Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Deidre is delighted when Eoin arrives. When she discovers his injuries, she insists that he stay the night.

“I’ve not shocked you?” His head popped up in surprise.

“You’d be surprised what it takes to shock me.”

“I might have something,” Aiden said. Vanessa had made him copies of the letter and the picture. He slid them across the table to his mother. “One reason Wendy came back, was to tell me about this.”

Deirdre read the letter twice before looking at the picture. She burst into tears, touching the photo reverently. “She’s beautiful! She looks—so much!” Gasping, she clutched the picture to her heart. “Oh, my darling, I’m so sorry you’ll never have the joy of watching her grow.”

Aiden’s eyes brimmed with tears. If he’d anticipated a reaction from his mother, it wasn’t this one. Anger, yes. Disappointment, surely. But never calm acceptance and love. Taking her hand, he kissed her fingertips. She squeezed his, gazing once more at the photograph.

“I thought you’d be mad.”

“I didn’t get upset about you sleeping with her, why would this make me angry?”

“Some parents….” Eoin interjected. “Well, specifically mine, would be furious with me.”

“You’ll find that our mother isn’t like most parents,” Corin said proudly. “She’s cool. With limitations.” He winked at his mother.

“I’m a grandmother!” She started crying again, fanning herself with the letter. “I wish we could be part of her life, but I understand completely, why not. Don’t do this again, too soon,” she commanded, pointing an accusing finger at Aiden.

“Mom, I don’t even have a girlfriend,” he said in a patient tone.

“Just saying. So it’s out there. You can’t have another until I’m fifty.”

“So, another twenty years, eh?” Eoin teased, winking at her.

“You always had a silver tongue. None from you, either. Or you two,” she pointed the Burl and Corin.

“That would require actual contact with a female, Mom,” Burl said. “Thus far, not in the cards.”

“Keep it that way a while longer. I can’t worry about all my chicks at once.” She took the photo of Rowan and put it in a magnetized frame on the refrigerator. Aiden had made it when he was in kindergarten. She slid it over his picture, kissing it.

“How’s Dad gonna react?” Aiden said.

“I expect he’ll be shocked,” she said, putting her hand on the photo. “But he’ll get over it. He’s a big boy, he knows how things work.” She turned, smiling. “Now, out, all of you. I’ve dinner to finish. Eoin, you’re staying the night in the guest room. No arguments. Corin, find a toothbrush.”

“What if I have to work?”

“You’re the weekend headliner. It’s Wednesday.” She wouldn’t entertain an argument.

He didn’t have to work, but he didn’t want to impose. She would coddle and mother him for a few hours, it was easier to let her. Truth be told, he didn’t much want to be home on his own. His ribs hurt, his arms ached. Even simple things like dressing and preparing a meal, were painful. Driving wasn’t in this skill set either. Being taken care of was an almost foreign concept to him. He couldn’t remember the last time his own mother had cared enough about his welfare, to call.

Dinner was delicious and much complimented. The boys, minus Eoin, cleaned up. He volunteered, but Deirdre wouldn’t let him. Her mother hen instincts had kicked into high gear. He was obviously in pain.

“Do you have anything for the discomfort?” she asked.

“Been taking Tylenol. I don’t dare take anything stronger. Mum’s a junkie. When I moved here, I had a drug problem. Wendy—” He sniffed loudly, not wanting to cry anymore. “She helped me kick it. Got me involved in other things, took my mind off my own, self-inflicted misery. I was a loathsome git when I first arrived.” He chuckled. “Aiden can tell you, a wretched bastard. Two weeks around Wendy, I learned to smile. And you lot, you helped, too.”

“Thanksgiving that year,” Aiden said. “Your host family vacationed without you.”

“Rotten buggers. The company tries to connect you with a family like your own. Way too much like my family back home. Lush for a father, screaming harpy of a mother. The second one was better, I liked them. They helped me get my papers.”

Deirdre knew both families and wasn’t surprised to hear his summation of the first family. “Wasn’t their daughter, Fonda, on the golf team?” she didn’t ask directly, more to herself.

Aiden got very alert, squaring his shoulders and standing straighter. His back to her, she didn’t notice, too wrapped up in her own thoughts.

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Deirdre has a short chat with Fred. He tells her how badly things are going on the store set up. He’s losing patience with the stupid people.

Saying the St. Paul prayer for patience for him, she took the time to type it out and send it. Getting a fresh cup of coffee, she went back to her office to continue her research. This wasn’t connected with her book, she was digging up what she could find on Troy. She wanted to know how a man like him could always manage to get free from police custody, as if he were shiny and golden. The charges seemed to roll off his back, and evaporate.

Time ticked past. She finally glanced at the clock to discover it was after 3:00 and her boys weren’t home yet. She didn’t think they had golf practice today, but she could be wrong. She was just getting worried when the front door banged open. Had to be Corin, the other two were more careful.

“Mom!” his voice cut through the empty house.

“In here!” She walked out of her office, crossing the kitchen and dining area, meeting him in the living room. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. All good. We went for ice cream. His treat.” He pointed to the door.

A tall, handsome man stood in the doorway. It took a moment to recognize him, since his black hair was longer and he was clean shaven.

“Eoin!?” She rushed to him, flinging her arms around him.

He flinched away from her enthusiastic hug, hissing sharply.

“What happened?” She raised his shirt, examining his ribs. She didn’t even think of it as an intrusion. He was as much her son as the others. “Who did this to you?”

“If I tell you that, you’ll string him up.”

“It was that beast, Troy, wasn’t it?” Suddenly furious, she stood with her arms akimbo, glaring up at him.

“Not my fault, Mum.” Eoin held up hands to fend off her anger.

“He found out that Wendy was in town, and had stayed with Eoin,” Aiden said, shutting the door behind him.

“Have you been to the hospital?” Deirdre demanded of Eoin.

“Yes, ma’am. I wasn’t going to, but a nosy neighbor scooped me up, and took me. She’s small, but feisty. I couldn’t tell her no, or she’d have ended me.” He smiled. “You’d love her, Mum. She’s just like you.”

“Don’t just stand there. Sit! You’re staying for dinner. The night. Corin, get him the ice pack.”

“I’m fine, I don’t need ice. I wouldn’t say no to your ambrosial coffee.”

“Coming right up. And I made scones.”

His dark eyes lit up his face. “Blueberry?”

“Would I do anything else?”

The boys followed her to the kitchen, dutifully washing their hands while she made coffee and served the scones. Corin was the only one who had his with milk.

“It’s like you knew I was coming,” Eoin said after his third scone. “I never ate this well anywhere else.”

“You’re welcome anytime. To what do I owe this special visit? I haven’t seen you in years!”

Eoin and Aiden exchanged a glance. She knew they were hiding something.

“What. Speak.” She pointed at her son.

“I was going to tell you, I just was waiting for the right moment.”

“This is it.”

He told her how he’d cut classes and spent the day tracking down Eoin and the girls.

“Good,” Deirdre said, surprising him. “I’ve been digging into Troy. Fascinatingly, horrible person.” She rushed to and from her office, grabbing the papers she had recently printed. “He knows someone in the office, I can’t find out who. But I don’t think they’re the only one. I believe there are two separate people helping him get out of scrapes. One on the inside, one somewhere else.” She waved her hands, indicating nebulous distance. “But it’s isolated to us. If they were able to do anything, they’d have gotten him out of Port Orange jail already. He’s still sitting there, warming his bunk.”

“Good, may he f**king rot,” Eoin said. “You know why he didn’t hit the face and legs? It would show.”

“Your poor arms….” Deirdre began.

“I can wear long sleeves, and often do, when I work. But it’s hard for a drag queen to cover her face, and I headline….”

“A what?” Deirdre interrupted.

Eoin blushed, ducking his head. “I work at Pocket Pool. I’m the weekend headliner.”

“You are? Oh, how wonderful! You were always such a talented singer and dancer.”

He had been the star of the year’s musical at the high school, and had been in several productions at the Little Theatre.

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Aiden has a chat with Eoin, who agrees to talk to Vanessa. Aiden finds out he’s been beaten up by Troy. Eoin is delighted to find out that Troy is in jail. Fred calls Deirdre to check in with her.

Always frugal, Deirdre sliced leftover roast and sauteed onions, adding shredded cheese. It was her version of a Philly steak sandwich. Her boys couldn’t handle green peppers, neither could she, so they did steak sandwiches without them.

“Sorry. There won’t be any left, Aiden can eat more than you, these days.”

“God, do you think he’ll have another growth spurt? He’s already taller than me.”

“His goal, as a child, was to be as tall as Shaquille O’Neil. Let’s hope he doesn’t get there.”

“No, dear lord! But he could do six five. How’s he been with Wendy’s death?”

“He went to school, so I guess he’s coping.”

“I hope so. Let him use the car until I get home. We’ll figure something out. I need an upgrade, but I don’t think we can afford two car payments.”

“Use mine. I can plan my days out for your time off.”

“Are you sure?”

“If not, I can catch a ride with Sarah or someone. Push comes to shove, I can drive you and pick you up.”

“We’ll work it out.”

“How’s it going?”

“Slow. Frustrating. I might not have any hair left when I get home. I feel myself snatching my hair at least five times a day.”

“Just don’t yank.”

“Trying not to. I want to carry heavy objects to hurl at people. I know I’m in charge, but sheesh! They can’t even wipe their own asses without asking permission. Or wanting to know how. Swear to God, I’m ready to beat them.”

“You can’t do that, darling. It’s against the law.”

“Doesn’t stop me wanting to. I wish I had a competent person to take over, but not even Holly and Maynard can handle this. I’m smoothing things over, soothing hurt feelings and doing—basically your job.”

Deirdre laughed. With four males in the house, she was always having to pour oil over turbulent waters. Aiden had been uncontested alpha of the boys, but Burl was fast outgrowing his brother’s influence.

“What’s wrong?” Fred’s perceptive ears had picked up on something.

“I’m so worried about all this. If they never find Wendy’s killer, it’s going to eat Aiden up.”

“What makes you think they won’t?”

“It’s a small department. It’s not like they get dozens of these at a time. I can’t remember the last murder we had. Suicides, accidental deaths, sure. But murder? And the longer it goes, after, the harder it is. It’s been three days….”

“Trust, my love.”

“I’m trying. I’ve been doing some digging on my own, and I think I found something interesting. I’m going to try to get down to the police station tomorrow with it. Maybe it will help.”

“Not today?”

“It’s still thin. I need to do more digging, flesh it out. Right now, it’s so anorexic, it would only make me look like a fool.”

“You’re far from that.”

“But the police don’t know that. Tomorrow, I’ll go over. Meanwhile, my book is taking shape.”

She went on to tell him about it, enjoying the few stolen moments. It didn’t last, unfortunately. She heard a swinging door pop open.

“Boss?” a whiny man’s voice spoke.

“Yes, Hodd?” he sighed heavily.

Fred sounded tired, frustrated and resigned. Funny how she could pick that up from two words and a sigh.

“We got a problem, Boss.” He went on to explain in a rambling, confusing way. Fred sighed again.

“Darling, I have go figure out what the f**k is wrong this time.”

“Remember St. Paul’s prayer, my love.”

“It’s completely out of my mind right now.”

“I’ll text it to you. Go be bossy. Whips and chains.”

Fred laughed softly. “God, being away sucks in more ways than one. I’ll call later. How late will you be up?”

“As late as I want, Aiden’s driving. Love you!”

“Love you!”

She heard his voice cutting sharply through confusion and babble before he thumbed the end button.

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Aiden finds Eoin at home, grieving for Wendy. Aiden didn’t know that the other man loved Wendy. Eoin knew she was back, and had been in touch with her before her return.

“Why didn’t she ever call me? I’d have talked.”

“I know, Aiden. And I don’t mean to belittle, but you’re so young.”

“I’m almost nineteen!”

“And she was far older than you, in ways you can’t imagine.”

“I knew about her father and grandfather.”

“But you didn’t know the worst, and I won’t be the one to tell you. She was working up the courage to tell you about the baby. She had petitioned to get her back, but it was so expensive. She said she had a way to get the money, but didn’t explain and I didn’t ask. I should have. And now, she’s dead. Whatever plan she had, exploded on her.”

“Have you talked to the police about what you know?”

Eoin gave him a patient stare. “I’m a flamboyant drag queen, who works in the hottest club in town. Do you think they’ll take a thing I say, seriously.”

“I know a cop who will. I promise. She’s the best. She’ll listen. Will you talk to her?”

Pressing his lips together, Eoin nodded. “For Wendy. You can f**king rot,” he teased.

“Thanks a heap,” Aiden replied, punching his friend’s arm.

Wincing, Eoin clutched his arm.

“What happened?” Aiden stood, pulling the colorful, silk gently aside.

Eoin’s entire arm was covered in livid bruises, his torso was also black and blue. His face and legs were clear, but Aiden suspected that his genitals had probably also taken a beating. He sat carefully, guarding the tenderest spots.

“Who did this?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It does! Who did it!”

“No one cares what happens to a drag queen,” Eoin protested.

“I care! Detective Weinstein will care!”

“This isn’t her jurisdiction.”

“You’ll find with her, that doesn’t matter much. She will care, and will do something. You have to speak up, tell what you know. Please.”

“I already said I would. Let me get dressed. Don’t worry, I’ll be conservative.”

He came back, a few minutes later, wearing black, relaxed fit, jeans and a red silk tee with a black button-up shirt over it. His earrings were small, gold hoops. He wore a ring on his right hand, that looked like a wedding band, and an expensive gold watch.

“Nice clock,” Aiden remarked, pointing.

“I get paid well, prancing around in f**k me pumps,” he replied. “If you ever need a summer job, I can hook you up.”

“I’ll pass. I’m not wearing a dress.”

Eoin whooped. “We do ladies’ night. Body like that, you could make a mint.”

“My mother would disown me.”

Rolling his eyes, Eoin snorted. Picking up his wallet, keys and sunglasses, he declared himself ready.

“I’ll drive us. You shouldn’t be driving as beat up as you are.”

“No, I shouldn’t. How will I get home?”

“I’ll bring you, after I pick up my brothers.”

“I accept.”

They talked a little on the way, but Aiden could tell that Eoin was in a lot of pain.

“Did you report this?” he asked.

“Why bother. Dickless will just get out again.”

“It was Troy?”

Eoin didn’t say anything, his silence was confirmation enough for Aiden. “He has a golden ticket down your way. Rumor has it, he’s got a f**k buddy with magic hands, who can make things disappear at will.” He wiggled his fingers in the air by his head.

Strangely, Aiden wasn’t terribly surprised about Eoin’s suggestion that Troy was gay. He’d suggested it before, and it seemed to fit what he knew of him.

“Troy’s in jail in Port Orange. I’m assured his magic ticket won’t get him out up there.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“There is a God,” Eoin said with a happy sigh. “And right now, the old sod is smiling.”

Deirdre had worked hard on her novel all day. It was going directions she hadn’t anticipated, but felt good about. Fred called her around 1:00.

“I thought I’d take a chance, since you said that Aiden would transport the boys. How’s the day?”

“I slept in until eight o’clock, and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with two cups of hot coffee.”

“Hot? What a miracle!”

She usually had to finish it cold, or nuke it. “I actually managed to decided on dinner ahead of time. I found roasts on sale at Publix, buy one get one.”

“Sweet! I’m gonna miss roast sandwiches tomorrow! Dammit!”

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Driving to Eoin’s is taking forever. Aiden decides to drop the girls at the police station to talk to Vanessa. He thinks what they have to say will be helpful. They agree.

The others put their hands on hers as they pulled up in front of the station. “For Wendy,” they chorused.

Aiden parked in a visitor’s spot and opened the doors for the girls. They each took an arm and walked confidently to the front door.

Vanessa was at her desk, getting ready to go talk to some of the former golf team members, when she heard a familiar voice in the lobby.

“We’d like to see Detective Weinstein, please.”

“Aiden?” She turned with a gasp.

He stood in the lobby, grinning. Two young women, whose faces she recognized, smiled at her, too. Making her way out front, she walked up to the young people, smiling, her hand out.

“This is Detective Weinstein,” Aiden said. “Detective, my friends Inez Westerman and Fonda Hart. They were seniors on golf team with Wendy and me. They have a lot to tell you.” He bowed slightly, turning to go.

“You aren’t staying?” Vanessa said, sounding hurt.

“I have another errand. Besides, I think the ladies would talk more freely without a man around.” He gave the girls each a kiss on the cheek. “She’s good people. Trust,” he murmured to them. “I’ll go see….” He pointed over his shoulder. “I’ll be back. I promise.”

He rushed to exit, trying to act casual. He couldn’t listen to them talk about their pain. It would make him too angry, and he was already hovering on the edge.

He found Eoin’s home, in a cul de sac trailer park, not far from Beville Road in South Daytona. Making the loop, he stopped at his friend’s trailer and pulled into the short, narrow driveway. It was a nice, clean place, not junky like some. Eoin had been able to buy his mobile home for $1500 cash, because the owner wanted to sell quickly. He’d been asking $3,000, Eoin talked him down by half. It was a muted, rosy pink with dusky, dark rose colored shutters. A trellis, concealing the front window, was covered with Don Juan roses. Eoin had named it Rose Cottage and loved fixing it up.

Trotting up the steps, Aiden knocked. He knew his friend had probably been up late the night before, working, but this was special circumstances. Eoin yanked open the door so abruptly, Aiden nearly fell on his face. Strong arms wrapped around his neck, hugging him for dear life. Sobbing, Eoin pulled him inside. Shocked by the emotional greeting, Aiden stood there stupidly, watching his friend. Eoin’s eyes were red, bloodshot, full of pain. He wore a tee shirt, boxers and a silk robe, swirling with color.

“I can’t believe she’s dead,” he said, his Irish accent flavoring his words.

“I didn’t know you’d be so torn up about Wendy,” Aiden said. “Here I’ve been feeling sorry for myself….”

“Of course you are. Come in. Sit. Whiskey?”

“Mom would kill me.”

“Tea, then. I’ve been drinking both. Mostly together. Why wouldn’t I be upset? We were—friends.” His lips trembled and fresh tears fell.

“Oh, f**k! You were lovers—too! How long?”

“I fell for her shortly after I arrived. How could I not? She was a ray of sunshine. Grant you, tarnished and broken, I came to find. But sunshine in spite of all that. She loved me, she loved you—she had us both….” He puttered around the kitchen, setting up tea.

“So, that summer when you were consoling me, you were grieving? I’m a selfish dick, I didn’t even see!”

“How could you? Your pain was greater than mine. At least she wasn’t my first love. But the best one.” He poured hot water in the mugs and dipped the tea bags until it was the right color. Adding milk and sugar, he set one in front of Aiden.

They sat at the small table in the kitchen. Aiden blew over his tea. Eoin let his sit and steam on the table.

“You knew she was back,” Aiden said.

“I did. She stayed here a few weeks, before she got a place closer to you. She was going to tell you something….”

“About Rowan. She left a note. Why didn’t she send it?”

“Because, she knew that was cold and cowardly. It took a lot of courage to write it, but she couldn’t tell you that way.”

“How long have you been in touch?”

“She called me a little over a year ago, drunk. Lonely. We talked.”

“Why didn’t she ever call me? I’d have talked.”

“I know, Aiden. And I don’t mean to belittle, but you’re so young.”

“I’m almost nineteen!”

© 2018 Dellani Oakes

Cover image from Free Stock Photos: Railroad Track On A Fall Day by Curtis Dean Wilson

Scott and Vanessa talk to Bullock, but he gets so abusive of Vanessa, Scott makes her leave. His anger barely controlled, he reads a passage from Wendy’s diary, which reveals Bullock’s abuse.

“That’s a lie! The little bitch lied about it all! You have no other witnesses! Nothing!”

“You can go on saying that all you want, but you’d be lying. There are other witnesses. You see, Wendy was very thorough. She kept a list of everyone who was around when you came on to her, threatened her, or sold her favors. There are some very prominent names on this list—men who bought what you sold. There aren’t names bad enough for people like you. You’re disgusting, not even a man.”

Face writhing with revulsion and anger, Scott continued. “I’m going to contact each of these men, as well as all the witnesses. I’m going to find out exactly what you did, how you did it and who you did it to. I’m going to send your pedophile ass to prison for so long, you won’t be able to count the days. If you last. Word of something like this gets out, I imagine you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of a gang bang.”

Scott got up, taking the folder with him.

“You can’t do this!” Bullock yelled. “I got connections. I’m a pillar of the community!”

“When your connections find out what a reprehensible piece of shit you are, you won’t have them anymore.” He opened the door and went out.

Bullock yelled loudly, screaming and swearing. Scott closed the door and Vanessa turned off the camera. She had the feeling that she knew the next words out of Bullock’s mouth, and wasn’t surprised to hear him screaming for a lawyer. However, since no one was in the room, and the camera was off, no one had proof that he’d asked. He hadn’t, for some reason, demanded one when he was arrested and processed. Eventually, he would make his request in front of a witness, but at the moment, they could play deaf.

Scott joined her in the booth, watching Bullock yank at his cuffs, rail and scream.

“There’s really a diary?” Vanessa asked.

“In the boxes at Troy’s. I think she went looking for that stuff, maybe got in a fight with him, dropped the letter for Aiden. The lab report came back. Troy definitely assaulted her, but there were other sperm samples. They were stupid, careless. I’m willing to bet that Bullock is another contributor.”

“I’ve had some awful cases,” Vanessa said. “This one disgusts me more than the rest of them combined. How deep does this carbuncle go?”

“I don’t know, but I intend to help you find out. I know you don’t like working with a partner, Ness, but I’m worried. You can’t go after these guys alone, especially not in your condition. I either want a uniform with you, or I go. Which is it to be?”

“Can you give me Jasper?”

“I don’t think I could stop him.”

“Then I’ll take him, please.”

“You got it. Anything you need, Nessa. You just ask.” He touched her cheek, giving her a soft kiss on her brow. “You look absolutely fantastic,” he whispered. “You truly do glow. Dario is very lucky.”

“Thank you. So is Cadence.”

“You take Jasper, and this list. I’ll send extra uniforms with you. We’re rounding these f**kers up and making a sweep.”

She took the list. “This is the city elite—the county! That’s the former mayor of Daytona Beach!” She pointed to one name. “He’s a judge. He was District Attorney ten years ago. Scott, this is—massive! Are you sure? A sting of this size takes timing, finesse. We can’t go arresting these people, or even bring them in for questioning, without proof. If we go in, balls to the wall, they’ll close ranks and we’ll get nothing. We need a cue ball.”

“Sorry?”

“A cue ball—something to break this open. And I think I know who that is.”

“The kid.”

She nodded. “Aiden Partridge. Excuse me, I need to make a call.”

The drive to South Daytona seemed to take forever. It was more direct going up US-1, but the traffic was heavy with people heading to work. Aiden managed to hit every red light. Anxious, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel until Inez touched his hand.

“No rush, it’s okay. I know you want this all wrapped up in a nice, neat bundle, but it’s going to take time.”

“You don’t have to go with me to see him,” Aiden said, not for the first time. “I can do it myself. I think it’s more important for you to go see Vanessa.”

“Oh, it’s Vanessa, now?” Inez teased, batting her eyelashes.

Aiden rolled his eyes. “Saying Detective Weinstein gets tiresome. Look.” He pointed to the left. The sign for the police station stood out like a beacon. Making the left across US-1, he didn’t wait for them to agree or protest.

“You’re sure this is cool?” Inez said.

“Yes. She needs to hear from you both, as soon as possible. She wants to break this open as much as we do. She wants to help put Wendy to rest.”

“For Wendy,” Fonda said, reaching into the front seat.

© 2018 Dellani Oakes