TJ's journey to love - 33. Chapter 33

“What do you mean there is a bomb in my apartment?” I asked

“We were doing our precautionary sweep and found one in your place. It looks like the one found in CC’s hotel.” Kellan replied

“What are they going to do?”

“We’ve had the area evacuated and the story is being picked up by the news. The good thing is they said it was the apartment of Millionaire Prescott Grant’s son Russell; you haven’t been mentioned.”

“Let’s keep it that way. Please talk to Mr. Grant and check on Rusty too, I think we still have him in captivity.”

“Rusty is still in captivity and I wanted to let you know they finished analyzing CC’s house and they found her body.”

“I had a feeling she didn’t survive that blast. She must have been distracted by something.”

“It’s a possibility; I’ll have someone look into it.”

“Do we know who is behind this? There are too many bombs for it to be Richard.”

“No we don’t but I am talking to Jack later.”

“Please keep me informed.” I said and ended the call

Why would someone want to kill me and how did they find my place in San Francisco. I paced around the room until JC came in

“I’m going to make dinner; anything you want?”

“Well, I don’t feel like eating and I guess I should; what options do we have?”

“I could make some spaghetti and meatballs with some garlic bread”

“That sounds lovely; I’m going to make a call before I come down and help”

“Ok, you know where I’ll be if you need me.” JC said and then left

I stared at my phone wanting to CC but I knew she can’t answer. I wanted to see what Tristan knew but didn’t know how to approach it. I think after dinner I will go to CC’s penthouse and look for clues. I headed down and JC was rolling out the meatballs.

“You’ve become quiet the cook.”

“Thanks, I’ve learned a lot from your Grandpa Tony.”

“Yeah he is a really great cook and so was dad.” I said with a small tear escaping

“I would have loved to see your dad again; I don’t really remember him”

“He would have loved you.”

“How was your call?” He asked while buttering the bread

“I didn’t know who to call so I didn’t”

“If you need to talk I’m here for you”

“I want to figure out who’s behind these bombs and there are way too many for it to be Richard.”

“I talked to Pop and he was having the same suspicion. He also said someone had to have known that CC moved out of the city and how her house was set-up.”

“I was thinking of looking for clues in her penthouse.”

“Could you wait till it’s been cleared?”

“I guess; any idea when it will happen?”

“Not till tomorrow as they have to evacuate the entire building just in case.”

“So I was thinking, what would you think if I took on CC’s role as an advisor in BHO?”

“Honestly, I have been preparing for this conversation as I could see the change in you the last couple of weeks and how you were prepping yourself to eventually step in. I just want to make sure you will be happy and aren’t just doing it out of necessity.”

“I’ve been thinking about it and wanted to be an advisor and take over when CC retires but she’s gone now”

“Sorry to interrupt but the food is done. Let’s eat then we can relax and finish this conversation.” We ate at a leisurely pace talking about other things than the elephant in the room. After dinner I decided not to pick up the conversation about BHO; I had some planning to do. I went to the computer room and started doing some research and nearly fell out of my chair when I stumbled across an article; I grabbed my phone and called Jack

“Hey TJ, everything ok?”

“I know who the bombers are.” I said excitedly

“Who and how did you find this out?” Jack said curiously

“The Corses, I was looking for people tied to Richard and I stumbled across an article about the Corses being arrested years ago and they were caught with bomb making materials; it has to be them.”

“Ok TJ, send me the information and I’ll have Kellan and Jordan take a look”

“Sent it to you and copied them; let me know any developments.”

“Ok TJ, try to get some sleep.”

After the call I continued to research them and found out that Richard knew them for decades as they grew up in the states as children of diplomats. They always escaped charges and had great lawyers. I need to make sure they are put away for good.

“Hey babe, you coming to bed; you’ve been in here for hours.” JC said

“Sure, let me send this last bit of information off and I’ll come to bed.” I replied and sent Kellan and Jordan what I found.

When I turned on the news the next morning there was a story about a car bomb that detonated just outside the city in New Jersey last night. It was so powerful it blew up several vehicles around it and took out portions of Interstate 80. Not much was known about the driver or the intent but I started to think the bomb was destine for here, the law firm or BHO. JC was shocked when he saw all the damage the bomb had done. They said it would take weeks to reopen the road. I texted Kellan and Jordan and told them to see what they could find out and I wanted a status call as soon as anything was known. I decided against going over to CC’s and decided this morning seemed like a great time to make love.

“Hey baby, whatcha reading?”

“More of these stories by Ronyx; he’s such a great writer.”

“Um so about that, um Ronyx is Grandpa Ron”

“WHAT! NO FREAKING WAY!”

“Yep, he’s been writing for a long time, he showed me his stories a when I came out and said they might help me.”

“That’s awesome. I can relate to all of these stories.”

“So how about we relate” I wiggling my eyebrows

“You cheeseball, I’m down” he said setting aside his tablet

We made love for hours ignoring the ringing phones and messages coming in; having sex with JC just gets better and more exciting each time. We were having a leisurely after sex shower when someone pounded on the door

“JC! TJ! Are you all right?” Came the shouts of Kellan

“Yes, be out in a minute” I shouted

“What a mood killer” JC said frowning. We threw on some clothes and went downstairs where we found Mom, Jack, Kellan and Jordan.

“What’s up guys?” I asked

“First you didn’t answer you phone when we all called you multiple times.” Mom said

“Second we have news for you both, you better sit down.” Jack said

“So TJ, you were right about the Corses’ being bomb makers. When we sent a team to their last known address in Ashburn, Virginia we found tons of bomb making materials.”

“I thought they left the country” I said

“That’s what they wanted people to think. Bases in preliminary information the car bomb was destine for the law office; that’s why it was so powerful. Unfortunately Karma stepped in and ended it before it happened. Based on reports the car with bomb the tire blew out and it collided with a Jersey wall (cement barrier) and exploded on impact. From what we know so far Mr. Corse was driving and his wife was behind him and since the explosion was so powerful it got her too.” Kellan said

“So how many other people died?” I asked

“10 not including the Corses’; it could have been worse had they made it to the city or if it was rush hour traffic.” Jordan said

“So are we sure it was them in the car and not someone else?” I asked

“We asked for additional testing and are awaiting the results.” Jack said

“Ok, that is good. While we are here I wanted to let you know I plan on replacing CC as the advisor of BHO.” I said

“Are you sure you want to honey, remember I said I wanted you to have a great life with JC and not worry about anything.” Mom said

“Mom, I understand your concern but I will leave Kellan and Jordan in charge and I plan just to be an advisor and take on some of the other roles.” I replied

“Ok, just make sure it is what you want to do.” Jack said

“If we don’t need anything else, I am starving and JC maybe too so I’d like to go eat.” I said which was met with laughs. JC and I headed out in search of food and landed up at Cancun. After we finished eating we decided to walk around Central Park.

“So do you still want to move to San Francisco?” JC asked

“Yes, I love living in San Francisco”

“Ok, I was just wondering since you are taking on CC’s role”

“I can do that from anywhere and since as of now I am the majority owner I feel like I have some obligation to be involved.”

“Do you know what will happen with CC’s share?”

“No I don’t and I hope it goes to someone else; like Jack, Kellan or Jordan. I already got 25% of her ownership when I got my brothers some.”

“I am glad that you don’t want full stake in the company. They would involve you in everything.”

“I know and I don’t want to be fully involved, eventually I’ll pick someone to step in as the advisor. “

“So what are you going to do about Rusty?”

“Since he’s here in New York, we should go see him. I want to hear what he has to say.”

“Ok, let’s hop on a train over to BHO where he is being held.” We rode the train in silence over to where BHO’s main office was.

“Good afternoon Mr. Michaels, Mr. Woolery, how may I help you.” The receptionist said

“I need to see Rusty Grant, please.” I replied

“Mr. Grant is in holding and any visitor’s require approval from Jack Woolery.”

“You know this is my company right?” I challenged

“Protocol requires us to gain approval from Mr. Woolery.” She said. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and called Jack.

“Hey TJ, what’s going on?”

“I am trying to see Rusty but this idiot at the front desk said I need your approval.”

“Ah, it’s the new person so of course she’s being stubborn; I’ll take care of it. Hang tight.” We ended the call and I just glared at her. Kellan appeared from the back

“Hey TJ and JC, come with me please. Evelyn, in the future when these two gentlemen ask for something please just do it. Mr. Michaels owns this company and he trumps whatever protocol you were told.” Kellan said

“Yes, Mr. Collins” Evelyn said

“So TJ, I will stand outside the room and if you need anything just knock on the door.”

“Thanks Kellan.” I said as we walked down the corridor to a room.

“Rusty is inside and to let you know, he will be released tomorrow and is being flown home.” Kellan said

“What about Henry?”

“After talking with Mr. Grant about him, we decided to take care of things and returned the body to him.”

“Why the change, usually we dump them.”

“Jack and Mr. Grant had a super long talk and they worked it out. You’d have to ask him why he did what he did.”

“Thanks Kellan.” I said and opened the door and walked in with JC trailing behind me.

“Hey Rusty” I said taking in the man I knew and he looked terrible

“Hi TJ” he said and looked down

“Rusty, its ok I heard that you stopped providing information. I just want to talk.”

“Why would you want to talk to me? I told my brother all kinds of stuff about you.”

“I understand he was holding something over you and I can tell you that you no longer need to worry about him.” Rusty started to sob

“Rusty, I wanted to tell you I forgive you.”

“Why would you do that? You don’t know what I did that my brother holds over me.”

“It doesn’t matter, I know you. You are a good person and just got caught up in the wrong situation.”

“TJ, you are way too nice.”

“Rusty, you were one of my first real friends and you took me in so I could make money and not be so poor.”

“Did you know I ran away from home when I was 13?”

“No I didn’t”

“Yeah, my brother caught me with a neighbor boy and he beat me so bad; I had to run away.”

“Rusty so what you are gay. I am too; I thought you knew?”

“No TJ, my neighbor was a year younger than me. He had come onto me and we had been together for a while. We went to my house as his parents were home and we got carried away.”

“I see, but how did you land up back at home after running away?”

“My dad found out because the boy told his parents; who went to my dad and demanded money for silence. My dad flipped his lid not at what happened but because they demanded money. He called his estranged cousin who worked for some security company and had them taken care of and then he had them hunt for me. It only took them two hours to find me. I told my dad how my brother beat me and he could still see the bruises; my dad was angry. He kicked Henry out of the house and told him he was cutting his inheritance down and once it was gone, that was it.”

“OH wows, Rusty… wait a minute. Your dad’s cousin? What’s his name?”

“Bob something. Dad said he was older”

“Bob Barton?”

“Yeah that’s it I think”

“Bob was my dad’s uncle, so my great-uncle.”

“So we are related somehow?”

“I guess so. Maybe that’s why Jack did what he did and returned your brother to your father.”

“So whatever happened to the boy you were with?”

“Well he disappeared and I have no clue what happened to him.”

“I hope he wasn’t part of his parent’s disappearance.”

“Dad swore he wasn’t.”

“If you give me what information you remember I want to see if we can find him.”

“That would be cool, I would like some sort of closure. His name was Mark Barker and he’d be about 22 years old now.”

“Ok I will see what we can do to locate him and I want you to know you are going home tomorrow.”

“I know they told me my dad was coming to get me.”

“Are you and your dad close? I don’t want you harmed.”

“Yeah, Dad is a very understanding man. When I brought back home he and I sat in his study and I poured my heart out. He said he understood that love is love. He told me that he was bisexual and understood my feelings. That had shocked me quite a bit and I asked if that’s why he and mom divorced. He said my mom was bisexual too but preferred women and didn’t want to be tied down and more.”

“Wow you have a complicated life like me” I said and smiled

“Yeah I guess I do.”

“JC and I will be moving to San Francisco. I won’t be moving back in with you so you can have your privacy.”

“I don’t mind if you do but you probably want privacy too.” Rusty said with a smirk

“Yeah I guess I do.”

“Probably good thing you turned me down too. Can’t be having relations with family” He said laughing

“Yeah I guess it is a good thing. Hey did you ever meet your dad’s cousin?”

“Twice, he came to San Francisco and he and dad patched up some family drama and then he visited again for pleasure. He was supposed to visit a third time but he died.”

“Yeah he was there spying on me and visited the club both times.”

“Thank you TJ for being understanding.”

“You are a good friend Rusty and I will have BHO look for Mark.” I said and went around and hugged him.

JC and I left the room and I was surprised that JC was so quiet in there.

“JC what’s up you were quiet and I expected you to talk.”

“Is there anyone you aren’t distantly related to?” he said with a smirk

“Yeah buddy, you. We aren’t kissing cousins or whatever.”

“I think I might know your Mark Barker.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I was on America’s Got Talent there was a contestant I met with the same name and the age might be the same too. He was a talented singer but didn’t make the live rounds because his songs were not what the judges wanted. They were heartbreak and love songs.”

“Hmm, sounds quite possible. Do you have his contact information?”

“Sure, do as we remained in contact. I tried to help expand his song selections but his heart just wasn’t in it.”

“Kellan, could you see if you can find Mark Barker. JC may have a great lead.”

“Sure thing boss; I’ll let you know what I find out.”