket dangled from a gold chain and shone in the light.
Setting it back down, he pressed a switch on the espresso machine, grunting as he did so.
They listened to the hum and chug as hot caffeinated beverage dribbled into the hedgehog cup Gabe had found at a local thrift store.
From the pleased expression occupying Elton’s face, he at least thought Gabe’s adventure had been a success.
Maybe he was the glass-half-empty guy, but Casey had the feeling that this morning’s undertaking was going to come back and bite Gabe in the butt.
Or all of their collective asses, as Gabe would say.
Elton pushed the mug across the counter. “First one’s up.”
“You have that one, Casey. You look like you need a pick-me-up.”
“What I need is not to get phone calls that begin with ‘it’s not as bad as it looks.’” And not have his boyfriend breaking and entering.
“I assure you, it isn’t.” Gabe pointed at his forehead. “This here is just a memento that will soon fade into nothing.”
“That sounds like wishful thinking, but what do I know?” Rising to his feet, Casey crossed the room to lean his hip against the living room side of the counter.
From the bounce of Gabe’s knee and the barely suppressed grin, it seemed to Casey that he was riding high on adrenaline and the success of his undertaking in spite of the encounter with Hero’s ex. Shooting Elton a sideways glance, Casey saw that he too looked pleased with himself.
Great. Now Casey needed to keep his eye on both of them.
He watched Gabe push to his feet, then carry the bag of peas into the kitchen and toss them back into the freezer. Note to self: Don’t use the peas.
“Hey, not to change the subject or anything, but have there been any sightings of Calvin Perkins?” Gabe asked. He’d moved to stand next to Elton on kitchen side of the counter, leaning forward so his elbows rested against the countertop.
“Not that I’ve heard.” Casey was fine with Gabe changing the subject if that’s what he wanted, but he was watching that bruise. “Why do you ask?”
“Huh. I could’ve sworn I saw his truck or one just like it on my way back here today. Mind, I’m no Calvin Perkins expert, thank god, but a massive tricked-out red truck like the one I remember him driving in the fall passed me heading north. It even had the offensive flags flying from the windows.”
“You didn’t get a good look at the driver?
” Casey said, taking a careful sip of his java.
The hunt for Perkins had ended before the turn of the year.
The assumption was that the man was dead or well hidden.
Casey figured it was fifty-fifty. Perkins was an idiot, but he had the skills to survive off grid for as long as he wanted.
The forest was arguably the single place Perkins felt most comfortable.
He wouldn’t have many issues subsisting as long as he wasn’t hurt.
Gabe shook his head as he also sipped at his coffee. “It wasn’t until the truck passed me that I had the thought. I suppose there are a lot of red pickups around here.”
Casey nodded, because yes, there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of red pickups in the region.
As he set his mug down, his gaze landed on a letter-sized envelope propped up against a bowl about half filled with red apples.
The slightly grubby packet was addressed to Gabriel Karne, Care Of Elton Cox. “What’s this?”
“I don’t know,” Gabe said eyeing it warily. “I haven’t opened it. Maybe I won’t. Can’t be good. And also, this is a Monday, which, considering the Karne Monday Fuckery tradition, has been very strange, even for me. I’m considering avoiding them altogether in the future.”
“Maybe you should just abstain from breaking and entering.” Gabe sputtered a protest, but Casey interrupted him by asking, “Who’s the letter from?”
Who from Gabriel’s past, beyond Heidi who was dead, knew how to contact him through Elton? As far as Casey understood, Gabe had left Seattle and never looked back. Furthermore, if Casey was letting the breaking and entering go—for now—he deserved to know what this letter was about.
“I don’t know the return address, and we all know nothing good comes from an address you don’t know.” Gabe eyed the missive as if it might contain something evil.
“Maybe you won the lottery,” Elton said, his tone remarkably snarky.
“As if. I’d have to buy a ticket to win the lottery.”
“Did you do a search on it?” asked Casey.
“Nope. It arrived at Elton’s a couple days ago, he tells me. I knew nothing about it until just now when he brought it with him.” He shot the letter another dirty look.
“Might as well get it over with,” Casey said, raising an eyebrow in Gabe’s direction.
By now, he knew this song-and-dance fairly well; left to his own devices, Gabe would put off opening that letter until it was conveniently forgotten or “accidentally” tossed in the trash.
Casey could understand Gabe’s reluctance after the past few months, but ignoring the letter wouldn’t make whatever was inside go away.
“You are ruthless. Both of you.” Regardless, Gabe reached and slid the envelope toward himself. “Fine. I’ll open this Pandora’s box, and you will all rue the day.”
“I’m sitting back down for this,” said Elton, taking his drink and returning to the couch.
Casey moved around to Gabe’s side of the counter so he could read over his shoulder. He leaned into him a bit, offering silent support.
“The address is Seattle.” Casey mentally rolled his eyes at himself. Way to state the obvious.
“Yeah, I saw that much, Watson.” Gabe flipped it over and inspected the back, then slid his thumb under the flap.
“Why am I Watson?” Casey asked.
“Because I get to be Sherlock in this role-play, that’s why.”
Peeking out from the inside of the envelope was what appeared to be a single sheet of yellow legal paper, the top ragged where it had been ripped off the pad. Gabe shot Casey a glance and pulled it out, setting the envelope to one side.
“I’m not a big fan of letters,” Gabe muttered.
Casey knew the letter Gabe had gotten from his mother after her death still bothered him, and with good reason. “At least your mom’s words brought you here. Where would you be without me and Elton?” He gave Gabe’s bicep a quick squeeze.
“Ugh.” Gabe shot him another look and bumped his shoulder against Casey’s. “Why are you so cute and sentimental?” Casey did not roll his eyes, even though he recognized that Gabe was trying to distract them all from the task at hand.
“Fine.” Gabe flattened the paper against the counter and began to read. “Dear Mr. Karne. Hah, proof this person doesn’t know me at all.”
“Keep reading, kid.” Elton pointed at the paper. “Casey and I are dying of curiosity.”
Gabe sighed and started again. “Dear Mr. Karne, you don’t know me, but I was a friend of your mother’s—I have to say, this is the first person I’ve known claiming to be Heidi’s friend.”
“Gabriel.” Casey did his best to shoot him a stern look. His response was a mischievous grin and waggle of his eyebrows.
“I’d like to think that I was her friend,” said Elton, ignoring the awkward flirting Casey was working on.
“Okay, that’s two. Anyway, blah blah, friend.
Heidi left a few belongings with me with instructions to notify you via Mr. Cox if my circumstances changed and I was no longer able to watch over them.
I am moving into an assisted living facility at the end of the month, and my house is going on the market.
I’m sure you realize this means you need to come and collect your mother’s things.
If you choose not to or I don’t hear from you in a timely manner, I will donate the furniture to charity and put the paperwork through a shredder as she requested. ”
“What is this?” Wide-eyed, Gabe stared at the handwritten letter and then at Casey and Elton. “Who the hell would Heidi trust enough to keep stuff? Other than you, Elton.” He turned the letter over a couple times, like that would make it offer up more clues.
“Sounds to me like you have a field trip to Seattle if you want to find out,” Elton said.
“Fuck Seattle.”
“We can go together,” Casey offered. After all, Gabe had gone with him to pick up Mickie.
“I can take the day off tomorrow. Greta’s a bit fed up with me right now and has made it clear she wants a break.
We’ll take the Jeep and load it up with whatever your mom left behind.
” He gestured at Gabe’s blank walls, gray sofa, and ugly coffee table.
“Maybe it will be something interesting you can add to your décor.” He gently nudged Gabe again. “If you want the company, that is.”
Gabe didn’t seem to hear him. “But why didn’t Heidi just tell me this in the first letter? Why add in a second third party?” He turned the paper over and then back to the front again, seemingly exasperated by its existence.
“I guess you’ll never know,” replied Elton, “unless you actually go and get the stuff. The shredding comment implies there might be something important.”
Gabe’s shoulders sagged. “Fuck me.”
Casey wrapped one arm around Gabe, tugging him to his side.
Surprisingly, considering his childhood, Gabe thrived on physical contact, something Casey was getting used to offering and, until now, hadn’t realized how much he enjoyed as well.
Gabe’s tight shoulders slowly relaxed under Casey’s touch, which always felt a little bit like magic.
Plus, it didn’t hurt that, even if Gabe had been in a scuffle that morning, he always smelled damn good.
Casey breathed him in before saying, “I’m happy to go with you. Maybe we’ll learn something more about your mom. Is there a number or anything for you to call and let them know you’re coming?”
“Are you sniffing me? That’s my sneaky habit.” Gabe teased, but didn’t move away. “Yeah, there’s a phone number there.” He pointed to the bottom of the page.
“Call now,” Casey urged.
Gabe made a growly sound deep in his throat. “You call now.”
Without giving him time to protest, Casey pulled his phone out of his pocket, tapped in the nine-digit number, and held the device to his ear. “It’s ringing.”
“Give that to me.” Gabe held his hand out.
Smirking, Casey handed him his cell phone. He’d known Gabe would step up; he had just needed a little nudge.
“Hello,” said Gabe. “This is Gabriel Karne. I received a letter with this phone number at the bottom.” There was a bit of a pause, then Casey heard a higher-pitched voice but couldn’t make out the words.
“Okay, yeah—yes, thank you. I can be there tomorrow.” He looked at Casey, who nodded.
“Yes, this is a good number for me.” He made a face at Casey.
“Is your address the same as the one on the envelope? Right, great. We’ll text you when we’re a few minutes out.
Sure, not a problem, um, see you tomorrow afternoon. ”
Clicking off, he handed the phone back to Casey. “I guess it’s gonna be road trip Tuesday. We’ll need snacks.”