721 Anderson Avenue-19 by M.P. Arsent
Copyright to this story remains strictly that of the author. No other publication or use of this story is allowed without the author's consent. This story contains male-on-male sexual content both implied and explicit. If this offends you please do not continue. All characters and implied situations are strictly those of the author and are not based on any real-life events or characters. If you are under 18 years of age please exit this story now. I welcome all responses to my stories. Please ensure you list the story's name in the email line. If your email is to alert me of misspelled words or improper punctuation or grammar save your time because it will be deleted. I hope you enjoy my vivid imagination. Please let me know what you think at mparsent@gmail.com and remember to donate to Nifty as they do an amazing job.
Bob and Irv headed on up to their apartment and I went into mine. I checked my email both building and personal and found nothing that really needed to be replied to.
It having been a while since my last trip to the gym, I figured it might well be safe to go back.
When I got there, most of the guys had a bit of a smile on their faces.
"Welcome back Jeff!"
"Good to see ya guy!"
"OK, what gives you guys?"
"Well.......Greg hasn't been seen or heard from since you decked him. It's made for a more pleasant time here for everybody."
Which boded well for me having a peaceful workout. No such luck.
I was working out on the weight machine when this guy walked up and started talking.
"So you knocked out the former 'big dog' of the gym."
"I shut up a loudmouth."
"Well, I'm calling you out big dog."
"Listen, friend, It isn't a title I intend on defending. You want it it's yours."
"Not the way it works."
"Fine."
I stood up from the machine.
"Hit me."
"What?"
"Hit me."
The guy took a half-hearted swing at me and I dropped on purpose and stayed down for a bit.
"There now you're the big dog."
The guy just looked at me for a second.
"You are one crazy S.O.B."
"Maybe, but an uninjured crazy S.O.B."
I went back to my workout when the guy turned and walked away.
The rest of my workout went uninterrupted and not long after I was on my way back to the apartment.
I was walking along minding my own business when a kid came hauling ass out of an alley and plowed right into me. There were other kids in hot pursuit.
When they saw the kid with an adult they pulled up short and then turned tail and took off.
I had hold of the kid who couldn't have been more than 9 or 10.
"Hold on there short person. What's going on here?"
"I didn't do nothung wrong! I was just looking for some food."
"What about your parents?"
"I couldn't wake them up, but I shouldn't be talking to you. You're a stranger."
"Very right young man, but I bet your parents told you it was alright to speak to a policeman, yes?"
"Uh huh."
There was a black and white coming down the street and I waved them over. As luck would have it, it was Ken and his partner.
"Jeff, what's going on here?"
"This young man was being chased by some other young men. He says he was only looking for some food and that he couldn't wake his parents up."
Ken looked at me and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. Something dire had happened to the kid's parents.
"Well young man, what's your name?"
"Jake Barrows sir."
"And do you know where you live Jake?"
"Yes sir just a coupla blocks from here."
"You had better show me, Jake. We'll take it from here Jeff."
"Let me know how it all turns out?"
"Yeah, I will."
I made my way back to the building and went to check the computer for anything that needed tending to.
It was a few hours later that I saw Ken heading into the building and I went out to the hall to meet him.
"So what's the story?"
"Both parents were d.o.s. Looked to me like they overdosed. No grandparents or aunts or uncles that we could find, so the kid is in the system now."
"At least he's being taken care of now. I doubt it will be long before someone takes him though. He seemed like a good kid to me."
"He did to us too. Didn't give us a bit of trouble the whole time he was with us. Not like the last kid we took to family services. He was kicking and screaming and telling us he didn't need anybody to look out for him."
"And that kid will probably be there for some time to come, unfortunately."
"I'm thinking so. We don't usually keep track."
"Ok, Ken thanks for the info."
After supper, it being Saturday, I headed up to the roof to hang. Most of the guys were there tonight.
Bob and Irv were both there and looking a little dejected.
"It was only the first try guys. Don't look so beat."
"Yeah, we hear you, Jeff. We just had such high hopes."
"It will happen, guys, you just have to give it some time. Any more appointments set up yet?"
"Not yet, but we expect to hear from Family Services during the week."
"Well here's hoping the next time is the right one for you."
"Amen."
It stayed a pretty quiet night up here tonight and about 10 I called it a night and headed down to my apartment.
Sunday morning dawned bright, but you could tell that autumn was on its way as there was a slight nip in the air. After I had some breakfast I checked the email to make sure nothing had cropped up overnight. After that laundry was the order of the day. Afternoon rolled around and it was once again in front of the TV for the races. Today my guy actually won.
It finally got late enough that I knew the guys would be gathered on the roof, so I made my way up there.
It being Sunday night, the club was closed so Dana was here with the others.
"Hey Jeff, haven't seen you up here the last couple of weekends."
"Yeah, I've been kicking back alone."
"You know that you don't have to be."
"I know Dana."
I had enjoyed my time with Dana before and was giving it serious consideration tonight.
Before I could consider it very much there was what I took to be gunshots heard, and it sounded like they were coming from the front door.
Ken was headed for the stairs, but I went to the edge of the roof. All I could see was a body lying on the ground.
I. along with just about everybody else, headed for the stairs. I did think to call 911 on the way down. I got to the front door but held everybody back.
Ken was already outside with the body.
"Ken?"
"Whoever it was is gone. I recognize this guy as one of the tenants but I don't know his name."
I got down there and it was Zander Petrovich, the photographer who lives in 7A.
"It's Zander. How bad is it?"
"No gunshot wound but he's got a pretty deep cut on his head."
"911 was already called and should be here shortly."
"Did you see anything from the roof?"
"No, just whoever it was had a dark trenchcoat on."
At this point, the ambulance and the black and white both showed up. I ran into the office and pulled my file for Zander. It would have his emergency contact information and probably a few other things they might need at the hospital.
I wasn't allowed to ride along, so I headed to the hospital on foot.
When I got there I gave the ER people all of the information that I could from the file and was asked to take a seat in the waiting room.
About a half hour later I saw a man I recognized as Zander's personal assistant.
"Albert! Over here."
"Jeff, what the hell is going on?"
"Zander was mugged when he was trying to get into the building, or at least that is what I suspect. The doctors haven't said, but it looked like he had a pretty nasty gash to the head. I wouldn't count on him being out of here for a couple of days at least."
"Damn, we have a location shoot on Tuesday that can't be moved."
"I'd get on the phone and find out if the client will accept anyone else, and try to find a someone."
"Yeah probably, but I'm going to wait and see what they have to say."
It was only a few minutes later that a doctor came out.
"He is still unconscious, but we're confident that he will be fine in a few days."
"There's no way he will be up and about Tuesday?"
"I severely doubt it."
"Guess I had better get to work."
"I'll hang in here for you Albert, at least until Zander wakes up."
Albert was soon off to try and make arrangements.
I was eventually shown into Zander's room and he was still out of it, so I sat down to wait.
The sky was lightening when Zander finally groaned himself awake.
"Take it easy Zander, you're in the hospital and have a nasty head wound."
"Feels like my head wants to fall off of my shoulders at this point."
"Albert is taking care of business for you and trying to get somebody to cover your shoot tomorrow."
"I won't be out in time?"
"Do you feel like you'll be out in time?"
"Not really."
"There you go. I told Albert I'd stay until you woke up. I need to head back to the building and get things done. I'll call Albert and let him know you're awake. You need anything call me."
"Thanks Jeff."