Blaine shrugged, “I’m guessing, with us out of the picture it’ll fall to Colby and Harrison.”
I pulled a face, “Jesus. Colby’s gonna be absolutely unbearable if they manage to crack the case while we’re away.”
Blaine grinned and nodded, “Yeah,” he agreed, “But it’ll also be the only one they’ve ever managed alone – and we’ll probably end up finding out more about it all out there anyway – it’s usually the case.”
We really were a remarkable team. I’d always thought so... I shrugged and nodded, “Yeah,” I agreed, “you’re right.”
His walkie-talkie crackled at that moment, “Blaine?”
“Hayley,” He grinned at me, making my heart spike. “What can I do for you?”
“Another bomb scare at Diamonds and Lace. Second one this week – can you and Denny attend?”
“We’re on it.” He said, “Come on.” He held his hand out to me.
Grabbing hold of his hand, I allowed him to pull me to my feet. I revelled in moments like that but I had to pretend otherwise. I sighed and got to my feet. It was gonna be a long day.
Chapter 7 – The cabin in the woods...
Denny
“Welcome home, sweetheart.” I grinned at Blaine as I unlocked the cabin door and held it open for him.
“You’re a dick.” He grumbled good-naturedly as he passed me with his holdall, grinning all over his face, “Bags I the biggest bedroom.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’m pretty sure they’ll both be about the same.” I said as I kicked the door shut behind me and followed him into the cabin. It was actually one of many on a disused holiday park that was up for resale and I really loved the remote location. It overlooked the valley and was actually a really beautiful place that totally lent itself to be a retreat of sorts. My mind wandered as I thought about a whole new career, running the place with my best friend. We could really make this somewhere that people would want to come. It didn’t necessarily have to be tailored to gay men, but with the lake for fishing and the natural privacy it really did offer a very attractive place that many gay or curious men would like to come...
I opened my mouth to tell Blaine about my ideas for the place but promptly closed it again when I realised that as much as he might suspect I was secretly gay – I hadn’t come out to him and therefore, it would seem a little odd to him for me to be talking about a retreat aimed at gay guys, with another idea bubbling to the surface for it to also be a safe place for them to go on first dates together...
Maybe one day...
Blaine
I hadn’t exactly been looking forward to being in the middle of nowhere for weeks on end, but neither was I dreading it. The peace and quiet might be quite good for us... Well that was the theory but the reality was a little harder to deal with, as I soon found out...
Being around Denny twenty-four, seven wasn’t what I’d thought it would be at all. I thought we’d get on each other’s nerves in a matter of hours and spend most of our time apart. In reality it was quite the opposite. We got on absolutely brilliantly, sparking off all those feelings I’d had for him years ago when we’d first met which would have been absolutely fine if he felt exactly the same way...
We’d been at the cabin for a few days and had set up the surveillance equipment. Most if what we’d set up was recording and transmitting straight back to HQ so the little surveillance we had to do was kind of boring. We’d taken the PlayStation and I could hear Denny’s cries of disappointment from the lounge as the FIFA game ‘cheated’ again. I smiled as I gazed through the binoculars. Nothing at all was happening down there in the valley. Whoever it was down there had gone awfully quiet. It made me wonder if we were going to see anything at all. Still, we had another six weeks – and let’s face it, anything could happen in that time...
*
After scouring the kitchen cupboards for something decent to eat, I gave up and poured myself some muesli out of the packet Denny had brought with him and added some milk. We’d been here a couple of weeks, taking it in turns to keep watching the house and fighting the boredom by playing on the PlayStation. Nothing much was happening but we’d had positive sightings of two of them now and knew that it was Lenny and Daryl Roblinski. There were definitely three of them though, and we’d come to the conclusion that the third one was their cousin, Hendrix McCarthy. The idea that they might be stashing his body was creepy beyond belief and I was hoping against hope that he’d actually survived the bloodbath that was his bedsit. Of course we needed to have all three of them away from the property before we could go in and put the microphones in there – but if he was in a bad way there was no way he’d be leaving the place.
I’d always wanted to go on a Stake-out – but they really weren’t the exciting operations people thought they were. I’d been told by other officers that they were totally boring and were usually weeks on end of utter mind-numbing nothingness that ended in disappointment. Well, that might have been the case from a professional point of view – but on a personal basis I couldn’t have been happier.
Denny wandered through from the lounge in just his pyjama bottoms, scratching his chest and yawning widely. His shock of white-blonde hair was standing up at the back and flat to his head on one side. His eyes were still a little sleepy-looking. His nipple rings sparkled in the sunlight coming in through the window. The overall effect was just fucking magnificent, “Morning, dude.” He grinned at me.
I blinked as I realised that I was just stood there staring at him with my mouth slightly open but nipple rings? Fuck me... Muttering a ‘good morning’ I hurriedly averted my eyes back down to my bowl of cereal. God, I hated muesli. Give me a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes any day of the week. I’d really have to go out shopping later on. Maybe I could do that on the way back from planting the bugs in the premises we had under surveillance...
I chewed my tasteless cereal, still not looking up at Denny. What the hell was wrong with me? I must have cabin fever or something... I kept thinking about his nipples, my mind wandering and picturing myself tugging on them with my teeth and I really wanted to have another look. This was ridiculous – I didn’t fancy Denny. I didn’t...
But I couldn’t deny that I’d always really liked him and I’d always loved being with him – it was like I felt a magnetic attraction to his personality. And I’d always wanted to touch him too. To sling an arm around his shoulder or to hug him when we hadn’t seen each other for a while... but that was normal, right? You were allowed to love your mates...
But why had I never noticed how pretty his eyes were before now? Or what a beautiful colour they were? You have though, Blaine, that annoying little voice at the back of my mind reminded me, you remember the summer of 2009 like it was yesterday, don’t even try to pretend that you don’t...
My other voice – the one I liked to believe was my voice of reason but strongly suspected was just my voice of fear – shouted up from the other corner of my brain. Snap out of it! That was a mistake! You both agreed that it was just the two of you experimenting. You both agreed that you weren’t fucking gay!
But there had to be some sort of an explanation as to why I was suddenly noticing how attractive he was. It must have just been that we’d been spending too much time around Harley and Alfie – the most openly gay and loved up couple we knew – making it seem totally normal to be in love with another guy...
And yeah, damned right that I was jealous of their relationship –since I’d made up my mind to be straight at sixteen, I’d never experienced love like that. I’d had plenty of girlfriends – Catherine was just the latest of a long line of failed relationships. I didn’t know what I was looking for... or maybe I did know and I was just afraid to accept that I’d found it long ago.
I looked at Denny out of the corner of my eye. He had his feet up on the table and was balancing on his chair on the back two legs, his ear buds in listening to his music with his eyes closed. Chewing his beloved muesli like it was the most delicious tast
e in the world. I sighed. God he was so damned beautiful. Maybe, just maybe I’d been looking for whatever it was I really wanted in the wrong place – maybe my sixteen-year-old self had been right all along. Maybe I’d just been fishing in the wrong pond for the last eight years... Jesus. I really needed to get some fresh air – and some perspective...
I went outside, taking the binoculars with me. Taking a few deep breaths of the sweet morning air I trained the binoculars down the valley and homed in on the property. My heart almost stopped as I saw the door open and three, three men appeared in the doorway. Lenny, Daryl and... He looked deathly pale and painfully thin but it was definitely Hendrix McCarthy – alive and obviously not well, but very definitely existing...
And they were going somewhere. Well, that was it then – time to bug the old place... and it couldn’t have come at a better time because I really needed a little space between Denny and I before I did something really stupid...
Chapter 8 – Bugging...
Blaine
“Where are you dude?” Denny’s concerned voice cracked through the walkie-talkie and I froze. I grabbed the walkie-talkie and pressed the button that allowed me to speak, “I’m about ten metres away from the front door, dude – what’s up?” I hissed.
“Nothing,” he sounded a little offended, “I was just concerned that’s all.”
“Well, I’ll holler if I need you, okay?” Yes I was being a right diva... I just felt pressured to get this right – not least so that Denny was proud of me... And no. I didn’t want to analyse why that meant so much to me too closely right now.
“Well, there’s no one in sight.” He reported helpfully.
Great. At least I had a couple of minutes. “Thanks, mate.” I said, “I’m going in now, let me know if there’s any sign of anyone.”
My heart was in my mouth to enter the property but it had to be done and I’d had more training in breaking and entering than Denny. Besides – I was the one that did this sort of thing. I was more the brawn to Denny’s brains. I’d always looked out for him...
I talked through everything I was doing to Denny and he was offering a little support and keeping me up to date with anyone that was passing the house. Finally I’d finished and I was out of there again. Heaving a massive sigh of relief I was able to say, “I’m on my way back, mate.”
“Thank God.” He muttered, “I’ll put the kettle on...”
I grinned as I checked all around me. I’d not left any trace...
Denny
I was like a cat on a hot tin roof with Blaine out of the cabin. This wasn’t a game – it was real life and if those guys had come back and found Blaine – they wouldn’t make polite conversation. They’d have probably killed him.
I heard his steady footsteps crunching on the gravel outside and flung open the door of the cabin, “Come here.” I threw my arms around his neck, not caring in the slightest that I was showing him how much he meant to me. I couldn’t help it – I was emotional, so shoot me...
He chuckled and hugged me back, “Let’s get something to eat,” he said, patting me on the back, “And a nice cup of something hot.”
I nodded, “I’m just making us a pot of tea.” I sniffed, wiping my eyes on the back of my hand as I followed him into the cabin. “So, give me the low down – what’s going on in there?”
Blaine kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the sofa, “Well, nothing much.” He said, “It only looks like the three of them are staying there – you know – there are no feminine touches around the place.”
I tried not to grimace. There were no guys in my house back at home but it didn’t mean I wanted to live like a slob. My house was always pristinely tidy and it wasn’t just overall grey and brown either... “Well, that’s normal, I guess...”
He shrugged and nodded, “Yeah, bunch of fucking scumbags...”
So, where did you put the devices?”
He grinned, “Everywhere.” He said, “They’re never going to find them, I was very discreet – but we’re going to be able to hear everything!”
I nodded, “Good.” I said, “I’ll make us a sandwich.”
His eyes lit up, “Can we have that tuna, mayo and sweet corn combo you did the other day – that was delicious.”
I nodded, glowing a little on the inside that he liked my food. My mother’s voice went through my head telling me that finding the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and I smiled to myself. I was quite sure she’d said it for my sister’s benefit and wasn’t actually referring to me finding a man but still... shit happened.
I made the sandwiches and took them back through to the lounge. Blaine had his eyes closed and was nodding along to something he was listening to through his ear buds. I nudged his foot with my toe, “Your lunch, mate.”
He opened his eyes and grinned up at me. My breath caught in my throat. He really should come with a public health warning for that smile. It made my heart jump...
I sat down on the other sofa and picked up my sandwich. I took a bite and closed my eyes, savouring the flavour. Damn, I really could make a decent sandwich.
Opening my eyes again, I glanced across to see if Blaine was enjoying his sandwich. He was looking at me with his sandwich in his hand, his mouth slightly open and his eyes trained on my mouth. Shit. I’d dropped my guard...
“Oh, fuck, do I have mayonnaise on my chin or something?” I asked, utterly mortified.
He jumped slightly and shook his head, “Uh, no. No. I’m sorry,” he blushed bright red, “I uh, I just zoned out there for a moment.” He shoved his sandwich in his mouth and lowered his eyes, “Mmm, delicious.” He managed after swallowing too early and almost choking himself, “Thanks, man.” He added.
I frowned. What the hell was that all about? “You’re welcome.” I murmured.
He’d soon recovered himself and was recalling memories of our teen years – some of the best and worst years of my life. They were the best, because for the main part, I’d had Blaine all to myself all of the time – and then as we got older, they became the worst because I’d had perfection for a couple of days – and then Blaine had done an about turn and had totally changed his mind deciding that he was straight and shattering my heart in the process, although I’d never told him that. I just went along with it, grinning as heartily as I could manage and agreeing that it had been fun while it lasted but it didn’t have to mean anything – that of course we were both straight and wanking each other off and having anal sex was all part of normal teen boy experimentation...
“I mean, we’re not gay, are we?” he asked me, his face red and looking at me earnestly.
I blinked. He wasn’t? Shit. I was pretty damned sure that I was definitely gay. I’d never considered dating girls. I didn’t fancy girls. I’d had celebrity crushes on men my whole life. And I was in love with my best friend. “Uh, no. Course not...” I felt it better to agree with him. He was quite clearly not ready to embrace his sexuality. “We were just... experimenting.” That was the word that other guys always used online when they were discussing things in the forums.
He breathed a sigh of relief, “Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” He said, nodding earnestly, “I’m not saying I didn’t have fun – but I’m defo straight. I’m gonna ask Saskia George to the prom.”
“Saskia?” I asked faintly as my heart was ripped out of my chest and stamped all over the floor under his Dr Martens... “Right.” I nodded, “She’s a cool girl.” I was so relieved that my voice had come out sounding normal when all I really wanted to do was to go home and lock myself in my bedroom, bury my face into my pillow and cry until I couldn’t cry anymore but I couldn’t do that – he’d think I was a right poof...
He grinned at me, that adorable dimple appearing as if it was taunting me, “And you could ask her mate – Eva.”
I nodded, “Sure, sure.” No fucking way. I wasn’t going to go to the Prom and watch Saskia kissing and dancing with my boyfriend. I’d stay at home and watch True B
lood...
I jumped slightly as he asked me a question. I’d been miles away there. “Uh?”
“You never did turn up to Prom.” It wasn’t really a question, it was more of a statement really. I really didn’t know where he was going with it since I hadn’t actually listened to what he’d said before.
I shook my head, “No,” I agreed, “I didn’t.” Fuck. I didn’t really want to get into this right now. I couldn’t for the life of me remember the excuse I’d given to him for not double-dating with him and Saskia and her mate...
I got up and snatched his plate out of his hand, “Fancy a scone or something?”
He frowned up at me, “Uh, yeah – sure.”
I nodded and shot off to the kitchen.
He only fucking followed me, “What was the girl’s name. The one I took to Prom?”
Seriously? He couldn’t remember? I guess that’s what you got for dating every girl you could get your hands on... “Saskia George.”
“Riiiiight.” He smiled, “Saskia.”
I bit my lip and grimaced, wondering what he was remembering about her and hoping that a bitchy comment wasn’t about to come flying out of my mouth against my will. The way I remembered her probably wasn’t the way he did. I remembered that she had bright red lips, lots of badly applied foundation, false eyelashes, the biggest boobs in the year and a bit of a reputation for sleeping around. Blaine had always liked boobs...
“So you didn’t fancy her mate?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes, “No, Blaine. I never fancied her mate.” He had to know. He had to have worked it out by now. I never dated women. I rarely dated anyone.
Stake Out... (Studs & Steel Book 5) Page 4