The Harlequin - 30. Chapter 30

Adam found it hard to move with the pack soil on top of him. He shifted his arm, causing dirt to cover his head and part of Patrick’s face.

“Patrick,” he murmured, but he received no response from the limp form. He panicked, brushing the dirt off of Patrick’s face and neck. “Patrick, no—please don’t leave me. Come on; talk to me,” he shouted, checking Patrick’s neck for a pulse. Relieved to feel the thump as he continued to dig Patrick out.

“Adam are you both all right?!” A.J. called down from the side of the car that they were trying to back up.

“Yes—no!” Adam said, not sure. “Patrick’s unconscious,” he yelled again, louder than before.

“We’re coming, Adam. Hold on!” A.J. said, shining a light down on them.

Adam managed to pull Patrick free from the earth. Patrick let out a hard cough, gasping for air. Adam fought back tears as he held Patrick until he stopped coughing and opened his eyes. Patrick looked at Adam and smiled.

“Hey you,” he said in a raspy voice.

“Hey, yourself. I almost lost you,” Adam said.

“Never,” he said.

“Damn right never, because when I tell you to stay put—you stay put, understand?”

“Yes.” They glanced up just as the car was rolled back.

“Adam, can you reach my hand?” called Artie, holding out his hand while A.J. and another officer held onto him. Adam gave Patrick a leg up to Artie’s extended hand who, with the help form A.J., pulled Patrick to safety. Adam went next as he gripped Artie’s palm and used his feet to kick the soft dirt wall to hoist himself up.

Cain laid dead, stumped over the steering wheel. The police cruiser had multiple bullet holes in various locations of the car. Cain had been shot twice, once in the shoulder, the kill shot entered through the side of his head, exiting through his nasal cavity. He was pronounced dead by the EMT on sight.

The ETMs checked Adam and Patrick for injury and shook. Besides bumps and bruises, they were fine. Patrick refused to be admitted for observation, but told them he would see his family doctor the next day. Adam said he was also fine and didn’t want to go to the hospital.

They stood with blankets draped over their shoulders. Adam just lets his blanket hang laxly on his frame, but Patrick gripped his tightly around his torso. His knuckles strained as his fists kept gathering the material between his fingers. His eyes locked on the white sheet that covered Cain’s lifeless body only a few feet away. Adam took off his blanket and closed it around Patrick’s upper body. He wasn’t sure if he was shaking from the lack of coat or seeing Cain’s blood seeping through the sheet.

Patrick seemed to respond to Adam’s touch and allowed his detective to hug him in an effort to distract him from the deceased professor.

“Patrick,” Adam spoke, turning the younger man’s chin to face him, making eye contact. Patrick slowly looked up at Adam’s face, which was covered in dirt residue. Adam’s green eyes showed concern for him. “Listen, I want to check on Justin. He right over there in the ambulance. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Patrick nodded his head as Adam hurried off. He passed damaged lawn with skid marks from the police cruiser Cain was driving. He noticed A.J. and Artie talking on their cell phones, probably explaining things to their superiors.

Adam climbed into the ambulance and sat by Justin, who was conscious, and resting on a gurney.

“I’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as we’re finished here,” said Adam.

“No, go home,” said Justin, in a weary voice. “I’ll be fine.”

“Justin, I’m not letting you go through this alone.”

“Boss, they’ll most likely keep me overnight, and right now all I want to do is sleep. So we can talk tomorrow, okay?”

Adam wanted to protest when A.J. looked in.

“The paramedics are ready to take Justin.”

“I’m ready,” said Justin.

“Justin, is there anyone you want me to call; your parents?”

“No. Please Adam, don’t call them.”

“I want to pay for the hospital bill, and I need to be there to do that.”

“You can do it tomorrow. Go home and rest and I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Justin.

“I want you in a private room, so you can rest.”

“Adam, I’ll send one of my men to go with him and make sure he’s taken care of,” said A.J. Adam turned to him and smiled this thanks. Adam reluctantly climbed out of the ambulance, and a uniformed officer climbed in his place. “Justin, this is Officer Stark. He will stay with you until you’re settled into a room. Justin stared at the officer who features swayed to oriental. Officer Stark had a warm smile, a muscular body, whose uniform cling to too, and dreamy brown eyes.

“Hi, you can call me David,” he said, holding out his hand to Justin.

“And you can call me,” said Justin, smiling and feeling a bit like his old self. Even though what Cain did to him would haunt him, he wasn’t going to let it change how he flirted with men. Officer David blushed from the comment, and cleared his throat before the EMT closed the doors and left for the hospital.

“He’ll be fine, and he’s right. You should go home and get some sleep.”

“Are you going to let me take Patrick?”

“For now, yes.” Adam didn’t want to argue with A.J. he turned and walked over to Patrick, who was shivering again. Adam placed his arms around him, and he started to still.

“I want to take you home.”

“I can’t go back there alone, Adam…”

“No—not the condo…”

"Not my parents…I can’t let them see me like this.”

“No, again. I mean my place. I told you that in the grave, remember?”

“Oh yeah; I’d like that."

“Then it’s settled. Now if you’d be so kind as to tell me where my rental is, I can retrieve it, and we can leave.”

“Yeah, about that… When you get to it, please bear in mind that I never learned to drive. So turning corners, and misjudging distances between a car and a truck left your rental a bit dinged up. But I promise I will pay for all the damages,” Patrick said in almost a daze.

After Patrick’s confession, Adam managed to get the location of the Viper and the keys. Adam kissed Patrick’s dusty forehead.

“I’ll be right back. I don’t want you not to stare in that direction any more promise?” Adam said, pointing at Cain’s body.

“I promise,” said Adam.

“I’m going to ask A.J. and Cutter to keep an eye on you until I return. Don’t wander off.”

“I’ll stay right here.” Patrick calmed down as Adam leaned over and kissed his lips. They both made a face when they tasted the fresh earth in their mouths.

A long hot shower together was the first thing Adam wanted to do with Patrick. Using scented soap to scrub away the earthy soot that covered their bodies and face and lips. Adam walked over to A.J. and Artie, who were talking privately. Artie saw Adam approach, and both men turned in his direction.

“How is he?” Artie asked.

“He’s shaken up,” replied Adam. “How are you two?”

“Oh, you mean after being zapped by an out of control robot? Surprisingly fine,” said Artie.

“Well, I think Dante was only defending the house, not on a killing spree. So essentially he did his job.”

“Dante?” wondered Artie. “You named it?”

“No, that’s the robot’s name, and before you ask—Patrick asked him who he was and it told us, Dante. Most likely, Cain named him when he programmed him.”

“Why did Patrick think it had a name?” asked A.J.

“Because Patrick has an exact duplicate back at his condo, named Poe.”

“Another one,” said Artie, exhausted.

“Yeah, I think Cain was using them to spy on Patrick and Justin.”

“Okay, we’ll send people over to deal with—Dante. What’s the address?” asked Artie, taking down Patrick’s address and door code. He walked off to make a call, leaving Adam and A.J. alone.

“A.J. can you and Artie keep an eye on Patrick and keep him away from that stiff while I get my car?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Thanks, and to be clear, I am happy that you’re both all right.”

“We managed to keep the media back, and so far Cyprus Valdez doesn’t know, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“Thanks for the heads up.”

“Also, I’m glad you stole Artie’s car to come here. If you hadn’t, there’d might have been another body to bag up.”

Adam nodded towards his ex, who was once the love of his life. He wanted to keep it professional between them as he held out his hand and shook A.J.’s. A.J. watched Adam walk off as Artie walked up.

“Where’s he going?” asked Artie.

“To get his car.”

“You okay?”

“Of course, but I still have questions for him,” he said turning towards Patrick, who stood with his head down, rubbing the soreness from his neck.

“We’ll get to it before Potter comes back and raises hell.”

A.J. looked at Artie and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For letting me care a little about Adam.”

“I know he’s a fuck up, but I also know you saw something different than the rest of us, and you just want him safe.”

“And that’s it. You are, and always will be, the love of my life.”

“Okay, but tonight you’re going to have to prove it.”

“Then you’re going to have to make breakfast.”

“Deal.” Artie wanted to lean in and cover A.J.’s soft lips with his own, but their vocation was their baby, and they needed to show restraint—that is until they clocked out.

Artie walked away to speak to officers returning from the house as A.J. walked over to Patrick.

“Hello, again Mr. Valdez.” Patrick, exhausted look up as A.J. approached. Right away, Patrick knew it wasn’t to make sure he was all right. “I was wondering if we could talk for a moment.”

“About what?” Patrick asked, becoming defensive.

“About that corpse,” A.J. pointed at Cain, bringing Patrick’s attention back to it. “Let’s take a walk.” A.J. placed his palm on the middle of Patrick’s back and guided him towards Cain. Patrick didn’t want to move towards Cain, but was unsure how to refuse the detective. They came up just as the EMTs were loading him onto a gurney. Patrick stopped short, not wanting to get any closer. A.J. turned and studied Patrick’s reaction.

“I’m sorry if this upsets you, but I need to know who he was.” Patrick was shaking as he remembered the once gifted man, whom he enjoyed having coffee with and listening to his advice about what courses he should take during his semester.

“His name was Cain Rollins. We met when I was going to school overseas. He was one of my professors for about a year. We started out as just teacher and student. Then we became friends. We made out once, only because I was drunk and I called him to ask for a ride home from a party. I guess I had too much to drink. I never felt any sexual pull towards him. The next day he wanted me to do kinky sex with him. I told him I didn’t want to lose my virginity that way. I told him I wasn’t ready to explore sex with anyone, and he seemed fine with it. A few months later I returned to the states.”

“Did Cain come back to the states with you?”

“No, I didn’t even know he was in town.”

“So when did Cain gave you the robot?”

“Cain shipped Poe—well HP human companion-from overseas as a gift for my birthday. I named him Poe.”

“A lavish gift, don’t you agree?”

“I had offered to pay for him, but he said it was a gift and that I should keep him.”

“So you stayed in contact with him?”

“No. I started focusing on my cosplay. And I didn’t want to lead Cain on. I enjoyed having Poe around, but I didn’t want Cain to send me anymore gifts. So I changed my cell number and lost touch with him.”

“Did he write you?”

“No. I guess with me changing my number, he got the hint. At least I thought he did.”

“How long after you broke communications with Cain did you start to see Gavin?”

“Two years.”

“Adam believes he was spying on you through Poe.”

Patrick grew quiet and spun Adam’s statement around in his head. He remembered Poe always being in a room with him without being called. The bathroom and his bedroom. He thought it was cute; now he felt sick.

“Did he ever try to get in contact with you… maybe through your parents?” asked A.J.

“No, not once. I thought he moved on.”

The ETM’s had the gurney on uneven ground, and one of the wheels slipped, causing Cain’s hands to fall free. Patrick jumped back as the sheet over Cain’s face shifted. Cain’s head turned towards Patrick with his eyes open.

“No, he’s still alive!” shouted Patrick, who wanted to bolt but A.J. grabbed his arms and held him in place.

“No Patrick; he’s dead. He can’t hurt you.”

“Yes, he can!”

“Patrick,” called Adam, running up. Patrick broke free from A.J.’s grip and darted towards Adam, wrapping his arms around his strong chest and bursting into tears. A.J. walked towards them, sorry that he took Patrick near the dead man. Adam gave him an icy look, warning him to back off, stopping him in his tracks.

“I asked you to watch him, not traumatize him,” he snapped.

“I needed answers, Adam.”

“Did you get them?”

“Yes. Adam look--.”

“Yes, A.J. I know you were doing your job. I get it, super-cop all the way. Now if you don’t object, I’m taking Patrick home.”

“You’re both free to go.”

Adam said nothing in response as he walked Patrick away. He had managed to get the car past the front gate close enough to not compromise the crime scene. He helped Patrick into the passenger side. After making sure Patrick’s seatbelt, was in place, and that he had calmed down some, Adam belted himself into the driver’s seat and drove off. He was speeding again, only this time Patrick didn’t scold him to slow down. Patrick stared at his hands that sat trembling in his lap.

“What did A.J. say to you?” asked Adam, reaching out and placing his hands on top of Patrick’s cold fingers to steady them.

“He said you believed Cain was using Poe to spy on me?”

“He was,” Adam stated. Patrick fell silent. Adam knew Poe meant a lot to him. “Maybe someone at the college can reprogram Poe for you. But—most likely the cops will take him in as evidence.”

“Do you think I might be able to get Poe back?” he asked, holding his chest strap.

“I don’t see why not.”

Patrick released a long sigh. “That’s fine,” Patrick whispered clenching his seatbelt.

“You had no idea that Cain was a sicko.”

“Like Gavin? I’m batting two to nothing,” he tried to laugh, but it only came out as a gasp.

“It’s not your fault, Patrick.”

“I drove a man to kill someone; how is this not my fault?”

“You did nothing wrong. Don’t you dare lose sleep over that prick.”

“You must think so little of me,” Patrick said, not hearing Adam.

Adam pulled off to the side of the road and opened his and Patrick’s seat belts.

“Come here and kiss me,” Adam said not demanding, but pleading.

“Just forget me Adam. I’m broken,” he said, trying to look away. Adam grabbed his chin and stopped him.

“You won’t even give me a kiss for saving you?”

Patrick leaned over, and Adam met him halfway. Patrick held onto Adam’s coat collar, as Adam ran his fingers through his hair. They parted for air as Patrick wanted to turn away and cry.

“You’re not the only one who’s made mistakes in love and life. I’ve made my share, but I am sure I made the right choice in falling in love with you.”

“You still love me?”

“Let me prove it to you.”

“All right.” Adam kissed him once more. When they parted, they refastened their seat belts and Adam drove on.