Текст книги "Games Frat Boys Play "

Автор книги: Todd Gregory

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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Now

“That’s a hell of a story,” Joe said.

Isn’t it, though?” Jordy replied. He was standing at the window, staring at the pool through the blinds. “So, I guess you could say it is my fault he fell, but I didn’t push him.” He reached up and pulled the cord for the blinds, so they rose until the entire window was exposed. “You can also see why Bobby Dunlap was so quick to blame me. I suppose the other brothers who said I did it were Rees Davidson and Brandon Benson?”

“Yes,” Joe said. He switched his recorder off. “And given your story, if it’s true, I can see why all three of them would be so quick to try to get you arrested.”

“It’s actually kind of stupid, if you think about it,” Jordy went on. “Like having me arrested is going to change the facts?” He turned and faced Joe. “I can still get Rees and Brandon expelled, regardless of what happens to me. And Bobby?” He shrugged. “I might not be able to get him expelled, but I can file a civil suit against him. I guess it all depends on what Chad says when he regains consciousness. If he says I pushed him.” He barked out a bitter laugh. “Granted, his brains might be a little scrambled, but if he’s able to think about it, he might figure out if he claims I pushed him, I won’t ruin his parents.”

“Are you really going to do that?” Joe asked. He crossed his legs and looked at Jordy. Who knew there were such depths behind that pretty face? “Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?”

Jordy shrugged. “I never really planned to in the first place. I just wanted him to know that I could if I chose to.”

“And your fraternity? Are you really going to shut it down?”

“Do you think I should?”

“It’s not my decision to make,” Joe replied. What would I do in his place? Revenge always seems like a good idea, but most people never really follow through on it. I wanted to get even with Sean when he left me, but I finally just let it all go and moved on. And sometimes that’s the best thing to do—let it all go and move on. “But it seems to me you’d be punishing a lot of people for the behavior of a few. You said a couple of times you really liked the majority of the brothers, and it was the first place you ever felt you belonged. Are you willing to destroy all of that?”

“Is it part of your job to play therapist, Detective?” A slight smile tugged at the corners of Jordy’s mouth.

“No,” Joe admitted. “It isn’t. But in my job, I see a lot of shit, Jordy. A lot. And most of it could have been prevented if someone had just said enough and put a stop to it. You have that power—the power to put a stop to it all. And you said yourself, several times, that a person shouldn’t make decisions based on emotional reactions but should instead analyze the situation and use logic. Is it logical to punish the entire house and destroy something you once believed in because it’s emotionally satisfying?”

“It’s a very good point, Detective,” Jordy replied. “And one I’ll take into consideration.” He scratched his elbow. “It’s interesting, though. I figured Chris Moore would have called by now with their decision—but then, I don’t really see they have much of a choice.” He raised his eyebrows. “Maybe they’re all too busy dealing with Chad falling to think about me.” He sat back down in his chair. “So, are you going to arrest me?”

“Not at this time,” Joe replied. Arrest you for what? Until Chad wakes up and tells his side of the story, I can’t arrest you for anything. “You did admit to hacking into computers—that’s a crime. And using a fake ID, also a crime, and of course the pot smoking, but I don’t see any point in pursuing any of that.” Joe stood up. “I guess that’s everything. Don’t leave town.”

Jordy smiled. “Well, thanks for listening.”

“It was very interesting.” Joe walked to the door. “I’ll be in touch.”

The door shut behind him. Joe shook his head as he started down the stairs. It was, he thought, truly one hell of a story. I wonder if all of it is true. His phone rang when he was halfway down the stairs. “Hey, Grace.”

“Joe, I’m leaving the hospital,” she said, “and I’m calling it a day. The kid said he wasn’t pushed. He just lost his balance and fell. He’s got a concussion, some broken ribs, and a broken arm, but he’ll live. So this whole thing was a colossal waste of our time. I’m heading home and having a beer.”

“Thanks, Grace. See you tomorrow.” He closed the phone and walked to his car. Before he unlocked the door, he glanced up at Jordy’s window. The blinds were still open, and Jordy was standing there. He really is beautiful, and rich, too. But the poor boy has been so damned unhappy. I hope everything works out for him. Joe got into his car and started the engine, and drove out of the parking lot.

All the way home, he couldn’t get the kid out of his mind.

He parked in his driveway and walked into his empty house. Another night alone, he thought, getting a beer out of his refrigerator and cracking it open. I wonder how his story will end, he thought as he kicked off his shoes and sat down on his sofa. The house was so quiet—it was almost unnerving. He turned the television on and flipped through the channels until he found a marathon of America’s Next Top Model. He drank three beers while he watched the empty-headed models argue and bitch and fight. Finally, around ten, he turned the television off and went to bed, alone.

The next few days passed with the usual routine. Get up, go to work, follow leads, close cases, interview suspects, and make some arrests. Punch out for the day, head to the gym, do his workout, and come back home to the empty house. Order in, watch television, drink some beers, and go to bed. It was mind numbing, this routine he’d fallen into.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about Jordy Valentine.

He kept waiting to read in the newspaper or see on the news a breaking scandal about cheating at the university, a fraternity scandal, but there was never anything. I guess he decided to let them off the hook, which is probably the best thing. Revenge is best forgotten, left in the past, and you should always just move on.

Move on.

Like you’ve moved on, he thought to himself on Wednesday as he went through his workout at the gym. You’ve never moved on from Sean—you’ve never even tried. That’s why the kid affected you so much. For the first time since Sean left, you actually noticed another man that way—a young man you can never have.

And when he left the gym, he made up his mind. He had the next two days off—and he hadn’t been out in months. Why not go to Fusions, see who was there? The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. It would be nice to be around gay men, to listen to music and have a few cheap drinks. Maybe even dance a little bit. Who knows? You might even meet someone.

And maybe Jordy will be there, a little voice whispered inside of his head.

He pushed that thought aside. That was a stupid thought, not worthy of him. Jordy was too young, for one thing. And for another, the kid was in love with—what was his name? Danny? Dante. That was it. Nah. It was unlikely they’d be there—and besides, even if he was off-duty, he knew the kid was underage and he should do something about it. Stop thinking like a cop, he told himself as he showered. Sure, you are attracted to the kid—who wouldn’t be? But you just want to know how it all ended.

He put on a white tank top and a pair of tight jeans, examining himself in the mirror. I don’t look bad, he reassured himself, smiling at the mirror. My body might not be as tight as it was when I was in my twenties, but I’m still a good-looking guy and my body looks pretty good.

All the way to Fusions he debated whether it was smart to go in or not. Several times he was tempted to turn around and go home, forget the whole thing, watch some porn on the Web, and go to bed. But he was tired of masturbating while watching two hot guys have nasty sex. He wanted to have nasty sex, and there was bound to be someone at Fusions who’d want him, someone young and hot and horny, someone to fill up the emptiness and loneliness of the house that was too big for just one person.

Maybe I should sell it, get a condo or an apartment somewhere, he thought as he turned onto the street where Fusions was. The house is part of my problem. It’s a lot of work, for one thing, and it is too big for me, makes me feel lonely.

You don’t have any friends.

He wondered about that for a moment as he parked the car in the lot across the street from Fusions. Before Sean, he’d had a lot of friends, but they’d all dropped away. Sean hadn’t much liked his friends, and the feeling was mutual. After Sean left, he’d thought about calling them but held off. I blew them off for Sean, and now that he’s gone I can hardly try to patch things up with them, he’d reasoned. It would be a shitty thing to do, and he was tired of being a shitty person.

I need to make new friends, kick-start my life into gear again. And tonight—maybe tonight will be the first night of the new Joe Palladino.

He paid the cover charge and walked into the bar. It was already crowded, and the music was loud. He thought it was Beyoncé but wasn’t sure. He walked through the crowd, checking out some of the hot guys, and was pleased to notice some of them were checking him out as well. That made him feel better. He headed to the bar to get a drink. The bartender was hot, muscular, and wearing a white singlet that left very little to the imagination. “As I live and breathe, Joe Palladino.” The bartender grinned as he walked up to where Joe was standing. “What can I get you, babe?”

Joe tried to remember the bartender’s name and couldn’t believe he was still slinging cocktails at Fusions after all this time. The name was gone, lost in the mists of memory, so he ordered a gin and tonic with lime. He watched the bartender mix the drink and noticed he had a heavy hand with the gin. He smiled to himself, remembering what that meant—the bartender liked him. The bartender grinned as he put the drink down on a cardboard coaster with a flourish. “Fifty cents, Detective.”

Joe put a dollar bill down and took a sip. It was strong, as he’d suspected it would be. He winked at the bartender and ignored the two quarters he put down on the bar. He turned and looked at the dance floor. The song had changed, and he had no idea what he was listening to now. He just stood there and watched people, cruising and being cruised, wondering if he should approach someone—deciding finally to see if someone approached him. He was out of practice. Why make an ass out of himself when hopefully someone would come up?

And then he saw him.

Jordy was on the dance floor, underneath one of the flashing red lights, dancing like he didn’t have a care in the world. His shirt was off, tucked into the back of his loose-fitting jeans. The top of his underwear was showing, and his eyes were closed as he danced. He is a good dancer, Joe thought, deciding then and there he wasn’t going to do a damned thing about the fake ID. He was off duty, damn it, and that was all there was to it. As he watched, a guy with an unbelievably muscular body came up behind Jordy, slipping his arms around him and kissing his neck. He had dark hair, was wearing really tight jeans, and his shirt was off. Dante, Joe guessed, and smiled. Jordy had been right—Dante was a muscle god. They looked beautiful out there together on the dance floor, and in spite of himself Joe wondered what it would be like to watch them fucking. It’d be hotter than most porn I’ve seen, he mused, shaking his head and laughing at himself. But at least I know the two of them are still together and are trying to make it work. Good for you, Jordy. You deserve it.

A lean, muscled young man pushed his way through the crowd and stood next to him at the bar. Joe looked at him and smiled. He was really cute. He was lean, with a nose that was just a hair too long for his face, but whoever he was, he was in a really good mood. The young man was wearing jeans like Jordy’s—baggy and hanging low off his waist, and he was wearing a red tank top with the letters BK on the front.

Beta Kappa.

“Hi there,” Joe said. The guy was waiting for the bartender, who was busy with a couple of drag queens.

“Hi,” the young man said, giving him a radiant smile.

“Beta Kappa?” Joe gestured at the shirt with his drink.

“Very good,” the young man replied. “I’m Roger.”

“Joe.”

“Nice to meet you, Joe.” Roger stuck his hand out, and they shook, smiling at each other.

He heard Jordy quoting Chad in his head, “Fusions isn’t really Roger’s kind of place.” “Your last name wouldn’t happen to be Devlin, would it?”

Roger’s jaw dropped. “You are good.” He grinned. “Should I be impressed with you or freaked out because you’re some kind of weird stalker?”

“I’m not a stalker,” Joe replied. This kid is much cuter than Jordy made him sound. “I guess I’ll have to tell you the truth. I’m a cop.”

Roger did a double take. “Okay, now I am freaking out a little. Why would a cop know my name?” His grin got wider. “Should I be looking for the nearest exit so I can slip out after I distract you, Officer?”

“I hope not.” Joe winked. “I was hoping this was the start of a beautiful relationship.”

“Maybe it is,” Roger flirted, reaching out to touch Joe’s arm. “Nice and solid. I like that. But seriously, how did you know my name?”

“Because he’s the cop who interviewed me after Chad fell,” Jordy said from behind them. Joe turned. “Hello, Detective.”

“Just call me Joe, Jordy.”

“You know, I wondered if I’d ever see you again.” Jordy smiled. “Dante, this is Joe Palladino, one of Polk’s finest.”

Dante stuck out his hand, and Joe took it. “I want to thank you, Detective—I mean Joe—for believing Jordy.” He kissed Jordy’s cheek. “It sure would have sucked to have the love of my life locked up.”

“Well.” Joe shrugged. “Had no reason to arrest him—especially after Chad came to and said he’d lost his balance and fallen. The whole thing was a waste of time.” Not really. I enjoyed listening to Jordy’s story. And otherwise I wouldn’t be here. “How are you, Jordy?”

“I’m good, Joe.” Jordy smiled. “Do you guys mind if I talk to Joe alone for a second?”

“As long as you bring him back.” Roger’s hand brushed against Joe’s butt. Joe started a bit and grinned back at Roger.

“Jesus, Roger.” Jordy rolled his eyes. “He’s really become out of control, Joe—I should warn you.” He gestured with his hand. “Follow me.”

Joe followed Jordy through the crowded bar to a hallway to the back bar, where the music wasn’t quite as loud. A drag queen was working behind the bar, and there were a few guys standing around talking. Jordy sat down on a bar stool beside a tall table. Joe hopped on one on the other side. “I wanted to thank you,” Jordy said.

“For not arresting you?” Joe waved his hand. “Like I said, there was no reason.”

“No, not for that.” Jordy smiled a little sadly. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Talking to you—telling you my story—it gave me a chance to go over it all again, and it made me think about things, put them in the proper perspective.” He hugged himself. “I didn’t foreclose on the house or carry through on any of my threats.”

Joe sipped his drink. “Why not?”

“It’s negative,” Jordy replied. “You were right. You asked me if it was right to punish everyone in the house for the bad actions of a few. And it wasn’t. So, the next morning I went by the house. I retired the debt, and the mortgage. I turned it all back over to the house. The brothers now own the house free and clear.” He sighed. “And I didn’t ruin Chad’s family.” His eyes twinkled. “But I put the fear of God into Chad. He’s a completely different person now—you wouldn’t believe the change in him.” He shrugged. “Whether it’s going to last or not, who knows? But for now, he’s trying to be a better person.”

“And Brandon, Rees, and Bobby?”

“The brothers bounced Bobby, and Brandon and Rees were put on probation.” He held up a hand. “Before you say anything, I had nothing to do with any of that. At the meeting on Monday night, Chris told everyone what had happened—and it was their decision.” He shook his head. “I kind of feel bad for Bobby, but it wasn’t me. And I’ve made peace with Brandon and Rees, too. Whether they change is anyone’s guess—but they both apologized to me, and I think they’re going to be okay from now on.”

“And what about you, Jordy? Are you still a brother?”

“I wanted to belong somewhere,” he said, playing with the straw in his drink. “But I don’t belong at Beta Kappa anymore. I went ahead and resigned from the brotherhood—after everything that happened, I just thought it was for the best. Besides, it would be weird being there after paying off the house debt, you know? Everyone would feel, I don’t know, obligated to be nice to me. And I don’t want to be around that.”

“Are you still looking for somewhere to belong?” Joe asked, genuinely curious. He felt an overwhelming affection for Jordy, but it wasn’t attraction. He was a good kid, and it sounded like he was coming into his own at last. He could see it in the way Jordy carried himself, confident but not arrogant, at peace with himself and the world.

“Oh, I found where I belong.” Jordy flashed his amazing smile, and his entire face lit up. It was like klieg lights had turned on behind his eyes. “With Dante. That’s where I belong. The guys from the house are still my friends—I’m not abandoning them entirely. Actually”—he laughed—“after I resigned on Monday morning, the brothers voted that night and made an exception. They granted me alumni status. It was very sweet—and I was touched.” His eyes glistened. “They really are a great bunch of guys. I kind of lost sight of that for a while. And you saw Roger—he really is out of control.”

“I’m happy for you, Jordy.” Joe touched his hand. “Really, I am. It wasn’t my place to say anything—being a cop and all, and being there on business—but I was hoping you’d do the right thing. Revenge is a dark place to go, and I don’t think it would have made you happy in the long run.”

“You’re a very nice man, Detective Palladino.” Jordy raised his glass. “I hope we can be friends.”

Joe clinked his own glass against Jordy’s. “I think I would like that very much, Jordy.”

Jordy hopped down from his bar stool. “And besides, it never hurts to have a friend on the police force.” He threw back his head and laughed. “Come on, let’s join the others.”

Joe followed him back into the other bar, laughing. It feels good to laugh, he thought. How long has it been since I’ve laughed?

Too long—it had been far, far too long.

“There you are.” Roger handed him another gin and tonic. “I was beginning to think I was going to have to find someone else to flirt with.”

He really is adorable, Joe thought, and laughed. “Don’t be starting something you don’t plan on finishing, boy.”

“Boy?” Roger’s face registered delight. “Oh, I like the sound of that. Do you dance, tall, dark, and handsome?”

“I would love to.”

“Well, come on, then! What are you waiting for?” Roger grabbed his hand and dragged him out onto the dance floor.

Joe looked around the dance floor as Roger started dancing. Jordy and Dante were dancing, their arms around each other and their foreheads touching. The song changed to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” and Joe started to dance.

He looked at Roger, who smiled and threw his arms around him. “Wanna have a bad romance, Officer?” Roger asked, an impish grin on his face.

Joe started laughing. “I think I can handle that, boy.”

“I’m a lot to handle, Officer.”

“I have no doubt,” Joe said, throwing his head back and laughing.

And they danced on.

Together.

KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

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Copyright © 2011 by Todd Gregory

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

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ISBN: 978-0-7582-4742-1