Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 16:35:02 GMT From: "rwigbooks@netzero.net" Subject: LITTLE ADVENTURES 2 - CHAPTER 7 Hi, RClayton here with a few words. I've been hearing from a good many folks about how much they are enjoying the consistent flow of fiction from my demented mind and I appreciate each and every letter. If you guys didn't ready my work, I would probably keep writing it anyway but it is nice to feel like I am making someone's day, hour or fifteen minutes, whichever suits you best. I would like to thank Miguel Sanchez for his excellent proof reading. He has saved me several embarrassingly bad goofs the last few months. Miguel gets to deal with my lapses in mental ability and he does so with tact and respect. If you find problems with the writing, you can blame me. An editor is only able to do so much with a writer's words. Please remember to donate a little cash to Nifty when you can. We want to keep the site free for all of us to continue enjoying the great stories posted here. I just got the word that I have finally been scheduled to have a total hip replacement (left). I had the right one done a few years ago. I plan to wrap this series up before I go into the hospital, likewise with Adam & Jesse. Please be patient with me as recovery from his surgery is a long process with a lot of physical therapy. Thanks for reading! Comments about the stories are appreciated, however flamers will be ignored or worse, chewed out, depending on my mood that day. Please send all comments to me at rwigbooks@netzero.com.. Notice the e-mail change? :) The stories I post are mine and I would prefer that they not be posted to other sites without my permission. I have no problem with saving them to your computer to read later though. I do that myself. So, if you have a group or a site that you want to post this work to, e-mail me at the above address. If you are under age (as if I care) or live in a location where this type of story isn't legal...well, you do what you must. Me? I'd move. :) Have a great week! RClayton LITTLE ADVENTURES 2 BY: RClayton CHAPTER 7 (1) After sitting against the Ford for several hours, I was taken into town and locked in a cell at the sheriff's office. No one had offered any information or answered my requests for updates on the search for Ryan. As far they were concerned I had killed my darling boy and disposed of his beautiful body as though it were trash. My anger had settled into deep despair as the day wore on into night. It didn't help that the pain shot I had been given at the hospital that morning had long since worn off. I had requested something for the newly emerging pain hours before and was informed that they would contact the doctor and see what he could do. After that I had been left to myself until a female deputy brought a tray into the cell block and placed it on the floor in front of my cell door. The woman unlocked a small door and pushed the tray into the cell, closed and locked the door again, and left the room. She didn't say a word and I saw no reason to break the silence either. My appetite was less than stellar but I knew that I had to get something in my system before I became sick. The tray held a can of Coke, a bag of potato chips and a ham and a cheese sandwich wrapped in wax paper. I had a feeling the taste between the wrapper and the sandwich would be unnoticeable. An hour later the heavy metal door that led from the front office to the cell block swung open and the federal agent entered the narrow corridor between the cells and the cement block wall. He came to my cell and leaned against the wall. "I see you've been fed." "For lack of a better word, yeah," I said leaning against the bars of the cell to my right, resting my butt on the flat pad which covered a metal bed. "Did the doctor ever get back to check you out?" The man asked. He looked as though he might actually give a damn. "No, he hasn't." "Ouch, I guess the pain is really bad by now then." The man crossed his arms. "I'll live," I replied. He pushed away from the wall and walked back to the big door into the office, spoke to someone and returned. "The doctor will be here shortly." "Thanks," I said. I couldn't see any reason to be rude, not when my future could very well be in the hands of the man who had arrested me. "They found the older brother." I jumped to me feet and over to the cell door in an instant, all thoughts of pain long gone. "Where? Is he okay?" "Yeah, he was a bit bruised and had a few cuts, about the same as his brother. He says he can't remember what happened after he walked into the boat house to dress." The man leaned back against the wall. "There won't be any murder charges. Both boys swear you have never abused them. They say that their father was the one who was the abuser and that they continued having sex with each other after you took them in." "I told you I would never hurt those boys." I looked at the man, staying at the cell door. "I don't like it. Not one bit." The agent stared at me. "I think there is a Hell of a lot more to this than anybody is saying but there's nothing I can prove...yet." "Am I still under arrest?" I asked the man. "No. Once the doc gives the okay, you are free to go." He pushed away from the wall and left the cell block without another word. "Hey, I just realized you never gave me your name." I looked at him with annoyance. "Mitchell Hazzard." He looked me over, shook his head, and left the cell block. I noticed he didn't close the door when he left. The female deputy came in shortly after and unlocked my cell door. "The doctor is here. He'll be in to check you out shortly." She spoke but wouldn't look at me. "I appreciate it," I said. I went back to the bunk and sat down. The pain that had been forgotten was back stronger than before. My arm throbbed violently in its sling. (2) The doctor gave me another shot after checking my wounds from the explosion and crash against the side of the boat house. He gave me a prescription for pills that I could take to relieve the pain later. I was then led out of the cell block and into the main office. I saw Terry and a heavy set girl sitting on benches to the right of the front door. Terry stood up and came to the counter. The lady deputy returned my watch, wallet and keys, placed a form in front of me and instructed me to sign it. I signed the receipt for my property as she unlocked the door and waited until I was in the lobby before locking it back. "Thank God," Terry exclaimed. "I was so worried." "I'm okay . . . now." I said. "You said you would find Ryan and that was what you did. Thank you." "I wish I could say I was the one who found him but I wasn't. He was discovered walking through a field near town wearing only a pair of bikini underwear." Terry informed me. "Who found him?" I asked Terry. "My aunt, it was her field he was walking through. She said that she had gone out back for some air around 8:00, saw a figure walking in her direction and wandered out to investigate." "I'll have to thank her later." "You can do that sooner than you think. The boys are at her house sleeping. The doctor gave them both sedatives and released them into her tender care." Terry opened the wooden door leading to a narrow boardwalk. The young woman said nothing as she exited the sheriff's office, followed by Terry and me. "Greg, this is Monica," Terry introduced me once we were out of the office and the door was closed. "I've heard a great deal about you." I said. "I wish I could say the same." The woman said. Her tone was hostile and her body language was reading anger and confusion. "Monica, be nice. He's my friend." Terry said. "I'm sorry. I haven't exactly had a great day." Monica said. She gave me a partial smile that looked forced. "I'm going to replace your car, Monica." "Terry told me, thanks." She looked at Terry. "I guess we had better get on over to Aunt Laurie's," Terry said. He stepped off the boardwalk and led us to the blue, wood panel station wagon. "I thought this was the doctor's car," I said. "It is." Terry said as he unlocked the Buick. "He let us borrow it because Aunt Laurie asked him to." He got into the car and hit the button to unlock the other doors. After I got in and closed the door, Terry continued his explanation. "He's been sweet on Aunt Laurie since his wife passed away a few years back." He turned the key and the engine fired up. "I thought I heard him say something about someone named Rhonda . . . " "That's his sister, she's a widow and he let her move in when her husband died. They love each other but fight like Cane and Abel." Terry backed out of the parking space and into the empty street. The town closed up tight by nine every week night and midnight on weekends. Monica sat silently in the back seat. I could hear her moving around back there but she seemed to be enjoying the company of her own thoughts. "Have you spoken to Ryan or Harry?" "I got a chance to speak to Harry while the doc was examining Ryan. He is really upset, as you can imagine." "I feel so sorry for him. He tries to put up this brave front but he is so introverted that I worry about him a lot more than I do his brother. He gets his feeling hurt more easily." "I think he'll be okay." Terry said. The drive to the book store below which his aunt lived, took less than five minutes. Terry pulled into the drive and followed the cracked pavement around to the back door. A white Saturn sat under a make shift carport attached to the house. When we entered the back door there were voices coming from the kitchen. I followed Terry into the old-fashioned kitchen and saw Ryan sitting on a stool wearing shorts and a baseball jersey that were a size too large. I hated to admit it, but he looked sexy as hell right then, I'd have to get him a football outfit when we got home, but it would never see a field, just my bedroom. God, what kind of monster was I to think such a thing so soon after I nearly lost him, I thought. Ryan looked at me and slipped off the stool. He made his way to me and wrapped both arms around my waist, pushing his head lightly into my good shoulder and began crying. I wrapped my good arm around his waist and held him to me, letting him work through his current upset state. "It's okay, babe. I'm here now." I patted his back lightly. It felt incredible to have him in my arms again, to feel his body close to mind and know that he was safe. After he was finished crying, he pulled away from me and pulled a tissue from a box near where he was sitting. "You two, go into the main room out front and talk." Laurie said. "I had Terry light a fire in the fireplace to warm this old house up a bit." "Thank you, once again, Laurie," I said. "None of that, I'm sure you both have a lot to talk about." She said, handing me a mug of hot cocoa and another to Terry. I led Ryan through the large entry hall and into the front room where the fireplace lit up the long, narrow room. The book cases filled with books of every type sat in darkness, out of the reach of the fire's light. Ryan sat in a wicker rocker and nursed his cocoa as I pulled up a chair for myself. I sat close to him and took a drink from my mug. I did not know what to say, there were so many questions running through my head that I couldn't get my thoughts organized. "I'm sorry I scared you," Ryan said. He looked into the fire rather than at me. "I don't know what happened, Greg. I walked into the boat house and then nothing. I came to and it was night again, I got up from the grass I lay in and began walking toward where I thought the town was located." "You did great, Ryan," I encouraged. "I was so scared, Greg. I've never been scared of anything before, not really scared, you know?" "I understand." I said. I took another sip from my mug enjoying the warmth of the rich, sweet beverage. "Harry said they arrested you," Ryan said. "They did, but now the charges have been dropped thanks to you." "I knew what would happen if I didn't tell some version of the truth. I just left you out of the sex side of things." Ryan said. He turned and looked at for the first time. "I am never going back near that place again." "None of us are, bud." I said. I would have someone pick the Suburban up and tow it to a repair shop in town. I couldn't care less about the rest of the stuff in the cabin, it could rot for all I cared. "Can we go home soon?" "As quick as I can make arrangements for the Suburban and rent a car. If you would prefer, I'll just rent a car and say to hell with the truck." I said. "No, I like the Suburban, get it fixed up, please." "Okay, buddy." We sat silently for a long time, drinking cocoa and exploring our thoughts. (3) The next morning I entered the kitchen to find Laurie making breakfast. It looked like she had cleaned the grocery store out and was fixing everything at once. "That's some spread you're putting out," I said. I walked over to the counter where a coffee maker sat with a full urn on the burner. "You didn't have to go to all the trouble and expense . . . " "Shush now. I rarely get to cook any more. Terry, Monica and the baby will be here any minute. Are the boys awake?" "No ma'am," I replied. "How formal of you," She said then laughed softly. I took my cup and sat on the stool Ryan had been using the previous night. "How did you sleep? That old couch is about worn out." "I managed. I rested but didn't really sleep." "I would think so." She turned and walked to the table, placed a plate with a huge pile of bacon onto the table. "Do you know what you're going to do now?" "I have to get the truck towed to town and rent a car so we can get back home." I drank my coffee and stretched my denim-covered legs out under the table. I hadn't bothered with my shoes but wore the socks I'd left on when I had laid down. My shirt was wrinkled but not too ripe, not that I had anything to wear if I had wanted to change anyway. My arm throbbed and shot pain up through my shoulder every so often, not letting me forget my current broken down state. "That arm bothering you," she asked. "Yeah, it is. I don't want to take the pain pills yet because I need a clear head to get things done today." "No rush," she said. "I enjoy the company." Laurie opened the aged refrigerator and got the milk out. She actually had one of the old fashioned glass milk containers that were used back when the milkman delivered it right to your door. "Well, just take your time. I don't think the sheriff is in too big a hurry to get you out of town yet, anyway. Knowing that man, he has all sorts of nosy questions to ask yet." "I was hoping I was done when they let me out of that cell last night." "Don't count on it," Terry said as he came into the room. He crossed to his aunt, kissed her cheek, and then made himself a cup of coffee. "Where are Monica and the baby?" The woman asked. "Monica wasn't feeling so well this morning. I'm sure they'll be over later." He said. I could tell he was varnishing over the truth, probably wanted to avoid the situation. Harry and Ryan joined us after a bit and we all sat down to breakfast. Both boys looked tired and sore. The conversation was light and we all worked at avoiding any discussion of our current situation. (4) I spent the day trying to make arrangements to leave town and failing miserably. The sheriff, following orders from the FBI, blocked any entry to my property while a criminal investigation was under way so I couldn't do anything about getting the Suburban back for the time being. After a long and heated discussion I was informed that neither I nor the boys were allowed to leave town until further notice. I informed him that we would have to go back to Columbus to get fresh clothes and make a few arrangements for a longer stay. Grudgingly, he agreed after giving me one requirement; one of the boys had to stay at Laurie Granger's house while I went with the other boy to take care of our business. I decided it would be best to leave Harry as he is fond of Laurie and will enjoy the time to just sit and read where Ryan, in that position would be bored. I entered the front door and the bell over the door jingled. I made my way down the hall to the kitchen with no greeting from anyone but a disgruntled house cat named Charlotte. "Anybody home," I called. After getting no answer I went through the kitchen to get a drink from the fridge. On the front was a note informing me that Laurie had taken Ryan and Harry had gone off to the general store to get some decent fitting clothes for the boys. I wondered why she had left the front door unlocked but didn't have much time to think about it as I heard the bell ring again from out front. I left the kitchen and moved down the hall where I saw a woman of about fifty looking at a paperback romance novel she had pulled from a wire rack which sat near the entry to the main room. "Hello," I said. "OH!" The woman jumped and turned to face me. "You startled me," she said. "I'm sorry," I replied. "I just saw Laurie at the general store and she said she left the door unlocked and that the new romance novels were in." She smiled at me. The woman didn't look older than fifty but pretty close, brown hair, slight wrinkles and laugh lines, pure green eyes behind granny glasses that looked to old for her. "I'm Greg," I introduced myself. "My boys and I are visiting for a while." "Yes, she told me. You own the cabin the sheriff has been so interested in the last few months." She pushed her glasses up her nose and examined me like a bug under a microscope. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything. There is a fresh pot of coffee in there too, if you want one." "I'll pass on the coffee, thanks. Laurie has my favorite tea in the cabinet over the stove, so I may get some of that in a bit." She smiled at me. "Okay, I'll go on and brew the water then." I nodded to her and walked away. When I got to the kitchen I found the single box of Earl Grey tea and filled the kettle to boil water, then I went to the phone on the wall and dialed Fran Conner's home number. I felt that he deserved to know what was going on, especially since it involved the `ghost' of Phillip Collins. The ringing went on and on before the machine picked up and I was asked to leave a message. "Hey, this is Greg. I need to talk to Tommy so I'll call back later today. Thanks." I hung up the phone after hearing the warning beep of the time limit. The woman entered the kitchen with two thick historical romance novels in her hand. She placed them on the counter and went to the stove where she made her tea. I sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, trying to figure out which direction to turn in next. The back door opened and Harry, Ryan and Laurie entered. Laurie closed the door and smiled. "Phyllis, I see you found the books." She placed a grocery bag on the counter and began unloading it, placing things in their proper place in the cabinets and refrigerator. I looked at the boys, who seemed pleased, which made me happy. "Did you find anything you liked?" I asked. "It's no Abercrombie & Fitch but I like what I got." Ryan said. He pulled out a pair of jeans and a blue tank top which read `Trucker's carry heavy loads' and showed a man going into an outhouse. I couldn't help but laugh at choice in rude apparel. The visiting woman looked as though she smelt the contents of the outhouse the shirt promoted. I reined in my sense of humor as quickly as possible. "Ryan, that's kind of tacky," I didn't particularly feel that it was but it seemed like the right thing to say. "Oh, don't be a prude!" Laurie said. "I thought it was hilarious so I showed it to him and he liked it." "You encouraged him?" The woman named Phyllis said. "Sure, why not, It's just a T-shirt, Phyllis," Laurie said. "I told that dirty old man to throw those trashy shorts out months ago but he insisted that they would be popular, and I figure, he spent a fortune to buy the things." Phyllis drank her hot tea and thumbed through one of the paperback novels. "Greg, Phyllis is one of my best friends and copartner in the store. If it hadn't been for her, I would never have been able to go into business." Laurie made a cup of tea for herself and joined me at the table. Harry and Ryan had quietly made their escape up the back stairs moments before, lucky boys that they are. "Terry called just before we left," Laurie said. "He said to tell you he has to work a double to make up for the last few days and wouldn't be by to see you tonight." "Okay," I said. "I hate that he missed work because of all the trouble we caused." "Oh, I'm sure he would have taken the time even if he isn't interested in you." Laurie said. That statement caught my attention. I thought Terry had said that none of his family knew about his gay side. "Laurie!" Phyllis apparently, had been in the dark as to Terry's private life, unlike his aunt. "Oh, bottle it, Phyllis." Laurie looked at the woman with an expression of annoyance. "You know damned well he was dating that novelist that stayed in town last year. I thought for sure, he would move away when the man left but he didn't." "Laurie, I swear I think you are getting crazy in your old age." Phyllis said. "You're older, by three years, remember." Laurie warned. She turned back to me. "Did you get anything accomplished today?" "Not really, no, the sheriff won't release the Suburban or the property it is sitting on until the FBI closes their `investigation'. I did get permission to go home for a day but the deal requires that one of the boys stay here with you until we get back." I told her. "That'll be fine with me," she said. "Thank you, Laurie." I paused before going on, "I was thinking that Harry would be happier of the two at being left behind. He'll enjoy the books and he seems to have really taken to you." "I like him as well." Laurie smiled. "I don't plan on being gone over night but just in case . . . " "Don't worry. I have helped to raise Terry as well as my own son, so I think I can manage one twelve-year-old boy for a night," she said. "I thought Terry said you didn't have children?" "Roger died when he was sixteen. He developed a brain tumor and died four months later. This was all before Terry was even born and I've never mentioned it. If he knew, he's long since forgotten." Laurie looked sad for the first time since I'd met her only days before. It seemed like a lot longer than that though. Ryan came down the back stairs and made a noise to get my attention. He stood in his new jeans and T-shirt with no socks or shoes on. God, was he a ravishing sight to behold. "Excuse me, I believe I am needed upstairs." I stood and spoke to Phyllis. "It was nice meeting you. I don't know if I'll get back down before you leave or not." "Nice meeting you as well, dear," Phyllis said. She stood up from her stool and moved to the chair I had been in seconds before. She and Laurie began to speak softly to each other. I followed Ryan up the stairs and down the short hall to the guest room where the boys had slept the night before. Ryan closed and locked the door. "God, I'm glad we can be alone for a bit now." "What's on your mind?" I asked. "Everything. I've been doing a lot of thinking since our talk last night, trying to remember what had happened and all I can bring up is Phillip." "What about Phillip," I asked. I didn't like the sound of this one bit. Had Ryan been spirited off some how so that Phillip could speak with him? "He wants help. He says that he's trapped in the cabin and can't get out. Greg, he asked if he was dead." "Shit, I was afraid of some strangeness like this. What else did he say?" "He told me that I had to get everybody that was there when he was shot back in the same room he died in. He claims it's the only way he can come back." Ryan sat on the bed opposite the one I was sitting on. "You know he can't actually come back, right?" "Of course, but if we can help him cross over . . . " "This is getting weird." I said. "That is the biggest understatement I have ever heard." "Where's Harry?" I asked. "He's in the office downstairs looking up ghosts and seances online. Don't worry. He just asked Laurie for permission to check his e-mail." "Okay then." I looked closely at Ryan's face. He looked tired and pale, the tan shirt seemed to swallow him. "Come over here," I said. Ryan stood and moved to the bed and sat beside me. He put his head on my shoulder and closed his eyes. I turned my head to him and lifted his face in my hand. I kissed his forehead then his lips, softly tasting his clean skin. Ryan pushed his lips to mine, returning the kiss with equal love and passion. "I've missed this," He said when we had separated. "I have to, Ryan." I pulled the boy close to me and held him in my arms. "I want to make love to you right here, right now but I can't. We have to respect Laurie's home and will have to contain ourselves until we get home tomorrow." He pulled away and looked at me with a big smile. "We're going home?" "You and I are going tomorrow so we can get fresh clothes and make arrangements to have our mail forwarded and a few other mundane chores then we'll be coming back." "Why isn't Harry going with us?" He asked. His smile had evaporated. "It was one of the conditions of being allowed to go home for a day; one of you had to stay here with Laurie. I just figured Harry would be more content staying than you would be, and I need you with me when I go see Tommy and his friends." "Oh, yeah, I see what you mean." We sat quietly until a knock sounded from the hall. Ryan stood and walked over, unlocked the door and came back to sit beside me again. Harry entered the room with a huge smile on his face. "You'll never guess what I found out!" "Tell me," I said. "Sean's mother is a registered psychic who does seances and reading and stuff. He told me she was into crystals and stuff but nothing this heavy." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, I called to make sure and Sean confirmed the information. He's going to set up a time with his mom so you can discuss what's going on. Is this too weird or what?" "Or, what" Ryan and I said in unison. We laughed together but I was not feeling nearly as happy as I sounded. What were the odds of Harry meeting a boy whose mom is a psychic just before we discover a ghost and a need for the services of said psychic? Honestly, I didn't like the odds, or the coincidences in the slightest. We stayed in the room for several hours talking about what Ryan had experienced. Harry's memory was still foggy and disconnected, but he listened closely to his brother's story again. They had discussed it earlier which led to his internet search. Harry accepted the news that he had to stay without much fuss. He said he could go through the books looking for things about ghosts, psychics, mediums and whatever else went along with a seance. I wasn't sure I liked the enthusiasm for the subject that Harry showed but under the circumstances, that enthusiasm might help us accomplish whatever we would have to do to set Phillip's soul free, if that was even possible anymore. In all my years, I had written about some spooky stuff and fictionalized hauntings and such but I never thought that it could be real. Boy, if I had known then, what I know now . . . To Be Continued . . .