Kasey with a K

Chapter 4

It was agreed that Trish would stay the night, and Tim would go back to work. I was still sore but had calmed down a little bit. Kasey still wasn't convinced, but he agreed because he really had to get back to base, but he did say he had a week off coming soon and would like to spend it with me.

I didn't need a bloody bodyguard. I had by this time decided that Lloyd had achieved what he intended to do, and that's to get me out of the way, and out of his mates life. He won't repeat the performance out of fear he will be discovered. If the police haven't turned up at his door by now, he will know I didn't mention who my attacker was. And if they do arrest him, then he only has the CCTV cameras to blame, I will play dumb.

Kasey did something else quite out of character before he left, he hugged me tightly and then he kissed my cheek and whispered.

"Get some sleep, please Adam with an A, I will be back."

It took me by surprise for a second, then I thanked him sincerely as I watched him walk into the lift. I seem to be doing a lot of that lately, watching him walk away. Tim left as soon as Trish arrived with her overnight bag. I got sick of arguing with him about the attacker, he wasn't going to let it go that easily. But we did agree to disagree on the subject.

"Your spare keys, do you want me to put them back in the drawer at work or do you want me to leave them here?"

"Leave them here. I don't want them where anyone can access them, and thank you, Tim, for everything." He left the keys on the table, I had wondered how they both got into my apartment, but stupid me, I forgot I always left a spare set at work just in case, and I'm glad I did.

"Oh, my God, I didn't imagine it would be this bad Adam, bloody hell, the man must have been pretty powerful to do that sort of damage."

"He was Trish, and thank you for coming to stay, now this is where I live, would you like a tour?" She looked oddly at me.

"Yes please, this place is amazing, and so are you, my friend. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes, help me with the cream, then I want you to wash this filthy hair if you wouldn't mind."

"Already planned boss, come on show me this place. I had no idea you lived in a grand palace, it's so you." She squealed.

She was trying to distract me and asked many questions about the collection of vintage items scattered about. I showed her the huge bathrooms and her room, then we walked out onto the balcony and leaned on the railing, just taking in the view of the river.

She had cleaned up the lunch containers and was looking through the menu on the table. I sometimes order up from the café below, so I told her it was my treat tonight, to order up big. I found another bottle of wine and we shared it.

"So you didn't know the person that attacked you?"

"No Trish, he wasn't familiar to me and your right he was built like a brick shithouse." I shuddered, she gave me a knowing look.

We ate some sandwiches, then more soup I took another pill and she made me lean over the bathtub while she attended to my locks. She even blow dried it the way I like, and I felt so much better and cleaner.

The cream was applied and her gentle touch wasn't hurting I savored it.

"Now, have you got an old t-shirt to put on you don't want to mess up your sheets." I went to find one and slipped it over my head, but those fingerprints still poked over the neckline.

"Eva was telling me Kasey rang her to find out if there were any shops nearby that have CCTV. She had to go out the front and search for cameras, she found nine Adam, there's got to be something on them surly."

"Well I want him to drop it, he was just a nut job off the streets, a nobody with a mental disorder, that's all."

"Well, I reckon if anyone's going to find him it will be Kasey." She smiled.

"I don't know, maybe he won't find anything the guy came out of nowhere."

"He likes you, you know."

"Who the attacker?" I smiled.

"No, Kasey, he told Eva he thought you were an amazing person. She got the feeling he was dating her so he could see you, I think that's why she sort of dumped him."

"That's a new one and I didn't want her to do that for me. Who knows what may have developed between the two of them."

"Well, that's what she thought anyway, and she is a good friend of yours too." She smiled.

"He hugged and kissed my cheek before he left, God he's got an awesome body odor. And yes Trish I fell for him the moment I first saw him, not the brightest idea I have ever had."

She squealed, I squealed, then I started coughing again.

We talked about work for ages, and I told her I was thinking about opening another salon north of the city. She thought that was a great idea, closer to the Brisbane Bombers grounds and then she smiled and said.

"Closer to my home too." Her eyebrows lifted. I said it was early days yet, and she was in the running to be the new manager.

We gossiped too, she told me that she thought Janice and Trev might just be a couple sooner rather than later. I was pleased because they both suited each other perfectly. I was getting tired and my eyes started drooping.

It wasn't long after our girly catch up I had to go to bed, I felt like I wasn't being a good host but she understood. I told her she was more than welcome to sit up and watch TV if she wanted, or she could have a bath. She had already flicked through some of my vintage magazines and was now starting on the second stack.

"I think I might look through this lot before I turn in Adam, these are wonderful, can I take these into my room?"

"That's fine honey, have fun, I will see you in the morning." I kissed her cheek and thanked her, then went to bed and crashed for the night. But before I closed my bedroom door she asked me again if I knew the attacker. I said no, once again.

Yes, I had a nightmare but it was a good one, Kasey had my legs over his powerful shoulders and was giving me the most wonderful orgasm. I believe the horrible events of the past few days gave me a wet dream, something I haven't had since I was thirteen.

I made some eggs on toast for breakfast and told Trish if she was still hungry by the time we got into work, I would order something in. She was good to go and looked so lovely as she drove us the half-mile to the salon. She needed her car today and her usual car park was just outside the salon's back door. A once-monthly facial treatment for a wheelchair-bound ex-movie star. She paid well for Trish's silence, and it wasn't that far away, but she needed her car to get there.

I took a deep breath as I went through the door of the salon, the smells were the same and they enclosed me and welcomed me back into their magical world.

Tim was already there working his ass off and the others were arriving, they took the time to offer any assistance they could and gasped when they saw my neck. Many hugs were passed around and of course many questions I couldn't answer.

"I will be working out the back today, so any emergencies, come get me otherwise, I'm not here." I smiled at Tim who picked up a teasing comb and handed it to me.

"Well, you had better get to work then, I will give you the easy ones." He smirked at me.

We managed five sets before lunchtime I was getting tired again and my neck was sore. One more pill, and a soft iced bun for lunch, then I was about to get a visitor I didn't quite expect, Meryl.

I was sitting at the tea room table when she poked her head in, I was alone for the moment and she walked over and said.

"Show me." I still wore the scarf so I dropped my head and unwrapped it.

She gasped then gave me a big hug.

"Do you need to see a doctor son, I can take you to my specialist, it's not far?"

"No, thank you, Meryl, I have cream and it doesn't hurt as much as it did yesterday I will be fine. How did you find out about it?"

"It was all over the news this morning my boy, I had to come and see you before I went to visit my old friend the police commissioner."

"What!!?" I coughed out.

"He's an old friend, and I wanted to see if he could update me on the attack. I will get more info off him than any detective."

"I wish you wouldn't Meryl, can't we just forget all about it. I want to get back to as normal a life as soon as possible."

"No honey, I will go see him and report back to you. This is one of those special things the family can do for you." Shit, it's all going to hit the fan anytime now, I relented.

"Have you got time to sit and talk to me?"

"Of course I have, what's up?"

"Coffee?"

"No thanks son, I've had more than enough this morning."

I took her hand and tried to find some words that she would believe but in the end, I had to tell her the truth. She was stunned into silence then I told her the reasons I didn't want a big fuss made. I was terrified the guy would plant a bomb in the salon and destroy my friends, and I had a lot of other fears, she knew ultimately I was protecting Kasey, and my staff.

She sat quietly then said.

"Well, this puts another slant on it my lovely, let aunty think about it for a minute."

"Please don't go to the commissioner's office, let it run its own due course, they will see him on the cameras anyway, but I don't want to be the one that accuses him."

"Yes, yes, I understand Adam, but he can't get away with it, it's not right. Gay or not, it's just not right." She was thinking.

"I will give you a week, if he hasn't been found then I will go to the police and say I saw him."

"No, please don't do that, please I beg you."

"Okay, I won't, but rest assured I will have you watched, so if you think someone is following you they probably are."

I gulped then coughed again.

I couldn't argue with that one and I had no idea what she had planned.

She left after I fixed her hair then I sat at my station thinking about my wonderful friend Adele, and my new friend Meryl. When I saw her out the door and I looked up the street I could see some army guys getting into an SUV, one of them turned and looked at me, he made that cut-throat gesture again, and I knew he had seen me, I quickly darted inside, I was almost hyperventilating.

"What's the matter, Adam?" Trish saw me lean against the door. I was trying to slow down my breathing, my heart was in my throat thumping away.

"Adam?" She said again.

"Nothing Trish, just a moment, thanks." I had panicked and closed my eyes while I gathered my thoughts.

I was so afraid he would come back in and create havoc, I needed help, but I had nowhere to turn. He had been looking our way when Meryl left and if I hadn't stepped onto the pavement he wouldn't have seen me.

At knock-off time Trish offered to stay another night but I put her off, saying I was just going to go home to sleep, I was pretty well rooted (tired). I thought about leaving by the back door, but it's got a security bar on it and I wouldn't be able to lock it securely, so I turned the lighting off and stepped out onto the street through the front door.

While I was locking it a black oversized black Jeep pulled up out the front, and Kasey stepped out. He opened the door and said he was escorting me home, and I wasn't to argue. I did protest because I don't want him to be involved any more than he was already. When the back door opened I came face to face with Lloyd, he was grinning like a mad murderer, I nearly pissed myself and started walking up the street, alone.

"What's the matter, federal police cars frighten you?"

Kasey shouted at me. I gave no answers as I lowered my head and continued up the street, when I got to the next corner I full-on bolted to my apartment and I didn't look back, my head felt like a dead weight on my neck, it throbbed with every step.

`Sorry I thought you might feel safer getting a lift home.'

`Thank you.' I sent back then turned the phone off. I listened to at least eight messages on my machine, all from TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines wanting to know what happened to me. I deleted the lot. I went to put more cream on my neck, then I crawled into bed around seven-thirty. I just laid there thinking about the mess I got myself into and so wanted Kasey to be beside me holding me in his big arms again. I did drop off to sleep and had a good night with no wet spots, but I was up quite early having coffee and sitting on the balcony watching the sunrise, thankfully there were no clouds about as yet.

I turned my phone on and it beeped.

`Can I come over?' Kasey said.

Well, he didn't get an answer last night, and he won't get an answer anytime soon. I have to do this on my own.

Around seven the doorbell was going at full speed, I pushed the security button, it was Kasey wanting to come up. I grabbed my phone and rang him.

"Are you on your own?"

"Yes, of course, I'm alone, now can I please come up?"

I let him in, and when he arrived at my door he was dressed in full battle gear, he was an awesome sight, but I didn't curtsy.

"Thank you, when you didn't answer last night I was worried about you." He hugged me, I was stunned once again.

"I went to bed and turned my phone off, sorry but I badly needed some sleep."

"Okay, I understand, you are coming down from a big shock. I was just worried that's all." He blushed.

"You got work today?" I looked him up and down. "Yes, airport duty, so I won't be around, but I will get some of the guys to look in on you from time to time."

I panicked again and tensed up, then answered, almost pleading.

"No, please don't do that, please Kasey nothing's going to happen please don't, they will frighten my customers."

He gave me a strange look and answered.

"I thought you might like a few hunky guys fussing over you, but if that's what you wish, then I won't argue with you, for now."

"Kasey, you have done your bit, I'm fine, just go about your business, and stop worrying about me. I know the force isn't all that gay friendly, your mates won't like you worrying about this old poof."

"Who told you that Adam?"

"Told me what?"

"That special forces aren't gay friendly."

"They aren't, I know they aren't."

"How do you know." He's got me there.

"I hear conversations that's all." I lied.

"Well your listening to the wrong ones, we certainly are gay friendly nowadays. If we were any different we wouldn't be hired, but I get it, sometimes an asshole will push it now and then, but it's a big no, no, in my job description."

"Really?"

"Yes really."

"Did they say anything about you offering me a lift?"

"No, they all know about the attack and I told them seeing we were parked outside your salon we may as well see you get home safely, why did you walk off?"

"Things to do on the way, but thank you for the thought." I lied once again and kept my mouth shut, I know one asshole in his team that's not very gay friendly that's for sure.

"Coffee? I was just about to make one."

"Sure I got plenty of time, do you want me to do the cream?"

"If you want Kasey with a K, that would be great."

"Coming up Adam with an A." He chuckled then went into my bathroom to get the cream while I made his coffee. I broke a self-inflicted stand-off, and as his hands smoothed over my neck and shoulders, I almost moaned with ecstasy.

"Umm Kasey, I don't think I have bruising there."

"What?"

"You're massaging my nips, didn't I tell you about the no sex clause?"

He looked down and sure enough, he had his hands on both of my pillow like pec's and was massaging them back and forth.

He laughed so much he had to sit down, he was like a little kid when he giggled. I was smiling at him, and inside secretly wished it was his tongue that had been doing it.

"Sorry, I got carried away." He started blushing.

"That's okay, it felt good," I smirked.

"Tart."

"Seriously thank you for doing that, I can't quite do it as good as someone else. I haven't had a look this morning is it still bad?"

"Worse, but it has to get worse before it gets better. When it all turns yellow you will know you're on the mend." He sipped on his coffee.

"Did you look at the CCTV?"

"Yeah, five were out of order and the other four were facing away, but there was a shadow that ran past, the guy was big, but no face shots. We will wait for the other six we found."

"Good thing it's over then," I whispered. When I realized what I had said I looked at him, he was stunned for a moment, then replied.

"Why did you say that Adam?"

"I don't know. I figured if he wasn't found he wouldn't blame me for being arrested, and he might not come back to have another go. If he's arrested he will get bail, and come looking for me.

"Jesus you're weird Adam, I think you have been watching too many crime shows. If we catch him he will be locked well away from you. It's almost like you don't want him to be caught." "I'm sorry, but I am over it, I had to delete requests for interviews when I got here last night, it was the last straw invading my personal space. I'm really over it."

"Okay, I will be at the airport all day, I won't get the guys to call in on you, but I will get a uniform to look in now and then." He smiled.

"That would be acceptable, thank you, Kasey, with a K." I smiled back and now is the time you lean in to kiss me.

But he didn't, he washed his cup and hands then left soon after. I told him about Meryl's shadow, he laughed because he didn't think she had that much clout with the establishment unless she went private and that would cost her a bomb.

I left it at that and saw him to the door, he hugged me again, and he did linger this time. I heard him sniff then he walked into the elevator.

I readied myself for work and grabbed a sandwich at the café to have when I arrived. I made it in record time and as usual, was made a fuss over. Eva had bought me a very cool turtle neck pullover, they were very popular in the seventies I believe. She helped me put it on and it looked really good. I could work in my salon today without anyone staring at me, and that made me very happy.

Tim had requested he has Janice for the morning, and she was more than happy to assist him. I went to have a look at the one she set the other day, and it was perfect. Her apprenticeship will breeze by, and she will become a great hairdresser.

"Adam do you want to see Nona, I took her appointment, but if you want to do it, you can," Trish said.

"Yes, when is she due in?"

"In about two minutes, she's just driven around the back and is parking as we speak. I have opened the back door for her." She giggled.

I went to greet my special Italian friend, she was her bubbly self and had a large plastic container full of Italian biscuits for our morning tea. Food fixes everything in her world.

"Ciao Nona, how are you today?"

"Very good Mr, Adam, how is your neck?"

"Getting there, it still hurts to swallow but the pain killers help when I want to eat."

"It wasn't very nice to hear Adam, my husband is very worried they may not catch the criminal."

"He's a hunk of a man Zena."

"Who, the criminal?"

"No, your husband, Luca." I laughed at her face.

"Maybe I should send him around to your place to protect you. Maybe you could teach him a thing or two while he's there." She smiled shyly.

"He's all your's baby, I don't play in anyone's back yard, at all."

"Oh, how disappointing I was only suggesting you show him how to tease my hair up." She started laughing and I broke down and laughed along with her, well I coughed and laughed.

I always had a great time with her around and was sad when she had to go, she did look good though and I gave her a big staff discount.

I noticed a police officer standing out the front, he popped his head in and asked Trish something then he went on his way. I didn't see anyone else around as I collected my next client, a hair straightening treatment.

I applied the cream to my client's hair and the fumes started me off again, Anne was quick to take over and sent me out the back to get some fresh air.

Leaving early for the day, I felt like I had achieved something, the girls will lock up when they are finished. I was starting to feel a lot better inside and that terrified feeling had dulled a bit. I don't think I will ever lose that awful feeling completely. Of course, it will flare up anytime I see one of Kasey's mates out and about, I can't trust any of them, at all, and at one stage I thought I couldn't trust Kasey either.

I called into the café to get something for dinner, and while I waited, sure enough, fate threw me another curveball. Kasey and his mates came in. Fuck me, give me a break, will you. I didn't acknowledge them and I didn't even look sideways at them, I just stood at the pick-up counter and waited. I froze when I felt someone standing behind me, I could almost feel their breath on the back of my neck. Then I felt it, a slight shove in the back. My dinner had arrived and I almost ran out of that place before I started a riot screaming at the top of my lungs.

I don't know whether it was Kasey or Lloyd that did it, and I wasn't going to look behind me to find out. I closed my front door with a loud bang and secured the deadlocks. I had no idea who was in the next flat, but I think it was vacant. I started shaking violently and wished I was a drug addict so I could take something to calm myself down. I have to do something about it, and I have to somehow get Kasey off my back.

I didn't feel like eating after that, I just sat on the sofa and sobbed. I felt like shit and my world got a lot smaller as another day was ending.

The doorbell started about an hour later. I didn't answer it because I knew who it was. It drove me insane, so I rang the apartment building janitor, he looks after everything and lives on the ground floor.

"John, my mate will you go out to the lift and get whoever it is pushing on my button, to go away, I'm not home."

"Thanks, mate just don't want any visitors tonight that's all."

He was a good man, we often talked about the good old days, he also had some interesting stories to tell. I wanted to write a coffee table book one day about it all, with awesome photos from Adele's albums, but it will never happen. I just don't have the know-how. The buzzing stopped, then my phone started going off. I turned the volume down and sat at my table and then I continued to cry it all out. I was scared stiff and I had no one to help or protect me, a terrible feeling when you're all on your own.

It was full-on bedlam in my head, and it brought back images of the attack, I didn't know whether it was Kasey or Lloyd using my buzzer. I was so confused I didn't know where to turn next. Maybe if I get out of the country for a while, then things will settle down. The only sensible outcome I could come up with was to go to the police and tell them who did it, and let them take it from there. He would say it wasn't him, he would put the blame back onto me because there were no witnesses to the attack except Tim, but he didn't see him face to face. He even might say I tried to come onto him, I have heard some men use that excuse.

I looked down at my phone again, it was still lighting up, it told me Trish was calling, so I answered.

"Are you okay Adam, all hells broken loose here, Kasey is going fucking ballistic?"

"Yes I'm okay, tell him to chill, everything's okay. I'm having an early night."

"Adam, Adam are you okay?" It was Kasey he must have grabbed the phone off Trish.

"Yes." I didn't want to talk to him, he's the last person I wanted to talk to.

"Adam you're doing my fucking head in, I'm on my way over answer the fucking door, and stay right there."

"No! don't you dare come back here, I won't answer it to anyone, not anyone you hear me."

"What the fucks happening? Fuck this, I'm on my way."

"Don't you fucking dare come to my place ever again, and you can fuck off and take your fucking mates with you, you're all pieces of fucking shit." I hung up and threw my phone on the table. I have said too much, but it made me feel good for a fleeting moment to chastise someone, anyone.

Twenty minutes later the doorbell began again. I couldn't take it anymore, so I locked my apartment up and left by the fire escape. I had a key to the basement door, and I slipped away quietly into the early evening, watching every shadow and movement around me. I ended up in a picture theatre hiding in a dark corner watching some crappy movie. I could see everyone that came in and went out, and I felt safe for a fleeting moment.

When I had to leave my safe place I made it to a hotel and booked a room. I tried to book one that was hidden away in the back, but all they had was a suite with two rooms. I didn't care about the money, I paid with my credit card and was shown the room.

"No luggage sir?"

"No, the airline lost it, I will buy some things tomorrow morning. Tonight I need a good night's sleep after my long flight."

"Very well sir, have a good night and if there's anything you need please call reception."

I turned the lighting down and had an awesome view of the city lights, so I moved the sofa around and sat quietly looking out at it. My head ached and I had forgotten to grab the cream and my pain pills, it's going to be a very long night I think.

The music from the awful movie kept playing in my head it went around and around. I suddenly thought of something I had to do. I had to ring Trish and tell her I was okay, she would be worried.

I phoned my friend and she picked up on the first ring.

"Are you alone?" Was the first thing I said.

"Yes honey, where the hell are you?"

"In a hotel, I had to get out of that place, so I went to watch a movie and ended up here."

"Which hotel?"

"The movie was shit." I ignored her question and she knew it was deliberate.

"You have to tell him, Adam, you have to get help, this hiding is not good for anyone. I had to pull Tim into line when Kasey came in ranting and raving, he was going to deck him in the salon, he was so mad. I managed to calm both of them down, but Kasey was so worked up he almost put his fist through the front window. I don't know where he went, but I'm sure he will be back. He frightened all of us Adam, you have to finish this somehow."

I was silent for a minute or so.

"Adam, did you hear me?"

"Yes, Trish I heard you. Thank you for being there, and thank you for putting up with all this, I will finish it tomorrow morning, just give me one more night on my own."

"You're my friend, who else can I help, if not a friend."

"Thank you."

"Adam, can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Why are you so insistent on keeping this a secret, because Tim told me who did it?" That didn't shock me.

"His word against mine, I have no proof, he's one of Kasey's friends and colleague, he has clout in the force. He's been intimidating me on the streets he was the one that bruised my chest, and in the café earlier on he stood behind me and nudged me, and I don't know whether it was him trying to get into my apartment or Kasey. But I do know it has scared me." I took a deep breath and continued.

"I have no defenses, I'm dealing with a crazy one-man army, he could do anything to me or my friends. I don't know where to turn next Trish. I just don't know."

"Then also know this, my friend, promises are made to be broken. I will tell Kasey in the morning if he calls in, we have to stop this before someone gets hurt." "Oh Trish he might do something stupid, you have seen his angry side, I don't think that's wise. I will tell him, I will send him a message now and tell him."

"Make sure you do, now, do you need anything?"

"No, I left everything in the apartment because I had to escape. I will get some clothes in the morning and wait it out here until I calm down. Then I promise I will go to the police"

"Kasey won't let it go, Adam, he was only pissed yesterday because you wouldn't speak to him." She was getting angry again.

"I know, and I will fix it by the morning," I said I loved her then hung up. I can't put my staff through this and I can't go on feeling this way forever. I will have to tell Kasey and hope he doesn't go off his tree, then I will go see the police.

There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Room service sir, I have a bottle of complimentary champagne for you." Good, I need to get drunk.

I opened the door and found someone standing there that I never expected to see.

Bloody Kasey.