I Woke Up 349 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 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.
"Let's just say we're acting on information that was provided to us."
"Anonymously I'm sure."
I watched as the other patrolman went right to the wheel well where the package had been. He did proceed to inspect the rest of the car as well.
The thought occurred to me at that point to check the area. Even if that package had been nothing but flour or sugar, the visual would be enough to sway a good many people. I didn't see anyone around, but I did spot a drone at about 100 feet overhead.
"Karl, officers, please take note at about my 11 o'clock and about 100 feet up. There is some type of drone observing us."
Everybody looked up and spotted the drone.
"And why should that interest us?"
"Because I believe that somebody is trying to set me up and I wanted that drone's presence to be observed. I'd appreciate it if there is mention of that drone in whatever report you make on this incident."
"Why would someone have you under surveillance?"
"I could only speculate at this point. Someone, for reasons known only to themselves, wants to see me ruined."
"Someone?"
"I won't openly speculate on who, as to date there is nothing I can point to as real proof."
"Sounds pretty vague to me."
"Nonetheless officer, that is what I suspect. Could we be on our way, please? We have classes to get to."
"Sure hit the road."
I did get the officer's card just in case I needed him to witness to the drone.
Karl and I got back to the apartment and made quick work of getting ready for the day.
We were soon back on campus. English and Public Speaking behind me for the day I was once again over to the student union for my lunch. Bob Watson was soon there beside me.
"Rumor has it you found something this morning."
"Nothing stays a secret for long around here it seems. Yeah, I found a package of a, as yet, unidentified substance stashed on my car. I had the campus security retrieve it to be turned over to the local LEOs. On the way back to the apartment we were stopped by the police and the car searched."
"Somebody is going to a shit load of trouble to trash you."
"Ya think?"
"Anyway, I asked my editor why my story didn't run. He told me it was poorly written and wasn't objective. Here's a copy of it. Figured you might want it as a just in case."
I took it and stashed it in my backpack to read later.
"I've started researching both Hasting and Grandise to see what I can find out as it pertains to you."
"Tread damn carefully Bob. If it is them going to lengths to get to me, there's no telling what they might do to a less public figure like you."
"I hear you Den, but watching my 6 pretty much comes with the territory of being a journalist."
"I'll take your word on that, but please just be damned careful."
Shortly after, I headed for my Logic class, the last of the day. Once I was through with that I once again headed for the Deans office.
"Again Mr Sawyer?"
"I'm afraid so Mrs Humboldt."
"It's liable to be a few minutes."
"I'm done for the day."
She got on her phone to let the Dean know I was waiting. It was almost an hour before I was admitted to the Dean's office. Before I was admitted I had Mrs Humboldt make a make a couple of copies of Bob's story so that I could give him a copy.
Once I was inside I recounted the whole of the incidents of this morning as well as telling him of my conversation with Bob.
"Seems you've had quite the day, Dennis. I am a bit concerned that Mr Watson is digging into things."
"I'll try and call him off if you like, but I fear he is a 'dog with a bone' at this point. He smells a story and he's going after it."
"That does sound like Mr Watson. So far my investigations haven't turned up anything in the way of motive for either yourself or Mr Adams."
"Nor have mine as yet, though I'm sure something will turn up."
"And just whom do you have looking?"
"My lawyers and the head of security for the brokerage."
"Well, not some amateur sleuths at least. Please keep me informed."
"I will sir. If campus security gets back to you with the contents of that package, I'd be interested to know along with anything else that might get turned up."
"Of course. No telling what might mean nothing on the face of it to others but will have some significance to you. Well let's see if we can have a quiet weekend shall we?"
"I certainly hope so."
At which point I left the Dean's office and headed back to the apartment. I did check the car over before I left. It had been sitting all day after all, and that package had shown up while it was parked on campus. Even after waiting to see the Dean, I was back before Karl, so I got something going for supper.
While it was cooking, I did take the time to read Bob's article. It certainly didn't appear poorly written to me and dealt strictly with the facts.
Karl came in and saw me reading the pages.
"What you got there lover?"
"Bob's story that didn't get printed. He told me today that his editor said it was poorly written and not objective. Not that I can see on either count, but then again I supposed I am a little biased in that respect."
"So, not conclusive, but another nail so to speak."
"For supporting evidence maybe. But I'm no closer as to the why of the whole thing."
"If we had the why this would already be a done deal Den."
"Yeah, maybe. Anyway, after this morning, I'm back to checking the car before I drive."
"Yeah, I checked mine before I pulled out of campus. You don't really think they'd try it again?"
If that brick was the real deal, I don't. I don't know what the street value of that stuff would have been, but it couldn't have been cheap. If it was a fake, then yeah I'd expect it again. All they really need is the visual to cast dispersions."
"But once it was discovered that the stuff was fake, wouldn't that put an end to it?"
"Maybe, but by then the damage would have been done. Recovering from something like that would probably take a hell of a long time for the brokerage in general, and me in particular, if ever."
"So, you think the overall objective of all of this it to financially ruin you?"
"Yeah, at the very least. I end up serving any time over this whole thing and that's the ball game. My license would be revoked and I'd have to disband or sell the brokerage, I'm pretty sure, and the gym would fall through as well. And then there's whatever I might have to endure while I'm 'inside'."
A statement that brought Karl up short.
"What just occurred to you, lover?
"What if we're looking at this the wrong way entirely?"
"Come again?"
"What if it's somebody still on the 'inside' pulling the strings? Or somebody who wants the gym deal to fall through?"
"Both are possibilities I suppose. But better yet, what if something happened to one of the guys while they are still 'inside' and a family member has gotten the idea that you're to blame for it and wants to see you subjected to the same treatment?"
"But that doesn't do anything to Adams."
"We're only speculating that the two are connected. What if they aren't? What if they're two separate things connected only by the timing? Or if Adams is just a distraction to keep to keep otherwise occupied? Then it's a whole different clusterfuck."
"No still the same problem, which is finding out who and why."
"Not something we're going to do tonight I think. Let's eat."
Once supper was done and cleaned up, we just sat on the couch, Karl holding me tight, and watched TV for a while before we crashed for the night.
Saturday morning and we were up and at it once again. I checked the car over before we pulled out. Karl and I were both staying on campus after the run today; me for the gymnastics and him for a general workout.
It was a scheduled practice so the apparatus room was closed to outsiders. The locker room, however, was not. I took a little extra precaution today and made a point of setting the combination on my locker to zero. Call me paranoid if you want, but it was a simple thing to do. My equipment bag still had the lock on it from last year and I made sure that it was locked whenever I was working on a piece of equipment. I didn't really think that anybody on the team was involved with this whole thing, but why take chances?