Foxe Hunt (21 page)

“Skyler, this is breaking and entering.”

“But the door is open.”

“It’s still breaking and entering. I thought we were just going to look around.”

“We are. Inside. A little.”

“Skyler,” said Rodolfo in a harsh whisper. “This can get you
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into lots of trouble.”

“I’m just going to look.” They both stared at him. “A really quick look and then we’re out of here.”

“I don’t know what you expect to find,” said Rodolfo, leaning against the doorway as Skyler took a few steps over the threshold.

He clicked his flashlight on and moved it around. Lots of plants.

Expected. Wait a minute.

“Dude. Do these look like orchids to you?”

They both stuck their heads in, careful not to cross the threshold. Skyler shined his light on the nearest row of plants in boxes. They were bunched together on long wooden planks with tubes of drip lines strung along them. The potted plants seemed to go on for a long way, row after row of them.

“Skyler,” whispered Jamie. “These look like—”

“Marijuana,” said Skyler. Lots and lots of marijuana plants.

§ § §

Back by the car, the three got in and faced each other in the dark. “We should call the police,” said Rodolfo, the surprising voice of reason.

Skyler shook his head. “But I’ve got my fingerprints on the doors and locks. That’s the last thing I need.”

Jamie was biting his fingernail. “Maybe we should tell Sidney.”

“That’s the same as calling the cops, you do realize.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Rodolfo suddenly smacked Skyler upside the head.

“Hey! What’s that for?”

“Why did you take us along on this? We could all get into trouble.”

“I didn’t know we’d find that!” But now he had to think. Why did Evan have that card? Was it to get illegal weed from these guys? Did he need it for the pain? Was he going to sell the stuff to subsidize their dwindling income?

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“Shit. I think Evan was going to sell the stuff.”

“You can’t be sure of that,” said Jamie.

“Oh!” Rodolfo clutched Skyler’s shoulder painfully. “That’s why they killed him! To shut him up.”

Skyler pried the man’s fingers from him. “But if he was going to sell the stuff, why would they want to shut him up?”

“Oh. You’re right. You are good at this, Skyler.”

“No, I’m not. I think I’ve only scratched the surface. Let’s go home. I’ve got to think.”

§ § §

While Jamie and Rodolfo chatted on the way home, Skyler put his mind to the problem. It seemed likely that Evan was going to go into business. Was it these guys that killed him? Maybe it had nothing to do with his murder. He had to talk more with Jeff.

When his friends left, he turned on his phone and then looked at the clock. It was getting late and maybe he didn’t need to disturb Jeff just now. He put down the phone and sat back on his sofa. He wondered what Keith was doing right now, and with a weirdly pleasant glow in his chest, he thought that the man might be thinking about him, too. Keith was a really special guy.

Smart, funny, sooo good-looking. Such a jock.

He found himself thinking of Rick and his jock boyfriend.

They were opposites. One tall and thin, the other stocky. One smart, the other a jock. But they seemed to go together. It was really sweet the way Rick interacted with Alex. He hoped it lasted between them. And thinking of Keith, Skyler hoped it lasted between them, too. He realized he hardly knew the guy but he wanted to get to know him. He couldn’t wait to meet Keith’s best friends. Two lesbians, huh? He wondered how Sidney would react to that. Of course, she might have a boyfriend, too, by then.

Everything was changing, but now it didn’t seem to be as scary as he once thought it might be.

Before Skyler knew it, all of these disparate people were all soon to come together as a makeshift family. And, strange to
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think of it, it was all because of Skyler.

“Weird,” he said to the empty room.

§ § §

Weirder still, late afternoon the next day, Skyler saw that orchid farm van parked across the street again and he decided to stake it out.

He tried to be casual as he hung out in front of the school after the last bell, even had the chance to talk to a couple of kids from his junior class and keep half an eye on the van, when he saw the assistant coach Ed Fallows talking at the curb with fellow coach Mac Simpson. They bid their farewells before Ed looked both ways and then crossed the street. He got into the van and drove away.

Huh?

“What’s so interesting over there?” came Keith’s voice at his ear.

He jumped. “Jesus! Why does everyone like to sneak up on me?”

“Sorry,” he said with a chuckle. “But you were so concentrated on something.”

“Oh, I just noticed one of your coaches, Ed Fallows I think the guy’s name is, get into a van from some orchid farm and drive away.”

“That’s because he only works here part time. Most of the assistant coaches have other jobs. Ed works at that farm. They’re offering a discount to the school for the Winter Formal.”

“He works there, huh?”

“Yeah. Why so interested? Gonna bring me flowers?”

Skyler reddened. “No! I mean…d-do you w-want—”

“Relax, Skyler.”

“Oh. Okay.” He tried not to look too relieved. “I guess I didn’t realize. I mean I thought all the football staff were full time.”

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“If I didn’t teach biology I’d be working somewhere else, too.”

“God, that’s terrible. You work darned hard on the field with those kids.”

He smiled, cheeks glowing. “Thanks. I love those kids. It’s a great job, even at part time status.”

“You’re really into football. If we hang around long enough, you’re going to make me watch a game on TV, aren’t you?”

“Yup. Steelers are playing next Monday. Shall I bring over beer and sandwiches?”

Skyler grinned. It seemed like such a jock thing to do. Why not? “Yeah, okay.”

“Great… Whoa. Who’s this guy?”

Skyler turned and saw James Fischer stride up the front path to the main building. He spotted Skyler and headed straight toward him.

Shit! Should he run?

His fear made up his mind for him and he stood rooted to the spot.

Fischer wasn’t swinging fists. In fact, he looked contrite. “Mr.

Foxe, can we talk?”

“Just talk?” he asked cautiously.

“Yes, just talk.”

Skyler looked at Keith, who got the hint and wandered away, calling to some boys to stop roughhousing.

“Look, Mr. Foxe, I really apologize for the other day. I don’t know what came over me. It was completely unprofessional and uncharacteristic.”

Skyler couldn’t help it. The bitch just couldn’t wait to crawl out of his mouth. “I think some homophobic bullshit came over you.” And then he crossed his arms.

“Okay, I deserve that. I’m a kind of religious guy, been surrounded all my life with the military, and I just see gays as a detriment to discipline.” He seemed contrite in his words, but Skyler missed the sincerity in his bearing. He got the feeling it was staged, as if he were following a script.

“I guess you’re entitled to your opinion, no matter how stupid and small-minded it is.”

“Look, I’m trying to apologize here. I’ve seen the damage of gays in the military. I’ve seen the damage in a young life when they make that choice.”

“It’s not a choice. And there are probably thousands of gays in the military and they serve with honors and no one ever knows that the guy or girl beside them is gay. Because it doesn’t effing matter!”

“Don’t get excited.”

“You
hit
me,” he said as firmly but as quietly as he could.

“I know. And that was way out of line. So I am apologizing and I would like you to reconsider pressing charges.”

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Not that he was pressing charges. “Oh really?”

“Yes. I don’t want this going on my record.”

“Oh that’s a shame. Because your boss really should know what an asshole he has working under him.”

“Mr. Foxe.” He looked to be struggling to remain polite.

“Please. I’m asking as a personal favor—”

He pointed to his black eye. “May I remind you that you fucking
hit
me?”

“He did
what
?”

Shit. Keith, suddenly right behind him.

“I
knew
you were lying to me,” he growled and pushed Skyler out of the way and went nose to nose with Fischer. “Want to try hitting
me
, asshole? Huh?”

“Look, mister, I don’t want any trouble with you. This is between Mr. Foxe and me.”

“Oh no. I am very much afraid it’s now between you and
me
.”

“Keith! Don’t. People are beginning to look.” And gather.

The students, like hungry sharks, sensed blood in the water and they began cautiously approaching, making a wide circle around them.

Keith hands closed into fists and he clamped his mouth shut.

But Fischer was looking from Keith to Skyler, all pretense of contrition falling away. “Oh for the love of Jesus. You, too? Is this whole town full of fairies now? I remember when this was a god-fearing neighborhood.”

Skyler pushed Keith back, and it wasn’t easy. “Leave, Fischer.

Or I’ll call a cop! Now!”

Fischer snorted as he turned. He didn’t seem one iota afraid of Keith or his fists. “Jesus H. Christ! Fucking fairies. You know what? Okay. I don’t give a shit what you do. Call the cops. Press charges. And I’ll tell you something else. Fargo had it coming.

Yeah, that’s right. Too bad they didn’t get the other one, too. That would have solved everyone’s problems.”

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Skyler didn’t know what came over him. The one minute he was standing there, trying to keep Keith from hitting the guy, and the next minute he was swinging his own fist.

Except he missed.

He spun 360 degrees and slipped on the grass. Fischer howled with laughter. “Fucking sad.”

The security guard trotted forward at last, standing between a furious Keith and Fischer. “Sir? I’m here to escort you off the property.” His hand was on his Taser.

“No, need officer. I’m on my way.”

They both watched Fischer leave followed by the security guard, and when he was in his car, Keith turned on Skyler with a black expression. “Care to explain that? How about not lying this time?”

Kids were whistling and catcalling. Some were deriding Skyler but still others were saying, “Go, Mr. Foxe!” Skyler was still flushed from having his blood up…and missing the chance to do anything about it. And then a wave of embarrassment at his actions in front of the students made him redder still.

“Shouldn’t you all be going home?” yelled Keith to the crowd.

“Or would you all rather be running laps?”

The crowd quickly dispersed, but some hung around on the sidewalk, outside the sphere of the school’s influence.

Skyler turned and stomped toward the gym. He shook out his arms and blew out a breath. He was shaking all over. Must have been the adrenaline. Damn. He’d never gotten physical before, not like that. He almost actually punched the guy! Except that he never even got close to him. But he
almost
did.

No one was in the boys’ locker room when they got inside.

Keith suddenly grabbed Skyler’s arm and spun him. “So he hit you. There was no accident with Jamie.”

“Yes. I’m sorry I lied to you but I wanted to prevent that very scene from taking place.”

“Skyler, why the hell did this guy hit you? Under what
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circumstances—”

“I was following up on some information about my friend’s murder. I thought that this guy might be responsible.”

“Wait. Wait. You thought this guy might be a murderer so you went to see him and got him so mad
he hit you
!”

Keith dragged his fingers through his hair in obvious frustration and walked in a circle, running shoes squelching on the damp cement floor. Facing Skyler again, he still looked murderous. “Skyler…Skyler…” He blinked in disbelief. “What the fuck! No investigating!”

“You’re not Sidney. You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Oh yeah? If you won’t listen to me I’ll call her.”

“No! Don’t do that!”

“Goddammit, Skyler.” He glared at him for a moment before engulfing him abruptly in his arms. All the air was whooshed out of him in that hug. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, do you understand?” he rasped in his ear. “I…dammit, I
care
about you.”

“I know,” came his muffled reply.

“There’s no reason to do this. Let the police do their job.”

“Okay.”

“Skyler, I mean it.”

“Keith…I can’t…breathe.”

He released him and Skyler fell back, breathing in great gulps of air. He held up his hand to the man who looked ready to grab him again.

“Look. These guys were important to me. And they got a very raw deal. I’d like to help them.”

“That’s very sweet of you but there must be some other way.”

He stared steadily at Keith. “I can promise…that I will try.”

“Skyler!”

“What if it was your friends, Keisha and Sheryl? Wouldn’t
you
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do something?”

That brought him up short. He could see Keith trying to find excuses and coming up empty. Finally, Keith heaved a big breath and lowered himself to a bench. “I wish you wouldn’t do this.”

“I kind of have no choice.”

“Don’t ever go alone. Not ever.”

“Okay. Good advice.”

He shook his head, obviously still angry and probably angrier that he was impotent to stop Skyler. Skyler kicked at the floor, scuffing the cement. “I gotta go. So…I’ll see you later? Weren’t you going to come over…or would you rather not?”

“No. I’ll come over.”

“Good. I’ll see you in a little bit, then.”

Keith said nothing. He fumed quietly to himself on his bench while Skyler hurried out of the gym.

§ § §

Skyler worried what they were going to talk about. He didn’t want a long night of Keith trying to talk him out of doing what he knew he had to do. It was bad enough Sidney pushing him around; he didn’t need it from Keith, too.