by D. B. Watson
“I eat here a lot. And no, I do not fuck him. I have a boyfriend.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t have some sugar on the side.”
“Would you be okay if Yuri had some sugar on the side?”
Jamie didn’t respond as he sipped on his milkshake.
Their meals arrived and they devoured the comfort food.
"You don't seem out of place here," said Adam.
"I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, Detective Potter."
"What was your childhood like? If you don't mind me asking." Jamie appeared to cringe but tried to hide his reaction by jabbing his fork at his food.
"My father died before I was born. For a brief time, it was just me and my mom. We weren’t rich, but she made enough money to give me birthday parties and fun holidays. She remarried, and after her death, the courts granted my stepfather full custody.”
“Was he good to you?”
“He was all right—” He trailed off, staring at his empty plate. “There’s a diner much like this one back home." Jamie circled his view around the diner.
"Why did you leave?"
“He was very controlling.”
"Couldn’t you have gone to any of your mother's family?"
"I had no other blood relatives. I would have been a ward of the state if my mother never remarried.”
"Where's your stepfather now?"
"Back home, I guess."
"What's his name?"
Jamie set his fork down.
"Where is this going? Why do you need to know?"
"Someone made an attempt on your life. Making a list of suspects could narrow in on the individual who wants to do you harm."
"Yuri is taking care of it. He said you were only to protect me."
"Jamie, I can give you protection, but finding this person and stopping them would put an end to all of this. Wouldn't that be better than always having to look over your shoulder?"
"I suppose."
Adam let what he said to him sink in. Once Jamie's tensed shoulders relaxed, he continued with his questioning. "Can you give me your home address?" Adam pulled out his notebook with a pen and slid it across the table.
Jamie picked up the pen and wavered for a minute before writing. He studied Adam with apprehension. "You're not going to go find him, are you?" asked Jamie.
"I might have to,” Adam said.
"Why?" he asked, still not writing.
"He could be involved."
"But he'll know I'm here."
"After the last attempt, he might already be here."
"What if he isn’t? What if it's not him? I can't go back."
"I swear to you, he won't find out from me. Besides, you’re eighteen now, an adult. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do."
“Fine, but first, tell me something personal about you.”
“Me? All right. I grew up on a farm with my two dads and three brothers.”
“Have any of them ever hurt you?”
“Not maliciously. But my brothers and I have knocked heads once or twice.”
Still not sure, Jamie wrote the information down. He held the notebook, looking at the name of his hometown as if seeing it for the first time, then returned it to Adam.
"I don’t think it’s him," said Jamie.
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t want me dead.”
“How about an old boyfriend?”
“Yuri’s my first proper boyfriend.”
"Okay, can you tell me where you and Yuri met?”
“Strangely, at a diner.”
“How old were you?”
“Sixteen.”
“You two seem from different worlds.”
“I’m not a gold digger.”
“Never crossed my mind.”
“Yuri made me feel like I belong anywhere.”
“He gives you what you want.”
“He gives me love and spends money on me. What’s wrong with that?”
“Don’t you have any ambition to become something more?”
“I’m going to school for music. I play the piano. Yuri’s helping me to achieve that dream.”
“That’s a nice dream. I wish you all the luck.”
“I’ll play for you one day.”
"That would be nice. Now, back to business. Can you tell me about your last attacker?"
"What do you want to know?"
"What he or she looked like?"
"All I know is that he was bigger and stronger than me."
“Was he trying to kidnap you?”
"No. I think he was going to kill me.”
“What stopped him?”
“Yuri sent his German shepherd, Savor, to find me.”
“What happened next?”
“He let me go when Savor bit him. I ran right into Yuri.”
“What happened to your attacker?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you ask Yuri?”
“No.”
“Why not? Don’t you want to know?”
“I don’t care. Yuri saved me. I'm finished. I want to go home, now."
"All right, I'll pay the bill."
They rode back in silence, Jamie stared out the window lost in thought. Adam didn't mean to upset him. But he knew a killer was on the loose and the two prime suspects were Jamie's stepfather and Yuri Jin.
CHAPTER 11
choiCEs
“This trip is important,” Yuri said to the reflection of his lover Patrick Valdez, who rested on Yuri’s lavish bed freshly showered and naked. He lay on his stomach with a towel underneath. He invited Patrick to spend a few weeks with him. Yuri had planned to ask Patrick to marry him, but an emergency arose that needed his attention in person. He called for his jet to be prepped and ready.
“Why can’t you send someone?” Patrick grumbled, rolling onto his back, catching Yuri’s attention.
Yuri wanted nothing more than to strip his clothes off and delight in Patrick’s body pressed against his.
Patrick knew he was affecting Yuri and pushed his point. He raised onto his knees, sitting on his feet. He placed his palms on his thighs and smiled.
Yuri finished adjusting his clothes and turned to the alluring man. “Patrick, I need to go. I’m the only one who can handle this.”
This did not sit well with Patrick, whose sultry stare turned to annoyance. He climbed off the bed and dressed in resentment.
Yuri watched as Patrick yanked on his underwear and jeans, grabbing his button-up shirt and thrusting his arms into the short sleeves. He struggled with the buttons when Yuri approach, trying to help, only for Patrick to push Yuri’s hands away.
“I can do it myself,” Patrick snapped, turning his back to Yuri. He stopped struggling with his shirt, crossing his arms and avoiding eye contact with Yuri.
“Patrick, you’re acting spoiled.”
“If I’m spoiled, it’s your fault!”
Yuri grabbed him and yanked him close. Patrick fought back to break free when Yuri dragged him to the bed, pushing his lover back on it, pinning him with his body. Yuri loomed over the Valdez, who stared back with contempt.
“Get off me, Yuri!”
“What is your problem?”
“You, Yuri! You’re always doing this! Persuading me to stay with you then for some reason, you have to leave!”
Yuri sighed, knowing Patrick was right. He had been unfair to his lover. “I’m sorry,” Yuri said.
“You said that before.” Patrick’s somber response affected Yuri who rose off, sitting beside him.
Patrick sat up, placing his hands in his lap.
Yuri reached over and grasped Patrick’s hand, raising it to his lips, kissing his palm.
“Don’t leave, Yuri. Stay with me,” Patrick cooed, leaning his head against his shoulder.
Yuri stroked the smooth hand once before releasing it. He stood, moving away, leaving Patrick broken. He grabbed his keys and wallet off the dresser.
“Fine—leave.” Patrick rose, walking to the bathroom. “I won’t promise I’ll be here.”
“Patrick, when I return, I swear, I’ll make it up to you,” Yuri said turning to him.
“How can I trust you?” he shot back, not turning around.
Yuri stepped to Patrick, snatching him around the waist and pulling him close. “Because I have a special surprise for you when I return.”
“So, you’re enticing me to stay.”
“Will you?”
“I know your business is important to you and I want to be supportive.”
“Look at me, Patrick.”
Once Patrick turned to face him, Yuri kissed him soundly, leaving Patrick breathless.
“I swear when I return, I will make you my priority.”
“I am, being a spoiled brat.”
“You’re my spoiled prince.”
Patrick fought not to smile but failed. “I’m such a pain,” Patrick said. “Go on. I’ll be here waiting.”
“I’ll be back in two days.”
They kissed once more before Yuri left.
****
Yuri’s trip was a success. He trusted his investment would produce exceptional work. He hadn’t eaten in hours and wanted to take a break from driving when his tire blew, causing him to skid off the road. He wasn’t accustomed to changing a tire, but he felt he could figure it out without calling for roadside help. He tied up his long locks and removed his suit jacket before removing the items he needed from the trunk. It took some adjusting, but he fared with jacking up the car and removing the hubcap, nuts, and tire. He’d just placed on the new tire when an SUV marked WillowMoss Sheriff Department pulled up behind him.
A broad-shouldered, gray-haired man climbed out of the driver’s seat wearing an open bomber jacket, denim shirt, pressed jeans, and work boots. His badge hung from his belt as he approached Yuri.
“Having car trouble?” he asked.
Yuri stood and surveyed him as being in his late sixties. “I’m fine, I only had a flat tire.”
“By the looks of you and your car, I’d say you’re not used to changing your own tire.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” said Yuri.
“That is true.” The man smiled.
Yuri glanced at the man’s SUV and saw a teenage boy sitting in the passenger seat watching. “Is that your son?” asked Yuri. The man glanced back, and Yuri saw the boy look away.
The man laughed as he turned back to Yuri. “No, but he’s a friend of my son’s.” He removed a photo from his pocket and held it out to Yuri. “Have you seen this boy?”
Yuri stared at the boy, whose face resembled someone he knew. The man noticed.
“Pretty, isn’t he,” the man said, startling Yuri, who looked away.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s all right. Lots of men stare at him. He’s special.”
“Special, how?”
The man returned the photo to his pocket and removed a business card. “He’s my son and he’s run away.”
“I’m sorry. No, I haven’t seen him.”
“If you do cross his path, please call the number on this card.”
Yuri hesitated, but took the card from the man who revealed a hand tattoo of a steer horn. Yuri looked over the white card with only a number on it.
“Well, let’s get you back on the road,” said the man.
“You don’t need to,” Yuri stated.
“Nonsense, it’s my pleasure.” The man finished the work on the tire, even packing up the jack and placing it and the flat tire into the trunk. He walked past Yuri back to his SUV. “Hope you have a nice day.” He boarded, started his engine, and drove off.
Yuri dropped the card into the cup holder and continued his journey. After the sun went down, the night sky filled with stars. He noticed his tank was low so he stopped for gas, going inside to pay. When he returned to his car, he filled the tank and got back on the road. He turned on the radio when he heard a sneeze from his back seat. The sound caused Yuri to veer, but he gained control of the car as he pulled over, shifting the gear into park.
Yuri turned and saw the teen from the photograph sitting on the floor of his backseat.
“What are you doing there?”
“Sorry, I needed a ride.”
“So, you sneak into a complete stranger’s car?”
“Please, I need to get away from that man.”
“Your father?”
“He’s not my father.”
“Then who is he?”
“My stepfather.”
“We’re going back to the gas station.”
“No, please, I don’t want to.”
“Then I’ll take you to the police.”
“No, you can’t do that either. They’ll just give me back to him.”
“So, where do you expect me to take you?”
“To the city.”
“Do you have family there?”
“No, I don’t know anyone there. But it’s okay, I can take care of myself.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen.” Yuri rolled his eyes.
“Please—I can’t go back to him.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t.”
“You’re a minor who wants me to take him across state lines. I can be arrested.”
“Please, he wants me to do things that I don’t want to do.”
“Sexual?”
“Yes.”
Yuri, disgusted by the knowledge of someone abusing a child, knew he needed to help.
“All right, climb up here and put your seat belt on.” The teen opened the passenger door and climbed out of the backseat and into the front passenger seat. Yuri noticed his jeans, tee-shirt, and worn-out sneakers. He helped him with the seat belt before putting the car into drive.
“What’s your name?” asked Yuri, his eyes still on the road.
“Christopher Huge.”
“Yuri Jin.”
“That’s a cool name,” said Christopher, gliding his fingers over his leather seat.
“Yours is nice too.”
Christopher looked at Yuri, whose soft expression made him feel comfortable. “Thanks for your help.”
“I’ve done nothing yet.”
“You’re not taking me back to him.”
“No, I won’t do that. But I need some answers first.” Christopher’s growling stomach changed the subject. “Are you hungry?"
“A little,” he said, rubbing his stomach.
“We’re still a long way from the city. We can stop for the night and grab something to eat.”
Their drive was quiet. Yuri drove with his eyes on the night road, only glancing at his passenger who sat bunched in the seat beside him.
Yuri found a rest stop with lodgings. On impulse, he pulled up to the more expensive motel. He turned off the car and considered how he would look walking in with the teenager. They would ask questions for sure. Pleased the units had private entrances, he turned to Christopher, who wouldn't face him.
"Christopher, would you like your own room?"
This time, he got a sideways glance.
"You can lock the door in your unit, and I will have the one next to yours."
"My—own?" he whispered.
"Yes. After you freshen up, I can take you to dinner."
"Dinner in your room?"
“No. There are places to eat around here. I can take you to anyone you like.”
"I have nothing to wear.”
"That's all right, I'll get something that you can fit into. But for now, I need you to wait here in the car for me while I book the rooms."
“Okay.”
Yuri left the frazzled youth with cautious steps as he approached the rental office. Stopping at the door, he glanced back to see if the damaged boy had taken off. Grateful he hadn't moved, he hurried inside to book the rooms before he changed his mind. Yuri returned to the car holding two key cards, but his car was empty; Christ
opher nowhere in sight. Yuri pushed out a deep sigh as he leaned on the hood of his car, wondering if he should go to the police.