Round and Round (12 page)

Angus pushed away from the wall and went back into Kevin’s room. Zach sat in the chair, and Kevin was asleep. He looked peaceful, almost angelic. Angus didn’t want to disturb him, so he pulled up a chair and sat down, settling in for a while. After a few minutes, an orderly came in the room. “I’m going to take you down for some tests,” he told Kevin, who slid his eyes open and nodded once. Most likely all he wanted to do was sleep.

The orderly unlocked the bed and moved around the cables, attaching the IV and oxygen to the bed. Then he wheeled him out of the room, and Angus stared at where he’d been and then looked at Zach.

“What is it you aren’t telling him?” Zach asked. “I know there’s something. You keep looking at him and opening your mouth and then closing it again, like you can’t make up your mind about something.”

Angus nodded. “The fire at his building was set by the same guy that burned the club.” Angus didn’t want to go into any more.

“And you don’t think it’s a coincidence.”

“It’s not. That’s the problem.”

“You think he’s after Kevin?” Zach whispered with fear in his voice, as though the arsonist might hear.

Angus nodded. “I know he is. Kevin is in his sights.”

Zach gasped and put his hand over his mouth. “I won’t ask how you know because you probably can’t talk about it.” That seemed to be a concept Zach was familiar with, and Angus wondered why, but he didn’t ask for the same reason Zach hadn’t. “But you’re sure.”

“Yeah. The police are going to want to talk to Kevin, but I think I put them off. He isn’t going to be able to talk for a while and….”

“If it’s that asshole who went after Kevin at the club, he won’t have anything to do with him anyway.” Zach sounded positive. “I can call Bull and we’ll get Kevin lawyered up really fast. They can send someone else if they want, but not him.”

Angus chuckled; he couldn’t help it. “Antonio can be a pain in the ass, there’s no doubt about that. But he’s a good cop, and he always tries to get to the bottom of what is truly going on. He usually does it like a wrecking ball, but he gets results.”

Zach humphed. “He’s an asshole.”

“Yes, he is, and it comes quite naturally to him.”

Now Zach chuckled. “So is he one of those guys you need to worry about if he’s being nice to you, because he’s sharpening the knife and getting ready to plunge it in? I know guys like that. Some of the men at the club can be vicious. They say one thing to your face and are dissing you behind your back.”

“With Antonio, if he’s being nice, it’s because he’s got something on you and he’s letting you hang yourself. Otherwise he’s pretty much an ass.” Angus sighed, realizing there was a pattern there. He’d dated a lot of guys who were asses, and he seemed to go from one ass to the next ass… and not in a good way. “I reminded him that Kevin was the victim here, not a suspect.”

“Well….” Zach didn’t seem convinced, and that was fine. Antonio had his own problems, and he was going to have to deal with them. “I won’t leave Kevin alone with him if he shows up, and I’ll call Bull if I need to.” Angus had seen Bull, and he could intimidate anyone.

“Just get Kevin to help the police if he can so that they can catch this arsonist and keep him out of danger. That’s what really matters here. As long as this guy is loose, Kevin is in danger.” He needed to make Zach understand. “This guy was at the fire, watching what was happening as part of the crowd. He seems to like to do that, and we’re all so busy we don’t notice him.” Angus made a note to check out the people watching the fire at his next call. It was something he needed to get better at. “I’ll do what I can,” Angus promised.

“Fine,” Zach huffed. “I take it you intend to leave it to me to give him the bad news.”

“No,” Angus said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll be here to talk to him.” He wasn’t sure how to tell him yet, but he’d figure it out.

“Good,” Zach said and his lips curled upward just a little. “Bull does that same thing when he thinks I’m being a pain.” Zach stood and crossed his arms. “Though he does it better than you. The bald-head thing carries it off better. It also makes him sexier, and you know what they say about bald men….” Zach squinted and chuckled.

Angus rolled his eyes. There was definitely such a thing as too much information, and it seemed like Zach was getting close to it. They grew quiet for a while, and Angus wished he had something to read. After a few minutes he got up and left the room in search of coffee and something to do. To be nice, when he found a machine, he got two cups and brought one back to Zach.

“Thank God,” Zach murmured. “The stuff here is terrible, but I needed some.”

“Tell me about it,” Angus breathed.

“Can I ask you something? You and Kevin had one date. So why are you here? It isn’t like you’ve been together a long time or anything. You could just walk away.” Zach sipped from his cup.

“You get right to the heart of things, don’t you?”

“Why beat around the bush? I want to know, so I asked. What gives? He said your date was nice and all, but you already know I got the phone call because you were mean. So why are you here?”

“I wasn’t mean. I was being defensive,” Angus countered more sharply than he’d intended. “And we had a great time together.” He felt his defenses rising once again. “He’s a lot of fun to be with.”

“That doesn’t answer why you’re here on your day off. I can sit with him just fine, and yet here you are.”

Angus swallowed. “I like him, okay? He’s special. And you’re as nosy as they come.”

“It’s what I do. Kevin hasn’t had a lot of luck with guys. As you said, he’s really special and wonderful, but people don’t tend to stick around, and it rips him up.” Zach finished his coffee and dropped the cup in the trash. “I don’t want to see him get hurt again.” Zach’s gaze was hard, and Angus had opened his mouth to tell him he needed to mind his own business and that he wasn’t Kevin’s father or something when the orderly rolled Kevin’s bed back into the room and then fussed to get everything put back into place.

“How did it go?” Angus asked.

Kevin shrugged and lifted his mask. “It hurts to breathe sometimes.”

“I know. I’ve gotten some smoke really bad more than once. You need to give things time to heal.” Angus gently stroked Kevin’s forehead. “I have some things to tell you, but you have to stay calm, okay?” Angus asked, and Kevin nodded. “The police are going to want to talk to you. I’m surprised they aren’t here already. The fire at your building was set on purpose by the same man who tried to burn the club.”

“How do you know?” Kevin asked, and then he lowered his mask back into place.

“He left a note. The thing is, he’s fixated on you because of what you did at the club. You spoiled his fun… so that’s why he said he set your building on fire.”

Kevin blinked and tears welled in his eyes. He lifted the mask. “So Mrs. Vertebedian is dead because of me? All of this is because of me.”

“Put the mask back in place,” Zach said gently and glared at Angus.

“Of course not,” Angus said, staring right back. He turned his attention back to Kevin “This isn’t your fault, and Mrs. V isn’t dead because of you. She died because of the arsonist, and we’re going to find him. But the police need your help. Do you think you can do that?”

“I’ll try,” Kevin said. “I should have been able to protect her,” he mumbled and then clamped his eyes closed.

Angus took his hand and stroked his fingers. “You did all you could,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault. None of this is your fault. You have to know that.”

“Mrs. V doesn’t have any family. I was as close to family as she had,” Kevin said. “I need to help make the arrangements for her.”

“Bull and I will find out what needs to be done,” Zach said. “Don’t worry about that. Just concentrate on getting better for now. You need to make your lungs stronger.”

Kevin nodded, but Angus could feel the tension in the hand he was holding. “Just relax and try to get some rest. Everything will still be there. Zach will make sure Mrs. V is taken care of.” In essence she was a murder victim, so he figured it would be some time before the body would be released anyway. Eventually Kevin calmed down and fell back to sleep. Once he was resting, Angus allowed himself a chance to relax a little.

Until Antonio stomped into the room like a herd of cattle. Kevin started awake, and Angus glared at the intruder.

“Subtlety was never your strong suit,” Angus said.

“I’m going to call Bull,” Zach said and pulled out his phone. He made the call and then hung up. “You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to,” Zach told Kevin. “Bull said if he can’t be civil, then he can talk to the lawyer.”

“Your reputation precedes you,” Angus said. “Now have a seat and try not to act like a complete jerk. Kevin has had a difficult time of it, so be gentle.” Angus leaned closer. “Remember, he isn’t a suspect.” He got up and pulled the chair next to the bed, glaring at Antonio until he sat down.

“I’m Officer Antonio Reyes. I’m investigating the fire at your apartment building, which we believe is related to the fire at Bronco’s. At the fire at your building, we discovered a note from the man we believe set the fire, and I’m afraid he’s attached himself to you.”

Angus watched Kevin’s reaction, even though he already knew the information presented so far. Sometimes the second time, or hearing it from a police officer, made things feel more real. “What do you want from me?” Kevin was clearly suspicious.

“Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Have you seen anyone hanging around outside your building that you don’t know? Or have you noticed anyone who might be following you?”

“No,” Kevin answered and lifted his mask a little. “But I wasn’t looking for anyone, either.” He put the mask back down.

“Have you had any strange phone calls?” Antonio asked, and Kevin shook his head.

“Kevin,” Angus said. “I know you looked at the video at the station and saw how the arsonist evaded the cameras. Did you happen to notice anyone behaving strangely over the last few days? It may have been at the grocery store or when you were getting gas. Someone who was trying not to be seen.”

Kevin stared back at him, blinking, then shook his head. “I wasn’t looking for anyone.” He seemed seconds away from breaking down. Angus took his hand, and Zach held the other one.

“That’s okay,” Antonio said. “I know you wouldn’t be looking, and we don’t know how closely he’s been watching you, but our arsonist did seem to know you were home.” Antonio consulted his notes. “Can you tell me what happened when the fire started? Where were you?”

“I was having afternoon coffee with Mrs. V,” he began and closed his eyes. “She comes over on the afternoons when I don’t work, and we have tea, which is really coffee. She always brings something she baked, and we talk… or we used to. I worked early this morning and got home about two. She came up at three or so. I made coffee, and then we sat down together and were talking the way we usually did. I remember feeling really tired, and then I woke up outside on the ground finding it hard to breathe.”

Antonio took notes, and Angus sent him a questioning look, but he gave nothing away. “Do you remember hitting your head?”

“No.” He kept lifting his mask, and Angus helped him put it back into place.

“I think that’s enough, Antonio,” Angus said. “The oxygen is important, and talking will stress his lungs.”

“Thank you, Kevin. You’ve been very helpful.” Antonio lightly touched Kevin’s arm and then stood and left the room. Angus squeezed Kevin’s fingers and then followed Antonio out into the hall. He was already on the phone. “I need a full toxicology report,” he was saying. “It’s possible she was drugged and traces could still be in her system.” He hung up and then turned to Angus. “We may have caught a break.”

“Yes, and remember you didn’t have to beat anyone to get it. Kevin was calm, and you got information from him he didn’t even know he had. Good things happen when you mind your manners.”

Antonio’s gaze burned with anger. “You aren’t my fucking mother,” he ground out between his teeth.

“Maybe not. But you need to let go of all this anger.” Angus stepped closer and lowered his voice. “It’s the main reason we didn’t work.” There were other reasons as well, but Antonio’s hot head and constant state of agitation and anger at the world had been a huge reason Angus had decided that a long-term thing with Antonio wouldn’t be a good idea. He looked back toward Kevin’s room. “I need to get back.”

“Tell him to call me if he remembers anything.”

“I will.”

Antonio hurried to the elevator and was already on the phone by the time the doors closed. Angus turned and went back into Kevin’s room. He found Kevin asleep and Zach glaring at him once again.

“I went out in the hall and heard you,” Zach said. “Are you and him…?”

“No,” Angus answered. “Antonio and I had a thing once, but”—he grinned—“could you see yourself with him for the next twenty years?”

“I’d kick his ass,” Zach said, and Angus didn’t doubt that he would.

“That’s what I wanted to do after a week or so. He’s a good guy and very dedicated, but his people skills suck.”

“I’m not your first?” Kevin asked sleepily. “I thought I popped your cherry.” He began to laugh and then started coughing. Angus rubbed his arm and let the cough work its way through before settling him back on the bed.

“Take it easy. Laughing is not good for you right now.”

Zach got the mask back in place, and a nurse came in to check that everything was okay. She scolded him for cracking jokes and lightly admonished Kevin to just relax. Then she checked his mask. “We can put you on oxygen only through your nose if you settle down, but not until we know you’re getting enough air into your lungs.”

“Sorry,” Kevin said softly. He closed his eyes once again.

“Just be careful, honey, and you’ll be fine.” She fussed over Kevin, making sure he was comfortable, and then left the room.

“Do you want to go back with the cop?” Kevin asked. “He seems like he’d be more your type than me.”

“You think pain in the ass is my type?” Angus said.

“No, but he is strong and handsome in a dreamy sort of way. Not as hot as you, but still nice-looking.” The implication being that Kevin didn’t think he was handsome. Angus didn’t like that at all.