Guarding His Melody

by Victoria Sue

  “With your permission, I’ll bring in some more of our team to accompany us to the funeral if it happens.”

  Armitage gave a put-upon sigh and waved his hand. “Let’s not rush to a decision. Sebastian changes his mind an awful lot.”

  Armitage intimated it was a character trait, but to be fair, Seb was only twenty. Most kids that age didn’t know their own mind.

  He’s not a kid. Gray clamped down the thought, wondering why it had occurred to him. Seb’s age made no difference at all.

  “DANNY,” GRAY nodded a greeting as Rawlings’s tech “machine” stepped through the door. He immediately bent down to greet Sadie, Danny’s Labrador-cross-fucking-space-alien, for all they knew.

  “You’re not supposed to do that when she’s working.” Danny rolled his eyes.

  “Bite me,” Gray countered.

  “Not on the first date,” Danny shot back.

  Gray belatedly remembered Seb was behind him and stood, gesturing. “Seb, meet Danny and Sadie.”

  Gray knew Seb wouldn’t have missed the red vest or the therapy dog tag that Sadie wore. He belatedly wondered if he should have mentioned it, but Seb surprised them both.

  “Oh,” he said, the excitement evident in his voice. “Am I allowed to pet her?”

  “Absolutely,” Danny said, making sure he looked at Seb as he answered. Gray gave his friend a silent thank-you.

  “She’s gorgeous,” Seb declared as he sank to his knees and suddenly had his arms full of excited dog.

  Danny arched an eyebrow at Gray. Sadie was known to be picky when meeting new humans and very defensive where Danny was concerned. She hadn’t come the normal route as a therapy dog. To be honest she shouldn’t even be one at all, but when Gray and Danny had found her half-starved and injured on the streets of Kabul and she had limped valiantly after them, it had been a foregone conclusion that their team would adopt her. The only way Danny had been able to keep her was with the efforts of the charity No Dog Gets Left Behind. It was a simple decision but an incredibly expensive one.

  And Gray wasn’t ever going to even admit how much it had personally cost him to ensure Sadie and Danny stayed together. Danny was one of his. Making sure he kept Sadie was the least he could do. He owed Danny that. Fuck, he owed him more than that.

  Gray shoved the memories aside and focused on the dog, which was currently trying to sit on Seb’s lap.

  “I’m surprised he doesn’t have one of his own,” Danny murmured.

  Gray paid immediate attention. “What do you mean?”

  “Look at him,” Danny said quietly. “Sadie is my rock, but that’s what she does. There are plenty of service dogs trained to ‘hear.’”

  Gray followed Danny’s gaze. Both Sadie and Seb were in raptures. He wondered why, when Armitage had many resources at his disposal, something so simple couldn’t have been worked out.

  Gray sighed. There was so much he didn’t know.

  Seb eventually and very reluctantly got to his feet. Sadie instantly returned to Danny, and he stroked a hand over her head. “I understand I have equipment you need installing?”

  Seb spent the next few hours stuck to Gray’s side like glue. The glaziers arrived and did the windows in Seb’s room. Gray was impressed to find out from Derwent that all of Seb’s suite was to be done. It would seem, after all, that Armitage did take his son’s safety seriously, and Gray felt like a bit of an ass for doubting him. Danny easily instructed the contractors to install video surveillance on the grounds and showed Derwent and his team how it should be monitored.

  MRS. PICKERING made them all sandwiches at lunchtime, but the house was like a zoo. The contractors were finishing up the video installation, but Gray didn’t need to check it, as he’d used the same system multiple times and Danny was there. He took one look at Seb aimlessly pushing his uneaten sandwich around his plate and got to his feet. “Can we get these later?” he asked as Mrs. Pickering stacked the dishwasher. She glanced at Seb and made the shooing motion with her hand. Gray touched Seb’s arm. “Come on.”

  It was an indication of how tired Seb was when he barely glanced at her and obediently walked after Gray.

  “Sebastian,” his father called from his office. Gray touched Seb’s arm again to direct his attention, and Seb looked at his dad. “I’ve just heard from Detective Carter. He’ll be here at three.”

  “Okay,” Seb whispered, and Gray walked behind him as he slowly climbed the stairs. Gray was getting a little worried. Seb had gone from exuberant and eager about everything to pale and disinterested. Gray had seen him pop a pill about thirty minutes ago and had wanted to ask if it was regular medication or a painkiller, but they hadn’t been alone.

  Gray followed him into his suite, and Seb yawned and quickly covered his mouth. Gray touched his arm. “You have time for a nap.” They’d been up half the night. Gray was used to it, but he had to remember Seb needed a little more care. Seb glanced reluctantly at his bedroom door, then back to the couch.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Gray absorbed the question, trying to work out what Seb actually wanted him to do. He gestured to the couch. “I thought I’d sit here?”

  Seb glanced at the couch again. “You don’t need to be downstairs?”

  Gray shook his head. “But I also don’t need the couch either. I can wait outside.” It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Seb looked horrified. “No, I mean—” He flushed.

  Gray studied his face. He’d had to lace his combat boots with more instruction than this. “Seb?” Gray touched his arm, even though Seb was looking at him. “You’re gonna have to spell it out for me. Do you want me to stay in here or not? I’m not gonna be upset either way.”

  Seb watched Gray’s lips while he spoke. It had been a little disconcerting when he had first noticed Seb doing it. He didn’t quite look him in the eye all the time, especially when Gray needed to give more than one-word answers or was answering a question. Seb looked up at him and bit his lip. “Stay, please, while everyone’s here.” He waved to the TV. “The Falcons are playing.” Gray nodded and sat down on the couch while Seb fiddled with the TV. He didn’t push for him to actually lie down, even though he thought he needed to.

  In another ten minutes, it was a moot point anyway. Seb’s eyes had been closing just after the game started, and he didn’t make it to the end of the first quarter. Gray glanced at him, frowning. He looked as uncomfortable as hell. His head kept dropping forward, and he made a pained noise in the back of his throat when it happened, like it was hurting him. Gray stood and gently swung Seb’s legs onto the couch and at the same time eased his head onto the cushions so he was lying flat. Seb gave a little satisfied murmur and immediately relaxed and stretched out. Gray tossed a couple of cushions on the floor and sat on them with his back to the base of the sofa, near Seb’s feet, where he could keep an eye on him.

  Gray didn’t like the shadows under Seb’s eyes or the way his skin seemed to stretch too thin over his cheekbones. He thought Seb was naturally slim, but any less weight and the word would be gaunt. He wondered if Seb ever had something as simple as a protein shake. Gray could easily make them for Seb starting tomorrow, and they would expand the exercise routine. He’d seen the eight grams of sugar masking as a protein bar that Seb tried to eat earlier, and that was simply no good. He needed calories, yes, but the right ones.

  Gray abandoned watching the game and leaned his head back. Ray Samms. That had been the name of the nutritionist who helped Gray put his body back together afterward, when regular food made him sick to his stomach after a year of having little or none. He didn’t want to go there. Memory lane was still littered with IEDs, but he had the guy’s number. Maybe Ray would know how to manage Seb’s nausea a little better? It wouldn’t hurt to ask. Gray grabbed his phone from his pocket, scrolled through his contacts until he found Ray’s, and sent a text.

  Just as he sent it, a message from Danny appeared saying they were all done. Gray replied that h
e was upstairs with Seb, as he was wiped out, and he would let Rawlings know how the police interview went.

  Danny sent him a poop emoji, and Gray chuckled. Then Danny sent him a picture of Sadie and a link. Interested, Gray opened it. It took him straight to a website on hearing dogs, or service dogs for deaf people. “Jesus,” Gray muttered when he got to the part where the training costs for each dog was over $40,000, but then he watched a few YouTube videos demonstrating what they could do, and realized they were worth it. There were programs especially for veterans, charitable donation links, and he spent an hour reading through the application process, so he could talk to Seb about it.

  He was supposed to be watching the game, but he turned it off after another few minutes, far more interested in the thought of Seb getting a dog. When it got to only thirty minutes before Carter was due to arrive, Gray leaned over and gently shook Seb’s arm. He would have liked to have given him longer, but he didn’t know how long Seb needed to come around. As soon as Seb was settled this evening, Gray was going to hit the net and do some research. Diet would definitely help, and he was convinced the tai chi would too, but he wanted to explore other options if there were any.

  Especially if Seb was going to have surgery again in eleven days. Gray plastered on a smile as Seb blinked and opened his eyes. Seb’s eyes widened as he took in where Gray sat. “You didn’t have to sit on the floor. The couch is big enough,” he mumbled and yawned.

  “It’s no problem. I woke you because the detective will be here by three.” Seb glanced at the clock on the TV and nodded. Gray got up and handed Seb a water bottle. It wasn’t very cold, but it would do.

  Seb wrinkled his nose.

  “You need to drink it.” Gray looked around the room. “Why don’t you get a mini-fridge in here?”

  “My dad wouldn’t let me. He said he’d never see me if I didn’t even come down for dinner.”

  Gray nodded. “I’ll talk to him. You don’t drink nearly enough water.” Seb shrugged. “No,” Gray touched Seb’s arm. “This is important. Dehydration can accentuate vertigo, and you were sick yesterday.”

  Seb smiled ruefully. “I forget.”

  “Good job I’m here to remind you, then.”

  Chapter Seven

  SEB FIXED his gaze on Detective Carter. He was a big burly man. Wouldn’t have looked out of place on some logging site, throwing huge redwoods around. Red hair, full curly beard, but it wasn’t covering his mouth, so Seb could see him talk. Seb wondered if Carter had a big booming voice to go with it. It was a game he had played when he was younger—try to imagine what people would sound like, and then Mrs. P would give him marks out of ten with each guess. He wanted to roll his eyes a little, though, because the man was exaggerating every word, but it was the first time they had met, and to be fair, Carter was trying.

  Seb had watched Carter greet Gray. They obviously knew each other, and that had immediately piqued his interest. He knew nothing about Gray and couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that someone else might. He watched and started to relax as Carter eagerly dug out baby pictures when Gray inquired. The baby girl was really cute, and Carter was obviously smitten.

  Seb turned to stare at Gray unashamedly, knowing Gray wouldn’t think it odd because he had to look at people to see what they were saying to him. He’d noticed a small scar running from the corner of Gray’s mouth and wondered what had caused it. Then he remembered Gray’s back and hoped to God he didn’t have any more scars.

  Gray turned to look at Seb. “Carter wants to know why you didn’t go for your music lesson.”

  Seb stilled. With effort he dragged his eyes from Gray and looked at the detective, who was regarding him with somewhat knowing gray eyes. Seb felt the start of a flush heat his neck and tried to concentrate on willing it down. Was his fascination obvious? Hell, he didn’t even know if Gray was straight, gay, married even. He’d known him for less than twenty-four hours.

  “Actually,” Carter interrupted. “I’d like you to walk me through the events of the day leading up to it.”

  Seb took a breath. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to repeat the argument with his dad and the comfort Arron had offered and the disappointment when Seb hadn’t wanted it. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that now. He’d thought they were still friends, but Arron had sided with his dad. Seb felt the hand on his arm and glanced at Gray, expecting a question or a comment. When he got neither but a steady look, he had to blink at the sudden stinging in his eyes. Gray was offering support. How in less than a day this man was reading him so easily was a complete mystery to Seb. Hell, his dad had obviously known him all his life, and he still didn’t get him. Seb turned back to Carter, feeling a twinge of guilt. His dad did the best he could. Seb hadn’t just lost his mom; his dad had lost his wife and had been trying to cope with Seb ever since.

  And he knew that couldn’t have been easy.

  “I felt okay when I woke, and sent an email confirming my attendance at the music lesson at five that afternoon.”

  “What time did you wake up?” Carter asked and opened his pad.

  Seb shrugged. “I think around eleven. I’d been on the piano late the night before.”

  “Who did you see first that day?”

  Arron. “Arron Smith. I let him into my room just after I’d woken up. I used to text him when I was awake and let him know if I needed him for anything that day.”

  “Arron always accompanied you?”

  Seb nodded. “Andrew always drove my father. Paula took me once when Arron was off, but it was usually Arron. Paula only works for Andrew a couple of days a week. She may have other people she protects.” He’d never asked, though. He never had much to do with her.

  Carter glanced at Gray. “She takes short-term work because she looks after her father, who has Alzheimer’s.”

  Seb glanced back at Gray to see his reaction, but he didn’t look surprised. Shit, Seb felt like an ass. He didn’t know Paula’s dad was sick, and he felt he should have.

  “Who else did you see that day?”

  Seb swallowed and saw Gray tilt his head to look at him. “I saw my dad and Joseph.”

  “Together? Separately?” Carter pushed.

  Gray touched his arm, and Seb looked at him. “He has to establish an alibi for you.”

  Seb glanced at Carter in shock. “For me? You think I hurt Monsieur Dubois?”

  Carter shook his head. “Not especially,” he said, “but I have to rule everyone out.”

  Seb didn’t know whether to be offended or pleased. The thought of hitting anyone revolted him, always had, but the thought someone wasn’t dismissing him as physically incapable kind of pleased him.

  “I saw Joseph and my dad together and then had a Skype session with Dad and his surgeon,” Seb mumbled, still caught up with the idea that Carter might think he had something to do with it. He saw the puzzled glance Carter threw Gray and realized he had probably spoken too quietly, but before he could repeat himself, Gray repeated the words to Carter. Seb warmed inexplicably.

  Gray tipped his chin at Carter to get Seb’s attention. He dragged his eyes away and focused on the detective.

  “What time was that?” Carter asked.

  “Two, but you can check, obviously. We used my dad’s account and computer downstairs.”

  “Your dad is having surgery?”

  Seb shook his head. “They want me to have a cochlear implant done in eleven days. Maybe,” he added. He wasn’t sure, no matter how excited his dad and the surgeon had been. The memory of the last one was still too vivid. He remembered lying on his bathroom floor and begging Arron to tell his dad to take it out, or he would do it himself. The ambulance had arrived an hour later to take him to the private clinic.

  “I think it lasted for an hour, and then I went back upstairs. Andrew and Arron stayed talking to my dad. I went to sleep, and when I woke I was sick, so I stayed in my room.”

  “Did anyone see you?”

  “Arron,” Seb whispe
red, and Carter looked sympathetic. “I think it was around three thirty by that time. Have you found out anything else about Arron?” Seb asked.

  Carter shook his head. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  Seb heaved a sigh. He guessed not.

  “But speaking of Mr. Smith, is there anything you can tell us? Did he exhibit any sort of change in behavior toward you? I understand he had worked here for three years.”

  Seb cocked his head to one side, thinking of the afternoon he had argued with his father. “After the Skype session, he stayed downstairs to talk to my father. When he came back up, I think my dad had said something to him.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I didn’t give it much thought at the time, but I hadn’t been too keen on the surgery, and my dad wasn’t happy.” His dad had lost his temper and called Seb selfish when his dad was trying to do the best thing for him, and they’d argued, which was what had brought on the migraine. “Arron came up after and tried to convince me it was a good idea. He’d never done that before, and I was surprised.” He’d been downright hurt, actually, that the one person he thought was in his corner had sided with his dad.

  “You think your dad was trying to get him to influence you?”

  “I don’t know. All I know is that it was a first for Arron to have an opinion. He would shy away from anything that would be deemed taking sides between me and my dad.”

  Carter’s eyes narrowed. “You’d fought with your dad before, I take it?”