Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 19:11:10 -0500 From: Ross Bolejack Subject: Prequel Pillow Talk Chapter 8 *** !! WARNING !! *** Gay fiction about to begin! If you're not old enough please come back when you are. If you're not allowed to see this wherever you're accessing it from don't! You should go now at a run-if not, it's your neck and don't say I didn't warn you to leave. And last but not least-if you are offended by the thought of homosexuality then you're in the wrong place. Please go back the way you came in or you will be offended. Also, these characters come from my imagination. I know of no one like them in real life. Any one who sees himself or anyone they know should mark it down as a coincidence. I hope you enjoy the story. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ian came out of the spare bedroom and closed the door. He locked the door and then put the key in his pocket. He went over and picked up the ribbon and bow he'd purchased the day before and hung it on the door. He hoped things worked out well tonight. Ian glanced at his watch. It read six fifty-two. Jeremy should arrive any time. It had been two months since Jeremy had moved in to the Star Shine Motel. The owner, Milton Harris, owed Ian a favor and was more than willing to provide one of the three luxury suites the motel had for Jeremy's use. It did not bother the owner what Jeremy was or did for a living. In fact, the only thing Milton asked was that Jeremy not bring a client there. Jeremy had readily agreed saying he never took clients home anyway. Jeremy had fallen in love with the place much to Ian's satisfaction. The rooms were clean and in good repair. After the first week, Jeremy started talking about staying there permanently. Milton did not have a problem with it as long as Jeremy honored his one request about his clientele. Ian went over to the piano to rehearse a new piece of music when the phone rang. Ian answered the phone, "Hello, this is Ian." "Hello, Ian, this is Owen's brother David. My in-laws really loved the party you catered for them. Not to mention how it's raised their opinion of me, so thank you for that." "You're welcome." Ian smiled. "Always glad to help Owen and his family." "Thanks, but the reason I'm calling is to warn you that there may be trouble outside your place tonight." "Oh?" Ian asked. "What kind of trouble?" "Vice is going to arrest a prostitute who has been having dinner with his clients at your restaurant regularly." "His clients?" Ian asked struggling to keep his voice calm even as he felt his heart begin to hammer. "Yes," David said. "I wouldn't know except that it was Owen who filed the report." "Uhm, does this prostitute have a name?" Ian asked hoping he was wrong. Please don't let it be Jeremy, he prayed silently. "I think it was Jerry. No, it was Jeremy." David corrected himself. NO! Ian screamed in his head. When Ian said nothing, David broke the silence. "Anyway, because of Owen and the party I felt I should warn you so you could be prepared. Hopefully the arrest will go down without any trouble, but we just don't know." Ian's mind swam with questions. Jeremy was going to be arrested? Owen reported him? It did not make sense. Then Ian remembered how he was impersonated when Fred Haversham evicted Jeremy. That had to be what was going on. "Uhm, thanks for the warning, David." Ian said. "But Jeremy is a friend of mine. He helped me paint the office and he's supposed to be my guest for dinner tonight." "Oh shit!" David said. "Why would Owen report him then?" "It wasn't Owen." Ian said. "Someone is trying to cause trouble." "Who would do that?" David asked. "And why?" A good question, and as soon as David asked Ian realized who it had to be. The question was why? "I'll take care of it." Ian said. "Look, I'm sorry, but I've got to go." David started to ask a question, but Ian hung up the phone and ran for the door. Running down the stairs Ian's mind raced for a way to warn Jeremy that he was in trouble. Ian ran around the side of the building to the front of the restaurant before slowing down to a walk. He looked around for a sign of Jeremy. He knew which way Jeremy would be walking from so that was the direction Ian watched. That's when he saw the unmarked van and the man standing behind it. They had to be the police. Ian's heart was racing as he searched the street for Jeremy. He had to stop Jeremy's arrest. There! Ian saw the top of Jeremy's bright orange, curly head. He was walking along the sidewalk as though he had not a care in the world. Ian glanced across the street to see the man come out from behind the van and head toward Jeremy. "Shit!" Ian cursed as he started walking toward Jeremy himself. He had to warn Jeremy without tipping off the police. Part of his telephone conversation with David gave Ian an idea. Ian started to wave at Jeremy hoping to get his attention. Jeremy looked up and saw him and waved back. The plain-clothes policeman kept walking across the street, but changed his course so that he would be out of the way. The man stopped under a streetlight and took a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He proceeded to light up. Ian reached Jeremy within just a few feet of the man. "Hey Ian." Jeremy smiled. "You didn't have to meet me." Ian nodded, "Yes I did. Look, I've had a problem come up in the kitchen. If you wouldn't mind waiting in the office for a few minutes, I'll take care of the mess there, then I can get you the painting money I owe you. You did a really good job painting the office." Jeremy frowned. Ian had already given him money for helping paint the office. He was about to say something when Jeremy caught the look of fear in Ian's eyes. He knew something was up. "That's okay," Jeremy shrugged his shoulders playing along. "I have the time." Ian nodded and there was a look of gratitude in his eyes. Jeremy might not have known what, but Ian was thankful he understood that something was going on. "Come on, then." Ian turned and walked back toward the restaurant with Jeremy beside him. "I really appreciate all your hard work, by the way. The last painter I hired did a really lousy job." "Some people take no pride in their work." Jeremy said. Ian watched out of the corner of his eye as the man waited by the street lamp. He had stopped there and lit a cigarette. He had heard every word spoken between the two of them. The man's head nodded slightly and then looked both ways before crossing the street. The back of the delivery van opened and the man climbed inside. Ian breathed a sigh of relief. The immediate problem was over. The two went in to the restaurant and back to the office. Jeremy kept quiet until the office door was closed. "What the hell is going on?" Jeremy asked. "You were about to be arrested." Ian said. "Someone reported to the police that you were bringing clients here. The cops were waiting for you." Jeremy sat down on the sofa and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked up at Ian with anger in his eyes. "Who's doing this to me?" "Don't worry. It's about to end." Ian declared. He walked over to the telephone and picked up the handset. He thumbed through a Rolodex that sat next to the phone. He quickly found the number and punched in the numbers on the keypad. Ian was quiet as the phone rang on the other end of the line. "What're you doing?" Jeremy asked. "Something I should've done months ago." Ian replied. Just then the phone on the other end of Ian's call was answered. "Elliot, this is Ian Shea. I need you to bring both sets of books and meet me at Helen's office as soon as she opens in the morning." Ian listened quietly for a second then said, "That's right, I'm going to press charges. I want that bastard out of my life for good." Jeremy was curious. He knew who Ian was talking about, but was not sure why. "What's Marcus got to do with this?" Jeremy asked. "I'll see you in the morning then." Ian said in to the phone and then hung up. Ian started thumbing through the numbers again. And then picked up the phone to dial again. As he dialed, Ian said, "Marcus is the one who got you kicked out of your apartment, and reported you to the police." The phone on the other end of the line was answered. "Hi Helen, this is Ian Shea. I'm sorry to bother you at home, but I need to speak to you as soon as your office opens in the morning. My accountant will be there with all the books." Ian was silent for just a second and then nodded, "Yes, it concerns Marcus." Another pause, and Ian shook his head again, "Yes, I remember you told me I should do this. Elliot said the same thing. You should both be happy now that you're getting your way." After listening quietly for a few more moments, Ian said, "Thank you, Helen. I'll see you in the morning." Ian hung up the phone. He looked down at it thoughtfully for a moment. He was trying to settle his mind and think of what to do next. He had been running on adrenaline for the several minutes and he was finally able to catch his breath. Ian remembered that Jeremy had come over for dinner. Ian had wanted to surprise him, but after the scare they just had he thought it would wait for a few more days until Marcus was dealt with. Ian looked up at Jeremy, "Are you hungry?" "In a minute." Jeremy said. "How do you know it was Marcus?" "It has to be." Ian said. "He's the only one I know who would do something like this." "But why would he do it?" Jeremy wondered. "I'm not sure." Ian growled, "I'd like the chance to ask him though." "I'd like to 'thank' him for all the shit he's put me through." Jeremy muttered angrily. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Marcus entered his apartment slamming the door behind him. Damn Ian for coming out to meet the kid! If he had waited in the restaurant like he was supposed to Jeremy would have been arrested by now. Marcus' plan had been perfect. Tell the cops that a male "escort" was regularly having his clients take him to eat at Ian's. Give them a complete description of him including that new orange hair color he now had, and let them come up with the brilliant idea of setting the kid up to face soliciting charges. It was perfectly simple until Ian came along and spoiled it. "Well, Ian, I guess I'll have to think of some other way to get rid of your love toy." Marcus growled. Marcus went over to the bar and took the lid off the ice bucket. He picked up a glass and began to fix himself a drink. As he absently put the usual four cubes of ice in the glass Marcus considered how he was going to get Jeremy out of Ian's life. He had to drive a wedge between the two. So far, Ian had rescued Jeremy from the trouble Marcus had caused the kid. Marcus reasoned that he had to do something to Jeremy that Ian could not or would not be able to rescue him from. The question was what? Ian already knew what Jeremy did to make a living so how could that be used against them, if at all? Marcus realized that Ian knew what Jeremy did to get money, but he wondered if Ian knew exactly the kinds of things Jeremy did to earn his money? In other words, did Ian know all the details of Jeremy's work, or had he seen Jeremy earn his money? If he knew Ian at all, Marcus would say no. Ian would not want to know, or Ian would simply just not ask the steamy details. Sipping his drink, Marcus smiled at having decided his next course of action. There was only one question left on Marcus' devious mind and that was where had he put his camera? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ian walked out of his attorney's office feeling very satisfied with himself. Marcus would never bother Jeremy or Ian again after today. Before Marcus had set up Jeremy, Ian was certain he would never have used the doctored books against his former lover. The biggest reason was that it would have gained him nothing. The cost of bringing charges against Marcus would have been more than redecorating the restaurant. The restaurant's reputation would also have suffered when the details of how Marcus had stolen the money were made public. But whatever reason had caused Marcus to attack Jeremy personally was not something Ian would allow to continue. He knew Marcus would try again, but he did not know what the man would do next. Instead of waiting, Ian was putting a stop to it now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Marcus was just about to leave the apartment when there was a knock on the door. He frowned wondering who it could be. No one visited him. Whoever it was had arrived at a bad time as Marcus was on his way out to find Jeremy and put his plan in to action. Opening the door, Marcus was surprised to find Ian standing in the doorway. "We need to talk." Ian said flatly. "Sure." Marcus shrugged outwardly. Inwardly he was nagged by a question. It was not what Ian wanted to talk about. Marcus was certain he knew the topic Ian wanted to discuss. "May I come in?" Ian asked. Marcus stepped out of the way allowing his former lover in to the apartment. Ian entered the room and Marcus closed the door. "How did you find me?" Marcus asked giving voice to the question that was nagging at him. Ian went a few steps into the apartment and then turned around. There was a cold hardness in Ian's eyes. Marcus would have sworn he felt a sudden chill in his spine. "That's not important. What is important is that I know you've been causing trouble for Jeremy." Ian said. "I want to know why." "Oh?" Marcus said nonchalantly. "I didn't know your boy toy was having problems." "Cut the innocent act. I know you too well." Ian snapped angrily. "You're the only person who knows about Jeremy and I who would have a reason to cause us problems." "And why would I want to cause trouble for you and the kid?" Marcus tilted his head to one side bemused. "I don't know." Ian replied. "Trying to ruin my chance for happiness is my guess, but you know what I really don't care why because it stops right now." "I'm scared." Marcus wrapped his arms around himself and shook in mock fear. "But for the sake of argument, if it was my doing what would you do to stop me?" "Turn the doctored books over to the police and have you arrested for embezzlement." Ian said smugly. "Ha!" laughed Marcus. "You don't have stones enough for that." "Are you willing to bet your freedom on that?" Ian asked raising an eyebrow. Marcus was silent. There was a time when he would have done just that. He had already made the bet in fact; and won since he was not now in prison. Now, Marcus found he was not so sure. Marcus realized what Ian was doing. He smiled and said, "You're bluffing." "Try me." Ian said matter-of-factly. "If any more misfortune happens to Jeremy or myself my attorney has instructions to do just that. My accountant is ready to testify to finding your doctored books." "You wouldn't do this. You can't do this." Marcus could not believe Ian actually had the nerve to go through with what he was hearing. "Why not?" Ian said. "If I had done it in the beginning, Jeremy would not have been kicked out of his apartment, nor had the police trying to arrest him on solicitation charges." Marcus shook his head. This was not the Ian he had known. Ian had changed; grown hard. The Ian Marcus had known would never have done this. "You will leave Jeremy and I alone for the rest of our lives, Marcus." Ian stated coldly. "Otherwise I will turn everything over to the police and you will be arrested and sent to prison." Marcus realized that Ian was not playing poker, or bluffing. He was fully intent on turning Marcus in to the police if that is what it took to protect Jeremy. Marcus sighed. There was the sound of resignation in his voice when he said. "Okay. I'll leave you two alone." "You better." Ian warned. Ian went to the door and Marcus moved out of the way to let him leave. Ian stopped with his hand on the doorknob and looked around. "One last thing." Ian said. "What did you hope to gain from hurting Jeremy?" A sneer formed on Marcus' face. "I figured if I could get him out of your life I'd be able to get you to take me back." Ian nodded, "So you could steal more money from me." "Nah, but I figured I could get those books away from you." Marcus admitted. "But I can see it would never have worked now. You're not the same man I knew." There was a knock on the door. Ian smiled. His attorney had done her job well. "You're right about that." Ian said. "And you have yourself to thank for it." Ian turned the doorknob. "Oh, and Marcus, one more thing." "What?" Marcus asked. Ian opened the door to reveal three men standing outside the door. Two of the men wore police uniforms. Marcus' eyes went wide. "I gave the books to the police two hours ago. I wanted to be here when they came to bust you." Ian said coldly with no trace of a smile.