Chapter Fourteen

 

 

JERRY PULLED into the driveway that ended at Mick’s garage apartment. Mick’s car wasn’t here. Good, he’d beat him home.

He stopped the car, opened the door, and pulled his crutches from the back. He was good at it after four days of practice. Planting one crutch, he got to his feet, hopped away from the car, and kicked the door closed with his foot. Okay, up the stairs. That way he’d be ready to confront Mick and the guy couldn’t escape.

Stairs were a fun challenge, and Mick’s were steep. He planted the crutches, swung both legs up, got a rhythm going, and made it halfway up before he took a breath. Okay. No problem.

He propelled up one stair and the door of Mick’s apartment opened a crack. Whoa. He grabbed the rail and managed to keep hold of the crutch.

“Jerry?” The door opened wide, and Jezebel ran out on the small porch. “Oh God, I’m so glad you’re here.”

Jerry put up a hand. “Hang on.” He hopped up the last four stairs.

She grabbed his arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be here.” He looked down at the driveway. No car. “How did you get here?”

“A girlfriend who wants to get away too helped me. Come inside. I have to tell you what’s happened. Then we have to find Mick and get away from here.”

“What?”

“Come inside.”

He followed her in. She closed the door and peeked out through the peephole. There weren’t any windows on that side of the apartment, so she couldn’t get a bigger view.

He made it to a chair and sat on the arm. “What’s up?”

“Bill Ray knows about Mick, and he’s on his way here. We have to get out of here.”

“Whoa.” He held up a hand. “Who’s Bill Ray and why do we have to leave?”

She paced toward the kitchen and back. “Bill Ray Cassidy. Michael’s, I mean Mick’s, father. Some guy from Mick’s fire station came to the community to see Brother Cassidy. Bill Ray. This guy told Bill Ray that Mick was consorting with fags and perverts and was being led astray. He said Mick was deep in sin because of—you.”

Jerry shrugged. “I guess that would be me, all right.”

“This isn’t funny, Jerry. He’s dangerous.”

“Sorry. I know he is from what Mick’s told me.”

“I don’t know if he realizes I’m gone yet, but I have to find someplace to stay, and so does Mick.”

“You can stay with me. Mick too, of course.”

She sagged. “Oh, good. Call Mick now and tell him to meet us at your place. I’ve got my stuff.” She pointed at a small pile of plastic bags stacked by the door.

“Okay. We’ll call from the car. Can you take a couple of bags down? I’m not much for carrying.”

“Heck yes. I got them up here.” She grabbed two bags, dragged them to the door, and opened it. With an “oof,” she hoisted one over her shoulder and picked up the other. Damn, he wished he could help.

She vanished out the door. Jerry used one crutch and pulled the other two bags by the door. What else should he take? Mick’s toothbrush? They could share. Some clothes? Mick could wear Edge’s stuff if it came to that. But hell, would Mick’s father actually come after Mick and Jezebel? They were both adults. He didn’t have any right to interfere in their lives. Jerry stared around the place. He should call the cops, but he didn’t have any proof that the guy was coming or was dangerous.

She rushed back into the room.

He looked around again. “You ready?”

“Wait. The computer.”

“I’ve got one.”

“But I’ve got all my school stuff saved.”

She hurried over to a little desk made of a board and some bricks. A quick jerk unplugged the laptop, and then she rolled the cord and grabbed the mouse. “Okay. Let’s go.”

The voice came from the door. “Where exactly would you be going, Sister Jezebel?”

Kind of high and nasal, it sent a shiver right up Jerry’s back. Jezebel’s eyes went wide. Jerry looked toward the door.

The man standing there was maybe his height, not nearly the giant his son was. Clearly the dude had seen too many movies because he was dressed like something out of a bad flick—flannel shirt, jeans, long beard. Maybe he could throw the guy off. Jerry stuck out his hand. “You must be Mr. Cassidy. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Jerry Wallender.”

Cassidy stared at Jerry’s hand like a snake had just uncoiled. “You don’t expect me to touch you, do you?”

Jerry shrugged. “No. But I figured I’d give it a shot.”

The man’s dark eyes narrowed. “You will treat me with respect, boy.”

“No, sir. I only treat people with respect if they deserve it.”

“Where’s my son?”

“At work, I imagine.”

“And why would a homo pervert like you be alone in this apartment with a young girl? Maybe you’re trying to take Mick’s fiancée from him?”

Jerry shook his head. “Oh, come on. You believe that about as much as you believe pigs fly. She’s not a young girl, she’s an adult, she’s not Mick’s fiancée, and I’ll damned well take her anyplace she wants to go. Come on, Jezebel.”

He turned and started toward the door, but Jezebel was frozen. “Jezebel, get the hell out the door.”

Like somebody flipped a switch, she bolted toward the exit. Cassidy reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Ow!”

Damned crutches. Jerry loosed his grip on one crutch and reached toward the preacher, but the man grabbed his arm, pulled him off balance, and knocked him to the ground.

Shit. Ouch. Jerry looked up. Cassidy was staring at Jezebel. “You’re coming home to your family, and you’re staying there. No female is going to defy me.”

She pulled her arm free. “I’m an adult. You can’t hold me. I have a job and I’m going to school.”

“Over my dead body, bitch. Your father will lock you in the basement, and you’ll be lucky to get out for childbirth.”

Jerry swept a leg and slammed against the preacher’s knee.

The man collapsed onto the floor. “God damn.”

Jerry pointed to the door. “Get out, Jezebel.”

She backed up and Jerry staggered to his feet. Cassidy still lay on the ground. Jerry hopped toward the door. Jezebel turned to wait for him.

“Go on.”

She pointed. “She’s down there in the car—Mrs. Cassidy.”

“She won’t hurt you. Go on.”

The voice came from behind him. “She might not, but I will if you both don’t stop right now.”

Jerry looked over his shoulder right into the barrel of a gun. He didn’t know much about weapons, but this sure looked like something he’d seen on the six o’clock news. “You can’t seriously expect to use that thing in the middle of Costa Mesa and get away with it.”

“Oh, but I do, you defiler of God’s earth. Get in here. Both of you.”

Jezebel stared at the gun and crossed in front of Jerry back into the apartment. Her whole body trembled enough that he could see it.

Jerry balanced on his crutches a few feet from the door. He sighed. “You don’t believe all this crap you put out, do you? I mean, I’m sure a lot of your followers are just plain dumb, but you’re not. You know better. You just use this line of bullshit to make people afraid so you can get ’em to do what you want. Power trip, man.”

Cassidy frowned. “It doesn’t matter if I believe it. Because what I do believe is that the world will be a lot better off without you tempting young men away from their godly responsibilities. I know all about your kind. Pretty as a picture and just so sweet. Until you get what you want, and then you crush the boy like dirt under your fancy shoes.”

Jerry stuck out a foot. “All I got is some Keds, man. And I think you’re painting some other picture altogether.” Still, that gun gave him shivers.

The preacher stared at Jerry like maybe he saw somebody else. “Walk toward the stairs.”

What? “Why?”

“Because those crutches can so easily slip on those stairs, can’t they?”

“Get over yourself, man.” His heart beat in his throat.

“I think you get to choose how you die.” He waggled the gun.

“Hell no.” But this was not a cool situation. A fall down those stairs would likely kill. Where was Mick? He half wanted him to come and half hoped he’d stay away and be safe.

Jezebel took a step toward Cassidy, and he swung the gun at her belly. “Don’t you dare. I’d like to knock you both down those stairs, but that might make your perverted friend’s death seem less like an accident. Still, I’m sure your father knows what’s good for you.” Cassidy stepped closer and aimed the gun at Jerry’s chest. “Jezebel, go into the bathroom and close the door.”

“No.”

“Do it, or so help me I’ll shoot you here.”

“No.” But tears ran down her cheeks. Jerry might drop a tear or two himself. Would he be able to catch himself? Shit, if Cassidy pushed him hard—

Jezebel stared at him. “Oh God, Jerry, I’m so sorry.” Her walk to the bathroom took a lot of hope with her. Alone with a crazy man holding a gun, and him on crutches. This was fucked up!

Cassidy narrowed his eyes. Pure hate. He pushed the barrel against Jerry’s chest. He couldn’t miss at this range. Hell, his chances on the stairs were better. Maybe he could keep from falling. Maybe.

Cassidy pushed. “Move.”

Jerry took one step. Shit, he needed out of this.

“Faster, damn your perverted eyes.”

Another step. His crutch hit the hard concrete of the landing. That would be the landing fourteen steps up. Breathe, man. Stay loose. It’s your only chance.

The thud of big, giant shoes running up the stairs sounded like the theme song to The Endless Summer. Mick! Jerry gasped. But damn, now Mick was in danger too.

Mick pulled the door all the way open. “What the fuck is going on?”

The preacher snapped, “Watch your language.”

Maybe it was relief at seeing Mick or the idiocy of the situation. Jerry started to laugh.

Cassidy scowled. “What’s so funny, fag?”

“You’re about to kill three people, and you’re worried about his language. I think you win in the commandment-breaking department.”

Mick stepped next to Jerry. “Kill? What do you mean, kill? Put the gun away.”

Cassidy’s voice was dead and flat. “I don’t break any commandments when I kill you, fag. God instructs us to wipe you from the earth.”

Well, hell. Jerry pulled his crutch back from the porch. “You are so full of shit.”

For one second they balanced on the crest of the wave.

Mick wrapped his hand over Jerry’s where he held the crutch. “Then you better kill me too, because I’m as much a fag as Jerry is.”

Bill Ray hissed, “Don’t be stupid. You’ve just been subverted by this tempter. You’ll come home, marry Jezebel, and everything will be as it should be.”

“No, sir. It won’t. I’m gay and I’m in love with Jerry.”

Jerry stared. “You are?”

Mick smiled. “Yeah. I know a guy like you has no reason to want a guy like me, but I guess I don’t care. I’ll be your friend and anything else you want me to be.”

Cassidy shrieked, “Whore! Pervert!”

Jezebel’s voice came from the bathroom door. “Good for you, Mick. Now you’re on the right track.”

Cassidy stepped back. “No. This is not going to happen. Jezebel, get over here.”

She walked from the bathroom to Mick’s other side. “You going to shoot me too, Brother Cassidy?” Her voice shook, but she put on a brave face.

Mick stared at his father. “If you shoot all three of us, you’ll get the death penalty.”

“I’ll make it look like a crime of passion. And if they do catch me, at least I can die a martyr to the cause.”

What a screwed-up situation. One of them could rush him, but they’d likely get shot.

Cassidy nodded toward the door. “Okay, fag, on the porch….”

Damn. Not there again. Mick looked at Jerry. “What’s he talking about?”

“He’s going to knock me down the stairs and try to make it look like an accident. Not sure what he plans to do with you two after that.”

Cassidy stared at his son. “If Michael sees reason, he can be a force for good. If not, I can make it look like he killed you and shot himself. Jezebel will be locked up until her hair turns gray.” His eyes snapped to Jerry. “Now move, faggot.”

Mick stepped in front of Jerry so the gun pressed on his own chest. “He’s not going anywhere.”

“Don’t think I won’t kill you too, Michael.”

Mick shrugged. “It’s okay. I already figured out I’d rather die being who I am than live being who you want me to be.”

Now!

In one move, Jerry grabbed Mick’s shoulder for balance, leaned around him, and smacked Cassidy hard upside the head with the crutch. The crutch was light, but Jerry put everything he had into it. Cassidy fell to the side, the gun went off with a boom as it fell to the floor, and Mick was on the preacher like a drag queen on free cosmetics. Mick grabbed a handful of gray-and-red flannel, but the dude wasn’t going anywhere with two hundred fifty plus pounds on his chest. Mick was reaching for the gun when the door opened wider.

Jerry looked up. Well, hell, this was a damned NRA convention.

The woman’s gun was smaller but still looked pretty mean. She was tall, close to six feet, and had Mick’s pale hair. “What’s happening here?”

Mick’s hand had frozen about three inches from the gun. Might as well have been three miles.

Cassidy tried to knock Mick off him, but no go. “This fag has led our son into sin, Letty. And Jezebel too.”

She stared at Jerry, then back at the strange pile of people in front of her. “Probably not much leading involved. Michael’s always been a strange one, and you know it.”

“But he can see the error of his ways and live a righteous life.”

Mick didn’t move off Cassidy, but he stared at his mother over his shoulder, and she looked back at him with eyes almost the same color. She shook her head. “And how are you going to do that, Bill Ray? You’re gonna have to get the man off your belly first.” She laughed one harsh cackle. “And assuming you could, what then? You gonna lock him in the shed like you did as a kid? Beat him? He’s a pretty kind man right now, but given enough time, you should be able to make him mean. And on that day, he’ll kill you. Let him go. Let ’em all go.”

“You want to have a son who’s a fag?”

She sighed. “I have a son who’s a fag whether I want it or not. You failed. Let him go.”

His voice got softer. “But this pervert will hurt him.”

“Oh, you mean like your pervert hurt you?”

Cassidy’s eyes got huge. “What did you say?”

“Give it up, Bill Ray. Michael, let him up.”

Mick shook his head. “I can’t let him hurt people I love, ma’am.”

“He won’t. Because now he knows that I know, and I’ll tell everyone why he hates homos so much if he doesn’t leave you alone.”

Cassidy gave a huge heave but still couldn’t lose his captor. “You will respect me, woman.”

She shook her head and tucked the gun in her purse. Mick grabbed Cassidy’s gun on the floor.

She folded her arms. “I wish you knew how silly that sounds in the present circumstances. I’ve been married to you since I was a young girl, and I’ve respected and supported you as I was taught a wife should. I’ve even believed you. When that man came to our house telling us that our son was a homo, I thought I’d die, but then I prayed and God showed me the facts. This man is my son, and he’s a good person. Better than either of us, Bill Ray. So that’s evidence that what I’ve believed and what you’ve taught may not be altogether true. Regardless, you’re not going to hurt him or the people he loves, no matter what they may be. You will not because they won’t let you. And neither will I. Now let him up, Michael, and we’ll leave you to your life.”

Mick looked pretty stunned, but he slowly got off the preacher. Bill Ray leaped to his feet, and Mick held the gun pointed toward him. “I may hate guns, but as you’ll remember, I know how to use them.”

Mick’s mother pointed to the door. “Get out of here, Bill Ray.”

He glared at her. “You’ll pay for this.”

“I doubt it, and if I do, it will be at God’s hands, not yours.”

Cassidy looked furious, but he marched out the door.

Mick looked at his mother. “I hope it isn’t too bad for you at home.”

She smiled, but it was hard-looking. “A few things need to change around there. I’ve always had the ammunition, but I’ve never used it. I will if I have to.”

Man, Jerry wanted to ask for details, but it wasn’t his place.

The tall woman stared at Mick. “I hope things go well for you. Maybe call me sometimes.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

She walked out the door. It was no big family send-off, but hell, it was better than the last time Jerry left home.

For a second, Mick stared at the door. Then he took two giant steps toward Jerry and scooped him up until only his toes touched the floor and his body was squashed against Mick’s hard chest. “Oh God, I’m so sorry to have put you in danger.”

Jerry wrapped his arms around Mick’s neck and hugged. “You kidding, man? I’ll get threatened with death any day if it makes you admit you love me.”

Mick grinned. “Really?”

“Well, once is probably enough, but it did the job.”

“You’re shaking.”

“It’s all happiness, man.”

Jezebel walked over and tried to wrap her arms around both of them, but she only got less than halfway. “Okay, you two, get a room.”

Mick let Jerry’s feet plant on the floor, and they each opened one arm to pull Jezebel into their group hug. Jerry could feel her shuddering. “You okay?”

She nodded against Mick’s shoulder. “I’ve never been so scared.”

Jerry nodded. “I was pretty shitless myself.”

“You didn’t seem like it.”

“I’ve been close to death recently, so I had practice. And I kept thinking that Mick was gonna come up those stairs and save me.”

Mick frowned. “He probably would have shot me if you hadn’t hit him with your crutch.”

“Nah, you took him down.”

Jezebel shook her head. “I’ve never seen two guys try so hard not to be heroes.”

Mick touched Jerry’s face. “Jerry’s my hero. He’s the man I most want to be like.”

Jerry stared up into those green eyes. Never in his life had anyone wanted to be like him. “That’s the best thing I ever heard.”

Mick released his hold. “Do you think we should call the police about my father?”

Jerry looked up at Mick’s face. “Do you want to? It’ll be tough to prove he threatened us, and the police can be hard on gay guys. Besides, I think your mom may have a handle on this.”

“Yeah. That was really a shock. Do you think…?”

Jerry shrugged. “No telling unless she talks.”

“I’d hate for him to hurt any more people.”

“I’m betting he doesn’t want her telling the truth. That’s a lot of leverage, man.”

“If she uses it.”

“I know a couple guys in the PD. Maybe they can plant a few seeds with the Norco PD to keep an eye on your father and his people.”

Mick smiled, and Jerry could feel his relief. “That would be great. Thank you.” He touched Jerry’s cheek.

Jezebel tapped Mick’s shoulder. “Now that I can breathe again, I think I better plan my life. No going home. Will you take me over to the gallery? Rod says he knows somebody who might have a room for me to rent.”

Jerry looked around at the one-room apartment. “Why don’t you stay here?”

She frowned. “Not exactly accommodations for a roommate.”

“Well, I was thinking how I have such a big apartment, and it’s all nicely decorated and has two bedrooms and all. Maybe Mick wants to stay with me and you could have this place?” He looked up at Mick. “I don’t want to rush you, but you could have the second bedroom.” He grinned. “Until you know for sure if you’re gay.”

Mick’s eyes glittered. “You’d really want me?”

“More than, man.”

Jezebel laughed. “In that case, I’ll help you move.”