Til Darkness Falls, page 37
“Ah, this modern technology of yours is rather useful when the occasion demands.”
Brian had stared at nothing as his hand cramped around the receiver from holding it so tightly. The voice was one that he would never forget as long as he lived.
“You know, Detective, it is amazing what treasure one can amass over thirty centuries. That Hebeny had quite the financial head on her shoulders, even if in all other ways, she was nothing but a foolish girl. Enjoy your reward for a game well played. After all, she won’t be needing it anymore.”
He listened to Set’s inexplicable message several more times before it made any sense. All of the wealth Hayley had gathered over her long years, investing it and adding to it with every life she lived, all of it was his to do with as he saw fit. Once he’d seen the bank’s records for himself and was finally able to accept that he’d suddenly become a rich man, he acted quickly.
He sent half of the money to Rosamond, enough to wipe out her debt to the Russians with plenty left over to set her family up for life. The call to her had been a difficult one. She’d been frantic for news about her brother, but of course, no one had known to contact her. Brian felt her loss keenly, guilt piling on top of guilt. Rosa had been distraught to learn of Alrick’s death, but the story of what precipitated it had fascinated her. That her brother had fallen victim to such a tragic romance saddened her even as the knowledge that he would be reborn gave her comfort. She made Brian promise that he would come to Germany to visit so that her son might know the man who had been so important to his beloved Onkel.
Nearly all the rest went to Todd and his sons. Dumbstruck at the generous gift, Todd had tried to refuse, but Brian wouldn’t hear it. “I have to believe that something good came out of all of this,” he’d told the other man.
Todd had accepted his explanation but had begged him to stay with him and the boys for a while. Brian knew that Todd was afraid of what he might do if they didn’t keep a close eye on him, but he’d assured the other man that he was alright. He just needed to spend some time alone so he could get his head on straight.
He turned his administrative leave into an extended vacation, the small amount of Hayley’s money he kept more than enough to hold him for a long time. He’d considered just staying at home, but then the memory of O’Malley’s Folly had caught hold and refused to let go.
BRIAN took a deep breath of the pollution-free air, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face. The water beckoned, but he was nervous about going in without Alrick at his side. The days he’d spent there with the other man had been some of the most wonderful of his life. It was a comforting setting as he tried to decide what to do with himself.
He didn’t have to work again if he didn’t want to. He could just live off of Hayley’s money if he was careful. But somehow, he didn’t think either Angela or Alrick would approve. He’d become a cop for a reason, and he knew they’d want him to continue his efforts to help those whose voice had been stolen from them. Still, it was hard to even think about going back to the city.
I don’t want you to be afraid anymore. Don’t be afraid to love.
Alrick’s words kept coming back to him. He hadn’t been able to answer when his lover had lain dying in his arms. The pain had been far too fresh. But maybe one day he’d be able to fulfill Alrick’s final request—to exist outside of the shell his partner and his lover had worked so hard to break.
He knew, though, that would never love again. If it were true that everyone had a soul mate, then he’d found his. He’d enjoyed his few short moments of perfect bliss, and the place in his heart where he’d buried Alrick could never be filled by another. Watching over his family would be enough. He swore that Sam, Jonathan, and little Gerry would grow up happy and healthy, and that Todd, Rosa, and Heinz would never want for anything for the rest of their lives. And when he finally passed on and met his lover once more, he would know that he’d kept his promise.
“Mind if I join you?”
Brian shielded his eyes with his hand as he glanced up. The man standing next to him looked down at him with a friendly smile. He read the interest in the other man’s eyes, but it didn’t make him anxious like it would have in the past. They weren’t alone on the lakeshore, but Brian didn’t feel the need to hide from the obvious pick-up attempt. He smiled up at the man in return but shook his head.
“Sorry, I just want to be alone for a little bit.”
The man shrugged, his expression pleasant but disappointed. “Oh, well. My loss.”
“Wait.” Brian didn’t know what he was doing, but he felt bad for being so dismissive. “You’re not staying up at the Folly by any chance?”
“In fact, I am.”
“So am I. Maybe I’ll see you later?”
The man’s grin returned. “Count on it.”
Brian watched the man walk away for a minute before turning his gaze back toward the lake. “Okay, lover,” he murmured. “This is me, living my life.”
Alrick had given him this one last gift, the ability to open his heart without fear. He refused to waste it. Brian closed his eyes as he felt a soft breeze brush across his lips like a phantom caress.
“Until next time, pa’sheri. Sweet dreams.”
Epilogue
Tokyo, 21xx
YOSHI brushed away the sakura blossom that had drifted down to land on his sketch pad. The ground around him was littered with the classic sign of a Japanese spring. He’d been at his new high school for over a week, but he was still spending his break time alone. His mother had urged him to make new friends, but he’d never been good at talking to strangers. It was far easier to just find a quiet place during lunchtime so he could practice his drawing.
Applying his stylus to the pad, he glanced purposefully up at the group of boys that were playing an impromptu game of soccer on the other side of the field. Drawing objects in motion was always difficult, but he was determined to master the technique. If he wanted to be a professional manga artist some day, he would need to be able to pull off difficult action scenes.
One of the figures in particular kept drawing his eye. The young man was tall for a Japanese, his slim figure standing out clearly among his friends as he executed a difficult maneuver. The soccer ball landed in the goal with a solid swish, and the boy jumped up and down, arms pumping in the air. His joy was palpable even across the field. Yoshi found himself concentrating on the player, adding line after line to his sketch pad as he brought the boy’s figure to life. His stylus flew across the pad as he looked down to enhance a certain bit of shading
The object that landed near his feet startled him as it sent up a shower of pink blossoms. His hand jerked, the stylus skipping uncontrolled across the pad. Yoshi sighed as saw the errant line marring his picture. A double tap to the electronic pad put it in edit mode, and he ran his finger over the mark to erase it. Another tap brought him back to drawing mode. He didn’t bother to see what it was that had disturbed him, nor did he look up at the sound of running that was getting ever closer.
“Oi! I’m so sorry! Did the ball hit you? Are you okay?”
Yoshi pressed his lips together, annoyed at the disturbance. “Yes,” he replied, looking up just far enough to see that the thing lying near his feet was a soccer ball.
“Oh, good. I told Tanaka that he has to watch his aim. Hi, I’m Inoue Kaori.”
Yoshi had ignored the other boy up to that point, but at the unexpected sharing of his first name, he looked up in surprise. He blinked at the hand that was mere inches away, absently recognizing the Western gesture before raising his gaze beyond it to its owner’s face. Yoshi gasped, blinking in flustered uncertainty as a bright smile beamed down at him.
It was the same boy he’d been admiring. Up close he seemed even taller, and he was extremely handsome. Yoshi hugged his sketch pad to his chest as though it would help muffle the sudden pounding of his heart. Taking a deep breath, he returned the familiar greeting. “F-Fujiwara… Yoshi.”
Inoue smiled at him, and Yoshi felt his heart beat even faster. His face quickly warmed, and he prayed he wasn’t blushing.
“Nice to meet you, Fujiwara Yoshi. Are you a first-year? I don’t remember you from last year.”
“Um, yes, senpai,” he answered respectfully. “And you?”
“I’m a second-year.”
“Oi, Kaori! Bring back the ball! Lunch is almost over.”
Inoue looked around at his friends, who were waiting impatiently for him to return. He turned back toward Yoshi and winked. “Gotta go, but I’ll see you around?”
“Um, okay.” Yoshi thought he must look like one of those bobble-head figurines as he nodded.
With another blinding smile, Inoue was gone. Yoshi gazed after him entranced, admiring the athleticism that was apparent as he ran back to his friends. He was nice for an upperclassman, but Yoshi knew that the older boy had probably been humoring him. Why would he bother to socialize with a shy, awkward first-year?
Inoue was halfway across the field when he suddenly turned around and waved, running backwards until Yoshi raised his hand in acknowledgement. Yoshi felt a smile spread across his face.
Maybe high school wouldn’t be so bad after all.
About the Author
PEARL LOVE has been writing since she was a kid, but it was the pretty boys who frolic around in her head who finally convinced her to pursue it seriously. She’s a Midwest transplant who currently thrives in the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital. A jack of many genres, she enjoys just about any type of story, so long as in the end, the boy gets the boy. Pearl is the proud mommy of two bunny rabbits and a ridiculously large stash of yarn and knitting needles.
You can contact Pearl at pearllove925@gmail.com.
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Table of Contents
Title page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
About the Author
Don’t Miss
Pearl Love, Til Darkness Falls
