Chapter 2

Aaron thought he heard the front doorknob click. He stopped what he was doing, which was getting his apartment back to normal. Trying to hear over his pounding heart, Aaron was deciding on whether to split the state or the country, but he had no idea if he was suspected in the murder or not.

If not, why flee? He was innocent!

He tiptoed closer to the door. Using the peephole, Aaron noticed it was blocked, as if a finger was over it. He panicked. He stepped backwards and hurried to his bedroom. Inside the closet was a crawlspace. He had nothing to defend himself with. Since he’d been convicted of a felony, he wasn’t allowed to own a gun.

He pushed aside the piles of clothing dropped from hangers and dug his fingernails into the plasterboard around an air duct. The tiny gap was brutal to enter because it may have been an airshaft from this older, renovated building. He went in feet first, inching his way deeper into the tiny space. He was burning up with sweat and fear, not to mention the heat inside the stuffy apartment.

It had a box air-conditioner which was located in the living room window but did little to cool the entire small unit.

Once he’d managed to squeeze into the awful space, he held the plasterboard square up to hide the opening and waited.

~

Garrett thought he heard someone come up to the door from behind it. He had his finger pressed to the peephole. Listening from the bug inside and his own senses outside the door, Garrett couldn’t tell what was going on. He had no idea if Aaron was armed. He used a steel pin to pick the lock and turned the knob.

Garrett cracked open the door seeing a standing lamp lit. He crept in, his gun at the low-ready position, his finger indexed, off the trigger.

Not a sound came from the unit. That puzzled him. He quietly shut the door behind him and searched the unit, which was all of three rooms. He looked into closets, under the bed, and outside to see if there was a fire escape.

What the fuck?

Now he was puzzled.

Holstering his gun, Garrett located the listening device and moved it in case Aaron had found it. He stuck it under the kitchen table so he could continue to eavesdrop.

Only the one bag was packed, the one he’d seen Aaron carrying. It didn’t appear the man was packing or ready to flee because the apartment was put back together, neatened up. But what the fuck? Where did he go?

Garrett did not see him leave. He shook his head in confusion and opened kitchen cabinets, even the broom closet to be sure.

No way.

Aaron was five-foot-ten-inches, according to his dossier. He wasn’t going to fit inside a stove!

Garrett looked under the bed again and dragged an item out from under it out of curiosity. It was a gay men’s magazine. Naked dudes with boners.

Garrett tossed the magazine on the bed and opened the nightstand drawer. It had been searched previously, because he’d seen some of the junk from it on the floor. Condoms, lube, and sex toys.

You’re gay?

Since he figured Aaron had given him the slip, Garrett grew nosy. He inspected the books that had been tossed on the floor. Mostly nonfiction, but a few novels were erotica. Gay erotica.

Son of a gun.

Garrett felt a kinship with this man instantly.

He sat on the foot of his bed and stared at the contents of this tiny bedroom. No. This doesn’t make sense.

What’s going on here?

Garrett rubbed his weary eyes and battled to think straight, because nothing added up.

~

Aaron tried not to breathe too heavily. He heard someone in the room outside the closet. Drawers opened, footfalls, heavy ones, like from a big man, made the floorboards creek. Then, it grew really quiet. Squeezed into this horrible airduct, Aaron was dying. He couldn’t shift, move his legs, or his shoulders. He closed his eyes and tried to listen. Are you still here? Jesus! Leave!

He rested his head on the bottom of the shaft and felt his eyes well with tears. He didn’t sign up for this shit. He was forced into it.

Sure, it was fine when he was delivering messages for them for large amounts of cash, but now? Now with this murder? I need to get out of here.

Who is in my room? Are you the same dudes that tossed it?

You saw me drive home! You knew I came home! Fuck!

Aaron stayed as still as stone, because he had a feeling whoever was in his apartment, was going to wait for him. And kill him?

Maybe I should just come out. Huh? Get it over with? Get shot. Be arrested. At least it would be over. I can’t handle this.

~

Garrett threw up his hands in confusion. He rose from the bed and took another look around. Yes. Aaron had come home and began to straighten the apartment. Does a man guilty of murder do that? No.

He poked his head into the only bedroom closet. There was no attic crawlspace. Clothing was piled on the floor where it had been rifled through. Shoes, paperwork, there was no place to hide in here.

After a sigh, Garrett muttered, “I don’t get this, man.” He rubbed his chin and shook his head. “You just don’t seem like the type.”

“I’m not.”

Garrett whipped his head around and drew his gun. He scanned the inside of the closet. “Where are you?”

“Are ya gonna kill me?”

Garrett crouched down and became baffled. “No. I’m not gonna kill you. Where the fuck are you?”

An air vent moved on a wall inside the tiny closet.

Garrett gawked at the size of the opening in shock and took a step back, still aiming at the closet space.

“I’m gonna need my hands to climb out. Okay?”

“Okay.” Garrett had no idea how this man had managed to get inside a tiny space like that. He was impressed.

Slowly, Aaron Zefron inched out of the wall like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. He was covered in grime and scratches. He looked terrified, like a child in way over his head.

Garrett lowered the gun to his side and couldn’t believe his eyes. This man was timid. Terrified. Not a killer. Nope.

Finally, after shimmying out of the hole in the wall, Aaron sat on the floor and held up his hands. “I didn’t kill that dude.”

Garrett held Aaron by his wrist and stood him up, spun him to face the wall, and did a quick pat-down. Once he had, he holstered his gun and urged Aaron to sit down on his own bed.

Aaron’s face was streaked with sweat and dirt from being inside the wall. “Are you a cop?”

“No. Tell me what happened.” Garrett crossed his arms over his chest and stood in front of him.

“I was instructed to meet a man named Henderson in the alley near North Paterson Park Avenue. I did.”

Garrett studied Aaron’s eye contact and body language. He was telling the truth.

“But when I left, he was alive!” Aaron looked at his upper arm near his elbow and blood ran from a cut he’d received while hiding. “I didn’t kill him. I didn’t! I can’t kill anyone!”

Garrett didn’t think he did either.

~

Aaron had no idea who this man was, but holy shit, he was huge. And scary as fuck. He didn’t want to divulge he was associated with an anonymous handler and meeting someone for intel. For all he knew, this man was the enemy that wanted the same microfilm the person who tossed his apartment wanted.

He peeked up at the imposing man. “Can I ask who you are?”

“You can ask.” But he never got an answer. “Go wash up.” The big man pointed to the bathroom.

Aaron exhaled and stood from the bed. He was tired, hungry, and felt as if he were doomed. Turning on a light in his bathroom, Aaron sighed in defeat at the mess someone had made of his toiletries when they searched the bathroom. He washed his hands and face, and then tried to see the cut on his elbow.

When he looked into the mirror, he saw the dude watching every move he made. “I don’t own a gun and I’m not stupid enough to fight a man as big as you are.” Aaron dried his face on a towel. The big man smirked.

What he really needed was a shower. He was sweaty and getting dizzy from no food and lack of sleep.

~

Since he’d been in combat, Garrett knew fatigue when he saw it. Aaron was running on fumes. “When did you last eat?”

“Huh.” Aaron appeared confused.

“Come with me.” Garrett tilted his head.

“Oh no. Where are you going to take me?” Aaron went pale.

“An all-night diner.” Garrett looked at the piles of clothing on the bed. “Put on something clean.”

Aaron tilted his head suspiciously. “No. Seriously. If you’re going to torture and kill me, just do it.”

“I’m not. Here.” Garrett tossed Aaron a pair of pants from a pile. “I’ll wait out there.” He left the bedroom and stood in the living room. As he waited, Garrett tried to put the pieces together, but this seemed to him like a frame up.

This guy didn’t do anything. Come on.

But who did? Huh?

Who killed that operator, and why?

Aaron was easy to frame. It took nothing to implicate him.

When the man emerged from the bedroom, Garrett gave him a soft smile. “I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Aaron nodded and looked at the messy room. “Did you do this?”

“No.” Garrett opened the apartment door and peered out. It was around two a.m., and no one was around. The apartment house was quiet.

He waited for Aaron to close the unit door and they used the back stairwell to go to the exit.

Garrett once more, proceeded with caution as he left the building, then signaled for Aaron to follow.

~

Aaron had no idea who this guy was or why he seemed to believe him. Nothing made sense. But he had no choice. If this was a trick, and he was being led to a place to be beaten and tortured, then… what the hell was he supposed to do about it? Battle Goliath here?

Aaron sat in the passenger’s seat of a black sedan. The big dude sat behind the wheel and removed something from his ear. It looked like a small microphone. “Can I at least know your name? Or should I just call you, sir?”

The man laughed. “Sir is nice, but Garrett will work.” He started the car and drove off, looking at his side and rear mirrors, keeping alert, like, maybe he was in special forces, or something.

He had marine written all over him. Aaron figured he was something important. Just the size of the dude’s legs were impressive. Christ. You’re huge.

“Thanks, Garrett. Unless you’re driving me to a place where you’re going to dismember me.”

Garrett didn’t answer him and drove away from the apartment house.

~

Garrett parked in the lot of an IHOP that was open twenty-four hours. It was on East Pratt Street. Not many restaurants stayed open all night anymore. Drug crime, prostitution, and gangs made it dangerous.

He and Aaron entered the chain breakfast spot. There were a few people dining. Garrett figured they were stoners with munchies.

The worn-out host said, “Sit anywhere.”

They took a booth near the window and were handed menus.

“Coffee?” the host asked.

Aaron shook his head. “No. I need to sleep. I’ll pass.” He looked glazed as he stared at the menu.

“Just ice water.” Garrett leaned over his menu and studied Aaron closely after giving the occupants of the diner a scan.

Two ice waters were set down and the man said, “I’ll give you a minute.”

“Thanks.” Garrett continued to get a read on Aaron.

Aaron guzzled the water thirstily.

“What’s your involvement in this?” Garrett wondered if Aaron was part of their network. Being tightlipped was essential if he was.

“I can’t say.” Aaron winced. “Don’t hit me.”

Garrett exhaled deeply and removed his ID from his pocket. He looked around first, then showed it to Aaron.

Aaron’s eyes widened. “You’re one of the good guys?”

Garrett put the ID away. “It depends on who you ask.” He drank his water down thirstily.

Aaron looked around the booth, but no one was even remotely within hearing range. “I work for a government handler as part of my probation release. He asked me to meet Henderson to get the price for information he had access to. But…”

Garrett nodded, then looked up when the waiter approached with a pad.

“What can I get you?”

Garrett said, “Just scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. Wheat toast.”

“Same.” Aaron hadn’t even looked at the menu and handed it off.

The waiter left.

“I’m so tired, Garrett. I feel as if I’m in way over my head.”

“You are.” Garrett continue to survey their surroundings.

“I had no choice. I was approached before sentencing on a felony conviction. Jail or…” Aaron shut up as the waiter poured more water for them.

Garrett knew that was one way the department recruited patsies and informants.

“At this point I think I should have chosen jail.” Aaron gulped the water.

“So, the ransacking of your place. It was for the microfilm?”

“I assume so. They didn’t take my gay porn.”

Smiling at him, Garrett liked his sense of humor. “But you hadn’t gotten it yet.”

“No. I hadn’t. We were in the process of making the deal.”

Garrett reached into his pants pockets and removed something. He placed it on the table.

Aaron frowned when he saw it.

“The poker chip. Was that part of the method?”

“Yes.” Aaron picked up one half. “We matched them. That way we both knew we were legit.” He asked, “You found them at the crime scene?”

“Yes.” Garrett took both pieces and pocketed them again. “The local police assumed it was trash.”

The waiter brought their food quickly, then set down ketchup and tabasco sauce. “Anything else?”

“No. We’re good.” Garrett tugged napkins out of a metal dispenser already on the table near a stack of packaged jams and jellies.

Aaron ate as if he were famished.

Garrett did as well. They devoured the small meal in a few bites. “You’re not safe at the apartment.”

“Tell me about it. I spent a few hours driving around in my car. I thought someone was tailing me after the meet with Henderson.” He chewed the toast with his eggs. “I was going to fly out of the country, but I didn’t know if I was already on some do-not-fly list.”

“Okay. I’ll relocate you.” Garrett finished the sparse meal.

“Wait. Is this all kosher? I mean, are you acting with the government’s blessing? Because if you’re some kind of renegade…”

Garrett leaned his forearms on the table and spoke softly but firmly, “I’m a professional. I do my job. No one owns me.”

Aaron looked intimidated and held up both hands. “Okay with me, boss.”

The waiter set the check on the table. “Anything else?”

“No. That’s fine.” Garrett removed his wallet and so did Aaron. They split the small check without comment or a debate.

Once they left a tip and paid at the cashier, Garrett went first, pausing to scan the area. By five a.m. the summer sun would begin to rise. But it was still dark outside at four.

They reentered his sedan and Garrett asked, “We’ll stop at your place to pick up your things.”

“Okay.” Aaron fastened his seatbelt. “I pretty much packed everything I need already.”

Garrett returned to the apartment house, parked, and led the way, making sure Aaron was able to get what he needed safely, because Garrett knew this man was innocent. And someone had set him up to implicate him in the murder.

Knowing any other operator would have simply arrested Aaron and taken him into federal custody, Garrett thought about fate, and somehow being the one chosen for this detail.

As he watched Aaron quickly pack a few more items, Garrett shook his head in disbelief. Anyone else would have dragged you into a dark cell, and you’d never have been heard from again.

But he wasn’t anyone else. He had been trained to detect fact from fiction. If the director wanted this man dragged into custody and locked away for life, or killed, he had chosen the wrong man.

Someone else murdered Henderson.

Garrett was sure it wasn’t Aaron Zefron.

No doubt about it.

~

Since he had more time, Aaron packed everything he valued. Whomever was after him knew where he lived and had ransacked his place. He trusted Garrett. He had to. Garrett didn’t think he’d killed Henderson. Why did Aaron trust him? The man had an honest face.

His own thoughts made no sense to Aaron, but his gut, his instinct told him he had no choice. Besides, a dude as huge as Garrett could have choked him until his eyes popped out of his head. He neither harmed him nor took him into custody.

Once he had anything that meant anything to him, and all his decent clothing, toiletries, and important paperwork, Aaron nodded he was ready.

Garrett, tactical to a fault, led the way out of the apartment house. They returned to his sedan, put the suitcases in the trunk, and drove off into the night.

While Garrett headed to… Aaron had no idea where, he stared at this man. Dude. Holy moly. Big. Brawny. Hot as fuck .

Aaron rubbed his face in agony. Now I’m hot for a stranger from the federal government. Sure. Man. I’d be better off in jail .

~

After being certain he was not followed, Garrett parked his car in his garage. He shut off the motor and noticed Aaron was bleary eyed from lack of sleep. He seemed punchy and ready to drop.

Garrett helped him with his bags and used an inner door connecting his kitchen to the garage. He brought the bags to a spare bedroom and set them down. “Get some rest. There’s a bathroom right there.” He pointed to it.

“Why are you helping me?” Aaron teetered from exhaustion.

“Don’t ask stupid questions. See ya in a few hours.” Garrett shut the bedroom door, secured the house, and then undressed, showered, and lay in bed. Before he closed his eyes and slept, he went over the details of this case, the men involved, and then, the power of slumber took over, and out he went, into the subconscious.