Joseph

by Tracy St. John

  Almon froze at the suspicion in his friend’s voice. “Tell me.”

  “Nobek Nesof, son of Clan Sel. Older sibling named Merel, also a Nobek, now deceased. Which brings me to our first oddity.”

  “The brother died under strange circumstances?”

  “Suicide. Not suspicious at all, because the guy suffered a horrific accident that left him bedridden and mute. Partial paralysis that meant Merel couldn’t care for himself.”

  “It makes sense he’d off himself. That’s no way to exist.”

  “What doesn’t make sense in this scenario is that Merel and Nesof hated each other. As in despised. As in loathed. As in abhorred. With great emphasis. Get it?”

  “Got it.”

  “The elder sibling was a real asshole, by the by. In all respects, but particularly toward Nesof. Merel bullied him in training camp, and we’re talking a situation so awful that he was brought up on charges a couple of times. He made Nesof’s life a living hell.”

  Almon kept quiet. In his mind’s eye, he saw that livid handprint on Joseph’s cheek and found no sympathy for the orderly.

  “It didn’t stop, even after Nesof graduated training camp and sought employment. His brother constantly showed up at his jobs and made trouble until Nesof was fired from every one. I’m telling you, this shithead Merel was in a class of his own.”

  “It sounds that way. I admit it would give Nesof cause to stage a suicide when the elder brother was hurt, but did he have the means?”

  “Means and opportunity. Nesof brought Merel home from the permanent nursing facility after the accident. He and their surviving fathers alleged the nursing center wasn’t doing an adequate job of it. Even with the parent clan leaning on Nesof to take Merel on, it’s a pretty fucking generous offer for someone who’d been put through such hell by that asshole.”

  Almon agreed, but he played devil’s advocate as any investigator would. Especially an officer with a chip on his shoulder. “Maybe Nesof thought it would look bad if he refused to oversee his brother’s treatment, what with his medical training and all that.”

  “That’s the thing. Nesof had no medical training when he took Merel in. He hadn’t gone to school for it, hadn’t trained in the fleet’s or ground forces’ medical corps, not a damned inkling of interest in such work. He’d been employed as a delivery shuttle driver before Merel’s accident. It was only after his brother died that Nesof formally went into the medical field.”

  “I guess he got a taste for it.”

  “It seems that way. So let’s discuss the reasons Nesof might have taken over his brother’s nursing, outside of being such a sweet, forgiving kind of fellow. I want you to see why no authority is going to agree this death could be suspicious, even given the brothers’ shit heap of a relationship.”

  Almon had an answer almost immediately. “That’s easy. Nesof would have gotten extra government funding for fulltime guardian supervision.”

  “Got it in one. In addition, Merel was receiving a catastrophic medical allowance.”

  “The next consideration would be, how was the money spent?”

  “Nesof had expensive tastes, according to his financials. But not so outrageous that it would have raised flags. More in the line of clothing and meals, rather than buying himself a high-end shuttle or some such nonsense. He did purchase a substantially large shuttle, but it was used to transport his brother to and from doctors’ and rehab appointments. The home he bought was nice too, but because Merel lived in it and it wasn’t outrageously luxurious, it still fell under the umbrella of necessary to his upkeep.”

  Almon mused, “Nesof wouldn’t have been the first to divert a ward’s money to his own accounts. Nonetheless, as long as the Healthcare Services Agency was satisfied his brother was receiving adequate support, and that his condition was within expected parameters, they wouldn’t have gone out of their way to investigate. Especially if the outlay for room and board wasn’t over the top.”

  “The numbers came out cheaper for the government than if he’d stayed in the facility. Merel was so mangled, meeting well-being expectations wouldn’t have been a high bar.”

  “So the government gets a break on the expenses, and Nesof gets to purchase nice baubles.”

  “Who’s going to murder the reason your bills are not only paid, but allows you to live better than some? Nesof would have to hate Merel beyond sanity to go that extra mile.”

  “No shit.” It was ludicrous and spiteful, but Almon was depressed to hear how unlikely it was that Nesof would kill his brother, even with such a vicious history between the pair. “You said there were other issues?”

  “This is where it gets interesting. Since becoming an orderly, Nesof has worked in several different psychiatric facilities. All of which gave him an exemplary rating as far as his work ethic is concerned. However, on three separate occasions, patients have developed abnormal fixations on him.”

  Almon went on alert, thinking of how Nesof had claimed Joseph behaved in the same manner. “Explain.”

  “In two of these cases, Nesof tended to an Imdiko patient who would begin to act obsessive about their connection. The inmate would isolate himself from everyone else, citing concerns that the medical staff and other patients were ‘out to get him’. He’d insist on Nesof attending him whenever possible, which Nesof was always willing to do to calm the subject.”

  “Shit.” Dors described the exact scenario Joseph had reported.

  “It gets better. In all cases of patients’ reported concerns and requests for Nesof to be the primary orderly, the documentation was prepared by Nesof himself.”

  “Son of a bitch. How did these cases end up?”

  “The first committed suicide. His body was discovered by Nesof, who left that facility for another shortly after the investigation.”

  “Was it suicide?”

  “It had all the characteristics, but no note or recorded message was uncovered. Lacking evidence, that was the finding.”

  “Go on.”

  “In the second case, the patient definitely was overly attached to Nesof. That Imdiko called him his Nobek and carried on as if they were clanmates. The poor bastard swore Nesof promised they’d find a Dramok and become an actual clan. The situation got so bad that the administrator for the facility scouted out Nesof’s next position for him, with a hefty pay raise, to make up for having to ask him to leave.”

  “That goes above and beyond.”

  “Again, Nesof’s record as an orderly was topnotch.”

  “Any word on what happened to the second patient?”

  “The therapist’s notes say the Imdiko screamed for a week after Nesof left, swearing the orderly had promised him they’d always be together. Then he turned catatonic and hasn’t spoken a word since.”

  Almon rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. “You said there were three situations you found shady.”

  “With the last, it was the same circumstances of a patient’s isolation and demanding Nesof’s attention. Once again, the patient’s insistence on being tended by Nesof alone was written up by Nesof himself. However, this Imdiko eventually accused Nesof of raping him multiple times, as well as beating him.”

  “Was an investigation opened into the matter?”

  “Only the most basic of inquiries, because that particular patient has a history of accusing people of rape. He also accuses them of removing his organs and selling them to the highest bidder, including his brain, lungs, heart, and all the shit he’d have to have to still be alive.”

  “Sweet Mother of All,” Almon swore.

  “Yeah, this poor mess is pretty far gone. He cuts and pounds on himself to bolster his claims of being attacked. If Nesof did do anything to him physically, no one would be able to tell.”

  “But rape could be proven.”

  “There were signs of violation on him, but they turned up no DNA. A pipe was discovered in his room that had the patient’s traces all over it. It was decided he’d done the
damage to himself to corroborate his claims against Nesof.”

  “Did the damage to himself—are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “One way or another, the pipe had been going up the Imdiko’s ass. Once the dust settled on that nasty bit of business, Nesof hightailed it to the facility where he met Joseph.”

  Almon scowled at the gray floor. A lot of strange circumstances surrounded Nesof, but as Dors had said, none of them showed the Nobek was guilty of any wrongdoing. Almon sure as hell couldn’t submit any of it to Kavug. Particularly since so much of it was privileged information, the kind that would land him and Dors in prison for having broken into secured files.

  Too many suicides. Too many allegations, especially when they matched up to what was going on with Joseph. “Taken as a whole, it appears as if Nesof has been victimizing his patients.”

  “It set my hair on end. You need to keep that Nobek miles from Joseph. Maybe have a hit put out on him. He smells like psycho.” Dors didn’t sound as if he was joking.

  “The authorities made it clear they’d come looking at me if anything suspicious happens to Nesof.” He filled Dors in on the latest events.

  “Fuck. That’s an ugly situation, my friend.”

  “No shit. Damn it, what am I supposed to do?”

  Dors had no answer for that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  At the end of the workday, which had come blessedly soon after his conversation with Dors, Almon was frantic to return home to Joseph. A hundred coms assuring him of his lover’s safety weren’t adequate to help him maintain his cool after what Dors had revealed. He was in such a rush to get through the apartment’s door that he almost tripped over the small package that had been left outside of it.

  He picked it up. It was addressed to Joseph. Almon tucked it under his arm, ordered the door unlocked, and went in.

  “Joseph?”

  “Hey!” He sounded startled. “I’m in my office.”

  Almon wasted not a second but sped to the other man’s private space. When he reached it, Joseph was just rising from his chair behind the desk, his expression glad. Almon felt as if he could breathe for the first time in a very long while when he saw Joseph was safe.

  The Earther met him in the middle of the room, greeting him with a kiss. “I hadn’t realized it was evening already. How was your day?”

  Instead of answering, Almon pulled him close. He held Joseph for several seconds, breathing in his warm, clean scent.

  This is my love. My life. He’d given up on having someone to share those dreams with years ago, but it had happened anyway. He would not lose this man. Whatever that required, Almon would sacrifice it all to keep Joseph.

  His chuckle muffled against Almon’s neck, Joseph said, “I missed you too, though you commed every hour.”

  Almon loosened his grip so Joseph could come up for air. “I had to know you were all right.”

  “I’m great. Writing like my life depends on it. What’s in the package?”

  “Didn’t you place an order? It’s got your name on it.”

  “I didn’t order anything. I wouldn’t buy stuff with your money, not without asking.”

  They both frowned at the sealed box Almon held. The Nobek released Joseph and turned the parcel over, examining it carefully. “No markings. No identification as to the sender or the delivery company.”

  Joseph shoved it, taking a step back as if afraid it would bite him. However, it was anger, not fear, that filled his voice. “I’m not opening that.”

  Nesof. Who else would have sent it? “I’ll do it.” Almon waved Joseph to move back farther. He pressed his ear to the side of the box, but heard nothing from the parcel that fit easily in his hand.

  He broke the seal and lifted the lid cautiously to peer at the contents. It took him a moment to identify the object within, but when he did, he relaxed. “This isn’t dangerous, just odd.”

  He pulled out the old Earther book. It had a stained, tattered paper cover which depicted an illustration of rowdy Earther men swinging blades. Such items were reportedly rare and in high demand by collectors. Even in its disreputable condition, the volume would command a significant price.

  Joseph’s expression was a confusion of emotions. “Pirate Island. This was my favorite story as a child. I once had a physical copy similar to this.” His expression abruptly hardened. “Flip through the pages. Did he leave a note?”

  Almon did as he asked, riffling the fragile-feeling yellowed sheets with concern. All the paperback contained was an old, musty smell. “It’s clean. If you don’t want it, you could sell it to a dealer.”

  Instead, Joseph’s face became a mask of rage. Almon had never suspected his lover was capable of such a crazed expression.

  Joseph snatched the book from the Nobek’s hand and began ripping the pages out, yelling all the while. “Is he going to ruin everything that was ever important to me? Spoil all that I love? Defile my entire life, all my memories?”

  Spittle flew as he ranted, his features bestial with rage. Almon stared, too shocked to move as the Earther shredded the book and stomped on the ragged drifts that fell to the floor. He flung the remains against the wall with a furious scream then flailed in a circle, as if searching for some other object to attack. “Bastard! Stay away from me! Leave us alone! Leave us alone!”

  The broken note under Joseph’s fury scared the hell out of Almon. Unable to bear that animal sound of agony, he grabbed him and held the struggling Earther against him, absorbing the abuse that had to be spent somewhere. “Easy. Easy, my love. I’ve got you. I’m here. Joseph, I’m here.”

  At last the words broke through, and Joseph sagged against Almon, clutching him. He moaned, “Why won’t he stop? Why won’t he let us be happy? Why?”

  “Because he’s a sick, depraved bastard with an obsession. You’re not his only victim.”

  Joseph pushed away so he could look Almon in the eye. “What do you mean?”

  The Nobek shared Nesof’s suspicious past, along with the parallels between the patients who had become obsessed with him and Joseph’s situation. His lover was understandably upset by the news, but he managed to calm down from his earlier destructive outburst.

  “Damn him. He’s been careful about his horrible activities, hasn’t he? Anyone doing a detailed check on him would find a fishy history, but not one that can be said to be criminal.”

  “That’s the problem we’re facing. We can’t pin any of that shit on him as the matter stands. Especially with that investigator wallowing in resentment against you.” Almon was almost as ready to snap Kavug’s neck as Nesof’s.

  “Unless I give Nesof the opportunity to act against me so obviously that the authorities would have no choice but to notice it.”

  “Put you in danger? Fuck that. I’ll kill him. The fact he’s still drawing breath after slapping you—”

  “It was just a slap. Almon, he’s been at this a long time, and he grasps how to cover his tracks. Don’t let him land you in trouble. You attacking him is probably what he’s hoping for, so he can somehow knock you out of the way.”

  Joseph was right. The situation was a mess. Almon had to protect him by stopping Nesof, but in doing so, he might get himself into trouble. That would leave Joseph more vulnerable than he was now.

  “Damn it!”

  “I know.” Joseph’s tone had become controlled, though his eyes continued to burn with anger. “For now, our best bet is probably for me to keep laying low while you’re at work. I’ll only go out for group and my therapist appointments when you can drop me off and pick me up.”

  “It’s not fair for you to be cooped up all day.”

  “I’ve been stuck in worse spots. For that matter, so have you.”

  Almon settled down a touch. “Yes, we have. Much worse.”

  “Maybe Nesof will become so frustrated, he’ll commit an act the police can’t ignore. Or maybe he’ll give up.”

  Joseph was right, but Almon hated the pos
ition they were in. “I thought if I was someone’s Nobek, I’d be good at it. A real protector. I shouldn’t be this helpless!”

  “Hey, we’re a team here. It’s not only up to you. Oh, don’t give me that look.” Joseph pushed against Almon’s chest impatiently.

  “What look?”

  “The glare that says you feel you’re not a man unless you defeat all foes. Life doesn’t work like that. When the shit hits the fan, we do our best with what we have.”

  “My best doesn’t seem to be measuring up all that well.” Almon glanced around for something to punch.

  Joseph’s arms circled his waist. “You are everything you should be. All that I want.” He kissed Almon. Passionately.

  The Nobek was angry, and it wasn’t hard for that pent-up frustration to search for an outlet. His return kiss was rough, demanding, perhaps bruising. Joseph didn’t struggle against him. Indeed, he moaned in surrender, his lips softening to the assault. His body turning pliable, melting against Almon’s. The easy submission brought the Nobek to raging excitement.

  He lowered Joseph to the seating cushion on the floor. Its surface had been the first place he’d touched his lover in intimacy. Remembering that encounter, when all he’d dreamed of had been so possible, brought a cry to his lips. Almon pulled desperately at Joseph’s clothes, yanking so tearing sounds filled the air. The Earther offered no resistance, however. He only clung to Almon, caressing him, kissing him, whispering, “My Nobek,” over and over.

  When he had his young lover nude, Almon set about kissing every inch of Joseph. The crease between his eyes. The line of his stubbled jaw. The hollow of his collarbone. He lavished particular care on his nipples until the tips stiffened hard as diamonds. Joseph twisted in his arms, overcome by the sensations, his cock swelling against Almon’s stomach. The boy was so incredibly sensitive.

  Almon kept going, tasting each sweet morsel of flesh he could lay his tongue on. The line of Joseph’s abdomen to his navel. Down a thigh, his knee, his ankles, the tips of each toe. Then up the other leg, until he reached the crease between thigh and groin. He fondled and kissed Joseph’s soft ballsack, making the Earther arch with a breathless scream. His shaft, flushed and eager, with a bead of moisture at the tip, received special attention. Extended attention that incited Joseph to spurt salty excitement to delight Almon.