“You can’t prove any of this,” said Alasdair. “But you can prove where the murder weapon was.”
“Alasdair,” said Marla. Her voice was calm, but she looked more anxious than before. “Whatever it is, I can get you out of it. I have influence, I have money—we have our family name. Let them arrest you. I’ll make this go away.”
“You think I did it, too?”
“I’m saying it doesn’t matter. I’m saying I’ll get you out of it.”
“They can arrest both of us,” said Evander.
“Put the gun down, Alasdair,” said Thea. “If Marla decides to let the matter drop, we won’t hold this against you.”
“Alasdair,” said Marla.
Alasdair pointed the gun at Evander and Benen’s stomach dropped. Alasdair brought the gun back to Marla, to Evander again, unsure what to do, overwhelmed.
Benen heard a shot, not from his gun. Marla pulled away and Evander collapsed, and then Benen fired, heard Thea and Raldina take shots, too. Everything happened quickly, very quickly. Alasdair staggered back against the wall, eyes wide, blood on his lips. That was good enough for Benen—he dashed around the chairs and couches, threw himself to the floor next to Evander.
“Ev,” he said, heart pounding hard, everything feeling unreal. People were moving around, talking, in the same room as he and Evander were, but they all sounded very distant. He leaned over Evander’s form, curled in on itself, and held his breath, expecting the worst.
“What?” asked Evander. He turned slightly, opened his eyes. “Am I shot?”
Benen breathed out a laugh and ran his hands over Evander, but he saw nothing.
“Not if you’re reacting that way,” he said, and leaned down and kissed Evander, who pushed him away with cuffed hands.
“Not sure that’s appropriate…sir,” he said.
Benen leaned back and grinned.
Alasdair was dead by the time Benen had hauled Evander to his feet and uncuffed him. Thea stood over the body, staring at it, and when Benen joined her, he could see the multiple wounds on Alasdair’s front.
“I count four,” he said, confused, and Thea nodded over to where Raldina and Marla sat on a sofa.
“Oh, fuck,” said Evander, hovering over Benen’s shoulder. He turned and pulled the man away before he could be sick.
“Shit,” mumbled Marla faintly. She pressed shaking hands into her lap and leaned back against the cushions, taking deep breaths. “I can’t believe I shot him.”
“You what?” asked Evander. Benen shoved him in a chair and moved to look at the gun Raldina had pulled off Marla. It was a very small model, something like a Sweetberry, although it looked newer than that. Streamlined, magically propelled bullets, small enough to fit inconspicuously in most clothes.
“He was going to kill you,” said Raldina. “I’m impressed you managed to pull that thing out as fast as you did.”
“He took the shot at Evander,” said Thea, walking behind the chairs and staring at a hole in the wall.
“Ah,” said Evander.
He looked pale enough to pass out. Benen wanted to sit next to him, wrap an arm around him, pull him up against Benen’s chest. Promise him this was over and he was safe. Kiss him. But Benen knew he couldn’t. His concern for Evander’s safety had worn off enough that he’d moved to desperately hoping no one had witnessed him kissing Evander.
“I can’t believe any of this is happening,” said Marla. She was beginning to unravel, but swallowed and kept most of it down. “That was supposed to be for protection against assassination, not from my own family. Twelve hours ago, everything was normal.”
“I’m sorry,” mumbled Evander, sounding like he meant it. Sounding like he thought it was all his fault.
“He didn’t know what to do when caught,” said Thea. “That happens, now and then. It was neither yours nor your sister’s fault. Although you will still have to answer for your thieving.”
“Really, Evander?” asked Marla.
“I had to get by somehow. I only took from people who could stand to lose it.”
“Wonderful. Another thing I’ll have to manage. Lead Detective, how much to keep him out of a cell? We’ll deal with this ourselves.”
Thea turned back and gave her price. Benen stared at them negotiating and realized he was hoping Marla did a damn good job representing Jewylle on Ilben interests. She sounded like someone skilled at getting what she wanted.
“Bit of luck for you, isn’t it, Fergus?” asked Raldina when Marla and Thea had come to an agreement.
“Yes,” said Marla, “And I expect you to stay out of their station.”
“I’ll endeavor to do my best,” said Evander.
“Trelayne, drop by the station and have Dr. Davies sent here, escort Fergus home, then have the night off. Back in the office tomorrow morning sharp for paperwork.” Thea turned to Marla. “We’re going to have to take your gun and confirm a few things, but you should have it back soon.” She paused as Marla nodded. “What are you still doing here, Trelayne?”
“Come on,” said Benen, and motioned to Evander.
“Oh, Evander, before you leave,” said Marla as Benen’s hand fell on the door handle. “I’d like to see you back here tomorrow, say one o’clock? We’ll have a late lunch and a little chat about things—I seem to be inheriting rather a lot of responsibility in a city where I rarely spend any time, and we ought to discuss where our family moves from here.”
“Funeral arrangements, too, I’d imagine,” said Evander.
“Dress decently.”
* * * *
Benen didn’t escape George or his questions. Bethann left immediately, but Benen was stuck answering for himself, and then, once his story was done, his apologies for the window made, he had to assure George he didn’t hate the man’s strong wakeleaf tea.
“I would have drank it if I hadn’t been sucked into the damned maze orb,” he said, and George eyed him like he didn’t completely believe that, but he let Benen go. It was so late Benen had the cab driver stop before they reached the docks, near a restaurant for a bite to eat.
“I can’t pay for this,” said Evander, frowning as the cab drove away.
“I will,” said Benen.
They were exhausted. Neither of them said anything as they ate, too worn out from the maze, the ordeal with Alasdair. By the time Benen had finished, everything had caught up with him and he was surprised he could get up and walk out of the place. He considered getting another cab, but Evander’s hesitant posture made him change his mind.
“I’ll walk you home,” he said.
Evander didn’t object. In fact, he looked relieved. The few blocks to Evander’s room passed quietly, neither of them much up for talking. As more time passed, the more awkward Benen felt. He simply didn’t know what to say or where to go. Benen was relieved Evander wasn’t guilty, but very aware that once he’d dropped the man off, he’d likely never see him again.
They stopped in the alley behind the building.
“Well,” said Evander after long seconds. “Thank you, I should say. For more than I can list without putting us both to sleep.”
Benen grunted, stuck his hands in his pockets. This was his cue to leave. He lingered.
Evander gestured at the building. “I have a little brandy, if you’re interested.”
“Brandy.” Benen was unimpressed, but he couldn’t crush the hopeful look in Evander’s eyes. He shrugged. “All right.”
Evander’s eyes brightened and he led the way up to his attic room, locked the door behind him. The place didn’t have light, so he moved to light a candle, then another. Benen lingered by the far wall, watching, half-asleep in the near dark. He yawned.
“Bet it gets pretty cold here in the winter, no fireplace.”
“Oh, the other floors have them. The heat flows up. It could be worse.” Evander busied himself rummaging through his disturbed items until he found the little bottle. “Here it is. I, um, am afraid I have nothing to serve
it in…”
“It’s fine,” said Benen. He moved forward, grabbed the bottle, and sat heavily on the bed. “This is how you’re supposed to drink.” He took a gulp straight from the bottle and held it out to Evander, who hesitated. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, take the bottle and sit your ass down here.”
Evander did as told, had a sip. Benen leaned back on his palms and watched Evander, allowing himself to smile a little. He really did like this man. Whatever it was about Evander, the combination of being a bit of a criminal combined with his upbringing, the way he clearly wanted to get laid but wouldn’t make a move, all of it drew Benen. It was so very unlike him, and yet it seemed to suit him, like two pieces of a puzzle, or the exit to a magical maze.
“What?” asked Evander, noticing Benen staring.
Benen must have been more exhausted than he thought, because he answered the question honestly, without thinking. “I like the idea of filling in the places you’re lacking. Being the roughness to your smooth. The hardness to your criminal.”
“The asshole to my impeccable upbringing,” said Evander. He had another drink and passed the bottle to Benen. “I cannot determine whether I should be offended at what you’re saying, or—”
“Turned on?” Benen grinned, had a drink. “You wanted me back in your bed, didn’t you?”
Evander tsked.
Benen laughed. “Hah, I love it when you do that,” he said, then covered the awkwardness with a drink.
“Scold you?” Evander snatched the bottle back.
“Get all worked up when I’m the one insinuating.”
“I believe I mentioned I prefer to be the one making you uncomfortable. Which means I will point out that, yes, I have enticed you to my bed, and confess I’ve never done anything with a member of the police force before. Are we required to use the cuffs?”
“Haven’t you had enough of those for one day?”
“They sound better in certain scenarios, trust me.”
Benen opened his mouth to retort, then paused. Trust. That was where this had all started. The damned orb and its making them trust each other. He eyed Evander and passed the bottle back. He shouldn’t be here. They wouldn’t even be contemplating fucking if it wasn’t for the orb. Really he should get home and sleep before having to get back to the station.
“I could use them on you,” said Evander. The look on his face when Benen stood made something go sour in Benen’s gut.
He opened his mouth to say he should go, but couldn’t form the words.
“Please,” said Evander. “Stay.”
When Benen lowered himself back down to the bed, Evander let out a breath he’d clearly been holding. Benen let Evander have a few more drinks from the bottle while he took off his boots and knife, set aside his Turtledove II. He loosened a few buttons on his shirt and accepted the brandy while Evander moved to pull off his own shoes.
“By all that is holy, I am tired,” said Evander, and yawned. He flung himself back on the bed.
“What, didn’t get a few good hours’ sleep in the cell?”
“You’re joking. Have I mentioned a person cannot stretch out at all in there?”
Benen set aside the brandy and laid back next to Evander.
“Looks like we can stretch out here,” he said. His eyes met Evander’s, and he leaned forward, pressed their lips together. Gently, gently.
Evander kissed back equally gently, the both of them so tired it was all they could manage. After the stress of the day, lying here safe next to Evander was just about the best feeling Benen could think of. He smiled, kissed Evander again.
And fell asleep. He woke sometime in the middle of the night, cold, and stripped off his shirt before grabbing whatever blankets he could find and pulling on them. Evander slept with his mouth open slightly. Benen placed another kiss on his forehead and tugged the blankets over him before falling back asleep.
When he woke again, it was because Evander had lurched in the bed. Benen blinked awake and pulled a gasping Evander to him, recognizing what was happening. He’d gone through similar before, more times than he cared to think about. Thankfully he didn’t dream much anymore.
“I got you,” Benen said, holding Evander tight, kissing the back of his head. “You’re not there anymore.”
“Oh,” said Evander, word practically a moan, and deflated. He breathed out hard. Benen kissed him again. “I, uh…”
“You don’t have to apologize about this to me. Not like I haven’t had those dreams.”
“There’s been too much death,” said Evander in a whisper, and swallowed hard. “I…can’t get his dead face out of my mind. Leering. And then…he shot me. My own brother. And when I looked, every one of you believed him.” Evander took a ragged breath. “Everyone. You, too. You shot me, too.”
Benen needed to look at Evander. He rolled Evander over to face him, moved up close again. Two of the candles burned still, just enough light to see Evander’s pained face. Benen wished he could completely erase the dream, the trauma of what had happened with Alasdair, but all he could do was pull Evander to him.
“Oh, Ev,” Benen said, and kissed Evander on the forehead, on the lips. “Never. I’d never shoot you. You mean too much to me for that.”
“Don’t just say things.”
“I’m not. I mean it. I’d do anything I had to, to keep you safe. When he made me cuff you, when he pointed the gun at you…” Benen paused, his stomach flopping uncomfortably. He pressed their foreheads together.
“I suppose I have to believe you. I haven’t seemed to have the ability to even force myself to be suspicious of you since the maze. Even through questioning and coming down here to tear apart my room.” Evander paused, smiled a little. “We should be enemies, you know, you and I. Criminal and officer. Rich bastard who gets away with shit, you who have to work so hard simply to have a job.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that’s what I love about you,” said Benen, and kissed Evander before the man could say anything about Benen’s word choice.
Whatever he might have been feeling about his nightmare, Evander readily pushed it aside to return Benen’s kiss. It might have been chill outside, but in the attic room, together, warmed by body heat under the blanket, by rising pulses, Benen welcomed Evander’s hand snagging his pants.
Evander broke free of the kiss. “I want to feel you closer than this. I believe…it would go a long way toward recovering my illusion of safety, to be intimately vulnerable. To assure myself it can end well. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, I’ll fuck you,” said Benen. “Been wanting to since I turned down your offer of sucking my cock.”
“You are deliciously vulgar,” said Evander, and kissed Benen again. Benen responded, let Evander lead for now, undo his pants, tug them down. Evander ran his hand across Benen’s thigh, fondled his balls. “I’ll just begin where we left off, then.”
Benen lay back and let Evander do what he wanted, draw Benen’s semi-hard cock to his lips. The dim light from the flickering candles turned the room into a small, private cave, and it was so late—or so early—even the noise of life around the docks had gone to bed. Benen could hear the wind outside, his pulse drumming in his ears. He felt Evander’s breath over his bare skin, the warmth of Evander’s mouth when the man took Benen’s cock between his lips.
Evander hadn’t lied when he said he was good. Benen grew large fast in his mouth, bumped up against the back of Evander’s throat hard as he took Benen deep. That and his hands made Benen’s excitement build, steady and pleasurably. He rocked his hips up with Evander’s motions, thought about letting himself go and giving Evander a mouthful, but Benen was fairly sure that wasn’t what he’d been asked for. So when the sensations built too high he put a foot on Evander’s shoulder.
“Any more of that and you’ll get a week’s worth of seed to swallow.”
“Your week was that busy, was it?” asked Evander, pulling away.
Benen watched Evander creep up the bed, his hand stroki
ng his own cock. Evander stopped with a hand propping him up near Benen’s head; he leaned down, face inches from Benen’s. “No time to see to yourself at all? Pity that you should go so neglected.”
“I don’t live a glamorous life like a thief. Hard to pick someone up when you’re law enforcement.”
And it was hard to see to himself when so tired. But Benen didn’t want to think about that. He wanted Evander back around him, tight on his cock. He wanted to see how deep Evander could take him, wanted to watch Evander’s expression when he came, Benen inside him. Evander smiled at him and leaned down to kiss him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, and brushed a thumb gently against Benen’s cheek. “About this. And this.” His hand moved lower, to the bruise on Benen’s chest. Benen’s breath came deep at Evander’s touch, but he was growing impatient.
“You can see I’ve had worse. Now are you going to pick which lubricant of five we’re using or is that my job?”
“It’s six, actually. She missed one.” He drew back and began rummaging around on the shelves next to the bed. Benen watched the sway of his balls between his legs but didn’t touch. “At the moment, I don’t much care which we—ah, this will do.”
Evander turned back around and, before Benen could ask, doused his cock with a generous amount of something that felt cool and slick—then tingled.
“The hell!” said Benen, propping himself up as Evander took him in hand. Every motion slicking him up felt like the tang of mint, intense prickling that was both unexpected and not unpleasant.
Evander cocked an eyebrow. “Why do you think I have six? A bit of spelled oil can really add to the experience. I also have one that burns, if you want to try that sometime.”
“No thanks. I think this—ahh—is just fine.”
“Nice face,” said Evander, and set the bottle aside. He then straddled Benen, lined up. “Someday I’ll get someone to try it out with me.”
The Officer and the Thief Page 10