Hello everyone! Here ya go, Chapter 22 served up with a smile. I hope you enjoy! I'm looking for distribution agents, people to help me get Bleeding Hearts out there in your local bookstores. If you would like to know more about this project, check out the website for more details.
http://www.steliko.com/bleedinghearts
Email: Aterovis@aol.com
Chapter 22
If I thought I had a lot to think about before, now I had even more. I couldn't stand to wait until the next day to tell Novak what I had found out from Finn, so I headed straight for the office. It was closed up tighter than Fort Knox when I arrived. I let myself in with my key and sat down dejectedly at my desk. I didn't want to wait; I wanted to tell him now.
"So why not find him at home," I thought suddenly. I'd never been to his house but I knew vaguely where it was. Armed with his address I felt confident I could find it, after all, I was a detective, sort of.
I locked up and started off for the neighborhood Novak lived in. It was a quiet neighborhood, mostly retirees with maybe a few families thrown in for good measure. I found his street with no problem. I parked on the road in front of his house. It was a tidy, one-story rancher style home with white siding and black shutters, very much like all the other houses on the street. All the shrubbery was trimmed back tightly and the grass was mowed short. Novak's car sat on the blacktop driveway. The front door was open so I rapped on the screen door. I was just about to knock again when he appeared.
"Killian?" he said in surprise when he saw who it was.
"Novak, you won't believe what I found out!" I gushed before he was even to the door.
"I thought you were taking today off," he said with a frown.
"I couldn't stand doing nothing so I hunted down Finnegan Byrne. You won't believe it!"
"Can't this wait till tomorrow?" Was it my imagination or did Novak seem a little perturbed? I was beginning to lose a little of my enthusiasm.
"Well, I mean, I guess it can," I said, trying not to sound like a pouting pre-schooler.
"That would be better," he said quickly. "We'll talk first thing in the morning."
"Oh, Shane, do you think the chicken is done?" a female voice called from behind him.
Novak flushed and seemed unsure of what to do for several moments. I felt my mouth drop open in surprise. It hadn't even occurred to me that he might have company, let alone female company. No wonder he was so eager to see me off. I felt like an idiot.
"I'm sorry," I started but he cut me off.
"It's ok, kid. Don't worry about it. I'll just see you in the morning."
"Ok," I nodded and turned to leave, but just as I did, Novak's guest came into view over his shoulder and I stopped cold.
"Judy!" I gasped.
"Hello Killian," she said calmly, as if finding me at the door was nothing out of the ordinary. I looked back and forth between Novak, who seemed very uncomfortable, and Judy, who was as unflappable as always.
"I'd better go," I mumbled backing away, "I'll talk to you in the morning. Sorry to have bothered you at home."
I ran back to the car, jumped in and drove away with my head spinning. Novak and Judy? Who would have thought? I sure hadn't. But then I remembered Novak's interest in her that day she came to the office and how they had talked amongst themselves at my birthday party. They were alike in many ways, so maybe it wasn't such a stretch after all. Then again, there must have been at least 20 years difference in their ages, but maybe that didn't matter as much at their age. And maybe I was just jumping to conclusions. Just because Judy was having dinner at Novak's house...and called him Shane...and appeared to be cooking in his kitchen...
Novak was dating Judy.
For some reason that thought set me off into a fit of giggles that was so bad I almost had to pull off on the side of the road.
When I got home I found a note taped to the front door.
"Killian," it read, "We've all driven out to the house. Another crew quit. Talk to you later. Adam."
So that meant I was home alone until they came home. I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels but couldn't find anything to watch so I ended up online. I chatted with my internet friends until I heard a car pull up outside. I was waiting for them when they came inside. To my surprise everyone looked fairly cheerful.
"Wow, I didn't expect everyone to look so happy," I said.
"What were you expecting?" Kane asked, "A funeral procession?"
"I thought another crew quit."
"They did," Steve said with a grin.
"The new painting crew quit," Adam explained, "But since they were pretty much finished anyway we've decided to finish the painting ourselves. It's only the kitchen and the pantry downstairs and a couple bedrooms upstairs, not a big deal."
"Are you sure?" I asked doubtfully. "I mean, we're not exactly professional painters."
"How professional do you have to be to roll paint on a wall?" Steve said. "The crew agreed to let us borrow the equipment, drop cloths, rollers, ladders, and so on. It'll be a snap."
"Famous last words," I mumbled under my breath, then louder, "So when do we start?"
"Well, I've got a project I have to finish up first," Adam said.
"And I have a date tomorrow night," Kane added with a smirk.
"I guess that means we'll start this weekend," Steve said with a shrug.
"I'll be there," I volunteered.
"Great! I really appreciate it, Killian."
"No problem, just tell Amalie to leave me alone and we'll be fine."
"No sign of her tonight, huh, Dad?" Kane said teasingly.
"There certainly weren't any cold spots," Adam joked, "That house must be at least ninety degrees."
"Central air is supposed to be installed next week. We can wait to start painting then if you want," Steve offered.
"No, we need the ventilation the windows provide," Adam pointed out, "We'll just try to work mostly at night."
Final plans were made and we spent the rest of the night talking about my case, Kane's new girlfriend and my discovery that Novak and Judy were dating. Turns out Adam and Steve already knew and had just assumed I'd known as well. I went to bed thinking I would be lying awake for hours, but despite all the exciting and bizarre things I'd learned that day, I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The next morning I couldn't wait to see Novak, both to tell him about the case and rag him about Judy. I actually woke up early and decided to just get ready and be at the office waiting when he arrived.
My plan didn't work, however, since it turned out Novak still beat me there.
"So what is this news that's so big it couldn't wait until today?" he asked me as soon as I opened the door. He was sitting at my desk with his hands linked behind his head and his feet on top.
"Make yourself at home," I said with a grin.
"It is my office," he said dryly.
"True. My news can wait a bit longer; first tell me how your date went last night."
"Excuse me?" He swung his feet down and the chair snapped upright with a metallic twang.
"You are dating Judy Davis, right?"
"You make it sound like we're in high school. We've seen each other socially a few times if that's what you mean."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't know my personal life was any of your business." He stood up and walked into his office, leaving the door open, an invitation to follow him.
"You don't hafta get nasty," I said as I trailed behind him. I was a little hurt at the abruptness in his tone and it showed in my voice.
With a sigh, he turned and faced me, leaning back against his desk.
"I'm sorry, kid. I'm just not used to having anyone in my life since my wife passed away. It's all a little new to me. You'll have to forgive me if I don't know quite how to act. It's been a long time since I dated."
"Aha! So you admit you're dating!"
He looked up to the ceiling with a beseeching look on his face. "Why me?" he mouthed heavenward. He leveled his gaze at me and said, "Now what was so blame important that you hunted me down at my home?"
I grinned. "I know who Caleb was meeting in the barn." I announced melodramatically.
"Finnegan Byrne?"
I was crestfallen. "How'd you know?" I whined.
"It was just a guess, albeit an educated one. Last night when you showed up on my doorstep you mentioned that you'd hunted Mr. Byrne down. I just put two and two together."
"Oh, well, he admitted that they met in the barn. They were friends and I guess lovers, although he wouldn't admit to being boyfriends or anything."
"Did you learn anything else?"
"Oh yeah, I've barely gotten started! Caleb was at Finn's house the night his father was murdered and Finn was never away from him for more than half an hour. His parents won't be able to validate that, though, since Caleb snuck into Finn's room through the window."
"Hold on, something isn't adding up for me. If this Finn could have provided Caleb with an alibi why didn't he come forward?"
"Apparently he's terrified that his parents will find out he's gay, or bisexual or whatever he is."
"So he let's his friend go to jail for something he knows he didn't do?"
"Hmm, yeah, that is a little harsh."
"Harsh? I wouldn't want him for an enemy let alone a friend. I think there's more to this story than we've heard."
"He really did seem scared of his parents, though," I said thoughtfully.
"He could very well be, but he wouldn't even have to admit that they were lovers, all he'd have to do is tell the police he was at his house at the time of the murder. Where does he live, by the way?"
"Oh, that's another thing. Their houses practically back up to one another. All that separates them is a thin track of woods and that big field. Finn took me through the woods and showed me."
"Why don't you start at the beginning and take me through the whole thing," Novak suggested, moving around behind his desk and taking his familiar position.
A strange look crossed Novak's face when I had finished. "That strikes me as a very odd encounter."
"What do you mean?"
"The way he showed you through the woods, as if he wanted you to know that it was him with Caleb. But why would he want you to know that? You said he was reluctant to admit that Caleb was with him that night. Unless it was all an act and we're being played like a fiddle."
"I don't understand," I admitted after a few moments of silence as I tried to work out what Novak was suggesting.
"Neither do I...yet."
The phone on his desk let lose with a shrill ring and we both startled at the sound. Novak answered before I could recover. His conversation was short and consisted mostly of uh-huh's, I see's, and yes's. He ended with, "I appreciate you giving me a call, Hank. I know it was above and beyond. I owe you one."
He hung up and looked at me a minute before speaking. "Apparently Finnegan Byrne paid a visit to the police this morning. His statement is going to get Caleb Cohen released from custody."
"You're kidding!" I gasped. "Where's he going to stay?"
"I assure you I'm not kidding. As to where he's going to be staying I don't have any idea. We'll have to wait and see. I'm sure the police will keep tabs on him."
"So what do we do now?"
"You mean with the case?"
"Yeah."
"Well, it was never an official case, even though I've spent more time on it than my paying cases here lately. And technically we've done what your friend asked you to do; we've gotten his friend Caleb off the hook. I think we can consider it a job well done and get back to our real jobs."
"But we still don't know who did kill Ira."
"That's the police's job, not ours."
"But-"
"But nothing, kiddo. This was a learning experience for you. You've learned a lot and I've learned a lot about you. You're going to make a great investigator, but you have to know when to let go of something. You can't let a case consume you. It's just a job."
"But it feels so incomplete."
He sighed. "You need closure. Let's work on some other things today, get your mind off of it. Call your friend later tonight; see if he feels good about things, you'll need to report in anyway. We'll talk again tomorrow." He picked up a stack of files and handed them to me. "Right now, these need to be up-dated and filed."
I reluctantly took the stack and stalked out of the room. I managed to get through the rest of the day without too much distraction or pouting, but as soon as I got home I was on the phone. I dialed Asher's house first. Marcus answered.
"Hey Killian, no Asher isn't here," he said in response to my question. "I think he went over to some friend's house. Hang on a sec." I heard someone in the background that sounded like it was either Bethany or Deb, then Marcus came back on the line. "Mom says he went to see his friend Caleb."
"Caleb?" I asked in surprise. "He's seeing Caleb? Do you know where Caleb is living now?"
Another brief exchange between mother and son and Marcus reported that Asher had said that Caleb was staying temporarily with the Haynes'. They had apparently contacted the police and offered and it had been arranged. I hung up the phone and stared at it dumbly. So Caleb was staying with the Haynes' and Asher was there too. Maybe I should pay a visit myself; welcome Caleb home and all. That would be closure, right?
I snatched up my keys and was out the door before anyone could even ask where I was going.
I drove directly to the Haynes home and parked in their driveway for a change, right next to Asher's car. I hopped out and knocked on the door. Becky answered it.
"Oh, hello," she said in a somewhat wary voice.
"Hi, Mrs. Haynes," I said as cheerily as I could manage. "I heard that Caleb was released and now he's staying with you."
"Um, yes," she said hesitantly.
"Is he here now?"
"No, I mean yes, but not in the house. A friend of his came over and they went for a walk together."
"Ok, I'll go look for them. Thank you." I backed away as she eyed me nervously from the door. What did she think I was going to do?
I decided to leave my car where it was and look for them on foot; they couldn't have gone too far, they were walking too after all. I walked around the hedge of trees that surround the Haynes' yard and peered out across the yard that used to be Caleb's home. I wondered how he felt staying next door to the house his father was brutally murdered in. I didn't think I would feel very comfortable if I was in his place and I hated my father probably as much as he did. I started for the barn; it seemed like an obvious first place to check. I decided to go through the window.
As I rounded the corner of the ramshackle building I thought I saw a flash of movement at the far corner. I almost called out but something stopped me. I paused for a moment as a sense of fear swept over me. I remembered one other time when a sense of motion and an ignored internal warning signal almost got me killed. I shook off the feeling, telling myself that I was being silly. It was probably just the wind. I strode purposefully to the window, planted my hands on the sill-and froze.
There, highlighted in the dappled mote-filled sunlight filtering in, stood Asher and Caleb...and they were kissing. I shoved roughly away from the window, caught my foot in a vine and fell over onto my back with a thud and a loud grunt as the air rushed out of my lungs. I scrambled to my feet and set off at a dead run.
"Killian," a voice called out from behind me. I didn't slow down or even turn around. "Killian, wait!" It was Asher but I wasn't about to stop and go back just to hear how he'd moved on and was with Caleb now. My heart felt as if it was being ripped from my chest and I fought the urge to vomit. I guess that answered the question as to whether or not I still loved Asher. Why couldn't I have seen it sooner? Why was I always so blind to what was staring me right in the face? Now I'd lost any chance I'd ever had with Asher, all because I was too stupid to see it.
I came around the hedge so fast my feet slipped out from under me on the sloping grass and I came down painfully on my hip, sliding several feet and acquiring one hell of a grass stain. I was on my feet again in a second, ignoring the shooting pain in my hip, and racing to my car. I yanked the door open, jumped in and took off with a shower of stones. As I pulled away I caught sight of Asher running across yard, a look of horror on his face. I guess this wasn't exactly the way he'd planned on telling me. I tore off without looking back again.
I drove around aimlessly for about an hour, my mind numb with pain and self-loathing. Finally I found myself at the park in my hometown. I parked the car in the lot and walked slowly towards the pond. It had been a long time since I'd been there, not since the night I was stabbed and Seth died. I'd been to the park since, for Seth's funeral, but to the pond where it all happened, where my life changed forever.
It was edging towards dusk now, almost the same time of day it had been the last time I was here. It had been cleaned up a lot since then; it was hard to believe a horrible murder had been committed here. The once waist-high weeds lining the path had been trimmed down to a lush green ribbon of turf and the thick underbrush had been cleared out of the surrounding woods. The little island in the middle of the pond had been landscaped, planted with groundcover and small trees with large rocks placed strategically. The ornamental arched bridges were painted white. It was an idyllic scene.
I walked slowly around the path that encircled the pond until I reached the place where Seth had died. I stopped and stared at the spot where he'd laid dying, all alone. It took me a minute to really focus on the small bronze plaque mounted on a concrete square in the ground. I took a step closer and knelt down to read it.
"In memory of Seth David Connelly, my beloved son."
I felt a wave of overwhelming emotion coming over me and I choked back a sob.
"It wasn't necessarily what it looked like," a voice said from behind me. I leapt up and spun around to find Seth leaning against the rail of the bridge, looking out over the pond, away from me. Somehow I wasn't surprised to see him there.
"He was kissing him," I said in a pain-filled voice.
He shrugged. "So? Maybe the kid kissed him."
"It looked pretty mutual to me."
"So what are you so upset about? I thought you were moving on."
"I love him."
He turned to face me, his face largely in shadows. "Killian, if you love him, then do something about it. Otherwise, move on. He's not the only guy out there you know. He's not even the only guy interested in you."
"Here we go with that again. What are you, like my own private dating service?"
"I'm just here because I love you."
That stopped me.
"Why are you here?" he went on, "Why did you come to the pond of all the places in the world you could have gone? What made you come here?"
"I...I don't know. I haven't been here since..."
"The night I died? Maybe it's time you made a peace with your past, Kill. You can't move forward until you let go of what's behind you."
"Is Asher behind me now?"
"That's yet to be determined."
"What about you? It's hard to let go of someone who keeps popping up to give me advice on my love life-and lousy advice at that."
"I haven't given any advice. All I've done is tried to help you see what you refuse to see."
"That's all you've ever done," I said softly, remembering the time he told me what my name meant-and that I was blind to the fact that I was gay.
"And as far as putting me behind you," he went on, "I can stop coming around if you want. I'm only here for you."
"No, don't stop. I just haven't quite gotten used to these visits from beyond the grave."
"Or maybe I'm a psychosomatic creation of your subconscious mind to help you deal with things you would rather avoid."
"Dream, ghost, whatever you just said...it doesn't really matter. I like having you around."
He smiled. "Good."
At that moment, something came crashing through the leaves caused me to jump with a frightened yelp. For a terrifying second I was back to that night with someone leaping out of the trees and tackling me. Then I remembered where and when I was just as a large black lab came bounding out of the woods.
"Champ!" someone called, presumably the dog's owner. I looked back at the bridge, but as I'd expected Seth was gone. The dog stopped, looked expectantly at me for a moment, then turned and ran back towards his owner. Once again I was alone. And suddenly it all caught up with me. A ragged sob exploded painfully from my throat and I slowly collapsed to ground. I cried there for what must have been twenty minutes as the sun finished setting and the newly installed security lights flickered on. I remained blessedly uninterrupted until I was cried out. Not even the dog came back around the pond. Finally I was able to pull myself together enough to pull myself up and stagger off towards the car. I drove home and went straight upstairs, managing to avoid any encounters with anyone who may have raised questions about my disheveled, tear streaked, red-rimmed eyes, grass stained, dirt covered appearance.
I turned on the light in my room and started stripping off my clothes. As I did my eyes fell on a white card propped up on my desk, Micah's card. I dropped the shirt in my hand and walked over to the card. I picked it up, flipping it over in my hand. I stared at the number's written on the back. Almost without thinking my hand reached out for the phone. I dialed his cell number and listened to the rings.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Micah, this is Killian Kendall, do you remember me?"
"Yeah, of course. How's the case going?"
"I think my parts over with. You helped out a lot. Listen, do you still want to get together sometime soon?"