The Hunt - Ch. 2 (Love, Again Side Story, Patreon Exclusive)

Chapter One 

Chapter Two – Mr. And Mr. Smith

“I promise I will make no attempt to compromise your masculinity,” Billy said with a smile. “I understand that some men might feel insecure --”

“I’m not insecure,” Robert blurted out.

Why was he so shocked? After all, it was a plan as good as any. Even better. This way, they could be together all the time without rising suspicion. Still, Robert felt the need to get up and run away, like an embarrassed schoolboy.

“Good. But, please, let me know the reasons of your reticence --”

“Would you mind if I called you a scoundrel, for a moment?” After the initial surprise, Robert was getting his bearings back. It wasn’t the suggestion of posing as a gay man that bothered him but having to pair with the man in front of him.

Why that was, it was hard to tell. For years, Robert had moved among the people around him, without caring about them more or less than needed. Yet, the moment Billy had suggested they should pose as a couple, something completely strange had happened to him.

A sudden, unknown emotion had seized him. For unfathomable reasons, Billy Jackson was affecting him, and his reaction had been from the gut. It hadn’t been unpleasant, either, although he couldn’t define its nature.

“A scoundrel? Why? For the record, I find it endearing that this is what you find fitting as an insult, detective.”

Was Billy flirting with him? It sounded like it, but it was far-fetched, right? The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous the idea was. “Are you gay, Billy?” he asked.

He took a gulp from the water glass.

“No. I suppose you’re not, either.”

“I’m not. It’s just a shocking idea, isn’t it?” he said the last words as if he was asking himself that.

“We’re both professionals,” Billy replied. “But if it bothers you, let me know.”

“We’ll have to act in public as if we are lovers,” Robert said slowly.

“We’re already married,” Billy reminded him.

Robert focused on his breathing for a moment. He could do this. What was wrong with him? Was he twelve now? “Right. Let us hear your plan.” Billy was right; they were both professionals. And he needed to chill, really chill. “For the record, I have nothing against the idea.”

“Duly noted,” Billy replied with another disarming smile. “Then we need to synchronize our watches and get our stories straight.”

“Straight, right,” Robert said under his breath. “All right. How did we meet?”

Billy leaned back in his chair, looking smug and satisfied. Robert wanted to strangle him a little, which was, again, something out of character for him.

“I work as a barista at a place close to where you work,” Billy began.

“Let me guess. Did you start drawing little penises in my coffee?”

Billy laughed. “Close enough. I fell in love with you, but I had no idea if you batted for the same team. So I began leaving you small messages, yes, you guessed it, in your coffee. Flowers, little hearts, all that.”

“How awfully romantic. I can feel my teeth rotting. And when did the dense me realize I was being courted by my cute barista?”

Why did he use the term ‘cute’? He threw a furtive look at Billy. He was plain and ordinary.

And cute.

Maybe it was a good idea to stop thinking for a moment. He had never been into guys, and today wouldn’t be the day he started to be.

“I fell ill and missed work a few days,” Billy continued. “Then you noticed that your coffee simply didn’t taste the same.”

“And I realized that I missed you,” Robert offered his input.

“Not really. I came back to work, and you didn’t say anything about noticing my absence. Therefore, I thought my romance was doomed.”

“Damn, so complicated. What happened next?” Robert asked.

“I refused to make your coffee anymore and left a colleague to take care of it.”

“How petty of you,” Robert commented. “I could just be an unsuspecting customer, completely unaware of the struggles of your little heart.”

“Yes, but lucky me, you weren’t. You asked about who used to make your coffee. At first, my colleague, as instructed by me, said that she couldn’t remember. But then, you started to insist, explaining to her how you always found little flowers and hearts in your coffee. You went as far as to ask her if it was possible to have the entire personnel tested for such artistic abilities.”

“Oh, damn, this is worse than Cinderella. Continue. Did the magic slipper fit?”

“We were busy and couldn’t indulge your request. However, I saw you leaving, looking so dejected over not having your coffee as you used to. So I went after you and confessed.”

“To having drawn flowers and hearts in the coffee or your love?”

“Both,” Billy said promptly. “ I admitted that I used to have a crush on you, but that I was over it.”

Robert pressed his temples. “Are you secretly a fanfiction writer? I’ve never heard a more far-fetched love story in my life. At least, save me from my misery and tell me that I knelt in front of the coffee shop and proposed to you on the spot. Because, let’s face it, good coffee is hard to find and this is about as much romantic bullshit I can handle in one day.”

Billy shrugged. “Sure, if that’s what you think would make a good story.”

Robert fell silent for a moment. “Have you just pulled my leg for the last five minutes?”

Billy snickered. “Sort of. Come on, detective, admit it, it was funny.”

“Too bad I’m not laughing. Next time you want to seduce a guy, just draw a penis in his coffee. He’ll get the gist much faster.”

Robert had a mind to give Billy a bit of verbal lashing for his shenanigans, but his phone rang. It was his captain who wanted to see him in her office in ten.

“I’m not done with you,” he warned Billy.

“Just the words I wanted to hear, detective,” Billy replied and beamed at him.

He left Billy to take care of the bill and headed toward the exit. He already knew what the captain wanted to tell him.

Billy hurried after him. “Don’t forget this.”

He handed him a fortune cookie.

“See what it tells you,” Billy urged him.

With a sigh, Robert obeyed. He read the message and rolled his eyes.

“Well?” Billy asked, suspiciously impatient.

“Like you don’t know, you prankster.” He pressed the message into Billy’s hand. He could only surmise that it was just another joke planned by his unusual partner with the kitchen staff.

“Romance moves you in a new direction,” Billy read aloud. “How funny. I got the same message.”

“They must have made a batch with the same words of wisdom,” Robert commented, without believing a word.

***

The road took them around rolling hills, climbing higher and higher. The getaway was tucked away, at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by picturesque scenery. Billy stole a glance at Robert. He had his eyes closed, and his face seemed relaxed. The sun caressed his face, and he seemed a bit more rested than the first time they had met.

Billy had insisted on driving since it was one of his favorite activities. Robert hadn’t fought him on that, and he seemed to prefer to be the passenger.

A ransom note had yet to emerge, but they had decided, with Robert’s captain’s blessing, that there was no time to lose. They had packed and left for the honeymoon retreat the following day.

“Are you sure it is safe to drive while staring at me?”

Ah, caught in the act. Billy enjoyed looking at Robert’s handsome face, especially when he looked less stressed than usual. “The worst that can happen around here is to hit a sheep or a cow.”

“So you don’t care if you ruin our honeymoon by hitting some innocent farm animal?” Robert opened his eyes.

“I wouldn’t dream of doing that, honey.”

“Honey? Are we going to use endearing names?”

“Why not? Do you have something against honey? Should I call you cupcake?”

Robert made such a disgusted face that Billy burst into laughter.

“Hey, we must sound and look the part. I hope you don’t have second thoughts.”

“None whatsoever,” Robert assured him. “But I suppose we can be a gay couple without overdoing it, right?”

“Sure thing, hubby,” Billy joked. “As long as we still behave like a couple in love who just got married, we’re set.”

After investigating the detective more thoroughly, Billy had a clearer idea about why Robert had been, at first, so put off by the plan. It wasn’t the idea of posing as a gay couple that bothered him, but that of being married, happy, and in love.

Those things had been in short supply in the detective’s life. At the same time, it made sense why Robert was so invested in this case. Ten years ago, he had lost his young wife when she had been kidnapped only to disappear without a trace. He had never been the same ever since, and the case involving her had remained unsolved.

Therefore, Billy had to pretend he didn’t know about any of that and joke as much and as often as he could about their cover to put Robert at ease.

They had rented a modest lodge complete with a kitchenette and bathroom, so he needed to be judicious about the surveillance equipment he had brought along. It would be cramped, but they would manage.

“How are we registered? As Mr. and Mr. Smith?”

“I didn’t know you could joke, detective. Actually, yes.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Well, we decide that I would take your last name, and you just happen to be a Smith. And now, we’re the Smiths.”

“Are you certain we’re not going to draw attention with such a name?”

“You’re right. We’re actually the Williamsons. I’m Matt, and you’re Ned.”

“Glad we keep things simple. All right, Matt. Since we didn’t have a lot of time to talk about our cover, let’s go over it a little. We are bound to stumble upon other couples there, I suppose.”

“Yes,” Billy confirmed. “And we will be part of the group of happy honeymooners so that we blend in perfectly.”

“Can’t we just say that we cannot get enough of one another and spend all the time in our lodge?”

“I like the way you think, detective --”

“Ned. Don’t forget.”

“Of course, love.”

“You’re going to tease me endlessly, aren’t you?”

“Yes. It’s fun. Okay, Ned. We could do that, but we shouldn’t be complete shut-ins. We would just draw unnecessary attention. People love to gossip.”

“Even when vacationing in such a remote location?” Robert asked.

“Especially then. I want to make things easy for you. You can let me do the talking. I’m, obviously, a better fit for playing the extrovert’s role.”

“And why do you get to play the flamboyant type, while apparently, I only have grey and dark blue clothes in my wardrobe?”

“I could spare a scarf if it made you more confident in your charms,” Billy offered.

Teasing Robert was a helluva lot of fun. Once they got in position, they would focus on their task at hand, but a lot rested on their ability to play their roles well. Billy wanted Robert to feel at ease around him, or else no one would think they were a couple.

Someone other than him might have considered all these precautions a tad too much. But Billy didn’t want to risk a thing, knowing who they were dealing with. For their plan to work flawlessly, he and the detective needed to be friends or at least well acquainted.

***

“I think I can trust you to pump up the charm,” Robert said.

Billy’s transformation for the role had come as quite a surprise. Robert himself had worked a bit on his disguise, too. He had put on a pair of glasses and had a feeling he now looked like a bored accountant, but all in all, he was satisfied with it. Wearing contacts and having his hair dyed to a dubious brown didn’t count as pleasant endeavors, but they helped make him look like a different person.

Still, he couldn’t rival Billy in that regard. Somehow, the guy had styled his hair in a high cut and dyed blond what remained on top. The hair was moussed and styled to look haphazard and free on any styling restraints, which wasn’t true. He wore blue contacts and tight-fitting clothes. Unlike when he had stepped foot in Robert’s office, he now looked like a carefree youngster. The denim leggings showed off slim calves and thighs, and it had been more than once that Robert had snuck glances at his companion.

The tight t-shirt left little to the imagination, and it was a shock to see Billy as a slim twink, with just the right amount of definition in his arms, pecs, and abs. On top of everything, he wore black studs in both earlobes. Robert found himself staring at them, wanting to touch them.

He shook his head. His thoughts had been in a scrambled state since the day before. Entertaining fantasies about touching his partner’s earlobes to check on his studs wasn’t part of his job description.

Billy laughed. It was just so wholesome, the way he did that like there was nothing bad happening in the world. It lifted some of the pressure he felt, and, in a way, it was dangerous to let himself go like that.

For what they planned to do, they needed their wits about them. They had only known each other for a day, and the whirlwind of events they were part of didn’t leave room for introspection and analyzing new emotions.

Billy seemed to be in his element. Robert was sure he would easily pass as a young gay man who just got married. Not as certain was he about himself. He looked like a middle-aged man who probably had to wonder what lucky twist of fate he needed to be thankful to for landing such an attractive partner.

***

“We’re here,” Billy announced, as he pulled the car into the resort’s parking lot. “So, Ned, are you ready for this? We will head over to our little cozy lodge as soon as we pick up the keys.”

“Sure thing, Matt,” Robert said. “Nice of you to think of names easy to remember.”

“I’m always nice. Can’t you tell?”

Billy wanted to see Robert smile as often as possible. The detective was like a closed book and not so easy to read as other people he had met in his life. They were together in this, which mattered, but Billy wished he could get under Robert’s skin a little. It would serve their cooperation.

They headed over to the reception, and Billy wrapped one arm around Robert’s elbow. The detective’s first reaction was to pull away, but a quick look exchanged between them made him reconsider.

Robert Stryker came from a conservative family, and his upbringing could be a problem for the role play they were enacting. Billy trusted in the detective’s abilities to adapt to the situation, but a little bit of work was needed.

To make him more at ease, for now, Billy dropped his arm. He was immediately taken aback by a callous but warm hand wrapping around his. They linked their fingers together and shared a smile.

Ah, so the detective was, after all, as willing as he to get into character. They walked inside the reception area hand in hand and let go only so that he could go over the formalities with the receptionist.

The woman tending the desk offered them a dazzling smile. She had to be in her mid-fifties, and she looked like a country music singer, complete with a high hairdo, bright red lipstick, and friendly eyes. “Welcome, darlings.”

Billy counter-attacked with a charming smile of his own. “Hi there, Maddie,” he said, quickly reading the tag. “We have a reservation, on Matt and Ned Williamson?”

He left the question mark hanging, just to allow Maddie the feeling of importance that came with checking the computer in front of her.

“Sure thing,” Maddie replied cheerfully. “Kind of a last-minute thing, I see.”

“Yes, Ned didn’t know if he could take a leave from work so soon.”

“Hey, it’s only once in a lifetime you go on your honeymoon,” Maddie continued to chirp happily. “I mean, with each of your husbands,” she added, speaking under her breath and wiggling her eyebrows at Billy.

“Husbands, lol,” Billy commented. “No, I wouldn’t even think of that. Ned’s my one and only.” For good measure, he turned his head and offered Robert a look filled with love.

Unfortunately, the detective appeared to have frozen in place. He stood there, arms by his sides, looking so rigid that Billy wanted to push him a little to see if he would fall over.

“Right, hubby?” Billy said in warning.

That sprang Robert into action. He put one arm around Billy’s shoulders and pulled him close for a moment. “Sure thing, baby. I don’t see myself spending my life with anyone else.”

Good save, and it had come right in time because Maddie’s genuine smile was just starting to fade. He wrapped his arm around Robert’s waist and pushed his entire body against him. It was maybe a bit too much for the conservative-thinking detective, but he deserved punishment for being so slow on the uptake.

“Here are your keys,” Maddie said. “We have a spa and a hot tub, as well as a restaurant on the grounds. Each evening, we have a different event with live entertainment, but we want them to be a surprise, so you don’t get a schedule,” she added with a huge smile. “Ah, and we have as guests other two boys who just got married like you, and they are lovely. I’m sure they will love to meet you.”

“Of course,” Billy replied. “We would love that. What am I saying? We can barely wait to meet everyone.”

“If we have the time,” Robert intervened.

Maddie winked at them. “It looks to me, Matt, like your husband doesn’t want to share you.”

“Yeah, he’s so possessive,” Billy confessed, “but in a good way, you know?”

“If you say so, honey,” Maddie replied and grinned.

Robert had to be in hell by now, so Billy decided that it was a good time to spare him further torments. He grabbed the keys and bid an effusive farewell to Maddie.

Even as they were out of Maddie’s sight, he continued to keep his arm wrapped around Robert, forcing him to hold his over his shoulders, too. “For the record, Ned,” he said quietly, “you will have to show a lil’ bit more love for me if we don’t want to rise suspicions, okay? It’s not a reproach, just a thought.”

“Got you,” Robert replied curtly.

Well, as long as they got each other, Billy thought, deciding on a philosophical approach. Mr. X could have ears and eyes everywhere, and the only thing they had to do for now was to play their roles and play them well.

***

Robert wanted to smack himself or punch himself in the face. Billy wasn’t there to compensate for his lapses, and he needed to up his game. Why was he so easy to throw off balance, all of a sudden? As he had stood there, watching Billy’s exchange with the receptionist, he had felt an unusual unease.

For years, he had been alone. It had been a decision taken for the entire life, no questions asked. The few women who had had enough courage to put his defenses to the test had given up after a while. And then, his reputation had preceded him, and he no longer had to fight off well-intended advances from the fairer sex.

He needed to think about what was happening to him, but there was no time for that, not with such an important case on his hands and an innocent’s life on the line.

For a minute there, in front of the reception, he had become aware of how lonely he was. He had looked at Billy and listened to how he chatted with that lady like he was behind a glass window, sealed off from the world and floating away.

He had realized with some difficulty that he was expected to behave a certain way. Billy’s body, real and warm, next to him, had brought some solidity. Under any other circumstances, he would have found the situation awkward, but he felt anchored as he walked with Billy, held by the waist, his own arm wrapped around the other’s shoulders.

His partner was just a bit shorter than him. He could smell his shampoo, and some hair product needed, most probably, to make the mop of hair look tousled as if its owner had just gotten out of bed after a lovemaking session.

He was thinking of the weirdest things ever since he had met this man. His mind was not in the right place, so he needed to whip it back in shape, and fast.

“Let’s get all our equipment in place,” Billy said the moment they walked inside and had all their luggage brought in, as well.

Robert began unpacking, and his hands steadied as he took out the cameras and audio equipment. Under any pretext, they were supposed to go on trips around the resort so that they could start their hunt for Mr. X.

Such a beast wasn’t easy to trap. He checked his gun and put it back into the case. Hopefully, he wouldn’t use it, but if push came to shove … He shook his head. He hoped to trap Mr. X and deliver him to a judge who would find a place, preferably underground, from where he wouldn’t be able to escape and hurt anyone ever again in his life.

The type of killer Mr. X was gave Robert the creeps. Not that other criminals caused any positive feelings in him of any kind, but the lack of humanity in that man was off the scale. He wasn’t a sadist, nor did he seem to take pleasure in killing his victims. But he always did it in such a way that it made Robert think that he treated human lives as they were nothing else but bugs he happened to crush under his foot by accident, with no trace of remorse.

“Why do you think he took Florence?” he asked, knowing by now that Billy would have his own theories about the case and the perp.

“My educated guess,” Billy offered right away, “is that he was instructed to do so by someone with a lot of money.”

Robert paused. “Then we shouldn’t expect any ransom note.”

“Oh, no, we should. He’s bidding his time to make his move. He won’t deliver Florence to the person or persons who hired him just yet. As far as I can tell, we’re dealing with two perps here. One kidnapped the girl because he was hired to do it. His entire sense of purpose is greed, therefore he will ask the parents for money, too.”

“And the other? The one who, supposedly, hired him?”

“We must learn who that is,” Billy replied. “Mr. X will take us to them if we play our cards right.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“That’s not really an option, Ned,” Billy said as he began spreading cables everywhere and searching for power outlets. “Because if we catch Mr. X and find Florence, without learning who was behind it all, we will only do half the job. Florence will still be in danger.”

That was an unsettling thought. Robert looked out the window at the tall firs, unmoved and dark. The evening was setting in fast. Where was Florence now? What did she see if she looked out the window? Did the place where she was kept even have windows?

“We’ll catch the bastards,” Billy said as if he could read his mind. “Consider it my wedding promise.”

Robert smiled despite the dark thoughts making a nest inside his mind. “I thought they were called vows.”

“Eh, we just do things our way, right?”

He could agree to that. Without a doubt.

TBC

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