The Windows - 6. Chapter 6

Eric insisted on driving Coop on their “date.” He had recently purchased a brand-new Alfa Romeo, and he wanted to show it off. Coop had no objection. He waited for Eric to pick him up in front of his building. When Coop was seated and buckled in, he asked Eric where he would like to go.

“I’m driving us to a small restaurant on a side street in Little Italy. It’s off the beaten path. I discovered it recently, and the food is wonderful. The best part of the restaurant is that it has valet parking.” That was an important consideration when visiting a congested New York neighborhood.

Coop cringed. He hoped that he could afford the place. Then he started to laugh inwardly. He was entertaining a client. His firm would be paying for the meal. Suddenly he didn’t care where Eric took him.

At the restaurant, Eric maneuvered their seating arrangement to be at right angles instead of across the table. This afforded them a good view of the restaurant and its patrons. More importantly, it gave Eric an opportunity to flirt with Coop.

Once seated, he put his hand on Coop’s thigh. Coop smiled at him, and put his hand on Eric’s knee. Coop was trying to decide. Should he ask Eric to burn down the house during dinner, or when they were in bed together later this evening. He had no doubt that they would sleep together. Eric was young and handsome, and Coop was very horny. He hadn’t had sex in a long time. He was looking forward to playing with such young meat, and Eric didn’t seem to mind that he was nearly middle-aged. He decided to do the deed in bed. Eric would be more vulnerable then.

Coop smiled at Eric. “Your place or mine?” he asked the young felon, while they were eating spumoni for dessert.

“I’ll take you to my place. I own the penthouse apartment in a high rise on the upper east side. The doorman will take care of my car.” Once again, Eric preferred to go someplace with valet parking.

At dinner, Coop concluded that Eric was witty, a good conversationalist, and all-around pleasant company. Apparently, his only fault was that he got himself off by setting fires and admiring the results. If it weren’t for that minor fault, Coop was certain they could be good friends.

When they entered Eric’s apartment, he wasted no time. He dragged Coop into the bedroom, and he began to strip. Coop followed suit. Eric led his guest into the bathroom. He started the shower, and he and Coop began to play in the shower. They soaped themselves, paying particular attention to cocks and asses. Eric fell to his knees and gobbled up Coop’s cock. Coop reciprocated by allowing Eric to fuck him. After that they took it to bed. Coop was enjoying himself so much, he almost forgot his mission.

Once they got into bed, they continued to play for two more hours. Eric came twice more by fucking, and Coop came once more orally.

Afterward, they were lying in bed, fondling, and smooching, enjoying the afterglow, when Coop asked, “Eric, do you trust me as your lawyer?”

“Of course, I do. Why are you asking?”

Coop didn’t answer. He asked another question. “If I asked you to burn down a house, would you do it for me without asking why?”

“Sure,” Eric answered without any hesitation. He got excited about doing it. “I’ve never burned down a whole house,” he said. “I bet the flames are awesome.”

“I imagine so,” Coop encouraged him.

“But the firemen always come along and spoil things.”

“Eric,” Coop said. “There isn’t a fire station within ten miles of this house. It’s an isolated cottage in the woods upstate. Trust me. You’ll be able to see this house burn to the ground.”

“How soon can we get there? Can you take tomorrow off?”

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt. The owner of the house leaves every Friday between 1 and 4 PM. Could you pick me up at my office about 10:30 on Friday? We’ll have about a two-hour drive, so fill your gas tank. We’ll park away from the house where we can’t be seen, and as soon as the owner leaves, you can do the deed.”

“Perfect,” Eric hummed. “I don’t want to hurt anyone either.”

“Will you need my help?” Coop asked as an afterthought.

“No, but you can watch and learn.”

*****

Eric drove to the cottage. Coop thought he might have to stay on to care for Pete, so if Eric had his car he could go home after the ‘bonfire.’ When they got there, Coop thought he had misdirected Eric. The cottage had been nicely surrounded by a few trees, but now there were so many trees around the cottage, that it was barely visible. Coop decided that he didn’t remember the place as well as he thought. All these trees could not have sprung up overnight

This left Coop with two thoughts, one good and one bad. Hiding down the road without being seen, and being able to keep an eye on the cottage, would be much easier. His bad thought was that he wondered if all the extra flora put them in danger of starting a forest fire? He decided to consult with the expert.

“Eric,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t remember there being so many trees around the house. Do you think we are in danger of starting a forest fire?”

“No. Take a good look. There’s a good cluster of trees around the cottage, but beyond that there is nothing but open fields. Also, there’s practically no wind to carry the flames. We’ll be fine. Can you see the driveway from where we’re parked?”

“Yes, he’s still home, but I’ll see him when he leaves. I’d like to do it immediately, and do it quickly.”

“I’m as anxious as you are, and I’m all prepared. Boy, he’s going to get a big surprise when he gets back.”

“I’ll be here to help him.”

About a half hour later, Pete got into his car and left. Eric and Coop waited five minutes to make sure that he didn’t forget something and wouldn’t double back. Eric popped his trunk, and pulled out two five-gallon gas tanks. He handed one to Coop, and said, “Follow me.”

When they reached the cottage, He asked Coop to spill the gas from his tank all around the perimeter of the cottage.

“I’m going to douse the interior,” he said.

“Eric, make me a promise,” Coop said, “and don’t question me.”

“Sure. What?”

“Whatever you do, don’t touch the windows.”

“That’s crazy, but I promise not to touch the windows.”

When Eric entered the cottage, it was so dark, he could barely see. He started for a window to open it, and remembered Coop’s warning. He barely had enough light to do his job, but he did it, and ran outside.

“Are you done?” he asked Coop.

“Yes.”

“Go back to the car. I’ll be right there.”

When he saw that Coop was safely out of the way, he lit a match and tossed into the house. The fire started up immediately. Eric was so mesmerized by the flames, he almost forgot to run. He came to his senses and flew back to the car. He and Coop could watch from a safe distance. What he saw was enough to cure him from ever setting another fire.

The two men expected to hear the usual crackling sound of a fire, but all they heard was a roar, as if someone was in great agony. Eric, was shocked, but Coop expected the worst, and he was getting it.

A short while later, they heard glass cracking, and Coop was elated.

Suddenly, a mass of black smoke rose from the building. It resembled a funnel cloud. The roar had grown so loud that the two men had to cover their ears. The black funnel cloud rose skyward and out of sight. Eric and Coop could no longer hear the roar or see any fire burning, and Coop was heart sick. He feared their plan had failed.

Cautiously, they approached the cottage, and gasped at what they saw. In reality, they gasped at what they didn’t see. The cottage, and all the trees that had sheltered it, were gone, but there was nothing left, no rubble, no charred beams, no nothing. The ground below where the cottage had stood was covered with beautiful green grass.

Coop was not surprised, but Eric mumbled, “I don’t understand.”

Coop took advantage of the situation and said, “God is trying to tell you something, Eric. He doesn’t want you ever to start another fire. Swear?”

“I swear.”

“I was going to tell you to go home,” Coop said, “but now I’m afraid of the owner’s reaction. Please stay with me until he comes home.”

“Of course, I will.”