Skin Puppet

by Jeffery Craig

  Detective Anthony Mitchell and Mr. Bradley Clark.

  He forced himself to quickly power through the rest of the address, seal the envelope, and attach the return address label. In the process of moving it to the completed pile, he froze in mid-reach, his mind trapped in images from the past.

  “Something wrong?”

  With a start, he pulled himself back to the present to answer Jon’s question. “No, nothing’s wrong. I just spaced out for a second. I guess my mind’s kind of tired. I’ll be glad when we’re finished. How about you?”

  Instead of giving him an answer, Jon reached over and picked up the envelope. After giving the address a quick scan, Jon replaced it on the stack. “Friends of yours?”

  “Yeah. Friends.”

  Jon went back to his work, but after a minute, he asked in even tones, “He was the one who stayed with you last fall, wasn’t he? And went with Melba up to that cabin when…”

  “When I shot and killed a man?” It probably came out harsher than Toby intended. He looked over and met the calm grey eyes, unable to understand the expression in them. “Sorry,” he softly apologized. “Yeah. Mitchell…I mean Detective Mitchell…was that guy.”

  “I haven’t seen him around. Do you stay in touch?”

  Toby could feel his eyes stinging from unexpected and unshed tears. “No. Things got…complicated.”

  Jon appeared to consider his answer, and then to Toby’s surprise, reached over and picked up the envelope again. Toby could see his eyes scanning the names as if he were committing them to memory. “Complicated with Mitchell, or Mr. Clark?”

  Toby heard another question hidden behind the words, but was too frazzled to analyze it much. He couldn’t even begin to find the right words to answer, so he settled for a short nod before turning back to his list.

  After a moment, Jon stood and took a step forward. He leaned over Toby to place the envelope gently back on the stack, and Toby was intensely aware of the man’s invasion into his personal space. He could almost feel a tangible heat radiating off his body.

  “I understand complicated, Toby,” Jon whispered without turning his head. “But I haven’t figured you out yet.”

  As Jon straighten up from his lean, Toby forced himself to respond. “I haven’t figured you out yet, either.”

  He forced himself to remain perfectly still as Jon’s hand found his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. It lingered for a second too long, and Toby could smell the clean, sharp wood and grass scent faintly emanating from the Jon’s body. He inhaled slowly, needing to take it in and understand it.

  “I’m complex,” Jon told him, and then leaned closer until Toby could feel the whispered breath in his ear. “But we have time.” With one last touch, Jon moved away from the desk and headed for the door.

  “Hey, Jon?” SarahJune’s voice cut through the background music and the roaring in Toby’s ears. “Can you bring back a couple of bottles of cold water? There should be plenty in the fridge in the breakroom.”

  “Sure,” Jon answered. “I’ll be back in a minute. I just need to move around a bit. I’m not used to sitting in one place for so long.”

  Toby finished twenty more addresses before Jon returned and silently placed a chilled bottle of water on the desk in front of him. Melba rejoined the group a short time later, and an hour after that, the invitations for the grand opening party of the Reightman & Bailey Agency were done and on their way to the post office.

  “Boy, I’m glad that’s done,” Melba said once everyone had left. “You guys made short work of it while I was shopping.”

  “Yeah,” Toby agreed. “I guess it did move along pretty quickly, especially after SarahJune showed up with reinforcements. The extra hands made a huge difference. So, did you find the perfect outfit?”

  Melba grinned across the desk. “Yep. At least, I think I did. As a matter of fact, I found two perfect outfits.”

  “Two? The world might end tomorrow! Which one are you going to wear?”

  “I haven’t decided, but I can almost guarantee there’s going to be a bet made about it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Melba filled her partner in on the small-time racketeering operation in play and then, more somberly, gave him the thumbnail sketch regarding her suspicion that something had seriously rattled Moon.

  “Do we need to go down and check to make sure she’s okay?”

  “I would probably have said yes, except Zhou Li reminded me Moon is a very private person. Her advice is to let it sit for a day or two, and she feels certain Moon will ask for help if she needs it. What do you think? You’ve known her a lot longer than I have.”

  After thinking it through, Toby agreed. “I think Madame Zhou’s right. Moon is a really private person. Over the past few months, she’s opened up a little more, but she doesn’t share a lot. I mean, she’s always nice, and we joke around a lot, but I never really got a sense of who she really was until just recently. I’d hate to ruin that by butting in uninvited.”

  Melba powered off her computer and spent the next few minutes hunting for her keys in the depths of her purse while she considered his comment.

  “I know I’d hate it if someone nosed their way into my business. I’m supposed to go back for a fitting for alternations and that’ll give me the chance to check things out without being an ass. We can reassess then. Sound good?”

  “Yeah, I guess so. I don’t like it, but it’s probably the best option right now.”

  “I think I’m done for the day. You headed out anytime soon?”

  “I still have a couple of things I want to get done before I leave for the night. I need to hit the books while I have the time, and I’d rather do it here than at home. You want me to walk you to your car?”

  “No. It’s not that late, and there’s still plenty of traffic downtown. I’ll lock the door when I leave.”

  “Thanks. Have a good evening.”

  “You too, Toby. See you tomorrow.”

  After she’d gone, he turned off his computer and pulled out a textbook from his bottom desk drawer. He had a couple of chapters to get through “Besides,” he thought, settling back in his chair, “Criminal Justice is a lot easier to figure out than Jon Chiang. I don’t even know if he’s gay, or straight, or bi. Sometimes, he keeps his distance and, other times, he’s right up in my space saying all kinds of cryptic shit. One minute, I want to get him naked and discover what’s hidden under all those buttoned-up, long-sleeved tunics and, the rest of the time, I want to beat the crap out of him.” He gave a little laugh at that fantasy. “Yeah, that’ll happen. Keep dreamin’, Toby Bailey. I’m more likely to get him to show me the goods.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  After an epic battle with the snooze button, a hot shower, two cups of coffee, and a frantic search for the missing mate to the black low-heeled shoe on her left foot, Melba hauled an overflowing laundry bag to the trunk of her car, retrieved her purse, locked the condo door, and headed downtown.

  This morning, Melba was the driver designated to run Zhou Li around town. Today’s planned stops included a quarterly check-up at the doctor’s office, a visit to one of the lady’s downtown rental properties to check on renovations underway, and a trip to the drycleaners and then the bank. The planned stop at Jerry’s Clean and Press was the only item on the list actually belonging to Melba, and one she’d been putting off for far too long. The only downside to her recently acquired Passed Around shopping habit was the need to work the drop off and pick up of her new duds into the weekly schedule.

  Zhou Li was bundled up against the chilly wind and waiting outside Green Dragon when Melba pulled into a parking space. Melba checked her watch to make sure she wasn’t late. Mickey’s hands confirmed she was actually a few minutes early, and she sighed in relief as her charge for the day carefully made her way to the passenger side of the car and climbed in.

  “Good morning, dear.” Zhou tugged her seat belt into place and wiggled a little further back in
to the seat. “Do you remember how to get to Dr. Morgan’s office?” she asked as she fiddled with the electric seat adjustments until everything was just the way she wanted.

  “Good morning,” Melba returned the greeting, smiling to see that Zhou Li’s feet barely touched the floor. “I have a pretty good idea where we’re headed, but to be safe, I programmed the office address into the GPS.”

  “Very good. Technology is a wonderful thing. Last evening I even…what is it they call it? Ah, yes! I remember. I Skyped.”

  “You did?” She certainly hadn’t expected Zhou Li to be so tech-savvy.

  “Yes!” Her passenger smiled in delighted confirmation. “Jon was kind enough to get everything set up for me so I could converse with my sister, Zhou Mei. It was a very pleasant experience, although it does require more planning than a telephone call. I felt the need to be presentable on camera, although Mei has seen me in my night clothes many times. In a way, it reminded me of our talks before bedtime when we were girls in my father’s house. Although I am the elder by several years, I enjoyed those times we stayed up much too late exchanging confidences. Being able to see my sister’s face while we talked was a treat. Have you Skyped?”

  “Well…ummm…no, I haven’t. I guess I never thought about doing that, although now that you mention it, I think it would be fun to talk to Abby and the girls face-to-face. You said Jon set it up for you?”

  “Yes. He is such a good boy to help me with things like that. I would have never even known such a thing was possible unless he had suggested it. I am sure he would be delighted to help you.”

  “I’ll ask him next time I see him. It’d be great to try it one evening before the girls’ bed time—kind of like a virtual slumber party!”

  Zhou Li brought her up to date on all of the various members of her clan while Melba navigated the last of the morning rush hour traffic. Soon, they arrived at the office complex next to one of the city’s hospitals, and the search for a parking space took up all their attention.

  “My! They certainly appear to be busy this morning. I don’t think we will find a space near the entrance.”

  “I think you’re right, Madame Zhou. Why don’t I drop you off? I’ll hunt down a place to park and meet you upstairs in the office. When we’re done, I’ll come get the car and pick you up near the front. That will spare you a long walk.”

  “That would be much-appreciated. I confess, I was feeling a little apprehensive as I contemplated the distance we would have to cover, and you know I would not like to be late for a scheduled appointment.”

  “That’s what we’ll do, then. You do know that even if you’re on time, you’ll probably have to wait a minute or two?”

  Zhou Li gave her a puzzled frown. “Why ever would I have to wait if I am on time?”

  “Well, I’ve found most doctor’s offices run a little behind, and sometimes, a lot behind. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a doctor or a dentist when I didn’t have to wait. Sometimes, it seems like the waiting takes longer than the actual appointment.”

  Her passenger sniffed in disdain at the whole idea. “I must say, that wouldn’t do at all. Thankfully, I have found Doctor Morgan to be very prompt and his staff very accommodating.”

  Melba suddenly had a sneaking suspicion. “Do you have any idea who owns this office park?”

  “Yes, dear. I do.”

  Mystery solved. Melba navigated the car as closely as possible to the entrance, and waited until Zhou unbuckled herself from the front seat and carefully exited the vehicle. Once she was sure Zhou Li had made her way safely to the inside the entrance doors, she resumed the search for a space. After a substantial walk from the next lot over, she took the elevator to the sixth floor and entered Dr. Morgan’s waiting area. She didn’t spot Zhou in the crowded room, and after a quick check of the time, decided she must have already been ushered into her appointment. The receptionist confirmed it, so Melba found a seat and picked up a magazine to fill the time.

  After flipping through a few pages, she decided the recipes looked delicious, but were probably well outside the range of her modest cooking skills. She traded it for a weekly glossy gossip rag, and caught up on all the Hollywood scandals. Once she finished reading about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, she checked her watch. She didn’t remember Zhou’s last checkup taking this long. She grabbed another stack of magazines and settled back to wait.

  ***

  Toby luxuriated in the morning. It was nice not having to rush to get himself ready for whatever torture Jon and Madame Zhou concocted for the day.

  Knowing he couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer, he threw back the covers, tugged on his heavy robe and headed to the living room to get the coffee started. After pulling open the blinds and opening the French door leading to the terrace, he stepped outside. The downtown district was coming alive as morning commuters headed to work. He peeped over the enclosed railing for a quick check across the street and to see if he could spot any cute joggers. Everything looked fine at the newly re-named Reightman & Bailey Agency. Disappointingly, there wasn’t a jogger in sight—much less an attractive one. An icy gust of wind reminded him why they were all inside. He tied his robe more securely and hurried back inside before certain parts of his anatomy had a chance to shrivel from the chill. Protecting the boys was important, after all. Hopefully, they’d be needed for some extra-curricular activities one of these days—although, he was starting to seriously doubt it.

  Things were looking pretty grim on that front, and truthfully, had been pretty barren for the last several months. And with good reason. “You don’t just shoot the man you’re dating and go hop into bed with a bunch of casual partners, Toby! Jeeze! That’d be so wrong. And it hasn’t been the right time for a serious relationship—not that there’s even a reasonable candidate in sight.”

  He poured another cup of coffee and carried it to one of the end tables next to a leather sofa in the living room. Remembering what happened the last time he’d taken a seat on cold cowhide, he unfolded a knitted throw and carefully rearranged his robe to provide a little protection from frost-bitten butt, and then took a seat to consider the situation.

  “Okay, Bailey, let’s review. Item One: Work.”

  Work was actually going pretty well. The office re-do was finished, and he was happy with the way things had turned out. He and Melba were getting along fine, although they’d each had to make some adjustments in order to settle in to their new role as partners. All-in-all, things were great—or would be, once they had regular work coming in. There were only so many paper airplane fights that could be had in a given week, but Madame Zhou was confident things would pick up after the grand opening, and he’d have to trust her business experience. She wasn’t wrong very often. SarahJune had learned the major differences between running a spa and an investigative agency, so they were good in that area. It was a sure bet there’d be some challenges, but nothing they couldn’t handle. His classes were going well, and he thought he was on track to get his certification. He even enjoyed the martial arts training. Not only was he in the best physical shape of his life, he also felt he could handle himself in a fight if it came right down to it. Of course, he was a long way from Jon’s prowess, but that was to be expected. Jon had been working on his skills almost before he could walk, and Toby was just getting started.

  “Okay, then. Item Two: Mental and emotional wellbeing.”

  He was making progress. The last few months had been rough, but he’d made it through. His nightmares had almost trailed off to nothing, and when he did experience them, they weren’t quite as vivid. Dr. Edmondson assured him that as he processed through the events of last fall, they’d ultimately disappear. He was now able to not only accept his responsibility for the events, but also to know which things leading to the fatal confrontation with John Brown, or Bill Jones…whatever, had been entirely out of his control. Doing the work to get to that point sucked, but he’d managed it. If he took the time to consciously
think about it, he could even feel himself moving forward from the past. Now he was just fixating on how lonely he was and the lingering feeling of doubt and uncertainty he felt whenever he contemplated the next steps in his life—especially if that step included building a personal relationship with someone new. Last week’s counseling session had focused on that, and he had a pretty good idea Dr. Edmondson was going to want to revisit the topic again tomorrow. He wasn’t holding out any hope for some kind of huge breakthrough, but as she reminded him on a regular basis, lasting results were usually achieved through regular progress.

  “You know she’s right,” he told himself. “But if I’m not ready for a relationship —even if there was someone waiting in the wings — where does that leave me? Especially since I’m so horny I could have sex with a rock!”

  Casual hit-and-run sex had never been his thing, although, once in a while, he had to do something to get some release. Steamy shower dates with his soapy right hand only helped to a certain extent. Case in point: his reaction to the elusive Jon Chiang yesterday. Usually, he managed to keep his attraction to the man pretty well under control, although he occasionally took pleasure in provoking him, just to get a reaction. Jon was just so…controlled and either treated Toby like a somewhat-favored student or like a brother. Yesterday, though….yesterday had been different. The moments of fierce electricity between them hadn’t been present since the very first time they met in the back room of Green Dragon.

  He’d been immediately drawn to Jon, and at first, thought the attraction was mutual. But after that first day when he helped Jon move a few crates in the studio and had been drawn into the most intense and intimate conversation of his life, there’d been almost nothing between them. Maybe, Jon had decided to ignore their connection. But for Toby, even the few words they’d haltingly exchanged that first day had been filled with expectant intensity, though they weren’t, in and of themselves, important.