by Andrew Grey
“You can come with me,” the girl said, and Zach followed her. Angus returned to his seat and hoped that Zach would keep his word. He read an old magazine and shifted in his chair. Finally, Zach came out and asked him to come with him.
“Is he awake?” Angus asked.
“Yes, but he can’t talk much. They’re still giving him oxygen, and they want to keep him a few days. The smoke really did a number on his lungs.” They passed through the doors and walked down a hallway. Zach led him to a curtained-off area. They entered and Angus stopped just inside. Kevin blinked at him but otherwise lay still. He had a mask over his nose and mouth and was pale, almost ghostly. Angus wanted to rush up to him but settled for walking slowly and then taking one of his hands. Kevin was cold but curled his fingers slightly.
“You’re going to be fine.”
Kevin blinked at him and turned to Zach. “He wants to know about Mrs. V. Is she okay? Did you get her out?”
Angus swallowed hard. “I found her first and carried her out the building and then came back and found you in your kitchen. I carried you out as the place collapsed behind us.” He didn’t want to tell him about Mrs. V. She seemed to mean a lot to him, and Angus wanted Kevin to feel better, not go through additional pain. Kevin squeezed his hand slightly, eyes filling with tears. He blinked and then turned his gaze to Zach. “I’m sorry, Kevin,” Angus whispered.
The curtain was pulled back and a doctor strode in as though he owned the world. “Mr. Foster, are you breathing any better?” He walked right up to them, and Angus knew the second his gaze fell on their clasped hands. The doctor said nothing, but his gaze lingered for longer than it should have. Kevin thankfully seemed oblivious and simply shrugged. “What we’re going to do is schedule some tests and then move you up into a room. You inhaled a lot of smoke, and we need to give your lungs a chance to work it out. Thankfully, the heat didn’t get to them, so they will recover on their own with little interference from us.”
“There isn’t something more you can do?” Zach asked.
“Not unless we have to. If his lungs can heal on their own, it’s best to let them do so. We will need to check the extent of the damage.” He turned back to Kevin. “You’re likely to have difficulty doing anything that requires strenuous breathing for a while.” The doctor’s gaze shifted to Angus. He nodded, understanding what the doctor meant. “Just lie there and be as still as you can. Rest is the best thing for you now. Someone will be in to take you down for the tests and then move you to a room.”
“Thank you,” Kevin rasped from under the mask. If Angus hadn’t already known what he was going to say, he wouldn’t have understood him. Kevin closed his eyes, and Zach approached the bed, carefully touching the fingers of the hand with the IV.
“What do they have him on?”
“They said it was mostly fluids, but they also added an antibiotic just in case he picked up something from the smoke. They said old buildings can be filled with bacteria that become airborne or can hitch a ride in fumes or smoke, so they wanted to be cautious,” Zach explained.
“Is there anything you want me to do for you?” Angus asked, realizing all of a sudden that not only was Kevin homeless but he’d most likely lost everything he owned. Kevin shook his head slowly and closed his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks. “It’s all right.”
“Everything is gone,” Kevin said.
“Things can be replaced, but you can’t,” Angus said, remembering how frantic he’d been racing back into the building to find him. “Are you going to stay with him?” he asked Zach, who nodded. “I need to get home and wash off all this smoke and sweat. Would you text me with his room number and I’ll come back in a little while?” Angus gave Zach the number when he agreed and then said good-bye to Kevin before leaving the area.
As soon as he was outside, he inhaled a deep breath as a plan formed in his mind. He got into his car and raced home, where he showered and changed. Feeling clean again, he grabbed his phone and called a few contacts.
“Janice, it’s Angus,” he said when his friend answered. “I need a favor.”
“What is it this time?” she asked playfully.
“A friend was one of the victims in that apartment fire. I’m sure it’s been on the news. He lost everything and is in the hospital. Do you think you could work some of your magic to help find him a new place? He’ll be there a day or so, but once he gets out, he’s got nothing. Everything was in there when the place collapsed. He can’t afford high rent, I suspect, but he isn’t on assistance.”
“Sure. That should be relatively easy. I’ll compile a list of possible places that you can pass on to him. What else?”
“He needs everything,” Angus said.
“Then stop by my office.” Janice was a dear. She worked for a nonprofit that dealt with the homeless and people in times of stress or need. Their paths had crossed many times on the job, and the two of them had become friends.
“I’m already on the way,” Angus said. He locked the house and descended the stairs to the garage. He unloaded his gear and pulled out, driving across town to park in the lot of a neighborhood church. He went inside and down the stairs.
“That was fast,” Janice said when she saw him, a huge smile breaking out on her perfectly made-up face. Janice Kranz was an extraordinary woman. She and her husband owned a massive, fully restored house in one of the best neighborhoods in Harrisburg. She could have spent her time going to socials and charity events. Instead, she ran her organization in conjunction with the church that gave her the space, and she directly helped countless people.
“I was just leaving when I talked to you.” He kissed her cheek and received a hug. “Like I said, he lost everything in the fire.”
“I set aside one of our personal care kits for men. It’s got the grooming basics. I take it he only has the clothes on his back.” Janice motioned down a hall, and he followed her. She opened a door and motioned him inside. “Take what you need. These are good, solid clothes for men.” She handed him a bag, and Angus got a few packages of white underwear in what he thought was Kevin’s size, a few undershirts, and a pair of jeans and several shirts. He also grabbed some socks and a pair of pajamas for the hospital.
“This should give him something to start with,” Angus said. He didn’t want to take too much, but he knew how important it was for people to have some of the basics after they’d lost everything.
“Take one of my cards to leave with him, and we’ll be able to help him once he’s out on his own.”
“You’re a sweetheart, you know that? Everyone in need in this town owes you a great deal.”
“I wish more people thought that way. I’m going to have to look for a new space because the church is being sold to a new congregation, and they want to use this space for themselves. Not that I blame them, but it means more hassle and a move. That is, if I can find someplace. I don’t pay much here, and the donations I get barely cover my costs as it is. I don’t need any compensation for my time, but I have people who help me, and they need to make a living.” She huffed a little as Angus stepped out of the room. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
“I know you will. But if there’s something I can do, let me know.” Angus carried the bag of things for Kevin back toward the door. “I can talk to the guys at the station and see if anyone knows of a place. You might also call one of the television stations and see if they’ll help you get the word out.”
“One of them did a story on us last year, and it helped bring in some donations, but only for a while.” She pulled open the door. “I’ll have to think on what I want to do, and I’ll call you as soon as I have some possible apartments.” She smiled. “Now go make sure your friend is okay.” She checked her watch and smiled. Angus took that as a sign that she had an appointment. He leaned in to give her a hug. They remembered the kit, and she placed it in the bag. Angus left and went back to his car, then returned to the hospital.
Zach texted him the room numb
er as he was driving, and Angus went right up to Kevin’s floor and found his room. Zach sat next to his bed. Kevin had his eyes closed.
“What’s all this?” Zach asked.
“A friend of mine runs a charity that helps people who need it. I picked up a few clothes and a kit.” He pulled it out of the bag and set it on the counter in the bathroom, still talking to Zach. “I also have a pair of pajamas so he doesn’t have to spend all his time in those hospital gowns that are open in the back.”
Kevin nodded and seemed to smile. “Thank you.”
He grinned with relief into Kevin’s gorgeous eyes. “She also has contacts all over town and is going to try to help line up a few apartments that you can look at once you’re feeling better.”
“You did all that in the hour you were gone?” Zach asked.
“Janice did most of it,” Angus said as he set the bag in the closet and closed the door. “It isn’t a lot, but I got some underthings, jeans, and a few shirts so you’ll have some clothes to wear when you need them.”
Kevin didn’t answer, but tears ran down his cheeks. Angus knew how hard this must be for him. He’d seen it multiple times, just not this close. Kevin had suffered plenty of loss—his friend, his home, and all his things. In one day, a good part of his life had disappeared. Angus’s phone rang and he was going to ignore it, but he was on call. He fished his phone out of his pocket and recognized the number.
“Antonio, what’s up?”
“At your fire today, they found a note,” he said.
Angus turned toward the door and stepped out into the hall.
“He’s struck again, and this time it seems he’s attached himself to a person,” Reyes said.
“What do you mean?”
“I knew there was something about that kid I was questioning, the one where you stepped in. The arsonist addressed this note to him. Well, I’m assuming it’s him since he lived in the building and the note begins, ‘Dear Kevin.’”
“Okay. Take it slow. We believe accelerants were involved in the fire.”
“Yeah, and that’s been confirmed. The note was found outside the building. With the way it came down, it must have been placed after the fire was under control, so he was definitely in the crowd. He used a kid. Gave him the envelope and a dollar and told him to give the envelope to a fireman. The kid was, like, six years old and all he can say was that he was a man. So the arsonist was there and watched the entire thing.”
“So he knows that Kevin got out.”
“I suspect so. Apparently you’re a huge hero.”
The sarcastic ass. “Can you tell me what the note says?”
“‘You spoiled my fun at the club, so now I’m going to enjoy watching you and your home burn. This is going to be spectacular. I don’t know if you’ll get out or not, but if you do, the fun will continue. You seemed pretty handy with a hose, but this is going to be more than you can handle, I’m sure.’ That part was typed, and then there is a printed section. ‘The fire was amazing and I loved watching the building come down. It was glorious.’”
“Jesus,” Angus breathed quietly. He peered into the room where Kevin lay resting. “He’s in the hospital right now. You don’t think this guy will try anything here, do you?” Angus hated the thought of the damage and potential loss of life if a fire started in the hospital.
“I have no idea. But we are going to have to try to protect Kevin as best we can. This wacko’s violence is accelerating, and from the sounds of it, quite rapidly. I believe that since he’s now focused his obsession on Kevin, he isn’t going to stop until he sees Kevin burn. I’m getting news-camera footage to compare to the footage outside the club. I hope to hell we get lucky, because so far I’m batting zero, and I fucking hate that.”
“I know. Send over anything you want us to see or go by the station. Justinian will help you.”
“He hates me,” Antonio said.
“Yeah, but he hates arsonists and murderers more.”
“I’m going to have to talk to Kevin,” Antonio said. “Maybe he knows something.”
“Well, he can’t talk right now. He’s on oxygen, and they need his lungs to rest. So give him a little time and try to remember that he’s the victim, not the arsonist.” Angus disconnected and put his phone in his pocket. He leaned against the hallway wall and tried to calm the thoughts racing through his mind. He already knew the fire was arson based upon the accelerants. But to find out it was their serial arsonist and that he had attached himself and his obsession to Kevin was nearly too much. Part of him said to distance himself. He had a job to do, and that was to put out fires and help catch this arsonist.
But he couldn’t walk away. Yes, that had been the way he operated in the past, but just holding Kevin’s hand was more exciting than being with other guys. Giving that up would be stupid. And Kevin was going to need someone to help keep him safe. This guy wasn’t going to give up. He’d set at least six fires that they knew about, and there were more that could possibly have been his. The others were before the notes started. Now he had to figure out how to explain things to Kevin. If he didn’t, Antonio would, and he would blurt it out for effect to try to get Kevin to tell him what he needed. Antonio wasn’t a bad guy; he just went at each case like a charging bull.
Angus pushed away from the wall and went back into Kevin’s room. Zach sat in the chair, and Kevin was asleep. He looked peaceful, almost angelic. Angus didn’t want to disturb him, so he pulled up a chair and sat down, settling in for a while. After a few minutes, an orderly came in the room. “I’m going to take you down for some tests,” he told Kevin, who slid his eyes open and nodded once. Most likely all he wanted to do was sleep.
The orderly unlocked the bed and moved around the cables, attaching the IV and oxygen to the bed. Then he wheeled him out of the room, and Angus stared at where he’d been and then looked at Zach.
“What is it you aren’t telling him?” Zach asked. “I know there’s something. You keep looking at him and opening your mouth and then closing it again, like you can’t make up your mind about something.”
Angus nodded. “The fire at his building was set by the same guy that burned the club.” Angus didn’t want to go into any more.
“And you don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“It’s not. That’s the problem.”
“You think he’s after Kevin?” Zach whispered with fear in his voice, as though the arsonist might hear.
Angus nodded. “I know he is. Kevin is in his sights.”
Zach gasped and put his hand over his mouth. “I won’t ask how you know because you probably can’t talk about it.” That seemed to be a concept Zach was familiar with, and Angus wondered why, but he didn’t ask for the same reason Zach hadn’t. “But you’re sure.”
“Yeah. The police are going to want to talk to Kevin, but I think I put them off. He isn’t going to be able to talk for a while and….”
“If it’s that asshole who went after Kevin at the club, he won’t have anything to do with him anyway.” Zach sounded positive. “I can call Bull and we’ll get Kevin lawyered up really fast. They can send someone else if they want, but not him.”
Angus chuckled; he couldn’t help it. “Antonio can be a pain in the ass, there’s no doubt about that. But he’s a good cop, and he always tries to get to the bottom of what is truly going on. He usually does it like a wrecking ball, but he gets results.”
Zach humphed. “He’s an asshole.”
“Yes, he is, and it comes quite naturally to him.”
Now Zach chuckled. “So is he one of those guys you need to worry about if he’s being nice to you, because he’s sharpening the knife and getting ready to plunge it in? I know guys like that. Some of the men at the club can be vicious. They say one thing to your face and are dissing you behind your back.”
“With Antonio, if he’s being nice, it’s because he’s got something on you and he’s letting you hang yourself. Otherwise he’s pretty much an ass.” Angus sigh
ed, realizing there was a pattern there. He’d dated a lot of guys who were asses, and he seemed to go from one ass to the next ass… and not in a good way. “I reminded him that Kevin was the victim here, not a suspect.”
“Well….” Zach didn’t seem convinced, and that was fine. Antonio had his own problems, and he was going to have to deal with them. “I won’t leave Kevin alone with him if he shows up, and I’ll call Bull if I need to.” Angus had seen Bull, and he could intimidate anyone.
“Just get Kevin to help the police if he can so that they can catch this arsonist and keep him out of danger. That’s what really matters here. As long as this guy is loose, Kevin is in danger.” He needed to make Zach understand. “This guy was at the fire, watching what was happening as part of the crowd. He seems to like to do that, and we’re all so busy we don’t notice him.” Angus made a note to check out the people watching the fire at his next call. It was something he needed to get better at. “I’ll do what I can,” Angus promised.
“Fine,” Zach huffed. “I take it you intend to leave it to me to give him the bad news.”
“No,” Angus said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll be here to talk to him.” He wasn’t sure how to tell him yet, but he’d figure it out.
“Good,” Zach said and his lips curled upward just a little. “Bull does that same thing when he thinks I’m being a pain.” Zach stood and crossed his arms. “Though he does it better than you. The bald-head thing carries it off better. It also makes him sexier, and you know what they say about bald men….” Zach squinted and chuckled.
Angus rolled his eyes. There was definitely such a thing as too much information, and it seemed like Zach was getting close to it. They grew quiet for a while, and Angus wished he had something to read. After a few minutes he got up and left the room in search of coffee and something to do. To be nice, when he found a machine, he got two cups and brought one back to Zach.
