Man of Mystery – 13
The rest of the week had passed quickly for Justin; he had been busy and felt that he’d accomplished more than he expected to. Paul and Gus had come up with a terrific program to keep track of the things that were to be returned, and Emmett and his crew felt they would have the inventory done in another couple of days. The next step for Justin was seeing if Emmett would be willing to brave the lower floors and the rooms that were down there to finish the inventory. Justin, with Molly and Seiji’s help, had finished up two of the rooms, but thought there had to be more rooms even if they hadn’t found them yet. It was a hard decision for Justin to make. He was almost positive that something evil had taken over his body the other night at Babylon, though he wasn’t sure just what or why.
He’d talked with Brian about it and the only thing the two of them could come up with was the fact that he was interfering with the house and it’s contents. It meant they had to believe in the existence of the supernatural, and it was becoming more and more clear that something wasn’t completely right.
He tried to keep his mind off of the night he’d spent wrapped safe and secure in Brian’s arms. It wasn’t something he wanted to get used to. Well it was, but he knew that was impossible. That kind of relationship wasn’t for him no matter how pleasant Brian’s kisses were. There in lay his confusion; he felt the man shared his beliefs but his reaction from the night before when he left the hotel in a huff left him feeling puzzled.
“Hey Boyo, I brought you a latte.” Justin jumped at Brian’s voice. He was standing inside Craig’s office that he was using as a base of operation.
“Brian, how did you get in here?” Justin smiled unable to resist Brian’s laughing green eyes.
“Drove,” Brian laughed and handed Justin a latte. “I haven’t heard from you for a couple of days, so I thought maybe I’d check in.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Justin said while sipping his latte, “but thanks for the drink.”
“I wasn’t suggesting that you couldn’t look after yourself. I mean you did such a good job of it the other night.” Brian said sarcastically before sitting down on the edge of the large oak desk Justin had been using. “But I am curious about this house. I’ve been in the main foyer, but never really inside.” He looked around the office. “I have to admit your old man had some kind of weird ass decorating sense.”
“Yeah, no shit. It’s pretty obvious he wasn’t gay,” Justin giggled. “Weird definitely, gay no.”
“So, I know this is kind of a personal question, but was your father some kind of evil witch or devil worshiper or something?”
“How articulate,” Justin rolled his eyes. “I have no idea what went on inside his head. I want to get something straight though, I very much doubt Craig Taylor was my birth father; if that’s the term.”
“Really?” Brian laughed. “Well, I guess we can only be sure of our mothers and then not really. It’s not like we can remember.”
“You don’t seem surprised.” Justin took another drink before walking to the sofa on the other side of the room.
“I’m actually not. I always kind of thought the asshole was impotent.”
“I didn’t say that. I said he wasn’t the guy who knocked up my mother.” Justin put his head back shutting his eyes, letting the latte rest on the arm of the sofa. “Fuck my head aches.”
“I’ll get you some aspirin, you must have a medicine cabinet around here.”
“In the bathroom off the kitchen,” Justin mumbled. “Not the Tylenol.”
“I know you’re allergic,” Brian said, already heading for the bathroom.
When he came back with he had four aspirin and a glass of cold water, Justin asked, “How did you know I was allergic to Tylenol?”
“I’m an investigator.”
“You’ve been investigating me?” Justin asked opening one eye. “Have fun, but wouldn’t it be easier to just ask me stuff.”
“I didn’t know you then,” Brian said before sitting on the sofa; he put Justin’s feet in his lap, so the blond could lay flat; his head on a small pillow.
“So your method of getting to know someone is to investigate their backgrounds. Does it work for you, because it doesn’t turn me on,” he commented and swallowed the pills keeping his eyes shut. Brian took off Justin’s shoes and began rubbing his feet, it was relaxing and more than pleasant than arguing.
“I wasn’t doing it to get a date,” Brian huffed. “To be truthful, your father, I mean Craig Taylor, had roused my suspicions a few months ago. He always seemed to be in the vicinity of some rather spectacular robberies. Oh not the Mission Impossible type of thing, but the kind that gets a bit of publicity because of the nature of what was stolen.” He shrugged and Justin could hear the resignation in his voice. “I became curious; I’m an investigator… it’s the nature of the beast.”
“I suppose,” Justin was close to purring, “By the way, I’d consider fucking you if you keep that up.”
“In your dreams Boyo,” Brian laughed but continued his ministrations. “You were some added eye candy. After all, don’t fathers usually have their sons follow in their footsteps?”
“Considering your father, and yes, I know all about him. I really don’t think that’s true. I mean, are you a loud mouthed, bigoted wife and kid beating drunk? If you are, you’re great at hiding it. You might tell Gus to keep quiet, he has a motor mouth on occasion.”
“Point taken.” Brian shut his own eyes, but continued his massage. “If it counts for anything, I know you weren’t helping Craig.”
“I’m glad for the vote of confidence,” he whispered as his breathing slowly evened and he drifted off to sleep.
“Hey Mr. K,” Molly grinned at Brian. “Oh, sleeping beauty,” she whispered. “I thought he was getting a headache. I could feel my temples tightening. It always happens when Justin gets one.”
“I thought that only happened in twins,” Brian said.
“And freaky, witchy families of which apparently Justin and I are part of.” Molly sat on the floor and reached for Justin’s latte and finished it off. “Tastes good cold. I like it even better when it has ice in it.”
“So you know your father was kind of strange,” Brian said, trying to get what information he could out of Molly while Justin slept.
“Yeah, no shit. Just hanging out in these offices will tell you that, and man you should see the shit in the basement. I don’t think he’s my real father; I don’t even look like him and neither does Justin. We look kind of like our mom and this other guy she used to know. I bet there’s a good story about how she managed to get knocked up, not only once, but twice, by the same guy and yet be married to the ultimate control freak.”
“Okay,” Brian agreed and for once he was left speechless. “Have you heard from Gus yet?”
“He’s still sweeping Paul off his feet. He’s a lot like you, you know[…]all Irish schmooze.” Molly set the latte cup down and reached for the one Brian had been drinking from. “Can I finish yours?” she asked.
“Sure,” Brian smiled. “So you think Gus has smooth moves.” He loved to hear about his son. “He’s a lot like his old man.” He’ll have to mention that to Justin in case he hadn’t noticed.
“Gus has always been smooth,” she sighed. “I wish he’d give Seiji a clue.”
“Seiji’s straight, you can’t expect him to have smooth moves,” Brian chuckled.
“Yeah, well even a little bit would be good. I have to tell him everything. He doesn’t want to disrespect me. How can kissing me good night disrespect me? It’s not like I want to have sex or anything. I mean, I’m sooooo not ready for that yet. Seiji probably won’t be ready until he’s thirty. I’ll be old and wrinkled by then.”
“No doubt,” Brian said as he tried to control his laughter. “It happens.”
“How come you and Justin aren’t doing it?”
“It?” Brian played dumb. “You mean fucking?”
“You know what I mean.” She looked at her brother to confirm he was still sleeping. “He’s not bad looking and Paul says he had tons of tricks in New York. I don’t think he’s had any since he got here.”
“Maybe he’s having an off week or two,” Brian smirked. “I know I have been.”
“That’s lame,” she sighed. “If I was a guy, I’d trick all the time. That way when I finally found the one I’d be really, really good.”
“Or too jaded to bother.”
“No, I’d be damn good. I mean I could research all the moves and positions and try them out on people and keep the best ones.”
“I think you have it wrong there, Sweetness. Tricking isn’t about getting practice in all the right moves. It’s about seeking a sexual relief with a stranger so that you don’t have to deal with any repercussions. It really isn’t all that satisfying believe me.”
“So why do you do it?”
“I don’t do it anymore. It’s kind of like a rite of passage. You discover your dick and you use it as often as you can. If you’re smart you realize quickly that what your dick and yourself really wants is one person to be with all the time. So you move on. Stop playing around and start looking for answers in someone else’s eyes.”
“Blue ones by any chance?” Molly snickered.
“Perhaps,” he quickly replied and tried to change the subject. “I thought Seiji was here. Weren’t the two of you helping your brother downstairs.”
“Seiji had to give a class and there’s no way I’m staying down there alone,” she shrugged. “I’m going for a swim.”
“There’s a pool?” Brian asked. “I don’t remember a pool outside.”
“It’s inside, that’s what’s in the left wing. The pool is on the ground floor and the ballroom, how pretentious is that, is on the second floor. My dad’s father had it put in. It’s kind of old-fashioned looking, but it works.”
“Interesting, This house is full of surprises.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” she said and stood up. “Are you going to be here for awhile?”
“I’ll stay until Justin wakes up. I don’t think it’s good for him to be sleeping in this house alone.”
“I was going to say that.” Molly looked relieved. “It’s kind of like something here hates him.”
“What happened to Tomo?” Brian asked and Molly giggled.
“You thought of Tomo? He went back to California. He really only wanted to borrow money from Justin. I think he lent it to him. He didn’t say actually, but that’s kind of what Gus and I thought. We tried to listen in, but they caught us.”
“Don’t you two ever go to school? It might keep you out of trouble.”
“We’re almost done with the year. I mean we know we’re going to graduate and everything already. This time of the year is kind of a waste,” she sighed. “But yes we go to school; we have lots of spare time, so don’t worry. We aren’t being delinquents or anything.”
“I wasn’t worried, just asking,” Brian said shooing her away with his hand. “Go have a swim.”
“Later Mr. K,” she said with a grin and disappeared quickly before he could change his mind and give her something to do.
Brian sat with Justin’s feet in his lap absently massaging them while he thought about what Molly had said and what she didn’t say. There were things that he knew about from his snooping around. He felt a bit of an underlying worry about her going off to swim alone in the house of horror, but he supposed she was used to it. After all, she grew up in the house and it had been safe so far.
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Paul and Gus finished off the pizza they’d ordered in, and were relaxing in front of the wide screen TV and watching music videos when they heard someone in the kitchen. “Hey Livi, I’m in the family room,” Paul said loud enough to be heard.
“Livi?” Gus asked.
“She kind of looks after Justin and me,” Paul grinned. “I asked her to make something special for dessert.”
“Really?” Gus was pleased that Paul had anticipated that he would still be there long enough to eat dessert.
“Why hello. You must be the Gus; the guy everyone around here is talking about.” Livi walked into the room carrying a tray. “I’ve brought you boys, Paul’s favorite double fudge brownie and pecan delight.” She put the tray on the coffee table. “Enjoy it boys.”
“Who’s been talking about me?” Gus asked as he reached for a dessert and then passed it to Paul before getting one himself.”
“Well, there was my Justin of course,” she smiled. “I do wish he’d come back home soon. I really don’t like him in that house.”
“And Paul?” Gus asked sticking his tongue out at the other boy.
“And Paul,” Livi admitted. “Gus, I hope you found everything you need in the spare room. Enjoy your weekend here. If either of you want me, Paul knows how to find me.” She smiled at the two of them and turned to leave.
“Don’t worry about Justin, Livi. My dad will watch out for him and he’s tough.”
Gus took a spoonful of the sinful dessert, it was amazingly rich and chocolaty.
“I’m sure your father will do his best Gus. He’s been watching out for Justin in one way or another since they were much younger.”
“He has?” Gus looked surprised. “He never said anything.”
“He has, but he didn’t know it,” she smiled. “That’s the way life is sometimes; full of surprises. “Your father helped Justin many years ago, and by doing so, the link that bound them in their past lives was forged once again in this one.”
Gus looked puzzled, when Paul leaned over and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ll explain about reincarnation, karma, and stuff later.”
Livi heard Paul, and she smiled softly. “We’re all linked together in this universe, as we have always been since the beginning of time. You as well my precious boy.” Livi had a soft spot for Paul ever since the day Justin had brought him home from the hospital after learning of his accident. Livi had taken him into her heart as if he’d been her own. It was partially from her stubborn refusal to let him think anything but positive thoughts that had brought him this far in his recovery.
After Livi left, they finished their decadent dessert. Paul told Gus about Livi’s beliefs and why he believed them now as well. Gus was having such a good time that he’d forgotten any disabilities Paul might have and he was almost surprised when the young man had to use crutches to walk across the room to the bathroom.
Gus laughed out loud and Paul turned and glared. “You find my crutches amusing?” he asked, sounding insulted.
“No, sorry. I was just thinking that all the drama about me having hissy with you and your crutches or your scarring was stupid. I actually had forgotten that you used them.” Gus stood up and walked over to Paul. He put his hand on the back of Paul’s neck holding his head in place before leaning down and kissing him tenderly. “I really did forget,” he whispered. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
Paul laughed and shook his head before turning back to his mission. “I haven’t had a lot of interaction with anyone other than a lot of doctors, Justin, and Livi, for such a long time, I kind of forget how.”
“You’d better start learning, because I’m not going away. In fact, I’m hoping to drag your ass back with me. It could be fun helping Justin from the home base so to speak.”
Paul didn’t know what to think. Gus was a refreshing change when he’d talked to him on the Internet, and even better in person. He finished up in the bathroom avoiding the mirror over the sink as he usually did. He’d wanted to remove all of the mirrors in the apartment, but he didn’t have the nerve to voice his desires to either Justin or Livi.
He came out of the bathroom and was surprised to find Gus was in his room. “Hey Paul, I’m going to go to bed. I know it’s barely midnight, but I’m tired from the trip.”
“I’m tired too,” Paul smiled. “You know this whole meeting thing and being friendly and everything takes a lot out of a guy.”
Gus only laughed. “What time to do you get up in the morning?” he asked.
“I’m up by six. I do my barre exercises for an hour or so and then I like to shower and sit in the hot tub. Justin says I’m doing too much, but a dancer is used to exercising, it feels strange to not do them,” he shrugged. “I’m not the prettiest at the barre, but I’m getting better.”
“I’ll join you,” Gus smiled. “It won’t hurt me to try the exercises and it might even help my tai chi.”
“It does wonders for tai chi or tai chi does wonders for dance,” Paul said, his voice animated. “It’s what kept me sane at school and for that I have Justin to thank.” He looked down. “I’m not exactly the jock type so you can only imagine my life in a military school. Justin taught me tai chi, which really helped and he used to take me dancing on the weekends. He’s an amazing dancer, in fact, he could have danced professionally, but he said he didn’t like all the work that was involved to be a professional.”
“Justin seems to do lots of things well.” Gus thought of everything he already knew about the older man. “Kind of like my dad. He does a lot of things too. He said he likes to keep people guessing.”
“Hey, that’s what Justin says too. He told me he never liked to be pegged for one kind of person. He likes to keep an air of mystery around him.”
“No shit, he’s not easy to get to know.” Gus shook his head. “I mean he’s nice and everything, but anything I know about him kind came from other people. Molly talked about him for years. I always thought he was some kind of god the way she’d go on, and she hadn’t seen him since grade school.”
“That’s the one thing that Justin regretted more than anything; the loss of contact with his mother and sister. He was afraid to even try to keep in touch after the first few times. I think his father was a bastard about it. He doesn’t really say, but he gets real quiet when the subject comes up.”
“That sucks,” Gus said. “But he’s so much like my dad.”
“You know we should try and get them together. I think Justin needs someone like your dad and I bet he could use a Justin in his life,” Paul grinned at his new friend.
“I think that would be cool. I’d love to have Justin as another dad.” He blushed, “I kind of came on to him when we first met. He probably thinks I’m a goof.”
Paul giggled, “I did the same thing. Justin is kind of funny; never really has any kind of relationship with anyone more than once. Sort of a fuck ‘em and leave ‘em kind of philosophy. I think it’s because he’s afraid he’ll get hurt if he gets to know anyone real well. He says he doesn’t fuck his friends and he also said he likes his guys older not younger than him.”
“I’ll leave you alone, and see you in the morning.” Gus leaned over and kissed Paul once again. “I want you to get used to my lips,” he said softly before turning and heading for his own bedroom.
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Molly felt funny walking to the pool. It was the first swim she’d had in a couple of weeks. She liked swimming as a form of exercise and had missed it. But with one thing or another; Craig dying, her mother acting weird, and Justin arriving, she’d left swimming behind; just happy to survive each day.
She slipped her dress over her head. Since no one was around, she felt safe in swimming nude. It was her favorite way to swim. She walked down the stairs letting the cool water cover her bit by bit. Normally, she would have just jumped in, but something was making her nervous so she approached her swim cautiously.
She could hear her breath echoing through the large room that held only small pieces of patio furniture, a few plants, and a bench that held a stack of fluffy towels. The windows were hard to see through as they were steamy from the warmth of the pool water and she made a mental note to turn on the exhaust system. Not having anyone looking after the house and its contents wasn’t something she was used to.
She swam one lap, then two, but stopped when she felt someone watching her. She stood up and looked around. The room was empty enough that she knew that there was no one there. “Hello,” she called out wincing at the echo. Of course no one answered and she dove back under the water to continue her laps. A dark mist swirled around the ceiling, forming into an almost solid entity and then dissipating into a mist once again.
Seiji, back in his Dojo was finishing up his class. He was doing the last of the forms when he felt an icy cold feeling envelope his body. He knew instantly that Molly was in trouble. There was no way he’d be able to get to her house in time to help her so he stopped his form, which surprised his clients, ran to his personal quarters and found his phone and dialed Brian. If anyone could get to Molly fast enough it would be him. He’d at least know Justin’s cell number, something Seiji didn’t have.
“Seiji,” Brian said answering the phone quickly so it wouldn’t wake Justin.
“Molly’s in trouble,” Seiji managed to say.
Brian didn’t ask for details. Instead, he stood up, his body fluid as he moved so quickly it was almost surrealistic. He ran in the direction that Molly had indicated the pool room was only to find the doors shut tight. He barely paused, before raising his foot and kicking the door open. Molly was floating face down in the center of the pool, the water around her swirling, bubbling and washing over her body.
Not sure of the depth of the pool, Brian dove in low, reaching Molly’s body before he’d surfaced once. He stood up turning her over beginning to clear her airway as he moved her to the side of the pool and laid her on the tiles and began resuscitation.
Barely three minutes later Molly coughed out water and began to breathe on her own. She looked up at Brian and began to cry. When she could talk, she said, “Something pushed me to the bottom of the pool and wouldn’t let me up. It was like a giant rock was holding me down. I couldn’t do anything. Oh my gawd I’m naked,” she cried out and sat up so she could pull her knees to her chest.
Brian laughed. He took his wet shirt off and covered her up as best he could. “If you can walk, you can get dressed.”
“Don’t you dare leave me in here,” she said standing up, and wrapping the shirt around her. “My dress is over there.” She grabbed Brian’s hand pulling him with her while she retrieved her dress. “Where’s Justin?”
“He was sleeping remember,” Brian said, thinking sadly of his now ruined Prada boots as they squished across the floor.
“I don’t like it. He never sleeps this heavily even when he has a headache. We’ve got to hurry. He might be in trouble.”
Brian had been uneasy about leaving Justin, he was glad that she didn’t want to linger in the pool room, but instead was willing to go to her brother. “Do you want to get some other clothes in your room?” he asked.
“No, we need to go to Justin,” she said as she ran out the door; all thoughts of her near death experience forgotten in her concern for her brother.
The two of them ran through the house to Craig’s office. When they arrived, they found the sofa empty and no sign of Justin anywhere. They stood in the middle of the room with panic in their eyes.
“Where the fuck did he go?” Brian asked as his eyes ran over the rooms.
“I don’t know, but aren’t those his glasses?” Molly asked. She leaned over and picked up Justin’s discarded glasses off the floor, one of the lenses was broken. “His shoes are still here. He doesn’t usually walk around in his stocking feet.” Molly started to cry. “I knew it, I just damn well knew it. Things were going just too damn good. This house hates Justin and it hates me too.”
Brian listened to Molly with one ear as he paced the room looking for some idea as to where Justin might have disappeared to. “What’s behind this wall?” he asked. Something didn’t look quite right about it.
“I don’t know, another room?” Molly looked. “There’s a secret door over there that lets us go downstairs to this real creepy bunch of rooms,” she shuddered remembering. “We haven’t seen everything there.”
Brian was running his hands over the paneling on the wall he was interested in. “There has to be a way to get in here,” he muttered to himself. Just then Seiji ran into the room.
“Molly, you’re okay,” he gasped gathering her into his arms.
“Brian saved me,” she said letting herself sink into the strength of the man holding her.
“He saved you. He’s the one who called me,” Brian said. “Seiji, how in hell do I get this wall moved? Something’s behind here and Justin is missing.”
“Fuck,” Seiji said. “All the way over here I was thinking that whatever is evil here was using Molly to get to Justin.”
“Justin will be okay, he’s pretty smart,” Molly said though her voice trembled.
“You know the best thing in the world would be to burn this fucking place to the ground,” Brian muttered under his breath. His fingers found the hidden spot in the wall that released the catch, moving a section of the wall.
“Ewwwwwww,” Molly said looking inside. “That’s just too creepy. The room had been a bedroom. In a rocking chair sat the mummified body of a woman dressed in the style of dress that someone would have worn in the seventeen hundreds. It was apparent from the furniture and the dust, that this room had been sealed off since the time of the original structure. Molly, peered at a journal that was clutched in one of the woman’s hands. “It says Alicia Melinda Taylor 1785 I wonder who she is, I mean I know what her name is.”
“Who the fuck cares. We need to find Justin.” Brian’s eyes were beginning to show the panic he felt inside. “Leave this freak show for now, we’ll deal with it later. Where is the entrance to the basement?”
Molly turned and stared at Brian, he was sounding almost hysterical. He didn’t hardly mess his hair up rescuing her, but since missing her brother, he’d turned into another man.
“I’ll show you,” Seiji piped up. Both is Japanese and Irish upbringing screamed that having this dead lady in the house wasn’t a good thing. Her spirit would never have been allowed to move forward. He had noticed the hex signs painted on the floor around her body. He didn’t have time to study them, but he couldn’t help but wonder if they were to keep her safe from evil and unable to leave the circle of protection, eventually died.
Seiji and Brian headed for the secret door that led to the basement. Molly followed behind them, picking up flashlights from the where they were kept. She thrust a light into Brian’s hands. “You can’t see in the dark Mr. K,” she murmured still in awe of his distress over her brother.
Brian nodded his thanks. “Stay here Molly.”
“Not a chance in hell,” Molly said pushing past Brian. “He’s my brother.”
“I don’t think we should leave Molly alone Brian,” Seiji added. “I can feel the evil in this house and it is stronger than ever.”
“Well it gets points for freaking us all out, I’ll give the son of a bitch that,” Brian grumbled. “Come on then gang, this is beginning to feel a lot like one of those Scooby movies.”
They reached the bottom of the stairs when Brian’s foot hit something. He shone the light down only to find Justin staring up at him and rubbing his side. “Brian, you kicked me.”
“Justin.” Brian fell to his knees and wrapped him in his arms. “What are you doing down here?”
“I don’t know, the last thing I remember was laying on the sofa with you rubbing my feet.” He looked at Seiji and Molly. “You don’t think I was sleep walking do you?”
“Have you ever done it before? Brian asked.
“Not that I am aware of,” he said trying to pull himself out of Brian’s grasp, but he held on tight. “Brian, let me go, you’re crushing me.”
“Oh, sorry,” Brian said, releasing his hold. He didn’t sound sorry, but stood up and reached down to pull Justin to his feet. “Come on Boyo, I’m in no mood to spend time down here. Besides, we have a relative of yours to introduce you to.”
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Paul lay in his bed painfully aware that Gus was only a few feet away on the other side of the wall. He’d long ago given up the hope of ever having a boyfriend. Getting what sexual release he needed from his right hand or his favorite escort service. What he really missed, more than the sex, was the feeling of closeness. Of being able to snuggle up to another human being who had feelings for him. Of having someone to talk to about his day who cared what he had to say.
Gus stood outside of Paul’s door for almost half an hour getting up the nerve to knock. He finally did, his knock so soft it could almost be ignored by anyone wanting to pretend they were asleep.
“Come in,” Paul said. “Is there something you need?” he asked Gus who stood in the doorway.
“I was kind of hoping you’d let me share your bed.”
“You were?” Hope could be heard in Paul’s voice.
“Yes, we don’t have to do anything; sex I mean. I just thought it would be nice to be together, close, you know.”
“I know,” Paul smiled in the dark. “Come on in. Besides, in the dark you can’t see my scars.”
“I don’t see them in the daylight either,” Gus replied, his voice so soft it was a caress. In three strides he was beside the bed and soon slipped between the silky cotton sheets. He lay on his back, his head on the pillow staring up at the ceiling. He sighed once and the lifted his arm. “Get over here Babe, I want to hold you.”
Paul hesitated only for a second before scooting over, his head found that perfect spot on Gus’ chest and he sighed with contentment as Gus’ arm pulled him even closer. They both relaxed enough that sleep soon overtook them.
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“Sandy, I don’t think I can stay here any longer,” Justin was explaining to his friend. “How long is the probate going to take?” He was on his cell phone, Brian sitting beside him on the sofa in his hotel room. Molly had gone to Seiji’s leaving the two of them alone.
“Justin, with an estate this large it takes time,” Sandy sighed. “I told you that. Thanks for the inventory by the way. Tell Brian his men did good work. That is him beside you isn’t it?”
“Sandy, don’t even let me think you’ve got cameras on me,” Justin laughed.
“I’d tell you I’m psychic but I’m sure you’ve had enough of that crap by now. Actually, I could hear him breathing, he has a deviated septum.” Justin looked at Brian and giggled, making the other man raise his eyebrows in question.
“Jay, I’ll do what I can as fast as I can. I have my whole team working on this. I can confirm that your mother did go to Vence like she said. I have her phone number and the address of where she’s staying.”
“Email ma the information would you?” Justin replied. “I don’t have anything to write it down with and would probably lose it anyway.”
“I’m sending some of my team to box up everything we can to send on to the actual owners. I must say your family managed to liberate a lot of shit from people.”
“You sure this is going to work?” Justin asked again. “I don’t want to have any of this coming back on my family. I could give a shit about Craig Taylor, but my mom doesn’t deserve any publicity.”
“Of course it will work,” Sandy assured his friend. “Nothing will be mailed from your hometown. It’ll come from all over the world and the return addresses will all be fictitious, no finger prints or any other kind of DNA will be found – everything will be cleaned and wrapped in a sterile environment. I’m not a dummy, Jay.”
“It would be nice to know the reaction of people when they get their stuff,” Justin sighed. “But I guess that’s too much to ask for.”
“No, my people will be watching just for fun,” he giggled. “Your little project has livened us all up around here.”
“But not enough to crawl out of your hole,” Justin teased
“No, but that’s the nature of the beast. You can’t have everything,” he sighed. “And truthfully, I don’t miss the outside world. I’ve got everything I need right here and if I don’t, well fuck it, I guess I didn’t need it anyway.”
“No shit,” Justin laughed, unconsciously leaning closer to Brian. “I hope that your guys can figure out what in hell is living in my old home. Brian and I are going to see that Alicia is buried properly and not in the family plots. I figure she’s had enough of that shit. I found the perfect spot for her on a hill overlooking the river. I bought the land and I’ll make it nice for her.”
“You’re a good man Jay,” Sandy smiled. Because it was Justin who was responsible for giving him his start and who had kept him safe when he was unable to himself; he owed his friend his life.
“I’m just me,” Justin sighed. “This homecoming has been something else.”
“Speaking of that, Kinney’s kid has made a hit with Paul.” Sandy settled into his chair for a bit of gossip. “Livi told me they slept in the same bed both nights he stayed and that Paul has been almost his old cheerful self.”
“I hope things work out for them.” Justin looked at Brian. “Kinney men have a way of growing on you.”
“I’m beginning to realize that. I hope there isn’t anymore, I’m quite content where I am,” Sandy joked. “Give Brian a kiss for me, I’ll keep in touch.”
Justin disconnected from his call, a small smile on his face. He leaned his head on Brian’s shoulder. “Sandy says hi.”
“Oh.”
“He said to give you a kiss,” Justin sighed. “I will, but not now, now I’m just going to relax. I never thought I’d see the day when a hotel room was better than staying at my own house.”
“Sleeping in the bus station is better than that house,” Brian shuddered. “Fuck knows what that poor woman went through.”
“I have some journals, the writing is pretty bad, but I imagine that along with the one she had on her lap, it would explain a lot.” Justin looked up at him. “I just can’t make myself read them; they’re too sad.”
“We’ll save them for later… much, much later,” Brian said. “Not to be nosey, but I gather that you know your father was a thief.”
“Yeah, apparently it runs in the family,” he chuckled. “I am as usual the odd man out, I return the stuff they stole – stealing from the Taylors and giving it back. Sandy’s helping me and I’ll do some stuff myself.”
“I can help,” Brian offered.
“No thanks, you’ve done enough. Have you talked to Gus since he got back?” Justin asked. “I thought maybe he would have been over by now.”
“He’s been busy with school and when he’s not there, he’s on the Internet talking to Paul,” Brian laughed. “I don’t ever remember being that smitten at his age with anyone. What’s this world coming to?”
“Paul likes Gus too. They slept together you know, but they didn’t have sex.”
“Not even a blow job?” Brian asked surprised at his son’s restraint.
“Not even a blow job,” Justin replied. “Though I think Paul was disappointed about that one.”
“Maybe when things settle down, you and Paul could visit us at our place.”
“Maybe,” Justin answered and reluctantly stood up. “I have to make a couple of plane reservations. Molly and I are going to see my mother. We need some explanation of what in hell went on with our lives.”
“I can see how you might need to know,” Brian paused. “Is it necessary for you to leave now? There’s still a lot to be done with the estate.”
“You do know that I really don’t give a crap about Craig’s money don’t you? I have no intention of using a dime of it for anything including returning the shit he stole. I don’t need it and even if I did, I wouldn’t touch it.”
“You can’t just pretend it isn’t there?”
“No, there’s too much to do that. But what I can do is liquidate every asset involved with the estate and give it away anonymously.”
“You mean set up some kind of foundation?” Brian asked.
“No, there’s room in even the best of them for corruption and I’m sure Craig’s evilness would seep through. I’ll do it myself until the last cent has disappeared to someone else.”
“Sounds like a big job.”
“Actually, Sandy figures I can have it gone in a year. He’s mapping out my strategy now. And don’t forget that some of what was stolen was more than a couple of hundred years ago. There’ll be a lot involved getting the money to decedents.”
“People will talk,” Brian cautioned.
“Maybe, but they won’t know my real name or how to find me. I’ll deal with it.” Justin turned to him confident that he knew what he was doing.
“Fine,” Brian said, thinking that he would watch Justin’s back no matter what the blond thought. It was a rough world out there, rougher than Justin might imagine.
“Now you can buy me dinner. I’m hungry and it’s close to eight.”
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll take you to my place for dinner. Molly’s there with Gus and no doubt Seiji will be hanging around. We can have some family time.”
Justin looked at Brian, one eyebrow cocked, questioning for a few seconds. “All right, I guess it’ll be the same in your den with the kids around.”
“Don’t count on it Boyo,” Brian laughed pleased that Justin had agreed.
While Justin changed his clothes, Brian called Gus to arrange for some food. His son was always in the kitchen concocting something; he knew the boy would be up for the challenge.
“I’m ready,” Justin said emerging from his bathroom.
Brian was speechless. Justin had put on a pair of much washed blue jeans that moulded themselves to his body. He was in the process of doing up the buttons of a sheer cotton gauze shirt in a shade of blue that matched his eyes. “Damn you look good,” Brian finally said.
“Why thank you.” Justin smiled almost shy at the heartfelt compliment. “I feel good too. Did I ever thank you for saving the asses of the Taylor kids the other day?”
“Yes, but I don’t mind if you want to thank me more tangibly and I don’t mean money.” Brian leered making Justin laugh out loud.
“Not now dear, we have to eat dinner,” he said in a falsetto.
Laughing, they linked arms and headed for the door. Brian was pleased with the easy camaraderie they had developed. It was nice to have a friend like him.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Aubrey drove into Villa Rosa; the villa owned by Justin. He’d been inside the gates before, today he needed to see something of his son. He missed him more today for some reason than on most other days. It was an ache that never disappeared, one he had become familiar with since the day he had been born.
He missed Molly too, but it wasn’t quite the same. Maybe, because Molly hadn’t needed him as much as Justin, he didn’t feel as helpless about Molly. With Justin it was a never-ending battle to not head back to the States and see that Craig Taylor burned in hell.
“Can I help you?” a man came out from behind a building. “Oh Mr. Thomas it’s you.” Aubrey had been a frequent visitor since Justin had purchased Villa Rosa. “Mr. Taylor is returning next week. He called earlier today. You always manage to drop in here to visit when he’s not home.”
“Wonderful, perhaps we’ll meet up this time. I’m not scheduled for another out of town meeting for at least three weeks.”
“Come on in and have a cup of coffee, I baked scones today,” he laughed. “It’s strange, after all these years, you’ll finally be able to meet Mr. Taylor.”
“Yes, life is strange Pierre,” Aubrey said. “Maybe I will stay for a coffee. He followed the caretaker into the villa.
“You get the coffee, I’ll get the scones,” Pierre said. “Did you see the latest magazine article on Mr. Taylor? It says that he’s going to win an Oscar for that animated film he produced. It said his concept was brilliant.”
“I saw it,” Aubrey smiled. “But we knew that already didn’t we Pierre.” He poured them each some coffee with easy familiarity. They were long time friends, even if Pierre insisted on calling him Mister Thomas.
“You going to tell him?” Pierre asked as he sat at the table.
“I don’t know,” Aubrey said looking off into the distance. The villa reflected Justin in every room. He’d used strong vivid colors combined with natural fabrics in his decorating. The art on his walls were a combination of his own work and that of his friends. Three pieces had been done by Aubrey. Justin would never know the flush of pleasure Aubrey had when they had appeared. He had liked his work well enough to buy it and it didn’t come cheap.
“How’s your lady doing? She looked so sad when I saw her in the market the other day.”
“She’s doing much better. I think she needed to come to terms with everything that’s happened the last couple of weeks. Now she needs to move on with her life.”
“Life ends and life begins; it’s the way,” Pierre said. “Your lady has had her share of pain, and now she can begin the rest of her life with happier times to look forward to.”
“If our children can forgive us.” Aubrey bent his head down, he couldn’t look at his old friend who knew so much of the heartache he’d felt over the years.
“They will forgive. They’re your children. They have their mother and you in them and the two of you are good people. Give them the truth and give them time.”
The two men visited until the coffee and scones were finished. Reluctantly, Aubrey stood up to leave. “I’ll be back Pierre; when Justin is here.”
“Do you want me to call when he arrives?” Pierre asked as they walked to Aubrey’s car.
“No, I’ll know,” Aubrey smiled, his smile sad. “I always know.”
He backed out of the driveway ready to drive back to Vence when he saw an old man walking on the side of the road. He stopped and rolled down his window. “Do you need a ride?” he asked in English and in French.
The old man turned to him. “Two hundred and ten years is a long time to pay for one mistake. But the time has come to cancel the debt that one man tricked another into making. Evil is strong as it always is, but good can triumph because good is stronger. But Evil will not give up without a fight and evil wants your son for its own. Take care my friend; take care of what is yours.”
“Excuse me?” Aubrey said as he turned to put the car in gear. He turned back to the old man but he’d disappeared into the shadows. Aubrey looked up at the full moon, a dark cloud passed slowly over and it turned the night sky even darker until a shooting star crossed the heavens lighting the sky once again.