The usual disclaimers apply, if you're not supposed to be here then leave. Do not duplicate this story without my permission. This is a work of fiction, so if any part of it resembles someone in real life, it's not intended. Since this is fantasy, disease doesn't exist, so use condoms to protect yourself. Bonus points to anyone that knows what song the title of this part comes from. Lastly, before we move on, I know this sounds preachy, but please donate to Nifty if you can. I have been lucky enough to have found this site just after it started, and the other authors have entertained and thrilled me since. It's people like them, and you readers also, that make this site great, and we all need to keep it going.
Size Does Matter (To Me)
Part XII: By the pricking of my thumb, ......................
Halloween was in full swing and it was still two weeks away. This time of year was tourist season for the town. Fall meant apple picking in the orchards. The cider mill was working at full steam, and who can forget about the pumpkin patches. Then there were the various haunted hay rides and the haunted barn out at the Henderson place. Just about every house and business was decorated.
Max had started his new school and was easily making new friends. He loved spending time over at his uncle Shane's. Shane was even teaching him how to play guitar. Sometimes on Sundays Alex would join them if he didn't have to work. Max looked up the big man. Alex made uncle Shane happy and Max was sensitive to other people feelings. For being so young he was very good at reading people. Sure he could be immature like any kid but not often.
School had just let out for the day. He was walking home with one of his new friends when he noticed the man across the street. The man looked familiar but Max couldn't quite place him. He was just about to ask his friend if he knew the man when a Jeep pulled up in front of them. The window rolled down and a deep booming voice yelled at them. "What do you boys think you're doing walking around here? I won't put up with any trouble makers!"
The one boy nearly jumped out of his skin, but Max just laughed. "What are you going to do Alex? Arrest us?"
Alex shook a finger at the boy. "Now listen here young man when I am in this uniform its Officer Keen. Got it?"
Max dropped his back park and went stiff with a salute. "Yes sir! Officer Keen may we go home now sir!"
Alex hung his head and did a face palm. "Oh boy, whatever will we do with you Max. Both of you go home and be careful. I'll see you on Sunday. Shane said something about pumpkins."
The boys ran down the street. Max jumping up and down shouting, "Yes, yes, yes I knew Uncle Shane was kidding about skipping Halloween."
Alex got back in his Jeep and smacked his forehead on the steering wheel. "Damn it! I did it again didn't I? I need to learn to keep my mouth shut! Shane is going to be so mad at me."
Lucky for Alex when they drove out to the pumpkin patch Max was so excited Shane didn't even notice he already knew. They were all packed into Jeff's van. Alex drove so Jeff and Trish could sit in the back together, Shane sat in the middle, and because Max screamed shotgun before they left, they let the youngster sit up front with Alex. The whole way there the two talked about what they wanted to do with their pumpkins. The things they came up with just got sillier and sillier.
Shane was happy the guys got along so well, both had become important things in his life. He didn't know if he could be with Alex if Max hadn't liked him. The only problem Shane had was when the boys got together they acted like little kids. Alex would become like a giant ten year old. All the giggling they were doing up front was starting to annoy him. "Would you two calm down already we haven't even got the pumpkins yet."
That earned him a swat on the back of the head from Trish. "Oh leave them alone. It's called having fun Shane. You should try it sometime."
"Weren't you ever a kid Shane? Cause if you think this is bad just wait till my bachelor party. Trish already said I could have a stripper and Alex said he knows a special lady for the occasion." Jeff said wiggling his eyebrows.
Shane shook his head. "Better be careful with that knowing Alex like I do you might end up with a tranny."
Trish and Jeff burst out laughing. "Why do you think I agreed to the stripper!"
Jeff pecked her on the cheek. "Shit I think it will be a kick. The rest of the guys won't know what to think."
They heard a shout from the front, "What's a tranny?"
"It's nothing just boring wedding stuff. Look there's the cider mill we can get some doughnuts and cider while were here." Alex said as he pulled into crowded parking lot.
Getting out Shane stretched, "Forget the cider I need a drink."
Jeff put his arm around him, "Lucky you then. They make this awesome apple brandy here. Maybe it will loosen you up and we can pull that stick out of your ass."
Taking Max by the hand and walking toward the mill Trish called back to the men. "Ya right good luck with that."
"You guys really think I can't be fun huh?" Jeff shook his head and Alex put his hands up as in 'I'm not getting into this.' "Fine then how about this then." Shane suddenly grabbed Jeff's face and planting a big wet one on him. Shane went all out running his hand through Jeff's hair and over his body, ending it with a firm squeeze of ass cheek. Jeff slumped back against the van as Shane pulled away. He wrapped his arm around a very stunned Alex pulling him after Trish and Max. "Come on lets go have some fun."
As they caught up Shane leaned into Trish's ear, "Good going sis I never realized what a nice ass Jeff has. And such soft lips."
"What are you talking about?" She turned to see a disturbed Jeff approaching trying to fix his hair and clothes. "Shane you didn't!"
Max was fascinated with the whole process of making cider. Walking through the mill you could watch each step through windows. More than once Max wanted someone to pick him up so he could see better. When they got to the end they bought a few jugs of cider and bags of warm doughnuts. Shane ended up buying two bottles of the apple brandy and gave one to Jeff for being such a good sport. After sharing the sugary treats at a picnic table outside they headed for the orchard to pick some apples. Max and Alex made a great team. Max rode up on Alex's shoulders and could reach higher than anyone else.
When they finally reached the pumpkin patch Jeff took Max to go look for the perfect one. Alex went off to find one for himself while Trish and Shane just strolled along the pathways. "Mom called me the other day." Trish said as she took Shane's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"What did she want? Other then make us miserable." Shane said downcast.
"She tried stopping by my place, she was really pissed when she found a different family living there. She demanded I tell her where the hell we were and where you were."
Shane looked at her worry in his eyes. "You didn't tell her did you?"
Trish smiled and squeezed his hand again. "Of course not. I told her there was no way we would ever see them again. After what they did to you they are no longer welcome in our lives. I told her I was getting married and starting my life over with a guy in a rock 'n' roll band."
Shane smiled at that. "I bet she just loved that."
"I never gave her a chance to talk. You should have heard her stuttering when I told her if we ever saw them here we would have your big bad ass cop boyfriend arrest them. Then I hung up."
Shane laughed at that. "I so wish I could have seen her face. But don't ever let Alex hear you call him a cop to his face. He is very proud to be a sheriff's deputy and not just a police officer."
"Got that right I'm not one of those pansies." Hearing the deep baritone they both turned and their eyes bulged. Alex was pushing a wheel barrow holding a pumpkin big enough to fit a small child into. Before they could say anything Alex's face fell into a frown. "Damn it Jeff you may have beat me already." Turning back around their jaws hit the ground.
Jeff was pushing his own wheel barrow with Max riding on top of another giant pumpkin. The boy had a more manageable pumpkin in his lap. Jeff helped the boy down. "Can thank Max for that. He made a bee line for it. Kinda shocked me when he picked up that little thing and said perfect."
Max kicked the wheel barrow, "It's not little, it is perfect. It doesn't need to be a monster to scare people."
Alex knelled down to Max and growled, "I'll have you know that I am big and I'm always a monster." Max covered his face and started crying. "Whoa buddy don't cry I was just kidding."
Max suddenly jumped into Alex's face and yelled "BOO!" Truly surprised Alex fall back on his ass. Max got in his face and wiggled a finger at him, "Told ya. You don't have to be a monster to scare someone." The rest stood there stunned at the stunt. Max picked up his pumpkin and walked toward the cashier.
Shane helped Alex to his feet. "Okay next time you do something stupid I'm just going to sick Max on you."
Getting the pumpkins into the van proved to be a problem. Then had to fold the back seat down and it was still a tight fit. Before it started getting dark they all pulled out a cooler and had a nice picnic dinner of cold fried chicken that Alex's mom Liz had made. They were hoping to get a chance to see her when they got to the Henderson place. Being an emergency room nurse the hospital loaned her out to work one of the first aid stations set up around the county.
The Henderson family did a fantastic job every year. The hay maze lead into the haunted barn, each year was a new theme. Last year was Frankenstein's lab. This year zombies patrolled the maze and barn. The parking situation was a mess but being connected had its advantages. Pulling in next to the first aid station they found Liz and Conner sitting on a bench outside.
"You guys go on ahead. I'm going to be here the night before Halloween so I'll just see it then." Running over to the bench Alex leaned in and gave his mom a kiss on the forehead and shook his friends hand. "How is it going tonight? Any trouble?"
Liz shook her head, "No just an asthma attack earlier and Conner here got to bust a couple of kids smoking pot that's about it."
Conner stood up and stretched, cracking his back. "By the way boss thanks for scheduling me on a Sunday night. If I didn't have Liz here to keep me company I would have gone stir crazy by now."
Alex sat down and took Conner's place next to his mom. "Oh my god. Cry me a river, build a bridge, and get over it already. Be glad you don't have Devils night like me. This place gets to be a shit storm with all the crazies out that night." He turned to Liz, "Mom thanks for the chicken everyone loved it."
She smiled and patted his knee, "Your welcome sweetie. Did you and Jeff find your monsters today?"
Alex grinned and spread his arms to indicate how big it was. "Oh ya we found them. Bastard found the bigger one though. Or I should say max found it for him."
Conner looked puzzled, "Wait? What monsters?"
Liz pointed at Alex. "My darling son and his friend Jeff go out every year and try to find the biggest pumpkins around, then carve them into something scary. For the past twenty years one or the other have won the carving contest."
Alex sniggered, "Got that right it's gotten to the point that they had to add a fourth and fifth place prize. It's now a point of pride to get third place."
Conner smirked, "You won't be proud when someone finally beats you and you get third."
Alex stood up tall and proud. "Well when, no if that ever happens I'll quit with grace and dignity. I can admit defeat."
Just then they heard angry shouts. Conner started running toward the Barn when bales of hay came crashing down as a man burst through a wall of the maze. The hockey mask he was wearing came off and he quickly put it back on before Conner or Alex could see his face. As the man got up Conner ran for him. He was just about to tackle the guy when Jeff and Shane came flying through the hole in the wall and ran smack into him taking them all down. Alex yelled for Liz to call for help and took off after the guy. Before he could reach him the guy was running thou the parked cars and into the corn field.
Alex never really had a chance to catch him. When he came back to check on the others they were just getting themselves up. "What the hell is going on here?"
Trish came around the corner carrying a crying Max. She was sobbing herself. "We got separated in the maze. Max just had to try to find the way on his own. I heard him yelling for help and when I came around the corner that man was trying to take Max. I tried to stop him but he punched me in the face and knocked me down."
Jeff came up and put his arms around them. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Alex came up to Shane who had sat down on a bale of hay rubbing the back of his head. "Are you OK?"
"Just sore Jeff was able to get Max away and I tried to hit the asshole. He was so fast, he kicked me in the stomach then tried dragging me by the hair. If Jeff hadn't came back and knocked us down who knows what would have happened. We got up and chased after him and you know the rest."
Alex looked back to see Liz standing right where he left her. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind. He ran over to her just before she collapsed. Her voice was uneven, "It was him. I saw his face. It was the man that killed Jessica." Then she passed out.
By the time they arrived at the station most of the force had arrived. And road blocks had been placed around the area. Everyone's statement had been taken and Trish and Max were sleeping on herbs couch. Liz was sitting at Alex's desk sipping on some scotch Herb had given her. She was working with sketch artist to refine the one they already had. Jeff and Shane were sitting off to the side drinking some coffee. Shane couldn't stand just sitting there anymore and got up to wander around.
Herb, Conner, and Alex were going over a map in the conference room deciding where to step up patrols when Shane walked in. Alex looked up and smiled at his boyfriend. Shane walked around them to look at the board where they had pictures up of the other victims and the evidence. The three men at the table jumped at the sound of a coffee mug smashing on the floor. They looked up to see Shane holding two pictures, one was of the first victim, the other was of the knife.
Shane was crying. "It couldn't be him. How could he do this."
Alex sat Shane down and Conner grabbed the rest of the files and sat them down in front of him. Herb motioned for Alex to follow him out of the room.
"Alex I think it's best if you let Conner do this. You're too close to this right now and you know better. Go sit with Liz I'm sure she could use some support." He pushed a reluctant Alex away before going back into the conference room.
Herb sat down with Conner facing Shane. "So young man what can you tell us about this mess."
Shane choked back the tears best he could. "It's my ex-boyfriend Todd. He scares me, he used to beat me, that's why I left him."
Conner pointed to the pictures of the victims. "Tell us how you know the victims."
Shane pointed to the first one. "I only know her. We used to work for the same company. She was the one that hired me and gave me my assignments." He then pointed to the third victim. "I never met him before, but I recognize the company he worked for. It's the same company that set up my security system at home." He pointed to the second victim. "I don't know him but five years ago my hair was longer and I kept myself clean shaven. I looked a lot like that. Just put glasses on him and we are the spitting image of each other."
Conner slapped his hand to the table. "Finally we have a connection. It figures Alex would be dating the guy in the center of all of this and never know it."
Herb looked concerned. "That still doesn't explain what happened to Jessica or how you know it's your ex."
Shane picked up the picture of the knife. "I don't know why he would hurt anyone else but me. But I gave this to him for his birthday one year. He is a hunter and I had it engraved for him."
Conner sighed. "Than we have a problem. I've inspected the knife myself and there's no engraving on it."
Shane pointed at the handle. "Its under the leather covering the handle. It can be removed for cleaning."
Conner bolted from the room. A minute later he returned Alex on his heels. He put the evidence bag holding the knife and a few pairs of latex gloves in front of Shane. "Show us."
Alex looked confused, "What's going on?"
Shane donned a pair of gloves and picked up the knife. "It looks like one solid piece with the leather inlaid. But if you push in on the end and twist clockwise it comes off and you can slip the leather off." He pulled it apart and set it down. Right there on the handle were four words 'For Todd, Love Shane.'
Then all looked on in shock. Herb picked up the knife and put it back together and with some difficulty he took it apart again. "How the fuck did we miss that? I'm dead serious, I want to know who the fuck processed this knife, and how they missed this."
Shane sat back in his chair emotionally drained. "You can't blame anyone else. I had to special order it. It's made to be able to hide stuff in the handle. The unlocking process is counter intuitive. You can't feel it move when you push it in and it turned opposite of how things normally screw together."
Herb stood up. "Okay now that we know who this scumbag is let's find a picture of him and get it plastered everywhere I want every officer we have looking for him. Contact the F.B.I. as well as the Detroit police and let them know we found out who he is. The F.B.I. can put out a state wide APB on him."
Conner left the room to make the calls. Herb looked down at his watch. "Alright its going on two am. Alex take everyone home and put two officers on each house. Now that we know he is after Shane here everyone connected to him is in danger."
Jeff took Trish and Max home with a escort. There was no way he was going to leave them alone. Max was going to have to stay home from school till this disaster was taken care of. Jeff had grown to love Trish and her little boy quickly and would protect them no matter what.
Alex took Shane and Liz to his place and set up Liz in the spare room downstairs. Shane went right upstairs kicked off his shoes and collapsed on the bed. By the time Alex got Liz settled in and made sure the officers outside were set he headed up to his bedroom. Shane had already passed out so he pulled off his boots and climbed into bed snuggling up to Shane. Before he fell asleep he whispered into Shane's ear. "Don't worry I will take care of everything. I will make him pay for what he's done."
Yeah the big reveal but of course most of you knew that by now. Thus concludes Part XII. Any gay man should turn in his gay card if he didn't realize the song title from the last part came from "Damn it, Janet" in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Seriously if you didn't know that, I want your gay card. I know there is no sex in this chapter but I put a lot of thought into it and it didn't seem like it would fit. So I hope you forgive me and just enjoy the story. As always send your comments in. chefinthewild@yahoo.com