Playing With Fire

by Dirk Greyson

  “Jim… oh God….” Barty’s words trailed into a groan. “Don’t stop.”

  “I have no intention of doing anything of the sort.” He licked a path down Barty’s chest, teasing each of his nipples until Barty whimpered and quietly pleaded for more. “What do you want?”

  “I don’t know…,” Barty answered plaintively. “This is so new.”

  Jim understood. “But you have to have dreamed of something. When you watched the films, what did you like most?” Jim had a pretty good idea, and he slowly slid downward until his face was even with the waistband of Barty’s boxers. He waited for an answer, but Barty seemed to have stopped breathing. Jim tugged them down until Barty’s cock bounced free. He licked up the shaft and then ran his lips up and down it, Barty quaking like new leaves in a spring breeze. “Is this it?”

  “Uh-huh,” Barty answered.

  Jim slid his hands up Barty’s chest and then back down to his cock, holding it and then stroking slowly as Barty moaned softly. Jim wasn’t about to tease him. Moments like this got blown up in people’s mind. They were dreamed of, and Jim wanted to make sure that Barty’s dreams all came true and more.

  “God, Jim,” Barty groaned, drawing out the words as Jim slid his lips down him.

  Jim remembered how that felt for the first time. Hell, each and every time it was amazing, but to have the wet heat of a mouth surround you for the first time was a sublime experience—at least it had been for him—he wanted to make sure Barty’s was even better.

  “Yeah. That’s what I liked.”

  Jim hummed softly and took nearly all of Barty’s considerable length. Barty was no small man, and Jim couldn’t help wondering what his long, heavy shaft would feel like as it slid deep into him. Jim liked giving and getting, and it sometimes depended on the mood he was in, but at the moment, he wouldn’t have minded being on the receiving end. However, that was for another day. Right now, he wanted to drive Barty out of his mind, and judging by the gasps, moans, and the way he tapped his feet on the bed, Jim was doing just that.

  “Jim,” Barty warned, and he backed away, letting Barty slip from between his lips. “I was so close.”

  “I know, but I don’t want it to be over yet.” Jim climbed off the bed and shed his boxers. He also divested Barty of the last of his clothes. Then he went to the far side of the room and turned on a dim light on his dresser, just enough for them to see.

  Barty pulled up the covers as Jim approached.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Because I’m a skinny beanpole,” Barty said.

  Jim tugged the covers away. “You’re a stunning man, and don’t let anyone ever tell you any different.” He climbed back on the bed, locking his gaze with Barty’s. He wanted him to know that he wasn’t going to accept any argument on that point. In his eyes, Barty was damn near perfect, and he wouldn’t change a thing.

  “You’re the one who’s at the top of the stunning scale.” Barty grinned as he ran his hands over Jim’s arms. Jim flexed for him, and Barty hummed as he leaned in. “That’s what I wanted to see.”

  “I feel a little silly,” Jim said, relaxing his arm and pressing Barty back on the bed. That was way too close to cheesy muscle porn, and he wanted more than that. Jim rolled them until Barty was on top, gazing down on him. Jim put his hands behind his head. “I’m all yours, honey.”

  Barty raked his gaze over him hard enough that Jim swore he could feel it. “I’m like a kid in a candy store.” Barty seemed intent on taking his time. He licked and touched Jim much the same way as Jim had Barty. He was following Jim’s lead, and that was fine.

  “Do whatever you think would feel good to you.” Jim waited to see how Barty would react. He expected tentative and slow, but what he got was an unleashed tiger with a ton of energy. Barty vibrated with it. Everywhere he touched seemed to come alive. And after a few minutes of Barty’s incredible ministrations, Jim was very near the edge. He tugged Barty down on top of him, held him tight, and they moved their hips in unison, cocks sliding past each other. Testosterone filled the air in the room. Jim brought Barty’s lips to his. He needed the connection between them and wanted to try to communicate that this was more than just sex. Words weren’t going to work at a moment like this, so he had to put his tongue to a better use.

  “Jim.” Barty whimpered and shook. He knew Barty was close to release and was most likely trying to hold off. Jim was right there as well and pressed his hands to Barty’s butt, pushing them closer together, increasing the friction just enough to send Barty over the edge with a soft whimpery cry. Jim followed right behind him, holding Barty through the throes of his release, and then didn’t move for quite a while.

  He held Barty, letting him know that everything was okay and it was all right not to try to move.

  “Is it always like that?”

  “Maybe,” Jim teased. “What was it like?”

  “My head feels like it exploded and came back together in a happy way.”

  “Then that’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel.” Jim took a deep breath and released it, continuing to hug Barty closely. “Just relax and enjoy the afterglow.” His eyes were already feeling heavier than they had in quite a while, and Jim had little doubt that he was going to sleep like a baby.

  “Okay.” Barty rested his head on Jim’s shoulder and stayed there for a long time. Eventually, Jim settled Barty back on the bed and went to get a cloth. After a quick cleanup, he turned out the light, made sure the alarm was set, and got back into bed.

  Holding Barty was one of life’s amazing experiences for him. Jim’s mind was clear for the time being, free of shooters and bullets. He could relax and rest. Jim had little doubt that he was going to need whatever quiet and comfort he could get, because tomorrow he was sure that his investigation was going to lead him into an area he wasn’t sure he was ready to go. These things usually came to a head, and Jim had learned it could happen on a dime. He hoped that moment was approaching. They had more evidence than they had ever had at any of the scenes before, and it had to lead them to something. But what?

  The shooter had most likely chosen his sister’s party because of opportunity. But how did he know about it unless he was already there? That was the question that rattled in his head, even as he drifted into the quiet of sleep. Let it go. He had a few more hours alone with Barty, and that was enough for now.

  Chapter 6

  BARTY COULDN’T help smiling even though he knew he should keep his mind on his work. Thankfully he just had classes on Tuesday and Wednesday this term, but he still called his department head and explained some of what was going on. Barty didn’t say anything about being shot at. That was something he wasn’t ready to talk about, except with Jim or maybe Nicole. At the moment he didn’t want his supervisor analyzing him, and Barty knew he would. After all, he was a leading expert in clinical psychology.

  “That sounds like an amazing research opportunity.”

  “It is.”

  “If you need me to, send over your lecture notes and I can deliver the lecture. What you’re doing is important.”

  “Well, the thing is that there’s the possibility the shooter has turned his attention to me. So I’m staying with one of the officers for extra protection. I’ll try to get into the city, but I doubt anyone here is going to let me travel anywhere alone.” He looked over at Jim, who gave him a thumbs-up and a very serious, protective look. “I’ll send over the material just in case. That way you’ll have time to review it, but it’s a seminar and they are well on their way into their projects, so it’s partly checking on their progress and making time to review their questions.” The lecture he was planning was on the psychosis surrounding the University of Texas bell tower shooter, but that was hitting a little close to home, so maybe Dr. Nelson would be best to present the material and lead the discussion.

  “Just send it over, and I’ll be prepared.”

  “Thank you.” Barty hung up and stayed in the conference room, watching as
Captain Westin and Jim had a hushed conversation. Within seconds Jim grew pale and then white as a sheet. He did regain his composure, but something was definitely wrong. Barty stood and was about to find out what was going on when Captain Westin and Jim walked over to the conference room and came inside.

  “We may have a break in the case. But I’d like your thoughts on this,” Captain Westin said as Jim sat. “We have closely analyzed the trajectory of the shots fired yesterday and have come to some conclusions. Jim has said that you believed one of the shots to have been directed at you, and the evidence bears that out. However, the other shot….” He glanced at Jim. “We believe the intended target of the second shot was his niece.”

  “Mindy?” Barty asked, letting that information percolate through his brain. “It isn’t possible for her to have done anything to anyone—she’s three.”

  “What the captain is trying to say is that there’s a possibility that the shooter was trying to hurt Deidre with that shot. But why?”

  Barty gasped and tapped the side of his head. “Holy hell.” He turned to Captain Westin. “This is a break. I’m assuming that the shooter is the same as the other four, and since there aren’t that many shootings in New Cynwood each year, that’s a good guess. Also, the shooter has been escalating, so this might be the next logical step. To get closer to the actual cause of his obsession.” Barty’s heart pounded as ideas and thoughts raced through his head at lightning speed. “Okay.” He walked over to the whiteboard and picked up a black marker. “Let’s assume that this is the same shooter.”

  “Okay.”

  “He’s shot four people at a distance. One shot, one kill, and then gone. He did that four times, and then we got the first phone call. That’s escalation point one. Then you bring me in, and we get another. He’s a little afraid now. He has an adversary. And he leaves the second message.”

  “Along with a clue,” Jim added quietly.

  “Yes.” Barty added that note. “I believe that he’s an academic of some sort. Now, he’s been quiet for a few days, and I bet he was biding his time. The shooter received an invitation to the party. He knew about it, and his plan formed. He could take out the source of all that’s wrong in the world—your sister.” Barty jotted down Deidre’s name and circled it. “This is the key.” He could feel it. “When he arrived at his chosen spot….”

  Jim spoke up. “He realized that he only had so much time before he was noticed and that Deidre was nowhere to be seen.”

  “Exactly, so he looks for the next best thing. He raises the gun and takes a shot at me, and then, when I go down, he shoots at Mindy, but she’s already being pulled to the ground and shielded by Lightning Reflexes here.”

  “In addition, he doesn’t want the gun to be seen, so he stays within the hedge and the bullets are deflected just enough that the shots miss. We removed two medium-sized branches with bullet marks in them that may have helped deflect the shots,” Captain Westin said. “So to a large degree, we got lucky on a few counts yesterday.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But why would he take a shot at Mindy?” Jim asked.

  “Because your sister took something away from him that he wanted and cared about, so he was going to return the favor. He was going to take her daughter,” Barty explained.

  “That’s so sick,” Jim said with a shiver.

  “He is sick,” Barty said. “He has no feelings for other human beings, and he doesn’t care what happens to them. That’s pretty obvious.” That’s what scared Barty no end. He knew he could very easily have ended up exactly like this killer. Barty had been traveling well down that path until Nana had stepped in. Heck, he had been on that path in high school after what he’d done to Milo. He hadn’t cared one bit. All that had mattered was getting some sort of revenge. Making him pay for what he’d done. “At this point, I believe that all he’s interested in is getting even somehow.”

  “But why the other shootings?” Jim asked.

  “Because his anger was focused on the world. Maybe your sister’s promotion to department chair is what set him off. Like I said before, this has been brewing for a while, but one event was the last straw, and that was it.”

  Captain Westin turned to Jim. “We need to find out who else was up for that position.”

  “Mason Gardener. We met him at Deidre’s party. I talked to him for a while, and then Jim and I were drawn into another conversation. I don’t know where he was at the time of the shooting, but he said he had to go to another family function and wouldn’t be staying long.” Barty never forgot a thing.

  “All right,” Captain Westin said, taking charge. “Let’s find out where this guy was. Did we take his statement after the shooting? Was he already gone? Did he circle back and take the shots? He’s officially a suspect, so let’s trace every move we possibly can.” He rattled off his orders, and Jim nodded while Barty took them all in. Others might not have noticed, but Jim’s usually stunningly clear eyes seemed a little clouded, like his brain was still trying to comprehend what he’d been told. “Jim, can you do this?” Captain Westin asked. “There’s no shame at all in asking for help. This has hit closer to home for you than anyone expected.”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “Good. We’ll also need to talk to him, get his story, and see if it checks out. Find out all you can, locate him, and work with Philadelphia PD if necessary to bring him in.”

  “Got it.”

  “Keep me informed,” Captain Westin said and left the room.

  Jim did as well, following him out and then returning with the statements from the party. “Let’s start here.”

  Barty took them and flipped through, reading all the names. “He wasn’t here.”

  “Those are copies. Take them with us and read them. We need to go see my sister.”

  Jim was already on the move, and Barty hurried to keep up, carrying the papers. He got in the car, reading as Jim drove. Most people hadn’t seen anything until they heard the shots and then hit the ground or raced for the house. Barty hadn’t remembered seeing anything either. All his consciousness had been on being safe and making sure Jim was as well. One thing that was apparent was how impressed with Jim’s actions they all seemed to be. Many people had commented on how he remained cool, had them get inside, and took off after the shooter.

  Jim was about to get out of the car but stopped. “I can’t do this.” He radioed in for backup. “I have to have another officer here if I’m going to question my sister. This has to be official, and it can’t be me taking the lead.”

  They sat on the street with the windows cracked to let in fresh air until another car pulled up behind them.

  “Thanks for coming, Paul. Do you know Barty?”

  “Of course.” He’d been one of the officers to talk to him after the shooting. Barty didn’t exactly have warm fuzzies about him, but he knew Paul was good at what he did.

  “Deidre isn’t a suspect. But one of her colleagues is a potential suspect. I need you here as a witness because she’s my sister. I want someone to be able to testify that I didn’t give my sister any preferential treatment.”

  “Is he coming?” Paul asked, turning to Barty, and Barty nodded. He wasn’t going to be left outside, waiting in the car. “Then let’s go.” They got out of the car and started up the walk.

  “Jim, has something happened?” Deidre asked as she stepped out of the house. “It must have if you’re all here.” She motioned, and they all went inside. She led them into the living room. “Franklin is upstairs with the girls.”

  “We need to talk to you. And I want to remind you not to talk about this with the rest of the family and keep this to yourself. Did anyone leave the party shortly before the shooting?”

  “I was asked that yesterday, and I don’t recall.”

  “What about Gardener? Do you know when he left?” Jim asked, and Barty watched both of them—Jim out of concern, and Deidre for signs of evasion.

  “He said good-bye about fifteen mi
nutes before the shooting, now that I think about it.” She twitched her hands nervously as they rested in her lap. “He said he had a party at his brother’s and couldn’t stay.”

  “Did he seem agitated or in a hurry?” Barty asked.

  “Not that I remember,” Deidre answered. “You don’t think that Mason… I mean, he wanted the department head job, but I doubt….” Her voice broke, and she put her hands over her face. “He wouldn’t hurt either of the girls. Last week when I brought them in for the day, he took them into his office to play while I was in a meeting. He likes them, he….” She began to shake, and Jim tried to comfort her.

  “We need to know,” Barty said rather firmly.

  “Was that before or after the announcement?” Jim asked, and Barty saw when Deidre understood.

  “Before the official announcement, but there had been rumors….”

  Jim nodded and turned to Paul. “Have someone look into the brother, and we can check to see where he was and if there was indeed a party.”

  Paul left the room, and Barty stayed with Jim. The excitement of making progress was almost more than he could bear. It really did look like they could have a solution to this case within the next few hours. Of course, then he’d go home, and Barty had no idea if Jim would be interested in him after that. Still, he kept his attention on the fact that the case could be over and people would no longer be in danger.

  “Thank you, Deidre,” Jim said. “We have to go, but stay with the girls.”

  “Do you want to see them?” she asked, and Barty wondered if Jim could at the moment. As far as Barty knew, it was a very small group of people who knew that Mindy likely had been one of the targets, and Barty wondered if Jim would be able to see her without breaking down. Jim was strong and could be hard as nails; he’d seen it. But Barty also knew that on the inside, Jim was warm and caring.

  “We’ll stop by this evening when I don’t have to rush off. Take care of them and keep them safe.”