by Atonia

Chapter 1

“When sorrows come they come not in single spies, but in battalions “ (Hamlet Act IV, Scene V)

“What is it this time, Sir Brennan, I do not have any more body parts to spare.”

Sir Brennan had asked David Blaine to his office without giving him a hint as to the reason. He looked down at his desk for a moment. “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you, Blaine. Renee has…died of an apparent suicide.”

Blaine blanched and fought for breath. He shook his head slightly. “No…no.”

“I’m awfully sorry. I know you were close to him.”

“No, Renee would not have killed himself. There is some mistake.”

“I wish there were.”

Blaine covered his face with his hands and his shoulders began to shake.

“It happened two days ago. We were to have dinner together…I’d gone into London for a meeting and called him. He didn’t answer his phone so I decided to go and pick him up.”

David shook his head again.

“I was the one that found him. I can’t tell you how…I realize he’s been depressed since William-”

“Renee would not have taken his own life. You must know that.” Blaine angrily stood and walked to the fireplace.

“Blaine, I’ve known Renee a lot longer than you have. He hasn’t been the same since William was killed. He’s been diagnosed with depression and several other things since then. He wasn’t in his right mind.”

“Words, words to cover it up. You…knowing what condition he was in imprisoned him here in this very house.”

“I did that for his own protection.”

“His or yours…your reputation was tainted by the false accusations against him.”

“He admitted his guilt, Blaine. It’s a sad situation. I loved him like a son.” Sir Brennan removed his glasses and wiped his eyes.  “Nothing has been made public about his death. I thought I should be the one to tell you.”

Blaine leaned on the fireplace mantle. “I am sorry for you, Sir Brennan, sorry for your loss. I too loved him. Perhaps I am to blame. He wanted me to live with him and for awhile I thought I might. It would not have worked out for either of us. Still…I cannot believe he would do this thing. I think you are mistaken.”

He was quiet for a little while. “How…how did he…die?”

“A single bullet in his temple.”

“He did not even own a gun.”

“We are investigating, Blaine; the gun was in his hand.”

“No…I cannot…believe he is gone. Not Renee. Oh, God…” He sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace and gave into his grief.

Sir Brennan moved over to him and handed him a box of tissues. “I’m so sorry, Blaine.”

“What happened to Samson?” He looked up taking the tissues. Renee’s little companion left alone.

“I have him.”

“Oh, it hurts so.”

“I know.” Sir Brennan laid a hand on his shoulder. “His house has been sealed, of course, pending the outcome of our inquires.”

“He made a room for my daughter.”

“Yes.”

“Blaine, he’s left the house to you.”

“No-o-o.”

“I don’t think he had anyone else. He kept to himself.”

“You warned me once about involvement with Renee. I should have listened to you. Perhaps he would still be alive if I had left him alone. I seem to bring disaster with me.”

“Don’t start blaming yourself. We have no way of knowing what caused him to take his life.”

“We will find out.” Blaine looked up at him. “We will find out how this could happen.”

“Yes…we will.”

Sir Brennan moved back to his desk. “I’m going to give you a key. I haven’t been in Renee’s house in quite a while. I’m going to ask you to go through the house and see if you can spot anything out of the ordinary. I’ll send a man with you. You cannot, of course, take possession until the investigation is complete.”

“Take possession? I cannot bear the thought of it.”

It was all he could do to make himself to unlock the door. There were the little things that caught him in his chest. The dog’s water bowl, a teacup in the sink, the clothes closet open and a tie tossed on the bed. He was going to dress; he had a dinner date. His gold cufflinks in a little dish. Cuttings he’d taken from one of his potted plants in a glass jar filled with water.

How and where had he obtained a gun? For what purpose had he bought it? Blaine was still unconvinced he’d planned suicide. Haines quietly followed him through the house alert should he find anything of importance.

“Could you…perhaps give me a moment, please?”

“Of course, I’ll just be out in the conservatory.”

Blaine sat down on the blue and white sofa and let out a breath. He’d spent many hours in this room with Renee.  So many conversations…Renee was always a good listener…a good companion. Why had he let him go? He wasn’t what Renee needed…he lacked commitment. He lacked…

Blaine rose from the sofa and walked up the couple of steps to the main reception room. They’d never spent much time in here. He glanced back toward the back of the house and went to the stairs. Slowly and carefully he placed his feet and pulled himself up with the hand railing. He still had a problem with stairs. He’d never been upstairs in Renee’s house. One room, rather plain and simple had been used by Toomes. Willy’s crib still occupied one wall.

The other room Renee decorated for Lyssa. It was all in princess pink and purple. She’d brought some of her favorite things from Gravesend. He noticed her Llama wrapped in one of Willy’s little blankets lying on the bed. She’d had that Llama for years. Ali had given it to her. It’s neck had gone floppy and part of its tongue was missing thanks to Freckles. He bent to pick it up and the blanket came undone and fell with a clunk to the floor.

Steadying himself with the bed post he reached down and picked it up. The blanket came away from a gold cigarette lighter. Where did she find that? Who would let a child have a cigarette lighter? He turned it over in his hand; it was engraved with Renee’s initials.

“Everything all right up here, Sir?”

Blaine slipped the lighter in his pocket. “Yes…this was my daughter’s room.”

Haines glanced around. “They’re all alike aren’t they? My Megan’s just redone her room in purple.”

He was ready to get away from the house. There was something he needed to think about.

“What do you think, Sir? Anything out of order?”

“I have seen nothing.” He moved out of the room to the top of the stairs and looked down.

“Give you a hand?”

“Thank you, Haines.”

“I never asked where he was found.”

“In the ensuite off the bedroom.”

Blaine wasn’t sure he wanted to go in there. He hesitated and then opened the door. The scent was so strong it burned his nostrils. “Oh-“

“Broken bottle of scent in the sink.”

He glanced in the sink. It was brown stained from the sticky scent. The shower door was streaked and the floor.” He covered his mouth and pushed by Haines.

“Sorry, I should have warned you. We haven’t touched anything except to remove the body.”

“Get me out of here.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Haines drove a visibly shaken Blaine back to Sir Brennan’s compound.

“Sorry, you’ve missed lunch, Blaine. How are you?”

“Without an appetite. I am more and more convinced that Renee did not take his own life. It is not a thing one would do while preparing to go out to dinner. Had he showered?”

“Yes…yes he was found naked by the shower. The shower was wet.”

Blaine grimaced and looked away. “You have checked the gun for fingerprints…all that?”

“The only prints on it were his. He fired it.”

“A clean gun…but you have thought of this already.” He turned back and looked Sir Brennan in the eye. “What is it you want me to do…find his murderer?”

“If it was murder.”

Blaine sat down. “Was he still under your protection?”

“No, no that ended when he was acquitted of treason. He didn’t want a babysitter. Considering that we’d broken up Kazan’s operation I really didn’t see the need for it.”

“Obviously…you were wrong.” Sir Brennan seemed to age before his eyes. He suffered. Blaine turned from him and moved across the room. “I will need to see the reports when you have finished your investigation. Are you working with the police?”

“Had to.”

“Nothing in the papers.”

“No, we’re keeping it tight.”

“Well, someone will be very disappointed won’t they?”

“Not so sure about that. If they’d wanted notoriety why not just pull the trigger himself?” Sir Brennan moved back behind his desk.

“There is something to be said for private rejoicing. To see your work noted in the paper.”

He walked around the room leaning on his cane. His back was bothering him from the staircase. “How did they get in? Had they been there before? Did Renee know him? What bit of fluff did he leave on the floor when he walked into Renee’s house? Renee was in the shower…he would not have opened the door.”

“Waiting on forensics. You would have made a good private investigator, Blaine.”

“But that is what I am…what I have become to you. You use me badly, Sir Brennan.”

“You have never let me down.”

Blaine turned to leave. “I will see you again and soon, I hope.”

Sir Brennan walked him to the door and turned looking down the hall. “Stay with him, look out for him.”

Haines nodded and pulled on a baseball cap. He nodded to his mate. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 2

“Noisy with stricken victims now and sacrificial flame”  (Edna St. Vincent Millay)

Blaine largely ignored Haines and the driver on the way back to London. He was lost in his own thoughts in the back of the car. They appeared to be big football fans and he was not. He really wanted to be alone for awhile and grieve for Renee. His Uncle Trevor was still in up at his farm and so he asked them to drop him at Trevor’s building. They did so, wishing him well and all. Then pulled the car around and parked. Haines waited a moment and followed him to see where he was going.

“Flat 8A, it’s Trevor Blaine’s flat.” Haines slid back into the vehicle.

“Oh, well, it’s all right then.”

Blaine locked the door and opened the little leather bag he always carried. It contained his pain pills, wallet, his phone and a hand held computer. Various other things had collected and found a home in there including an extra pacifier for Willy. He pulled it out and looked at it, smiling a little. It brought to mind Billy. He never carried things in his pockets; preferring his clothes to fit smoothly over his body without the tell-tale lumps associated with wallets and phones.

He popped two pain pills in his mouth and put the kettle on. He removed his jacket, a soft cashmere blend in navy, and remembered the lighter.

He flicked it…it worked. It was one that Renee always carried so why was it upstairs wrapped up with Lyssa’s llama? Lyssa knew better than to pick up a lighter. He couldn’t believe Renee had given it to her to play with. He made a cup of instant coffee and sat down on the sofa and called Gravesend.

He spoke to Lyssa asking about her day and listened while she prattled on.

“Lyssa, you left Llama Bama in London, do you want him back?”

“Yes, I forgot him. Can Uncle Renee bring him to me?”

Blaine closed his eyes, “No, baby, Uncle Renee cannot bring him but Daddy can.”

“I left him in my room.”

“Did you wrap him up in Willy’s blanket?”

“No-o,” she giggled, “he’s a Llama Bama, Daddy.”

“That’s right he is. Llama Bama’s do not have blankets. Did you find Uncle Renee’s cigarette lighter?  I think he lost it?”

“Nope, he didn’t lose it. It’s in the kitchen.”

“Good, thank you, sweetie.”

“Are you coming home?”

“Not tonight. I love you.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

Blaine laid his phone down and rubbed his forehead.  The coffee served to wake up his stomach reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He wasn’t sure he wanted to eat.

“Oh…Renee, what happened to you?” He lay down on the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

It was dark in the room when he woke up feeling a bit disoriented. He picked up his phone and checked the time. 7:30 PM. He found a light and ran a hand through his hair. Call Trevor…he should call Trevor and let him know he was in the flat.

“Hey, David, how are ya?”

“Ah, I am all right. Um, I wanted you to know I am staying in your flat tonight. I had to come to London and thought it might be more comfortable here.”

“I’ll swap ya.”

“How is it going with the house?”

“They’ve refinished the floors today so after that dries then your sweet little decorator can complete his job. I don’t mind the cottage at all. How’s the kids?”

“The kids are doing well. You have no food here.”

“No kidding, I had to toss it all when I came up here. There’s a little market a block behind the building.”

“I am not shopping in markets tonight.”

“Chippie down the street and an Indian on the corner across from the building.”

“Thank you, Uncle Trevor, you are most helpful.”

Trevor laughed. “You won’t go hungry if you get off your arse.”

Blaine wanted to tell him about Renee but he couldn’t. Not that he didn’t trust Trevor, but he’d as much as been told to keep quiet about it.”

“You have a good night.”

“Yeah, you too, David.”

Blaine walked around working the stiffness out of his back and legs. He didn’t really want to go out.  He looked in the fridge and found two six packs of beer and a can of soda. It would take more than that.

“Billy,” Blaine settled back on the sofa.

“Blaine, how are you?”

“Not very good. Are you working?”

“I’m home now. I go four days on and four days off.”

“How does that work there are only seven days in a week?”

“I don’t know but that’s how it’s done. So I’m off for the next three days. Are you at home?”

“No, I am in London at Uncle Trevor’s flat.”

“I thought he was up country.”

“He is. Billy, do you think you could pick up something to eat and come over? I need your help.”

“You don’t have to ask, I’ll be there. What’s the address?”

Billy rang the bell. “You didn’t say so I picked up a pizza.”

“That will be perfect. Thank you.”

“Pizza delivery guys don’t come in a London Cab.” Haines pointed the camera across the street.  “Go check it out, Howard.”

Billy set the pizza box on the table.

“I’m so glad you have come.”

Billy looked at him. “What’s wrong, Blaine?”

Blaine’s eyes filled. “I am not supposed to tell anyone but I am going to ask you to help me. Renee…Renee has been killed, murdered. They tried to make it look like a suicide and the police think that it is. I know it is not. Sir Brennan called me last night and asked me to come to see him. He does not believe it was a suicide either. I’m going to find his killer.”

“Oh, bloody hell, Blaine.” Billy embraced him.

“It has been a long day.”

“Yes, I imagine it has been. I’m sorry to hear it. Very sorry for you. I know you loved him.”

“You know, you would think I would get used to this. I’m sorry, it comes in waves.”

“It’s all right. What have you got to drink?”

“I found beer in the fridge I do not know if he has anything else.”

“Beer works with pizza. Sit down, Blaine, eat something.”

“You know if you do not want to get involved in this you have only to say no and I will not think twice about it, Billy.”

“You said you needed my help.”

“I am looking for a killer.”

“All the more reason for me to- what was that?”

“The door-“ Blaine rose and went to the door. “Maybe I did not close it.” He opened the door.

“Everything all right?”

“Yes…who are you…who are you…who sent you?” Blaine was yelling after the man who took off running toward the stairs.”

“What? Want me to go?”

“No…no Billy. I don’t know who he was but I have seen him before.”

“Bugger all, he made me.”

“Fuckwit.” Haines frowned.

“Yeah, an all.” Howard fastened his seat belt. “He’s all right.”

Blaine locked the door and turned around and looked at Billy.

“I don’t wanna upset you any more, Blaine, but something is going on here. You think about it. Renee was under their protection.”

“No, not since he was acquitted of all charges.”

Billy walked in a circle and came back to Blaine. “Now they’re all dead…except you. Blaine, you’re the most dangerous one of all. You’re the only one left.”

“No, not the only one. There is the killer.”

They looked at each other for a moment. “My family.” Blaine went to the table and picked up his phone.

Sir Brennan left his dinner guests and went into his office. “Yes, Blaine?”

“You want me to do this thing for you. I want you to do something for me. I want a 24 hour guard on my family and I want it now. He will come for me  if I do not find him first. I am the only one left.”

“You’ve got it, Blaine. Where are you now?”

“At Uncle Trevor’s flat. You make sure there are people at my home tonight. If something happens to my children…I will come for you.”

“Blaine, you need protection too.”

“I have it, Billy is with me.”

Sir Brennan bit his lip; to tell him or not. “All right, if you think you need more you’ll have it.”

“No…you have set me up as bait you son-of-a- bitch.” Blaine tossed his phone on the sofa.

Chapter 3

“The Wheel has come full circle, I am here” (King Lear Act 5 Scene 3)

“I don’t suppose you’re armed?”

“No, Billy, I did not come to London to shoot.”

“I’ll take care of that. I still know some people.”

“He knew exactly what he was doing.”

“Who?”

“Sir Brennan. He knows just how to play me. He knew the effect Renee’s death would have on me. He does not say ‘will you find the murderer’. No, he waits for me to offer because he knows I will.”

“Tell him to go fuck himself.”

“It is too late now but I will keep that in mind.”

“Let’s clear out of here and go to my place.”

“And bring them to your door? I think not.

Billy folded up the pizza box and stuck in the trash for something to do.  “Did you drive up?”

“Yes, my car is in Uncle Trevor’s garage.”

“Mind if I borrow it for a bit.”

“You know I don’t.”

“I didn’t come prepared for this. I’ll need some cash.”

Blaine went to his bag and pulled out his wallet and handed it to Billy. “If that is not enough I have a bank card.”

“Should do it.” Billy stuffed the bills in his pocket. “Lock up.”

“You be careful…God knows ,  Billy, I cannot lose you too.”

Billy smiled and kissed him. “Don’t worry about me.”

Blaine called Toomes and told her what to expect. He tried not to alarm her.

“There is something going on, Toomes, and I cannot tell you the details. It is for your protection and that of the children. Do not let them out of your sight. Keep Lyssa home from school until I say different. I hate to upset the household but you will please explain to Fish and Mrs. Broadus. Until this thing is settled we will take no chances.”

He was thankful he had a sensible woman to look after his children. No hysterics, just matter of fact sensibleness.

Blaine picked up the gold lighter from the coffee table and lit a cigarette. He turned it over in his hand and ran his thumb over Renee’s initials. It had been a present from his partner before he was killed. Too many deaths…too many. He thought about him that night he came into his room at Brennan’s estate. Coolly lighting a cigarette. He realized then that Renee had been the one that slipped the lighter into the blanket.

“That’s the pizza bloke, want me to follow him?”

“Yeah, see where he goes.”

Howard left the car and ran across the street. He followed Billy to the garage.

“Where is he?” Haines asked.

“Got into a vehicle and drove off…what? You wanted me to run after it? It was Blaine’s car.”

Haines looked down at his phone. He was getting a text message. “Got an ID on pizza man. Billy Wright. He’s a friend of Blaine. We’re to keep up with him too.”

“Little late for that.”

It was over an hour before they took note that Billy had entered the building again.

Billy came in with a brown paper bag and dumped the contents out on the table.

“You do not know how worried I have been for you.”

“Ah, you worry too much. Your choice, love.”

Blaine handled the guns. “How do you know such people?”

“You live on the streets you meet all kinds.”

Blaine lay the gun down on the table and walked away. He told Billy about the cigarette lighter.

“I know Renee put it there. He was afraid and he leaves this clue for me. The only thing it tells me is that it is connected to Ali. Ali gave the stuffed Llama to Lyssa. I think he knew he was going to die. Someone  contacted him.”

“Why didn’t he call his uncle, Sir Brennan?”

Blaine shook his head.

Billy paced about for a bit. “Blaine, if they’re all dead…who’s left to come after you?”

“I do not know. I have gone over it in my mind, all the players, and like you say they are all dead now. The only thing I can think of is that there was someone else…someone who was not part of the club. That could be anybody, you know?”

“Somebody trying to finish what Ali started?”

“It’s all over now. What reason could he have for Renee’s death?”

“Maybe vengeance. Renee talked didn’t he?”

“Yes, that is why Sir Brennan kept him at the estate.” Blaine walked over to the windows flicking the lighter in his hand. “Vengeance,” he repeated.

The next morning they were getting ready to go out and find some breakfast.

“What do I do with this thing?” Blaine held the gun in his hand.

“Did you load it?”

“Yes.”

“Stick it in your waistband.”

Blaine looked up and grinned. “And shoot off an important part of my anatomy?”

Billy walked over to him and took the gun from his hand and wrapped his arms around him. “You keep the safety on. We don’t want that to happen.” He pushed the gun in the back of his waist. “I love you, Blaine, no matter what’s gone down between us or what happens next. That don’t change. I haven’t said it in a long time. I just wanted you to know that.”

Blaine kissed him. “You didn’t have to tell me. I know. I love you too, Billy, you are the one constant in my life. The one thing I know to be true. You have never failed me though I have failed you many times. I know you are there and that is a comfort to me.”

Billy nodded his head slightly. “We’d better go before we start blubbering. Cab’s probably waiting on us now.”

Howard leaned in the car window. “A bacon and egg buttie for you and a cup o’tea.”

Haines put his phone down and took his breakfast from Howard. Howard then walked around the car and moved to the seat with his own sandwich. “Nothing moving?”

“Nah, must be having a sleep in.”

The cab pulled away from the building entrance.

“Billy, you see that building across the street, the brown one.”

“Um hm,” Billy chewed his toast.

“That’s where it happened.”

“You mean Ali?”

“Yes. I still have done nothing with the penthouse. I mean to sell it in fact I need to sell it. This renovation with the farm has become dear.”

“Trevor not helping?”

“He can’t. He is contributing but he does not have that kind of money and if he did I would not take it.”

“You own the building now?”

“Yes.”

“Have you been back inside since…?”

“No, I said I did not ever want to see it. But you know, I think I do.”

“Have you  got a key?”

“Not with me but I know how to get in through the parking garage. What do you think?”

“I’m with you, Blaine.”

“This is how it was left.”

“All files and computers have been removed, but yes this was Ali’s operation. Do you remember the house in Northern California?  All the utilities were underground. It symbolized his operation. He had retreated underground here. That…that was his office. I do not think I want to go in there. Beyond is the room where he had Mandi imprisoned.”

“Mind if I do?”

“You do what you wish here.” Blaine wandered out to the hallway and spotted the elevator.

He closed  the door behind him and stood quietly absorbing the absolute silence of the place. He moved slowly past the sofas and chairs where they’d sat talking and smoking and drinking together. Past the large dining room where they’d shared meals and where Ali would conduct his business meetings. He’d never ventured into the kitchen and laundry areas and did not do so now. He walked straight toward the bedroom. There he almost lost it for the air still held Ali’s distinctive scent. He went to the wall of closets; empty now except for the scent. Nothing remained…except memories of lying with him in that wide bed.

He sat on the side of the bed and ran his hand over the silken spread…remembering how it felt on his naked flesh and the warmth and wisdom of Ali. His eyes had filled with tears and he let them escape and track down his cheeks. Inside his head he could hear Ali’s deep soothing voice, ‘leave this place and never return. It does you no good.’ He started and quickly stood up. The hairs on the back of his neck tingling. The voice had been so real to him.

“No-o,” he said softly aloud. So much he wanted to say to Ali, so much he wanted to know. How, when and why had he turned as he did. And why had he never known? He’d been blinded by love and it was inconceivable to him that Ali could have been other than he appeared. But down in the bowels of this building the other Ali had worked in secret…had kidnapped his pregnant wife, Mandi and threatened to destroy her. He’d wanted Blaine to know what he was and sent him on a wild goose chase half way around the world. Still with all that he hadn’t grasped the meaning of it all. Until it had been explained to him by Renee and Sir Brennan.

Blaine moved to the door and took one last look at the bedroom. It was finished. As he moved from the bedroom into the narrow hall that skirted the sunken reception room he distinctly heard the door close. Again his hairs stood on end. As silently as he could he moved to the end of the curved wall and looked across at the entry way. His breath caught in his throat and he made a little involuntary sound.

The young man stopped and his eyes went straight to Blaine. He stood motionless and silent.

It was Ali…Ali as he’d appeared when Blaine had first met him. His hair longish and curling about his collar. The same dark penetrating eyes now stretched across the space and touched him. Blaine shook himself…it could not be. The boy’s stillness unnerved him.

Chapter 4

“There’s daggers in men’s smiles” (Macbeth Act II Scene III)

“Blaine?” Billy ran through the maze of rooms in the basement. “Blaine?”

He ran out into the parking garage and looked around calling his name. “Damn it, Blaine.”

Back inside he found the elevator and would search the building floor by floor.

“Who are you?” it came out in a rush.

“Kazan.”

Blaine shook his head, “No…no you are not.”

“I know who you are. You’re the one…the one he loved.” The boy’s voice was soft and rich and accented from the country of his birth. “I am Ali’s son. I am Abdul, I am called Abby by my English friends. I didn’t know anyone would be here. I’m very sorry.” He turned to leave.

“Wait,” Blaine swallowed his fear and walked toward him. “Why are you here?”

“I’m at Cambridge and I came into London with some friends. I still had the key and so…I thought to look. I wanted to see where he lived.”

“How do you know me?” Blaine asked barely above a whisper.

“I have seen a picture of you. I do not think he ever told anyone else about you. No one in the family, I mean. He trusted me as his son.”

The boy moved gracefully from the entrance and looked down into the seating area. “He could not tell anyone else about you because it would have meant his death.”

Death, the word hung in the air around Blaine. What did the boy know?

“It is an abomination, you know.” He looked up slowly meeting Blaine’s eyes.

“Perhaps the fires of hell finally consumed him in the blast.” Abby smiled slightly.

“You are a prince as your father was.” Blaine did not want to discuss his relationship with Ali.

“Yes,” he shrugged, “but I will never rise above it. The house is divided now and I am on the wrong side. So I am here in England to be educated…to follow in his footsteps.”

“Where do those footsteps lead you?”

“Back to the land of my father. “ He sighed. “If I so choose. I am my own master now since my uncle has disowned me following the death of my father.”

“Why was your father killed do you know?”

“Many reasons. Maybe because of you? I do not know, Blaine, I may call you that?”

“Yes.” Blaine felt a coldness down his spine. “I have also come here for a look. I am selling this place.”

“It is best, is it not? He is no longer here.”

“I…I cannot use this place, there are too many memories associated with it. Good memories. I loved your father.”

“He was much troubled.  Yes, a very troubled man.”

“Do you want to look around here?”

“To see the bed where he lay with you? No, I think not. He did not tell me these things in so many words. I knew he had boys from time to time. One knows these things if one is attentive and I was often with him. He would send me away and I knew why. You came to him once.”

“I came to him because he asked me to. He felt he was in danger and asked for my help. I could not refuse him because he was always there for me when I needed him most. I would have done anything for him because of the love I had for him.”

“I too loved him as my father. We have that in common.”

The boy took a look around the room and then his eyes met Blaine’s. He moved toward him.

“I would like to know you. You are…what is the word? You are a man who loves men. I would like to know you.”

Blaine took a step back. “I do not know what you are saying?” The boy was close enough he could smell his scent, strong and compelling.

“I think you do know. Does it excite you or sicken you because of who I am?”

“Both.”

“But that is the way of it, I know.”

“Perhaps you had better go,” Blaine said.

Abby smiled. He looked away from the boy’s dark liquid eyes. He was Ali’s son but he didn’t know him, what he was or what he was capable of.

“I have to go.” Blaine said quickly.

“Do you? That is a shame is it not?” Abby felt in the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a card. He placed it in Blaine’s pants pocket touching him and causing him to move involuntarily.

“You can reach me here. I would like to see you again.”

And then he was gone through the double doors of the penthouse leaving Blaine shaken. He hardly remembered leaving the penthouse. Standing in front of the elevator waiting for it to come back up. He leaned on the wall. He was trying to sort out his feelings. Fear…and attraction. He hit the elevator  door with his hand. A moment later the doors opened.

“Blaine, you scared the shite out of me.” He grabbed him and held him for a minute. “Are you okay?”

Blaine was pale and obviously upset. “I have had a visitor…Abby Kazan. He is Ali’s son.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“But how? How the  bloody hell did he get up here?”

“The same way that you did. Please, we must leave this place.”

“How did he know you were here?”

“I’m not sure he did.”

“Oh…you can bet he did.” Billy drew his gun when the elevator doors opened. He kept it in his hand until they reached the outer edges of the parking garage. He turned to Blaine.

“Don’t you do that again. How am I going to protect you if I don’t know where you are?”

“He said he is at Cambridge and following in his father’s footsteps.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, Billy…I don’t know.”

“I didn’t realize Ali had kids that old.”

“He should be twenty. Ali’s first born. He gave me a card.” He pulled it out of his pocket.  “A phone number.”

“You aren’t going to contact him.”

Blaine met his eyes for a moment and slid the card back in his pocket.

“Blaine…turn the number over to Sir Brennan.”

Vengeance kept playing over and over in his mind. “I think he may blame me for his father’s death. The explosion. He does not know…I don’t think…that I killed him by my own hand.”

“You don’t really know what he knows. You need to stay away from him, Blaine. It’s too much of a coincidence, him turning up here.”

Howard remained awkwardly by the doorman as he watched Haines take off for Regents Street. It  had taken  awhile to get the cab’s destination.

Parking was a nightmare. Haines drove around the block twice before he remembered the parking garage. He sprinted across the street to the café.

Blaine and Billy were walking down Regents Street. Blaine deep in thought and Billy craning his neck this way and that.

“I think we should find out if he is at Cambridge as he says.”

“Why? Will that tell you why he was looking for you?”

“He may be perfectly innocent. Why would he tell me he was at school knowing I could easily find him there? He is a contradiction. One minute he tells me what an abomination gay love is and the next he wants to know me. He touched me.”

Billy looked at him and frowned. They paused at a street corner. “Where are we going?”

Blaine looked up. “I have no idea.”

“I’ll get a cab.”

Haines stopped at the street light and looked over…Blaine! Horns encouraged him to move. Blaine looked right at the car; had he seen him? He went down a block and turned around to see Blaine and Billy getting into a cab. He breathed a sigh of relief and followed.

Blaine made them get out a block from  Billy’s building. “I didn’t want to do this.”

“Can’t be wandering the streets all day. It’s more comfortable here.”

Billy tossed his keys on the counter. “Cup o’ tea?”

“Yes, please.” Blaine walked over to the window and looked down at The Thames. Something was forming in his mind. Something so horrible he didn’t want to voice it…yet.

“What are you thinking, Blaine?”

Blaine shook his head.

The thought had already come to Billy’s mind. “You think this Abby has anything to do with Renee’s death?”

“The blanket…our son’s blanket. Renee wrapped the toy in Willy’s blanket and left his lighter there. The son.”

Billy looked at him a moment. “He could have taken you out today.”

“There is something more he wants. There is no doubt in my mind that he means to kill me. You were there in the building with me. That may have stopped him.”

“Do you think he was in on Ali’s operation?”

“No, I think he is out for vengeance. I do not know why he killed Renee but I will know.”

“Now wait a minute-“

“I have to do this, Billy, and I will do it my way.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed, and then what am I going to do?”

“I have no desire for death but if it ever comes to that, you take my children.”

Billy’s eyes stung. He poured out two cups of tea and took them to the table. “Sit.”

Blaine sat down and sipped his tea. “I am the bait, Billy, and he has already found me. He gave me his number to call because he knows I cannot resist him. Should I wait for him to find me again? Or should I go into the lion’s den fully aware…and careful.”

“You won’t go alone.”

“I love you, Billy, but this I have to do alone.”

Billy met his eyes across the table. Neither of them gave an inch.

Chapter 5

“Come not between the dragon and his wrath” (King Lear Act I Scene I)

Blaine called home and spoke to Fish. Yes, the house was crawling with men and guns. She couldn’t go to the trash bin without an escort. He was satisfied.

“What I said earlier today about wanting you to take my children. I meant that, Billy. If I get run down by a car tomorrow that is my wish.”

“Don’t talk such foolishness.” Billy checked Blaine’s gun again and handed it to him.  “Can you even shoot this damn thing?”

“As close as I plan to be I cannot miss.”

“This is pure madness.”

“I know it is.” Blaine stuck the gun in his waistband. He leaned and kissed Billy. “I will see you later.”

Blaine took Billy’s car. As Blaine was about to pull out of the parking garage Billy ran over to the window. “I can’t let you take my car and leave me here with no way to get to you.”

“If I leave you the car you will follow me. I am sorry.”

Billy threw his hands up and Blaine pulled away.

“Mr. Wright?”

Billy turned around, “Yeah? Who are you?”

“Name is Haines, Sir Brennan sent me to look after him.”

“Take me with you.” Billy moved to the door. “He’s headed for Cambridge.”

“Climb in.” Haines unlocked the back door.

While Billy filled in the two agents, Howard having caught up with Haines by bus, Blaine was going over the conversation he’d had with Abby.

He was getting ready to go back to Cambridge.

“That is too bad, I wanted to see you.”

“That can still happen if you want to travel. Unfortunately I am riding not driving.”

“I want to travel.”

“There is a hotel there called Varsity-“

“I know it well.”

“ I forget you probably know the area better than I do. I will meet you by the River Cam at 6:00.”

Having spent four and a half years at Cambridge there was very little he didn’t know.

He arrived at the hotel early and confirmed his room. He went for a walk along the river bank. The boats were in now or coming in. He stopped and watched them for awhile. He’d spent hours out on the river with Ali. It seemed like another lifetime, another place in time that had no bearing on his present state. The loss of innocence left a hollow place inside of him. And though he’d gotten past it by putting one foot in front of another, part of him had been left behind.  He was in the willow trees now and he stopped and was concealed from anyone except those that might pass by on the path. Dread lay like a lead blanket across his chest. He checked his watch.

Haines got caught up in an accident that blocked the highway for awhile. Getting pretty steamed at the local policeman directing traffic around the smashed up cars, he got out and walked up to the policeman and pulled rank.

Cambridge is about 50 miles north east of London. They arrived 40 minutes after Blaine had taken the walk down by the river. Billy went in to see if he’d checked into the hotel.

Blaine saw him coming, still wearing the white tee shirt and jacket he’d worn that morning. A handsome young man. He looked much like the other students he’d seen with the boats. Perhaps he’d been wrong about him even though he’d sent a chill up his spine. Could that have been because of where he’d been at the time? Where he’d lain with his father and where he’d plunged the sword into his stomach down in the underground rooms.

He stepped out onto the path. “Right on time.”

Abby smile a little. “I did not think  you would be so eager to drive all the way up here to see me.”

“Why not? I lived and worked here for four years. It’s like coming home in a way. You said you wanted to see me again. I thought since I was in London I would make it today. Why did you want to see me, Abby?”

“I said I wanted to know you, you know?”

“No, I don’t know.”

“To know you the way my father did.”

“That is not possible. No one has ever known me the way Ali did.”

“When was the last time you saw my father?”

He knows. Blaine’s heart skipped a beat.  Blaine asked him a question. “When was the last time you saw Renee Blevin?”

That took him aback a little. The friendly face went blank. “I do not know him.”

“I doubt if you did.”

“My father did not die in an explosion. This I know for a fact. He died in England.”

“The Ali I knew and loved died in the explosion.”

Abby smirked.  “That is what the world was told to believe. You know it is not so. You killed him didn’t you?”

“He was mad. He kidnapped my wife who was with child and threatened to kill her. How many hundreds of bodies lay in his wake I do not know. He was a monster with a very effective disguise. His mask slipped and I saw him for what he was. For me he was already dead. I had mourned him and buried him. Why…why did you kill Renee?”

“I did not kill your lover. He killed himself.”

“That is a lie.” He felt himself tremble.

“There was nothing else for him to live for.” Abby sneered.

Blaine’s sight went red. He slapped Abby open handed hard across his face. “He had everything to live for.”

Blaine had him by his lapels. “You worthless…you have thrown your life away.”

He felt the knife skip off a rib and then again on his left shoulder. He threw Abby to the ground and fell on him  wrestling the knife from his hand he tossed it toward the river. Over and over they rolled with Abby on top trying to choke him and Blaine on top hitting him in the face with his fists. At one point he reached behind him for the gun but he’d lost it. They were both covered in blood.

Haines reached them first hauling Abby off of Blaine.

Blaine would never forget the next few moments. The gun shot, the shocked look on Abby’s face and the slow motion drop, the shocked look on Haines face, Howard slipping on the river bank and Billy lowering his arm and dropping the gun.

Billy was at Blaine’s side. “Can you stand? Where are you hurt? It’s over, Blaine…it’s over.”

The Cambridge police came, the ambulances came, Haines on his phone and Howard with Billy in handcuffs.

The blare of the ambulance sirens seemed to fade away as Blaine sought nothingness. He felt himself being handled, stripped and the bright lights looked red through his eyelids. The prick of a needle and welcome nothingness again.

He began to come alive again as he was being put into a bed.

“He’s coming out of it, Doctor.”

“Hello, Blaine, we’ve had to do a little stitching up. Nothing vital was hit. You should be glad of that.”

Blaine blinked and tried to swallow.

“You’re going to have some discomfort in your throat for awhile, lot of bruising.”

“Wh…Bil…?”

“Sorry?”

“Billy.” He croaked.

“I’m not aware of a Billy.” The doctor turned to the nurse. “Was there a Billy brought in with him?”

“No sir, he was transported alone with Mr. Haines.”

Blaine closed his eyes unmindful of the tears that seeped from his lashes.

Sir Brennan paced in the hallway. He’d had Blaine flown from Cambridge to his own hospital compound to recover.

“Is he awake?” He asked the doctor as he came from Blaine’s room.

“Semi-awake, Sir.”

Sir Brennan came to his bedside. “Blaine?”

Blaine’s eyes fluttered. “Bi…Billy?”

“I’m doing what I can but right now he’s in custody in Cambridge with a string of charges against him.”

“G…get…im…out.”

“I’m trying to but listen. I want to know what happened with Kazan. Did he or did he not kill Renee?”

“D…dn…no.”

“What?”

“Thin so.”

“That’s not good enough.”

Blaine opened his eyes again. “G...uk...y’sef.”

TBC