FIC: Keeping Up With the Joneses Ch. 7
Title: Keeping Up with the Joneses
Author: dancingelf88
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Luke/Noah
Disclaimer: If only….
Summary: Luke and Noah Jones live a mundane happy life until a secret shatters their world
Chapter VII: A Time to Kill
“Ok…what’s happening?” Luke didn’t waste any time as he walked in.
Maddie pulled up a file on her computer. She apparently was in no mood for small talk either, “Noah Jones…formerly Wilson formerly Mayer.”
“Wait a minute Wilson…Mayer…as in…?”
“Colonel Winston Mayer the one and only.” Maddie finished.
Colonel Winston Arthur Mayer was known to many at least in the military field. He had been a decorated army soldier from the time he joined the army at 18 until his death at 39 years old. Along with being a brilliant soldier, he was also an abusive bastard to his wife: Charlene Wilson-Mayer which was why after 12 years of marriage Charlene left the Colonel taking her 11 year old son Noah with her. The Colonel; however, located them four years later: he was found dead with two bullets to the chest courtesy of his estranged wife.
She could have pled self-defense, but in order to support herself and Noah Charlene began working at a casino that doubled as an escort business specifically aimed at a high end clientele. Over the years, she had managed to move up the ranks and was helping with running the business by the time Winston had located her. Along with charges of racketeering, prostitution, and alleged extortion Charlene was given no choice but to flee.
“She left Noah in the care of his Aunt Ruth and at 18, he joined the Marines, served for 3 years…”
“Six.” Luke corrected.
“Three.” Maddie said with finality, “He was discharged due to severe injury while trying to save a fellow soldier.”
“Even received a Purple Heart for it.” Luke finished. He had seen the medal before.
“He spent almost a year in Hawkins Veteran Hospital recuperating. We think that’s when his mother made contact.”
“What?”
“Look right after the hospital stay…he headed straight for Paris, France. Where’d he get the money?”
“So we think that from then till now he’s been working for Charlene Wilson.” Luke stated.
“Possibly. Look at this: Istanbul, Moscow, London since he was discharged and all of them under a different alias.”
The conversation was interrupted by a phone call. Luke and Maddie grimaced: a personal call from the boss was what they were dreading.
“Hello sir. Yes sir.” Luke said and hung up the phone.
“That was a short conversation.” Maddie remarked.
“I have 48 hours to clean this up.” Luke informed her.
“Are you up for it?”
“Always.”
~~~
“What do you got?” Noah asked as soon as he reached Casey. The two men were in the back of a local pub: Johnny’s.
Casey slid a file across the table, “Luciano Grimaldi-Snyder.”
Noah looked up, “As in Damian Grimaldi?”
Damian Grimaldi was a well-known criminal. He was a shipping mogul, but it was obvious to everyone that the business was just a cover for other activities including: blackmail, extortion, and various other illegal doings. Noah had come across him when he still lived with his mother.
“It seems as if Lily Walsh and Damian Grimaldi had an illicit affair which resulted in young Luke, “ Casey explained, “Luke grew up…”
“In Oakdale, Illinois. He went to Oakdale University and majored in journalism and traveled for a year after graduation before we met.” Noah finished.
Casey sipped his beer, “He went to OU for a year before he got kicked out for stealing the school election. He wandered around Oakdale for another year before running off to Malta and working for his father for four years.”
Noah looked closer at the file Casey had handed him and saw all the facts in black and white.
“Germany, Cairo, hey we were in London at the same time. Except at the time he was: Val Aikles.”
Noah said aloud.
“The boss wanted me to pass along a message for him.” Casey said.
“I have 48 hours to clean this up.” Noah said still staring at the file.
“You gonna be ok with this?” Casey asked.
Noah finally looked up, “I have to be.”
~~
Noah splashed cold water on his face for the third time. He wiped off his face and looked at himself in the mirror: he looked normal; no one would ever notice how troubled he really was. But he shouldn’t be. Noah had done this multiple times over the years with no problem.
He gripped the sides of the sink, “This has to be done. You don’t love him.” Noah repeated to himself quietly. He reached into the pocket of his pajama bottoms and took out the small syringe and small glass bottle of clear liquid.
He removed the cap off of the syringe and filled it with the liquid. It would be quick: one second to administer it and 10 minutes to take effect. The poison would stop the victim’s heart and upon examination mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. Nothing would be traced back to him. Noah sighed one more time and entered the bedroom. He got into bed and watched Luke sleep. The blonde shifted , cuddled into Noah, and sighed in satisfaction.
Luke put his arms around Noah’s waist and pulled him closer so that his chest was flush against Noah’s back.
“Give me a minute before we go for round 2 ok baby?” Noah said and held Luke’s hand in place.
Luke put his head on Noah’s right shoulder, “Hey guess what?”
Noah turned and faced Luke, “What?”
“I love you.” Luke smiled.
“Same here.” Noah whispered and kissed him.
“And guess what else?”
Noah laughed and rolled his eyes, “What?”
Luke paused, “I want to marry you.”
Noah sat up in the bed, “What?”
Luke scooted back, reached into the side drawer, and pulled out a small red box. He opened it to reveal a simple platinum ring, “I want to marry you…what do you say?”
“Is…is this a joke?” Noah asked in a whisper.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Noah’s heart was beating hard. He was thinking about all the reasons why he shouldn’t marry Luke. All the ways he was endangering him by just entertaining the thought. All the things he could say that would shatter Luke’s heart enough to leave him forever. But then he looked in his eyes and everything disappeared, even his ability to speak. So he did the only thing he could: he reached out and kissed him.
Luke pulled back, “So is that a yes or what?”
Noah tackled him and kissed him again.
Noah inhaled as the memory faded. He had the needle poised at Luke’s shoulder. One prick, 10 minutes, and it would all be over: his secret kept, his mess cleaned up…his husband gone. Noah put the needle away.
~~
Luke made sure to stay at a reasonable distance as he followed the silver Honda Accord. As he continued steadily, he looked down at the small, black remote in his hand. One press and the car in front of him would explode: it would only be a small explosion not big enough to cause any collateral damage but just enough to distract the driver into an accident.
But he had to time it just right. Noah drove down this way everyday. He would be crossing the bridge soon.
Luke’s pulse began to race as they neared it, his hand shaking from it. He had to stop himself from hitting the gas: his lead foot tended to kick in when he was nervous.
“Why are you nervous? This is just a routine clean up.” He berated himself. He watched as they started crossing the bridge and waited until Noah’s car reached a specific spot: the middle of the bridge was having some work done. A big chunk of it was temporarily covered by a wooden barrier. Luke pressed the button…the impact was instantaneous. First the back tire exploded and the car veered out of control. But Luke saw that Noah was starting to stabilize it…so he pressed the button again and blew the other one. As he watched the car continue to swerve, he closed his eyes and calmed himself down. He looked up just in time to see the car veer to the right and run through the railing into water below. He exited his car and walked over to the dilapidated bridge and looked over the edge. The car bobbled for a few moments before sinking down to the bottom. He waited a while to make sure the job was done before taking out his phone and dialing.
Chapter Eight
Author: dancingelf88
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Luke/Noah
Disclaimer: If only….
Summary: Luke and Noah Jones live a mundane happy life until a secret shatters their world
Chapter VII: A Time to Kill
“Ok…what’s happening?” Luke didn’t waste any time as he walked in.
Maddie pulled up a file on her computer. She apparently was in no mood for small talk either, “Noah Jones…formerly Wilson formerly Mayer.”
“Wait a minute Wilson…Mayer…as in…?”
“Colonel Winston Mayer the one and only.” Maddie finished.
Colonel Winston Arthur Mayer was known to many at least in the military field. He had been a decorated army soldier from the time he joined the army at 18 until his death at 39 years old. Along with being a brilliant soldier, he was also an abusive bastard to his wife: Charlene Wilson-Mayer which was why after 12 years of marriage Charlene left the Colonel taking her 11 year old son Noah with her. The Colonel; however, located them four years later: he was found dead with two bullets to the chest courtesy of his estranged wife.
She could have pled self-defense, but in order to support herself and Noah Charlene began working at a casino that doubled as an escort business specifically aimed at a high end clientele. Over the years, she had managed to move up the ranks and was helping with running the business by the time Winston had located her. Along with charges of racketeering, prostitution, and alleged extortion Charlene was given no choice but to flee.
“She left Noah in the care of his Aunt Ruth and at 18, he joined the Marines, served for 3 years…”
“Six.” Luke corrected.
“Three.” Maddie said with finality, “He was discharged due to severe injury while trying to save a fellow soldier.”
“Even received a Purple Heart for it.” Luke finished. He had seen the medal before.
“He spent almost a year in Hawkins Veteran Hospital recuperating. We think that’s when his mother made contact.”
“What?”
“Look right after the hospital stay…he headed straight for Paris, France. Where’d he get the money?”
“So we think that from then till now he’s been working for Charlene Wilson.” Luke stated.
“Possibly. Look at this: Istanbul, Moscow, London since he was discharged and all of them under a different alias.”
The conversation was interrupted by a phone call. Luke and Maddie grimaced: a personal call from the boss was what they were dreading.
“Hello sir. Yes sir.” Luke said and hung up the phone.
“That was a short conversation.” Maddie remarked.
“I have 48 hours to clean this up.” Luke informed her.
“Are you up for it?”
“Always.”
~~~
“What do you got?” Noah asked as soon as he reached Casey. The two men were in the back of a local pub: Johnny’s.
Casey slid a file across the table, “Luciano Grimaldi-Snyder.”
Noah looked up, “As in Damian Grimaldi?”
Damian Grimaldi was a well-known criminal. He was a shipping mogul, but it was obvious to everyone that the business was just a cover for other activities including: blackmail, extortion, and various other illegal doings. Noah had come across him when he still lived with his mother.
“It seems as if Lily Walsh and Damian Grimaldi had an illicit affair which resulted in young Luke, “ Casey explained, “Luke grew up…”
“In Oakdale, Illinois. He went to Oakdale University and majored in journalism and traveled for a year after graduation before we met.” Noah finished.
Casey sipped his beer, “He went to OU for a year before he got kicked out for stealing the school election. He wandered around Oakdale for another year before running off to Malta and working for his father for four years.”
Noah looked closer at the file Casey had handed him and saw all the facts in black and white.
“Germany, Cairo, hey we were in London at the same time. Except at the time he was: Val Aikles.”
Noah said aloud.
“The boss wanted me to pass along a message for him.” Casey said.
“I have 48 hours to clean this up.” Noah said still staring at the file.
“You gonna be ok with this?” Casey asked.
Noah finally looked up, “I have to be.”
~~
Noah splashed cold water on his face for the third time. He wiped off his face and looked at himself in the mirror: he looked normal; no one would ever notice how troubled he really was. But he shouldn’t be. Noah had done this multiple times over the years with no problem.
He gripped the sides of the sink, “This has to be done. You don’t love him.” Noah repeated to himself quietly. He reached into the pocket of his pajama bottoms and took out the small syringe and small glass bottle of clear liquid.
He removed the cap off of the syringe and filled it with the liquid. It would be quick: one second to administer it and 10 minutes to take effect. The poison would stop the victim’s heart and upon examination mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. Nothing would be traced back to him. Noah sighed one more time and entered the bedroom. He got into bed and watched Luke sleep. The blonde shifted , cuddled into Noah, and sighed in satisfaction.
Luke put his arms around Noah’s waist and pulled him closer so that his chest was flush against Noah’s back.
“Give me a minute before we go for round 2 ok baby?” Noah said and held Luke’s hand in place.
Luke put his head on Noah’s right shoulder, “Hey guess what?”
Noah turned and faced Luke, “What?”
“I love you.” Luke smiled.
“Same here.” Noah whispered and kissed him.
“And guess what else?”
Noah laughed and rolled his eyes, “What?”
Luke paused, “I want to marry you.”
Noah sat up in the bed, “What?”
Luke scooted back, reached into the side drawer, and pulled out a small red box. He opened it to reveal a simple platinum ring, “I want to marry you…what do you say?”
“Is…is this a joke?” Noah asked in a whisper.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Noah’s heart was beating hard. He was thinking about all the reasons why he shouldn’t marry Luke. All the ways he was endangering him by just entertaining the thought. All the things he could say that would shatter Luke’s heart enough to leave him forever. But then he looked in his eyes and everything disappeared, even his ability to speak. So he did the only thing he could: he reached out and kissed him.
Luke pulled back, “So is that a yes or what?”
Noah tackled him and kissed him again.
Noah inhaled as the memory faded. He had the needle poised at Luke’s shoulder. One prick, 10 minutes, and it would all be over: his secret kept, his mess cleaned up…his husband gone. Noah put the needle away.
~~
Luke made sure to stay at a reasonable distance as he followed the silver Honda Accord. As he continued steadily, he looked down at the small, black remote in his hand. One press and the car in front of him would explode: it would only be a small explosion not big enough to cause any collateral damage but just enough to distract the driver into an accident.
But he had to time it just right. Noah drove down this way everyday. He would be crossing the bridge soon.
Luke’s pulse began to race as they neared it, his hand shaking from it. He had to stop himself from hitting the gas: his lead foot tended to kick in when he was nervous.
“Why are you nervous? This is just a routine clean up.” He berated himself. He watched as they started crossing the bridge and waited until Noah’s car reached a specific spot: the middle of the bridge was having some work done. A big chunk of it was temporarily covered by a wooden barrier. Luke pressed the button…the impact was instantaneous. First the back tire exploded and the car veered out of control. But Luke saw that Noah was starting to stabilize it…so he pressed the button again and blew the other one. As he watched the car continue to swerve, he closed his eyes and calmed himself down. He looked up just in time to see the car veer to the right and run through the railing into water below. He exited his car and walked over to the dilapidated bridge and looked over the edge. The car bobbled for a few moments before sinking down to the bottom. He waited a while to make sure the job was done before taking out his phone and dialing.
Chapter Eight