Aries

by WL Knightly

  “Word certainly does travel fast in the south.”

  “I guess it does, my friend.”

  “How are you adjusting? Is New Orleans all you remember?”

  “Yeah, it’s a great city; full of charm and the business couldn’t be better. These folks love to eat. But I know you didn’t call me for all that. How’s it going?” There was hissing noise in the background, and Seth could practically smell the food sizzling on the grill through the phone.

  “Do you have time for some advice?” Seth held his breath and hoped the man had time. He didn’t want things to drag out any longer than they had to with his campaign kicking off.

  “Don’t tell me you need a good recipe or kitchen tips,” Lane said with a laugh.

  “No, I can’t even picture myself making my own sandwich, much less dinner. It’s a legal question, of course. You know, your other specialty.”

  “I guess I could help, but you’ll have to hold on a second. I need to take this cake from the oven.” Lane stepped away, and then he was back a moment later. “Okay, what’s this all about?”

  “I own some property on Trade Street in New York, and Alan Lowe owns a building there. Bay Collins wants to buy the whole thing, and I’m wondering if there’s an angle I can take to come out with a good deal.”

  “Oh man, Bay wants it?” Lane’s tone dropped, and his voice filled with uncertainty, like he didn’t want to get in the middle of things. Seth couldn’t blame him.

  “Yeah, he does so he can help Alan, who is in a bind again. I know you gave Bay your clients, and now you feel like you owe him something, but consider all the times I chose you over him.” Seth wasn’t sure that was going to be enough. He might have to go and seek counsel someplace else.

  “What do you want to do? You and I both know he’ll find a way to get it sooner or later. The best thing to do is ask yourself if you really need the thing and if you just want to hold onto it so Bay can’t have it. I say hand it over, get a good price for it, and make him think it doesn’t mean shit to you. If he thinks it does, you know he’s going to be a dick about it, and with you going into office, you don’t need his games. If he thinks you don’t care, he won’t feel like he’s won, and you can wash your hands of the guy.”

  “I guess. I think I’ll fuck with him first, though. Make him think that I want a small fortune for my part.” Maybe one more pissing match wouldn’t hurt anything.

  “Hell, with all the shit going on up there, I would cut ties and run. I’m so glad I moved away from all that drama when I did. I’m living the good life, the one we always dreamed about, and I love it. I’ve got nothing bogging me down and no one’s fucking craziness clogging up my mind. I go home at the end of the day seeing a much better side of life. That’s for sure.”

  “Did you hear about Logan and Tad?” Seth figured that Lane still kept up with the daily news at least.

  “Yeah, and that’s what I mean, my friend. Look at those poor bastards. We don’t need it, you and me. We always did come from better stock. Why we got mixed up with Bay in the first place is a mystery to me. We could have done our own thing and not had anything tainted in our past.”

  Seth knew he was right. They had been leaders in their own right, and if it weren’t for the dirt Bay had on him, he’d not have been so quick to follow along with whatever he said. He wondered what Bay had on Lane, and if there was anyone that understood what it was like to compete against Bay, or be in his dust, it was Lane. “I’ll make an offer, and once we settle on one, do you think you could look over the contract for me? I can scan it. I just don’t want Bay trying to take advantage.”

  “If you keep it clean and straightforward, you won’t have to worry about that. Don’t give him any room, man. Seriously. You know who you’re dealing with, and I’ve never known Bay to let anyone mess with him in a deal. He usually gets his way no matter what. He didn’t get the nickname Slayer for being a pussycat, and you know it.”

  “I hear you, but I’m still hoping to have the edge over him if possible. Take a look?”

  “Sure, but hey, let me call you later. I’ve got to get ready for the lunch crowd, so it’s back to work for me.”

  Seth thought it odd that the man seemed happy by the idea of busting hump for his lunch patrons. “You’re working harder now than you did before.”

  Laughter sounded through the phone. “Yeah, but it’s not work when you love what you do, my friend. Talk soon.”

  The phone went dead, and he felt content knowing he’d soon be done with the whole bunch. Cutting ties was something he should have done a long time ago. If Bay would ever let him go. He had always liked to go back and forth with Seth, and then there was the fact that he knew the Stone family’s darkest secret.

  Bay was one of the first people he’d made friends with at camp. He was also probably the first person that Bay had told his plans to. Growing up in wealthy, powerful families, the two were practically drawn together by their status more than anything. Seth’s parents had never minded having Bay over to their house for week-long visits, and Bay’s family had arranged to bring Seth along on a hunting trip or two. They were what each one’s parents considered acceptable friends, unlike some of the others Seth had tried to bring around.

  Seth would never forget the time he woke in the night, his eyes opening to find Bay standing over his bed as if willing him awake. “What are you doing?” He had nearly come out of his skin seeing the boy’s pale hair shining in the dark, his shoulders and back straight, as if he’d been locked in that position for hours. At first, he thought the boy might be sleepwalking, but then he sat on the end of his bed and folded his hands in his lap.

  “I was just on my way back from the kitchen for a glass of water,” Bay said, though he wasn’t holding any glass.

  “Go back to bed.”

  “Don’t you want to know what happened?” Bay turned his head, and his expression was so unreadable that Seth wasn’t sure what could have happened.

  They’d chatted before bedtime about ghosts and how Seth’s house was supposedly haunted, so Seth took a guess. “You saw a ghost?”

  “I heard moaning alright, but it wasn’t from ghosts.” Bay grinned like the devil. Seth had seen that look before and since, and it was never good.

  Seth’s face burned, and he remembered thinking the boy had seen his parents or perhaps his father fucking the maid. He’d walked in on that before himself, only to have his father try and cover it up. Later, the man had taken him out to hunt and warned him about how important a reputation is in life. “Whatever it was, you better not tell a soul. My father is a ladies’ man. My mom knows all about it. They have an agreement so that there is no room for scandal. He likes women, so what?”

  “And his male colleagues too, apparently.” Bay’s evil chuckle erupted, and Seth wanted to cover his ears and go back to sleep. If he closed his eyes, maybe he could pretend it hadn’t happened. Maybe it was a nightmare. He had closed his eyes a few times really tightly to make sure.

  Seth’s mind reeled at what he could be talking about. What had he seen? Seth had to ask, his curiosity getting the best of him. “What do you mean?” Seth’s father had a business partner over for dinner and drinks, but the man should have been long gone before.

  “Your father’s down there right now getting it on with that man from dinner. Didn’t you know he was gay?”

  Seth had come up out of bed so fast that he knocked Bay to the floor. When the boy got up, his eyes were practically glowing red, he was so angry. “Watch it, asshole. I’m on your side. What he’s doing could ruin your family. I won’t tell a soul.” There was more discussed that night, but because of the severity of what it meant for Seth’s family, he’d been bound to the boy ever since.

  Now that his father was dead, having died from pneumonia four years ago, Seth knew that Bay’s ammunition was gone. No longer could he hold that over his head, and with nothing else to take from him, he was going to do this deal, then wash his hands of Bay Col
lins and the Zodiacs for good.

  10

  Darek

  Darek stood at the counter of Classic Collision and waited for the clerk to find her boss. Apparently, they’d had some concerns over one of their clients, and he hoped that it was Finn.

  “You can come on back, Detective.” The young girl waved him to a side door, and he walked into the narrow hall where he followed her out into their back lot.

  She led Darek to an old man who stood in front of a car. “Here’s the paperwork you wanted.” The old man took the papers from her, and she gave Darek a smile as she walked past to go back inside.

  “That’s quite a car,” Darek said, nodding at the vehicle beside them.

  “You don’t see a lot of these today. Do you know what you’re looking at?” The older man had gray hair that was swept back in a ponytail that hung nearly as long down his back as his beard did in front.

  “I’m not much of a car man, but I can see that it’s a Mercury.”

  “Sixty-nine Mercury Cougar Eliminator. My buddy had one back in the day, and it wasn’t very lucky for him. He wrapped it around a tree our senior year, and they had to cut him out of it. He’s been in a wheelchair ever since.”

  Darek stuck out his hand, and the old man took it. “I’m Detective Darek Blake.”

  “Chess Cooper. I own the place.”

  Darek looked back at the car which looked picture perfect. “I’m hoping the owner of this one hasn’t had the same bad luck. Is his name by any chance Finn Wheeler?”

  “That’s him, Detective. I’ve never had a man not come back for a car this nice, but it’s been nearly a week now. I know that doesn’t sound long, but he put a rush on it, even offered to pay me a little extra. I had no reason to think he wouldn’t show back up, but here we are.”

  “Yeah, I’m afraid he’s been reported missing. I’ll have one of the officers come down and get the car. We’ll keep it on the impound lot and see if we can get some of his family to claim it. Meanwhile, it looks like I’ve got to try and figure out what happened to Mr. Wheeler. Is there anything you can tell me? Did he say what happened to it or give you any information? Anything at all?”

  “No, just that he had to get back home in a hurry. I wish I could help you, officer, but that’s all I know.”

  “Thanks.” Darek walked over to take a better look at the car and peeked inside. “When you went inside the car, did you notice anything?”

  “No, just that even the seats were nice. He really went all out on this car, getting it just right.”

  The girl came back out, and the old man had to leave. Darek made a call into the office to have the car picked up for evidence. If Finn was killed, maybe there was something in the car that could tell them what happened.

  He headed back to the office, hoping that Lizzy had shown up, but since he hadn’t heard from her all day, he had a feeling she wouldn’t be there.

  He was beginning to get the idea that she wasn’t interested in more of a relationship with him and was only trying to let him down easy. Then again, he was probably just being paranoid. She had already explained herself once, and there was no sense in trying to assume she meant something other than what she’d said.

  He walked into his office to find Max wiping up a tiny spill on his desk, his coffee cup empty on its side. “Have you heard from Lizzy?” asked Darek.

  Max looked up, rolling his eyes. “Aint that something. No ‘hello, how are you?’ Just ‘have you heard from Lizzy?’ Careful, my friend, or I’ll think you don’t care about me at all.”

  “You know better. I just thought she might like to know that I’ve located our missing person’s car. Finn Wheeler dropped off a nineteen-sixty-nine Mercury Eliminator, insisting on a rush job, and he never returned to pick it up.” Darek sat at his desk which was close to Max’s.

  “That doesn’t look good for him.” Max picked up the cup and tossed the dirty napkin into it.

  “No, it doesn’t. It’s a sweet car. If it were mine, I’d not let it out of my sight.” Darek paused. “I was just thinking about going down to the river where we found Hannah Halston if you want to ride along.”

  Darek didn’t want to go down there alone, knowing he’d have to do some questioning. It was always good to have four ears on the answers.

  Max slouched like a ton of weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “Yes. Count me in, man. I think Darius is wearing on me.”

  “He’s a good guy, and it could be worse. You could still be stuck with me all day. You know I got on your nerves, too.” Darek liked Darius and all of his stories, but he could see that Max was in need of a break. He’d been riding with him a lot lately.

  “No way, man. I’ve missed us cutting up together.” He tidied up his desk, throwing the rest of the trash in the garbage and got to his feet. “I’m ready when you are.”

  Darek pulled up a page on his computer and made a note about the car and what his course of action had been. “I just need to make a note of what I found, and we’ll be on our way.” He wished that Lizzy had been around, but he and Max made a good team, too. Max just wasn’t as pleasant to look at.

  Darek turned off his computer and then got up from his desk and grabbed his keys. “I’ll drive. Have you eaten?”

  Max put his hand on his gut. “No, I’m starving. Let’s grab a slice of pie on the way; I’m craving pepperoni and onions.”

  Darek was more of a supreme man himself, but luckily, they were only getting single slices. “Sounds good to me.”

  They headed out, and after stopping off by the pizza truck, they went to his car and ate their lunch on the drive across town to the riverside pier where both Hannah and Victor Barnes had been found.

  A few homeless men huddled together, sharing a smoke, and Max extended a finger in their direction. “I bet they’ll hate to see me out here. I’ve questioned enough of those motherfuckers to know them by name.”

  Darek pulled the car up and parked. “Yeah, they know us both. I’m surprised they haven’t scattered.”

  “They know better. If they scatter, we know they’re up to something.” Max laughed, and not a moment after, one of the men got up and moseyed away as if he were sly. “There’s a man to keep our eyes on.”

  “Those are some nice shoes he’s wearing. I don’t remember him with those when we dragged him in last time.”

  “Yeah, these old timers around here, they don’t get to the shelters very often. Most are vets with PTSD, and they prefer to be down here where it’s quiet, so they don’t get many benefits. The new shoes are a bit strange, and dollars to donuts, someone brought them here.”

  “I thought we’d look in the water, but we’d better talk to them before they scatter off too far.” Darek opened his door and stepped out as Max did the same. Both walked forward and met at the hood of the car while the homeless men started to sit up and take more notice. The one with the new shoes ducked into a tent, and Darek thought he might try and fake a nap. Without anywhere to run, they usually faked sleep to get out of talking, but Darek would wake him up if he had to.

  “How are you gentleman today?” Darek called out as he closed the distance between them.

  “Hey, Detective.” Darek remembered the old man and knew he was a veteran. “Why you want to come out here and see us today?”

  “I’m hoping that you can tell me if you’ve seen anything suspicious. I’ve got a missing person, and you know as well as I do there’s a good chance that he’s in the river.”

  “More than a good chance, but will you be able to find him?” A few of the men chuckled.

  “He may have done been eaten up by the chemicals,” said one of the men with a thick and gritty voice.

  Another one chimed in. “Or the fishes.”

  They nudged each other and laughed, their eyes making quick movements to one another, but never looking directly at him or Max.

  “If you think of anything, let me know.” The chances of that were slim unless Darek planned to come back
down because they’d never make a trip into the precinct on their own.

  Max, who had been quiet for once, nudged Darek as they walked away. “I’ve kept my eye on him. He hasn’t left the tent. I say we go ask about the wardrobe upgrade.”

  “I’m with you. If he found them out here, they could belong to our man.” He walked with Max over to the tent and tapped on the side of it.

  Darek didn’t want to rattle it too much for fear that it would collapse. It was someone’s home, after all. “NYPD, come on out so we can talk.”

  The man stuck his head out of the tent. “What’s going on, officer? I was just trying to get some sleep.” He rubbed his eyes with two grubby hands and then stepped out without any shoes, only a pair of holey socks that didn’t match.

  “Where’re your shoes?”

  “I took them off.” He shrugged and tried to stand up, but Darek wasn’t playing his game.

  “Let’s see those. Why don’t you put them on in case we need to take a walk? I’d like to see them.”

  The man pulled the shoes out of the tent, and although they were nice and shiny, they weren’t brand spanking new. “How long have you had these?”

  “I don’t know.” He looked down at the ground, not yet meeting their eyes.

  Darek had a feeling he knew something. “Tell me where you got them. Did someone come out here and give them to you?”

  “I found them days ago. Didn’t think there was any crime picking up a new pair of shoes if they were just lying there. I didn’t want the tide to get them.”

  “You found them in the water?” asked Max.

  The man shuffled his feet. “On the edge. They were hanging on a pipe.”

  Darek checked the brand. He had some of these himself, and they weren’t cheap. He had a feeling that Finn might own a pair, too. They were pretty popular and comfortable. “Take me to the spot you saw them.”

  “Can I put them on?” The man reached for the shoes.

  Max spoke up, taking the shoes from Darek’s hands before the man could grab them, “You better not. I’m afraid they’re evidence in a missing person’s case.”