Chapter 5
Chapter Five
“You definitely recognize her?” Eddie asked, surprised it could be that easy.
“Yeah, I do. I think she’s a cousin of some type to Mr. Haver.
Vicky is really special. She’s kind and trusting.
In a less enlightened time, we might use a word to describe her that I will not say.
At best you might say she’s slow. But she works hard and always does what she’s asked to the very best of her ability.
She’s also the kind of person who thinks everyone is nice, and she doesn’t see the bad side of anyone, if you know what I mean. ”
“In other words, she is someone who would do whatever her bosses ask her to because she would assume that they were right and good,” Brian said.
“Exactly. There is nothing nefarious or bad about her. Everyone in the office helps look out for her. Vicky lives alone, but from what she’s said, she has someone who comes in to help her a few times a week.
” Marty lowered his gaze to the floor and shook his head.
“I swear that if either of them is using her to do their dirty work…. I’d like to kick Mr. Haver all the way to hell, find a voodoo priest, and bring him and Bryce back so I could kill them both again.
There is a special place in hell for people like that. ”
“I agree,” Eddie said, taking Marty’s hand.
“The thing is, we need to talk to her to find out what is happening. If they are using her, then she’s an accessory.”
“Not if she has no idea what she’s doing is wrong,” Marty said, looking at both of them.
“There is no intent here. She is following the orders of her boss, and she lacks the basis to question them. Plus, if you bring her in, she might tell you a few things, but… you have to understand. Vicky isn’t a secret-keeper.
Mr. Haver will find out, because it’s very possible that he’s her guardian. ”
“Oh, shit,” Brian breathed.
“Why don’t we all try to talk to her? She already knows him, and Marty could ask the questions for us in a way that isn’t going to spook her.”
“But where do we do it?”
“That’s easy. Vicky has lunch every day at the Ranier Diner just down the street from the office.
They let her bring her own sandwich, and she has a milkshake and a salad.
So I figure we can find her there, and we can talk to her.
” Marty lifted his gaze. “But you gotta be gentle and nice to her. If she knows anything, she’ll tell you, because that’s the kind of person she is.
Especially if you tell her that she’s being helpful. Okay? Do you promise?”
Eddie was about to answer, but Brian’s expression softened. “Of course. We have a murder that we have to solve.”
“And she is going to be ripped apart because Bryce is gone. She’s protective of the people in her life. Vicky does not have a wide circle of friends. So as long as you’re kind, then I can help you.” Marty sighed. “Can I ask how many banks she’s been making deposits at?”
“We aren’t sure yet. We’ve found four of them so far, but I suspect there are more. That’s one of the things that we need her to tell us. She might also know some things about her cousin that could help us.”
“Yes. That’s possible. But you are going to have to help her. She isn’t going to make the connections that other people might. Things that you might find out of the ordinary, she could simply overlook.”
Eddie patted his hand. “I understand, and so does Brian. We aren’t going to do anything other than talk to her.”
The fight returned to Marty’s eyes. “And what are you going to do if she has no information to give you? What if she knows nothing?” Eddie liked that Marty was willing to stand up for Vicky. It showed that the depth of character Marty always had was still intact.
“We’ll be gentle,” Eddie said again.
Marty nodded and then yawned.
“I should get us some dinner,” Eddie told the two of them, and then stood. “Do you want to stay?”
“No. I need to get home before Kerry forgets what I look like.” He stood and headed for the door. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.” Brian left, and Eddie locked the door and went to the kitchen to start dinner.
“I have pasta, or I can heat up some soup. It’s not from a can or anything. I got it premade at the store. I know it’s nothing like what your mom made when we were kids, but it isn’t too bad.”
Marty chuckled. “That’s fine.” He sat down in the living room, and Eddie started heating up the soup and making some salad.
He also pulled out some bread and put some slices in the toaster.
Once the toaster popped, he spread on a little garlic butter.
The soup was done, so he got a couple of bowls and called Marty in.
They sat across the table from each other. “This was one hell of a day.”
“Uh-huh….”
“Hopefully tomorrow will be better.” Eddie really needed it to be, and he figured Marty was the same.
That night, the house was quiet as Eddie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with the things he needed to do in the morning. The list kept running through his head even though he had written everything down. His mind just refused to shut off, and it was driving him crazy.
Movement in the house pulled him out of his thoughts.
He figured it was Marty going to use the bathroom.
Still, he closed his eyes and was almost instantly transported back to a time when those footsteps had meant something much more.
They had been visiting his parents back when they were in school, and those footsteps had meant that Marty was approaching his room to slide into his bed with him.
Eddie knew those days were over and he didn’t have any right to those kinds of thoughts, and yet the footsteps had grown close, but they’d stopped.
His police instincts told him that Marty was just outside his door.
He could almost see him there, and he could damned well feel his presence.
Yet he didn’t dare move in case he broke whatever spell seemed to have drawn Marty to him.
Eddie wanted this badly. He wanted the chance to make up for everything he had done wrong in the past.
A soft creak outside his doorway drew his attention.
That could only be Marty. Maybe he should just get up and go to him.
But there was no need. Another soft creak of the wooden floor and Marty stood in the doorway, his familiar form outlined in the glow of the nightlight from the bathroom.
He could almost see Marty biting that lower lip, wondering if this was okay.
But he didn’t say a word. He just stood there, so Eddie lifted the covers, and Marty came forward, sliding into the bed and right into Eddie’s arms.
Years of separation seemed to disappear.
This was Marty, and he knew this body. He knew exactly what he liked and how to make him shake with desire.
At this moment, the quicksand that he and Marty had talked about always being present was gone.
There was none of that here, only solid ground and a pair of lips that tasted just like his memories.
“Eddie, I…,” Marty whispered. “I didn’t know if you wanted this anymore.
” The words were so simple and yet layered with meaning.
I don’t know if you find me attractive anymore…
I don’t know if you… love me anymore. All of that was packed into that simple sentence, and all Eddie could do was tug Marty tighter, kiss him harder, and proceed to show him just how he did feel.
His skin felt like it was on fire. Eddie wanted everything all at once. He needed to make up for years of separation that should never have been. And yet without that time apart, they wouldn’t have this moment, their chance to come together again.
The energy between them was almost palpable.
He felt it every time Marty touched him as he pressed him into the mattress and looked into his eyes.
There was just enough light for him to see them, for their glisten to tell him everything he needed to know at that moment.
He gently caressed his cheeks before kissing him once more as he slipped away the single cotton barrier that stood between them.
“I’ve missed you and dreamed of you,” Eddie admitted as their bodies slid past each other with nothing in between.
Hips rolled, and they rocked, unable to stop themselves.
It was just too much for Eddie to hold back, yet he wanted to.
Desire and memories pushed him forward. He needed all of this again, the promise of what they had, but more urgently, the ecstasy he never thought he would feel again.
Eddie was so filled with anticipation that things were going to be over before they started.
“Eddie,” Marty said, and before he could stop it, Marty rolled them on the bed.
Now their view shifted. Marty’s eyes grew darker and more intense as he slid down Eddie’s body.
He could feel that gaze burning into him.
And damn, he quivered with the excitement that look offered.
And as Marty ran his fingers over his chest and down his belly, Eddie closed his eyes and soaked into the sensation, only to gasp as Marty slid his lips over his length, sucking him deep and hard.
“So good,” he managed to groan before Marty took away his power of speech.
He stretched and pressed his hips upward as Marty took all of him, his head bobbing.
He had always been so good at this, and it seemed he hadn’t lost his touch.
Sweat broke out all over, and Eddie groaned, his legs shaking as the intensity of it all threatened to carry him away.
“I….” He couldn’t finish his thought as Marty backed away, met his gaze, and then kissed him before damn near swallowing his cock once more.