Fire and Fog

by Andrew Grey

  “Dwayne?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. You’re safe, and no one’s going to hurt you.” He rocked back and forth, rubbing Robin’s back. “It was just a dream. Nothing more.” He slowly coaxed Robin into bed and left to go into the kitchen. He got a glass of water, brought it back, and handed it to Robin. “Just take a drink. I put a little lemon in it. My grandma used to tell me that it kept bad dreams away.”

  “Really?”

  Dwayne chuckled. “Sure. What the hell did I know? I was five years old. But it’s what she used to say and it worked. I’d drink the water, and the dreams would stay away.” He waited while Robin drank and then took the glass back. When he returned, Robin lay on the bed, and Dwayne slid under the covers. “I’m right here and won’t let anyone hurt you. So just sleep.” He kissed Robin’s temple and did his best to close his eyes. But he couldn’t help wondering what had led to that nightmare.

  DWAYNE WOKE to Robin getting out of bed. He reached for him to pull him back because he missed the warmth.

  “It’s too early,” Dwayne grumbled, tucking Robin under his arm. He would have fallen back to sleep if he hadn’t put his nose at the nape of Robin’s neck, inhaled his scent, and instantly gotten aroused.

  “I have to go to work this morning. Terry wants me there for the early lesson session.” Robin giggled and rolled over. “I’d love to stay here with you, but I don’t want to be late.” He snuggled down, and Dwayne sighed with contentment.

  “You minx,” Dwayne said as Robin licked at his chest and then teased one of his nipples. “I thought you had to get to work.”

  “I do. I figured I’d give you a taste of what you can look forward to.”

  “Tease!”

  “I am not,” Robin countered and sucked at his nipple again, tweaking the other one.

  “You certainly are.”

  Robin pulled away. “I am not. I put out, as you well know, and just because I have to get going….” He grinned. “It’s not my fault that someone got home so late last night and I fell asleep.” Robin kissed him and wriggled out of his grasp. “I really do need to get ready for work.” He dashed away from the bed and bent down to go through the boxes holding his clothes to find something to wear, wagging his backside. Damn, Dwayne was tempted to pounce, but Robin grabbed his clothes and hurried out of the room before he had much of a chance.

  Dwayne figured he might as well get up too and slipped on a robe, then headed to the kitchen to make coffee and something to eat. At least he could feed Robin some breakfast before he had to leave.

  “Robin, I didn’t tell you that I looked into your stepfather.”

  “Yeah?” Robin cracked the bathroom door open and stuck his head out. “Anything interesting?”

  “Yes and no. He hasn’t been convicted of anything. But he was charged once, though that was dropped. Seems he might have a temper.” Dwayne pulled out some eggs and cheese, then grabbed a skillet.

  “Oh, he does.” The water ran and then stopped.

  “We looked into some financial information and found something curious. He’s got accounts all over, and he’s making regular deposits, but it looks like he’s trying to hide the trail or at least confuse the situation. Where does he work?”

  “He’s on disability. He used to work at one of the country clubs but fell and damaged his knees. So he says he can’t work and probably got some quack to help him push it through. He gets disability checks every month.”

  “Then where would he get three hundred grand?” Dwayne asked, and Robin choked.

  “What the fuck?” Robin asked, coming in the room with toothpaste smeared over his lips. Dwayne handed him a glass, and he rinsed his mouth. “No way. He makes enough to get by, but not more than that. No one gets rich on that.”

  “We know. That’s why I was curious. He’s into something, but I don’t know what and can’t investigate because I don’t have a complaint or any indication that he’s committed a crime,” Dwayne explained as he poured two mugs of coffee, then went back to fixing the eggs.

  Robin returned to the bathroom and closed the door. He stepped out a few minutes later in pants and a shirt, deep in thought. “I saw a show on television about ways the feds track down suspected drug dealers using the money trail. It was on one of those crime shows. The FBI does it. You could show them what you have and see what they think. Maybe he fits the pattern.” Robin picked up the mug and set it back down again, smacking the counter. “So help me God. He always seemed to have the money for what he wanted to do and never any for the rest of us.”

  “Is he secretive?” Dwayne took the eggs off the stove and plated them.

  “Shit, yes. He had a shed out back that he keeps locked, and he’d jump and yell if he didn’t hear me come into the room.”

  Bringing the plate to the table, Dwayne asked, “What about his phone?”

  “He has that thing locked up tight as Fort Knox. And you know how texts show when you get them? His don’t. I heard the danged thing ding once, but his iPhone showed no notifications.” Robin picked up the mug once again. “God, I hate that ass.” He sipped and set it down, practically shaking. “If you can nail him, I hope… fuck, I hope he goes to prison and becomes the cellblock bitch for the next twenty years. I sure as hell wish he gets stabbed and lives so someone else can stab him… over and over.”

  Dwayne stood, took the mug from Robin, and held him. Robin shook and then buried his head in Dwayne’s chest. Dwayne figured he was crying but didn’t look. Robin deserved his chance to get out the bottled-up resentment, and Dwayne would be there for him.

  “I feel like fucking Cinderella, and I hate that story,” Robin said, wiping his eyes, and sniffed.

  “You know that in the original Grimm version, birds peck out the eyes of the evil stepsisters,” Dwayne told him.

  “Then if I’m going to be fucking Cinderella, I want some of those damned birds.” Robin walked to the front window. “Where in the hell do I get some?” He turned back toward him. “Do you think I can order some stepfather-eye-pecking-out birds on Amazon? You can get everything else.” He stalked back and grabbed the mug and drank some more.

  “Slow down. You’re already riled up enough.” Dwayne was concerned that if Robin had too much caffeine now, he would explode. “If your stepfather is doing anything, we’ll figure out what it is.” Dwayne wouldn’t let someone cause this much pain and walk away. Not if he could help it. “Go ahead and finish getting ready for work, and I’ll take you.”

  “You don’t have to. I gave myself enough time this morning to be able to walk over. I figured that’s how I’m going to need to get home after work. I’ll bring an umbrella in case it rains and head on over. It won’t take that long.” Robin finished his coffee, took a few bites of eggs, and put his mug in the sink.

  “You know I can get dressed and just drive you over,” Dwayne said, already heading toward the bedroom.

  “Go on back to bed and relax.” Robin followed him, guiding him with a hand on his shoulder. “I have time, and it will give me a chance to think some things over.” He pressed Dwayne down onto the bed, and Dwayne had to admit the covers were calling to him.

  “Be sure to call when you get there,” Dwayne told Robin as he pulled up the blankets.

  Robin left the room and shut the door. A little while later, the front door closed and Dwayne was alone in a quiet apartment, wishing the bed wasn’t so empty.

  ROBIN CALLED later to say he’d arrived, and Dwayne thanked him and wished him a good day before going right back to sleep.

  He woke when his phone rang a little while later, and he snatched it off the nightstand. “Yeah…?” he answered more gruffly than he’d meant to.

  “Is this where I can speak with Robin?”

  The tentative female voice had Dwayne suddenly very awake. “He’s at work at the moment. Is this his mother?”

  “Yes.” She seemed to be speaking in a whisper, and Dwayne wondered if she was at home and hiding from her husband. “Please t
ell—” Her voice broke. “I don’t know what Robin has told you, but….” She paused once again. “I got a call from a lawyer looking for Robin this morning.” She sniffed. “He wouldn’t tell me what it was about and asked that Robin call him right away. He did say he was from Maryland, and that’s where Gretchen lives.” Fear clearly colored her voice, but she pushed on. “I’ll give you the number. Please ask Robin to call and tell me what’s happening, and ask him if maybe I can meet him for lunch on Monday? I want to see my boy.”

  Dwayne wrote down the number and confirmed the one she wanted Robin to call her at, then ended the call. He knew he wasn’t going back to sleep, so he pushed away the covers and hurried to the bathroom. After cleaning and getting dressed, he bounded down the stairs and out the door. He got into his car and sped over to the Y, went inside, and asked to speak with Terry.

  Terry strolled up a minute later, smiling, and led him to his office. “What can I do for you, Dwayne?”

  “Is Robin busy at the moment?” Dwayne had a feeling this was important. Lawyers don’t just call if there wasn’t a reason. “I got a call from his mother this morning. I think she’s figuring out how much she misses her son. But that isn’t why I came down here. She said she was called by a lawyer from Maryland, and she’s afraid it has to do with his sister.”

  Terry stood and peered through the window at the pool. “He’s on the stand right now, but he has a break in an hour.”

  “I don’t want to interrupt his day.”

  Terry sighed. “There’s a swim class in there right now, but they should be done in fifteen minutes. I’ll tell him to come in then.” He rolled his eyes and smiled. “I didn’t realize police officers were such drama queens. Take a seat and I’ll have him come in.” Terry left the office, and Dwayne fidgeted for a little while until Robin entered in his red swim trunks and white lifeguard shirt. Dang, he was sexy.

  “What’s happened?”

  “Your mother called. She sounded upset.” Dwayne figured he’d get right down to it. “She said she was called by a lawyer from Maryland looking for you. She gave me his number. She also said she was wondering if she could see you for lunch on Monday.”

  Robin blinked as he took the note with the lawyer’s number on it. “She said that?”

  “Yeah, she did. Call her sometime today. The second number is the one she said to use.” Dwayne handed Robin his phone, and he took it and dialed.

  “Yes. This is Robin Cartwright, and I received a message that someone at this number was trying to get in touch with me.” He listened and went whiter by the second.

  Dwayne hurried to catch him, wondering what had just happened.

  Chapter Six

  “THANK GOODNESS,” the man said. “I’m Warren Fisher. I was your sister’s attorney, or at least I drew up her will a few years ago.” He paused and took a deep breath. “I hate to tell you, but she passed away last night.”

  “Oh God. How?” Robin caught his breath as his head began to spin. Then Dwayne was there, arms around him as his knees gave out from under him.

  “I’m not sure at this point. I know it was sudden and happened while she was on her way home from work. It could have been a heart attack behind the wheel or something like that. She went off the road and struck a tree.” Warren cleared his throat. “I can help you with the arrangements and things like that, believe me. But there is a more urgent need.”

  “Charlie?” Robin managed to ask.

  “Yes. He was at a friend of your sister’s last night and can stay there tonight as well. But your sister named you as guardian for Charlie if anything should happen to her. Child Services hasn’t been notified yet because he’s with a regular caregiver. But the faster you can get down here and take him with you, the better. Once he enters the child protection system in Baltimore County, things will get messy.”

  “Okay. Let me see what I can do, and I’ll call you back. Give me a few hours to make arrangements.” Robin’s hand shook as he ended the call. His sister was dead, just like that. They hadn’t been particularly close in the last few years, but Robin loved her and was going to miss her. Losing Gretchen was just another nail in the coffin that contained the death of his family.

  “What is it?” Dwayne asked, still holding him.

  Robin wasn’t sure he could talk but forced the words out. “My sister died.” He stood still as blessed numbness washed over him. “She died driving home from—” He turned to Dwayne as another wave of overwhelming fear washed over him. “The lawyer said that Gretchen indicated in her will that she wanted me to take care of Charlie.” His throat went dry, and he shook once again. “I… how am I supposed to raise her son for her? I can’t even….”

  “Where is Charlie now?”

  “With a friend of my sister’s. The lawyer said that I need to get him or Child Services would step in. She lives in Baltimore, and apparently the system is really messy there. He said it would be best if I came to get him, but where do I take him? I’m living on your couch or….” His head felt like it was going to explode at any minute from the pressure.

  “Okay. I’ll contact my friend Donald. He might be able to help with some advice. He’s a social worker, so it’s what he does.”

  Dwayne made a call right away as Robin sank into one of the chairs. He heard Dwayne talking, but it was hard for him to pay attention.

  “Robin.” Dwayne’s voice cut through the haze, and he lifted his gaze from the tile floor. “Donald says he’ll meet you here after your shift and ride with you to pick up Charlie.”

  “Where is he going to stay?” Robin asked plaintively. He was trying to get his mind around all this, and it wasn’t happening.

  “Leave that to me. I’ll work something out. Just go get your nephew and talk to the lawyer to find out the details. Donald can be there when you meet with him, and that should help. I could try to go with you….”

  Robin shook his head. “You have to be to work in a few hours, and….” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “This is too much.”

  “Take things one step at a time. I’ll be here to help, and so will Donald and Carter.”

  Terry returned, interrupting them. Dwayne explained what had happened, and Terry immediately expressed his sympathy for his loss.

  Dwayne took Robin’s hand and squeezed it. “There are people who can help. Just go back to work for now. Donald will meet you, and I’ll talk to the captain and see what I can work out.”

  “Do you think you can work?” Terry eyed Robin with concern. “You need to be alert.”

  Robin nodded. He needed something normal and a chance to think for a while. “I’m okay,” he said, taking a deep breath and pushing down the butterflies that had taken up residence in his stomach. He was an adult and had responsibilities now, especially if he was going to somehow care for Charlie. “Donald will meet me, and….” He didn’t need to go over everything again. He had control of things at the moment, and he needed it to stay that way. “I’m going to be okay.” Robin hugged Dwayne and thanked him for his support. Then he left the office and returned to the pool, where he took deep breaths and did his best to clear his head.

  As he climbed into the chair, a peace settled over him. This was something he’d done many times before. It had been a while, but the same seriousness he’d felt when he’d lifeguarded in high school settled over him. Familiar. Known. Calming.

  A group of retirees came in, talking as they headed to the locker room, and Robin went to work.

  AT HIS lunch break, he called the lawyer and agreed to meet him that afternoon. He explained the time he’d be there, and Mr. Fisher agreed to meet him and said he’d have Charlie and his sister’s friend with him. Robin explained who Donald was and why he was coming with him as well. He also talked to Donald, who confirmed he’d be there. Then he called Dwayne just to hear his voice.

  “How are you holding up?” Dwayne asked.

  “I’m okay.”

  “I talked to the captain and took a personal day,
so I’m going to go with you. I’ll meet you at work, with Donald, and we’ll go from there.”

  Robin nodded even though there was no one there to see it. “Where is he going to stay?”

  “There’s a room that’s technically for storage, so I’m cleaning it out, and for now Charlie can have that room.” Dwayne grunted softly.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Moving boxes to clear it out. Donald still has a small bed that Alex, his son, used, and he’s going to bring it over. It won’t be palatial, but it will be a bed and a room for him. Also, we can probably go by your sister’s and pick up some of his things. So I was thinking that we’d take two cars in order to bring stuff back. Donald thought that was a good idea too.”

  “But what about long-term? He’s going to need a home and place where he can play, with a yard and—”

  “Take it one step at a time. You and he will have a place to stay. That will work for now. There’s going to be a lot to deal with, so relax and we’ll figure some things out. Terry said you were done at two, so Donald and I will be there waiting for you.”

  “Okay.” The pounding in his chest settled down, and Robin calmed himself. He would see how things went and then make some decisions. There was no need to try to do everything all at once. “One step at a time” was going to have to become his mantra.

  The rest of the early afternoon, he kept his mind centered on the task at hand, but as soon as his shift was over, he changed into regular clothes and was out the door like a shot. Both Dwayne and Donald were there waiting. As he hurried into Dwayne’s arms, his resolve and the façade of strength faded quickly.

  Dwayne held him tightly. “Go ahead and ride with Donald in the van. He has a lot of questions that I can’t answer, and he knows how these kinds of things work.”

  “Okay.” Though Robin didn’t want to be separated from Dwayne, it was probably best.