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“True,” Teague agreed. “He was across the street, shot, and then ran.”
“As up close and personal as he could be without walking right up to the two of you,” Hoyt said. “My guess would be he wanted you to know who was shooting, Teague. Wing you to get your attention, shoot Keir, then make a run for it once he knew you spotted him.”
“He sounds crazy,” Pam said, shivering.
“Crazy with hatred,” Teague replied quietly.
“As my mother once said…” Hoyt glanced at Teague, adding with a slight grin, “Yes, she was full of pithy quotes. Anyway she told me once that the first reaction to truth is hatred, and in this case that could be what’s going on. Frye doesn’t get that being gay isn’t a choice so he blames Teague for what happened to Chris.”
Jake nodded. “Teague told me about the memorial service and how Paul Frye implied Teague was the reason Chris was murdered.”
“Yep,” Hoyt said. “Then, before Irwin’s trial, either Paul got in touch with the defense attorney or vice versa, wanting to discredit any testimony Teague would give. Paul may have seen Irwin as a hero who was eliminating gays.”
“This is all guesswork,” Teague pointed out. “And it gets us no closer to catching him.”
“Nope. You and I will do that with…Jake?”
“Yeah, I’ll be the backup,” Jake said.
“And hope Paul strikes again and soon.” Teague smiled dryly. “I do have an agency to run and right now we’re down two men. With Jake sticking with me and Hoyt, it makes three.”
“Then let’s get the show on the road,” Jake said. “I’ll get you both vests. At least being winter it won’t be obvious you’re wearing them.”
Jake left the office, and at Teague’s firm suggestion everyone else headed out as well, leaving him and Hoyt alone for the moment.
“Thank you, for everything,” Teague murmured. “You’re one smart man.”
“I think so,” Hoyt replied, stepping in front of Teague. “After all, I chose you to love.”
“Not sure that was such a smart move. It seems like, since we met, we’ve been doing nothing but chasing down killers or attempted killers.” Teague frowned. “Attempting killers?”
“Either/or, I got what you meant. Still—” Hoyt rested his hands on Teague’s shoulders, “—when it comes down to it, it all revolves around the murders of Chris and the other boys. With that solved, and once we get our hands on Frye, we should be home free. We can get back to leading normal lives again.”
“Or a new life when it comes to you.”
“One I am definitely looking forward to.” Hoyt leaned closer, intending to kiss Teague, when the office door opened.
“Go ahead,” Jake said with a laugh. “I’ve seen people kiss before. Even two men. Get it out of your system and then put these on.” He held up the vests.
Taking Jake at his word, Hoyt did kiss Teague and got one in return that made him wish they were still alone. Then, he and Teague donned the vests. After checking to make certain they all had their phones on vibrate so they could communicate via text, Jake suggested the pair wait for five minutes after he left the building before they took off, “So I can get in position to follow you, in case he’s out there.”
With that set, Jake left, followed five minutes later by Hoyt and Teague.
* * * *
“Well, we made it home without Frye taking potshots as us,” Hoyt said, setting his bag down in the entryway of Teague’s condo before both he and Teague took off their jackets and hung them in the closet.
Teague liked the idea that Hoyt had called it ‘home’, even though he was fairly certain is was just a figure of speech as far as Hoyt was concerned. After all, he did make it clear he’s going to find his own apartment. For all I know, he already has some places in mind, thanks to the Internet.
“Now we hope he was watching. If he was, you coming up here with me should give him all the right ideas.”
Hoyt nodded, but his reply had nothing to do with what Teague had just said. “Take off your shirt. I want to see for myself that you weren’t badly hurt.”
“Don’t trust my word?” Teague asked, uncertain whether to be pissed, or to like the idea Hoyt was worried enough to want to make certain. Teague quickly unbuttoned his shirt, and slid it off his shoulder enough to let Hoyt see the bandage on his bicep.
“Okay. From the size of the dressing I believe you.”
“Thanks,” Teague said dryly.
“Hey, I just wanted to be certain.” Hoyt grinned, making quick work of taking the shirt the rest of the way off Teague, tossing it toward the sofa. It missed, but neither man really cared at that point. It was obvious Hoyt had something in mind that didn’t involve neatness and right now Teague had no problem with that.
“You want something?” Teague asked, his lips quirking up in a grin.
“Depends. How do you feel about my fixing us some supper? I’m starving.”
“You know where the kitchen is. Have at it,” Teague replied, feeling deflated.
“I will.” Hoyt started toward the kitchen, then spun around, smirking. “Do you really think that’s what I want to do right now?”
“You were pretty damned convincing,” Teague grumbled as Hoyt marched back to him. Moments later they were involved in a heated kiss while they did their best to get each other undressed without breaking it. They succeeded, to a point. When the kiss ended, Hoyt was still wearing his turtleneck sweater. “Interesting look,” Teague said, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah, well, it’s hard to take off when we’re locking lips.” Hoyt pulled it off, dropping it on the pile with the rest of their clothes.
“I should call the hospital,” Teague said, his voice barely above a whisper as they started toward the bedroom.
“You should,” Hoyt agreed, not seeming the least fazed at the sudden change of subject. “You’ll be worrying more about Keir than what we’re doing if you don’t.”
Going back to the heap of clothes, Teague dug his phone out of his pants pocket and dialed. When he got the right nurse, he asked about Keir’s condition. She told him succinctly that she couldn’t release that information unless he was a family member. Swearing softly about bureaucracies, Teague called Mel. She was at the hospital, having arrived as quickly as possible after Teague had called to tell her what happened. She’d said, when Teague had finally left, that she had no intention of leaving herself until she knew Keir was “Out of the damned woods.”
“Any updates?” Teague asked as soon as she answered her phone.
“He’s resting comfortably.” Mel sighed. “Well, as comfortably as possible I guess, considering he’s got more wires and tubes attached to him than…than…God, Teague. He has to get through this. He has to.”
“He will, Mel. Look, do you want me to come over there to wait with you?”
“Yes. No. No, I’m okay. Honest. You just take care of yourself and catch the bastard who did this.”
“We’re going to, Mel. I promise.”
After hanging up, Teague turned to find Hoyt standing there, half dressed. “What?”
“What am I doing? Getting dressed, and you should, too. As much as I’d like to spend the next hour in bed with you, we’re not going to catch Frye that way. We have to be out in public. Like going to pick up something to eat.”
Teague shook his head in vague amusement while pulling on his jeans. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Three track actually. You, food, but right now mostly focusing on stopping Frye.”
Nodding, Teague made another call, to let Jake know what they were going to do. He promised to wait until Jake was back and in place before leaving.
* * * *
“At least it’s not snowing,” Hoyt said as he and Teague walked down the street to a take-out place the next block over from Teague’s building.
“Miracle of miracles,” Teague replied, all the while checking to their left and right for any sign of Frye. “It would make spot
ting Paul more difficult for Jake if it was.”
Sliding his arm around Teague’s waist, Hoyt murmured, “Relax. You’re too obviously looking for him.” He chuckled softly. “For a trained investigator you seem to have forgotten how to act as if everything is normal. Let Jake do his job.”
“It’s hard when I know your life could be at stake.”
“I’m wearing my vest, same as you.”
For some reason, maybe because he was so tense, Teague found what Hoyt had said amusing. “No, I’m not wearing your vest. I’m wearing mine.”
“Funny. Not.”
“Yeah, I guess it wasn’t but—”
Hoyt interrupted, saying, “Is this the place?” when they came to a hole-in-the-wall oriental restaurant.
“Yep. Believe it or not, the food is pretty good. Especially anything Kung Pao, if you like spicy,” Teague replied as they went inside.
Twenty minutes later they were back on the sidewalk, each man carrying a bag of food.
“Frye takes a shot at us now, I’m killing him. After smelling what I ordered, I’m past hungry and on to starving,” Hoyt said, earning him a laugh from Teague.
Switching his bag to his left hand, Teague took ahold of Hoyt’s hand as they started home. “Dinner and then bed?”
Hoyt nodded. “You bet. I’m guessing our friend isn’t around since he’s had ample opportunity to try to take me out by now. He’s probably lying low until things cool down a little. He has to know the cops are looking for him.”
“Yeah,” Teague said sourly. “Hell, if it was me, I’d wait a couple of weeks, hoping we figured he’d given up, and then come after us.”
“Let’s trust that’s not the case. You’ll be a ragged bundle of nerves by then.”
“I’m fine. Honest,” Teague replied. “Tense, yeah. The idea of seeing you shot, even though you’ll survive with just a badly bruised chest, doesn’t exactly sit well with me.”
“Me neither,” Hoyt told him. He smiled when Teague pulled him closer. Then swore violently when a shot rang out and a bullet barely missed him.
“Get the fuck down,” Teague ordered even as he dropped his bag and reached for the gun holstered at the back of his waist. Thankfully, as far as he was concerned, Hoyt didn’t argue as he sank to one knee then rolled into the deep shadows of the building they were passing.
Teague, gun in hand now, turned slowly, trying to find the source of the shot. He spotted something moving in a doorway across the street and homed in on it. Before he could fire, he saw Jake come out of the dark, sprinting toward his target. There was a shout of surprise, then Jake dragged Frye into view and wrestled a pistol from his hand before knocking Frye out with a hard punch to his jaw.
Hoyt was on his feet seconds later, following as Teague dashed across the street. Jake was kneeling beside Frye, handcuffing his hands behind his back while Teague called 911. Teague explained to the dispatcher who he was and what had gone down, nodded, and hung up. “They’re sending a squad car to pick him up.”
“I’ll admit, I’m actually surprised he acted so soon after shooting Keir,” Hoyt said. “Glad, but still…”
“Hatred and insanity driving him,” Jake commented, finally getting to his feet. “I should have stopped to him before he fired, damn it, but I was checking doorways on your side of the street when it happened. Figured he’d be more confrontational this time than he was when he shot Keir.”
“He’d probably have shown his face once he knew he’d hit Hoyt.”
“I suspect so. Damned good thing he fired just as you pulled Hoyt closer to you. Not—” Jake tapped Hoyt’s chest, “—that there would have been any damage done, since you’re wearing the vest.”
Hoyt barely smiled. “Still, I’m just as glad my guardian angel was watching over me. He could have missed and hit something vital, like my head.”
“It’s too hard. You’d barely have noticed it,” Teague responded, hugging Hoyt tightly.
“Gee, thanks. I rescind the guardian angel comment. You’re really a pain in the ass.”
“Actually,” Teague whispered, his mouth against Hoyt’s ear, “I intend to be in your ass as soon as we get finished at the police station. I think we both need to get rid of some tension.”
“I can’t think of any better way to do that,” Hoyt said so softly Teague barely heard him. Then he grinned. “Maybe we can let Jake handle making a statement and vanish before the cops show up?”
“Good idea, but too late,” Teague replied as a squad car pulled up and two officers got out.
* * * *
By the time Teague and Hoyt finally got back to the condo, both men were exhausted. They had spent over two hours at the police station, much of it waiting to be interviewed by the detective in charge of the case involving the attack on Keir.
While they waited, Teague called Mike Frye, Paul’s oldest brother, to let him know that Paul had been arrested. Mike had accepted the information stoically, saying, “I’ll arrange for him to have a lawyer. Not that he deserves one.”
“Paul’s sick, Mike,” Teague had replied.
Angrily, Mike had agreed. “No thanks to our damned aunts. I knew that before the memorial service. He…” Mike puffed out a breath. “I tried then to make him see you weren’t to blame for what happened to Chris. He didn’t listen. Then when you were involved in catching that man who killed those two boys in…wherever it was…”
“Faircrest.”
“Yeah. Anyway, Paul called me, ranting about how that man was only doing the Lord’s work and he should be given a medal, not put in jail. Damn it, Teague, I should have made him get help.”
“I doubt he would have let you do that, Mike,” Teague told him.
“And now it’s too late.”
“Perhaps not. With a good lawyer who’ll convince Paul to plead insanity, he’ll get the help he needs.”
“Can you recommend one there?”
Teague did, giving him two names and numbers. After Mike thanked him, they ended the call.
Once Teague, Hoyt, and Jake had been interviewed by the detective, they were allowed to leave. Jake suggested strongly that Teague should get some sleep. “It’s been one hell of a day for you,” he said, clapping his hand on Teague’s shoulder.
“It feels like it’s been a week,” Teague admitted, vaguely surprised when he realized that Keir’s shooting had happened just a little over fourteen hours ago.
“I’m sure,” Jake responded. “Hoyt, make sure he gets right to bed, and—” Jake grinned evilly, “—sleeps. No hanky-panky.”
Hoyt snorted. “I don’t think either of us has the energy for that.”
They didn’t. They undressed silently when they got to Teague’s bedroom, washed up, and then collapsed into bed.
Only then did Teague say, “It’s over.”
Hoyt drew him into a tight embrace. “It is. You can finally rest easy. Probably for the first time since you found out what really happened to Chris. If he’s hanging around somewhere watching, he’d be proud of you.” He kissed Teague’s temple. “I know I am.”
“If it hadn’t been for you…”
“I helped, but it was your dedication that brought closure for his death.”
“If only he’d listened to me.”
“Teague, you were kids. It’s time to stop beating yourself up about something you had no control over. You weren’t responsible for Chris’s detestable aunt, any more than Paul was responsible for her and the other one teaching him to hate. Or,” Hoyt added dryly, “my being the reason for my father’s dislike of gays. Chris, and any other kid who has died because their family didn’t like what they were—they were innocents in a world full of hateful people.”
“Not a world. Just a few…misguided people.”
“True. Thank God.”
Teague gazed at Hoyt smiling softly. “You’re good for me, I think.”
“You better believe it because like it or not, you’re stuck with me.” Hoyt chortled. “Or you w
ill be when I get my stuff moved out here.”
“Are you really going to get an apartment?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
Teague kissed him quickly before replying. “Move in with me?”
With a straight face, after looking as if he was thinking about the offer, Hoyt replied, “I guess that would work.” Then he grinned, returning Teague’s kiss quite enthusiastically. “In fact I know it would. Will.”
Teague grinned back, albeit tiredly. “Fantastic. We’ll seal the bargain in the morning. Right now however.”
“We need to get some sleep.”
“Exactly.”
“Night, my love,” Hoyt murmured.
“Good night, my love,” Teague replied. He would have said more, but sleep overcame him. His last coherent thought was, I don’t deserve you, love, but I’ll be damned if I’ll ever let you go.
* * * *
Chapter 20
“Welcome back!” Teague said when Keir walked into his office two months after he’d been shot.
“Thanks. I was beginning to wonder if my doc was ever going to give me permission to do anything but sit around the house,” Keir replied ruefully.
Teague waggled a finger at him. “You’re still going to be sitting, at least for another month. I don’t want you in the field until I’m certain you’re physically able to handle it.”
Keir groaned. “Background checks. Right?”
“That and talking to new clients. Getting details once Jake or I have decided we’ll take their case.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“I know. You’ll probably learn more from them than I would. You’ve got that knack about you. It’s what makes you good for undercover work.”
“Thanks.” Keir finally sat, looking a bit pale in Teague’s estimation.
“Are you sure you really are ready to be out and about?”
“Jeez. You and Mel. I won’t break, I promise. I just have to take things easy for a bit longer.” Keir looked at Teague, not even cracking a smile as he added, “I think it was the running from my place to here that’s getting to me at the moment.”
