So Weeps the Willow - 23. Salix Bablyonica - 1 Listless

Salix Babylonica 1 - Listless

The grounds of the place were dominated by several large, old willow trees that towered over the surrounding stone wall and swayed soundlessly in the wind like lost souls.

Haruki Murakami

Ben saw Rush sitting on a park bench, under the enormous weeping willow, next to the pond, so close to their home. He was looking straight forward, not moving, and he seemed so alone.

As he neared, the paralegal got the impression Rush was shrinking and the tree was growing. The viney branches, swaying in the breeze, framed the man, light filtering through the dead leaves which in turn brought out the gray in Rush’s hair.

Ben snickered. Rush was so sensitive about his graying hair, which Ben thought was sexy. It made him more distinguished, and Rush could be so impetuous and jolting at times; the silvery highlights made the man seem more settled and sophisticated.

Rush must have heard Ben because he half turned, and a smile curled his lips. Ben’s heart leapt. God, the man still made him feel so excited, and yet safe. How did he do that? Rush wasn’t a large man, but his command of situations was hot.

What was it about men who were self-assured and confident that drove him batty? Rush was that guy. Even when he was theorizing and brainstorming, his ideas were sound and solid. He could change his mind without it seeming flaky.

Ben walked closer and Rush turned completely, his grin now plastered on his face.

“How’d you find me?”

Ben smiled back. “It wasn’t hard. This is your spot.”

Rush waved at him to hurry and scooted over on the bench, making room. Ben plopped down next to him and looked at the frozen pond, now beginning to thaw in places. It was a warm afternoon, and there were signs of spring everywhere. The patches of snow had shrunk, and there were little green sprigs popping up from the turf.

Ben remembered the weather report he’d heard earlier. It was supposed be cold tonight though. The forecast called for snow, so strange this late in the season.

Rush spoke first, “You know, the case is over. At least, it is for me.”

Ben noticed how sad and down his partner sounded now. The detective’s face had fallen as he neared, and it gave him a chill. “You did your job well. Isn’t the client thrilled?”

Rush turned and his smile was of resigned defeat, not success. “Sawyer is thrilled. I got off the phone with him just a little bit ago. The district attorney called the firm and formally requested suspension of discovery in the case so the police investigation isn’t hampered.”

“Naomi called me from the law firm. They sent all the files to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s department,” Ben said softly. “So, that’s it.”

Rush nodded.

The wind was picking up a bit, rustling the branches of the weeping willow. They made a crackling, swooshing sound as they rubbed together. It was almost like music, yet with an edge that suggested something else entirely. There was an ominous tone to this refrain. Troubling.

Ben shivered in spite of the warm sun, and Rush noticed and pulled him closer. They sat on the bench together, the detective’s arm around the smaller man’s shoulders.

“What are you doing?” The two men were startled. “Are you making out in the park or something pervy like that?”

Clay collapsed down beside Ben and spread his arms and legs out. He was breathing hard, like he’d been running. He had on jogging shorts and a loose jerkin over compression leggings and a black long-sleeved shirt. “Why are you sitting under this tree cuddling?” His grin was a mischievous taunt.

“We’re just thinking,” Ben said shaking his head, amused at the teen’s taunt. “You should have worn a coat. It’s not that warm.”

“Naw, I’m hot from running,” the teen said, trying to catch his breath. “Are you comforting Rush since his mystery is now solved?”

“Solved?” Ben asked. “Hammond doesn’t have a clue who killed Jake and the Wylie guy.”

“Yeah, but Rush is out of it, right?” Clay answered.

“I’m done with it,” Rush agreed. “The civil case is over. The client is happy. Sawyer has a couple of friends with pending litigation matters who want to hire us.”

“You didn’t tell me about that,” Ben said, turning to his partner. “That’s fantastic.”

Rush answered, “It is.” He didn’t sound thrilled.

Clay leaned forward, putting his hands on his knees. He obviously caught Rush’s drift and said, “But, they aren’t mysteries to solve, not like this, right Rush?”

Rush didn’t answer. He was staring at the lake and the almost leafless willow leaning over it.

The three guys sat together, Ben and Rush embracing and Clay seated next to them, contemplating things.

Clay broke the silence.” You miss your old job, don’t you?”

Rush answered immediately, “I do, sometimes. Being in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was my dream. I lost it. You miss the dreams that are lost to you.”

“You like being a detective,” Ben said, a little loudly. “And you’re still a detective. This job isn’t quite as exciting as the BCA, and I get that.”

“Oh, please,” Rush said, turning to face Clay and Ben. “There were lots of boring times that I don’t miss at all, doing paperwork, meetings, surveillance, and dealing with bureaucrats.”

“You were part of something bigger though,” Ben said, touching Rush’s sleeve.

Rush didn’t answer at first. He looked thoughtful. Ben watched shadows from the dangling willow branches animate his face. Competing emotions flickered across his visage, and finally he spoke.

“I miss being part of the BCA,” he began. “But, being with the two of you is worth more to me than that.”

Ben smiled, and he relaxed.

Clay’s face turned stony.

Rush continued. “I love our investigative agency and I love working with you, Ben. I love coming home and hanging out with you and Clay and our family.

“Sometimes I forget how happy you both make me and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I know I can trust you, and with the BCA, I didn’t always have that feeling.”

Ben leaned over and kissed Rush, his heart pounding in his chest.

Behind him, he heard Clay sniffle. Both men turned their attention to the teen.

Clay was rubbing his eyes and his lips were quivering. The healthy glow from his run was gone. In its place was the pallor of fear.

“What’s wrong, Clay?” Ben asked, now touching the teen’s sleeve.

“Nothing.” The teen coughed. “I—I get down sometimes.”

“Is there something we should talk about?” Rush asked. “You know we’re both here and you can talk with us together or separate.” There was alarm in the man’s voice.

“I’m okay. I have a lot on my mind, and sometimes it gets to me.”

Ben said, “Sometimes things get stuck in your head, and they become bigger than they really are. I know I feel better when I let them out.”

“Ben gets the craziest notions at times,” Rush said. “And then after he talks them out, he realizes I’m the only one for him.”

“Rush!” Ben said, exasperated. Then he turned back to the teen. “I mean it. Is it something at school?”

Clay took a deep breath. “No, it’s nothing really. I can’t talk about it now.” He quickly stood up, and started stretching, pulling his left elbow to the right and then the same to the right one. “I should finish my run.”

Clay took off before the two men could protest. They’d both seen the tears collecting in the young man’s eyes. Something was off, but neither knew what.

“Is he okay?” Ben asked, looking at his partner.

“He’ll be fine. He needs some space and he’ll come to me or to you and tell us what’s going on.”

“He’s had it rough,” Ben said.

“Yeah,” Rush responded. Then he asked, “Isn’t it strange how Wylie suddenly showed up when he did?”

Ben nodded. “It’s certainly interesting, but what do you mean?”

Rush continued. “Think about it. Someone kills a guy and hides his body for a while. In fact, he hides it so long, the body is basically skin and bones. Then, out of the blue, Wylie gets moved to the underpass of a bridge.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” Ben mused. “Unless the place he was being kept was no longer secured from prying eyes. Maybe the body was about to be discovered.”

“That’s one possibility,” Rush agreed. “Except Wylie wasn’t hidden again.”

“He was stuffed on top of a pillar up in that bridge. People don’t usually climb up into those places looking around. It’s out of the way, sort of.”

Rush’s face contorted in thought, and he then asked, “Except they found a handkerchief and it was covered in blood. Hammond said the blood wasn’t even the victim’s.”

“No, you’re right. Someone wanted Wylie found.”

“But why?” Rush asked again.

Ben didn’t answer. He was also thinking about the odd turn of events that suddenly changed things.

“Steve Wylie is killed. His body is hidden away, so no one knows what happened to him. There is a missing person’s report, but the guy is a grown man so no one takes it seriously. Sure, his family is concerned, but it’s some guy who’s just taken off.”

“Yeah, I’m following,” Ben said.

“Wylie is then moved from a secure location to a place that’s public, but not out in the open.”

“According to Hammond, the medical examiner believes the clothes were put on the corpse after death, right?” Ben asked.

“Not just after death. Wylie was put into that outfit after he’d decomposed. Then, he was put on that pillar.”

Ben added, “And someone doused a handkerchief in beef blood and left it on the path, knowing someone would find it and call the police.”

“Wylie was supposed to be found,” Rush concluded. “The man was killed and held, and then for some reason he was placed there and bait was set ensuring he’d be found.”

Ben considered the impact of their reasoning. “Do you think someone killed Wylie, then Jake, and then wanted the connection to be made?”

“It doesn’t make sense, not really.” Rush sighed in frustration. “Jake and Steve knew each other from the neighborhood bar. Steve Wylie talks with Jake and they become friends—”

“Or more,” Ben adds. “Maybe Wylie was taking his walk on the wild side and Jake was his guide.”

Rush thought about it and nodded, “It’s possible. But Wylie was single and Jake was single, so why kill them?”

Ben didn’t answer at first. He thought Rush was onto something, but what?

“Why hide Wylie’s body and try to make Jake’s death look like an accident?”

Rush’s eyes grew wide. “Do you think something triggered the exposure of Wylie’s body?”

Ben blinked. “That’s not where I was going, but that could be it. Wylie was killed and hidden. Jake was killed and it was made to look like suicide or an accident, and when the situation started to unravel, the killer needed a diversion, or something.”

Rush wasn’t quite sure what Ben was getting at, but it brought up some good points. The series of events was peculiar.

“I get what you’re saying, but how would revealing Wylie’s body divert anything or anyone from Jake’s death? Instead, the police made an immediate connection. Wylie and Jake knew each other. Wylie was dressed in a kinky outfit. There was an intentional impression made that the two men were connected.”

“You’re right,” Ben conceded. “Wylie’s appearance doesn’t make Jake’s death look more accidental, but less. If they were hiding Jake’s death, finding Wylie’s body only confused the issue.”

Rush ruminated on their discussion. “What if that was the diversion?”

“What do you mean?” Ben asked.

“What if finding Wylie’s body was the killer’s way of making everyone more confused and less likely to find Jake’s killer?”

Ben nodded, “Or Jake and Wylie played around. Someone found out and killed Wylie because of it.”

“But then why kill Jake?”

“I’m not sure we’re supposed to figure that out so easily,” Ben said ruefully. “Why are we discussing this anyway? It’s the police who are handling it now.”

“That’s true,” Rush conceded, but he was thinking and planning his next move. Just a couple of questions, and then he’d really be done with this case.