by Joseph Lewis
Garrett said, “It was different for me. We heard rumors about my coach. Nobody said anything, just . . . rumors. My friends Phil and Danny went to his house a couple of times.” He shook his head, looked down at his hands, and said, “I wanted to be captain. He said if I did . . . stuff, I could be. He said he had to get to know me better.” When he looked up, there were tears in his eyes. “It was sick. I didn’t like it.”
It was Gavin who slipped his arm around Garrett’s shoulders and said, “It’s okay.”
Mike said, “Been there and done that. Tim . . . me . . . Stephen. We all did that stuff.”
“Yeah, but you had to. I didn’t,” Garrett said with a sob. “But I’m not gay, honest!”
“We know that, Garrett,” Mike said.
“My dad thinks I’m gay,” Stephen said. “I’m not, but he thinks I am.”
Frustrated, Tim didn’t know what to say and his expression showed it and it was a while before anyone spoke.
“You know . . . it’s like I don’t belong here,” Gavin said quietly.
“You belong here, Gavin,” Tim said. “These past two years you went through hell.”
Gavin looked at him and said, “It’s not the same, Tim, and you know it.”
“For two years, you went through hell, Gavin. How many times did guys make fun of you? Your friends turned their backs on you when guys made fun of you. You were treated like shit and for no reason.”
Gavin shrugged.
“For two years, who did you talk to besides your mom?”
“Just my English teacher.”
“Wait . . . why?” Stephen asked. “I don’t understand.”
“Because I said something stupid about Tim.”
“What?” Mike asked. “What did you say?”
Gavin looked at Tim, who nodded encouragement.
He told them about the fight at baseball practice and said, “I just wondered if Tim was alive and if he had to, you know, do stuff, if he would be gay or something.”
Stephen and Garrett sat back and nodded.
“But I didn’t mean it like it sounded.” He blushed, got flustered and said, “I was just kind of thinking and it came out.”
“I told you, it’s okay,” Tim said.
“Sometimes . . . I don’t think I am, but sometimes I wonder about it,” Stephen said quietly.
“Me, too.” Garrett said. “I mean . . . I didn’t have to go to my coach’s house.”
“Guys, listen . . . just because you did stuff with a guy doesn’t mean you’re gay. The stuff you did, did you like it? You wanna keep doing that shit?”
Gavin, Tim and Mike watched Stephen and Garrett wrestle with the thought, their faces registering disgust.
“You’re not gay. You’re not!”
Tim let them sit with that thought and then he turned to Gavin and asked, “You forgave Kaiden, right?”
Gavin’s face hardened and he said, “Yeah, but I don’t trust him.”
Tim sighed.
“I’m sorry, Tim. I know he’s your best friend, and I know you like him more than anyone else, but . . .” he shook his head and said, “I don’t trust him.”
“Gavin, I . . .” Tim didn’t finish his thought.
“The only person who knows what I went through was my English teacher. He had me write letters to you. Every night before I went to bed, I’d write you a letter. I was pissed at you for not being there. I was afraid you were dead. I really missed you, and I wanted you back. I was, I don’t know, just pissed off. I didn’t have anyone to talk to. I didn’t have anyone to be with. No one liked me. Guys made fun of me.” He stopped and shook his head.
“Did Kaiden and Cal make fun of you?” Tim asked.
The hurt in Gavin’s eyes was palpable, and he was close to crying when he said, “No. But they’d laugh and never did anything to stop the others from making fun of me.”
Tim reached out and took gentle hold of Gavin’s hand and said, “I’m sorry, Gav.”
Tim let go and Gavin said, “When those three assholes showed up at the game tonight and started picking on Garrett, I got so angry because it was like what happened to me all over again.” He turned to Garrett and said, “And I wasn’t going to let that happen to you.”
Garrett smiled at him.
“You’re always the first to stick up for someone. I do like Kaid and Cal. Kaid is like a little brother to me, and I’ve known Cal forever. But Gav, I love you, and we’ll always be friends. I want to be friends with you.”
Gavin wiped tears from his eyes. Tim embraced him and whispered something to him that no one else heard, but it caused Gavin to smile and nod.
Then Tim kissed his forehead and said, “Friends?”
Gavin nodded and said, “Of course.”
There was silence as the guys wiped their eyes and smiled at each other self-consciously.
Finally Gavin laughed and said, “I don’t know about you guys, but Tim, you changed a lot.”
“Well, having some pervert’s dick in my mouth or up my ass twenty-four-seven kinda changes a guy,” Tim said with a laugh.
All of the guys laughed and Tim said, “How do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve never seen you cry before. Ever. You hug me . . . us. You’ve kissed me and Mike. You’ve never done that kind of stuff before.”
Tim thought about it and said, “Guys, listen. I almost got killed twice. Twice! I decided after George saved me that from now on, I’m going to say what I mean and show how I feel and if guys don’t like that, tough shit.”
“Some guys might not understand, though,” Stephen said.
“And if they don’t, who gives a shit?” Tim said defiantly. “I don’t.”
Mike nodded, “I don’t either.”
Heads nodded and Gavin reached out and took hold of Tim’s arm, and Tim and said, “I love you. All of you.”
The guys smiled and nodded and wiped more tears from their eyes.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Eureka, Missouri
The boys sat in the fading sunshine on metal chairs around a small table at a Baskin and Robbins a block away from the hotel. George loved ice cream. He could eat ice cream several times a day, each day, and never get sick of it.
Which is why when he didn’t order anything except a bottle of water, Randy said, “Are you sick or something?”
George hadn’t heard him, or if he did, didn’t acknowledge it.
“George, are you okay?” Randy asked with a nudge.
George didn’t answer. He stared off in the distance, eyes glassy, vacant, jaw set.
Randy, Billy and Danny stared at him. Finally, Billy shook his arm and said softly, “George, what’s wrong?”
George was certain the voice he heard was his grandfather’s. Yet, his grandfather wasn’t talking to him, at least not directly. His Grandfather was warning someone, encouraging, and giving directions.
Who?
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Stephen went upstairs to take a shower. Gavin and Garrett went back to Wii.
“Anybody hungry?” Mark shouted down the stairs.
A chorus of, “Yeah!” or “Yes, please!” came back at him.
“Mike, come on up and order pizza,” Mark answered with a laugh.
That was when Tim saw him.
He wore a plaid shirt and a leather vest, faded blue jeans and dusty cowboy boots. His long gray hair was tied in a single braid. His face was brown and wrinkled, and he smiled at Tim.
Tim was certain he was the only one who could see him.
Or hear him.
‘Yá'át'ééh.’
It was clear. It was loud enough for anyone in the basement to hear. But Gavin and Garrett didn’t hear it, and Mike was on his way upstairs.
Tim nodded.
‘The dark boy and the blond boy are in danger.’
‘From who?’
‘He’s almost here. You need to go up and protect them.’
‘Will yo
u be with us?’
The old man smiled and nodded.
Tim licked his lips.
“Guys, I’m going up to help Mike.”
“Yup,” Garrett said without turning around.
Gavin didn’t answer, but turned for just a second to give Tim a smile. Tim loved Gavin’s smile. It was sweet and innocent and kind and good. His eyes disappeared behind thick eyelashes.
Tim wondered if he’d ever see that smile again.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN
Eureka, Missouri
George stood up slowly and dropped the bottle of water on the table, spilling part of it in Billy’s lap, who jumped up out of the way.
“What the hell?” Billy said.
George made no move to mop up the water with napkins like Danny and Billy did. Instead he stared off in the distance, mouthing words of a language the three boys didn’t understand.
“George, what’s wrong?”
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Mark and Mike were hunched over either side of the counter with the phone in Mark’s hand. He spoke into it, ordering two large pizzas, one with extra cheese, and one with extra cheese and pepperoni, along with an order of garlic cheese bread and marinara sauce.
“Where’s Stephen?” Tim asked.
“Shower. End of the hall, last door on the right,” Mike answered.
Tim walked down the hall and knocked on the door.
“Stephen?”
“Yeah?”
Tim opened the door and shut it behind him.
“You almost done?”
The water stopped and the shower curtain opened and Stephen said, “Yup.”
“You trust me, right?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” Stephen said slowly.
“I’m not sure, but dry off, get dressed and stay back here somewhere out of sight.”
Stephen grabbed a towel, dried off his face, but stared at Tim.
“Okay?”
Stephen nodded, fear evident in his eyes.
‘Be careful. He’s here.’
Tim left the bathroom, shut the door and walked down the hallway towards the living room. When the doorbell rang, he stopped in mid-stride.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE
Eureka, Missouri
George snapped out of it. He spun in a slow circle, searching the faces of the people near them. He saw who he needed several tables away and quick-walked over to him.
“You’re FBI, right?”
Tom Albrecht looked to his left and right and then back at George.
“Answer me,” George demanded quietly.
“Waukesha County Sheriff on loan to the FBI. Why?”
George bent low so only Albrecht could hear him.
“Mike Erickson, Stephen Bailey and Tim Pruitt are in danger. Right now.”
Seeing the urgency in George’s face, Albrecht hesitated only a second. He took out his cell and speed-dialed Graff.
CHAPTER NINTY
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Mark had finished ordering and went into the living room to answer the door. Mike followed.
Tim appeared at Mike’s side and held his arm preventing him from advancing beyond a step or two. Mike looked up at him curiously.
Mark opened the door and took a step back and said, “Oh . . . hello, Doctor Frechet.”
Mike shrunk at Tim’s side. Tim took one step in front of Mike shielding him.
“What can I do for you?” Mark said puzzled at the house call.
“I’m sorry for bothering you this evening, but I wanted to check on Mike to see if he’s okay. And I thought that as long as I was here, I’d give Stephen a quick physical. I want to make sure he’s okay.”
“Mike’s fine,” Mark said. Puzzled, he said, “Give Stephen a physical?”
“Yes, make sure he’s okay,” Frechet said with his charming smile.
Stephen appeared in the hallway, and Tim gestured slightly for him to stay where he was. Stephen crouched down against the wall. And in that moment, Frechet and Tim recognized each other.
Tim said slowly and deliberately, “I know you!” Pointing at him, he repeated, “I know you!”
Mark half-turned towards Tim.
It gave Frechet an opportunity to step into the living room, drop his medical bag and pull out his gun.
CHAPTER NINTY-ONE
Eureka, Missouri
“Graff, this is Albrecht. Something’s going down at . . .” He turned to George and said, “Where?”
George hesitated and then shook his head, not knowing the answer.
Albrecht turned back to the phone and said, “Do you know where Mike and Stephen are?”
“Erickson house. Eiselmann’s there. Why?”
“Not sure. George said the Erickson boy, Stephen and a Tim are in danger.”
“On my way.”
Albrecht was left with dead air.
He turned back to George and said, “Come on,” and led him back to the table where the twins and Danny sat.
“We need to get back to the hotel,” Albrecht said as he began walking and speed-dialing his partner.
“Brooke, where are you?”
“Balcony outside our room. Why?”
Albrecht explained the little he knew and then shut his phone.
“Guys, let’s hustle,” Albrecht said over his shoulder, jaywalking across the street.
The boys followed in a tight group with George bringing up the rear, eyes taking in every pedestrian, every parked or passing car and wishing he had his knife with him.
CHAPTER NINTY-TWO
Waukesha, Wisconsin
“I saw you at the soccer game, but I couldn’t place you,” Frechet said nervously.
Mark said, “What’s going on?”
He never took his eyes off the gun in Frechet’s hand, thankful that Jennifer, Sarah and Laura weren’t there, but worrying that they’d walk in on this.
“Be quiet and move back.”
“What do you want?” Mark asked.
‘Keep him talking. Help is coming.’
Tim said, “This is one of the fuckheads from Chicago. He examined us and then fucked us.”
Mark whipped his head at Tim, at Mike and then back to Frechet. The realization hit him like a punch.
“What did you do to my son, you sonofabitch!”
The gun in Frechet’s hand shook, but it was still lethal. Perhaps more so because Frechet was nervous.
“I said get back.”
Mark backed up, trying to place himself between the gun and the boys.
‘You are Stephen?’
Tim saw the old man talking to Stephen who stared at him with mouth open and eyes wide. He nodded.
‘Stay where you are.’
“Fuckhead, Mr. Erickson asked you a question. What did you do to Mike?”
Frechet’s face was slick with perspiration. He licked his lips, stared at Mike and said, “We had a little fun today, didn’t we, Mike?”
“Fuck you!” Mike yelled.
Gavin and Garrett had come up from the basement and stood in the kitchen listening to the conversation in the living room. Frightened, Gavin motioned for Garrett to get down, and both of them crouched low.
“Frechet, put the gun away and leave before someone gets hurt,” Mark said through clenched teeth.
“Not without Stephen. He and I are going to spend time together.”
“The fuck he will!” Mike shouted.
Frechet cocked the gun.
The old man turned and stared at Tim. His expression was sad. There weren’t any words. There was no direction or command. The two stared at one another, frozen in both time and space.
And Tim understood what was going to happen. And what he needed to do.
CHAPTER NINTY-THREE
Eureka, Missouri
“George, what is it?” Jeremy asked.
Randy, Danny and Billy stood off to the side with Jeff slightly in front of them. Albrecht and his partner, Brooke B
eranger, stood behind Jeremy. George had a vacant, unfocused, and glazed look on his face. He shook his head.
“George,” Jeremy said again.
“Dad, wait,” Randy said. “I think it’s his grandfather.”
CHAPTER NINTY-FOUR
Waukesha, Wisconsin
“Eiselmann, what’s happening?”
Eiselmann stared out the windshield at an empty street. The only traffic was the white Escalade that pulled up in front of the Erickson house. He had called dispatch and had them run the plate and it came back as Blaise Frechet, a doctor. Eiselmann figured the doctor was just checking on Mike.
“Nothing. It’s quiet.”
“You sure?”
Eiselmann twisted around in his seat, stared out the back, then out both sides and said, “Nothing. Why?”
“A report that something’s going down.”
“There’s nothing, but I’ll do a once-around the house. I’ll be in touch.”
“I’m not leaving without Stephen,” Frechet said in response to Tim’s urging that he leave.
“Stephen, wherever you are, stay there! Don’t come out here! Don’t make any sound. If you’re in the kitchen, go out the back door and find the red-haired cop that’s watching you.”
“Shut up!” Frechet said.
“Go up and down the street and look in each car. Tell him a pervert has a gun, and he’s in the living room by the front door.”
In the kitchen, Gavin looked at Garrett and whispered, “That’s us. Tim knows Stephen’s taking a shower.”
They stayed low and tiptoed out the back door, but the screen door shut a little too loudly.
“Hear that? Stephen’s going to find the cop that’s protecting him. You better leave while you can,” Tim reasoned.
Frechet licked his lips and nervously glanced out the front window.