Round and Round

by Andrew Grey

  “Thank God,” Zach murmured. “The stuff here is terrible, but I needed some.”

  “Tell me about it,” Angus breathed.

  “Can I ask you something? You and Kevin had one date. So why are you here? It isn’t like you’ve been together a long time or anything. You could just walk away.” Zach sipped from his cup.

  “You get right to the heart of things, don’t you?”

  “Why beat around the bush? I want to know, so I asked. What gives? He said your date was nice and all, but you already know I got the phone call because you were mean. So why are you here?”

  “I wasn’t mean. I was being defensive,” Angus countered more sharply than he’d intended. “And we had a great time together.” He felt his defenses rising once again. “He’s a lot of fun to be with.”

  “That doesn’t answer why you’re here on your day off. I can sit with him just fine, and yet here you are.”

  Angus swallowed. “I like him, okay? He’s special. And you’re as nosy as they come.”

  “It’s what I do. Kevin hasn’t had a lot of luck with guys. As you said, he’s really special and wonderful, but people don’t tend to stick around, and it rips him up.” Zach finished his coffee and dropped the cup in the trash. “I don’t want to see him get hurt again.” Zach’s gaze was hard, and Angus had opened his mouth to tell him he needed to mind his own business and that he wasn’t Kevin’s father or something when the orderly rolled Kevin’s bed back into the room and then fussed to get everything put back into place.

  “How did it go?” Angus asked.

  Kevin shrugged and lifted his mask. “It hurts to breathe sometimes.”

  “I know. I’ve gotten some smoke really bad more than once. You need to give things time to heal.” Angus gently stroked Kevin’s forehead. “I have some things to tell you, but you have to stay calm, okay?” Angus asked, and Kevin nodded. “The police are going to want to talk to you. I’m surprised they aren’t here already. The fire at your building was set on purpose by the same man who tried to burn the club.”

  “How do you know?” Kevin asked, and then he lowered his mask back into place.

  “He left a note. The thing is, he’s fixated on you because of what you did at the club. You spoiled his fun… so that’s why he said he set your building on fire.”

  Kevin blinked and tears welled in his eyes. He lifted the mask. “So Mrs. Vertebedian is dead because of me? All of this is because of me.”

  “Put the mask back in place,” Zach said gently and glared at Angus.

  “Of course not,” Angus said, staring right back. He turned his attention back to Kevin “This isn’t your fault, and Mrs. V isn’t dead because of you. She died because of the arsonist, and we’re going to find him. But the police need your help. Do you think you can do that?”

  “I’ll try,” Kevin said. “I should have been able to protect her,” he mumbled and then clamped his eyes closed.

  Angus took his hand and stroked his fingers. “You did all you could,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault. None of this is your fault. You have to know that.”

  “Mrs. V doesn’t have any family. I was as close to family as she had,” Kevin said. “I need to help make the arrangements for her.”

  “Bull and I will find out what needs to be done,” Zach said. “Don’t worry about that. Just concentrate on getting better for now. You need to make your lungs stronger.”

  Kevin nodded, but Angus could feel the tension in the hand he was holding. “Just relax and try to get some rest. Everything will still be there. Zach will make sure Mrs. V is taken care of.” In essence she was a murder victim, so he figured it would be some time before the body would be released anyway. Eventually Kevin calmed down and fell back to sleep. Once he was resting, Angus allowed himself a chance to relax a little.

  Until Antonio stomped into the room like a herd of cattle. Kevin started awake, and Angus glared at the intruder.

  “Subtlety was never your strong suit,” Angus said.

  “I’m going to call Bull,” Zach said and pulled out his phone. He made the call and then hung up. “You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to,” Zach told Kevin. “Bull said if he can’t be civil, then he can talk to the lawyer.”

  “Your reputation precedes you,” Angus said. “Now have a seat and try not to act like a complete jerk. Kevin has had a difficult time of it, so be gentle.” Angus leaned closer. “Remember, he isn’t a suspect.” He got up and pulled the chair next to the bed, glaring at Antonio until he sat down.

  “I’m Officer Antonio Reyes. I’m investigating the fire at your apartment building, which we believe is related to the fire at Bronco’s. At the fire at your building, we discovered a note from the man we believe set the fire, and I’m afraid he’s attached himself to you.”

  Angus watched Kevin’s reaction, even though he already knew the information presented so far. Sometimes the second time, or hearing it from a police officer, made things feel more real. “What do you want from me?” Kevin was clearly suspicious.

  “Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Have you seen anyone hanging around outside your building that you don’t know? Or have you noticed anyone who might be following you?”

  “No,” Kevin answered and lifted his mask a little. “But I wasn’t looking for anyone, either.” He put the mask back down.

  “Have you had any strange phone calls?” Antonio asked, and Kevin shook his head.

  “Kevin,” Angus said. “I know you looked at the video at the station and saw how the arsonist evaded the cameras. Did you happen to notice anyone behaving strangely over the last few days? It may have been at the grocery store or when you were getting gas. Someone who was trying not to be seen.”

  Kevin stared back at him, blinking, then shook his head. “I wasn’t looking for anyone.” He seemed seconds away from breaking down. Angus took his hand, and Zach held the other one.

  “That’s okay,” Antonio said. “I know you wouldn’t be looking, and we don’t know how closely he’s been watching you, but our arsonist did seem to know you were home.” Antonio consulted his notes. “Can you tell me what happened when the fire started? Where were you?”

  “I was having afternoon coffee with Mrs. V,” he began and closed his eyes. “She comes over on the afternoons when I don’t work, and we have tea, which is really coffee. She always brings something she baked, and we talk… or we used to. I worked early this morning and got home about two. She came up at three or so. I made coffee, and then we sat down together and were talking the way we usually did. I remember feeling really tired, and then I woke up outside on the ground finding it hard to breathe.”

  Antonio took notes, and Angus sent him a questioning look, but he gave nothing away. “Do you remember hitting your head?”

  “No.” He kept lifting his mask, and Angus helped him put it back into place.

  “I think that’s enough, Antonio,” Angus said. “The oxygen is important, and talking will stress his lungs.”

  “Thank you, Kevin. You’ve been very helpful.” Antonio lightly touched Kevin’s arm and then stood and left the room. Angus squeezed Kevin’s fingers and then followed Antonio out into the hall. He was already on the phone. “I need a full toxicology report,” he was saying. “It’s possible she was drugged and traces could still be in her system.” He hung up and then turned to Angus. “We may have caught a break.”

  “Yes, and remember you didn’t have to beat anyone to get it. Kevin was calm, and you got information from him he didn’t even know he had. Good things happen when you mind your manners.”

  Antonio’s gaze burned with anger. “You aren’t my fucking mother,” he ground out between his teeth.

  “Maybe not. But you need to let go of all this anger.” Angus stepped closer and lowered his voice. “It’s the main reason we didn’t work.” There were other reasons as well, but Antonio’s hot head and constant state of agitation and anger at the world had been a huge reason Angus had
decided that a long-term thing with Antonio wouldn’t be a good idea. He looked back toward Kevin’s room. “I need to get back.”

  “Tell him to call me if he remembers anything.”

  “I will.”

  Antonio hurried to the elevator and was already on the phone by the time the doors closed. Angus turned and went back into Kevin’s room. He found Kevin asleep and Zach glaring at him once again.

  “I went out in the hall and heard you,” Zach said. “Are you and him…?”

  “No,” Angus answered. “Antonio and I had a thing once, but”—he grinned—“could you see yourself with him for the next twenty years?”

  “I’d kick his ass,” Zach said, and Angus didn’t doubt that he would.

  “That’s what I wanted to do after a week or so. He’s a good guy and very dedicated, but his people skills suck.”

  “I’m not your first?” Kevin asked sleepily. “I thought I popped your cherry.” He began to laugh and then started coughing. Angus rubbed his arm and let the cough work its way through before settling him back on the bed.

  “Take it easy. Laughing is not good for you right now.”

  Zach got the mask back in place, and a nurse came in to check that everything was okay. She scolded him for cracking jokes and lightly admonished Kevin to just relax. Then she checked his mask. “We can put you on oxygen only through your nose if you settle down, but not until we know you’re getting enough air into your lungs.”

  “Sorry,” Kevin said softly. He closed his eyes once again.

  “Just be careful, honey, and you’ll be fine.” She fussed over Kevin, making sure he was comfortable, and then left the room.

  “Do you want to go back with the cop?” Kevin asked. “He seems like he’d be more your type than me.”

  “You think pain in the ass is my type?” Angus said.

  “No, but he is strong and handsome in a dreamy sort of way. Not as hot as you, but still nice-looking.” The implication being that Kevin didn’t think he was handsome. Angus didn’t like that at all.

  “I’m not interested in Antonio.” Angus took Kevin’s hand once again and hoped he’d go back to sleep. “I’m starting to understand that he isn’t really my type.”

  “What is?”

  Angus leaned close. “Cute heroes with fire hoses,” Angus told him. He saw Kevin smile under the oxygen mask. “So don’t you worry about anything.”

  “But I was nasty and didn’t call you,” Kevin said. “I should have but I was scared.”

  “I yelled at you, and I had no cause to do that. So you think about getting better. Before I got the fire call, I was going to come over and try to see you. Maybe bring some flowers and stuff. But then other things got in the way.”

  Two other guys about the same age as Kevin came into the room. Zach greeted each of them before introducing them to Angus. “This is Jeremy and Tristan.”

  “We got here as soon as we could,” Jeremy said. “It was hard getting any information. Even Spook nosed around and didn’t find out anything.”

  “Someone burned down my building,” Kevin said. “He’s after me and tried to kill me. He did kill Mrs. V.” Kevin began to cry, and that set off more coughing.

  The nurse came in right away, but this time she didn’t scold him. “Honey, you need to try to give your lungs a rest.” She removed the mask and ran a line that attached to his nose. At least Kevin would be able to talk more easily. “You boys all need to let him sleep, or I’ll have to ask you to leave. He can only talk a little, and he needs his rest.” Her steely gaze settled on each of them in turn, and then she left the room.

  “You really think someone tried to kill you?” Tristan asked. “That’s pretty dramatic, dude.”

  “It’s true. The police were here a little while ago,” Kevin explained.

  “Tristan and I got together and talked, and when you get out of here, we’ll take you shopping and get you new clothes and stuff. You can stay with one of us until you find a place to live, you know that,” Jeremy said.

  “Thanks. Angus has someone helping me find a place already, and he brought me some things to wear.” Kevin smiled. “I’m not sure where I’ll live, but the police think this guy is fixated on me, so I don’t want to put anyone else in danger. I’m not sure that I’m really safe here, but I can’t leave.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Angus said. “There are plenty of people around, and Antonio has things under control. It’s what he’s good at.”

  “If you say so,” Kevin said. He reached for a cup of water. Zach helped him drink, and then Kevin closed his eyes and looked ready to drop off to sleep again.

  Zach leaned over the bed. “I’m going to go and take one of the Boob-sey Twins with me. Jeremy and I can get anything you need, so just call us. Tristan is going to sit with you for a while.” Zach hugged his friend and pulled Jeremy out of the room with him.

  “Why?” Jeremy asked.

  “Because he doesn’t need all of us talking to him,” Zach said, his voice getting softer as they left. “We’ll be back in a little while.”

  Kevin sighed, and Tristan sat in the chair Zach had vacated.

  “I should let you rest too, but I’ll come up again later to see you.” Angus leaned over the bed and kissed Kevin gently on his forehead. “I’ll leave my number on the table here, and you can call if you need me.”

  “I will,” Kevin said, and Angus left the room. He strode down the hallway to the elevators and saw Zack and Jeremy in one of the waiting rooms, talking together. Angus hadn’t really thought they’d leave, but giving Kevin some quiet time was definitely a good idea. He was about to get into the elevator, but instead he walked over to where they were talking.

  “You might want to see about getting Kevin a replacement phone. He lost his in the fire.”

  “We were just talking about that. Jeremy is going to stay here, and I’ll get Kevin a phone and stuff.” Zach stood and walked with Angus back to the elevator. “I don’t want him to be alone.”

  “That’s a good idea. You heard what Antonio said. This guy is out there and will be looking for him. Tell Jeremy and Tristan to keep their eyes open, including hospital personnel. And don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the station.” The elevator doors opened, and the two of them stepped inside. “I’m going to see if I can arrange a safe place for Kevin once he can come home. Being alone in an apartment isn’t going to help him, and staying with a friend is only going to put you all in danger. Remember, this guy has already set half a dozen fires at least, and now he’s killed someone. He doesn’t have much to lose now. Guys like him get a thrill, almost a sexual high, out of fire. They feed off it just like the flames feed off the wood. He isn’t going to stop unless he’s caught.”

  “Okay,” Zach said, “but promise you’ll let Kevin know about anything you find.”

  “I will.” The doors slid open, and Angus walked toward the hospital exit. He got into his car, pulled out of the lot, and drove through traffic to the fire station.

  “Your buddy was here stirring everyone up just a while ago,” Captain Justinian said when Angus passed him as he was heading out of the station. “I’m going home to spend a few hours with my family before my wife decides to divorce me. Collins is on duty, and he can help with anything you need.”

  “Thanks.” Angus went inside and up to the captain’s office, knocking on the doorframe. “I’ve got some information you need to know.”

  Captain Collins looked up from his desk. He was one of those men who, when they were at work, were all business. Angus doubted he had ever been “one of the guys.” “You do?”

  “Yes, I was speaking with Antonio Reyes from the Harrisburg PD, and he said there was a note from our fire starter at the apartment-building fire.”

  “Yeah. It was delivered to me by a kid.” Collins was impatient as all hell. “Get to the point.”

  “The arsonist has fixated on one of the tenants
there, a man named Kevin Foster, and he’s in the hospital and will need protection. What safer place could there be for him than a fire station?”

  Collins laughed. “Rumor has it that the victim you’re talking about is also the guy you’ve been dating. So instead of using the fire station as a witness protection safe house, you could take him in. You know the regulations, not to mention the liability of allowing a civilian to stay at the firehouse. If we allowed it for this guy, then I’d have guys requesting conjugal visits with their girlfriends in the dormitory.” He rolled his eyes, and Angus was even happier than usual that he didn’t have to work with Collins on a regular basis.

  “He needs protection and might be able to help us capture this arsonist.”

  “If he needs help, then I suggest you put him up at your place. That way the two of you can play house and sew curtains together, or do whatever it is guys like you do.” Collins looked up toward the door, telling Angus he was dismissed and that his presence was no longer welcome.

  Angus turned and left the office. “Asshole,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What was that?” Collins demanded. Angus didn’t answer and continued to the exit. “I heard that,” Collins said, coming up behind him.

  “And I heard what you said, loud and clear. I’ll be bringing it up with the union, and I will request sensitivity training. The department has a clear antidiscrimination policy as well as an antiharassment policy, and your words violated both. I’ve played the games and been a team member for a long time, but I’m not going to take that from you or anyone. So I see sensitivity training in your future.” Angus broke out in a grin at the way Captain Collins paled. The course was two days, taken during off-shift time. He’d had to take it once, as had most of the department, but sitting through it again would be painful.

  “You know I can control your schedule,” Collins said softly.

  “Add more nails to your coffin,” Angus told him plainly. He saw the other men pretending not to hear, but they all clearly had. “I have witnesses.” How a simple question had gotten him into a test of wills with one of the captains was beyond him, but he wasn’t going to back down. He’d done plenty of that in the name of getting along and team unity.