by Jerry Cole
“You did fall from about fifty stories, so I'd imagine that's normal.”
“Did I hit the pavement?”
The detective shook his head. “You rolled off the balloon that was supposed to cushion your fall and then you hit the pavement.”
“Ugh, that's why my arm is in a cast.”
“Yeah, that's the worst of your injuries. You've also got a few cracked ribs and a little concussion, but you'll live.”
“Did you get anything on the wire?”
“Yeah, we caught a weird comment from Jax before he knocked you over the side of the building.”
“What did he say?”
Detective Moses took a breath and then replied, “He said that you should say hello to Dante for him.”
Gabe froze up. His limbs felt like plaster that was setting, like concrete firming up in the ground, like tar on the road hardening up. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat, but it was proving to be too difficult. He raised the water bottle to his lips again and took a long sip.
“Oh...wow,” he gasped. “Did he really say that to me?”
“He did. We've got it recorded on a file to add to the case.”
“So, you think it's Jax?”
“Do you?”
Gabe frowned. “It would really hurt if it was Jax.”
“But do you think he's capable of it?”
“He wasn't even there that day. He had no contact with those pulleys, or those wires and you said you found no tampering. If it was him, how could he even do that and not be there?”
“It would be simple to rig something up that could be destroyed when the deed was done.”
“That sounds so...”
“Morbid?”
“Horrible.”
The detective nodded. “I'm sorry to say it, but I can't allow anyone to see you until we get this entire ordeal sorted.”
“What are we doing now?”
“We're doing a fake funeral. I've already set it up with your boyfriend.”
Gabe looked confused. “Boyfriend?”
“He was just here. His name is Roland. He said he was your boyfriend.”
He chuckled softly and closed his eyes for a moment. “Well, I guess he had to say that to get in here.”
“He looked really worried.”
“Oh, I'm sure he did.”
“He said he'll do anything he can to help, so he's going to prepare the fake corpse and the funeral for you.”
Gabe set the water bottle on the table. He folded his arms across his chest and cringed when his arms met his ribs. “Is he really doing all that?”
“I gave him the task and he said he would do it.”
“So, when's my funeral?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I've already set the press to release news of your death. If we play our cards correctly, we can get the killer to expose himself.”
“You mean Jax.”
The detective nodded. “He might slip up and say something else at your funeral or on your grave. We want to make sure we catch it.”
“This is the most elaborate stunt I'll have ever pulled.”
“You'll go down in Hollywood history.”
“For sure. But I hate that it might be Jax. I don't think I'll be able to face him if it was him.”
“I understand that, Gabe. I'm sorry.”
Gabe shrugged. “It's not your fault. I just don't understand why he would want to kill Ben. They were friends. It just...baffles me.”
“It baffles me, too.”
“But you investigate these things all the time, right?”
“Murder still doesn't sit right even after investigating a few dozen.”
Gabe nodded. “I guess it's worse when you're on the front lines.”
“I've been doing this for twelve years. I've seen so many bodies that I could probably fill a whole hospital with them.”
“That's terrible. How do you deal with it?”
“I go to a lot of therapy.”
He laughed. “I think I'll need plenty of that after this whole thing is over. Got any recommendations?”
“Oh, plenty.”
They shared another laugh as the nurse returned. She stood professionally at the end of the bed. “What would you like for dinner, Mr. Hyde?”
“Could I get a burger and fries?”
“Absolutely! I'll put your order in now and we'll bring it to you later.”
Gabe held up a hand as a thanks and watched the nurse leave, eyeing her as she shut the door. He caught a glimpse of the cop sitting outside with a newspaper.
“Sheesh, I can't believe I need a guard,” he commented.
“It happens. I've seen these things happen before.”
“Just like this case?”
Detective Moses shrugged. “Not exactly, but you get the idea. Some witnesses need around-the-clock protection while others are fine. It's a weird world out there, Gabe.”
“And you're its guardian.”
“Well, I wouldn't put it that way.”
“But it's true. You guard people when things go wrong. You're guarding me now. If I didn't matter, you wouldn't.”
“Everyone matters.”
Gabe nodded, smiling. “Exactly. That's why you're a guardian.”
“It's just my job. Don't make it sound so heroic.”
“All right, I'll drop it. So, when's Roland supposed to be rolling up?”
Detective Moses glanced at his watch. “I told him later, but I didn't really specify. I'll give him a call here soon. I suggest we wait until after you've eaten so you have some of your strength.”
“That sounds good to me.”
“I'm going to catch some dinner myself in the cafeteria. The cop outside is Officer McDaniel. He'll respond immediately if he hears anything happen in here.”
“Thanks, Detective Moses. I'm really glad you believed me.”
“I'm glad I believed you, too.”
When the detective left, Gabe released a long-held sigh. He furrowed his brows together while focusing on the bed sheet covering his legs. He hadn't even taken a real look at his body yet. After tugging away the sheet, he stared at the bottom half of his body. He was lucky neither of his legs were broken. Though his arm had snapped, it felt like it was reset properly, and he trusted that the cast would help.
He glanced at his thighs and then his stomach, following the bruises up his ribs. He didn't need to touch them to know they were cracked. He didn't even need a doctor to tell him that. He knew it purely by the way it felt when he breathed. Living a life of a stuntman meant getting beat up every once and a while, sometimes more often than not. He was used to breaks, scrapes, and bruises.
He searched the tables next to him for his phone. There was a chance that the director had it. It wasn't like it mattered now since he was supposed to play dead, but he really wanted to call Roland. He wanted to hear Roland's voice and maybe apologize. It would just ease his mind.
But he had to wait until later. For now, all he had was the television and a burger on the way.
***
An unmarked black car pulled up to the curb. Gabe noticed the windows were tinted dark, too dark for most street cars, and he opened the door to find Roland in the driver's seat as promised.
He stepped inside the passenger's seat and hooked the belt over his lap, being extra careful over his ribs. He rolled down the window and nodded to Detective Moses.
“All right,” the detective said. “You two be careful tonight. There will be some unmarked cop cars outside the funeral home to make sure you're safe. We've been keeping tabs on our guy, so we're all set for tomorrow. Call if you need something.”
“You're not coming with us?” Gabe asked. “I thought you would want to scope out the place yourself.”
“Tomorrow. I'll be there tomorrow. You get some rest, Gabe.”
“Thanks, Detective.”
When he rolled up the window, silence enveloped the car. He stared glumly out the windshield and studied the horizon,
watching the remaining red hue of dusk take over the city and cast eerie shadows everywhere. Everything looked haunted. He could feel the spirit of Halloween already creeping under his skin, all the worse given his circumstances.
He turned to Roland and found stern features and he turned back to the windshield just as quickly.
What do I say? He folded his hands in his lap, cringing against any bumps the car hit on the road. I don't know if he'll even hear me.
“You took quite a spill,” Roland whispered, cutting the silence in two. “We were worried.”
“Who's we?”
“My boss and I.”
“Oh.”
Roland took a shaky breath and released it slowly. “She sends her condolences, although I'm sure that's silly to say now considering you're about to meet her.”
“Is she helping with the corpse?”
“Yes, she's quite the artist at recreating images.”
Gabe rolled his thumbs over each other. “Did you use a picture of me?”
“I used the one you sent from the other day.”
“I guess that's fair because it's recent.”
“It was the best we had on such short notice. But Dora is nearly done. Once we have the corpse set up, we'll choose a coffin for you and all the arrangements. We'll treat it just like a real funeral.”
Gabe licked his lips, feeling embarrassed suddenly. He laced his fingers together and unlaced them repeatedly, unsure of where to even put his hands. He felt like everything was out of place and that he couldn't get a handle on what was happening. Everything was becoming a blur.
Was that nausea from the car ride or from the pressure?
He coughed and rested his head back against the seat. “I guess you had plenty to worry about with me.”
“Is that an apology?”
“Not yet. I don't think I'm ready for that yet.”
“I understand.”
Gabe shot him a funny look. “How in the world are you so patient?”
“I work with families who have been devastated by loss and grief. That takes a certain level of patience and compassion. If I didn't take the time to sit in their shoes, I wouldn't know how to help them.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“I'm sorry that we got carried away the other night...in the bad way. We got carried away in a bad way. I think I was afraid of losing you.”
He heard Roland choke and turned, witnessing a few tears running down Roland's cheek. He reached out to wipe them away and Roland took his hand. Roland squeezed it hard.
“I don't know if I could have handled working your funeral, Gabe. It could have broken me,” Roland continued. “I don't think I could have survived your loss.”
“But what about the future? If we date, then you would eventually lose me to something whether it was old age or an accident.”
“That's not fair.”
“Why is that not fair? That's just life.”
“It's not fair because I want to spend a long time with you.”
Gabe smiled weakly. He held Roland's hand to his lips and kissed it gently, loving the way Roland's skin felt against his lips. It felt like home to him. “Well, that makes two of us.”
“Does it?”
“I heard you announced yourself as my boyfriend.”
“Oh, that was...Well, when one needs to gain access to things, sometimes it's best to lie...”
“You're such a terrible liar.”
Roland chuckled softly. “You and Dora agree on one thing.”
“Wait, we don't agree on things?”
“No, it's not that. I meant that...well, I meant that Dora thinks that...” Roland huffed with frustration while scratching his head. “I'm sorry.”
“It's okay. I was joking, Roland. That was a joke. I wanted to hear you laugh again because it makes me happy to hear it.”
Roland sighed, sounding relieved. He returned his hand to Gabe's as he carefully maneuvered the car back to the funeral home. “Well, I'm glad that makes you happy.”
“Also, I am sorry.”
“About?”
Gabe held his breath. He glanced out the tinted window, watching the world pass by. “I'm sorry I freaked out on you. I shouldn't have been so stubborn.”
“I can only guess that your experience has shown you the same events over and over.”
“It has. I've only ever experienced push-back from people about being a stuntman. But I love doing stunts. I love living fast.”
“And I respect that.”
“And I can see how you were worried. I mean, today alone is enough to tell me that...that you care. A lot.” Gabe looked at Roland to see Roland nodding. He licked his lips. “I can't believe you came to the hospital to see me.”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“I thought you would want to stay away considering what happened.”
Roland sighed shakily. “It was even more of a reason to come see you. I would have regretted not coming to support you.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“Yes, I do, Gabe. With all my heart. I really mean it when I say I care.”
“I don't think I'm used to that.”
Roland chuckled. “But you said so many people have worried about you. How is that not what you're used to?”
“I think I have a warped idea of what care looks like.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
Gabe shrugged. “I'm not ready for that conversation yet. Let's just say I didn't quite get along with my family when I was a kid.”
“I'm ready to hear it when you're ready to tell me.”
“You are patient. That's incredible.”
“I think it's a good match to your stubborn nature.”
He laughed, holding his ribs carefully while he did. “I think you might be right about that. So, where am I going to stay?”
“We have a spare room upstairs in the home provided it doesn't spook you that it's a funeral home.”
“Are there any bodies up there?”
“Oh, no! We would never store them up there!”
Gabe laughed again. “Then, it's fine. Will you sleep next to me?”
“Do you want me to sleep next to you?”
“Well, I do need protection.”
Roland chuckled softly. He gave Gabe's hand another squeeze. “I would be delighted to do that for you, Gabe.”
“So, I haven't asked yet—how are you feeling?”
The car slowed to a near halt as the funeral home came into view. Roland released Gabe's hand to take the wheel, turning it efficiently as he parked behind the building. A well-lit rear entrance came into view. When he turned off the car, he turned to Gabe with a mixed expression of concern and joy.
“I feel okay,” he whispered. “I'm just glad you're here.”
“I am, too.”
“Shall we go inside?”
Gabe nodded. “Please.”
When he opened the car door, he felt a cool breeze greet him. The hum of the city was all around them, muted slightly by their separation from the main roads. He felt the stillness of the cemetery and the sureness of his attraction to Roland who ran up beside him and wrapped a careful arm around his waist.
“Watch the ribs,” he warned.
“Of course, my dear.”
Gabe cringed. “Jax called me that.”
“What's that?”
He shook his head. “I'll tell you about it tomorrow. It'll make one hell of a spooky story for Halloween.”
“I'll hold you to it.”
Gabe smiled weakly as Roland guided him inside. Within minutes, he was undressed and beneath a comfortable sheet, gently nestled in a cozy cot.
Roland kissed his forehead. “I'll be back when my work is complete. I promise.”
Gabe grinned playfully. “I'll hold you to it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Roland
A somber vibe filled the parlor with the sound of sniffles and shuffling feet. The
area was packed with cast and crew members, some more mournful than others. Roland observed the crowd as it rolled past him. He wore his usual professional smile, the one that conveyed empathy as well as sorrow. He didn't recognize anyone except Detective Moses who had disguised himself as an attendee and the police officer who had guarded Gabe's room the previous night.
Officer McDaniel stood just near the exit wearing a suit to blend in. He briefly held his finger to his ear and nodded seemingly to himself, though Roland suspected that they were wearing ear pieces to communicate with each other.
As patrons walked up to the coffin—and the phony corpse lying in a bed of milky white silk—Detective Moses perked up to study each one. Roland found the entire operation fascinating and stared as much as he could without appearing suspicious.
Dora drew up beside him. She leaned over to whisper, “What a turnout.”
“It's quite the crowd, isn't it?”
“I can't believe how many people I recognize from the last time.”
“There aren't too many familiar faces to me. How's our guest doing?”
Dora smiled and nodded to a couple who were passing by. Once they were gone, she replied in a whisper, “He's good. He's upstairs watching on the screen.”
Roland grinned as more people crowded into the pews. As Detective Moses walked over, he kept his eyes planted on the front where people were placing tokens inside the coffin.
The detective adjusted his suit as he positioned himself to the right of Roland. “This is lovely, Roland. The flowers are gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
“You're an artist.”
Roland chuckled. “Hardly. I just know what people like.”
The detective lowered his voice even more, allowing the chatter of the room to guard his words. “I think we're getting ready to move in. McDaniel spotted the suspect.”
“What's it going to take?”
“A confession would be great, but we'll take anything.”
Roland nodded. “What would you like me to do?”
“Blend in. You've already done your part. Now it's our turn.”
“Very well.”
The detective leaned back to speak to Dora. “Could you get us some more coffee? We seem to be running low.”
She nodded and retreated to the kitchen.
“Was that another ploy to appear normal?” Roland inquired in a hushed voice.