Gray Days and Wicked Ways, page 9
part #4 of Layton Shayne Mystery Series
“Well,” I started smiling slyly, “other reasons for the name did cross my mind.”
“The main reason’s true enough too, but there’s not a man alive who would have called me that behind my back, much less to my face,” Diesel said.
“I’d ask which branch you served in, but you might have to kill me,” I said, then smiled.
“Army,” Diesel said.
“Diesel and her wife Lily May are going to be at Shiloh Key for the treasure hunt,” Sassy said. “Just a little insider info—Lily’s second name ‘May’ is spelled M-a-y-like the month. She was born in May so her mom named her after the month
“That’s really cute,” Alex said. “Will Diesel and Lily May be helping us?”
“Not quite,” Sassy said, “but we’ve come to an understanding. We’re gonna watch each other’s backs. If we find the chalice it goes to Diesel and Lily May, if they find the staff it comes to us. We can trust them.”
“I have no doubt of that,” I said, then picked up the Coke the bartender had brought me, raised it, and toasted Diesel with a nod.
“Being ex military, it doesn’t seem like you’d need us to watch your back,” Alex said.
“Well, thank you for that, Alex,” Diesel said. “Normally we wouldn’t. My Lily May was a sniper in the military—one of the best. And people who will be at the key would normally be scared of her… when they’re not trying to get in her pants.”
“She’s nice, huh,” I said.
“Movie star gorgeous with long legs, sweet blonde hair, and big luscious titties,” Diesel said. “I mention the tits because the second thing you’ll notice when you see her are the jugs.”
“They’re humongous,” Sassy said. “Especially now.”
“What’s the first thing we’ll notice?” I said.
“The fact that she’s eight months pregnant,” Diesel said. “Maybe eight and a half. My brother was kind enough to make a donation on our behalf.”
“What the—” I stopped and drank some Coke.
“I know what you’re going to say, Layton,” Diesel said. “I’ve been there and said it all to her. You try telling a former sniper who’s eight months pregnant that she can’t come to the party.”
“I get your point,” I said.
“At least she agreed to just watch the proceedings and not get involved,” Diesel said.
“That’s something,” I said. “Diesel, aren’t you concerned about how bad things might get with that mixture of professionals, ex military, and amateurs converging on the key.”
“Oh hell yeah,” Diesel said. “It’ll be all kinds of fucked up.”
“Diesel and Lily May will be at the auction too,” Sassy said. “Layton, tell me more about this Russian that’s coming with us.”
“Excuse me,” the red-haired hostess who’d just walked up to our group said. “I have a message for a Mr. Layton Shayne.”
“I’m he,” I said.
“Your brother is waiting outside on the patio to have a drink with you,” the hostess said.
“Thank you, I’ll be right with him,” I said. The hostess walked away and I turned to Alex. “I’ve always wanted a brother. I wonder what he has to say for himself.”
Chapter 15
Meeting Brother
‘DO YOU NEED BACKUP, Layton?” Sassy said.
“If you need serious muscle behind you, I’m here,” Diesel said, cracking her knuckles.
“What?” I said. “No offer from you, Alex?”
“With those two what the heck do you need me for?” Alex said and smiled.
“If only we had the time I’d tell you exactly what I need you for,” I said, then winked before turning to the ladies. “Thank you for the kind offers of assistance, but I’ve got a feeling I can handle this on my own. If I need help, I’ll yell… literally. Alex, do me a favor and tell them about our Russian helper while I’m gone.”
“Sure, and be careful, Layton,” Alex said. “There are things I still need you around for too.”
“Aren’t they sweet?” Sassy said to Diesel.
“Disgustingly so, but I’m happy for them,” Diesel said.
I grabbed my drink and headed to the patio we’d passed earlier. There were a few people occupying tables, sitting around talking, smoking, and drinking. A man sitting at a back table under a large banana tree grouping held a hand up and discreetly beckoned me forward. He was almost completely hidden in shadows. When I got to the table, I held my hand out to the familiar-looking stranger.
“I’m confused,” I said. “Is it enough to shake hands with a brother I never knew I had or should we hug?”
“A handshake’s good enough. And aren’t all us Marines brothers of a sort?” He shook my hand firmly and I sat down. “What’s your poison? Oops, I guess that’s not the best thing to say to a detective, is it?”
“Probably not… Callum. Anyway, I’m fine with my Coke.”
He took a puff on the cigarette in his hand, then looked me over as I did the same to him. We were similarly dressed. Callum had on a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. His hair was short—military style, and he looked enough like his brother that I could tell who he was, but he was more filled out and had muscular arms, one of which was covered in tattoos. I pointed to his tats, then spoke.
“I always figured the bullet I took as a Marine and some of the scars I’ve gotten from being a detective were enough pain, so I never got any tats.”
“Shit, it was the rebel in me when I was young,” Callum said. “Got the first one when I turned eighteen, then added to em I guess. Same with these damn things.” He held his cigarette up. “I had ‘em licked till this problem with my damn, blood-related brother.”
“He does seem to be a problem,” I said. “One that could’ve easily been dealt with by a Marine… if civilians weren’t involved.”
“It’s good to have someone here who knows what I’m dealing with, Layton. I can call you Layton?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You’ve got a good kid there, Callum—it’s OK I call you that instead of Baker.”
“Shit, that no good brother of mine has dirtied the name of Baker.”
“He’s dirtied his own name, that’s all,” I said, then took a sip of my Coke. Your boy knows you haven’t forgotten him. He saw the remote control truck you sent him before it was given to Natasha to get rid of—probably by your brother.”
“Fuck, Layton,” He wiped his face for a minute. “I thought the fighting would be over once I got home.”
“You never know where the enemy will show up,” I said. “Good thing you’ve got an ally in your long lost brother—me.”
“I don’t expect you to help me for nuthin’, even if we’re both Marine brothers.”
“I’ve been paid, don’t worry about that.”
“I heard about that quarter my kid gave you, the babysitter told me. A quarter’s nothing.”
Putting on my hard Marine face, I leaned forward and looked Callum dead in the eyes. “Don’t you ever fucking say that. Your kid, the son of a fucking Marine got that money out of his piggy bank, so I could take on this fucking case. Any Marine that would refuse to help the son of a fellow Marine when he’s in trouble isn’t a Marine I’d want to know.”
He put his hand firmly on my shoulder to show he understood and I saw his eye twitch. The stuff with his family was taking a toll on him. My point had been made so I sat back in my chair again.
“Damn, don’t they at least bring you chips in this place,” I said
Callum laughed, then signaled the waitress with a wave of his hand and she quickly came over to us.
“Shit, I’m hungry, bro,” Callum said. “They make some good loaded cheese fries with bacon here if you want to share some.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
“Bring us a large order of those and I can use another iced tea no sugar,” Callum said to the waitress. “My friend can use another Coke.”
“I’ll go put that order in,” the waitress said, then smiled and left.
“I’m a fucked up mess for a Marine, aren’t I?” Callum said, then put his cigarette out.”
“Things are different when it’s our families we’re dealing with, Callum,” I said.
“Hell yeah it is. The thing is, Layton, I love my wife and kid—they’re my world. When I tell you that I would make my way through a shower of bullets to help them, you know I would.”
“That’d be easier than dealing with this shit,” I said. “How tied are your hands in regard to everything?”
“When I was younger I was sort of a wild man… getting into fights, bad temper and quick to action—that sort of thing. My brother was more slick and sly. Oh he was bad… some might even say evil, but he knew how to get away with things.”
“Is your past the reason your wife is so quick to believe your brother over you?”
“My wife knew I had problems with anger,” Callum said. “But being in the military and seeing the things I saw, cured me of that. I’ve seen my friends killed or injured and that changes a man.”
“Yes it does,” I said.
“My momma says I changed because I have a praying momma,” Callum said. “I’m grateful for that, but nothing makes things more real than being shot at on the battlefield. Everything in you becomes more alive, things have more meaning, and you know your place in that world. Your friendships are stronger there—the words honor, truth, and ‘I got your back’ take on new weight. God exists there in a way that’s more honest than here—I knew he was walking by my side.”
“Then you come back to this, huh?” I said.
“You don’t get my point, man,” Callum said.
“I’ve been out there,” I said. “I know what you’re talking about believe me.”
“I know that,” Callum said. “But, my point is that when I came back home the things that used to make me so mad just didn’t seem to matter as much. They seemed so damn petty.”
“I get it,” I said. “We all come back changed in some way, but the folks here at home don’t always see the change, do they?”
“Nope,” Callum said. “Especially when a snake of a brother is hissing in their ears telling them that the military makes a violent man even more so. That bastard told my wife to be wary of me, gave her reports of people bashing the military and talking about how it turns bad men good. He was subtle, he had time while I was away to work on my wife every damn day. And she’s always been one to trust and believe in people, that’s what I love about her. She’s never really understood what people are capable of and that’s both a good thing and a bad one.”
“Your boy believes in you, Callum. Even though he’s young, he sees what’s going on.”
“It makes me glad to hear that, Layton—thank you. I wanted to be there for his birthday, but my wife has a restraining order against me.”
“How’d she manage that?” I said. “Even if she thought you’d cheated on her that isn’t enough to get a restraining order.”
“The woman they claim I had an affair with went to see my wife,” Callum said. “They won’t even tell me the woman’s name. All I know is that she went to the inn covered in black and blues saying I’d beaten her and that I told her I’d do the same to my wife and kid. She said I’d kill them before I’d let them leave me. My brother’s friends with a local judge and some cops, so it didn’t take much to get that restraining order.”
“Shit,” I said. “That brother of yours really has it in for you.”
“He doesn’t care enough about me to have it in for me. Jack’s as self-centered as they come. He wants the inn and I’m in the way—otherwise he wouldn’t give a shit about me.”
“He’s got to be brought down,” I said. “Jack’s trying to see if he can join the big leagues.”
“The guy may be my brother, but I’ve got no love left for him.”
“Good,” I said. “How long have you been tailing me?”
“Not long,” Callum said. “Don’t worry, you’re not losing your skills. The babysitter Lacey keeps me informed. She shouldn’t have left Brandon at the pool alone, but it was me calling her and she thought it might be important.”
“How many people can you trust at the inn, if any?”
“All of them and none of them,” Callum sat back and smiled. “That’s some shit, ain’t it? They’re all good people, but Jack’s got them scared and they don’t know what to do. The cops are no good and they know it, so who are they gonna turn to?”
“Yeah. Chef Brogna’s a good guy, but he screwed up every which way tonight. Your brother asked Chef and his partner to go the old ‘seduce the detective’ route tonight, in order to get some sexy pics to show my partner and get him all shook up. Only problem is Chef forgot to tell me to come alone to his house in the invite and I took the partner with me.”
Callum laughed. “Poor Chef. Your guy didn’t look all shook up when you left.”
“He’s a photographer specializing in nudes,” I said. “He ended up taking some staged photos so your brother wouldn’t come down on Chef. What’s the deal with Natasha?”
“There are some important and surprising things you need to know about Natasha.”
Chapter 16
Size Queen
BEFORE CALLUM COULD continue, the waitress brought the fries, two plates, utensils, and our drinks.
“The fries are on the house to make up for taking so long to get your order out,” the waitress said. “We had a small problem in the kitchen, but it’s under control now—you men enjoy.”
“Thank you,” Callum said, then took some fries using his fork and put them on his plate.
“Thanks,” I said.
The waitress smiled, then left, and I used my fork to get some fries. Callum and I ate in silence for a minute, then I spoke. “These really are good.”
“As I was saying about Natasha,” Callum said. “She’s a good woman. Her husband was a Marine in my unit. He got badly injured right before we were ready to leave for home. Our last tour too—damn it all. His face and one arm got some bad chemical burns and his left leg is pretty busted up. The guy’s name is Dewey—poor bastard’s mom liked Donald Duck or some such shit, and named her kids Huey and Dewey.” He laughed.
“I guess he and Natasha were meant to be—both named after cartoon characters,” I said then chuckled.
“Yeah, that is pretty funny,” Callum said. “I never really thought about it that way. Anyway, Dewey’s at the hospital here where they have a special section to help vets with war injuries. A big Marine general named Keene in Moresville donated the funds for the hospital to have that special section and what they refer to as a recovery home close by. He’s the guy that came recruiting at my school. Impressed me enough that I joined up when I could. By all accounts General Keene was a good guy.”
“He was,” I said. “I can personally attest to that. So, Natasha stayed in town and didn’t try to find another high paying job as an architect somewhere else. Instead she took two jobs that worked around her schedule, so she could take care of her husband.”
“Yeah. That woman is at the hospital day and night in between her two jobs and caring for her kid. You have to admire that.”
“Like you said, she’s a good woman,” I said. “And her husband’s one of us, huh?”
“Y’up, brave as hell and a great Marine. I’m not ashamed to admit he was also one good-looking guy till he got half his face burned.”
“Shit,” I said, “that hurts. I’ve been around guys that have been burned like that—it’s not pretty.” I ate some fries, savoring the bits of bacon and cheese mixed with them. “Where do I start on this case? Any suggestions?”
“Natasha’s uncle owns a strip joint in the area called Boobies Birds,” Callum said. “He’s not scared of Jack or his boys and can be trusted. Because of Natasha and her kid he has to be careful. But he says he can help. I can’t go by the club because it’ll cause problems for Natasha if Jack finds out. But Dimitri, that’s Natasha’s uncle, says if you can go by there at four tomorrow he can be of help.”
“I’ll be there. What if Jack finds out I’m paying Dimitri a visit?”
“He’ll know you’re there, but Dimitri says he’s got a plan.”
“OK, then,” I said. “I’ll be there at four tomorrow.” We both ate in silence for a while again, I stopped to drink some of my coke, then spoke. “Callum, you know you have to stay hidden in the shadows and let me handle things till this is over, right?”
“Yeah, I know, and that’s where I’ll be—lurking in the shadows should you need me.”
We engaged in small talk for a while. I told him about General Keene and how Alex and I had acquired Carson Court. When I finally said good-bye and headed back inside, Alex, Sassy, and Diesel were happily chatting and munching on chips.
“We were about to send out a search party,” Alex said.
“You know how it goes when long lost brothers meet, especially when they’re both Marines.”
“If there’s a party fixing to go down, be sure to send me an invitation,” Diesel said.
“I’ll keep you in mind,” I said.
We visited with them for half an hour, then Alex and I told them good-bye and headed back to the truck.
“WHERE ARE WE going?” Alex said, when we drove left past the Mt. Ore Inn.
“Wait and you shall see,” I said, then reached for his hand and held it with my right hand while steering with my left.
I turned right and into the park where the lighthouse, we’d seen from far away was located. There was a significant dip at the entrance, and a beautiful promenade of large trees and shrubs that outlined the area in a half-circle. The lighthouse was front and center in a grassy area, and was the focal point of the space. It was late but there were people walking around, so I parked the truck and we got out.
“It’s not very big,” Alex said, looking at the red and white lighthouse.
