Ryan’s lips tightened. “How soon?”
“C’mon, Ryan. How can I answer that until I know when the next victim calls? That, and you have to commit to working hard and listen to me.”
“Fine, but if I do that, you promise you’ll take me with you, right?”
Before he spoke, he leaned in and kissed Ryan gently on the lips. “Promise.”
22
April 5, 2010 Entry 39-28
SOMEONE died today, an innocent. I still feel the innocent. Still have to take action. But is it vengeance I am called to exact? I don’t know anymore.
He was sixteen, young, stupid, and in love. No, he wasn’t in love. He didn’t have a clue what it meant to be in love with someone.
His “boyfriend” was on the DL, the down low. The others in his crew weren’t supposed to know he liked dick. That was their agreement, until it wasn’t so agreed anymore.
Forty-fifth and Quarles Streets, NE, spitting distance to I-295. Not the place you expect to find two young gay men. Then again, it’s not that gays don’t live here. They just hide it from the others. Most of the time.
Kavon was three years older than Rasheed, not in school, just selling and hanging out. When he found time and a safe place, he’d kick it with Rasheed. Everything was cool, until Rasheed found out his “boyfriend” wasn’t a one-man man.
If hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, hell never met Rasheed. Angry, hurt, brokenhearted, he made a mistake, a fatal one. He threatened to out Kavon if he didn’t stop seeing Nate. Assessing his two fuck buddies, Kavon decided Nate was more like him: on the DL and trying to stay there. Rasheed was a liability.
Promising he’d broken things off with the other man, Kavon agreed to meet Rasheed at a relative’s house in Suitland, where they could be alone. A short walk to “clear the air” between them, and Rasheed ended up with a pair of deuce-deuce rounds in his head.
An innocent died, someone who had so much promise and life ahead of him. Not even an accident, it was planned, cold, the worst kind.
Since no one knew they were hooking up, no one would suspect Kavon, or so he thought. Eventually, things would point to him, phone and text records would make him a person of interest. Eventually wasn’t good enough. Not for It.
Slipping unseen into the block, I watch and listen. The neighborhood is upset. Rasheed was a good kid, gentle, quiet, someone who did well in school. There is sympathy for his family. I wonder if they would feel the same if they knew who killed him and why?
Nate is conveniently in a near-coma-like sleep. Nothing will wake him until I’m done. Using Nate’s phone, I set up a meeting with Kavon. Then I use it to call Griffin, leaving the line open. Hopefully, he’s recording it. Otherwise, I’ll end up having to chase down the killer later.
The shadows hide not only me, but Kavon. He’s suspicious. Why would Nate call now to hook up? Images of Rasheed threatening to out him compel him to meet his “other” fuck buddy, just in case.
Though I hear Kavon’s approach, I stay in “character.” Nate wouldn’t hear him, so I “can’t” either. Lucky for me, he’s still carrying the .22 he used to kill Rasheed. Arrogance and stupidity are an enormous help.
“’Sup, Nate?” I pretend to be startled and turn quickly. His black jeans, black shirt and skully help conceal him even more. Dark complexion, tall, lithe, he’s attractive. No wonder Rasheed wanted him so much.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I don’t even try to stay in character. I just tell him to believe I’m Nate. He’ll hear the words he expects no matter how I say them.
“Good, why we here?”
“I’m in a mood. Figured we’d hook up.” I knew from reading Nate’s mind, Kavon was always up for nailing his friend.
“Yeah? Where we gonna do this?” Still a hint of suspicion, but the sudden increase in his heart rate tells me hormones are pushing aside caution.
“My place, everyone’s gone.”
“Won’t they be back?”
“Nah, they’re over at ’Sheed’s mom’s house.”
Kavon’s body stiffens, and I can hear his heart pounding. “Yeah, sucks what happened.”
“C’mon, we both know you did it to keep him quiet.”
“What’re you talkin’ about?” His tone is accusing. If I were really Nate, I might be worried, but I’m neither.
“You killed ’Sheed, because he was gonna tell everyone you were fucking him.”
“You don’t know shit.”
“I know that .22 you got is the one that killed him.”
“You better watch your mouth. Don’t go spreading lies.”
“Like I’m gonna tell anyone. Fuck, I don’t need folks knowing you’re fucking me. I ain’t Rasheed. I’m not coming out.”
He finally starts to relax. With a little prompt from me, he’ll open up. “Yeah, you ain’t him. You just want this big pipe up in you, no kissing or talking afterwards.”
“Damn straight, just trying to get off.”
“So how’d you find out I did ’Sheed?”
“He called me to tell me to back off.” I’m lying, of course. “Said he was meeting you later and you promised to stop seeing me.”
“Little shit.” He’s tense again. “Do you think he told anyone before I got him?”
“Don’t think so. If he told people, he couldn’t use it to threaten you anymore.”
“True.” Kavon smiles. “Well, he won’t tell anyone now.”
“How’d you get him to Suitland?”
His laugh irks me, but I hold back. The kid was nothing to him, and his death mattered even less. “Told him my aunt was out of town and we could fuck all night.”
“So what happened?” Again, I tinker with his thoughts. I need him to tell it all, not get suspicious of me.
“Said I wanted to talk, so we hit the woods.”
“He didn’t suspect nothing?”
Another snort. “Nah, the little bitch thought it was romantic or something.”
Keeping my hold on his mind, I go for what I really need. “Then what happened?”
“Soon as we were out of sight, he tried to kiss me.” He rolls his eyes. “He knows I don’t kiss. So I pushed him back, pulled this out.” Kavon pulls the gun from his waistband and puts it to my head. “Told him he was a little bitch and shot him twice in the head. Blam, blam. Little fuck dropped. Took his phone and left him there.”
I tell him to put the gun back in his pants and he does. “He had it coming. Can’t go around telling folks what’s private.”
“Yeah.”
“Good for me. You won’t be tapping his ass, so you’ll do me more now.”
“Ha ha, yeah, you’re my new bitch.”
“For now.” I laugh, but Kavon stiffens just enough. He’s worried Nate will turn into Rasheed. But he’s not going to let that stop him from using his friend to get off tonight.
“Griffin.” Speaking into Nate’s phone, my voice is mine again, but Kavon isn’t allowed to hear me. “4499 Quarles, back bedroom. He’s still got the gun he used and the dead boy’s cell on him. When you get there, wait outside. I’ll make sure he comes out.”
I snap the phone shut and walk Kavon back to Nate’s place. The family really is gone. I made sure of that. I make sure we walk slow. It might take time to get the warrant.
When we reach Nate’s room, Kavon waits outside at my “suggestion.” Tweaking Nate’s mind, I give him memories of the conversation, keeping the focus on Kavon coming over to fuck him.
Kavon is allowed into the room, and I leave. Nothing there I want to see. I’ll call Griffin, but I already know it will take a couple of hours to get the warrant. Good thing the boys are young. Shouldn’t be too hard to keep them occupied until the police arrive.
“Soon, kid,” I tell Rasheed’s soul. The kid can’t hear me, but It isn’t agitated, so I’m content. Maybe I’ll call Ryan and let him know I’m fine.
Someone died today, an innocent, someone who loved the wrong person.
23
“SO WHAT did you learn while I was gone?” Will ran his hands over Ryan’s back. It was almost 2:45 a.m. when he had returned home to find his boyfriend facedown on the pillows, taking up most of the queen-sized bed.
“Hmm, do you know how good that feels?”
Straddling Ryan’s hips, Will sat back but continued his massage. “Judging by your reaction, I’d say quite a bit. Though I suppose if someone ever showed me, I’d be more certain.”
His head tilted to the left, Ryan’s smile was visible from where Will sat. “Sorry, but on the day I come home late and find you asleep, then I promise to massage you.”
“Mmhmm, promises, promises.” Feeling the muscles under his hands, he applied pressure where it was most effective. “So what did you learn? Anything?”
Shifting, Ryan tried to turn over. “Actually, I think I figured out how to listen when my Purpose alerts me to danger.”
Will hopped off the bed and pulled his shirt over his head. “Really? Let me get ready and you can tell me more.”
Brushing his teeth, he realized he was anxious. Anxious? It had been years since he let his nerves get to him. Despite the brush in his mouth, he smiled. It was good to feel again. Good to have a reason to want to feel.
The smile disappeared as he looked in the mirror, reminding him of what he’d become and what he’d lost. The chance to learn more about the entity that had completely upended his life brought only mild relief. Whatever it was, the information couldn’t begin to make up for his loss.
Staring at himself, he shook his head. No, it would never change what happened to him, but it might help with the rest of his life. That was reason enough to get back to bed.
It only took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the near-dark bedroom once he flicked out the bathroom lights. Ryan’s sight should have improved enough already for him to see better in the dark, but they could discuss that another night.
“So”—he pulled back the sheet and slid over. A warm body quickly moved closer, and a pair of arms snaked around him—“you were saying you learned how to understand when your Purpose alerts you to something?”
A small kiss to the side of Will’s cheek, followed by a hand running down his chest and stomach, brought a smile to his lips. Probably be a while before he got answers.
“Do you really want to talk about that right now?” Ryan’s breath danced across Will’s face as he spoke.
Feeling the effects of his boyfriend’s touch, he put his hand behind Ryan’s head, bringing their lips closer. “It can wait, but you still have to get up at dawn to work out.”
Inches apart, Will still saw the smirk develop on Ryan’s face. “Who said we’re going to get any sleep before then?”
“HERE you go. One triple espresso, mocha java something, with extra dairy and lots of sugar.” Will’s eyes swept the semi-busy street. Even at 6:45 a.m., the city was buzzing with traffic.
Rolling his eyes, Ryan took the offered cup, taking a sip before nodding. “At least you got the order right.”
Lifting his cup of black coffee to his lips, he motioned for them to head home. Ryan took another drink before following. When they were side by side, Will glanced over.
“Is this going to be an everyday event?”
“If you plan to make me get up early to exercise and go running, then yes, I’m going to run here for my morning mocha.”
The way Ryan’s lips curled up made him laugh. “Fine, if that’s what motivates you, I’m all for it. Though I might go broke, given your caffeine addiction.”
Will’s attempt to keep a straight face failed when Ryan gave him a fake laugh. “I’m not the one who said I had to stay inside. Besides, if you’re going broke, I can always get a job.”
“I think you’ll find playing host to your Purpose and working a real job are not compatible.”
“Speaking of my spirit.” The last word came out as barely more than a whisper. Ryan twisted his head around, until he finally met Will’s gaze. “I never did tell you what I learned last night. I got distracted.”
Will arched an eyebrow. “Distracted me is more like it.”
“Whatever.” Ryan stuck out his tongue, his face turning slightly red. “Do you want me to tell you, or do you want to embarrass me?”
Feigning indifference, Will waved his hand beside his face. “Very well, if you must.”
Ryan’s eyes grew wide, and his cup stopped inches from his lips. “Oh… my… God. Did you really just act all queeny on me?”
Will furrowed his brow and turned to the right as he mouthed the word “queeny.” “That was queeny? I thought it was campy.”
In the middle of drinking, Ryan’s snort shot coffee out his nose. “Will!”
Snickering, he handed his boyfriend the napkins he’d brought. “What?”
Flicking coffee from his hand, Ryan tried to wipe the drops from the front of his shirt. “Campy is just about the same as queeny.”
“Fine, then I was being queeny.” Thirty years of detachment had robbed him of a clear understanding of modern gay culture. “Why don’t you tell me what you learned? It’s safer for your clothes.”
Still smiling, Ryan nodded toward U Street, heading east. “C’mon, let’s walk and talk.”
“Bossy today, aren’t we?” Winking, Will grabbed his boyfriend around the waist, pulling them closer. He took note of their direction and frowned. “Why are we going this way?”
“I thought a demonstration would help my explanation.”
Will stopped, forcing Ryan to stay with him. “No!”
Twisting out of Will’s hold, Ryan glared at him. “Why not?”
“Because—”
“It’s too dangerous?” Ryan’s eyes were mere slits as he continued to stare at him.
“Yes, and it’s unnecessary.” He anticipated Ryan’s expected protest, so he quickly held up a hand. “We agreed, well, I agreed to take you out, if it was planned. This ad hoc, impromptu, seat of your pants stunt is what’s going to get you killed.”
“Will”—his face relaxed, and he reached out to rub Will’s chest—“I have thought this out. I’m going to practice telling people not to notice me, and you’re going to be there to make sure they don’t.”
“Is this really necessary? Can’t you just tell me, and once we’re further along in your training, we try a field example?”
“Will, I’ve done things the way you wanted—”
“No, you haven’t.” An image of Ryan getting coffee the day before was fresh in his mind.
Ryan bobbed his head side to side, a mocking fake sneer on his face. “Okay, I stayed inside like you asked, other than going for coffee yesterday. My point is, this is not an actual mission. All we’re doing is going to the hood to look around. We’re both going to take steps not to be seen. How much safer can we be? How much more controlled can you make it?”
Maybe he was being overprotective. Probably. The problem was, this was all new to him. He had no experience bringing someone along when he went after the guilty. His instincts told him it was a mistake. On the other hand, eventually he’d need to take Ryan with him. As far as missions went, this one was safer than most.
“Fine.” He snapped his head up and down once. “But at the first sign of trouble, you’re leaving. Agreed?”
“No. You don’t get to decide when we leave. There is going to be trouble. That’s the point of this. But, if things get crazy, I agree we can leave.”
Will mulled over the response. It was probably the best he was going to wring from Ryan. “The only way I’ll agree to this is if you let me decide if things are too dangerous. In return, I promise not to be a Nervous Nelly and force us to run at the first sign of trouble.”
Ryan snorted. “Nervous Nelly? What the hell is that, another ancient expression?”
Shaking his head, Will flicked his hand in the direction they had been walking. “Never mind, just tell me what you learned before we get where we are going.”
“Basicall
y, my Purpose doesn’t latch onto souls, like yours.” Ryan took a sip as they waited for the light to change. “The best way I can describe it is that mine scans people’s thoughts, focusing on the particularly violent ones.”
How was that even possible? “It can scan people’s thoughts? There are millions of people in a twenty-five-mile radius. How can it sift through all of that and pull out a particular event?”
Ryan held up his free hand and shrugged. “How can your Purpose attach itself to the soul of the dead person? I mean, we barely know what It does, forget about how.”
The light turned, but Will started to laugh before starting to cross. “Excellent point. But even if It has the capacity, that much information has got to overwhelm the host.”
“Not really.” Ryan shook his head slowly. “Don’t forget, just because someone has violent thoughts doesn’t mean they’ll act on them.”
“Wait, are you saying your Purpose not only collects and sorts through all these thoughts, but it can also determine which are most likely to result in an attack?” As impossible as that sounded, Will knew it was no more outlandish than a spirit that gave him all these enhanced abilities.
“Something like that.”
Will felt someone try to tell him Ryan wasn’t there. “It won’t work on me.”
“What?” Ryan stopped abruptly.
“You can’t trick my mind into believing you’re not there. I can feel you trying to manipulate my mind.”
“Just my luck, I try it on the one person who’s immune to my talents.” Ryan shrugged, giving Will a quick smile. “At least I know I’m doing it right.”
Smirking, Will stopped at the light. “That’s one way to look at it. Now, tell me again what your Purpose does.”
“I guess I didn’t explain it right.” Ryan stopped talking as they crossed the intersection. When they were back on the sidewalk, he nodded, seemingly to himself. “It doesn’t read thoughts, more like it senses emotions. The stronger the feeling, the stronger the link. When it finds violent emotions, it latches on and calls out to them.”
Purpose Page 18
