Yolks on You Box Set

Chapter 14-2

It was after eleven when they finally made it back to Kiko’s house. Katie had kindly dropped Mother by after work and diapered him; he scuttled through the house a tiny, menacing shadow. Kiko told Dom to make himself at home and then went upstairs to change, giving himself a brief clean before opting to pull on pajamas. The warm flannel pants and old shirt felt good after a long day.

When he got down the stairs again, Dom had helped himself to a beer and was lounging on the couch, frowning at his notepad. Kiko crossed to him and sat directly next to him, though he was hesitant to do more. After a few minutes, he spoke.

“It’s a bit late for this, isn’t it?”

“Tomorrow’s the last day of the Eggstravaganza,” said Dom. “The police still haven’t announced any arrests. If we don’t figure this out now…”

“You really think someone would want to kill children for this?” asked Kiko, shaking his head. It was still difficult to believe. Even after everything, the explosions at his store, Chad in the hospital, the tourist’s death, he wasn’t sure he’d completely believe it was happening if Dom weren’t here reminding him.

“How is that not the intention? The explosives are in the eggs. The children search for the eggs.” He paused. “Anyone find the golden egg yet?”

“Not that I’ve heard,” said Kiko, yawning. He really was tired. He was now beginning to hope Dom wouldn’t want to go back to his hotel, more because Kiko didn’t want to drive again than anything.

“Is that weird? You think there’s an even bigger explosive attached to that one?”

Kiko shook his head.

“No, some years it just isn’t found. Five hundred is a pretty big prize; we make it difficult.”

“That’d definitely be the place to hide an explosive, though,” said Dom. “The one thing everyone wants? That would certainly be bad.”

Kiko frowned, wanting to take the beer from Dom’s hand and drink from it.

“That doesn’t make sense though, right?” he asked. “If, as we’ve been assuming, the motive is the money, then the culprit wouldn’t be trying to utterly destroy the Eggstravaganza; just trying to push out all the competition before whoever it is. They don’t want it to stop. They want the money. The death might have been an accident.”

“Who plays with explosives and assumes no one nearby has any possibility of dying? These explosives were set for children to find, Kiko. It’s just easier to kill a child, isn’t it?”

Kiko fell silent. Dom was right, and it unsettled him. Either the person setting the egg-bombs didn’t care who they injured, or they were trying to go for maximum damage. He stood; he needed a beer, too. When he returned, he set the bottle down and gave Dom’s shoulder a small shove.

“The options tonight are the same as last night, only you have to tell me before I drink this, because I’m not going out again afterward.”

“I’ll stay,” said Dom, and Kiko smiled, twisted the cap off his beer.

“Good,” he said, settling onto the couch next to Dom again and peering at the pad. “What’s going on with the list?”

“I was just about to cross off Joylove Antiques,” said Dom, sounding disappointed.

“Good,” said Kiko again. “What changed your mind?”

“The shadow I saw. I got a better look at it tonight. If it’s not a man, it’s someone very masculine. No chest, and the way he ran was telling.”

“Sounds like you got a good look,” said Kiko as Dom scratched a line through Joylove’s. He grumbled.

“Not really. Whoever it was was wearing a hoodie. Couldn’t tell much, really.”

“So they just didn’t have a large chest.”

“I thought you wanted me to cross off Joylove’s.”

“Oh, I do,” said Kiko, taking a drink. “I don’t think they did it. Do we have any other way we’re making the determination of who did and didn’t do this?”

Dom took a drink of his own beer.

“I guess that depends on what you think the explosions mean. Why were they at your place, and the brewery, and Joylove Antiques?”

“Well,” said Kiko, considering. “My best guess would be to make the places undesirable for the prize money. Buddy Miller wins somewhat regularly, and Joylove’s won before.”

“And you?” asked Dom, tossing the notepad on Kiko’s coffee table. Kiko shrugged against Dom’s shoulder.

“Whoever it is must think I’m high up on the list of potentials. They must not know me very well then—which again leaves out Joy and Briana. We’re close enough. But whoever it is must think I’m competition, I’d guess because Yolks on You is appropriately themed for the Eggstravaganza.”

“Hmm,” said Dom. “I don’t really like crossing off the brewery.”

Kiko laughed.

“Don’t I know! You’ve been against Buddy Miller since his cow died.”

“You have to admit it’s weird that he’s weeping like he just lost the love of his life. It was a cow.”

“He named a beer after it,” said Kiko. “It’s actually a really good beer.”

“Fine,” said Dom at last. “We’re running out of time, so I’ll cross him off, too. But he’s still a suspect to me. It’s all too strange. And the only person that died did so at the brewery.”

“I thought you were suspecting Sam now?” asked Kiko, watching as Dom crossed through the words Mount Angus Brewing Company, but added a question mark beside it in the margin anyway.

“I think he’s a good bet for the culprit,” said Dom, crossing off a few other places he clearly hadn’t heard any bad rumors about; the caboose ice cream shop, the thrift store, the bowling alley. “Also Noodlebeard. But I can’t seem to narrow it down any further.”

“That probably means it’s time to sleep on it,” said Kiko.

“What happens when you run out of information?”

“You need a new lead,” said Kiko, collecting their empty bottles and moving to the kitchen to toss them in the recycling.

“This is no good,” said Dom, scowling at his list. “We don’t have time for a new lead, and everyone here has some motive.”

“Then I guess we just have to figure out who has the best opportunity next,” said Kiko, extending his hand to help Dom to his feet. “But for now, bed. I’m about to keel over I’m so tired. Come on.”

He almost laughed at how reluctantly Dom left his notepad, but he was far too tired.

* * * *

As he followed Kiko up the stairs, his phone jingled. Dom pulled it out, read the demand from Alec about where he was, didn’t even bother to tell him to f**k off. He was spending the night someplace far better than wherever Alec was. When he looked up they had reached the top of the stairs and Kiko was staring at him with mild concern.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I forgot to ask if you needed any personal items…contacts stuff, or medicines, or…something. I have spare most things, but if you left everything at the hotel—”

“I’m fine,” said Dom, noticing that things had gotten awkward between them the moment they had taken the stairs. “My eyes are good, and I’m in perfect health. I’ll get my things tomorrow.” He paused, scratched his cheek a little self-consciously. He should really shave again sometime. “That is, if you’re okay with me staying tomorrow night, too.”

“I’d like that a lot,” said Kiko, though there was a sadness in his eyes. Dom couldn’t meet them, knowing that Kiko disliked him leaving, too. s**t, this shouldn’t be happening. They both knew it was brief. He forced himself to nod.

“Thanks,” he said.

“And tonight? Guest room or…?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” said Dom, not wanting to have to choose.

“Oh no,” said Kiko, frowning. “I’m not making this decision.” He pointed to his left. “Bathroom there. Guest room there.” Here he pointed to a door next to the bathroom, then he pointed down the hallway. “My room down there. I set out some things for you in the bathroom when we got back, spare toothbrush and an old set of pajamas I thought would fit. You decide where you end up.”

He left Dom at the top of the stairs; after a moment he heard the door to Kiko’s room shut. Cursing lightly under his breath, Dom took his time using the bathroom and dressing. The clothes actually fit better than he’d thought, a little short at the ankles, but not too bad. When it was time to make up his mind he peered first into the guest room.

It was nicely done, a queen-sized bed with a quilt on it, walls painted earthen tones. Very relaxing looking; Dom was certain he’d sleep well there. But he’d been wanting to be close to Kiko, and that worried him. In another situation he’d go down the hallway without a second thought, but now he wondered if it would make Monday even more difficult.

In the end he decided he didn’t care. It would already be difficult to leave. He switched off the light to the guest bedroom and made his way down the hallway, hesitated with his hand on the doorknob before turning it.

Kiko had left a lamp on.

Dom knew then that this was the better decision. Kiko wanted him to be there beside him tonight, just as he preferred to be. He shut the door as quietly as he could and crossed to the bed, pulling back the blankets. He turned off the light, felt the motion as Kiko rolled over in the bed to face him.

“Good night,” he said, sounding pleased, so very pleased.

Dom kissed him.