Life After Love ~ Chapter 24
Title: Life After Love Chapter 24
Sequel to: Lost in Life
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary of Story: WIP. Kris and Adam are moving on with their lives, jumping into a new venture that promises so much, but the past comes back to haunt them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the real people involved, only those I’ve created.
Warnings: angst, violence, language DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. Additional warnings will be posted when warranted.
Recap of Chapter 23 ~ Ken tells Christine everything and though shocked, she supports him ~♥~ Ken and Peter tell Adam and Kris and as well, the boys are shocked still support Ken ~♥~ Adam does his interview and says he wishes those who got away would pay ~♥~ go to police, Adam tells them he thinks all the past incidents are connected and that Malcolm is behind it ~♥~ 19E sends body guards, boys are scared
MASTERLIST ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/39293.html#cutid1
:::: ♥♥ ::::
It was a beautiful summer morning, the sky brilliant blue with a dusting of clouds and a warm breeze and Adam and Kris locked themselves behind the kitchen patio doors, watching from inside and safe.
Neither of them had really said anything of substance, just small talk, since they left the police station last night. The slept the night in the guest room and this morning had already fielded calls from Neil, Monte and Charlie, assuring them they were safe and that the police had it covered. Adam wasn’t sure they all bought that but Monte and Charlie accepted it grudgingly and said they’d call back later. Neil, on the other hand, couldn’t refrain from expressing exactly what he thought and what he wanted to do to Malcolm Cavanaugh. Adam appreciated the love behind it.
“So, what’s on the schedule today?” Kris asked, playing with his wedge of toast instead of eating it.
“Going into the studio … oh shit, in all this mess I completely forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“That meeting I had with the producer a couple of days ago?”
“Yeah, yeah, the one you had to go to the morning after Ken took off. Something happen?”
“I forgot to tell you I’ll be going to San Francisco in just under two weeks to do some recording.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “Well, I’m just going to have to cancel, that’s all.”
Kris reached out and took his hand. “You’ll do no such thing. There is no way I’m letting this asshole ruin our lives any more than they have. You keep on doing what you have to do and so will I. Besides, if you get a day of, you can go to Napa and check out Christine’s family B&B. The wedding is sneaking up on us and we haven’t really planned anything.”
Adam chewed his bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking about that and I’m not sure Napa is the right place to get married.”
“Adam ….”
“Hold on … hear me out … I’d been thinking about this for the last few weeks, before any of this shit came down on us. You have to agree that we’ve both been a lot busier lately … busier than we ever thought.”
Kris nodded his agreement but he didn’t look very happy.
“There is no way I’m going to miss out on making you my husband but perhaps we should chose someplace a little closer to home.”
“Like our backyard?” Kris joked.
Adam laughed, for the first time in what seemed like weeks. “I wasn’t thinking that close. Just someplace that wouldn’t take us at least a day to get to or requires air travel. I hope you’re not pissed at me. If you really want to get married in Napa, I’m sure we can work it out.”
Kris got up and sat in Adam’s lap, wrapping his arms around his neck. “It doesn’t matter to me where we get married as long as we do.” They leaned in and kissed, abruptly breaking apart when a man appeared on their patio. It was just Bert or Ernie checking around the house but it still ruined the moment. “I suppose we should start doing our homework online and find a place. With a little over a month’s notice, we might have a hard time finding something we like.”
“Don’t worry baby, I’m sure we’ll find someplace beautiful.”
The phone rang and Kris answered it. Adam went back to his breakfast, thinking of venues. When Kris came back, the joy that had earlier been in his brown eyes had dulled somewhat.
“That was Lane. She said not to leave the house until they send over my bodyguard.”
“Your what? But we already have security ~ Bert and Ernie.”
“Bert and Ernie are sticking with you. ‘Grover’ is coming with me.”
Adam stood and enveloped his man in a tight hug. “I hate this but at least I’ll know you’re safe.”
“Same here.” Kris kissed his cheek. “I better get changed for work. Want to join me in the shower?”
“You get started; I have a phone call to make.”
Finding the phone on the couch where Kris had tossed it, Adam made a long overdue call to his lawyer.
“James … I was wondering if you could stop by the house tonight, say around 9:30? I have some unfinished business to take care of.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
So far, it had been as normal a day as possible with a six foot four bodyguard shadowing him everywhere. Kris tried to ignore him, and did so successfully, except when he turned too fast and found himself nose to chest. He knew Grover was there to protect him but he didn’t need to be in his pocket. Luckily, when Kris explained this, Grover gave him his space but Kris was never out of his eyesight.
Around 6pm as the supper crowd was coming in, Kris got an unexpected visitor.
“Det. Warner, has something happened?”
“Mr. Allen,” she replied professionally, shaking his hand. “I was wondering if I could have a moment to talk to you and Mr. Lambert.”
“Adam’s working in the studio today.”
“Oh, that explains why I couldn’t get hold of him. Can we go somewhere quiet to talk?”
“Of course. Let’s go to my office.”
They headed up the stairs and Grover materialized beside them.
“She’s a detective … I’m good.”
Grover nodded and remained at the bottom of the stairs.
“Who’s that?”
“My bodyguard.”
“Bodyguard?”
“Adam’s studio sent him to watch over me. Adam’s got a matching pair.”
Once in his office, Kris offered her some coffee and she accepted. With steaming mugs in hand, she explained her visit.
“Our best leads right now are that story someone tried to sell and the DVD itself. We have contacted the media outlets who were offered the piece and asked for any information they had. We’ve also interviewed the editor who did bite.”
“What did he have to say?”
“Not much but he did give us the email and the bank account number he was asked to deposit the money in. Not surprisingly, the accounts no longer exist but we were able to trace them to the East Coast.” She took a sip of her coffee. “We’re also analyzing the DVD content as well as the disc itself.”
“Did you find anything around our house?”
“Not much. The fingerprints in the house are all accounted for but we did find deep footprints outside your bedroom window, as if someone large stood there for an extended period of time. We made a cast and are looking for a match. As for Malcolm Cavanaugh….”
“Yes?”
“It’s looking more and more like he’s not behind any of this.”
“But it has to be him! Who else would do this? Are you positive?”
“I finished talking to the prison warden just before I came here. It seems Mr. Cavanaugh isn’t a very popular man.”
“We could have told you that.”
“Yes. He hasn’t received or sent any mail, there have been no phone calls going in or out, and no visitors. He’s also spending a lot of time in solitary confinement. He keeps pissing off other prisoners bigger than he is. I just don’t see how he could be instigating anything from the inside.”
Not long after that she was on her way, promising to stay in touch. Kris went back to work but his mind wasn’t in it. Adam and Glamily weren’t performing that night and it seemed to a relatively quiet crowd so he decided to head home early, leaving Charlie in charge.
When he got back to the house, he spotted another car in the driveway. Grover told Kris to stay in the car and he went over to consult Bert and Ernie. Kris recognized the car as James’ but stayed put until Grover came back and told him what he already knew. They said goodnight and Grover left, leaving the other two to watch over them.
Kris found the two men in the living room, looking pretty serious. Obviously it wasn’t a friendly visit.
“Hey James.”
“Kris … great to see you.”
“Hi baby.”
“Hey.”
Kris sat beside his man and gave him a quick kiss. “What’s up?”
“I asked James to come over for some advice.” He paused and took Kris’ hand. “I’m thinking of suing Jerry and Margaret.”
Kris wasn’t surprised, especially after Adam brought it up during the interview.
“Do we have any clue where they are?”
“Not at the moment,” James answered, “but it shouldn’t be too hard to find out … everyone leaves a paper trail of some kind.”
Taking a moment, Kris told them about his visit from Det. Warner and the revelation that Malcolm probably didn’t have anything to do with this mess.
“Do you think those two could be behind it?” he asked.
“Margaret may be a bitch but I honestly don’t think she would resort to this level. Jerry, wouldn’t blink an eyelid.”
“Oh, Det Warner said they traced the person who tried to sell the story to the East Coast. That could be a good place to start.”
They continued talking for an hour before James had to go. After seeing him off, the men both showered and climbed into bed with their laptop.
“Okay,” Adam began, fingers arched gracefully over the keyboard, “wedding venues for the Greater Los Angeles area.” He typed it in and they clicked on the first link they saw ~ herecomesthebride.com.
They went down the list, one by one, Kris with his cell in hand entering the names and addresses of places that looked good on the screen. The choices were varied ~ clubs, hotels, country clubs, ranches, gardens, restaurants, historic sites, even museums and colleges. It wasn’t as hard as they thought choosing a spot ~ the hardest would be finding the time to check them out in person and keeping their fingers crossed that they had openings on their set date.
By the time they finished, the boys has selected five venues in Los Angeles, one in West Hollywood, one in Beverley Hills, one in Marina del Rey and three in Malibu. Tomorrow, they’d make calls to see which were available on their day and then they would go see them in person.
“What about the rest of it?” Kris asked, “Catering, flowers, suits … the honeymoon?”
“Maybe Antonio could oversee the food and we can use our bakery connection for the cake. I’m sure Peter can hook us up with the florist that supplies Adagio and I’ve never had a problem shopping. As for our honeymoon, anywhere we can love and hold each other will be perfect.”
They hugged warmly and Kris sent out a prayer for no uninvited guests.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“Anyone for more pie?”
“I’m good thanks.”
“Me too. It was a wonderful dinner Serena.”
“Thanks Kris. Peter, why don’t you take everyone into the living room and I’ll bring in the coffee.”
“Can I help?”
“Thanks Christine.”
Despite the years of friendship, there was still tension in the air and not all of it was related to Adam’s interview coming on in fifteen minutes. Adam and Kris had been planning on watching the interview alone but Peter insisted they have their friends around. Besides, they hadn’t all gotten together since the meeting in Kris’ office. Neil was going to join them but got a last minute assignment and had flown out the night before. He promised to watch and call with his two cents worth.
The conversation was polite and remained lighthearted, steering away from the underlying issues the circle was dealing with. In the past, there would have been laughter and affection; tonight, there were guarded smiles and limited contact. At one point Peter thought maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea until Ken asked Adam how his recording was doing and Adam couldn’t contain himself, sharing his excitement.
It was kind of like old times. Music had brought the two friends together and that connection was just as strong as ever.
The ladies returned with the coffee just as the program began. The entire hour was about recovery after abuse and the opening introduced the upcoming segments, including Adam’s. When his part finally came on, Adam couldn’t sit still. He wandered around the room, looking at things he’d seen dozens of times but listening all the time.
“Did you really mean what you said at the end?” Ken asked.
“I talked with James a couple of days ago. If Jerry and Margaret are still walking this earth, they’ll be found, especially now that the police believe Malcolm isn’t behind all this.”
“That’s good, though I can’t picture Margaret doing this, even for Malcolm. Jerry, on the other hand ….”
“Who are Margaret and Jerry?” Christine asked, not having been around during the Cavanaugh Club days.
“Margaret is, or was, Malcolm’s girlfriend. I don’t know exactly how much she knew but he used to let her … watch when he … and sometimes she’d be in the bed with us and … anyway, she left him before all hell broke loose.” Kris went over to Adam and placed an arm around him. “Jerry was Malcolm’s second in command. He used to drive the two of us over to Malcolm’s place and he set up the meetings with the ‘clientele’ I thought I had to service. There’s no doubt in my mind he knew about the fake contract the entire time. He was even the one who found me working in a hotel and gave me Malcolm’s business card, saying his boss would really like me.” He laughed sadly. “And I thought he was talking about my singing.”
“You know, in a way I kind of hope its one of them,” Kris mused. “At least we’d know who we were up against.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“Get dressed!”
“Pardon me?”
“I said get dressed. My ‘appointment’ for tonight got cancelled so let’s go out.”
Margaret hurried off to the bedroom. Life was good ~ he had his girl, he had a good job, and back in LA, people he despised were miserable. Even though the tabloid story got cut off at the knees, he’d been successful with the DVD and ruining Dr. Milner. Since that first phone call he’d made the day after, he’d made a few others and each time, the snooty secretary said the good doctor was on a leave of absence. Jerry was dying to know more details but couldn’t figure out how to get them. He tried Sara again but she was refusing to talk to him.
No big lose. He had Maggie to bury his cock in now.
The couple went to a restaurant near their apartment and got their usual cozy booth in the corner. They placed their drink orders then started making out. They’d been there many times and always ordered the same thing. Jerry ran his hand under her skirt and stroked her through her panties.
“That’s not for dinner Jerry but if you’re a good boy, it could be dessert,” she whispered, giving him a stroke or two herself.
The drinks and appetizers came and they ate, talking about plans for the following week. Margaret excused herself to use the ladies room and Jerry let his eyes roam over the room. There was a guy sitting at the bar eating a burger. He looked familiar and Jerry got up, slowly circling him without being too obvious. Finally he took the empty seat beside him and ordered another drink, taking the chance to look the guy straight in the face.
What the fuck was he doing here? He supposed to be in LA.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Neil Lambert took a drink of his beer. “Go ahead.”
Jerry sat. The two men had never met and obviously Adam hadn’t shown his brother a picture of him since the guy wasn’t trying to shove a fist down his throat. They looked straight ahead, not bothering with small talk. Lambert’s phone rang and Jerry eavesdropped.
“Hey Ad … I’m getting a bite … no, no I didn’t forget, I’ll be watching … yeah, yeah I’ll call you right after, let you know what I think … I’m sure its going to be fine … yeah, I know, ten o’clock, channel 7 … right … bye.”
A hand on his shoulder drew Jerry’s attention away just as Neil got up and left.
“Someone you know?”
“No, just getting another drink.”
They went back to their booth where the server was setting out their dinner. Jerry thought about the conversation. It sounded like Lambert was going to be on television tonight. Curiosity ate away at him and he asked Margaret if she’d mind heading home after dinner. He was feeling tired and just wanted to relax.
She could have bitched but said it was fine with her. A quiet evening at home with him was rare and she wouldn’t mind curling up in front of the TV.
They got home about 9:50. Margaret went to get changed and Jerry grabbed the remote, clicking on channel 7. Some sitcom was ending and he got an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Somehow, he didn’t think Adam had started acting.
Right at 10pm, the newsmagazine came on and announced their special on overcoming abuse. A summary was given as well as the names of those they were talking to.
“Did I just hear Adam Lambert’s name?” Margaret asked from the doorway.
Jerry saw the surprise and curiosity on her face.
“I, ah, think so … I wasn’t really paying attention.” He lifted the remote. “Let’s see what else is on.”
“Wait!” She moved closer. “Could we … would you mind … I know you don’t like him ….”
“That’s an understatement,” he muttered under his breath.
“I’d like to watch … I want to know how he’s doing after what ….”
Jerry got up and handed over the remote.
“Watch it if you want but I’m going to the bedroom to read.”
“You don’t mind?”
Of course I mind, he yelled in his head, that bitch ruined my life! Why the hell should I care how he’s doing unless his life is fuckeded up!
“I said watch it.”
He left and closed the door. Waiting a few minutes to make sure Margaret wasn’t going to follow him in, he turned on the TV in the bedroom and watched. Jerry kept the volume mute so he could hear if Margaret was coming his way, book open at his side just in case. When Adam’s interview came up, he turned up the volume only high enough for him to hear.
Jerry had read about the trial, not daring to get near it. When Malcolm was sentenced, he was worried his former boss would rat him out but he said nothing. Near the end of this whole episode, the man had been getting drunk constantly and wasn’t making sense, even when sober. Hopefully his mind went and he permanently forgot about the man who helped make the whole scheme possible.
Half heartedly, he listened about how Adam recovered with therapy ~ bully for him ~ and then the last question came up and he felt the oxygen sucked out of his lungs.
“Adam. Reflecting on all you’ve been through, are there any regrets? Is there something you wish had been done differently?”
“Would I have done anything different? Yeah, I think I would.”
“Like what?”
“What happened to me couldn’t have lasted so long if there weren’t others protecting Malcolm’s secret. Cavanaugh received his punishment but they didn’t.”
“What happened? Was it lack of evidence?”
“They simply disappeared and frankly, with the attack and my recovery and Malcolm’s trial on my mind, I guess making them pay too was the last thing on my mind.”
“So you’re saying then, if you had your way, they would be found, charged and put on trial as well.”
“Yes, I would.”
Shit.
“Jerry! Jerry!” Margaret screamed from the living room.
He rushed out and found her standing in front of the TV shaking. When she spotted him, she flung herself into his arms, crying.
“What are we going to do?! I don’t want to go to jail!”
What were they going to do indeed? He’d done his best to stay under the radar, keeping a low profile, making as little a paper trail as possible. He was pretty sure Margaret hadn’t been so cautious.
Well, that was her problem.
For his part, he was just going to lay off going after the kid. There was no way the police could trace him, except through one person.
“Margaret, I think you need to leave.”
“Leave?”
“I mean move. It’s not safe for you here. Empty your bank accounts, destroy your credit cards and checks and change you name. Start over and you’ll be safe.”
“What about you? You’re in danger too.”
“I can take care of myself. You need to distance yourself.”
“Oh … okay. If you think it’s best. Come with me?”
“I can’t just pick up and leave. I have responsibilities.”
She pushed off him, fury in her eyes.
“Fine. Thanks for clearing up how you really feel about us.”
“You’ll thank me one day; it’s for the best.”
Especially for me.
Sequel to: Lost in Life
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary of Story: WIP. Kris and Adam are moving on with their lives, jumping into a new venture that promises so much, but the past comes back to haunt them.
Disclaimer: I do not own the real people involved, only those I’ve created.
Warnings: angst, violence, language DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS. Additional warnings will be posted when warranted.
Recap of Chapter 23 ~ Ken tells Christine everything and though shocked, she supports him ~♥~ Ken and Peter tell Adam and Kris and as well, the boys are shocked still support Ken ~♥~ Adam does his interview and says he wishes those who got away would pay ~♥~ go to police, Adam tells them he thinks all the past incidents are connected and that Malcolm is behind it ~♥~ 19E sends body guards, boys are scared
MASTERLIST ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/39293.html#cutid1
:::: ♥♥ ::::
It was a beautiful summer morning, the sky brilliant blue with a dusting of clouds and a warm breeze and Adam and Kris locked themselves behind the kitchen patio doors, watching from inside and safe.
Neither of them had really said anything of substance, just small talk, since they left the police station last night. The slept the night in the guest room and this morning had already fielded calls from Neil, Monte and Charlie, assuring them they were safe and that the police had it covered. Adam wasn’t sure they all bought that but Monte and Charlie accepted it grudgingly and said they’d call back later. Neil, on the other hand, couldn’t refrain from expressing exactly what he thought and what he wanted to do to Malcolm Cavanaugh. Adam appreciated the love behind it.
“So, what’s on the schedule today?” Kris asked, playing with his wedge of toast instead of eating it.
“Going into the studio … oh shit, in all this mess I completely forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“That meeting I had with the producer a couple of days ago?”
“Yeah, yeah, the one you had to go to the morning after Ken took off. Something happen?”
“I forgot to tell you I’ll be going to San Francisco in just under two weeks to do some recording.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “Well, I’m just going to have to cancel, that’s all.”
Kris reached out and took his hand. “You’ll do no such thing. There is no way I’m letting this asshole ruin our lives any more than they have. You keep on doing what you have to do and so will I. Besides, if you get a day of, you can go to Napa and check out Christine’s family B&B. The wedding is sneaking up on us and we haven’t really planned anything.”
Adam chewed his bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking about that and I’m not sure Napa is the right place to get married.”
“Adam ….”
“Hold on … hear me out … I’d been thinking about this for the last few weeks, before any of this shit came down on us. You have to agree that we’ve both been a lot busier lately … busier than we ever thought.”
Kris nodded his agreement but he didn’t look very happy.
“There is no way I’m going to miss out on making you my husband but perhaps we should chose someplace a little closer to home.”
“Like our backyard?” Kris joked.
Adam laughed, for the first time in what seemed like weeks. “I wasn’t thinking that close. Just someplace that wouldn’t take us at least a day to get to or requires air travel. I hope you’re not pissed at me. If you really want to get married in Napa, I’m sure we can work it out.”
Kris got up and sat in Adam’s lap, wrapping his arms around his neck. “It doesn’t matter to me where we get married as long as we do.” They leaned in and kissed, abruptly breaking apart when a man appeared on their patio. It was just Bert or Ernie checking around the house but it still ruined the moment. “I suppose we should start doing our homework online and find a place. With a little over a month’s notice, we might have a hard time finding something we like.”
“Don’t worry baby, I’m sure we’ll find someplace beautiful.”
The phone rang and Kris answered it. Adam went back to his breakfast, thinking of venues. When Kris came back, the joy that had earlier been in his brown eyes had dulled somewhat.
“That was Lane. She said not to leave the house until they send over my bodyguard.”
“Your what? But we already have security ~ Bert and Ernie.”
“Bert and Ernie are sticking with you. ‘Grover’ is coming with me.”
Adam stood and enveloped his man in a tight hug. “I hate this but at least I’ll know you’re safe.”
“Same here.” Kris kissed his cheek. “I better get changed for work. Want to join me in the shower?”
“You get started; I have a phone call to make.”
Finding the phone on the couch where Kris had tossed it, Adam made a long overdue call to his lawyer.
“James … I was wondering if you could stop by the house tonight, say around 9:30? I have some unfinished business to take care of.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
So far, it had been as normal a day as possible with a six foot four bodyguard shadowing him everywhere. Kris tried to ignore him, and did so successfully, except when he turned too fast and found himself nose to chest. He knew Grover was there to protect him but he didn’t need to be in his pocket. Luckily, when Kris explained this, Grover gave him his space but Kris was never out of his eyesight.
Around 6pm as the supper crowd was coming in, Kris got an unexpected visitor.
“Det. Warner, has something happened?”
“Mr. Allen,” she replied professionally, shaking his hand. “I was wondering if I could have a moment to talk to you and Mr. Lambert.”
“Adam’s working in the studio today.”
“Oh, that explains why I couldn’t get hold of him. Can we go somewhere quiet to talk?”
“Of course. Let’s go to my office.”
They headed up the stairs and Grover materialized beside them.
“She’s a detective … I’m good.”
Grover nodded and remained at the bottom of the stairs.
“Who’s that?”
“My bodyguard.”
“Bodyguard?”
“Adam’s studio sent him to watch over me. Adam’s got a matching pair.”
Once in his office, Kris offered her some coffee and she accepted. With steaming mugs in hand, she explained her visit.
“Our best leads right now are that story someone tried to sell and the DVD itself. We have contacted the media outlets who were offered the piece and asked for any information they had. We’ve also interviewed the editor who did bite.”
“What did he have to say?”
“Not much but he did give us the email and the bank account number he was asked to deposit the money in. Not surprisingly, the accounts no longer exist but we were able to trace them to the East Coast.” She took a sip of her coffee. “We’re also analyzing the DVD content as well as the disc itself.”
“Did you find anything around our house?”
“Not much. The fingerprints in the house are all accounted for but we did find deep footprints outside your bedroom window, as if someone large stood there for an extended period of time. We made a cast and are looking for a match. As for Malcolm Cavanaugh….”
“Yes?”
“It’s looking more and more like he’s not behind any of this.”
“But it has to be him! Who else would do this? Are you positive?”
“I finished talking to the prison warden just before I came here. It seems Mr. Cavanaugh isn’t a very popular man.”
“We could have told you that.”
“Yes. He hasn’t received or sent any mail, there have been no phone calls going in or out, and no visitors. He’s also spending a lot of time in solitary confinement. He keeps pissing off other prisoners bigger than he is. I just don’t see how he could be instigating anything from the inside.”
Not long after that she was on her way, promising to stay in touch. Kris went back to work but his mind wasn’t in it. Adam and Glamily weren’t performing that night and it seemed to a relatively quiet crowd so he decided to head home early, leaving Charlie in charge.
When he got back to the house, he spotted another car in the driveway. Grover told Kris to stay in the car and he went over to consult Bert and Ernie. Kris recognized the car as James’ but stayed put until Grover came back and told him what he already knew. They said goodnight and Grover left, leaving the other two to watch over them.
Kris found the two men in the living room, looking pretty serious. Obviously it wasn’t a friendly visit.
“Hey James.”
“Kris … great to see you.”
“Hi baby.”
“Hey.”
Kris sat beside his man and gave him a quick kiss. “What’s up?”
“I asked James to come over for some advice.” He paused and took Kris’ hand. “I’m thinking of suing Jerry and Margaret.”
Kris wasn’t surprised, especially after Adam brought it up during the interview.
“Do we have any clue where they are?”
“Not at the moment,” James answered, “but it shouldn’t be too hard to find out … everyone leaves a paper trail of some kind.”
Taking a moment, Kris told them about his visit from Det. Warner and the revelation that Malcolm probably didn’t have anything to do with this mess.
“Do you think those two could be behind it?” he asked.
“Margaret may be a bitch but I honestly don’t think she would resort to this level. Jerry, wouldn’t blink an eyelid.”
“Oh, Det Warner said they traced the person who tried to sell the story to the East Coast. That could be a good place to start.”
They continued talking for an hour before James had to go. After seeing him off, the men both showered and climbed into bed with their laptop.
“Okay,” Adam began, fingers arched gracefully over the keyboard, “wedding venues for the Greater Los Angeles area.” He typed it in and they clicked on the first link they saw ~ herecomesthebride.com.
They went down the list, one by one, Kris with his cell in hand entering the names and addresses of places that looked good on the screen. The choices were varied ~ clubs, hotels, country clubs, ranches, gardens, restaurants, historic sites, even museums and colleges. It wasn’t as hard as they thought choosing a spot ~ the hardest would be finding the time to check them out in person and keeping their fingers crossed that they had openings on their set date.
By the time they finished, the boys has selected five venues in Los Angeles, one in West Hollywood, one in Beverley Hills, one in Marina del Rey and three in Malibu. Tomorrow, they’d make calls to see which were available on their day and then they would go see them in person.
“What about the rest of it?” Kris asked, “Catering, flowers, suits … the honeymoon?”
“Maybe Antonio could oversee the food and we can use our bakery connection for the cake. I’m sure Peter can hook us up with the florist that supplies Adagio and I’ve never had a problem shopping. As for our honeymoon, anywhere we can love and hold each other will be perfect.”
They hugged warmly and Kris sent out a prayer for no uninvited guests.
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“Anyone for more pie?”
“I’m good thanks.”
“Me too. It was a wonderful dinner Serena.”
“Thanks Kris. Peter, why don’t you take everyone into the living room and I’ll bring in the coffee.”
“Can I help?”
“Thanks Christine.”
Despite the years of friendship, there was still tension in the air and not all of it was related to Adam’s interview coming on in fifteen minutes. Adam and Kris had been planning on watching the interview alone but Peter insisted they have their friends around. Besides, they hadn’t all gotten together since the meeting in Kris’ office. Neil was going to join them but got a last minute assignment and had flown out the night before. He promised to watch and call with his two cents worth.
The conversation was polite and remained lighthearted, steering away from the underlying issues the circle was dealing with. In the past, there would have been laughter and affection; tonight, there were guarded smiles and limited contact. At one point Peter thought maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea until Ken asked Adam how his recording was doing and Adam couldn’t contain himself, sharing his excitement.
It was kind of like old times. Music had brought the two friends together and that connection was just as strong as ever.
The ladies returned with the coffee just as the program began. The entire hour was about recovery after abuse and the opening introduced the upcoming segments, including Adam’s. When his part finally came on, Adam couldn’t sit still. He wandered around the room, looking at things he’d seen dozens of times but listening all the time.
“Did you really mean what you said at the end?” Ken asked.
“I talked with James a couple of days ago. If Jerry and Margaret are still walking this earth, they’ll be found, especially now that the police believe Malcolm isn’t behind all this.”
“That’s good, though I can’t picture Margaret doing this, even for Malcolm. Jerry, on the other hand ….”
“Who are Margaret and Jerry?” Christine asked, not having been around during the Cavanaugh Club days.
“Margaret is, or was, Malcolm’s girlfriend. I don’t know exactly how much she knew but he used to let her … watch when he … and sometimes she’d be in the bed with us and … anyway, she left him before all hell broke loose.” Kris went over to Adam and placed an arm around him. “Jerry was Malcolm’s second in command. He used to drive the two of us over to Malcolm’s place and he set up the meetings with the ‘clientele’ I thought I had to service. There’s no doubt in my mind he knew about the fake contract the entire time. He was even the one who found me working in a hotel and gave me Malcolm’s business card, saying his boss would really like me.” He laughed sadly. “And I thought he was talking about my singing.”
“You know, in a way I kind of hope its one of them,” Kris mused. “At least we’d know who we were up against.”
:::: ♥♥ ::::
“Get dressed!”
“Pardon me?”
“I said get dressed. My ‘appointment’ for tonight got cancelled so let’s go out.”
Margaret hurried off to the bedroom. Life was good ~ he had his girl, he had a good job, and back in LA, people he despised were miserable. Even though the tabloid story got cut off at the knees, he’d been successful with the DVD and ruining Dr. Milner. Since that first phone call he’d made the day after, he’d made a few others and each time, the snooty secretary said the good doctor was on a leave of absence. Jerry was dying to know more details but couldn’t figure out how to get them. He tried Sara again but she was refusing to talk to him.
No big lose. He had Maggie to bury his cock in now.
The couple went to a restaurant near their apartment and got their usual cozy booth in the corner. They placed their drink orders then started making out. They’d been there many times and always ordered the same thing. Jerry ran his hand under her skirt and stroked her through her panties.
“That’s not for dinner Jerry but if you’re a good boy, it could be dessert,” she whispered, giving him a stroke or two herself.
The drinks and appetizers came and they ate, talking about plans for the following week. Margaret excused herself to use the ladies room and Jerry let his eyes roam over the room. There was a guy sitting at the bar eating a burger. He looked familiar and Jerry got up, slowly circling him without being too obvious. Finally he took the empty seat beside him and ordered another drink, taking the chance to look the guy straight in the face.
What the fuck was he doing here? He supposed to be in LA.
“Mind if I sit here?”
Neil Lambert took a drink of his beer. “Go ahead.”
Jerry sat. The two men had never met and obviously Adam hadn’t shown his brother a picture of him since the guy wasn’t trying to shove a fist down his throat. They looked straight ahead, not bothering with small talk. Lambert’s phone rang and Jerry eavesdropped.
“Hey Ad … I’m getting a bite … no, no I didn’t forget, I’ll be watching … yeah, yeah I’ll call you right after, let you know what I think … I’m sure its going to be fine … yeah, I know, ten o’clock, channel 7 … right … bye.”
A hand on his shoulder drew Jerry’s attention away just as Neil got up and left.
“Someone you know?”
“No, just getting another drink.”
They went back to their booth where the server was setting out their dinner. Jerry thought about the conversation. It sounded like Lambert was going to be on television tonight. Curiosity ate away at him and he asked Margaret if she’d mind heading home after dinner. He was feeling tired and just wanted to relax.
She could have bitched but said it was fine with her. A quiet evening at home with him was rare and she wouldn’t mind curling up in front of the TV.
They got home about 9:50. Margaret went to get changed and Jerry grabbed the remote, clicking on channel 7. Some sitcom was ending and he got an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Somehow, he didn’t think Adam had started acting.
Right at 10pm, the newsmagazine came on and announced their special on overcoming abuse. A summary was given as well as the names of those they were talking to.
“Did I just hear Adam Lambert’s name?” Margaret asked from the doorway.
Jerry saw the surprise and curiosity on her face.
“I, ah, think so … I wasn’t really paying attention.” He lifted the remote. “Let’s see what else is on.”
“Wait!” She moved closer. “Could we … would you mind … I know you don’t like him ….”
“That’s an understatement,” he muttered under his breath.
“I’d like to watch … I want to know how he’s doing after what ….”
Jerry got up and handed over the remote.
“Watch it if you want but I’m going to the bedroom to read.”
“You don’t mind?”
Of course I mind, he yelled in his head, that bitch ruined my life! Why the hell should I care how he’s doing unless his life is fuckeded up!
“I said watch it.”
He left and closed the door. Waiting a few minutes to make sure Margaret wasn’t going to follow him in, he turned on the TV in the bedroom and watched. Jerry kept the volume mute so he could hear if Margaret was coming his way, book open at his side just in case. When Adam’s interview came up, he turned up the volume only high enough for him to hear.
Jerry had read about the trial, not daring to get near it. When Malcolm was sentenced, he was worried his former boss would rat him out but he said nothing. Near the end of this whole episode, the man had been getting drunk constantly and wasn’t making sense, even when sober. Hopefully his mind went and he permanently forgot about the man who helped make the whole scheme possible.
Half heartedly, he listened about how Adam recovered with therapy ~ bully for him ~ and then the last question came up and he felt the oxygen sucked out of his lungs.
“Adam. Reflecting on all you’ve been through, are there any regrets? Is there something you wish had been done differently?”
“Would I have done anything different? Yeah, I think I would.”
“Like what?”
“What happened to me couldn’t have lasted so long if there weren’t others protecting Malcolm’s secret. Cavanaugh received his punishment but they didn’t.”
“What happened? Was it lack of evidence?”
“They simply disappeared and frankly, with the attack and my recovery and Malcolm’s trial on my mind, I guess making them pay too was the last thing on my mind.”
“So you’re saying then, if you had your way, they would be found, charged and put on trial as well.”
“Yes, I would.”
Shit.
“Jerry! Jerry!” Margaret screamed from the living room.
He rushed out and found her standing in front of the TV shaking. When she spotted him, she flung herself into his arms, crying.
“What are we going to do?! I don’t want to go to jail!”
What were they going to do indeed? He’d done his best to stay under the radar, keeping a low profile, making as little a paper trail as possible. He was pretty sure Margaret hadn’t been so cautious.
Well, that was her problem.
For his part, he was just going to lay off going after the kid. There was no way the police could trace him, except through one person.
“Margaret, I think you need to leave.”
“Leave?”
“I mean move. It’s not safe for you here. Empty your bank accounts, destroy your credit cards and checks and change you name. Start over and you’ll be safe.”
“What about you? You’re in danger too.”
“I can take care of myself. You need to distance yourself.”
“Oh … okay. If you think it’s best. Come with me?”
“I can’t just pick up and leave. I have responsibilities.”
She pushed off him, fury in her eyes.
“Fine. Thanks for clearing up how you really feel about us.”
“You’ll thank me one day; it’s for the best.”
Especially for me.