The Hollow Hills - 19. Chapter 19

Joshua

“Boss! Over here!” Kevin yelled. “I found a bunker.”

I was right on Liam’s heels as we ran past the deer shed east of the cabin. There was a heavy, metal door set into the side of a hill, camouflaged by dense shrubbery. It was unlocked. Liam leaned down to open it, but Kevin stopped him.

“We should call for back-up,” he said.

Liam shook his head. “No way. It will take too long for them to get here. I’m going in.” He opened the door and disappeared down a dimly lit stairway.

I started to follow, but was stopped by a hand on my shoulder. “Stay here,” Detective Adams ordered, then followed Liam and Kevin down the narrow set of stairs.

My debate about whether or not to follow was brief. I heard a scream that made my blood run cold, followed by several voices shouting and yelling. I ran down the stairs and stopped dead when I reached the bottom. My entire world shattered in that instant.

I was standing in a small room carved into the stony hillside. Liam bent over a naked man shackled to a bed on the far side of the room. He was frantically working to undo the restraints. My heart felt like it had stopped when I saw the blond hair and heard Liam speak Galen’s name. My friend was covered in blood, and flailed his arms and legs, fighting Liam once he realized he was free. When it registered that it was Liam in front of him, he sobbed into his cousin’s chest briefly before his body went limp.

Low laughter drew my attention to my right as Liam yelled for someone to call for an ambulance. Roger stood in front of a utility sink as Kevin put Roger’s hands behind his back and snapped handcuffs around his wrists. He was naked and covered in both fresh and dried blood. Chains with shackles on the end hung from the ceiling next to him, swaying ominously. A metal cart stood next to the sink, filled with a variety of knives and other grotesque instruments. I slowly lifted my eyes to meet his.

“Figures it had to be Liam that found me,” Roger said, scowling. Blood trickled down his face from his nose.

“Josh…you shouldn’t be down here. Liam is taking care of Galen. Why don’t you wait in the cabin? We can have a chat once I get this asshole settled,” said Kevin.

I stared at Roger, trying to make sense of what was happening.

“So you know my latest prey, huh?” Roger laughed as his cold eyes met my own. “You been fucking him? Or I should say letting him fuck you…we both know it ain’t gonna happen the other way around. I gotta say…never thought you’d cheat on me. Although I can’t blame you with this one. He is rather exquisite, isn’t he? Or he used to be, anyway.”

“I never cheated on you,” I whispered. “I loved you.”

Roger snorted derisively. “Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”

Kevin jerked Roger forward roughly, dragging him toward the stairs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you…” his voice trailed off as they ascended the stairs.

A slow creaking sound brought my attention to the other side of the room. The bed squeaked with Liam’s movements as he tended to Galen, breathing into his cousin’s mouth steadily. The thought of my friend dying was too much for me to bear. I was next to Liam in a few quick strides before I felt an arm around my shoulders, attempting to lead me away.

“The ambulance will be here in about twenty minutes. How is he?” Detective Adams asked.

Liam stopped his motions and placed his hand on Galen’s chest. “He’s breathing and has a pulse, but I don’t know for how long. He has some pretty extensive injuries.”

“Let’s go; I have some questions for you,” the detective stated.

I shook my head. “I’m staying.”

“Go, Josh. I’ve got him,” Liam said.

“I want to be here for him.”

“Like you’ve been there for him in the past? Sorry, Josh, but you’re the last person he needs right now.”

I flinched as if he had struck me. “I just want to help.”

Liam sighed. “I’m sorry. That was shitty of me.” He looked at Galen, the lines on his face pronounced in the dim light. “Can you get him a blanket, Josh?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll go get one. Do you need anything else?”

Liam ran his hand through his hair. “I have no idea. I don’t think so.”

I looked at Galen’s still form as Liam gently stroked his hair. I wanted nothing more than to sit at his side and do the same. After our last encounter, I had been sure I lost his friendship, but losing him permanently was not something I cared to consider. I allowed the detective to lead me outside, past the patrol car containing Roger and Kevin. My heart raced as I passed my now-former lover. Although his face appeared passive, the set of his jaw and rigid posture told me he was fuming inside. A chill ran through my body as I entered the building.

I knew this place as intimately as I knew—thought I knew—Roger. I spent my days there since it wasn’t safe to explore the woods during hunting season unless you were a hunter, which I was not.

The door opened into a small kitchen/dining area where I spent the majority of my time cooking while Roger was out hunting. I enjoyed that time. Although I did most of the cooking at the farm, it was rare I spent an entire day doing so due to my teaching responsibilities. I paused at the worn, brown couch where we would sit in the evenings in each other’s arms in front of the wood-burning stove, chatting about whatever topics came to mind. We had even made love on that couch more than once. I realized that we spent most of our time together in the back bedroom. Roger was usually pretty tired after hunting all day, so we would eat, then either sit in front of the fire for a little bit or retreat directly to bed.

My back stiffened, eyes widening in realization. After Roger was out hunting all day… It seemed now that everything he had told me was a lie. I spent my days playing househusband while he had Galen five hundred yards away doing—I couldn’t even contemplate what he had done to put Galen in such a state. I ran to the bathroom and emptied my stomach. I slumped against the wall, my hand pressed to my forehead.

Detective Adams handed me a glass of water and knelt beside me. “How long did you know Michael Sullivan?”

I stared at him blankly.

“The man in the bunker….”

“His name is Roger,” I said.

“This property is deeded to a man named Michael Sullivan. DMV records and a background check confirmed his identity.”

I closed my eyes and held my breath. Apparently I didn’t even know my boyfriend’s name. “I’ve been told for years that Roger was just using me. I didn’t believe them. I thought I knew him better than anyone….”

“Betrayal is never easy, no matter what form it takes.”

I nodded in acknowledgement.

“Where can I find a blanket?”

I stood shakily. “In the bedroom.” The detective followed me as I headed into the room I shared with Roger and retrieved a soft blanket. It was plaid with muted earth tones to match the décor of the room. I had bought it during my first stay at the camp.

The patrol car containing Kevin and Roger was gone when we crossed the yard to re-enter the bunker. It was a strange feeling to think that I would probably never see him again. I swallowed the disgust that rose like bile from my stomach and followed the detective down the stairs.

Liam had turned Galen onto his stomach, and I almost threw up again when I saw why. His back was crisscrossed with deep wounds in varying stages of healing. The bed he lay on was stained dark crimson. His blond hair looked almost auburn from the matted clumps of blood. Liam’s eyes reflected my own horror.

“I want to get him out of here, but I’m afraid to move him.”

“I know it’s difficult, but we need to wait for the rescue squad,” Detective Adams replied. “Has he regained consciousness at all?”

Liam shook his head.

I handed him the blanket. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to cover him. It might stick to his wounds.”

Liam clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a fist. “Tell me again you didn’t know.”

“I thought you knew me better than that. How can you possibly think I’m capable of this?”

Liam stood, his face inches from mine. “Maybe you stayed with him because you’re just as sick a fuck as he is.”

Anger flared within me. “I may be a fool, but I’m not a monster. I could never do this, especially to the man I lo—“ I stopped and turned away from him. I hastily brushed a tear away from my cheek, then faced Liam again. “I care about him too much to ever hurt him.”

Liam snorted. “You’ve done nothing but hurt him. You know, you’re a real piece of work sometimes.”

“Nice to know you think so much of our friendship.”

“Friendship? Friends listen to each other. They don’t accuse them of lying when the truth hurts too much to hear.”

“Is that your way of saying ‘I told you so?’ Well you know what, Liam. You were right. Roger’s an asshole, and I’m a fool. Happy now?” I couldn’t remember ever being as angry as I felt in that moment.

Liam glanced at Galen before narrowing his eyes at me. “Happy? Are you fucking kidding me? You stupid son of a—“ He stopped abruptly. “How could you be so blind? I mean seriously, Josh… I find it hard to believe there weren’t any clues.”

“Clues? You really think in my wildest imagination I thought he was capable of this? Galen is my closest friend. The thought of him lying here while—“ I swallowed the acid that rose in my throat.

Liam scrutinized me, his eyes boring into me as if he could see into my soul. “I think you were willfully ignorant. You didn’t want to see what was right in front of you. And it might have cost my cousin his life.” His voice broke on the last few words.

I shook my head. “You think I don’t blame myself? I keep thinking that I should have seen something…I should have known…I could have saved him sooner.”

Liam softened his stance and stepped a few feet away.

“For what it’s worth, I believe him,” Detective Adams said softly.

Liam sat down next to Galen, exhaling slowly. “I believe you too, Josh. You have to appreciate the position I’m in…I thought I’d seen everything during my law enforcement career… They don’t prepare you for the victim being someone close to you.”

“I understand, Liam. I’m not exactly feeling so great here myself.”

Detective Adams turned toward me. “It will be a little while before the paramedics arrive. I have some questions for you, Mr. …”

“Riordan. Joshua Riordan.”

Detective Adams nodded in acknowledgment. “Are you ok if we head to the cabin and wait for the ambulance there, Sheriff?”

Liam nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not leaving him,” I stated. “Besides, I don’t know what I can tell you.” I glanced at the cart across from us and grimaced. “I had no idea,” I whispered.

A low moan drew my attention to my injured friend. Galen’s face was twisted with fear, and his limbs twitched as if running. Liam smoothed his hair back and talked to him a low voice. “Easy there, little bro. You’re safe.”

I sat on Galen’s other side, unsure what to do. He cried out and stretched his hand toward me, as if reaching out for something. I took his hand in my own and squeezed it.

“You’re safe, Galen,” I said. “Liam and I are here. We won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

His demeanor instantly relaxed, and he slipped into unconsciousness once more. He remained still for the fifteen more minutes it took for the rescue squad to arrive. The look on the EMTs’ faces when they saw Galen’s condition, along with the environment we were in, told me just how dire his situation was.

After Galen was loaded into the ambulance, Detective Adams stayed behind to wait for the state investigators and forensic technicians to arrive. Liam and I were allowed to ride in the front of the ambulance since we had no other transportation to the hospital.

The nearest hospital was a good twenty minutes away, and with sirens blaring, the ambulance driver approached speeds that I would never attempt on such winding roads. The blare of alarms sounded a few times over the shriek of the ambulance siren, and I counted along with the EMTs in the back of the vehicle, willing Galen’s heart to beat in time with my own.

It felt like a lifetime until we reached the small hospital. They knew ahead of time that they were ill-equipped to handle someone in Galen’s condition. The nearest trauma center was at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, and it was over an hour away via ambulance, so they made arrangements for a helicopter to airlift him after he was stabilized. There wasn’t enough room for Liam and me to accompany him, but the state police were also waiting for us and drove us with their lights and sirens blaring. By the time we arrived, I never wanted to hear another emergency siren in my life.

We were provided an update soon after we arrived. The news was not good. Galen’s bowel had been perforated, causing him to become septic. He would not have survived much longer than another day or two. He was in surgery to repair the perforation. They would also clean the wounds on his back and suture any that needed it.

Liam and I spent the next hour in a small waiting room. I sat on a lumpy, black sofa, and Liam alternated between sitting in a chair opposite me and pacing around the room like a caged animal. We didn’t converse, and the atmosphere was tense. Numbness set in as I tried to process everything that had happened since the three law enforcement officials had showed up at the camp.

I knew Roger could be a dick sometimes, but I never imagined him capable of the horror I had witnessed in that bunker. I thought about the first night we met. Even though we were both at a gay bar and hoping to get laid, we spent the night at his place talking. He told me about his hopes and dreams, and I was so proud of him when he started his own business a few years later. I now wondered if any of it was true. Did he even own a business? I stood and paced around the room, avoiding Liam as he walked his own circular pattern around the small room.

After a couple of minutes I flopped back down on the couch. Visions flashed through my mind: the first time Roger kissed me, the cute half smile on his face when I caught him watching me as I cooked for him, the hand-carved horse figurine sitting on my desk at work that he had bought for me on a business trip. The anger I felt the first time Alannah told me he had hit on her. I felt ashamed that I had directed my anger at her and not Roger. I hadn’t believed her, although at the same time, I was baffled as to why she would want to break us up. I felt like an idiot for not believing her.

I considered myself an intelligent man, so the idea of being fooled so completely by Roger felt like a physical punch. I tried desperately to think of anything that could have been a clue as to his predilections…but came up empty. I pounded my fists on my legs. There had to be something! How could I have been so blind?

I wondered if his kidnapping of Galen was deliberate due to our friendship, but pushed that idea aside almost immediately. So you know my latest prey… Roger’s words chilled me to the bone, and also implied that he was unaware of Galen’s connection to me. I felt my rejection of Galen even more acutely. Why had I passed up the beautiful blond’s attention for the sporadic visits of a man who, in retrospect, clearly had no respect for my needs?

It was a question I couldn’t answer, and one I feared would forever affect my relationship with Galen. I had made the biggest mistake of my life the day before I left for my trip—the day Galen asked me to choose between him and Roger. I wanted to go after him when he stormed out of the house, but Alannah had stopped me. She was right that he needed time—we all needed time for our emotions to settle down—but none of us could have known we’d never get that time. I wondered if things would be different right now if I had made a different decision. If I had stayed…if I had chosen Galen over Roger…would he be laying in that hospital bed right now, being put back together after Roger took him apart?

I had a secret that only Alannah knew; I had admitted to her that I made a mistake. I had planned on breaking up with Roger at the end of this trip. Galen had made me realize that I needed more out of life. Only now I was sure I’d never get that opportunity. I would never tell him of my plans; I was sure he wouldn’t believe me, or if it would even make a difference to him. Tears fell down my face as I convinced myself that Galen would never forgive me for what Roger did to him. I felt responsible for Galen being brought to that bunker.

You know my latest prey…. The words chilled me to the bone. I wondered how many other men Roger had kidnapped and brought to the camp, and what their ultimate fate was. I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the answer. I was pretty sure that he had no intention of Galen leaving that bunker alive.

I jumped when a strong arm snaked around my shoulders.

“Any news?”

I had only met him once, but the spiky, black hair and tribal neck tattoos made Jody pretty hard to forget. “He’s in surgery. They don’t know if—“

Jody’s jaw tensed and he tightened his arm around me. “So what happened? Liam was a bit vague on details.”

I closed my eyes and tried to fight the nausea I experienced whenever I thought of my friend’s condition.

“You OK? You’re looking a little green.”

I ran to the garbage can next to the door and vomited. I suppose ‘attempted to vomit’ would be more accurate since there wasn’t anything left for my stomach to purge. When I finished, Jody gently guided me back to the couch and sat next to me. I thought it was strange that he put his arm around me again.

“How’d you get here so quickly? We tried to call, but your cell went right to voicemail.”

Not surprising since it was on the nightstand next to the bed in the camp. I lifted my head and noticed Alannah sitting next to Liam, holding his hand. She met my gaze and walked over to me.

“How are you holding up, love?”

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. Alannah was the only person who knew my true feelings for Galen.

“I don’t think he’s doing so hot,” said Jody. “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

She nodded and gestured for him to follow her. I heard Liam’s deep voice and Alannah and Jody’s gasps as he relayed the information he knew. I tried to separate myself from my surroundings, envisioning my favorite spot in the woods beyond the barn at the farm. It was a clearing at the edge of a small valley overlooking a narrow stream. It was spectacular in the fall, especially when the sun glinted off the crimson, yellow, and orange leaves that made the valley explode in a symphony of color. I closed my eyes and imagined I was there with Galen, sitting side by side, my friend even more beautiful than the scenery splayed out before me as the bright light reflected off his blond hair, reminiscent of living sunshine.

Jody brought me out of my reverie when he clasped his hand on my shoulder. The look of sympathy on his face almost made the dam bottling up my emotions burst, but I reinforced the cracks and held them back. Jody hugged me tightly and I was very confused by his behavior. He was Galen’s best friend. He knew the pain I had caused him. I had no idea why he was being so nice, especially since I was sure he knew of the connection between me and Galen’s abductor.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked.

“I know I don’t really know you, but Galen’s told me a lot about you. Even though there’s been times I’ve wanted to kick your ass, you’ve also brought a lot of joy into his life. I’m pretty good at reading people, and I don’t think you had anything to do with this. You’re hurting just as much as everyone else. I think you need comfort right now just as much as I do.”

I nodded. “I can see why Galen likes you so much.”

He smiled. “Yeah, I am pretty awesome, aren’t I?”

My return smile was weak, but it was all I could manage.

We waited for several more hours for any further news. Liam changed out of his bloody uniform and was given a set of scrubs to put on. Detective Adams wanted to question me, but Jody wouldn’t let him. He said I wasn’t in any condition to answer questions and that I should have a lawyer present. He still confused me, but I was grateful for his presence.

We all sat up simultaneously when the surgeon entered the room and cleared his throat.

“Are you the family of Galen McLeod?”

Liam stood and nodded. “Yeah, I am.”

The lines on the surgeon’s face were pronounced and dark circles under his eyes, along with his expression, conveyed his exhaustion. “He’s out of surgery,” he stated. “Would you prefer that we speak in private?”

Liam shook his head. “It’ll save me having to repeat everything you tell me.”

The doctor gave a detailed description of Galen’s injuries and what he did to repair them. The basic gist was that while the surgery was successful, he was still in grave condition and not out of the woods yet.

“What are his chances?” Liam asked quietly.

“I don’t like to give percentages. People have a way of surprising us sometimes. I’ve seen men succumb to far lesser injuries than his; however, I get the feeling that he’s a fighter. We’ll know more in a couple of days. In the meantime, he’s in the recovery room and will be sent to the ICU shortly. You can visit him then.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Alannah said.

He nodded and left the room. We returned to our seats in silence, each of us processing the doctor’s news in different ways. Galen was still alive and fighting. That was the important part. We’d stand by him during his recovery, no matter how difficult it would prove to be.