Trifecta: Mother's Day, part three
Jul. 14th, 2014 08:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warI might get someone for back up in Floral who knows what she's doing. I don't want to wish too hard in case something happens (like any one of five people getting sick, one of which just came back after six weeks leave).
Kenneth sat in his car and breathed a sigh of relief. He tossed his trench coat into the passenger seat and turned on his phone. He’d survived brunch with his mother. He still hadn’t forgiven her for never approving of anything he did. He probably never would.
Ty had been active on the phone today. He must have known Kenneth wouldn’t pick up.
As Ty’s messages got more desperate, Kenneth’s heart went numb.
He took a deep breath. Ty was on the way to the house. But once they found Damien, how were they going to get him back? He left Ty a message, saying he understood the situation. As much as it could be understood.
Kenneth called Flannigan. He didn’t pick up. Kenneth called Chloë. She called him back as he was leaving a message.
“What’s up?”
“Damien has been kidnapped by his mother.”
“His mother?”
“Has he told you about her?” Kenneth didn’t have time for a history lesson.
“No,” she said much too slowly. “He never says anything about himself.”
“His mother is worse than mine.” Kenneth’s mother had never abandoned him.
“Oh.”
“And she isn’t likely to let him go without a good deal of money changing hands.” At least that’s the impression Kenneth had of her.
“Holding him for ransom?”
“Maybe. Does Flannigan still have his police uniform?”
“He’s going to get in trouble, isn’t he? He’ll be thrilled.”
She passed the phone to Flannigan. He was game. “They’re making me drink tea. In those fancy cups that look like they’ll break if you look at them wrong. Where should I meet you?”
The drive to Flannigan’s would add an extra twenty minutes. “At the school by my house.”
He wanted to meet at the end of the block, but Damien’s mother wouldn’t see them change cars this way. Really he wanted to be home right now. “Hurry.”
Flannigan laughed. “I’m already in blue. But do you look like a detective?”
“Bring me what I need.”
“We will.”
Kenneth took several deep breaths. He started the car and took the first available place to pull into traffic. The woman he pulled in front of honked and flipped him off. He had to get home, but he had to do so in one piece. He needed to calm down and think clearly. What if Damien was in danger? What if his mother hadn’t taken him home? What if she’d taken him to his father? Damien had scars.
But if Damien was in danger, that was all the more reason for Kenneth to drive safely.
His phone rang. He pulled over to answer. This wasn’t a day to get stopped for talking on the phone while driving.
Ty. “He’s home.”
Good. Kenneth could use a hug or two after the scare.
“She’s trying to get him to break in.”
“She’s still there?”
“I’m at Mrs. Peters. Damien freaked when he saw me.”
“He doesn’t want you over there?”
“I guess not. Do something.”
“I am.”
But first he had to wait for Flannigan. If he went in unprepared who knows what might happen. Kenneth wanted the woman to leave and never return. If she got money from them, she was likely to come back. Over and over. And Damien would be hurt each time. Kenneth couldn’t stand by while that happened.
This had to work.
Ty kept a running commentary about what Damien was doing. Mrs. Peters added her opinions. Kenneth was too far away. He needed to be doing something, fixing the problem. Or at least with Ty giving and getting comfort.
At long last Flannigan and Chloë pulled up. Chloë unloaded her car. “I think this will fit.”
Real detectives didn’t wear trench coats, did they? It was too long, but big enough to mostly cover the holster and toy gun Flannigan insisted Kenneth wear underneath.
Chloë fiddled and adjusted.
“Aren’t we done yet?” Damien needed help.
“Almost.” Chloë pulled at a bit of Flannigan’s hair and stepped back. “Done.”
Flannigan grabbed the driver’s door. “I’ll drive.”
Kenneth nodded. He didn’t trust his driving right now.
The few blocks home were endless. At the corner, Flannigan opened his window and stuck a flashing light on the roof. “Authenticity.”
He zoomed down the street and pulled in across Kenneth’s driveway.
Time for the show to begin.
Title: Trifecta
Chapter: Mother's Day, part three
Status: WIP
Genre: Romance, Triple Slash, businessmen, jobs, friends, working
Length: .7k
Summary: Kenneth has a plan
Kenneth sat in his car and breathed a sigh of relief. He tossed his trench coat into the passenger seat and turned on his phone. He’d survived brunch with his mother. He still hadn’t forgiven her for never approving of anything he did. He probably never would.
Ty had been active on the phone today. He must have known Kenneth wouldn’t pick up.
As Ty’s messages got more desperate, Kenneth’s heart went numb.
He took a deep breath. Ty was on the way to the house. But once they found Damien, how were they going to get him back? He left Ty a message, saying he understood the situation. As much as it could be understood.
Kenneth called Flannigan. He didn’t pick up. Kenneth called Chloë. She called him back as he was leaving a message.
“What’s up?”
“Damien has been kidnapped by his mother.”
“His mother?”
“Has he told you about her?” Kenneth didn’t have time for a history lesson.
“No,” she said much too slowly. “He never says anything about himself.”
“His mother is worse than mine.” Kenneth’s mother had never abandoned him.
“Oh.”
“And she isn’t likely to let him go without a good deal of money changing hands.” At least that’s the impression Kenneth had of her.
“Holding him for ransom?”
“Maybe. Does Flannigan still have his police uniform?”
“He’s going to get in trouble, isn’t he? He’ll be thrilled.”
She passed the phone to Flannigan. He was game. “They’re making me drink tea. In those fancy cups that look like they’ll break if you look at them wrong. Where should I meet you?”
The drive to Flannigan’s would add an extra twenty minutes. “At the school by my house.”
He wanted to meet at the end of the block, but Damien’s mother wouldn’t see them change cars this way. Really he wanted to be home right now. “Hurry.”
Flannigan laughed. “I’m already in blue. But do you look like a detective?”
“Bring me what I need.”
“We will.”
Kenneth took several deep breaths. He started the car and took the first available place to pull into traffic. The woman he pulled in front of honked and flipped him off. He had to get home, but he had to do so in one piece. He needed to calm down and think clearly. What if Damien was in danger? What if his mother hadn’t taken him home? What if she’d taken him to his father? Damien had scars.
But if Damien was in danger, that was all the more reason for Kenneth to drive safely.
His phone rang. He pulled over to answer. This wasn’t a day to get stopped for talking on the phone while driving.
Ty. “He’s home.”
Good. Kenneth could use a hug or two after the scare.
“She’s trying to get him to break in.”
“She’s still there?”
“I’m at Mrs. Peters. Damien freaked when he saw me.”
“He doesn’t want you over there?”
“I guess not. Do something.”
“I am.”
But first he had to wait for Flannigan. If he went in unprepared who knows what might happen. Kenneth wanted the woman to leave and never return. If she got money from them, she was likely to come back. Over and over. And Damien would be hurt each time. Kenneth couldn’t stand by while that happened.
This had to work.
Ty kept a running commentary about what Damien was doing. Mrs. Peters added her opinions. Kenneth was too far away. He needed to be doing something, fixing the problem. Or at least with Ty giving and getting comfort.
At long last Flannigan and Chloë pulled up. Chloë unloaded her car. “I think this will fit.”
Real detectives didn’t wear trench coats, did they? It was too long, but big enough to mostly cover the holster and toy gun Flannigan insisted Kenneth wear underneath.
Chloë fiddled and adjusted.
“Aren’t we done yet?” Damien needed help.
“Almost.” Chloë pulled at a bit of Flannigan’s hair and stepped back. “Done.”
Flannigan grabbed the driver’s door. “I’ll drive.”
Kenneth nodded. He didn’t trust his driving right now.
The few blocks home were endless. At the corner, Flannigan opened his window and stuck a flashing light on the roof. “Authenticity.”
He zoomed down the street and pulled in across Kenneth’s driveway.
Time for the show to begin.
