Fraud twice felt, p.21
Fraud Twice Felt, page 21
Elliot blinked at him and groaned, leaning up to join in the licking.
That did it. Derwin cried out softly as his orgasm hit, thrusting in deep. It was perhaps the gentlest climax he could ever remember, but it went on and on, until he was spent and panting.
“Wow.” Elliot wrapped his arms around Derwin, pulling him close. Derwin sighed and allowed himself to be held, resting on his lover, still electrified from both the climax and feeding his Oddity.
“Yeah. Wow,” he echoed. Sleepiness was already overtaking him, despite all the energy he’d received. His body’s way of preparing for the morning, perhaps.
“Here, I’ll clean us up. You rest.” Elliot moved away, which was unfortunate, but Derwin couldn’t muster up the will to care. He allowed himself to be repositioned in the bed as Elliot quickly cleaned them off. At least there weren’t any echoes of discomfort coming from Elliot. That rib was finally healed.
Once Elliot was done, he curled up next to Derwin and pulled the sheets over them. Derwin wrapped an arm around him, enjoying the weight of Elliot’s head on his chest. Sleep was calling, but he had one question to ask. “Did you mean that? What you said about . . . love?”
Elliot raised his head and looked at him. “You mean that I love you? I do. I know I’m not comfortable with all that emotional stuff. But I do.” He kissed Derwin lightly on the cheek, then settled in again.
Derwin smiled.
At 6 a.m., a ringing sound woke Elliot.
Elliot reached for the alarm before he realized it was Derwin’s phone that was ringing. Derwin groaned and staggered out of bed; apparently he’d left his phone in his jeans pocket. Elliot made a mental note to remind him to charge it.
They’d need it a lot today.
“Hello? Yes, that’s me.” Derwin frowned, blinking, and then his face turned grave. He glanced at Elliot, who was already getting up and grabbing a pair of briefs.
This didn’t look good. Elliot hurried to dress as Derwin listened, occasionally nodding and saying things like, “Uh-huh. Is that so? Wow.”
The conversation took several minutes, during which Elliot readied himself in the bathroom, straightened the bed, and even fed Bickering, who had begun meowing the second they were up. It was too fucking early in the morning. Why couldn’t the stupid gang have arranged their rendezvous for some time in the evening? Give people a chance to sleep in?
When Elliot returned from the kitchen, Derwin had hung up and was pulling on clothing.
“So who was that?”
Derwin grunted, scratching his head. “That was Detective Wentley.”
A surge of fear passed through Elliot, though he tried not to show it. Cops calling was never good news as far as he was concerned, even though Detective Wentley had helped Derwin catch Cole Murphy, Grady’s killer and Elliot’s kidnapper. Elliot vaguely remembered speaking with the detective after the kidnapping about how Cole had confessed to the murder. The scary thing was that when the detective had cuffed Cole, somebody had shot Cole with a scoped rifle. Derwin hadn’t told Elliot much about the shooting, but from what he understood, that somebody had possessed an Oddity that enabled him or her to run and leap like no normal human.
What does the detective want? Did he find out about the Shizi? Elliot cleared his throat. “Oh? What was he calling about?”
Derwin was in the middle of brushing his hair now. “He had an update on Cole’s case. Cole was working with several people apparently, but they all used fake names, and the email accounts have all been deleted and purged. These people fed Cole information to help him in his career. They also had given him information about me, shortly before Cole killed Grady.” Derwin seemed paler than usual as he gazed at Elliot in the mirror.
“About you? What kind of information? How would these people know you?” This was getting creepier by the minute.
“I don’t know how they knew me. Could’ve been law enforcement, which is a scary thought—I’ve worked enough with various agencies. Maybe a past fugitive I caught. It was information about Bob’s Bail Bonds, about my record as a bounty hunter—who I’d brought in, and all that.” Derwin let out a slow breath. “There’s more. This wasn’t from Cole or Cole’s computer. But Detective Wentley suspects I’m an Oddity now. He received an anonymous email.”
“Oh shit!” Elliot didn’t know how to react. He wanted to rush over and hug Derwin—but a deep, dark side of him suddenly wanted to run away. That’s the risk of his business, dealing with government agencies. This is what could happen to me someday. Even though he knew it was selfish, he couldn’t help himself. “What about me?”
Derwin turned, and it was he who embraced Elliot, holding on tight to him. “Wentley didn’t mention you at all. I don’t think anyone knows about you. He said the emails on Cole’s computer told Cole that I’d likely be out hunting Jack Rapper the night he went to question Grady, and about Lloyd Brunson and others. That’s why Cole almost got away with everything.”
That made sense—Cole had used shoes that were too big for him, trying to imitate one of Derwin’s past fugitives. But that didn’t explain who had sent the email about Derwin’s Oddity. “So what exactly did Wentley say?”
Easing back, Derwin released him. “He basically said what I just told you—that there was information on Cole’s computer about me. Whoever Cole was working with knew who I was as far as my bounty hunting was concerned, but I don’t think they knew I was an Oddity. Cole shouted out that I’m ‘one of them’ right before he was shot. That makes me think whoever Cole was working with has now realized that I’m an Oddity, and maybe they’re trying to get me arrested by telling Wentley. He still doesn’t know what type I am, which is something. Also, he implied that he doesn’t agree with government policies concerning Oddities. I perform good work where I am, as a free agent, so he’s not going to tell anyone. He wanted to warn me that Cole’s associates seemed awfully interested in genetics and Oddities, and whoever they are, I’m on their radar.” He scratched his head. “I think this might be scarier than the crap we’ve got going with the gangs. It makes me wonder if Roy’s somehow a part of this too.”
Elliot scoffed. “He’s sophisticated, but I think this goes beyond his type of scheming. Also the timing doesn’t make sense if he’s using you to get Billy and the plates.” The Shizi could be another matter—Elliot didn’t know much about them. His worst fear was that Cole’s mysterious group was a private corporation somewhere trying to burrow into government and what government did best, using power to get more power.
“Anyways, I can’t worry about that right now. Wentley must have had suspicions before and didn’t act on them, so for now I trust him. Not every public servant is bad.” Derwin pulled on his shoes. “We’ve got to get you a phone as soon as the stores open, and we have to meet with the other bounty hunters at eight. I almost wanted to tell Wentley what was happening today but I decided to wait until the last minute. Didn’t want him to stop the rendezvous.”
“Right. Which would endanger Mei—and possibly you too.” Elliot glared at Derwin. He could be really dense sometimes. “It’s bad enough that we’re teaming up with one gang to fight another. The last thing we need is to get the police involved.”
Derwin gazed at him, his dark eyes crinkled with worry. “Yeah. I know. I hate this. The best thing would be if I grabbed Billy and Mei, and got the fuck out of there. Let the Tatsu and Shizi wipe each other out.”
No way would it be as simple as that, but it wouldn’t help matters to say so. Elliot rubbed Derwin’s shoulder and grabbed his wallet and keys. “Let’s go. Sooner we start, sooner we can put this day behind us.”
Getting a prepaid phone and setting it up was easy; finding a parking spot at Carl’s Diner was not. By the time Derwin led the way to their table, Elliot was almost done entering in his contacts and sending text messages to Theresa and Stefan. The word was out on the street, and his fellow vagabonds would be keeping watch.
The diner had set up a table for seven with several carafes of coffee, and it was full but for two chairs. Elliot glanced up as they approached, and Derwin introduced him. “Hey, everyone! Some of you haven’t met my new partner, Elliot Leed. He’s going to be running a little spy network today with the homeless on the streets to give us info on where the unfriendlies are.”
Bob and Connie were sitting together, with Bob sporting a new look of Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. Elliot wondered if he was planning on hanging out at the beachside park as well. Across from them, a tall blond woman with several piercings in her ear, tiny braids in her hair, and a full sleeve tattoo was licking the frosting off a doughnut. She glanced up at Elliot and grinned. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lacey Petrov.”
Elliot smiled back. This was the kickass female bounty hunter who was hopefully going to teach him martial arts? Sweet. I bet she could take down both Juno and Chad and not even break a sweat. “Nice to meet you.”
Beside her, two heavily muscled, ebony-skinned men in sweatpants and T-shirts were fighting over the bowl of creamers. When neither of them acknowledged Derwin or Elliot, Lacey reached over and thwapped them. “And this is Carter and Vince. They’re brothers,” she said.
Vince shoved Carter and managed to pull the bowl away from him. Several creamers fell onto the table. “Hey. Having coffee. Talk in a few.”
“They’re very competitive,” Derwin commented, as he pulled out chairs for himself and Elliot. As soon as they were seated, Derwin handed Elliot one of the fallen creamers, and Elliot poured coffee for them both. “They’re also not morning people.”
“Hey, I’m better than he is,” Carter quipped. His hair was shaved close to his head, and he had a silver chain with a bear pendant around his neck. He’d already gulped down half his cup.
“You owe me money, Bryant,” Vince added. He had a mustache to go along with a head of thick hair, and now his mustache was sporting white creamer along the edges. “So what are you going to owe me after today?”
Derwin turned to Bob. “See? I told you.” He faced Vince again. “I paid you back six months ago. But you’re right. I’ll owe you for today. I can’t believe the shit that we’ve gotten ourselves into.”
Vince shook his head, smiling. “I’ll take today’s, then. Two gangs, Bryant? I think that’s a record even for you.” He leaned closer to Elliot. “So you’re like his partner? Or his partner?”
“Hey.” Carter elbowed him. “That’s not your business.”
Elliot couldn’t hold back the grin. “Both,” he stated, and couldn’t help the surge of happiness at the admission. “I used to be a rentboy.”
Derwin stared at him in shock. “You didn’t have to tell them that.” He didn’t seem embarrassed, which was good.
Elliot shrugged. Probably thought it was too private for me to admit. “I figured I might as well get it out of the way, especially since we’re all going to be working together.”
Derwin nodded and returned to perusing the menu.
“Good for you—can you hand me a creamer?” Carter reached, and Elliot handed it to him. He was pouring his second cup of coffee.
“You mean good that he was one, or good that he’s not any longer? Eh, anyways, good for you that you can put up with that meathead you’re sitting with.” Vince winked, and Elliot decided that of the brothers, he liked Vince best.
Lacey rolled her eyes, and then the waitress arrived.
After they’d all ordered, Derwin’s cell phone rang. His face changed as he answered it, brows drawing together and his mouth thinning. Elliot raised his eyebrows at him, concerned.
Roy, Derwin mouthed. He listened for a moment, scowling. “You realize that if the Shizi spot your guys, our advantage of surprise is totally fucked, right?”
“That can’t be good.” Carter glanced at his brother.
Vince shook his head and put a finger to his lips.
Elliot’s gut tightened, as Derwin continued. “So I’m supposed to simply trust that your guys are covering mine? I told you yesterday how we’re doing this. Mei’s with me. I’ll have my people protecting her as well. I’ll get Billy. You deal with helping all of us escape.”
“Definitely not sounding good,” Lacey said under her breath.
The table went silent as Derwin finished up his call and hung up. He regarded everyone gravely. “I still want to kill him.”
“What did Mister Head-of-the-Goddamned-Tatsu have to say to us?” Vince set aside his coffee. He appeared to be all business now.
Derwin’s left fist was clenched. “He wanted to stand with me and Mei to meet the Shizi, which would ruin our element of surprise. He doesn’t trust me, which makes sense. Oh, and he wants you guys front and center, near me.”
Carter looked down at himself. “Oh yeah. We’ll blend in perfectly with the park regulars. Should we wear little bull’s-eyes on our shirts as well?”
“Exactly. I told him we’re sticking with the original plan, which is only me and Mei being visible. For some reason, Roy had the idea that making a show of force would be to his advantage. All that’s likely to do is get Billy killed.” Derwin shook his head, shifting in his seat. He seemed full of nervous energy, but whether that was nerves or the power that Elliot had given him last night wasn’t clear.
Lacey crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. “Where do you want us, Derwin?”
This is it. Our big plan. What the hell are we going to do? Elliot stared at his partner’s face, hoping for a sign of wisdom, for Derwin’s typical confident swagger. All he saw, however, was dread.
Derwin cleared his throat. “My plan is to somehow get the Shizi to let go of Billy long enough for me to run and grab him. I need somebody nearby that I trust to get Mei out of there safely, before the Shizi secure her. Elliot’s going to be in a restaurant a few blocks away, feeding me information from his network of people. Other than that, I don’t have a plan.”
On a whim, Elliot took Derwin’s hand. It was ice cold.
Vince and Carter looked to each other and nodded. Vince spoke. “I’ll protect this Mei—the girlfriend, right?”
“And I’ll be someplace close. There’s got to be cover somewhere. Hell, I’ll hang out in the back of a van if I need to.” Carter turned to Vince. “Doesn’t our cousin own one? I bet we could grab it in time.”
“Good idea. For myself, I was thinking I could be in the water if there’s no other cover.” Lacey laughed. “I doubt they’d expect that.”
Elliot blinked at her in shock. “What about demons? Don’t they live underwater too?” It was the reason his parents had never let them wet even a toe in the ocean when they’d visited the city beach. The only places he’d been allowed to swim were in public pools. He’d been pretty good too, and had considered joining the high school swim team before his life went to hell.
Lacey shrugged, playing with one of her braids. “I can handle most things I come across. At least in the daytime.” She leaned over, tapping the hilt of a large dagger strapped to her calf—larger than the one Derwin wore, in fact.
“Good. By the way, Elliot would love you to teach him self-defense sometime,” Derwin said, and Elliot was torn between wanting to kiss him, and wanting to hide under the table.
She smiled, nodding at Elliot. “We’ll figure it out. After today.”
Their food arrived, and everyone began to eat. Elliot only managed a few bites past the fluttering of his stomach, but he felt marginally better. At least Derwin wouldn’t be out there alone, with Roy as his only supposed ally. His friends seemed like good people.
Derwin stabbed at a big piece of ham. “Okay. So here’s the plan. Lacey’s coming in from the shore, Vince can be at the hot dog stand, Carter will be in a van, and Mei and me will be near the bathrooms where they met us the last time. Bob and Connie will be in a car parked down the street—say three or four blocks. When the exchange happens, Vince and Carter need to grab Mei and get her either to Bob’s car or to the van. She may already be in the Shizi’s hands at that point. We’ll see. Lacey can be our ace in the hole if something unexpected happens.” He stared hard at them. “Don’t let Roy take Mei away. I already had to storm his fucking penthouse once. I don’t want to have to do it again.”
Elliot growled. “You’d better not.” Derwin had been lucky to leave Roy’s building the first time without any major damage. If he crossed Roy once more, it was going to be bad. Contract-out-on-his-life bad.
“And Billy?” Bob asked. He’d been quiet, but had been taking notes.
“I’m working on finding the box they want. My job will be to grab Billy if they offer him. I’ll get him wherever is safe—that could be your car, the van, or with Lacey. If they don’t have Billy, then I’ll call in Roy’s help to locate and secure him. And Bob, if gunfire starts up near you and Connie? Get out of there. Don’t hang around.” Derwin sighed, poking at his eggs. “It’s going to get ugly.”
Elliot’s stomach roiled. He eyed his plate, wondering if he could manage another bite. What if the Shizi decided to simply shoot Derwin and take both Mei and Billy? Nobody was going to be close enough to prevent that. Or what if Roy’s guys took him down and made off with them?
“Hey. It’s going to be all right.” Vince’s warm tones coaxed Elliot out of his musings, and he looked up to see supportive smiles from all three bounty hunters. He let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
Derwin shrugged. “We’ll do our best. Oh, and Bob—I got a call this morning from Detective Wentley. I don’t want to involve police in this except in the worst-case scenario, but I’m going to give you his number. If things go bad, call him, and have him send help. Another thing to be aware of is that Elliot and me tried to warn the homeless in the area last night to take care of themselves, but there could be other innocent bystanders.” Grimacing, he took a big bite of his food.
