by Darien Cox
“I’ll find you,” he told the monitor screen. “Whether you’re legit or just a troll, I’ll find you, fucker.”
“Elliot, you say something?”
Damn. Kip. Outside the door again. Elliot was being fucking rude. Especially considering what he had to do. It was rude to break up with someone after a night of great sex, but making them wait for you to get around to it?
Elliot logged out then got up and opened the door to Kip, who smiled sheepishly at him. “Hi. I thought you forgot about me.”
Such a cute smile. Shirtless in jeans, Kip’s amber skin called to Elliot, his body recalling last night’s exploration of it. But his attraction to Kip was irrelevant. This morning’s weird online interaction had him focused on his job now, which made it somewhat easier to do what he had to. “Listen, I have to head out soon,” Elliot said. “Got some early plans.”
Kip nodded. “Yeah. I figured. Your friend Nolan is sitting in his truck out in the driveway. Looking grumpy.”
Elliot checked the time on his phone. Shit, he’d dicked around online longer than he’d thought. “Yeah. But come have a cup of coffee with me first. Nolan can wait a few minutes.”
Kip’s smile was laced with affection, and Elliot felt like shit, but he smiled back and led them to the kitchen. While he made coffee, Kip went back to the bedroom and retrieved the rest of his clothing. Seated at the breakfast nook, he tied his shoes. “So I had fun last night. As always when I’m with you. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” Elliot gave him a small smile. “Here you go.” He set a cup of coffee down before Kip, who groaned as he took a sip.
“That’s good. Thanks.” Kip’s long lashes lifted to Elliot. “When can I see you again?”
“Oh.” Elliot sipped his own coffee. “I’m gonna be real busy with work for a while. I’ve had fun spending time with you, though. I’m glad we did it.”
Kip paused, coffee mug halfway to his mouth. “That sounds awfully…final.”
“I’m sorry,” Elliot said. “I’m just not in a place in my life where—”
“I get it,” Kip interrupted, holding a hand up. “I’ve been expecting this.”
Elliot frowned. “Oh. You have?”
Kip cast his eyes down. “Word in the village is you rarely give guys a second date, never mind a third. I know you said upfront this couldn’t go anywhere, but I guess I was kind of hoping I was special.” Kip chuckled. “But I was prepared you might cut me loose soon. Just…disappointed.”
While Elliot wasn’t surprised to hear of gossip about him in the village, it stung a bit. “You are special,” he said. “I wasn’t using you if that’s what you think. I did like spending time with you.”
“You just don’t do relationships,” Kip said. “I get it.” He set his cup down and shuffled off his stool. “I’ll get going.”
Elliot walked him to the door. When he opened it, he saw Nolan in his truck, scowling down at his phone. Another car pulled up, a cute blonde behind the wheel. It was Marybeth, who worked the morning show for Elliot in his radio studio down in the basement. He gave her a wave.
“Okay,” Kip said, facing him. “See you around?”
Elliot smiled. “It’s a small town. I’m sure you will.”
“I’d give you a kiss goodbye but…we have an audience.”
Elliot gave Kip a quick kiss on the cheek. “Take care.”
As Kip got in his car and left, Nolan looked up from his seat behind the wheel. He tapped his wrist, indicating the time, and Elliot rolled his eyes. “One minute!” he shouted, holding a finger up. Nolan shook his head and went back to scouring his phone.
Marybeth got out of her car and headed to the side entrance which led to the basement studio. She shot him a smirk. “That boy looked sad, Elliot.”
“Thanks for the commentary,” he said. “Have a good show.”
She chuckled. “See you later, heartbreaker.”
While Elliot was washing up and brushing his teeth, he heard the front downstairs door open with a bang. He wasn’t worried because he knew it was Nolan, recognized the heavy sound of his boots heading into the kitchen. Nolan was a big, muscular guy, and though he could be silent and stealthy when required, in his relaxed state he tended to stomp around like a bull. One of the facets of working with the same small team for over a decade, you got to know the others intimately down to the smallest detail, like the sounds of their movement, even at a distance.
Christian, for example, moved in short, quick steps, usually with an added bounce since he typically carried a lot of unspent energy. JT’s steps were slow and precise, a dragging shuffle as he swung his arms when he walked. But Nolan moved like a small tank, as evidenced by the rough way he opened the fridge downstairs, then slammed it shut.
“I’ll be right down!” Elliot called from the bathroom. “Quit slamming shit around!”
“Well hurry up, I wanted to leave a half hour ago!” Nolan’s voice called up.
Elliot finished dressing and hurried downstairs. Nolan stood before the nook, drinking the coffee left out from Kip’s mug. He wore jeans and hiking boots, a maroon flannel shirt over a white tee, his big shoulders straining against the fabric. Dark hair tied back into a short ponytail, Nolan’s scowl was in place, brow lowered over his honey-brown eyes.
“You know you’re drinking the backwash left by a guy that sucked my dick last night,” Elliot said.
Nolan spit out the coffee, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and glared at Elliot. “Seriously?”
Elliot shrugged. “He left quickly after learning I didn’t want to see him again.”
Nolan set down the mug, sneering. “I assumed it was yours.”
“Aw, I’m touched Nolan. You don’t mind drinking my cooties.”
“Your egg sandwich is cold.” Nolan tossed Elliot a small paper bag. “And here’s your protein smoothie.”
Elliot picked up the plastic road cup, examining the thick green goo inside. “You don’t have to keep making me these, you know.”
“I don’t mind. They’re working. You look healthy and you’ve put on weight. You still exercising?”
“Yes, Mother.” Elliot rolled his eyes.
His friends had been concerned about his weight-loss over the summer, when he’d gone into a brief funk. The secrecy of Elliot’s life had been starting to get to him. The lack of intimacy with another person, despite his active sex life. Then to make matters worse, upon thinking of leaving the team, he realized he couldn’t. Not for external or legal reasons. Something inside himself just wouldn’t allow it. He was tied to this place, his friends, in a way he’d never acknowledged. Because of this revelation, to make matters worse, anxiety worked itself into the depression mix. Elliot hadn’t felt in control of his own decision-making, even though it was his choice, and that not only confused him, it sent him into a panic.
But thankfully the odd emotional cluster-fuck didn’t last long. Nolan had made it his mission to bring Elliot out of it, fattening him up and forcing an exercise regime of running and pushups on him, ‘To help with his mood’ he said. Elliot did feel better, and had gained fifteen pounds. His tee shirts fit more snug and he liked what he saw in the mirror again, but Nolan’s constant insistence on monitoring his well-being was getting patronizing and annoying.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me,” Nolan said.
Elliot was about to chastise Nolan for sounding even more like a mother until he saw Nolan’s smirk. “Thank you for the smoothie. I appreciate it. But you don’t have to take care of me. I’m good, Nolan. Okay?”
Nolan nodded. “Got it. Hey, saw Marybeth outside. She’s cute, huh?”
“Don’t bother hitting on her. Marybeth is a strict vagitarian.”
Nolan chuckled. “I wasn’t gonna hit on her. I just said she was cute. I’m off women. And men. I’m off humans. Dating sucks. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Well, apparently I have a reputation for doing it badly.”
“What’s wrong with you today?
I’m not mothering, I just know you. Is it that Kip kid? You liked him.”
“Nah. He’s nice but I’m not heartbroken over it. I’m good.”
Nolan’s brown eyes narrowed. “Something else is wrong, then. You chew the inside of your cheek when something’s worrying you.”
Elliot laughed. “We know each other way too well.”
“Occupational hazard. Tell me what’s up.”
“I got an alert this morning, had an interaction with some stranger from one of the UFO forums. He seems to always show up when I make posts. It’s probably nothing but it freaked me out a bit. So I’m still thinking about it.”
Nolan rested his arms on the nook. “What did he say?”
“Usual conspiracy nonsense at first. But then he said he was gonna expose me if I didn’t expose myself. And that me and my three friends should step forward and disclose the truth about what’s going on.”
Nolan’s expression shifted from impatience to interest. He pulled out a stool and sat. “You don’t think this person actually knows about us?”
“It’s unlikely. Probably just talking shit. But it came from a computer at the middle school science lab.”
“A local? Could be a kid. UFO rumors still fly around the village, despite our best efforts.”
“That’s what I thought. But at this hour? Anyway, if this clown is still in Singing Bear, I can find them. Maybe I should skip the mountain today. Can you get Christian to help you set the cameras?”
“Oh come on!” Nolan straightened. “Some troll who probably knows nothing isn’t priority, we can find them later. Ogden gave the two of us this project, I don’t want to go up the mountain with Christian. I want to go with you.”
“I’m flattered but why not Christian?”
“Because he’s annoying and we fight. Plus he keeps trying to set me up on dates. Now that he’s in relationship bliss with Sheriff Hot-bottom he seems to think everyone needs a significant other. He’s relentless.”
“Just tell him you’re not interested in dating.”
“Have you met Christian? He doesn’t listen.”
“I know you guys bitch at each other all the time but he cares about you.”
“I get that, okay? But I don’t need other people telling me what I need. I know what I need. I’m me. I’m the authority on what I do and don’t need.”
Elliot nodded. “I hear that. JT and Christian can get a little invasive. After a decade together there are no boundaries. Just ignore it. JT tries to set me up all the time too.”
“So you dumped Kip?”
Elliot smirked at Nolan. “Not really priority conversation right now. We need to get up on the mountain. Let’s go.”
Elliot stood and Nolan followed him to the door. “He looked sad when he left,” Nolan said. “Kip I mean.”
“Yeah. So I heard.”
Chapter Two
“Holy shit, there he is again.”
“Who is that guy? You recognize him?”
Nolan shook his head. “No.”
They sat in Nolan’s living room, Elliot leaning against him on the couch as they scoured through the footage on Nolan’s tablet. Flames crackled in the fireplace, a soothing sound. October had the nights in Singing Bear Village frigid, but Elliot preferred it to summer. His skin was fair and he burned even wearing sunscreen, so was usually miserable for most of the season.
“Weird guy, whoever he is,” Nolan said. “He just…sits there. Why that spot? It’s not easy to get to. I wonder if he’s one of those conspiracy nuts from your online forums.”
It had been a week since they’d set up the cameras on the mountain, and the results were disappointing. And strange. Disappointing because on two occasions, separate groups of hikers were seen traipsing through the wooded area, one of which even pitched a tent and spent the night on the damn field. Elliot figured the Whites must be freaking the fuck out, so it was odd they hadn’t heard from Baz.
And the footage was strange—because three times over the past week, the same guy had shown up on film. Always after 3:00 pm, and always alone. He’d hike through the area. Take photos. Seat himself at the edge of the field where he seemed to meditate quietly for an hour or so. Then he’d leave.
“Can you zoom in on his face?” Elliot asked.
“Sure.”
Elliot frowned at the tablet screen. It was hard to determine the man’s age, he could have been anywhere from thirty-five to forty-five. Tall and well-built with brown dreadlocks that fell to his shoulders. His eyes were light, probably blue, and very big. He was handsome in a rugged hippie way, oval face and long jaw with a short scruff of beard shadow. He always wore a navy blue fleece, which he took off and set down on the ground before sitting on it to meditate, or whatever he was doing at the edge of the field.
“Probably from out of town,” Elliot said. “I haven’t seen him around anyway.”
“If he’s from out of town, he’s staying here for some reason. He visited the mountain three times in a week.”
Nolan’s front door opened and JT’s head of wavy, chin-length blond hair peeked in. “Hey meatball, you decent?”
“Never,” Nolan said. “But you can come in. And don’t call me meatball. You sound like…oh, hey Christian.”
Elliot looked up, surprised to see Christian and his boyfriend, Myles Murphy, right behind JT.
“Hey, meatball.” Christian grinned. “You figure out who that guy on the footage is yet?”
Nolan shook his head. “Nope.”
Myles was in his sheriff’s uniform, black slacks and tan shirt with shiny black boots. “Uh oh.” Elliot smirked at Myles, whose handsome Irish face was set in a serious scowl. “The law is here.”
“Whatever you’re both doing, stop,” Christian said. “Myles has news.”
Christian removed his knit hat and jacket and threw them on the floor, then sat down in front of the fireplace and began removing his boots.
“Make yourself at home,” Nolan said.
“It’s fucking freezing out and my feet got wet hiking earlier. I need to get these socks off.”
“What’s up, Myles?” Nolan asked.
The sheriff stepped forward, hands on his hips. “I’ve been speaking with Ogden the past two weeks.”
Elliot’s eyebrows rose. “You? You’ve been speaking to Ogden directly?”
“Go new guy,” Nolan muttered, setting the tablet aside.
Myles rolled his eyes and nodded. “Now that I’ve signed the nondisclosure your boss has been utilizing my law enforcement position at his whims. The guy’s a pain in the ass, but we forged a plan that will hopefully keep hikers from your trail on the mountain. And of course he wants it done right now.”
“It’s a good plan,” Christian called out as he warmed his bare feet in front of the flames. He looked over his shoulder, his gold-streaked brown hair matted to his forehead from wearing the hat. “Nolan, you have to hit me in the face.”
Nolan shook his head. “What?”
“Look.” Myles raised his hands. “You know that craggy rock face set high beyond the peak, near the field?”
“Yeah,” Elliot said. “Huge chunk fell off recently. It used to look like rabbit. Now it looks like a rabbit with half its face eaten off by zombies.”
“Exactly,” Myles said. “The piece that used to jut out collapsed a while back. You guys know Tim Patterson, the forest ranger?”
Elliot snorted. “Unfortunately.”
Myles scowled at Elliot, but continued. “Ogden had me tell Tim that I’ve been getting reports of falling rocks from hikers that have ventured up there. I told him I think it’s too dangerous for hikers and that he should post signs and make it a prohibited area. He’s been checking into it and I think he’s on board but he wants to talk to Christian and Nolan. He’s on his way over here now.”
Elliot stood. “Why does Tim want to talk to Nolan and Christian?”
Christian snickered over by the fireplace. “Because Myles told him Nolan an
d I went hiking up there and got bombarded with falling rocks. One of them hit me in the face. That’s why you have to punch me, Nolan.”
Nolan scowled. “We’re supposed to sell this story with a straight face? Some notice would have been nice. And why do I have to be the one to punch Christian?”
“I can’t do it,” JT said. “I just can’t. And Myles can’t, obviously.”
“Oh I see,” Nolan said. “You sensitive guys love Christian too much, and I’m just a big thug who gleefully punches people in the face.”
Christian got up and strode over. “It’s no big deal. Just don’t hit me too hard. But it needs to be hard enough to swell up my cheek. Or maybe split my lip.”
“No,” Myles said. “Not your lip.”
“Yeah, right?” JT said to Myles. “His lips are too beautiful.”
“Oh for fuck sakes,” Elliot said, and swung his fist, connecting hard with Christian’s cheekbone.
“Ouch!” Christian doubled over. “Jesus Christ, Elliot, I wasn’t ready!”
Nolan howled with laughter.
Elliot shook his hand out. It was painful, but he couldn’t help laughing along with Nolan. It wasn’t easy to catch Christian off guard.
“Let me see.” Myles approached Christian and lifted his chin. The olive skin beneath his left eye was already swelling and pink. “You okay?”
“Yeah, but my eyes won’t stop watering. Elliot you suck.”
“You’ll be fine, babe,” Myles said, and smirked at Elliot. “Nice punch. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Elliot is stronger than he looks,” JT said. “Okay so get your stories straight, both of you.”
“We were hiking, almost to the peak, when rocks started falling,” Christian said. “Does it need to be more complicated than that?”
“Nolan?” Myles said. “You okay with lying to the forest ranger?”
Nolan snorted. “Patterson? Yes.”
