Indiscreet Box Set

Chapter 11

Bear and Reed brushed past Estelle James out to the long corridor and down the stairs. Bull, Joey, and the other two bouncers awaited them on the porch.

“Why don’t I have Bull drive the Mercedes over to the hospital?” Reed asked. “You can drive with me to the stationhouse and Junior can take you over to the hospital in the morning.”

“What time is it?” Bear asked wearily.

“Just after eight,” Reed replied.

“Okay, but we may have to make a quick stop at the mall. Do you know what time they close?”

Reed chuckled. “Of course I do. You lock yourself up there in your ivory tower all day and never see regular folks. I deal with waiters, dishwashers, cooks, maids, in addition to the membership. The stores are running back to school sales. They will be open until eleven.”

Bear folded his bulk into Reed’s black Jag. They were silent during the five-minute ride to 225 Clinton, home of Police Headquarters and Trenton’s Municipal Court.

“Do you think Martino will still be there?” Reed asked.

“He’ll wait for us. Remember, I trained him,” Bear answered easily.

“Yeah, that’s right. Martino has been a member of Indiscreet for five years. I forgot who showed him the ropes.”

They parked the Jag in front of the stationhouse in the parking spot usually reserved for the mayor. Bear raised an eyebrow. Reed shrugged. “He’s at a fundraiser tonight. I heard it on the radio.”

They got out of the car and Bear searched the parking lot.

“What are you looking for?” Reed asked.

“Found it,” Bear replied laconically. “New York plates…over there…the Chevy Impala. One of the standard unmarked cars in New York City’s Homicide Division…O’Malley is here. Shit.”

Reed shot Bear a quizzical look. “It means, Reed, that the attack on Brian was something more than our local KKK wacko, Robbins. It means trouble.” Bear reached into his pocket and brought out his cell.

“Bull,” he snapped.

“Yeah, Bear.”

“Get someone over to St. Ann’s to guard Brian and Jim, right now.”

“Okay, Boss.”

Bear strode to the entrance of police headquarters, dreading what he knew he would find. “I’m looking for Lieutenant Martino, Sergeant Clayton,” he told the older black man with fuzzy grey hair manning the desk.

“Mr. Drummond, I’ll tell him you’re here. He’s been waiting for you.”

Bear looked at Reed and smiled.

“How, I mean besides the club?” Reed asked.

“Donations to the PBA, tickets for the Policemen’s Ball, and financing afterschool programs for Trenton teens, Sergeant Clayton runs one of those programs. You have to learn to make connections, Reed.” Bear gave his friend an almost feral smile.

They heard the door open and Lieutenant Martino came to greet them with what Bear interpreted as a serious look on his face instead of his usual disarming smile. “Bear, Reed.” He shook each man’s hand and said, “Follow me. O’Malley’s waiting in interrogation.”

“I am putting the James boys in a line-up. That is the first stop. You need to make an ID.”

Bear nodded.

“Was Reed with you when you pulled up to the James residence?”

“He arrived moments later,” Bear answered.

“I’m afraid he didn’t see them, Tom. They scattered when I near drove them into a brick wall with the Mercedes. I wanted to get their attention before they took the baseball bats and tire irons out.”

Tom laughed. “You need work done on the Mercedes, if it’s pulling to the right and up onto sidewalks…Can’t have an unsafe vehicle roaming the Trenton streets.”

“Tom, let me ID those punks and tell you what I know. I presume there is a reason O’Malley drove down from Manhattan?”

“Yeah Bear there is. And you’re not going to like it.”

“Then let us get this over with so I can speak to the Irish.”

The process of identification went swiftly. There were two separate line-ups and Bear picked one James brother out of each.

“I’ll set these punks into different interrogation rooms while you speak to O’Malley.”

Patrick O’Malley sat at one of the long tables in the interrogation area set up for viewing suspects. He stood up and greeted Bear with a strong handshake.

“I’m always surprised at the size of you, Drummond,” said the wiry Irishman. “Sit down so I don’t have to strain my neck.”

Bear introduced Reed to O’Malley, and both men took a seat at the table. There were two boxes of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, cream, sugar, and two boxes of muffins on the table.

“What brought you down to Trenton, Pat? I called to give you a heads up on the cutter, but I did not expect you to drag your fine ass to Trenton.”

“Bear, stop admiring my ass, the Missus wouldn’t be happy,” O’Malley retorted.

“So…” Bear said, waiting for O’Malley to continue.

“So, Giovanni Benzano is out on bail pending a new trial.”

“f**k,” Bear answered.

“It is worse than that, Bear. Giovanni’s brother Frankie has murdered his way into the position of capo in the city mob. He arranged the lawyer, put the arm on a judge, and presto, Giovanni walks.”

“Connected, I presume.”

“Almost as well as you are in Trenton, Bear. But we are talking about New York here, not Central Jersey.”

“Reed, find Martino. I want armed police protection on the kid, now.”

“Pat, do you think that all that’s happened to the kid has something to do with Antonio’s death?”

“Frankie Benzano is openly queer…the mob version of affirmative action. As soon as he was made, he had lawyers filing motions on behalf of his brother. We think that Giovanni might have been his procurer, and when Frankie was done, Giovanni made a disposal.”

“We had the wrong man,” Bear said, deep in thought.

“Don’t get your bowels in a twist,” O’Malley retorted.

“Giovanni Benzano was every bit as responsible for those murders as Frankie. He played games right alongside him. He was just stupid enough to leave a trail. We have a man inside. I hope that we will know before he makes a move. Picking up the James boys and getting our hands on Robbins is a real break in the case.”

Martino came into the coffee area, carrying an empty cup with Reed trailing behind him. “It’s done, Bear. Now go home and get some rest or you will be no help to the boy tomorrow.

The James boys are in custody. I sent two squad cars to pick up the old woman, and there is a statewide bulletin for Robbins.

Plus, we’re bringing in the Mueller broad as a material witness.”

“Come on, Bear. We have another stop to make.” Reed urged.

Martino buzzed them out of Headquarters and they walked over to Reed’s car.

Reed turned the Jag and headed to 29 North. Bear roared, “Where the f**k are you going? Brooks Brothers is in Philly.”

Reed pulled over to the side of the road. “Look.”

Bear knew that look. Reed was exasperated and short on patience.

“You don’t dress a twenty-something kid in clothes from Brooks Brothers unless he’s going to work. Urban Outfitter, Abercrombie and Fitch, these are stores where you find clothes a kid his age wears. I am taking you up 195 to Quakerbridge Mall. They have the closest store. When you dress him, for God’s sake bring him with you. You’ll have him looking like Little Lord Fauntleroy.”

They ate at the food court, and Bear had a severe case of indigestion when he finally arrived home at eleven pm. He left the bags on the table and fell up the stairs to his lonely bed. Soon, soon it will not be so lonely.

* * * *

Jim woke up slowly. It was about five in the morning. He noticed Brian was awake and looked as if he were in pain. He asked, “How do you feel?”

“My head is killing me and my stomach is very rocky,” Brian mumbled, trying to keep from throwing up. Jim brought Brian a plastic basin, just in case, and moved his own chair closer to the bed.

“Where the hell am I?” Still attached to the IV, he tried to sit up. “My head feels like the inside of a kettle drum, and I think I’m going to heave.”

Jim leapt up, grabbed the basin, and placed it under Brian’s chin just before the eruption. “You’re in the hospital, cub, specifically at St. Ann’s. You were pretty bad off last night.”

“What happened last night? I don’t remember anything after you and Mr. Drummond put me in the van.”

Oh man, is this going to put a crimp in the Bear’s equipment. The kid doesn’t remember what he said and s**t, that means he doesn’t remember his mother.

“Do you remember speaking to Dr. de Loria and Dr. Harris?”

Jim asked.

“I don’t remember anything. The last I recall was talking to you, going down the stairs, and the beating. You and Mr.

Drummond took me into the van and I guess I passed out.”

“Let me get Dr. Harris for you. Maybe he can help.” Jim made a quick exit, and hurried to the nursing desk, where he explained the problem. He had a phone call to make. He phoned Reed. He didn’t dare call Bear himself with this kind of news. Then he called the club and told them that both he and Reed would be in late this morning.

Jim saw Dr. Harris come out of Brian’s room shaking his head. “Dr. Harris?” he asked. “Will he remember eventually?”

Greg Harris answered in a careful way, “I can’t make any guarantees. I am going to order another CT just to make sure his brain didn’t swell overnight. Is Mr. Drummond due to come in soon?”

“I just called for him,” Jim replied, a bit sheepish because he had Reed do it. “I’m sure he’ll be here in thirty minutes.”

“Good.” Dr. Harris nodded as he walked away.

Jim turned on his heel and went back into the room to soothe a very frightened Brian. “Do you remember who I am, Brian?”

“Yes, you are Jim, the man from Indiscreet. I spoke to you on the telephone yesterday afternoon.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it in time, cub,” Jim answered.

“Your quick thinking saved my ass last evening. I’ll be fine, thanks to you. Everything worked out.”

“I notice Dr. Harris took out the IV drip. I’ll bet you would like to use the facilities, hey, cub?”

“Yes, Jim, I really would. I won’t forget your kindness, I owe you big time,” Brian answered. Jim smiled, nodded, and went over to help Brian navigate to the toilet. Brian came out much steadier on his feet, but Jim noticed his face became visibly agitated.

“That was Mr. Drummond last night, wasn’t it…over at my place? The fog is just beginning to lift from my brain.”

Jim got Brian back on the bed and watched as what looked like a black cloud fell over Brian’s face.

“Oh s**t, now I’m going to lose my job too!” Brian cried.

Jim jumped up, but Brian had turned his head away from Jim and into his pillow. Brian looked defeated and had completely lost control. Jim was amazed.

I watched the cub all last night, and although sometimes tears came down his cheeks, he never made a sound. It was obvious he was in distress, but why.

I’ll be damned, nothing fazed him until Bear’s name was mentioned. I’m no Dr. Harris, but I bet I can get to the root of this outburst.

“Hey cub, cool down. Sir left me here to make sure you were okay. He is on his way back in this morning.”

“I haven’t even started my job and already I’m a problem.”

Brian sobbed.

“You are not a problem, cub. You are a bit of a hero, however.” Jim moved in closer and grabbed Brian’s hand and squeezed. “Let’s start where we should have started last night, Brian Murphy.”

“Okay.” Brian hiccupped.

“Hi, I’m Jim Menetti, or as Master Reed and Sir call me, Jim Boy. I don’t know if you remember me, but I strapped you to the board last night. I used to be a medic in the service. That’s why I was able to help you before we got you to the hospital.”

“Dr. Harris said they would release me after one more test.

Jesus, Jim, I have nowhere to go and no way to pick up what little it was I owned.”

Jim patted his hand. “Well, honey cub, I’d say that was taken care of last night. Master Reed and Sir were none too pleased with Estelle James. I would say Sir has your things safe for you.”

The kid’s brain was whirling behind his eyes.

He has an expressive face. How he could bear to think kindly of the witch who raised him is beyond my comprehension. He just locks it all away.

He needs Bear Drummond as much as Bear needs him.

Jim listened as Brian continued.

“I can’t…I can’t afford to be hurt right now.” Brian suppressed a sob, barely. “I have to see my mother tomorrow and make sure she’s all right. I have to find a place to stay I can afford before Monday…shit…shit…ah Jesus.” Brian’s dam broke. Loud sobs combined with a torrent of tears streaking down his cheeks, his nose ran as he turned and grabbed at the nightstand.

“I think you’re searching for one of these,” Jim said, holding up a tissue box. Brian took it from him, mumbling thanks.

Nevertheless, the simple act of kindness sent Brian into deeper paroxysms of sobs.

“I’m sorry to be such a problem,” Brian murmured to Jim, turning his face toward the opposite wall. Jim couldn’t leave this kid ashamed of needing help. With Brian’s chest still heaving with the effort of attempting to regain control, Jim grabbed both of his arms and turned Brian to face him.

He reached over and took Brian’s hand into his. “Look, cub. I’m telling tales out of school, but I don’t think you have to worry about finding a place to stay. Dr. Harris wants you watched for a week.”

Brian visibly panicked. “I thought he said I could leave. I can’t afford to stay, I…”

“Brian,” Jim said with patience, “all that was settled last night. Sir is coming to pick you up this morning and you are to stay with him.”

“Look, Jim, you are a really nice guy, and I can see you would be a great friend. But I’ve got a difficult situation, it’s not just me.” Brian hesitated. “I support my mother. She is living with my aunt who supposedly takes care of her. At least I pay her to do so, whether she does or not is another story,” Brian finished bitterly.

“I scraped together enough money to get Mom into assisted living, and now I have to find myself a new place, pay a deposit, and make it semi-livable. The aunt is going to jack up the amount she charges for Mom’s care and…Damn it.” Brian pounded his thigh repeatedly with a clenched fist with enough force to leave new bruises, the sobs beginning anew.

“Jim, I don’t think I’m going to be able to save her or me…”

Brian curled his head into his knees, hiding behind the platinum hair. “I’m so damned helpless,” he choked. “All through high school, college, I managed on my own. Now…I have a great job with a good salary, and I can’t keep a room in a flophouse.” Brian straightened up and sighed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have laid this on you.”

“We-e-ell, I’m here, cub. Who else do you have?” Jim answered with a bit of an exaggerated flounce. “On a more serious note, cub, you have more friends than you know. There are a lot of heavyweights in your corner right now.”

“I got thrown out of my room and someone tried to kill me.

How do you figure that?” Brian asked, rubbing at his temple.

“Cub, you’re not thinking straight. Did you not hear me tell you Sir was coming to take you home with him?”

“s**t, Jim, he’s going to hate me for causing him so much trouble.”

“Cub, you’re more f****d up than I thought. Look, how do you feel about Bear Drummond?” Jim asked.

“Bear Drummond…what do you mean feel?”

There it was, a sense of déjà vu, Brian thought. I have had this conversation once already, but not with Jim. He looked at Jim with intense concentration trying to grab at that snippet of memory.

“Feel, Brian. You know what I mean. Feel, eyes across the room feel. Hot to trot, feel. You said you owed me, so it is payback time. Okay, so how do you feel about the Bear?”

I have done this before. Brian snapped, “Okay, I think I’m in love with him, Jim. You are now paid in full. Did you have to do that, make me show my neck? I know I’m a twice damned fool, but I’d like to keep some pride, thank you very much.”

“You are in love with the Bear.” Jim clicked his tongue. “He is gorgeous, but it’s pretty quick to feel love, eh, cub?” Jim put his fingers under his chin, c****d his head to the left, looked at Brian, and batted his eyelashes.

Watching Jim play the queen, after seeing the competent combat medic, forced Brian into a reluctant smile, and he answered, not sure Jim would believe him.

“Not if you are a be-damned O’Shea. I am an O’Shea on my mother’s side. The family legend is you will know your true love as soon as you lay eyes on them. I didn’t think I fit the mold, being gay. Yesterday, I laid eyes on Donald K. Drummond for the first time and the lockbox I thought held my heart opened up. I was lost. This doesn’t bode well for me. I am a pint-sized smart ass from the neighborhood, smart enough to be good at crunching numbers and understanding computers when everyone needs a nerd. However, I am not a great show dog, Jim. I wear secondhand clothes and a Band-Aid on my glasses from the dollar store.

My heart may be foolish, but my head’s on straight. I’m not worthy to lick Drummond’s shoe.”

Jim, eyebrow up, flounced with a slight snippiness in his voice and muttered under his breath, “It might come to…Well, cub.

You might find the rest of the day rather interesting. Seriously, don’t worry about a place to stay. Sir wants you at his place. If things don’t work out there, you can come and stay with Reed and me until you find something else. Okay?”

“Why would you do this for me, Jim?” Brian asked.

“Because you have an inbred core of goodness, cub…you do the right thing by everyone, even if you get hurt in the process.

It’s a rare character trait, and it is going to make a friend of mine a very happy…Mast…eh man.”

“You talk in riddles, man.”

“No. The facts, man, just the facts,” Jim said with a straight face.

Jim’s parody of Dragnet with a flaming wiggle was so bizarre that Brian finally burst out laughing. The orderly came in to take Brian down for his second CT and Jim accompanied him. Brian felt like Jim was an old friend. The old friend thing was strange, but Brian didn’t question it. It felt right.

* * * *

Jim and Brian returned from the CT only a half hour after they left the room. Jim thought, There must not be much traffic in Radiology this time of day. Jim was in the midst of helping Brian out of the wheel chair and back into the bed when a thought began to buzz about his brain.

Jim ordered the routine security check all potential members of Indiscreet went through before admission. Brian’s sheet showed some rather interesting facts of which he was sure Bear was unaware. Jim decided to do a little digging of his own.

“Are you sure you don’t want any of the pain meds Harris ordered? It must suck to be you right now. I’ll bet you are about nine on the pain scale.”

“I’m okay.” Brian shrugged.

“Look, cub. I did your background check for Indiscreet. You were a sub at the Shore Clubs. Are you a pain slut?”

“No,” he snapped back. “I can handle pain, but it wasn’t what I was looking to find.” Brian saw Jim wince. Brian backtracked.

“Look, you’ve been kind. I’m sorry I snapped.”

“I had a reason for my question, kid. Did you know Bear is a Master Dom? He is not just a Master for a specific sub, but a Master Dom, a Dom who teaches other men to be Dominants.

He does not have a sub right now, and I think he wants you. He is not into excessive pain, but he demands obedience. He will not take just anyone. He wants an emotional connection with his submissive. I think you are searching for the same thing.”

Brian leaned on Jim. He could barely stand, and it was not the pain. His mind was awash in regret. How could life be so cruel?

Master Bear was everything he ever looked for in a lover. As a Dom, he was the epitome of all of Brian’s dreams, yet, Brian Bear was a bridge too far to cross for Brian. He loved Bear. The O’Shea legacy had already awakened, sighted, aimed, fired, and shot Brian in the heart.

However, there would always be the Sugar Daddy issue separating them. Brian needed too much and could not take it from Bear. If Bear ever doubted his devotion, or thought all he meant to Brian was his personal ATM, it would devastate him.

Alan, his Dom for his first year of college, walked out at the end of the school year as if Brian was nothing. He was a senior and told Brian he was getting married in June. His offer to keep him on the side gave Brian a severe blow to his pride.

Nevertheless, he knew he wasn’t in love. It had taken him a while to recover. Alan and he had shared a very intimate relationship.

Brian could not comprehend how Alan could treat him as a used toy. He knew there would be no recovery if he ever let himself go to Bear. He let Jim help him back into bed.

Jim continued. “I shouldn’t say anything, but I really do like you, cub. So I’m going to give you a leg up. He is hard. He’s been hurt. Whatever he asks, do it, without question and exactly as he asks. Moreover, never, ever lie. If you follow my advice, you’ll be one happy cub.”

God, how I want to believe I can make him happy. It wouldn’t matter about my poverty. I can’t let myself fall into that trap. Once he finds out how much baggage I bring, I am out with the trash. No one could love me enough to overlook the load I carry. Even if he takes it on now, he will resent it later.

Even my father only loved me because he had a use for me. I was trained to take care of my mother. Wait…where did that come from?

Brian picked up his head. While he had been lost in thought, Jim was on the phone.

“It’s Reed. They are on their way upstairs from the discharge office and should be here in about fifteen minutes,” Jim said.

* * * *

Bear’s phone rang. It is only five A.M. Who’s calling me at this hour?

Shit…Brian…Bear grabbed at the phone. The caller ID was backlit to reveal a familiar number. “Reed?”

“Yeah, Jim Boy just called from the hospital. The kid’s awake, but remembers nothing after the beating last night. Jim called Dr. Harris, because he did not want to step on toes. Harris and Cisco need to speak to you. That is, if you still want the kid to come home with you.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because maybe you thought it over and sensibly decided you might be moving too fast.”

“Reed—”

“Look, Bear, you have a chance to start over with the kid, without the drama. Take him home with you if you must, but slow it down. I’m coming to take you over to the hospital. We need to talk. The Mercedes is in the ER lot anyway. Be ready in twenty minutes.”

* * * *

Bear found himself opening the door of Reed’s Jag less than eight hours after he got out. Reed was on the phone with Joey, instructing him to make some calls to “family friends” and find out what the news was on the street about Bear and Brian Murphy.

Bear threw the clothing they purchased last night into what passed for a back seat in the sports car. He slammed the back door a bit too hard, noting Reed’s wince. Bear got into the passenger seat without complaint, and Reed put the car in gear heading down Bear’s long driveway. Bear knew he was still too hyperactive to be safe in traffic, and wondered if he should have had Sal and Junior pick up the Mercedes. He changed his mind when he realized he wanted Brian alone for a while before they went home.

Bear thought he knew all about rage. As a skinny kid who was “different” in Hamilton and Chambersburg, he took plenty of hard knocks until Cisco told him how to make it stop.

Bear begged, borrowed, and stole to be able to attend the local karate school and came home and taught Reed everything he learned. There, Bear learned how to control his mind, how to channel rage into discipline. He learned his lessons well. He trained at a local beat up gym. A punch-drunk boxer felt sorry for the kid who kept coming around asking for instruction in self-defense. The owner of the karate school now had a studio on a prime piece of real estate. The boxer was a retired security guard with a full pension after working for Drummond for only a few years.

While the Eastern disciplines were all about defense, boxing and the western arts of war were all about aggression. The combination of techniques made both Bear and Reed’s lives easier, a combination that had kept Bear in good stead since he was eleven. Why had the rage bubbled up and escaped its locked box? He had not felt rage when Antonio left him, only guilt after he died.

He signed up for sessions with Janet Greely, a noted Psychologist in the gay community, to make sure his feelings were not blocked or repressed.

Jim Boy had nagged and nattered until Bear threatened to throttle him. Jim’s pouting, “Please…” sent him to Janet in an act of self-preservation. Eventually, Janet and Bear had both come to the conclusion that Bear had no reaction, because he had no real feelings for Antonio. Antonio was as much Bear’s trophy, as Bear was Antonio’s Sugar Daddy. The only bruises he had from the relationship were from damage to his pride and a heavy burden of guilt for not protecting the boy from a predator. His trust issues came from a deeper and more complex source.

He dealt with them by being the Dominant, the one in charge.

The only relationship he had ever maintained without being the dominant partner was his friendship with Reed. With Janet’s help, Bear learned to deal with his dominant side. She told him he was not a deviant, just a gay man with certain s****l proclivities, tamer than many other men who played in the b**m clubs.

The motto for all b**m games was safe, sane, and consensual, but that covered a lot of ground. Donald’s obedience fetish, coupled with some discipline and rare punishment, was more psychological than physical. The sub who responded to Donald’s needs would crave his attention and affection, thus Donald’s search for the perfect sub. The web meant to ensnare Donald had instead, harmed this good, sweet boy, his boy, and that he could not allow.

They spent the first ten minutes in silence until they reached a point where the road led from Trenton to the Delaware and the older homes on the Jersey side of the canal. Reed pulled into a huge lot, which on weekends housed the local flea market and antique dealers. He shut off the engine.

Bear sighed. “I could smell the wood burning your thick skull.

What’s on your mind?”

“Bear, I’ve known you since we were both snotty-faced kids running around the yard in Chambersburg. You have never given anything away, anything. I had to wait until I came home from college to find out my best friend was as gay as I was,” Reed said, shaking his head.

“You don’t get it, do you? I am in love with this kid. I took one look and it hit me like a sledgehammer. The thing with Antonio did not break my heart, it pissed me off because I do not share my toys. Antonio was on his way out on his ass anyway.

He knew it, so he booked for an older and surer thing. Yes, he bruised my ego because I didn’t get to kick his ass out first, but this, this is different, and it means something. I have fallen hard.

I can’t afford to f**k up his life or mine by making a mistake.”

Bear finished on a sigh. “You were right. I have to slow down.”

“I don’t know about the love thing…” Reed said. “Jim Boy is probably the best thing I’ve ever had. I think I’m going to collar him, but love…the only one who ever came close is…”

“Do not even say his name,” Bear bellowed.

“Well, Brother Bear, since you persist in messing with my business, shall I tell you how I messed in yours?” Reed said pointedly.

“What?” Donald asked in a belligerent tone.

“I had the Murphy kid checked out. We do a routine background screen on all potential members, but since the kid was yours, I instructed the agency to dig a lot deeper. I didn’t want another Antonio debacle.”

“So now you’re my mother? Going slow does not mean not going at all. I want Brian, I am in love with him. I know I’m going to hear this no matter what, so tell me and get it over with, please.”

“He’s in financial trouble, Bear. However, it is not of his making…his mom is sick.”

Bear interrupted, “I know that already, Reed. I am not a complete fool.”

“If I could finish, Bear…You do pay us to do these things for you, you know?”

“For the business, Reed, not for my personal life—”

“Bear,” Reed interrupted, “you were the one who instigated the investigations at the club.”

“Continue…”

“There are some other things I think you need to know, principally because you don’t like surprises. You are not the most trusting man in the state,” Reed smiled wryly.

“Reed…” Bear’s voice raised an octave.

“Brian subbed for a roommate during his freshman year at Monmouth. The roommate dumped him to go home and get married.”

“It means he has experience,” Bear replied. “I figured it out watching his body language. Damn it, get to the f*****g point. My boy is hurt and waiting for me! I have about run out of patience,” Bear roared.

“Bear, you have no patience, you never have.” Reed chuckled and Bear realized he had to back off and actually listen before Reed would take him to Brian.

“This kid is not a stranger to submission. I want you to know up front. He temped as a house sub in the Jersey Shore clubs. They called him the Ice Man. The kid absolutely refused to be touched sexually either in or out of a scene. He did his job with the Dom, no more. What is worse is it became a contest. The big guns and the posers all wanted to be the one who finally broke him to their yoke and brought the ‘Ice Man’ off. None of them, no matter how difficult the session, were ever able to do it. He always took care of himself, after. The only person he allowed to touch him outside of the public arena was a club medic and only if he was severely tired and needed a great deal of medical aftercare.”

“Why?” Bear asked in a hushed voice.

Reed replied, “I can only say what was repeated to me by my sources at the Shore clubs and the few subs I keep in contact with who do the Shore in the summer. He boarded at school and his roommate, as I said, became his first Dom. He was a senior by the name of Alan something. Alan had the rep of a poser at the clubs. He claimed to be a Dominant, but stuck his nose up at the ‘paltry offerings,’ direct quote, by the way, which graced the b**m club scene at the Shore. He hailed from the city and frequented the Shore scene with his nose up in the air with constant comparisons to New York. I would throw such trash out the door, but at the Shore, they can’t afford to ditch any paying customer. In the winter their bread and butter comes from the locals and the colleges.”

“Get to the point. What does this have to do with Brian?”

Reed continued, “Alan began to show up at the clubs with Brian. It didn’t take long for the genuine Masters in the joint to recognize the real deal. They all wanted him, but he was completely loyal to the asshole. This goes on from about August until May…”

“Reed, get to the f*****g point.”

“In May, the kid shows up sans Alan. Alan, the ass wipe, went back to Long Island to marry his rich b***h sweetheart, giving Brian an offer to keep him on the side. I don’t believe the kid was in love with the jerk, but he was hurt. Buzz from Asbury said Brian vowed to one of the other subs, he would never again allow another Dom to use him in a s****l manner unless the man could also hold his heart.”

Bear peered at Reed and said, “Are you trying to tell me he’s a pain slut? If that is what you’re trying to tell me, I know he isn’t.

So, if you are telling me this because—”

Reed interrupted, “Because sometimes you are an ass wipe.

I don’t want you to hold what he did against him. Buzz said the kid skipped quite a few meals to pay his tuition. I’d say he looks like he’s still skipping them and that brings up the other issue—”

“Okay, Reed, I’ll bite. What other issue?”

“You knew he was in financial trouble, but—”

Bear interrupted, “You are beginning to repeat yourself, Reed.”

“If I could finish, you have no idea how deep in debt he was. The Aunt, one Mary Murphy, his father’s sister, is bleeding him dry to care for his mother, Irene. The mother’s ticker is weak, and she is between not sick enough and dying. She had medical bills and was out of work. She kept it from the kid while he was still in school, then he got it dumped all over his head soon after he graduated. It is probably one of the only reasons you got him, liberal medical insurance. He is a geek, a f*****g genius. The PI looked at school records and found recruitment offers from big names in Silicon Valley, Pharmaceuticals in Northern New Jersey, IBM in Austin, and Intel in Albuquerque to name a few,” Reed said.

“Not only that, he had offers of a free ride at Harvard, Princeton, and Yale, but from what Buzz said, the mother wanted him close by.”

“So I owe his mother…the b***h,” Bear answered as he tented his fingers in thought. “Without her, Drummond would have never seen his like. Are you done yet, Reed?”

“There are a few other things. The kid, according to Buzz, had more than his fair share of pride. He never accepted a handout.

Never took a customer up on an offer to meet him in the back. Even when Buzz knew the kid was hungry, because he watched him eat a mayonnaise sandwich before a scene! He did an intense scene with nothing but a mayo sandwich in his belly. They all knew he was hurting for dough.

“Buzz said every Leather Daddy on the Shore wanted a piece of him. They offered him large sums of money, yet he refused to sign any of the contracts offered, not even short-term exclusives.

He told Buzz he had money troubles, but he had to take care of them himself. He wanted his Dom to know he was there only for him and not for his cash. This kid is the last honest man. Don’t f**k it up.” With that, Reed put the Jag into gear and pulled back out onto Route 29.

Bear sat quietly contemplating all Reed had told him, digesting what it all meant. He was in somewhat of a fog when he heard Reed say his name.

Bear laughed aloud. “I am glad you have no objections. It wouldn’t matter if you did.”

“Bear,” Reed said with exaggerated patience, “once you get going, you are about as subtle as a Mack Truck. All I intended to do was give you a heads up. I never intended to try and stop you.

So, how long has this incident with the Lady Estelle set back your plans of storming the kid’s citadel?”

“If she had not hurt my boy, I might even thank her. Make no mistake, Reed. This boy is mine, forever mine, and I will move both heaven and earth to keep him. So, what do I have to do for you to get Jim Boy to befriend my boy and give him a little push my way?”

Reed began to laugh so hard he almost had to stop the Jag.

“My friend, you have got it bad, and I’m glad to see it. Jim Boy already likes the kid’s style. He was the one who got the info. He likes you, too, although, for the life of me, I don’t know why. I suspect he is already promoting your cause. He asked permission to speak to you before you take Brian home.”

“Do you have any idea why?” Bear asked.

“He said he was on the net while Brian slept, and that there are some things you need to know,” Reed answered easily.

“Could it be anything you have not already told me, Reed?”

“It’s possible. Jim Boy gave me the initial report. I would presume he now has more information. I know Jim. He wouldn’t have asked unless it was important,” Reed answered.

“Can this thing move any faster?” Bear mumbled. “Hospital, now, Reed.”

“You are an evil bastard, Bear.” Reed put the car back into gear and sped down Route 29.