Our Little Nest: Book 4 of The Two Timer Series

by D. B. Watson

  Justin said nothing, shutting Adam’s door behind him and returning to his desk.

  “Not a dull day here, is it, Potter?” asked Artie.

  A. J. sat in one chair Adam had for his clients, ignoring the spectacle. Adam walked around to his chair to sit when Artie interrupted him. “No need, Potter. We need you to come with us.”

  “What for?”

  “Do you have a client named Yuri Jin?” asked A. J., taking control of the conversation.

  Adam looked at the detectives. “You know I don’t give out client’s names.”

  “Well,” began Artie, standing. “Would you rather come down to the station and answer questions?”

  “About what?”

  “Why two men were found dead in a car by the docks with your card in one of their pockets.”

  CHAPTER 18

  hold

  Patrick stepped out of the building and walked to the curbside. There, he dumped Justin’s flirt coffee into the street. He threw away the cup in a recycle bin. The wind picked up, making him pull the collar of his coat up to shield the back of his neck. He wanted breakfast and considered going to the diner, but remembered Adam took his shopaholic client there. I wanted Adam to take me shopping. Why did he tolerate his client’s pandering? he wondered. Because he was his client, Patrick. Not his lover. He walked to the curb to hail an approaching cab when he received a text on his cell. Thinking it was from Adam, he let the cab pass him.

  What are your plans for today? Yuri texted.

  Patrick was wondering how he got his number when he realized his father must have given it to him. He was about to ignore it when another came.

  You’re not still mad about the kiss, are you?

  Patrick read the mocking tone in Yuri’s text. He knew he shouldn’t bother, but to downgrade the kiss set Patrick off. His cell rang, and he knew who it was. Yuri never changed his number. He answered without saying hello. “You’re lucky I didn’t tell Adam.”

  “Would he challenge me for your honor?”

  “He would have beaten the crap out of you.”

  “He told you he’s working for me?”

  “He tells me everything.”

  “And you told him about us?”

  “There’s no us.”

  “There was. Did you tell him about that?”

  Patrick realized he hadn’t told Adam about Yuri being his ex. He hung up and was about to wave down another cab when a new text came. He considered not answering it. He scowled back at his cell, seeing it wasn’t from Yuri, but from Michael, telling him his suit’s designs were ready for review. Patrick’s eyes lit up. Forgetting Yuri, he waved down another cab and boarded, telling the driver to head to the hotel Duet.

  Patrick arrived at the hotel energized. The doorman, bellhops, and management greeted him right away. Nobody stopped him this time as he boarded the elevator. He arrived at Michael’s suite, knocking twice at the door. It was opened by Michael’s assistant, Ian, who held a degree in fashion design at twenty-three. Clothes advertised in magazines hung from his skinny body and covering a boorish attitude.

  Patrick gave him a look. The man recognized the heir to the Valdez fortune who dawn magazine covers, and social media. He kept his brashness in check.

  “Welcome Mr. Valdez. Michael is expecting you,” he said in a polite voice.

  Patrick stayed quiet as he was escorted to the sitting room with a step-down area. Windows covered the far wall where Michael had his makeshift studio. Fabrics, torsos of three headless mannequins, two covered with a white cloth. Design patterns scattered across wide tables and a small staff of ten, all interns.

  Michael stood directing one intern when he eyed Ian approaching with Patrick. He stepped from the frantic student struggling to hold a comprehensive book of swatches. He walked down the steps to greet his important client. “Patrick, welcome again. You’re going to love the suits I’ve created for you and yours.” He gripped Patrick’s shoulders and leaned in and kissed both his cheeks before releasing him.

  “I can’t wait to see them, Michael.”

  “Then here, come with me.” Michael led him up three steps to the two covered mannequins. He clapped his hands and two of the interns removed the white fabric, revealing two suits.

  Patrick said nothing as he examined the outfits. They were in their rough stage, but Michael had captured the style Patrick wanted.

  “They're perfect,” said Patrick.

  “And they’ll be amazing when they're finished. Do you approve of the color scheme?”

  “I can see where you’re going with it.”

  “I promise it won’t be too brash for your detective.”

  “How do you know I’m dating a detective?”

  You’re both in the tabloids after your night on the town. And that headless body was found in the building next door to your new lover. That is what Michael wanted to say but didn’t. “Your parents told me.”

  “Well, I think he’ll love it. Can I try mine on?”

  “But of course. Please, this way to my private chambers. You’ll be more comfortable there.”

  “Michael, your mock dressing room would be just fine.”

  “Not for a Valdez,” he said, astonished. “Ian!” he called to the one who answered the door. Ian dropped what he was doing and hurried over. Even though Ian speed-walked to his mentor, Michael still frowned at him as if he moved like his feet were cased in cement. “Carefully grab Young Valdez’s suit and follow us up to my chambers so he can try it on.”

  “Yes, Michael.”

  Michael’s attitude changed when he turned back to Patrick. He smiled, leading him upstairs. Michael and Ian helped Patrick change into the suit.

  Patrick stared at the length of the sleeve, the jacket, pants, and the alignment of the shoulders. Approving. Michael understood Patrick’s preference, as always. “You are a master, Michael,” Patrick said.

  “You flatter me. Even though it’s true.”

  The response caused Patrick to laugh as Michael joined him.

  “I wish your lover could have come with you, so he could try his on.”

  “I’m sure it will fit, Michael. I took his measurements myself. I trust you’ll do a wonderful job, as always.”

  “That is true.”

  Patrick removed the suit and re-dressed. He walked with Michael out of the room and back downstairs.

  “So, how should we settle the bill?” asked Patrick.

  “Well, your mother took care of the payment when I sent your father’s suit to him earlier in the week.”

  “She did?”

  “Yes. Did she not tell you?”

  “She must have forgotten.”

  “None the less, I will have them delivered by the morning of the party.”

  “Thank you, Michael.”

  “The honor is mine. Your family had been most gracious to me.” Patrick smiled and was about to leave when an intern interrupted.

  “Excuse me, Michael,” said a blue-and-green-haired male wearing torn jeans and a faded tee-shirt.

  “Yes, yes,” said Michael, annoyed.

  “He said it was a perfect fit,” he responded, holding a garment bag.

  “Ah, yes, good. Be careful with it.” He sneered at the terrified intern.

  “You have a client to attend to, I won’t keep you,” said Patrick.

  “Thank you, Patrick. Call me day or night if you need me, no matter the time.”

  “We might hold you to that. Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye.”

  Michael hurried off as Patrick headed for the front door. Ian let him out and gave him a genuine smile.

  Patrick headed for the elevator, feeling things were going well for him and Adam. He pressed the down button and outwardly smiled at his reflection. He heard a door slam behind him just as the bell dinged telling him the elevator had arrived. The door opened and just as Patrick started to step in, he heard someone running up behind him.

  “Hold-up!” a man called. Patrick
turned as he ran past him grabbing his arm and tugging him into the elevator just as the door closed.

  CHAPTER 19

  RoDe TRip

  Adam brought Justin along when he followed A. J. and Artie’s car in his jeep, heading to what he assumed to be the morgue.

  “I’m going to take a wild guess and say we’re going to see a dead body?” asked Justin.

  “Never say I didn’t take you anywhere,” Adam teased.

  “Okay, two guys are dead and had your business card on them. Why?”

  “That, Justin, is the million-dollar question.”

  “Do you think it has anything to do with your present case?”

  “I hope not. For now, let’s keep Yuri Jin’s name out of this.”

  “Okay, boss.”

  When they arrived, Justin and Adam followed the detectives inside. The sterile room had hard steel reflective tables and a chilly room temperature. Justin watched from a distance.

  The two men lay on tables, disrobed under a white sheet that came across each of their chests. Artie looked for a technician in a connected room but found it empty. Not wanting to stand around, he grabbed the chart on a nearby table that had the info of the two men. He checked the toe tags on them both to be sure.

  Okay, we have this one.” Artie pointed. “A white male about five-foot eight weighing two hundred thirty-five pounds, with a bullet in the left temple.” He moved his index finger to the other corpse. “His partner is Chinese. He comes in at five-foot seven at two hundred twenty-five pounds, with a bullet to the right temple. The two things they have in common are their buzz-cut hairstyles and a tattoo of a chain link that wrap around their right biceps.” Artie returned the chart to the table and turned back to Adam and A. J.

  “Do you recognize them, Adam?” A. J. asked. Adam stared at the men answering right away.

  “No. Who are they?”

  “No clue. They had no IDs or wallets. Only your business card and a name written on a folded piece of paper,” said Artie.

  “I don’t know how they got my business card.”

  “How about your assistant? Does he recognize them?” asked Artie.

  “From Adam’s cases in the last month, I don’t remember these two guys coming into the office,” Justin said.

  “Does the name Yuri Jin ring a bell?” A. J. asked.

  Adam sighed, wondering why Yuri’s and his names were in the possession of the dead man. He promised Yuri he wouldn’t get the police involved. But with these two dead men—who could have been the ones that attacked him and Jamie in the penthouse—now dead—his back was against the wall and he needed answers, but not to break the trust with his client.

  “No, the name doesn’t ring a bell.”

  “We’re going to question him,” said Artie.

  “Be my guest,” replied Adam, thinking over what his next move would be.

  “Potter, these men are dead,” said Artie.

  “No doubt.” Adam rolled his eyes.

  “This is out of your jurisdiction, Potter. This is a murder investigation.”

  “I can see that Artie,” said Adam, turning his back to him. Artie was about to grab his arm but A. J. stopped his partner, whom he’d had an affair with years ago while in a relationship with Adam.

  “Let me talk to him,” A. J. whispered to Artie.

  Grudgingly Artie agreed, leaving the room, hoping A. J. could get through to his ex.

  “Adam,” A. J. said, in that voice that always caught Adam’s attention.

  Adam turned to the handsome man whose crescent eyes beamed back the most haunting, perfect brown eyes he had ever seen. They met while on the police force, fell in love, and even talked of marriage. Only during it all, A. J. knew something he didn’t share with Adam. That it terrified him when Adam took a suicide approach to dangerous situations. That the thought of hearing that Adam got killed made him sick. So, he fell in love and had an affair with his mentor, Artie Cutter, breaking Adam’s heart.

  “A. J., I told you—”

  “Adam,” A. J. interrupted. “This was not a random killing. This was a professional hit.”

  “What do you expect me to do about it, A. J.?”

  “Help us catch this killer.”

  “I have nothing for you.”

  “Oh, I think you do. You just want to be the hero.”

  “Oh, A. J., you know me so well, don’t you?”

  “I do.”

  “Well, I’ve moved on. So should you,” Adam smirked as he walked toward the door.

  “There was a witness,” A. J. called after him. Adam hesitated at the door, turning to A. J.

  “A witness? Then you don’t need me.”

  “He’s dead, Adam. His throat was slit in the backseat of a police cruiser.”

  Adam was now desperate for answers and had to find them right away. There was one place he needed to go. Adam didn’t respond as he turned and left the room with Justin following, heading to his jeep.

  “What now?” asked Justin.

  “I need answers. Yuri Jin won’t give them to me, so I have to leave town and find them.”

  “So, we’re taking a road trip,” Justin said, climbing in and fastening his seatbelt.

  “No, I’m taking a road trip. You’re going home—or wherever. Keep your cell phone close. I’ll be on the road so you can text me if you need me. I’ll check my messages when I stop for a break.”

  “Why can’t I come with you?”

  “I told you this before. You only do the research; I investigate.”

  “But you shouldn’t go alone.”

  “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I already have Patrick for that.” He mumbled the last part.

  “What if Patrick demands to know where you are?”

  “If he needs me, he can text me.”

  Adam pulled up to his building and parked his jeep as he waited for Justin to climb out. Justin hesitated before closing the door when a sense of dread came over him.

  “Your gun, do you have it?” Adam valued Justin’s concern for his wellbeing. The very reason Adam wouldn’t take Justin with him. He would become a distraction that could get either of them killed. Adam could never live with himself if anyone he cared for died because he didn’t focus. Adam leaned over and opened his glove compartment. The handgun lay in its black leather holster.

  “Bullets and all,” Adam assured him.

  “Be careful, Adam.”

  “I will. You can knock off early. Oh, and your paycheck is in my desk drawer.”

  “Wait, where are you going?”

  “It’s best I don’t tell you in case the Dynamic Duo comes questioning you again. Keep your cell close. Okay?”

  “Okay boss.” Justin shut his door and watched as Adam drove off. He wondered if Patrick got knots in his stomach whenever Adam went to work.

  CHAPTER 20

  Happy

  A flash of blonde hair went past, grabbing Patrick’s arm and tugging him into the elevator.

  Patrick had to thrust his hands out to stop colliding with the wall. He turned to scrutinize the person pressing the button for the lobby. “What the hell!” said Patrick.

  Jamie Stewart turned and smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t want to be late meeting my boyfriend.”

  “And who would that boyfriend be?” Patrick asked, brushing invisible wrinkles from his coat sleeve.

  “You don’t know?”

  “I don’t know you or your boyfriend.”

  “Sure, you do. Yuri Jin’s my lover.” He thrust out his hand. “My name is Jamie Stewart.”

  Patrick became speechless. This is the guy Yuri dumped me for? he thought. Hearing Yuri’s name from his lips only infuriated Patrick. He remembered seeing him with Adam on the day Yuri kissed him. He studied him and noted the clothes he wore were of top quality. Although, his mannerism showed Patrick something different. He bragged he was Yuri’s lover, but Patrick beamed as he watched Jamie switch weight from one foot to the other withdrawing his hand when Patrick refu
sed to reciprocate. Patrick raised his head and took a step toward him and caught him biting his lower lip. He was so close Jamie thought Patrick would kiss him. A loud beep came from the elevator as they came to a halt. Jamie turned and spotted Patrick’s finger on the emergency stop button.