Take Two

Chapter Nineteen #2

Locked in a cell, Newt turned in on himself and his world grew dark.

It seemed the cruellest thing after all those years locked up, to be given a taste of happiness, then have it snatched away again.

In trying to do the right thing, he’d lost everything.

If only he’d managed to save River, then it would have been worth it.

Life meant nothing now. He didn’t want to start again.

He couldn’t cope with another seven years inside.

Then, light had sparked like a bright firework in a night sky. Maybe they meant Barney wasn’t alive and River was fine. Except if Barney was dead, Newt would be held responsible. A black wave pulled him under and he half-wished it would drown him.

When they came in the morning, he asked about River but the men who took him from the station said they didn’t know.

Overnight, he’d swung between hope and despair.

River had to be all right. He was in awe of River’s determination.

He’d worked so hard to get his life back.

Newt needed to make everything better for him, because River had done that for Newt.

He’d made him see what life could be like, that finding the right person could make the world turn again.

River was his right person. He had to be alive.

Newt sat in the van, didn’t think about where he was being taken and instead, closed his eyes and thought about the little lock of dirty blond hair that always flopped over River’s face, how the delicate skin in the soft curve between River’s neck and his shoulder felt under his tongue, the way River’s face lit up when he laughed, how his skin jumped when Newt licked him around his navel, the way he looked when he came, blissed out, happy, content… Mine.

I love him. I love him. I love him!

~~~

River came round to find himself in a hospital bed with Max sitting by his side. Where was Newt?

“You’re making a habit of this.” Max looked worried.

“What day…is it?” River licked his lips. His mouth felt as though he’d been eating sand.

Max lifted a beaker of water and put a straw to River’s mouth. “Small sips.”

The water wasn’t cold but it soothed his throat. River swallowed and leaned back again. “Day?”

“Saturday.”

“Newt?”

“He’s fine.”

Thank fuck for that. “Not injured?”

“No. Do you remember what happened?”

This time he did. “We came back to the house. B-Barney Colter was there. He had a fucking gun.” River shuddered. “He was going to sh…shoot me. Newt threw himself at Barney…then I had this…pain in my side. I… That’s all I remember.”

“You were shot and when you fell, you hit your head. You’ve drifted in and out of consciousness since then. Because of your previous head injury, they’re keeping you in hospital for a while. You’re lucky the bullet didn’t hit anything major.”

“Newt leapt at Barney…otherwise I might not be here.” River shifted in bed and winced at the ache in his side. “So where is Newt? Why isn’t he here? …Where’s Barney?”

“Barney’s dead. Newt shot him.”

River gaped at Max. “Newt shot him?”

“Yes.”

“But—Barney had the gun.”

“Gunshot residue was found on Newt’s clothes and hands, so somehow, he got hold of the gun and fired it.”

River groaned. “Oh God. Fuck.”

“What was Barney doing there?”

“Barney said he was in love with Harry G…Gardner. Said…Harry was pissed off I got the roles he wanted.” River sucked in a breath.

“If I was dead, Harry would get…Kaden’s Monster.

Seems like Barney tried to…kill me in Cro…

Cro…” He gave up trying to say Croatia. “Then tried to kill me again. In. My. Fucking. House. Broke in.”

“Without triggering the alarm?”

“Forgot to set it when we left.”

“Newt forgot?”

“Both forgot.”

“Did you see what happened between Newt and Barney?”

“No. Where’s Newt?”

“The police want to speak to you. Not today though.”

“Is Newt all right?”

“Yes. He’s fine,” Max snapped. “Let him go.”

River bristled, an uneasy sensation made his stomach churn. “What do you mean?”

“Why not end it now? The perfect moment. A clean start. Medway Boys is doing really well at the box office. Audiences are big. Reviews are excellent. The studio is delighted. The press is talking about awards. Why don’t you and Dila go on holiday? Dubai for a couple of weeks. Get some sun.”

“No. Tell me…where Newt is. You said he’s all right…but I don’t b…believe you. I want to see him. Has he been to see me? Did…did you tell him he couldn’t?”

“He’s in prison.”

River found himself gaping and closed his mouth. For a moment. “What the fuck? Why the hell is he in p-prison?”

“Lower your voice.” Max leaned in. “He was released on licence halfway through his sentence. That means there’s a list of things he’s not allowed to do. And guess what? Shooting someone is on that list.”

“No, no, no, no.” River grew increasingly agitated. He tried to get out of bed and Max stopped him.

“Stay where you are. You’re not well. You have a severe concussion. Lie down.”

“Get Newt out of prison.”

Max sighed. “How am I supposed to do that? A man died and the police are investigating what happened. Newt broke his licence conditions.”

“Newt was defending me! He was doing his job!” River clenched his fists.

“You didn’t see what happened.”

“Don’t you dare! He saved me.”

“But you didn’t see,” Max repeated.

“Maybe I did.”

Max closed his eyes for a moment. A muscle twitched in his cheek. “River! Do not fucking lie to the police. That way lies disaster.”

“No way…would Newt just have stood there…and shot Barney. It must have been an…accident.”

“Quite probably but he fired a gun. As I said, that’s a breach of his licence conditions.”

“He shouldn’t be on fucking…li…licence. He should never have gone to prison.”

“He was involved in an armed robbery! He fired a gun and a man later died.”

River exhaled. “You know what Newt and I were doing…before we got back to find…Barney in the house? We were at a hosp…hospice. Newt held his brother, Phelan…as he died.” He fought to get his words out.

“He forgave Phelan for doing…something terrible…to him…when he was…seventeen. Not supposed to tell, but fuck that. Newt didn’t do…what he went to prison for. His brother Phelan did.”

“River! That’s ridiculous. Why would Newt accept going to prison if he’d done nothing?”

“Because Phelan had a previous con…con…viction, they were sure he’d get a… fifteen-year sen…sentence. Newt should only have had three years because of his age. When the man who was robbed… had a heart attack, that made it man… man…sss…manslaughter.”

“River.” Max took hold of his hand. “You know how many people persist in claiming they’re innocent when they’re not?

Eventually, they sometimes even manage to convince themselves they didn’t do it.

Quite legitimately. No one is altruistic enough to accept a prison sentence on behalf of someone else. Unless maybe they’re paid to do so.”

River yanked his hand free. “I believe him.”

“Then you’re na?ve.”

“I believe him,” River repeated more firmly. “Get Newt out of prison or we’re done.”

He took some pleasure in watching Max pale.

“How the fuck can I do that? It’s up to the police and the criminal justice system. You didn’t see what happened. Barney’s dead. It’s just Newt’s version of events, and he has form. I can speak to the police but they’re not going to let him out on my say so.”

“Guy breaks in. Waits with gun. He intends to kill us both. Newt tries to save me. Barney ends up dead… That’s what happened. Is on the news?”

“No, but you’re in the local hospital. People saw you. We’ve managed to partially keep the lid on the story, but it’s not screwed down. We’ll create the narrative. You’re in a private bay, which helps. But the news blackout won’t last.”

“No, it won’t. And what n-n-narrative? What are you going to say? If you th-throw Newt under the…bus…I’ll never forgive you.”

Max kept talking and talking, and River pretended to fall sleep. Once he was sure Max had actually gone, he got out of bed and looked in the cupboard. No fucking clothes. He wished he’d thought to ask Max to get him a phone. Then again, the way Max was feeling, it wouldn’t have happened.

It didn’t take long before things began to unravel. The number of people who seemed to need to pop their head around the door to take a look at River was growing. No one spoke, just glanced at him and moved on. At least no one tried to take a picture.

Later that afternoon, the nurse he liked the best came into his room. “You have a visitor if you wish to see him.”

River hoped it would be Newt. “Who?”

“Harry Gardner.” She blushed bright red.

River hesitated, then nodded. Barney had said nothing that suggested Harry was behind any of this.

Harry shot him a tentative smile as he walked in. “Hi, River. Good to see you. How are you feeling?”

“I’ve just been shot by your boyfriend. How do you think I feel?”

Harry blanched. “Barney isn’t…wasn’t my boyfriend. Look, this was a mistake. Maybe we can talk when you’re out of here.”

“Ah shit. Sorry, sorry.” Get your words out! “Stuck in here…while person who…risked his life… God knows where.” He took a breath. “Harry, sorry. Take a seat. We do need to talk. Just difficult.”

Harry took off his coat and dropped into the chair next to the bed. “You’ve just been shot. I’m not surprised you’re finding it hard to talk.”

River hadn’t known Harry was gay. Maybe he was bi. How many of us are hiding? Or maybe Barney was just a delusional fan.

River really wanted to sound perfect when he was talking to Harry. Try not to hesitate. Use the right words. He was speaking more slowly than usual but he could excuse that on being in hospital.

“How much do you know?”

“That Barney shot you. And now I’m not the only one thinking he probably fixed that hold on the rock so you were likely to fall. It’s all over X, social media in general. I called Max to see how you were. I...I needed to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I had a message from Barney a few days ago saying he was going to make everything right for me, that the first time hadn’t gone as he’d hoped but this time it would.”

Oh fuck. “And you didn’t think to…warn me?”

“I had no idea what he meant. Then when I heard you’d been shot, I put two and two together. I’d moaned to him about you and he ran with it. I’m sorry.”

How did River know that was true? What if Harry had engineered it all? Now Barney was dead, Harry could say what he liked.

“Barney wasn’t your…boyfriend?”

Harry shook his head. “No. He thought he was but he wasn’t.”

“He told me he loved you.”

Harry put his head in his hands and moaned.

“Are you gay?” River whispered.

“Bi.” He looked up. “But not openly. I had an…on-off thing with Barney. Just sex. I never let him think it was anything more. He was my stunt double on Karma. It started just after I found out you were the favourite for Kaden’s Monster.

I’d had too much to drink and I was…pissed off.

I really wanted that role. I love the book so much. ”

“Me too.”

Harry groaned. “I was mouthing off to Barney. He was saying what I wanted to hear, that I should have got it, that you weren’t right for the part…

To make it worse, it wasn’t the first role I’d wanted that you landed.

I went for Medway Boys. I know it’s the nature of the business.

It was just me moaning to someone who a drunken me thought was a pal.

I wasn’t ranting and raving, just whining.

You must have lost out on roles that you wanted.

We get over it, right? But Barney came across me at a low moment. ”

Do I believe him?

“After we’d fucked, I regretted it. But I still let it happen again.

A few times. He was flattering, persistent and convenient.

And I know that sounds terrible. When the filming on Karma was done, we parted ways.

I had work out of the country and I was glad to get away from him.

He was a mistake. But I hadn’t registered how big a mistake.

He was constantly pestering me and I should have blocked him.

I just sort of let him ramble on. I had no idea of the lengths he’d go to in order to impress me.

As if I’d be impressed by him killing you, for fuck’s sake! ”

“Do you know how he…found out…where I lived?”

“My fault.” He groaned. “It’s all my fucking fault.

I sent you a gift. We weren’t close friends but I was upset when I heard about the fall and nervous when I learned that Barney should have made that climb.

I figured an investigation would uncover the truth and maybe help me to get Barney off my back. ”

“My supposed accident…opened the door for you to…step in and take my place.”

“But I had nothing to do with it. I swear. I’d turn the role down rather than let you believe that.”

“The art m…materials you sent.” Damn that hesitation. “It was kind. Thank you.”

Max had told River that his chosen charity had benefitted from donations made by friends and colleagues who’d wanted to send flowers or fruit baskets but had been persuaded not to.

Harry had put thought into his gift. Maybe he and Newt could take up painting.

River wanted that life back where they did things together.

“Except…” Harry was wringing his hands. “Max texted me your address when I wanted to send the art stuff. He knew painting can be a form of therapy, told me it was a great thing to give you. I was careful. I didn’t even trust my PA to send the gift, I did it all myself.

But yeah, there’d been a lot of booze/pity parties and Barney might’ve gotten into my phone.

If that was how he found out your address, I’m so sorry. ”

“Since he’s dead, I guess we’ll never know.”

Harry’s shoulders slumped. “I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t need to tell you any of this. I’m trusting you with knowing that I’m bi. I hope that will convince you. I wish you all the best, River. I hope you get better soon and I know you’ll be great in Kaden’s Monster.”

He pushed to his feet.

“Will you talk to the police?” River asked.

Harry swallowed hard. “Why?”

“Because my…” River took a deep breath, then exhaled. “My boyfriend is the one who shot Barney.”

Harry sat down again. “What the fuck? You’re bi too?”

River nodded. Too complicated to tell the whole story and he didn’t know Harry well enough. “Like you. Not openly. But the police need to know what Barney was like with you. How obsessed he was.”

“I’ll talk to them.”

“Thank you.”

Harry nodded and left the room.