by W L Knightly
He started getting dressed, and Spencer came out, talking on his phone. “You’re going to love the shots. I’ve even got a hot, fresh face for you. You’ll love him. Yeah, thanks. Talk soon.” He ended the call and put the phone down next to the lines. “Is this for me?”
“One for you and one for Tad. I figure you boys deserved a nice treat for such a hot time.”
“Thanks, Tula. You spoil me.”
“It was the least I could do; I snorted the last of yours.” She handed him the empty vial and giggled as blood trailed down her lip.
“You’re bleeding, dear. Better step away and wipe that up.” Spencer wiped his nose and then held out his hand. “Are you okay, man?”
“I’m good,” Tad said. “What time is it?”
“Half past seven. Do you have somewhere to be?” Spencer looked disappointed, like he might want to hang out some more.
“I’ve got to take care of some shit for my sister.”
“Ah, yeah. I guess I don’t have to ask you not to mention how you spent your afternoon. I’d appreciate Lexa not finding out. She’ll want to hang out every time I do a shoot. It’s bad enough not knowing when she’ll pop in, but today, I knew she was at work.”
Tad realized that must have been why he’d kept things clean the last time. “Does she know you use?”
“She knows I indulge, which is why she told me about your past. I promised her I wouldn’t offer you any, but I think we should do what works. Don’t you agree?”
“Yeah, for sure. It’s not a problem, man. We all have our secrets, right?”
“Certainly. We’re going to have a lot of fun, you and I. So, how about one more for the road?”
“You got it.” Tad was amped up and ready for the task at hand. He knew the one last line of courage would take him where he needed to be. He leaned over and snorted the line, but he never made it back up.
16
Tad
Tad’s eyes fluttered open, but the light was too bright to keep them that way for long. He winced and let out a moan, feeling that his stomach was empty and the rest of him felt like he’d been hit by a bus.
The last thing he remembered happening was sandwiching Tula and talking to Spencer. One of them must have brought him to the hospital after he passed out.
“You’re awake. Thank God.” His sister’s voice brought his head around.
“Hannah? What happened?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. Some girl drove you down and checked you in. You were unconscious, and thankfully, someone recognized you and called me down. I’ve been here since my shift ended waiting for you to wake up.”
“Wait, what? How long have I been here?”
“Tad, you almost died. You’re very lucky.”
“How long, Hannah?”
“Two days. Well, technically, thirty-one hours.”
Tad sat up, and the dizziness overtook him. “Where’s my car?” He needed to know his pride and joy was safe.
“Whoa, lay back. It’s fine and still parked down on the first floor of the garage. I checked on it earlier.”
“Thanks.” He felt better knowing where it was, and he tried to get up again but didn’t make it far.
“Look, you can’t get up that fast. Let’s take it easy, okay. You’re not late for work or anything. I called Bay and told the asshole what happened. I also gave him a good piece of my mind for coming back into your life. You know I hate that guy, and I can’t help but feel he’s the one who had you relapsing.”
“No, it was me, not him.”
“Right, like you’d ever blame that asshole. It’s just like when you came home from camp with that fucking brand, talking about your buddy. I knew he’d influenced you.”
“Stop it, Hannah. Look, I need to get out of here.”
“Fuck that. I went home and got some clothes, and we’ll both be living right here until the doctor says it’s time for you to go. Besides, I have another shift, and I’m not assigned to this wing, so you’ll have to behave. Don’t make me put a babysitter on you.”
All he needed was a little time, and then she’d be on shift and he could slip away. “Ok, fine. I’ll behave. Just promise me you won’t leave this place without me.”
“Yeah. I promise. I’m glad you’re scared. I know you have your reasons for doing what you did, but you don’t have to use again. Let this be a lesson, Tad. I need you around.”
He looked into her eyes, and they were ringed red, tears spilling from the corners. “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I didn’t mean to be a disappointment to you.” Nothing had gone how he’d planned. He wasn’t a mastermind like Bay.
“This is touching.”
Hannah turned, blocking his view, but he knew the voice as well as his own. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to check on a friend,” Bay said.
“You have no friends here. You’re nothing but bad luck for my brother, like some fucking harbinger of doom and destruction. He was doing well until you came along.”
Bay stepped around Hannah and walked to the opposite side of the room, and Tad knew it was to get a better view of the only entrance. He had always liked to see what was coming and going and had explained this to them in camp. Always keep your back to the wall and your eyes on the target. “Your sister has always been such the charmer. She always knows how to make me welcome.”
She glared at him. “Go to hell.”
“Now what kind of mouth is that you’ve got? I’m here to help, Hannah. As his boss, the one paying his salary, I’d like to pick up the medical bills.”
“We’ll manage.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Tad said. He didn’t want his sister having to worry about how he’d pay his bills.
“See, Tad understands that I’m only trying to help. I also do not endorse his use of drugs, so I’d like to talk to him in private about perhaps checking into a treatment facility.”
Tad’s eyes widened. Was Bay going to help him again? He’d said the last time would be the last.
Hannah shook her head. “You’re lucky I’m going to work now. That’s the only reason I’m letting you out of my sight.” She walked over and gave Tad a kiss.
“One for me, too?” Bay turned his cheek in her direction, and she gave him a hard stare.
“Fuck you.”
“I’m not opposed to that, either, but I think your baby brother might be offended.”
“That’s enough, Bay. That’s my sister; please show some respect.” Hannah walked out, and Tad turned to him. “Really? You’re hitting on my sister?”
“Relax, I had to get rid of her, and it worked.”
“You mean you’re not going to talk me into rehab?”
Bay gave an evil grin. “Fuck no, I already told you the last time I helped you, I’m done dragging your ass out of the fire. You want to crash and burn? Fine. I’m not inclined to care.”
“Then what are you doing here?” He didn’t think the guy had come just to rub it in. Besides, he’d offered to pay his bills, unless that was a lie, too, one designed to annoy Hannah.
“I’m still your employer, and if you’re wondering why I offered to pay the bills, it’s because your uncle’s not the only one giving you hush money. If and when whatever you’ve got cooking with this anonymous asshole gets you dragged into the police station, you’ll keep your fucking mouth shut. Remember the rules. A brother of the Zodiac never squeals on the other.”
“I’d never do that. But we’re not kids anymore, Bay. We’re not part of your fucking Zodiac Society.”
“Aren’t you?” He snagged the front of Tad’s hospital gown and pulled it down to reveal his shoulder and his mark. “That fucking brand says otherwise.”
“Get off your power trip, man. I’d never rat any of you out.” He looked around to the IV bag that was attached to his arm. “I don’t have time for it. I need to get the fuck out of here.”
Bay searched his eyes, then leaned closer. “You’re sc
ared to death. I can taste the fear in you.”
“I know you get off on it, but I need you to try and get me released.” He needed him to work some of his magic on one of the nurses or bribe a doctor. Something.
“Fine, but only because it amuses me to see you so worked up.” He walked down the hall and wasn’t gone long before he came back. “You’re free to go.” He walked to the closet and got Tad’s clothes.
“Just like that?” He knew the guy worked miracles, but that was fast, even for him.
“Money talks. Now make sure you can walk.” He went to the bedside and helped Tad to his feet. “Take it slow.”
“Yeah, I know that now.”
“Where are you going?”
“Anywhere but here.” He didn’t want to tell Bay anything. He knew the clock was ticking fast, and he hoped he wasn’t out of time. With his sister at the hospital, she would be safe for now. He wouldn’t have to worry if she was being violated or murdered or both.
Bay walked him down to his car, and by the time he got behind the wheel, he had gotten his land legs back.
“Keep me informed. And don’t forget you have a shift to cover tomorrow. I didn’t hire you so you could slack.” Bay walked away, and Tad slammed his car door.
He had never been so glad to see his car, especially knowing it was still in one piece and that Tula hadn’t done anything to it. He would have kissed the steering wheel if he wasn’t in such a hurry, and after checking to make sure his gun was still under the seat, he started the car and left tread marks as he peeled out of the garage.
He only had one destination, and that was his uncle’s house. He crossed town and managed to dodge a lot of traffic by taking side roads. He had to get there and do the deed before whoever was fucking with him came after Hannah.
He didn’t think at all about the consequences. It was a lot like that night he’d been in the millhouse. He had a task then, same as now, and he wouldn’t let himself think about what would happen next until it was done. He was going to walk in, make sure he was alone, and pull that fucking trigger. He pumped himself up with one thought alone, that he was saving someone else from all the misery and regret he’d suffered. All those years of shame, the worry that someone might see, the fear and anger, he would spare someone else that pain.
He pulled up at his uncle’s house and didn’t bother wondering what the neighbors would think; he was going to bail so quickly, in and out, that it wouldn’t matter. He looked around and waited for a passing car before he got out and headed for the door. He pounded on the door, but his uncle didn’t answer. After a few minutes, he slipped around to the backyard and saw that a pane of glass was busted on the back door.
He narrowed his eyes and walked up to try the lock. The door came open, so he pushed it the rest of the way and found his uncle at the kitchen table, slumped over a TV dinner. Flies had gathered, both on the food and on him. The long ponytail he’d had for as long as Tad could remember was soaked in blood and hanging as limp as his arms by his side.
Tad was about to turn and run, but then something caught his eye: a small card standing on the table against the salt shaker. The symbol on it resembled the numeral seven with a curving tail, Capricorn, and beneath that in print: Too late.
He wanted to scream. Seeing his uncle was bad enough, but the flies and stink in the air were making him want to vomit. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been there like that or if he’d suffered. He thought of Hannah and knew he couldn’t take a chance of something like that happening to her.
He stumbled out of the house, his mind reeling so fast that he was not only tripping over his thoughts but his own feet. He rounded the house to the front yard and then got in his car. It took him a second to start it and peel away. He didn’t care if someone saw him or not. In fact, the thought never crossed his mind. He was so busy with the realization that he was being set up that he could barely process anything else.
He pulled over about three blocks away and punched the steering wheel. The man that he had looked up to like a father, the man that had taken advantage of him and lured him into a life he didn’t understand was going to come back to haunt him, was dead.
He gave himself three seconds more to freak out, and then he looked over at the gun. If someone was coming after him. He wasn’t going to be caught off-guard. Neither was Hannah.
17
Darek
Darek hadn’t hated a single day of work since Lizzy came along. As they sat at his desk together going over the list of evidence from Victor Barnes’s murder, he couldn’t help but look at her.
“There weren’t any other prints on the videos. Every lift came from Victor. None of the videos are labeled with more than initials. This guy knew what he was doing and so did his sellers.”
“It makes you wonder how these men meet.” Darek flipped through the invoice book they’d found at Victory Tattoos under the counter. With the business closed, they went in and dug out everything they could find.
“Let me take a look at that. There has to be someone with the initials RH.” She took the receipt book from Darek and flipped through pages. “I think we should pull any surname with an H and assume that it could be related. Maybe if we question some of these people, something will come together.”
Darek hadn’t seen the name Roddy Halston, Roderick Halton, or any kind of Halston in that book, so he wasn’t worried. He hadn’t had to steer her in the wrong direction yet, but he was prepared to if he had to.
Max had been sitting at his own desk, making calls to the Inks and Kinks crew. Now, he leaned back in his chair to stretch. “None of these kids are willing to talk. I think we should call them in.”
Lizzy shook her head. “Not just yet.”
“Are we waiting for something? Why not call them?”
“I just think we should keep looking; there’s got to be something here.”
“We can chase names all day,” Darek said. “I’m not particularly excited to call the funky bunch back in, but let’s face it. Those freaks at Inks and Kinks just might know more than they’re letting on.” Darek was surprised that little miss Special Agent wasn’t in a bigger hurry as usual.
“And we’ve already spent hours talking to them. If one of them has something, they’ll come to us. Guilt will eat at them, but for now, I’m more interested in busting this fucking pedophile ring. Look at this shit, Blake.” Lizzy had never called him by his last name, and if she had, she sure didn’t make a practice of it.
He suddenly felt like his mother was there, calling him by all three names. Thinking of her, he made a mental note to drop by Pine Grove on his way home.
“Wow, easy does it.” He tossed down the papers he was sifting through and then got to his feet to go get another cup of coffee.
Max’s phone rang, and he picked it up. “Detective Smith.” Max’s posture changed, and suddenly, he was on the edge of his seat, his back as straight as a board. “We’ll be right there.” He slammed down his phone as his feet planted him upright.
“What is it?” Lizzy got to her feet as well and was already gathering the papers to stuff back into the folder.
“There’s been a body found over on Deluca. The victim was stabbed to death, but get this. His name is Roderick Halston.”
Lizzy turned to Darek. “Son of a bitch. That’s our guy. It has to be.” She had that look in her eye, the one that had been missing all morning, the look of hunger that kept her hot on the trail.
“I’ll drive.” Darek grabbed his coat and keys, and they hurried out to his car.
After hauling ass across the city, he came to Deluca Street and prayed like hell that there wouldn’t be any trace of Tad in that house and that his name would never be mentioned. Bay had to understand that there was a certain level of shit Darek couldn’t dig them out of, and Tad was nearly up to his neck in it.
They parked where they saw the other cop cars, and Lizzy was out and halfway up the walkway by the time Darek put the car in park and killed the
engine. He ran to keep up with her, but the woman was an unstoppable force when there was a corpse.
When he got inside, the house was musty. The thick scent of blood and shit was overwhelming and only got worse as he entered the kitchen.
Tad’s uncle was facedown on the table, and his back looked like someone had taken a meat grinder to it. The blood had soaked down his chair and onto the floor, and a swarm of flies had gathered, probably coming in through the busted window in his back door. A few maggots already wriggled in the open wounds.
Lizzy walked around the body, and even though she was masked, Darek noticed it didn’t seem to bother her getting as close as a doctor might if he were giving an exam.
She stood back and folded her arms across her front as if to think. “He’s been here at least a day already. Look at the lividity of the blood, at least what’s left in him. Whoever did this really hates you.”
A uniformed officer approached Darek. “Detective Blake. You might want to come see this.” Darek turned and followed the man to the hallway where a door led down to the basement. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Darek walked down the stairs, and the room came into view. At first glance, it only seemed like a normal extension of the house, perhaps a basement apartment, but then he saw everything else. The tripod near the couch, the sheet hanging up on the wall that served as a backdrop. The coffee table was scattered with various sex toys, most in phallic shapes and realistic-looking. The other toys were clamps and things he’d seen down at Inks and Kinks.
There were also pictures scattered on the bed, stills of Tad and other boys, some not so willing as others seemed, some tied and bound, some performing acts on themselves and the cameraman.
“Jesus Christ.” Darek looked around, and his skin crawled thinking that his friend grew up in this hell hole. “Start bagging the evidence. I want all of these photos gathered up and sealed. No one needs to see this shit.”
