by D. B. Watson
They drank beer, smoked weed, and munched junk food whenever cravings hit. He would stumble home after two in the morning. His drunk father would give him a lecture that always ended with him getting the crap beaten out of him. His mother would patch him up after his father had fallen asleep and make him promise not to do it again. Justin promised. By the following weekend, he would repeat the same dangerous decisions and end up at the end of his father’s fist.
“This town seems to have everything. Even a diner like the one near your job,” Ethan said.
Justin nodded in agreement when one building caught his eye. “There’s the library.”
“We should also check city hall,” suggested Ethan.
“Why don’t you check city hall and I’ll do the library. We’ll meet at the diner in an hour.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ethan said, grabbing Justin by the waist and pulling him in for a kiss. Ethan surprised Justin by the act but he didn’t oppose as their lips locked. When they parted Ethan smiled tasting his lips. “See you soon.” Ethan took off toward city hall.
****
Justin collected himself and crossed the street at the light.
In the library, Justin kept running into roadblocks researching the town’s history. They either said he had to wait for clearance, or they locked the books away. They told him the person with the key was off until tomorrow. He collected some information in the young adult section and left. He needed to meet Ethan at the diner.
Justin hurried across the street and entered the eatery. Right away he was awestruck. The servers of the diner were young, handsome men. Justin looked at the splendor before him when he saw the familiar face of Ethan, waving for him from a booth by the window.
“Welcome to WillowMoss Diner,” said the host. His black braided hair draped across his shoulder, and he was wearing a tie, and a clean, white shirt, with slacks. His face was smooth and fresh; his eyes sparkled a dark and light-brown tone.
“Hello,” said Justin, seeing the host’s name tag. “Shawn.”
“Table for one?” Justin almost said yes when he remembered Ethan.
“No, actually, my friend is waiting for me at a booth.” Justin pointed toward Ethan.
Shawn turned and looked, seeing Ethan, who stopped waving and smiled. Shawn smiled back, turning back to Justin.
“Oh, so, you’re the friend Ethan said he was waiting for, Justin.”
“Yep, that’s me.”
“Well, all right, follow me.” Shawn stepped from behind his podium and took the lead. Justin followed, noticing Shawn had a seductive sway in his hips as he walked. They arrived at the table that already had two menus on it. “Here we are.” Justin took a seat across from Ethan. “Please enjoy your stay,” Shawn said before walking away.
“Amazing,” said Justin, watching Shawn walk back to the podium.
“I have to agree with you on that,” said Ethan, watching the host. “The others are just as incredible.”
“And they’re all guys.”
“It seems that way.”
“But why?”
“Not sure. I figured I’d wait until you got here before I asked.”
A moment later, their waiter arrived. Brown, wavy hair, with puckered lips and blue eyes. He flashed both men a winning smile.
“Hi, my name is Cole, and I’ll be your waiter.” He removed utensils wrapped in a paper napkin from the front pocket of his apron placing them on the men’s right sides. “Our specials for today are shepherd’s pie, grilled cheese with or without tomato, and Caesar salad with the soup of the day, which is tomato.”
“Well, Cole,” began Ethan, “I’ll have the grilled cheese with tomato and the soup.”
“Great, and to drink?”
“A beer would be nice.”
“We have a local brand on tap is that okay?”
“Fine with me.”
“Okay, and for your friend?” Cole asked, turning to Justin.
“The same as him, including the beer.”
“Okay,” Cole said, writing quickly. “Be back with your drinks.” A smile and a wink before Cole walked off.
“Wow, we are going to get lucky today,” said Ethan.
“We’re not here to get lucky,” Justin said, not believing the words that came out of his mouth. “We’re leaving after we eat.”
“What? Why?” protested Ethan.
“First, tell me what you found at city hall.”
Ethan looked at Justin and saw the seriousness on his face. “Well, nothing. They wouldn’t let me see the archives, but they gave me brochures about the historic sights.”
“The library was a bust too.”
“Maybe we should go on some of these tours to get information.”
“I have a better idea.”
Cole returned with the beers and set the two tall glasses down, one in front of each of them. “I’ll be back with your food in a moment, it’s almost ready,” Cole said, starting to turn to leave when Justin stopped him.
“Cole, can I ask you a question?”
Cole turned back to Justin, his smile not wavering. “Yes?”
“We need to find out about the town’s history, and we were wondering if you knew a good place to start?”
“Did you go to the library?”
“Yeah, they didn’t have the information I was looking for. They locked their rarest books up and the person with the key was out.”
“That would be the sheriff. You can go ask him.”
“What’s his name?”
“Sheriff Seth Huge.”
“Where is his office?”
“You can find it at the edge of town going east. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks, we’ll try there.”
“You’re welcome.” Cole turned and walked off.
“So, we’re going to the sheriff now?” asked Ethan.
“I’m not sure. I should call Adam first to see what he wants me to do.”
“What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is, I’m supposed to only do research. Not interview anyone,” Justin said annoyed.
Ethan was catching glimpses from the other male staff.
Justin noticed, and even he got winks, but something else caught his attention.
“Ethan,” Justin said, but Ethan’s focus was on a young redhead talking to an older man at a nearby table. “Ethan,” he said in a sharp tone. Ethan reluctantly turned his attention back to Justin. “Sorry for disturbing you.”
“What? Is Mr. I’ll never have a boyfriend jealous?” Ethan teased, taking a long sip of his beer.
Justin clenched his back teeth as he stared Ethan down. “Ethan, look around. There are no women here. Not one.”
Ethan glanced and saw Justin was right. “Well, maybe this place only caters to men. Women have places like that.”
“Okay, what about this?” Justin held up his napkin, showing the number 34 written in red ink up in the corner.
Ethan wasn’t sure how to respond. He opened his napkin and saw the same number. “I don’t know what this is. Why don’t we ask Cole?”
“Because I promised Adam I wouldn’t interview anyone. I’m only to research.”
“I didn’t promise anyone.”
“Ethan, don’t.”
Ethan smiled as he saw Cole coming with their food.
“Sorry for the wait, but I know you’re going to love it,” said Cole with a smile. Ethan waited until Cole placed the dishes down. “There, enjoy, and if you need anything, I’ll be right over there.” He pointed at the counter where two other splendors were talking to each other.
“Well, Cole, I have one question,” said Ethan, holding up the napkin. “What does this number mean?”
Cole stared at the number, almost losing his smile. “Oh, that. Well, it’s my number.”
“Your number?”
“Yes, are you interested?” asked Cole.
Justin kicked Ethan’s foot, who knew Justin wanted him to say no.
; “Why yes, yes we are,” said Ethan, ignoring the blonde.
“Okay, well, here.” Cole reached into his apron again and removed a white card and handed it to Ethan.
“What’s this?” asked Ethan.
“Where you can find me.” Cole walked away.
Ethan held up the card and saw—guest pass on one side, and flipped it over and saw an address. He handed it to Justin.
“Do you know what this is?” asked Justin.
“I know you do,” smiled Ethan.
“Is this his side job?”
“Whatever. Want to go?”
Justin thought it over. “No, I’m working.”
“Wow, you sound like your crush.”
“Shut up.”
“Adam doesn’t want you, Justin. But I and Cole do.”
Justin considered it and took a deep sigh. Adam didn’t want him, he knew that. He just hoped Patrick would screw up and when Adam needed someone he could trust to console him in his hour of need he’d be there. “Fine, we’ll check it out. But you’re paying.”
“My pleasure,” Ethan said, eating his food.
They finished their meals and Cole gave them their check, thanking them again. but not mentioning anything about the invite he gave them. They left him a nice tip and went to the host to pay their bill.
Shawn stood talking to a blonde-haired man wearing an issued blue tee with a firefighter logo. Shawn’s once perfect smile switched to a more serious, robotic one. Stiff, with no emotion, if he was in a daze. When they saw Justin and Ethan approach, the firefighter walked away as Shawn’s smile returned as if it never left.
“All finished?” asked Shawn.
“Yes,” Justin said.
“I hope you enjoyed your meals.”
“We did,” Ethan said, smiling. Shawn seemed to blush as he rang up their order, and Ethan stopped Justin from paying as he pulled out his wallet. “I got this.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you outside.”
“Okay,” responded Ethan.
Justin left the diner and remembered he needed a phone. He turned to go back in when Ethan came out.
“Hey, I forgot to ask about a phone,” Justin said.
“I didn’t. Shawn said there’s a pay phone at the garage on Baker’s Road.”
“The diner doesn’t have one?”
“Nope.”
“That’s weird.”
“Not as weird as this.” Ethan showed Justin the receipt from the diner. In the top corner, the number 2 was written in red ink.
“Okay, I need to call Adam, now.”
“Then let’s walk. Shawn said it was five blocks away.”
“No, let’s get the Rover, just in case we need it.”
CHAPTER 30
worry
“Justin, Justin? Dammit.” Adam tried to call Justin back, but his call only bounced back. Did his cell phone die? Adam wondered. He called the office, but only got the answering service. Justin shouldn’t be out of range, unless. . .the image crept into his mind. The town? He wouldn’t, unless—. Adam rushed out of the room and dashed down the long hallway to the grand staircase. He tried not to run down the marble stairs, but his urgency to find Justin seemed to cloud his judgment. Once Adam reached the last landing, Shilo, Drusilla Valdez’s lady, stepped into his path.
“Detective Potter, just in time,” she said with a smile. “Patrick and his family are waiting for you in the dining room for breakfast.”
“Right, breakfast,” he said, stepping down the last step. Adam didn’t want to disappoint Patrick, but he needed to be sure Justin was all right. “Listen, can you tell Patrick—” but Adam was cut short.
“Adam,” Patrick said. Adam turned and watched him approach. Patrick touched Adam’s arm. “Tell me what?”
“Pat, listen—”
“Adam.” The angelic voice of Drusilla, echoed in the hall as she moved toward them. Patrick stepped aside as his mother embraced Adam.
Adam hugged her back with full sincerity. They parted, smiling at one another. “I’m so glad you made it; come meet some of our family.” She side glanced Patrick when she saw Adam’s battered face. She took his arm as she turned and took Patrick’s and walked them back to the dining room.
Adam knew he had to wait and bide his time—and hope Justin’s cell battery just died.
****
Yuri stopped his hybrid sports car at the massive gate to the Valdez estate. He waited by the call box for the guard to check the guest list.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here, Yuri?” asked Jamie.
“I’m prompted to bring one guest. I thought you liked parties?”
“I do, but this is your ex’s parents’ party. Won’t they be upset?”
“My ex has moved on and I’m still close with his family. I was invited, so stop worrying.”
“All clear, Mr. Jin,” came back a man’s voice. “Enjoy your stay.” The gate opened, and Yuri revved his sports car up the driveway.
****
Adam sat and enjoyed the delectable meal set before him with Patrick’s family. Everything was fresh and imported, and Adam ate everything offered to him. Drusilla introduced Adam to Patrick’s uncle Bernardo Valdez and his twin cousins, Miguel and Reyes, whose looks rivaled Patrick’s. Adam sat in the middle of Bernardo and Reyes and across from Patrick next to Miguel. Drusilla and Raoul sat at opposite ends of the table. Drusilla also mentioned that Philip and Davet had arrived, but wanted to sleep in after a long flight.
When their meal was over, they all walked to the library to have their coffee. Patrick tried to walk with Adam, but his cousins took up station on both sides of his detective, holding his arms. Drusilla took Patrick’s side and smiled as she touched his arm, calming her son’s jealousy. Raoul and Bernardo took up the rear. They all entered the majestic library. Raoul’s gentleman stepped to him and whispered a message in his ear. Raoul nodded his understanding and whispered something back.
Miguel and Reyes were identical, and they hated being mistaken for the other. Miguel dyed his hair blonde as Reyes kept their natural, black locks. Both playful men pulled Adam to a three-seater bench. Patrick, who glared at his conniving cousins, sat with his mother on the couch. Raoul stood glaring out the window. Bernardo walked over to a single chair and sat turning his attention to Adam. He caught Adam, exchanging glances with Patrick and not his flirtatious sons.
“So, Adam,” Bernardo said, gaining his attention. “Patrick tells us you are a private detective and own your own business.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That line of work has a high risk, does it not?”
“Well, you can say that about a baker,” Adam responded. He caught Patrick smirking before he bit his lip.
“True, but I’ve never seen a baker’s face damaged from burnt cookies.”
“Yes, this is rare, but sometimes unavoidable in my line of work.”
“You do carry a weapon?” Bernardo continued, unaffected by Adam’s comment. Adam looked at Bernardo.
“I do.”
“My nephew doesn’t like guns. I know that for a fact. When he was young—”
“Bernardo,” Drusilla interjected. “There is no need to bring such things up.”
“I am only showing my concern for my nephew, Drusilla.”
Adam jumped to his defense. “I assure you; Patrick’s safety is my highest priority.”
“Do you allow him to join you when you investigate a case?”
“Never.”
“Then why did you have to save his life numerous times?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Patrick told us you saved him countless times,” Miguel chimed in.
Adam glanced at the keen blonde, then back at his father. “Those incidents were out of my control.”
“Adam, it doesn’t matter.” Patrick spoke up, looking at his uncle, who held the same views as his father. “Uncle. Adam saved me and that’s all that should matter.”
“I see,” Be
rnardo said, his eyes still on Adam. “Please, forgive my prying. I am overprotective of my loved ones.”