Stumptown

by A M Huff

  “Scott, it would be rude to not at least go thank the man,” Dale said, eyeing the man across the club. “Who knows, he might be your Mister Right.”

  “He might also be the kidnapper.”

  “Kids are napped. Adults are abducted,” Dale corrected.

  “Whatever,” Justus snipped. He glanced at Marcus who was suddenly very silent. Marcus sat staring at the drink. Justus could not tell what his friend was thinking.

  “Fine,” Scotty snapped, sounding angry. He stood up and picked up the drink and napkin.

  “Scotty,” Marcus said and grabbed Scotty’s arm. The two looked at each other. “Be careful.”

  Scotty looked across the room and his angry expression faded to a more worried look. He looked back at Marcus and nodded. “I will.”

  The three watched while Scotty wove his way through the crowd.

  “You don’t think he’ll throw it on him, do you?” Justus asked.

  “No,” Marcus insisted. “Scotty’s too nice a guy to do something like that.”

  They watched while Scotty approached the dark-haired man at the end of the bar.

  “Wish I could hear what Scott’s saying,” Marcus said.

  “Well, judging from the man’s expression, it must not be too bad,” Justus observed.

  “You know, from here he’s really not bad looking,” Dale said, still eyeing the drink benefactor. “Looks like he has a nice body. I’d do him.”

  “Well, I’m outta here,” Marcus said and stood up. He disappeared into the crowd before either Dale or Justus could say a word.

  “What’s with him?” Dale asked a bit confused.

  “I don’t know,” Justus answered, keeping what he thought to himself.

  “I don’t believe it!”

  “It’s true,” Justus said in his defense. “I don’t.”

  “No, not that. Look, Scotty actually took a drink of that thing,” Dale answered.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Justus looked across the room at Scotty and the mystery man.

  “Here we go,” the server said and set the two drinks down on the table in front of Justus and Dale. “Where’s your other friend?”

  “He’s around,” Justus answered. “I’ll cover his drink.” He gave the money to the server who then set the fruity drink on the table.

  Dale handed his money over plus an extra nice tip.

  “Thanks,” the server said. “My name’s Lex.”

  “I’m Dale and this is Justus.”

  “Pleased,” Lex said and eyed them. “Are you two a couple?”

  “Oh, hell no,” Dale answered.

  “Thanks a lot,” Justus quipped, sounding offended.

  “We’re just friends,” Dale added.

  Lex’s smile widened. “Well, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  “Sure,” Dale said.

  “Oh great, now I suppose you’re going to go off and do him and leave me here alone with Scotty?”

  “Hey, you took off the other night,” Dale reminded him. He looked over to the bar and then started looking around the club. “They’re gone!”

  “Who’s gone?” Justus asked and looked at the bar.

  “Scotty and that man,” Dale answered. “And Marcus and green boy.”

  “Are you sure?” Justus stood up and looked around. His pulse quickened while a feeling of panic began to grow stronger.

  “Yes, I’m sure,” Dale answered.

  “Oh no.”

  “He’ll be okay. It’s I’m-saving-myself-for-marriage Scotty, remember?” Dale said and laughed.

  “Oh, knock it off,” Justus snapped angrily. “That’s not funny.”

  “Whatever,” Dale mocked. He took a drink of his green beer and burped loudly.

  “Gross!”

  As the night wore on, Justus found himself alone at the table, growing more and more worried. Dale had gone off with Lex, and they were probably tucked away in that little room doing all sorts of things to each other. Justus shook the mental image from his head. Marcus had left a long time ago with green boy. Justus looked at his phone and the list of text messages he had been sending to Scotty. All were unanswered. He looked at the door for the millionth time.

  He raised his glass to take another drink and realized it was empty. He glanced at his watch, almost time for last call. Looking back at the crowd, he felt a jolt radiate through his body starting at his chest and ending at his feet. He set his empty drink glass on the table and leaned back behind a nearby pillar.

  Peeking out, he looked at the bar. Dean was talking to Barry. They appeared to be having a bit of an argument, but in the strobing dance-floor lights that separated Justus and the men, Justus could not be sure.

  While keeping his eyes on the pair, Justus stood up and worked his way over to the door to make his escape before Dean spotted him. He pushed the heavy door open and immediately came face-to-face with the generous drink buyer. Both men jumped and the buyer took a step back. Justus took a quick look around.

  “Hey, where’s my friend?”

  The dark-haired man looked confused. Now that he was in better lighting, Justus noticed that the man had a neatly trimmed mustache. “Friend?”

  “The guy with the red hair you left here with two hours ago.”

  “That little tease?” The man laughed but was definitely not happy. “He took off, probably walked home or. . . I don’t know.”

  “Where did you take him?”

  “Who are you, his mother?” the man snapped.

  If Justus had not moved out of the way, he was sure the man would have knocked him aside. Justus watched the door close.

  Remembering Dean was inside and could come out any second, Justus rushed back to his car. Safely inside with the doors locked, he took out his cell phone and began typing.

  Where r u?

  He waited. The screen on his phone timed out and went dark. Suddenly it vibrated and began to ring in his hand. Justus recognized the number and quickly answered it.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. It’s dark and my battery’s going dead. I had to use it as a flashlight.”

  “What street are you on?”

  “Let me check. I’m coming to a fork in the road.”

  Justus could hear gravel crunching under Scotty’s feet while he walked.

  “I think it says Remington and Cardinal?”

  “Are you sure it’s not Rivington and Cardinell?” Justus asked.

  “It says R-I-V-I-N-G-T-O-N,” Scotty spelled it out. “Yeah, Rivington.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there shortly. Stay where you are.”

  “Hurry,” Scotty said before the call disconnected.

  Justus could hear the fear in Scotty’s voice. He pulled away from the curb and headed for the West Hills.

  Getting to where Scotty was waiting was a challenge due to the one-way streets and the road construction detours. Justus turned west on Washington and took a left onto SW 13th Avenue. Construction between Clay and Market Streets forced him to detour east on Columbia, taking him away from where Scotty was waiting. After going in circles around the Old Church and McMenamins Market Street Pub, Justus remembered another route. He headed east on Market Street and turned south on Broadway.

  “Hang on Scotty, I’m coming,” he said to himself.

  In his hurry, he turned onto Clifton only to come to a dead end. Backing up in the dark, on such a narrow street was slow and tedious. Finally, Justus was back on Broadway heading south again. The road wound through the West Hills of Portland in a maze of dead-end side streets. Justus began to get worried he was getting lost when he saw a familiar street sign. He turned right onto Davenport and then a left onto SW 16th Avenue.

  “I’m almost there, Scotty,” he said aloud.

  SW 16th cut a straight line down the hill toward Portland. Justus had almost come to the end of the road when he spotted the sign SW Cardinell Dr. He turned right onto an even narrower street that forced him to d
rive at what felt like a snail’s pace. With his headlights on high beam, he wound his way deeper and deeper into the hillside neighborhood. After a tight turn that cast his headlights across the homes that sat at the edge of the street, he came to a wide intersection and stopped. He resisted the urge to honk his horn, due to the house that sat inches away from the bend in the road. Instead he pulled out his cell phone and speed dialed Scotty’s number.

  “Justus?” Scotty answered.

  “I’m here. Where are you?”

  “I see you. I’ll—” Again the call was cut off.

  Justus looked around in the darkness. If it were not for the porchlight on the house and his headlights, the intersection would have been pitch-black. A movement on the hillside ahead caught his attention. Scotty emerged from the undergrowth and trees. He ran to the car and opened the passenger door.

  “Thank God you’re here,” he said, shutting the door once he was safely inside.

  “What happened?”

  “Get me out of here.”

  Justus turned left and headed down the hill. They wound their way along the narrow street making sharp turns left and right until they came to SW 12th Avenue and the road flattened out again.

  “Where do you want to go?” Justus said, when they came to a stop light.

  “Can I stay at your place tonight?” Scotty asked.

  Justus remembered Harrison’s rule, no overnight guests, but Scotty was not that type of guest. Surely Harrison would not mind Scotty spending the night, especially after his ordeal.

  “Sure,” Justus answered.

  They stopped by Scotty’s apartment. Justus waited in the car while Scotty went inside and grabbed a change of clothes and his toothbrush. Once he was back in the car they headed for Harrison’s.

  “Are you okay?” Justus asked him once they crossed the Burnside Bridge.

  “I will be.”

  “What happened? I mean, when I left Stumptown I ran into that guy—”

  “Andy?”

  “Is that his name?” Scotty nodded and Justus continued, “I asked him where you were and he said some rather rude stuff.”

  “He’s a psycho,” Scotty said. “He said he wanted to go someplace where we could talk without all the commotion. I thought he meant Shari’s or Denny’s or some café but he took me to his house on, how did you pronounce that name, Revington?”

  “Riv-ing-ton,” Justus answered.

  “Yeah, well,” Scotty said and continued. “I must admit, I was pretty nervous but up to that point he seemed okay, even a bit nervous like me. We talked about what we do for work.”

  “You didn’t tell him where you work, did you?” Justus interrupted.

  “No. I remember your rules. We simply talked in general. He said he works for his family’s business. Judging by his house it must be a successful business. It’s really nice. It overlooks some trees and, in the distance, you can see the lights of downtown. It did have a strange smell though. I almost threw up.”

  “That bad, eh?”

  “Yeah. I can’t describe it exactly, but after a while I didn’t notice it anymore.

  “He offered me a drink and I turned him down. Then he sat down on the couch next to me and tried to start something. I told him he was moving too fast and that’s when things got really strange.”

  “How so?”

  “He got mad. He started complaining how all he ever does is be nice to people and helps people and whenever he needs anything, everyone turns away. I was beginning to think I may have found that Dean guy’s double.

  “When I said perhaps I should leave, he really lost it. He practically shoved me out the door and told me I could walk back to town. Honestly, Justus, I was terrified. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do.”

  “Well, you’re safe now,” Justus said and put his hand on Scotty’s knee to reassure him.

  Chapter Eight

  Justus moved to the back of the elevator beside Harrison to make room for the rest of the passengers. The doors slid shut, and the car began to rise. Justus watched the lighted display count the floors.

  “How’s Scotty?” Harrison asked. It had been four days since the ordeal.

  “He’s okay,” Justus answered, though, deep down, he was not as sure. In the year plus since he had met Scotty, he had never known him to leave the club with anyone, especially since he was not the type to hook up. He wondered what had prompted him to do it at the party.

  The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Justus waited until the people in front of him either stepped aside or walked out before he followed Harrison.

  “I am worried about him, though,” Justus told Harrison once they were no longer in a tight crowd.

  “I know,” Harrison agreed. “I must admit, I was a bit surprised myself. Scotty’s a nice guy. I didn’t think he was like the rest of you.”

  “What!” Justus gasped in mock offense.

  “I only meant he seems quiet and reserved.”

  “Uh-huh, nice try,” Justus said and pursed his lips to keep from laughing.

  While they headed to the office, Harrison continued to try to dig himself out of the hole he had dug. Justus reveled at seeing Harrison squirm and get all red-faced. He knew what Harrison had meant but he was not about to let him off the hook just yet.

  When they reached the file room, Justus decided it had been long enough.

  “I know what you meant and it’s okay. You’re right. Scotty isn’t the type to have casual sex,” Justus said, lowering his voice. “There’s something else I wanted to tell you. I saw Dean Monday night. I didn’t speak to him and I don’t think he saw me, but I saw him. He was talking to that Barry guy I told you about.”

  “Good. Maybe he’s moved on.”

  “I don’t know about that. It didn’t appear like they were having that type of conversation. In fact, Dean looked pretty intense, like he did when he grabbed my arm.”

  “Oh, I see. What did you do?” Harrison asked.

  “I got the hell out of there.”

  “He didn’t see you?”

  “I don’t think so,” Justus answered.

  “Good. You have nothing to worry about then. See ya’ later.”

  Justus turned to go into the file room and froze. “Harry!” he called but was careful not to shout.

  Harrison stopped. “What?” he asked and walked back to Justus.

  “He’s not letting up!” Justus said and nodded into the room.

  “Oh my!” Harrison responded when he saw the vase with a red rose sitting on the empty desk.

  “Take it away,” Justus ordered.

  “Maybe it’s not from him,” Harrison suggested, but his tone said differently.

  “It’s from him, I know it,” Justus insisted. “No one else would send me flowers.”

  “Look, there’s a card. Read it before you jump to conclusions.”

  “Fine,” Justus said. He hated it when Harrison used words that reminded him of his father. Growing up Justus’ father had always been telling him not to jump to conclusions, insinuating he was wrong. Hearing those words felt like a put down. He hated that feeling.

  Harrison picked up the white envelope and vase. He handed the envelope to Justus and waited.

  Justus’ hands shook while he tore the flap open. He glanced at Harrison while he pulled the flat card out. Looking at it he was confused. He flipped it over to the back and then the front.

  “That’s odd,” he said and held it out for Harrison to see. “It’s blank.”

  “That is odd,” Harrison agreed. “Still want me to take this away?”

  “I guess not. Maybe I was wrong.”

  Harrison handed the vase to Justus and left.

  Slowly Justus walked into the file room and set the vase down on the empty desk.

  “I see you got my flower.”

  Justus spun around and let out a muffled yell, pressing his hands over his mouth. He fell back and half-sat, half-leaned against the top of the desk.

&nbs
p; “What are you doing in here?” he said when his surprise was replaced with anger.

  “I wanted to see you again,” Dean answered and took a step into the room.

  “How did you find me?”

  “I gave that woman the flower and then followed her up here,” Dean explained and looked around the room. “What a dreadful office. You can’t even see outside.”

  “I like it. Besides, I don’t spend a lot of time in here,” Justus said. “What do you want?”

  “I already told you, I only wanted to see you and to let you know that Barry—that is his name, isn’t it?”

  “What about him?”

  “He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

  “He never bothered me,” Justus said.

  “Well, that’s good,” Dean said and smiled. It was not a smile that put Justus at ease. It was a creepy sort of smile, almost sinister and evil. “Will you be going out tonight?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, I know you always go out on Friday nights. Don’t lie to me.”

  The tone in Dean’s voice hinted at anger which made Justus’ heart pound and his fear rise.

  “I’ll see you tonight,” Dean said firmly. He turned around and left.

  Justus’ knees gave out the moment Dean was out of sight. He fell into the office chair beside him. His whole body trembled.

  “Was that—”

  Justus jumped and nearly slid out of the chair. He looked up and saw Harrison standing in the doorway.

  “Oh my god, are you okay?” Harrison asked and rushed to Justus’ side.

  “Yes, it was Dean.”

  “How did he—” Harrison grabbed the telephone receiver. “Never mind, I’m calling security.”

  “No, don’t,” Justus said and stopped him. “Let him go.”

  “Well, then we should call the police.”

  “No,” Justus answered and shook his head. “Cherry Royale was right. The cops around here don’t care about guys like us. They won’t do anything. They’d probably just laugh.”

  “So what do you want to do?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing? But he—”

  “I’m okay,” Justus answered and started to stand up but his legs felt weak and unsteady. He fell back down onto the chair.