Chapter Eight #2
Nothing that I was ready to tell him. It may have been a coincidence that the Indiana Avenue NW Police Station was shot at just as we were coming out the door.
It may have been a coincidence that the young guy on the pink bike with the rainbow flag rode by just as we came out of the police station.
It may even have been a coincidence that the car service driver was able to score a parking spot on a crowded street near Constitution Avenue, just as the tour bus season was getting underway.
Why did my gut tell me not all of it was a coincidence?
When we returned to the Wallis’s condo in Bethesda Towers, Sean went to the primary bedroom to get his extra glasses, and I called the security guard at the front desk. We’d come in through the garage entrance, so I hadn’t seen who was working at the desk.
“Front desk. This is Austin.”
Austin wasn’t anyone I’d met before. I hoped to fuck he knew what he was doing.
“Austin, this is Jericho Hess. I’m assigned to protect Sean Fitzpatrick in four-oh-four. If any packages, deliveries, or people show up asking for Mr. Fitzpatrick, he’s not here. He left the country, and you have no idea when he’s going to return.”
The deep chuckle I heard in response didn’t make me feel as if he was paying attention. “Is there something humorous in what I just said?”
The guy cleared his throat. “No, sir. Those are standard protocols in a protection detail of this sort. I work for Golden Elite Associates-America. I’m aware of the situation, Mr. Hess, and I won’t let an ant pass the threshold of the building.”
Something occurred to me, and I didn’t exactly like the idea of it. “Are you here to replace me, Austin?”
After what went down at the police station earlier, I didn’t want to walk away. There was something about Sean Fitzpatrick that touched me bone deep, and the draw to protect him was too strong to be shoved aside.
Sean might not be the most ethical guy in Washington, but then again, I was pretty sure those were in short supply anyway. I could say, after what I’d witnessed today, he was fighting for my rainbow community, and I would make sure he lived to fight another day.
“No, Mr. Hess. We’re just here to provide support should you need it.
One of our operatives was able to find out that the bike messenger injured in today’s attack has a broken leg, but he’ll be okay.
My partner will question the young man when he gets out of surgery and is able to have visitors.
I understand you and Mr. Fitzpatrick are pretty shaken up, so if you want to order some dinner, I’ll bring it up myself.
“Also, would you call Casper and give him any details you remember from the drive by so he can access the closed-circuit security cameras of businesses in the area to try to find the SUV. It would be helpful if we could narrow down where the vehicle originated.
“The police will have already seized the street cameras surrounding the station, but we’d like to access the cameras on the streets that feed into Indiana Avenue, Third Street, and D Street.
The sooner we can get ahead of their lockdown, the better equipped we’ll be to ferret out the aggressors and trace their whereabouts. ”
“Thanks. I’ll take care of dinner, so we won’t be ordering anything. Who’s Casper?” I had no idea who the man was referring to.
Austin chuckled. “That’s what we call Lawry Schatz. You’ll have to come up to New York and meet everyone. Casper—uh, Lawry—had great things to say about you. Many of the guys I work with were military, and you’d probably get along well.”
“Okay, but let’s keep Sean alive before we start planning cookouts. Are you here overnight?”
“Yes. My husband and I are taking turns staffing the front desk. His name is Dominic. We gave their people the week off. One of us will be here if you need anything.”
“Great. Thanks, Austin.” I hung up the receiver and turned to see Sean standing by the couch, chewing his bottom lip with wide eyes. He had his arms wrapped around himself as if he were trying to hold himself together. Obviously, he was still affected by the events of the day.
I exhaled before I smiled and walked out of the kitchen. “You want a drink? I saw some vodka in the fridge and some whiskey in the cabinet. Come into the kitchen, and I’ll make you one while I fix something to eat. You like BLTs?”
Sean didn’t move, so I stepped closer to him. His forehead met my collarbone, so I gently placed my hand on the back of his neck and wrapped my arms around him, placing a soft kiss in his beautiful red hair. Yes, he was a client, but he mattered to me. More than I was willing to admit to myself.
“I’m here, Sean. The guys from Golden Elite Associates in New York are here. They’ve replaced the doorman and the concierge, so nobody’s getting in here tonight. Now, how about that drink?” I placed my cheek on the top of his head, his body trembling in my arms.
“Please.” Sean’s voice wasn’t steady, but his warm breath on my neck made me smile.
“What’s your poison?” I stepped away a bit and pulled him with me to the island, sliding out a stool for him.
“Will it bother you if I have a drink?” I glanced at him to see him squirming in the seat.
I chuckled. “Look, Red. Over the last few years, I drank enough tequila, rum, whiskey, and vodka to last me and ten other people a lifetime. Seeing you enjoy a cocktail won’t bother me at all. Which one would you like?”
“Vodka rocks, please.”
I went to work making his drink of choice, hoping that if I loosened him up a little, he might tell me more about himself.
Opening the freezer, I pulled out the chilled bottle of vodka and placed it on the counter before adding ice to the glasses.
I opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of sparkling water for myself and opening it before I set it down next to one of the glasses.
I poured some vodka into Sean’s glass and scooted it in front of him before returning the glass bottle into the freezer. I filled my glass with sparkling water and held up my glass. “Cheers to being alive.”
Sean laughed. “No shit.” He took a healthy swig of his drink and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his white dress shirt.
“Before we dive into that clusterfuck, tell me what happened with the police— Oh, Representative Chu called Spencer Brady, and he said he’d meet her, so you’ll need to touch base with him.
“I need to call Lawry Schatz and tell him what I saw at the scene so he can check security cameras in the neighborhood to find the SUV.” I swallowed hard.
“I saw two magnetic signs on the back of the SUV. One had a cross draped with an American flag and the other had the words Defenders of the Faithful in red, white, and blue letters. No license plate.”
I opened the fridge and grabbed a package of bacon, a ripe tomato, and a bag containing bib lettuce to make us something to eat. I rummaged around to find a skillet and turn on the burner. I cooked for Mom sometimes, so this was nothing different.
“So, then, you think it’s a hate group?”
I spread the raw bacon in the skillet and then washed my hands, turning to him.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s a hate group. I heard of them when I was in the Army.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but do you pull shit like you did this morning with blindsiding that senator with his hookup?
” I was referring to Baggett and the Checker guy.
Sean took another sip. “I do what I have to do, Jeri. Do you comprehend from your little ranch somewhere in Maryland how dangerous the fight is? Do you have people call you horrific names when you’re out for dinner, or have you had debris thrown at you when you march in a Pride parade? Do you even march in Pride parades?
“Have you been chased by a group of men who revile the fact that you breathe the same air they do? Have you had someone who identifies as straight try to rape you in the locker room of your gym? Have you had a man hold you down while another man tried to force you to suck his cock?” The flexing in his jaw and the quickening of his breath were a telltale sign that he was about to explode with anger or have a hysterical cry.
Unease rolled through me as I listened to him. Everything he said would be a nightmare if it happened to anyone. “Did any of that happen to you?”
“Maybe or maybe not, but it’s not about me.
It’s about all of us. It’s about every kid who is afraid to tell their parents they’re gay because they don’t have anywhere else to go.
It’s about every boy or girl who got teased in school because they were too feminine or not feminine enough.
It’s about every trans woman who was arrested or beaten for using the ladies’ room.
It’s about every trans guy who was raped outside a club because a group of bros wanted to show him that he wasn’t as much of a man as they were.
It’s about every little boy who got in trouble for wearing his mother’s heels or makeup, and it’s about everyone who lives in the closet out of fear of what living their truth would destroy. ”
I glanced over my shoulder to see tears streaming down his face as I flipped the bacon, finally realizing how passionate he was about fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community.
For fighting for my rights as a veteran who might be denied coverage if the current administration has its way and cuts VA benefits to gay and trans vets.
As a gay man whose right to marry could be taken away if conservatives get their wish, I prayed Sean and people like him kept up the fight.
I put down the fork and walked closer to where Sean was sitting with his empty drink.
“I’m sorry. I got so caught up in taking care of my horses or my mom that I didn’t pay attention to what was happening in the community.
So many people are facing the possibility of having more of their rights taken away.
” Hearing Sean lay it out like that made me feel selfish for basically abandoning my comrades in the struggle.
“We can’t forget the loss of women’s autonomy over their bodies. There’s enough to fight for, Jeri, but your fight is no less important. If we don’t fight for what should be ours, it’s as if we don’t care enough about it.” Sean reached up and dried his eyes with his fingertips.
I took another drink of my water and pulled the bottle of vodka from the freezer, opening it and sliding it in front of him. Turning to the stove, I scooped the bacon from the pan and spread it on a plate with paper towels.
“So, why do you think they’re coming after you now?
You’ve been doing your job for a while. What do you think caught their attention?
” I’d just met the man, so I had no idea if anything had changed in his life or in his approach regarding his job that would bring the attention of a hate group his way.
“There’s a chance we can turn the tide of some anti-trans legislation that’s been on the news a lot recently.
I’ve been calling in favors from those I’ve helped in the past, and I get the impression some of them may not like that I chose this particular bill to fight for, but it’s important to our community.
They don’t think when they ask favors that I’ll come back to collect on them. ”
Law of the jungle, I guess. Eat or be eaten? I had experience with that bullshit, and I could tell Sean was an old hand at it.
He glanced up at me, his expression serious.
“The guy in my trunk was my former assistant, Byron Haight. We used to fuck on occasion, and he knew my kinks. He tried to sell my dirty laundry to the media, and I fired him for it. It’s no coincidence he ended up in the trunk of my car.
According to Compton, his neck was broken before my car blew.
The cops are trying to identify people who were with him at Café Berlin recently.
” Sean poured himself another hefty shot of vodka and downed it in one gulp.
I needed to get some food inside him before he got black-out drunk or we’d never get anywhere. I didn’t take the bottle from him though. That seemed judgmental and not my job.
I grabbed the fresh loaf of bread from the counter and went to the cabinet to get plates. “How often did you fuck your assistant. Are you a dedicated top?”
When the fuck did that become my business? I must have hit my head, too, when I took Sean to the ground in DC.
Sean picked up the bottle and poured half a glass, staring at me. “I’ll ask again, does this bother you?” It was almost like a challenge, but I wasn’t taking the bait.
“No. You want some more ice?”
He nodded, so I took his glass and added some cubes before I pushed it to him and picked up the knife to slice the tomatoes as he stewed on whatever was bothering him. I watched him from the corner of my eye, seeing him staring at me as I spread the tomatoes on a plate and sprinkled salt over them.
“What’s on your mind, Sean?” I washed the bib lettuce and spread it on a dish towel to dry.
“Why are you so fucking nice?” Sean wasn’t slurring his words, nor was he wobbling on the stool.
“I don’t know if people would agree with you about me being nice.
I’m trying to do a job here so I can take care of my mother and the farm.
I like you, Sean. I don’t want to see you harmed in any way.
It seems I’ve grown attached to you.” I was fucking rambling, unsure of what to say or how to say it.
“Attached to me? Why the fuck would you grow attached to me? You seem to despise everything I do, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “Maybe I’m not sure about your methods, but I agree with the end game you’re pursuing.
My experiences are different from yours, but I can see your point about someone needing to stand up for those who don’t have a voice, Sean.
Let me make sure you’re safe so you can persevere. It’s the least I can do.”
“Why? Why is it the least you can do?”
I took a deep breath. “I already told you I’m gay but admitting it is new.
It’s the least I can do because while I was fighting for this country, you were fighting for me.
” Tears stung my eyes, but I’d never been more sincere.
I was out of the military, but the goddamn war against my community was far from over.
It was time for me to take a stand of some kind. Keeping Sean safe was something I could do.