by D. B. Watson
Adam flinched at his wounded arm. He grabbed Jamie, moving him toward the elevator while shielding him with his own body.
“Penny!” Jamie called. “What are you doing? You shot Adam!”
“I think she knows,” Adam said, boarding the elevator with Jamie protesting.
“What—no, Adam, I don’t want to be in here,” Jamie said, trying to stop Adam from backing him inside, seeing the two dead men at their feet.
Adam pressed Jamie against the side wall. “Either this or the woman shooting at us,” said Adam. Relieved to see his key card still inserted into the control panel, he pressed the button to close the doors as another shot came hitting the wall above Chen’s head, missing Adam’s leg.
“You’ve become a thorn in my side, Detective!” Penny shouted as the door shut.
“How did I do that?” Adam asked himself.
Jamie pressed his face against Adam’s back, squeezing his eyes shut as the elevator seemed to creep down to the garage. The metallic smell of the blood-filled his nostrils.
The ring from the enclosed box didn’t come soon enough. When the door opened, Adam prevented Jamie from leaving. He wanted to be sure Penny--or anyone else—was not waiting for them.
“Adam, what are you doing, let me out!” Jamie cried.
Adam didn’t answer as he scanned the garage, seeing no one. He then grabbed Jamie and rushed for his jeep. They reached it just as Penny came through the staircase door. He got Jamie to the passenger side of the jeep and pushed him to the ground.
“Don’t move,” Adam ordered. He opened the door and retrieved his gun from the open glove compartment. He took off the safety, seeing Penny aiming again. He shot through his driver’s side window, hitting her in the shoulder, causing her to drop her gun and fall to the ground. Hearing her cries, he advanced with caution, finding her on her back, the gun out of reach.
He moved to Penny and noticed her condition was far worse than he expected. His bullet only grazed her shoulder, but her arm and leg appeared injured. Penny looked at him with anguish in her eyes.
“Sending your assistant to our town was a fatal decision. We warned you,” she said through clenched teeth.
“My assistant?” Adam said. “No, Justin didn’t go to that town.”
“Consequences. And I never got to kill him.”
Jamie ran to her side and knelt beside her, seeing her leg and arm out of joint.
“Penny,” Jamie said. “Adam, do something, she’s in pain.
“I’ll call the EMT’s, stay with her.” Adam moved away, pulling out his cell phone.
“Hang on, Penny, they’ll be here soon,” Jamie said, shaking with worry.
“I never meant to shoot him,” Penny said between heavy breaths.
“Adam won’t hold it against you, Penny, I’ll talk to him.”
“I was trying to shoot you,” Penny said.
Jamie stopped and looked at her. “What? I don’t—”
Penny cut him off. “You became a problem when you started showing feelings toward Yuri.”
“Yuri?”
“You don’t deserve him. You’re below his station.” Rapid coughing ensued as blood trickled from her mouth. When the coughing stopped, she gave Jamie a look of contempt. Her eyes went glassy and she passed on.
Adam came back and saw Penny’s eyes frozen open. He stooped down and touched Jamie’s arm, who looked at Adam with a look of shock as he rose to his feet.
“Jamie, I’m sorry.”
“That bitch,” Jamie snapped. “She pretended to like me.”
Adam moved Jamie, who, once filled with worry, was now fuming with anger, away from the now-deceased Penny Bell.
“Jamie,” Adam said.
“I bet it was her who tried to have me killed,” Jamie hissed.
“Jamie, you need to calm down.”
“Calm down, calm down? Why should I calm down? She just told me she always hated me. That I was beneath Yuri’s station.”
“Yes, but she’s gone.”
“The word is dead, Adam, she’s dead,” he said. “And as far as I’m concerned, good riddance.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“The hell I don’t.”
“Jamie, I know you’re mad now—”
“No, Adam. I’m mad, period.” His intense pause worried Adam as tears rushed down his face. “How could she!” he shouted.
Adam reached out and stroked the side of the young man’s face, saying nothing.
“I thought—I thought—”
Adam embraced Jamie as he wept and the sounds of sirens rang in the distance.
****
Adam sat in the police station at the desk of Artie Cutter, with his arm patched up. Jamie sat at A. J. Chance’s desk. The detectives questioned them. Jamie refused to talk until he saw Yuri Jin. Adam tried to tell them what he knew, but parts were hard to speak out loud. Even writing it down proved impossible. A. J. retrieved a glass of water for Jamie, where all Artie got for Adam was impatience.
“You’re obstructing justice, Potter. You can go to jail for that." Artie spoke with such a direct tone Adam swore he was enjoying the idea of putting him behind bars.
“Artie—” Adam began, but Artie cut him short.
“That’s Detective Cutter, Potter.”
“Well, with that logic, I can argue the same.”
“Potter, you’re no more a detective than a cartoon character.”
Adam, perplexed by Artie’s statement, considered saying something when Yuri Jin walked in with his lawyer.
After Yuri’s lawyer made a few calls, Adam and Jamie’s release happened in an hour. He informed Yuri they would release Penny’s and the Lu brothers' bodies after the coroner’s report. Jamie took his place at Yuri’s side, who took the younger man’s hand but not before kissing his forehead.
“Are you coming with us, Detective Potter?” Yuri asked. Adam tried to answer when he was cut short.
“Adam, could you hang back for a moment?” A. J. called to him.
Adam glanced back and nodded. He turned back to Jamie, who stood close to Yuri.
“Are you taking him back to the penthouse?” Adam asked.
“No,” Yuri said. “I’m taking him somewhere safe.”
“You know he’ll never be safe.”
“Let me worry about that, Detective. Your services are no longer needed.” Yuri turned and walked Jamie out of the station without allowing Jamie to say goodbye to Adam.
Adam turned back to A. J., who continued to work at his desk as he finished typing his report. He paused and looked at Adam.
“Neither of you gave us anything.”
“A. J., I told you all I knew.”
“You told us that Yuri Jin’s assistant tried to kill you,” Artie said.
“Nothing gets by you, Artie.”
“Fuck you, Potter.”
“Language, Cutter. You might get written up.”
“I should lock your ass up.”
“For what?”
“For obstruction of justice.”
“Bullshit!”
“Is it, Adam?” A. J. asked.
“A. J.—”
“Adam, you said Penny Bell chased you with a gun, but that’s impossible with her extensive injuries.”
“Unless—you hit her with your jeep,” Artie chimed in.
“I told you what I saw.”
“What about the motive?”
“She said she always hated Jamie.”
“And why is that?” A. J. asked.
“I don’t know.”
“And the two men in the elevator?”
“I told you, Penny had to have killed them. Didn’t you get prints?”
“They’re being analyzed, we’ll have results by morning,” Artie said.
“Which should be in two hours,” A. J. added.
“Two hours?” Adam said. “Oh crap, I need to go.”
“Remember the rules, Potter. Don’t leave town,” Artie said.
> Adam left without comment, relieved he drove his jeep to the station. He climbed in and pointed his headlights toward the Valdez estate.
CHAPTER 38
Pop
The first evening of the party ended. Patrick’s cordial behavior surprised everyone. He drank one glass of wine at dinner. He moved through circles of conversations with poise and charisma. Whenever someone asked where Adam was, he explained that Adam had responsibilities that kept him busy at all hours. He wasn’t bitter; he projected respect toward Adam’s profession. Even his twin cousins couldn’t rattle him when drilling him with questions that their father, Bernardo, put an end to.
“Leave Patrick be, he owes no one, especially you two, an explanation about Adam’s whereabouts,” Bernardo said. The tone of his voice was enough to silence Miguel and Reyes.
“It’s fine, Uncle. I’m sure they were just concerned.”
“They need to respect boundaries. Adam is your concern, not theirs.” He turned to his sons. “Apologize to your cousin now.”
“Sorry, Patrick,” they said jointly.
Patrick didn’t show it, but he found it amusing that his cousins’ father berated them. “Already forgotten,” Patrick said. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to turn in early.”
“Rest well. We’ll see you in the morning,” Bernardo said.
Patrick walked away in a subtle movement. He found his parents playing cards with friends.
“You should stay up with us,” Raoul said, tossing a card on the table, irritating a few people. “Your mother and I are making a killing.”
“Yes, Patrick, join us,” Philip said. “I’m horrible at this game, and maybe you can give Michael some luck.”
“Don’t blame me,” Michael added. “You’re the one throwing out the wrong card.”
There was an awkward silence at the table that sat three couples. Patrick kissed his parents on the cheek, ignoring the tension.
“I’m too tired. I promise I’ll join tomorrow.”
“Will Adam be coming back tonight?” Raoul asked, still staring at his cards. Patrick bit the inside of his lower lip before responding.
“I’m sure he’ll return, but it’ll be late tonight,” Patrick responded.
“That’s fine, dear, we’ll make sure the gatehouse knows of his late return,” Drusilla said. “Get some rest.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Patrick left, heading upstairs. Once in his room, he undressed and entered his bathroom naked, not shutting the door. He turned on the shower, never bothering to wait for the water to warm up as he stepped in, bracing to the shock of the cool water covering his skin. I wonder if Adam’s showering after fucking that—trash, he said to himself. He grabbed a luffa and applied liquid soap, washing his body with urgency, unaware someone had entered his room.
****
Patrick came out of the shower tenser than when he went in. His mind kept racing back to Adam’s departure.
Do I have to be a victim for Adam to stay by my side? he wondered. His eyes caught something on his nightstand. He moved over to it and picked it up.
“Wine,” he said, sighing. He had no clue where the bottle came from. Cora would never just bring a bottle of wine pre-opened into his room. Would one of his cousins be so heartless?
His fingers still gripping the bottle, he moved and sat on his bed. Ignoring what vineyard it was from or what grape they used, he only stared at the red liquid that rested inside.
His throat was dry. He knew it was his addiction calling him.
Drown it, Patrick thought. Just drown it all away. It will help me sleep, and I can forget about it all in the morning. Patrick gripped the mushroom cork and yanked it from its confinement, hearing the pop that followed. He’d liked that sound; it always took him back to when he spent time with friends and family, enjoying each other’s company. Also, times when he was at his lowest and alone.
“Come back to me, Adam,” he called out. His sorrow grew inside him and he wanted it to go away. He took a long swallow of the domestic red grape, closing his eyes as it rushed down his throat. He drank more and his sadness sank away.
He drank until the bottle was empty, savoring the last sip on his lips. He considered laying back to go to sleep when he changed his mind.
This is all his fault, Patrick thought, slowly getting to his feet. He can’t get away with doing what he wants and expect me to yield to him. Patrick fixed his robe and stormed out of his room.
CHAPTER 39
CALL
After Patrick’s departure, Yuri showered and re-dressed, returning to the party. He continued to watch the feed from his cell. He observed Adam’s progressions on Jamie and Jamie fighting him off to the point of tasering the detective. Why? he wondered. Jamie appeared to want Adam’s advancements on the stairs.
A servant gave the dinner announcement, breaking Yuri’s focus.
“Yuri,” said Drusilla.
Yuri looked up, surprised to see Patrick’s mother smiling at him.
“Mrs. Valdez.”
“Really, Yuri, so formal.”
“My apologies. Drusilla.”
“Would you escort me to dinner?”
“I’d love to.” He put his cell away as she took his arm, walking toward the dining room.
“Where is your young friend?” she asked.
“Jamie wanted to go home.”
“I see. It wasn’t because he was upsetting Patrick?”
“That would be beneath him.”
“Oh, but of course. You wouldn’t intentionally embarrass my son.”
Yuri walked Drusilla to her seat and held her chair out for her. Once she was seated, he took his place beside her.
“I assure you, Drusilla, I would never do anything malicious to Patrick. I deeply care about him.”
“So deeply that you brought the man you left him for, to his parents’ party?”
“Patrick has moved on with someone else. He doesn’t feel threatened by Jamie’s actions.”
“Then you don’t know him. Because he’s still suffering.”
“May I sit?”
They looked up and saw Patrick smiling at them.
****
Their dinner went smoothly as they enjoyed light banter. Patrick sat across from Yuri and his mother, preventing Yuri from talking to him. Patrick submerged himself in conversation with the people besides him, or his mother, and eating. Yuri caught the hint but kept Patrick in sight.
After their meal, they all gathered in the ballroom for drinks and dancing. Patrick danced with his mother until his father swept her away. Yuri considered approaching him for a dance when he spied Miguel walking over.
“Yuri. I see you’re alone. Want company?”
“How sweet of you, Miguel.”
“I know you’d rather it be Patrick.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I can see how you stare at him.”
“Which means you’re watching me.”
“How can I not?” He quickly changed the subject. “Where’s Jamie? I thought we could have some more fun.”
“Jamie had to go home. I hope I can be enough?”
Yuri led Miguel away from the party. He ravished the man as soon as they entered the bedroom. Yuri held Miguel in his lap as both men neared their climax.
Yuri moaned in Miguel’s ear as he moved to the bed and lay on top of him. The bed bounced as Yuri thrust into the man below him who rested flat on his stomach. Yuri nibbled on his ear, causing Miguel to release.
Yuri rocked harder and faster as he erupted inside Miguel. His body froze as his high slowly slipped away. He rolled off onto his back as Miguel remained panting and his pounding heart slowed. Miguel stared at Yuri, who turned to him, smiling.
“Anything on your mind?” asked Yuri.
“Why do you still pursue Patrick?”
“I have my reasons.”
