The Rose Man

by Cheryl Dragon

  “I’ll get a team on the employees and the community center. We’re running out of time. And leads,” Irene agreed.

  “It might be nothing, but worth a check. Check on the guys missing from the city. Any evidence they were drag queens. Hit the homes of the guys missing here…let’s see if some or all were part of that. Our killer might be one of them,” Ross suggested.

  “We’re on it. Don’t go off the plan. Keep in contact with me,” Irene said.

  “I will,” Ross assured her. “Let me know what you find out about the community center. It could just be anyone coming to the dance too, I suppose, but that’s too big of a pool.”

  “We could ask the town or Sheriff Larry to cancel the dance,” she suggested.

  “No way—it’s the only information he’s given us. Taking the public spectacle away, that could trigger him to kill all the men. If there’s a chance those men are alive, we can’t endanger them. But that dance needs to be crawling with agents and plain-clothed police,” Ross said.

  He found Ben studying the variety of roses left on cars through their evidence bags.

  “You okay?” Ross asked the stupid question.

  “I called Dad and told him. He’s got a deer rifle next to him in the recliner. We have to be able to track these roses,” Ben said.

  “Sure, but with online shopping, the fake ones could be from anywhere. And online florists… What doesn’t deliver these days?” Ross asked.

  “Plus the rose bushes,” Ben added.

  “Crap. That too. They’re all over around here. Come on, let’s go to Charlie’s before it gets too crazy. The agents are going to recheck the homes for drag attire,” Ross explained.

  “You trust her?” Ben asked.

  Ross smiled. “Irene? Yeah, I do. The sheriff’s department doesn’t have the manpower to do this alone. There are times when women have a softer approach, so they can come off less threatening. Her and another female agent approaching the drag stars might make things easier.”

  They drove to Charlie’s with a tail car keeping its distance. Ross parked his new rental car outside the dive bar. Ben’s patrol car was currently impounded as evidence, as was Ross’ original rental.

  “You boys should come by at night when things are more fun. It’s been quieter lately, but the loyal old crowd still comes,” Charlie said.

  “What about Drag Queen Wednesday? Still doing that?” Ben asked.

  “Oh, well, not this past week completely. Only half of the usual performers showed up. Weird. We still had it, but smaller crowds—the ladies decided to take their show to a city bar for now. Safety is an issue when you’re wearing stripper heels,” Charlie joked.

  “And when half the patrons have rifles in their trucks,” Ross added.

  “Are any of those ladies missing?” Ben asked.

  “I don’t know. I don’t have all their real names and pics,” Charlie said.

  “So it’s possible,” Ross said.

  “Sure, but why hide it?” Charlie asked.

  Ben sighed. “Do you have any pictures of the drag queens? Video of them?”

  “I don’t take a lot of video. I’m usually working the bar. But I’ve got some pics on my phone.” He pulled out his phone and forwarded them to Ben’s.

  “Can you give me the stage names?” Ross asked.

  Charlie nodded. “Won’t help you get their real names though. Damn, I just realized no one has seen Violets since that day before the first guy went missing.”

  “Which one is she?” Ross pressed.

  Charlie pointed her out. “Violets are Blue is her stage name. Used to have a Roses are Red and they did a duo thing, but they broke up. Haven’t seen Red in a few months.”

  “It never occurred to you that might have something to do with this?” Ben asked.

  “Guys hook up, break up and get back together more than my mama’s soap operas. No one has seen Red since around here so I’m guessing she got a city gig that paid better,” Charlie insisted.

  “That you know of. Give us the rest of the stage names. We’ll take what we can get. You don’t know Violet’s real name?” The glamour of crime-solving was lot of grunt work until the right break was found.

  “I think once I heard Red call him Mike or maybe Mick. They only came every other Wednesday when they were regulars. It’s not like they were always around,” Charlie explained.

  Ross and Ben shared a look. It was a new line to investigate and they had a Mickey on the list.

  Chapter Ten

  At the station, the focus was on two new local men who’d gone missing. Ben pulled Sheriff Larry aside and showed him the picture of Violet. They needed to go check out Mickey’s place for drag stuff.

  “The FBI sent a group up there. Call them,” Larry said.

  Ben shook his head. “We need to see it. She had a performance partner, and they broke up fairly recently. It’s not just a yes or no on the drag thing. We’re not sure what we need to find until we find it.”

  “Fine, go, but be careful. You two are on the rose list now. I don’t like you as a target,” Larry said.

  Ben and Ross headed for the city. It wasn’t what Ben wanted, but he needed to see the apartment for himself. The hour-and-change drive was mostly silent, except for when Dad called to grumble about feeling hungover and about the black sedan still outside.

  As soon as Ben ended that call, he called Mrs. Blossom to get her to drop in with supplies and keep an eye on things. Ross had a way of making Ben vulnerable and nervous. He was regretting admitting his feelings so easily, but there were bigger issues to deal with right now.

  “You have a point about living where you know your neighbors and locals. People look out for each other in the country,” Ross said.

  Ben smiled. “It’s better than the city.”

  “Yes and no. Yes for friends and help. No for people holding on to ideas about you. Judging you. Grudges and long memories. I remember your dad chasing me with that deer rifle. We didn’t know he’d be home a day early. I walked into the bathroom and he was right there in the hallway,” Ross said.

  “That was the day you left and never said a word. I didn’t know dad saw.”

  Ross nodded. “He made me promise to get the hell out of town as soon as I could or I’d regret it. There was no way he’d let us be happy. One or both of us had to leave. I know time changes things, but if your dad wasn’t sick, he’d be the same.”

  Ben couldn’t argue with that. “I wish you’d told me.”

  Shaking his head, Ross smiled. “It’s okay. I wanted to go to college and Quantico. He gave me the excuse. If I’d stayed, he’d have made our lives hell. It wasn’t easy leaving, but it was necessary. I couldn’t waver or I’d have taken a year off to stay. Your dad probably thought if I was gone, it’d change things for you.”

  “He’s nuts about if I met the right woman, it would fix me.” Ben grabbed Ross’ hand. “It’s not your fault. You did what you wanted. I’m sorry my dad threatened you like that. I know it’s history, but we can’t seem to get over it.”

  “The city is great. We have county sheriff, city police and FBI. Plenty of law enforcement work,” Ross said.

  “Let’s go check the apartment.” Ben nodded.

  They joined the other group already searching, which irritated the others, but they were happy to go to lunch.

  They headed for the closet and found nothing feminine at all. Searching the entire bedroom to under the bed and behind the dressers, they came up empty.

  “This is weird,” Ross said.

  “What about the spare bedroom?” Ben asked.

  They headed over to a guest bedroom fit for a magazine cover. A tiny layer of dust was the only sign that it needed anything. The drawers were empty and under the bed was clean. The left side of the closet proved just as bare. The right side, however, held a tall box that looked like something one used for moving.

  With gloved hands, Ross slid the box out. Ben turned on his phone and videoed the e
vidence. Ross opened the box on the side, and there it was. Five dresses, two pairs of heels, and a makeup case worthy of a drag queen.

  “Violets are blue. Fits all the colors tones here. Blue to violet hues,” Ross agreed.

  “No hint of the partner though,” Ben said.

  “Maybe he kept a journal? Check the nightstands in the master bedroom,” Ross suggested.

  Ben found nothing in the nightstands, then checked under the mattress. He found a journal and a few pictures of a queen in a red gown with rose headpieces.

  “Got it. We should get back and dig through this.”

  “Great. I could show you a few lunch spots. We didn’t really eat much for breakfast,” Ross suggested.

  Ben shot him a look. “I know you like the city, but this case is all about the rural aspects of anonymity and Charlie’s bar. It’s connected. I hope somewhere in here we get a clue who Roses is.”

  “Fine. I was just suggesting a bit of variety. City has more options. But let’s head back to the diner.” Ross snapped off his plastic gloves and headed for the door.

  A uniformed officer was now guarding the room. Ben slid the journal and pictures into an evidence bag and logged it with the officer before he followed Ross down to the car.

  “We can drive through somewhere and eat on the way back,” Ben offered.

  “Up to you.” Ross climbed into the car.

  Ben realized he must’ve come off anti-city, but right now he wanted to pounce on the clues to save lives—not negotiate.

  “We should let them dust that for prints before you go pawing through it,” Ross reminded Ben.

  “Procedure can get in the way,” Ben grumbled.

  “Food will help us pass the time. Unless you want to swing by the FBI labs and drop it off.”

  “Food,” Ben compromised.

  * * * *

  Ross had been sure eating would help Ben’s mood, but he was still getting the silent treatment.

  “What’s wrong?” Ross asked.

  Ben sighed. “Nothing. Just drive.”

  Ross hated the tension. “Why not just tell me? We can’t go back to work like a fighting couple. Tell me.”

  “You’re trying to sell me on the city,” Ben said.

  “It was just food options. It’s not a contest,” Ross replied.

  “And you mentioned all the law enforcement opportunities. Come on. You want me to leave everything behind and move to the city with you,” Ben accused.

  Ross chewed his bottom lip. “You know what that really means right?”

  “What?” Ben asked.

  “It means I love you. I’m not trying to force change on you. If I wanted you to move back here with me—not that I’ve ever said that yet, but if that’s what you’re feeling… Of course I want you around. But really it means no other guy I’ve dated measured up to you. I miss you. Doesn’t that help soften the idea of change?” Ross asked.

  Ben rubbed his forehead. “I’m trying to put the case first and not us. I told you how I felt, and you blew it off. We need to prioritize the case. We’ll have time to sort this out later.”

  “Then why get mad over food and career options? You don’t want to move here. Obviously, I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. Never could. But you still have feelings for me,” Ross accused.

  “Small towns have benefits too. You agreed, people know you. You can trust them. Bad stuff can still happen, but not as often as in the city,” Ben pointed out.

  “It’s not a contest.” Ross grabbed Ben’s hand. “I’m not trying to sell or guilt you into moving. But when the time comes, when this case is done and we see if the feelings are still there and not just dredged up by working together and being able to screw in your childhood room again—then I want you to decide for yourself.”

  “You think my dad forced me to stay?” Ben pulled his hand away.

  “No, I think your mom was sick, then she passed. Then your dad retired, and you wanted to spend time with him. I get it. You didn’t get Dad time, and when you did, he was throwing me out and trying to straighten your ass out. But he’s not going to change. You don’t have to tolerate that crap from him.”

  “Dump him in a nursing home?” Ben asked.

  “No, you think in these limited options because small towns don’t have much. The city and ’burbs have more. You have to be willing to look, take the time and decide. But whenever you pick, I want it to be your choice. Not Dad guilt or rejecting the city. I don’t want to be rejected by default. You’re the one, and I’ll never find someone else like you.” Ross squeezed Ben’s knee.

  “Fine, I’ll try to be objective. I can’t think about that stuff right now. All these men are missing, two are dead.” Ben shifted in his chair. “Don’t get all into Adele songs on me.”

  Ross smiled. “Please don’t act like your dad either.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Ben asked.

  “Your dad was his way or the highway. Remember that time your mom wanted a side-by-side fridge? Your old one died, your dad was on the road and she picked it out. You told me she was in tears when your dad said freezer on top, fridge on the bottom—that’s how a refrigerator is supposed to be. It’s not like he did anything but grab a beer from the fridge. She did all the cooking. Why would he care? He made the money, so he made all the rules and everything was how he wanted it.”

  “King of his castle.” Ben nodded.

  “I’m not a housewife or dependent. I’m not trying to change you. I’m not trying to act like your dad and force you to do everything my way. But part of me is worried you won’t think you can be happy or that you’ve won if you don’t get everything one thousand percent your way. That’s not a healthy relationship. We both deserve better and I know you know how tough he was on you, but please don’t ever be that tough on me,” Ross said.

  “Shit. Why would you want to be with a train wreck like me?” Ben asked.

  “No, no pity party. You want therapy, the city has tons of shrinks to help you get over your Daddy issues.” Ross grinned.

  Ben smacked Ross’ shoulder. His parents had been old-fashioned—nothing unique about that in the Bible Belt—but Ben had never realized how it had influenced him. Boys instinctively wanted to live up to the example their dad set—it wasn’t conscious for Ben, but his dad was a selfish prick, so somehow Ben’s brain had twisted it around so that he was only a true man if he got his way.

  Ben felt less torn between the two men. The struggle wasn’t new, but this time he was an adult. Picking between his father and Ross was his own Sophie’s choice. He could compromise and not be a wimp. It was a new feeling and he had to get comfortable with it.

  “I don’t need a shrink. I need to solve this case and screw your brains out for a few days.”

  “That sounds like a plan,” Ross agreed.

  * * * *

  Back at the station, they handed off the evidence for processing and took a photo of the pictures before handing those over. Prints could prove helpful, but Ben really wanted to go through that journal.

  Ross sat at the conference table and compared the picture to those of the missing men. None of them were a match. Facial recognition software was a nice FBI perk. He emailed in the picture to Irene. Hopefully the drag wouldn’t interfere.

  Hanging up his phone, Ben sat next to Ross. “Dad is fine. Mrs. Blossom made him chicken fried steak. He’s happy for now and safe. What’s your computer doing?”

  “Running the picture against the known criminal faces in Kentucky. Facial structure doesn’t care about makeup or wigs,” Ross replied.

  “Cool. Charlie is trying to keep things as normal as possible.”

  Ross nodded. “I wasn’t trying to pressure you. I don’t want you to feel boxed in or forced. The truth is, I never thought we’d get another chance. Not until your dad was dead, and that sounds awful. If you had a boyfriend and were happy, I’d made up my mind to be happy for you and be all business.”

  “We never
could really do that,” Ben said.

  “Not unless your Mr. Right was someone else. Breakups suck, but for us it was life, not another man,” Ross said.

  Ben nodded. “What if that was it with Violet and Rose?”

  “What?” Ross asked.

  “What if they had an act but also were a couple? Then someone met their Mr. Right and tried to get out of it all. The other didn’t take the total rejection very well,” Ben theorized.

  “So Roses are Red, also known as Mick or Mickey, was taken by Violets are Blue. But then why kill the others or kidnap them all?”

  “Maybe she was rejected by all of them? Or she felt judged? Or she had Daddy issues? Full motive is rarely known until the suspect is apprehended, but we’ve got leads to follow. Now I want my hands on that journal ASAP,” Ross said.

  Ben smiled. “Patience sucks. Valentine’s Day is coming up way too soon.”

  Irene burst in. “Got a hit on the fingerprints from the statewide database.”

  Chapter Eleven

  The thought that Ben might be turning out even a little bit like his dad was hard to shake. Even with new evidence, he felt like a jerk. Growing up, he’d wished he’d stood up to his dad. His mom had always assured him that good sons didn’t muscle out their own fathers. They got married, moved out and headed their own family, and learned from the mistakes their parents made.

  Ben felt cheated. He wanted a family and home of his own. Damn it, he hated when Ross was right. Not that it meant Ben wanted to move to the city and join a huge force. He’d end up at the bottom—all seniority lost.

  Where would his dad end up, and would he make Ross and Ben feel guilty and nag the hell out of them until he died? Often Ben felt bad for his dad’s limited social interaction. For all the talk of the guys, he rarely went out. He preferred to yell at the TV and not to have to worry about his oxygen supply. Were there better options that might make Dad happier?