Page 73 of Torch Songs

Tad nodded and started the slow walk toward his apartment. He was never so grateful for picking a downstairs unit as he had been since he’d gotten shot, and suddenly he wasn’t sure if he was going to make it to the pool today.

“What’s wrong?” April asked softly.

“I… what if he’s not ready?” Tad asked. “I mean, Ithinkhe’s happy with us, but….” He remembered the things Guthrie had said about how he’d grown up, about becoming the nine-hundred-pound gorilla to defeat Mr. Hyde. Was this what Guthrie was afraid of? How could Tad defeat a ghost like that, particularly when it still lived in some nameless town down south?

April blew out a breath. “He-he doesn’t seem to have roots,” she said after a moment. “If he does, they’re hidden. Maybe we ask him and we’ll see what we’re dealing with.” She leaned her head briefly on his shoulder. “Don’t worry for me, big brother. I’ve got you. I’m gonna get a cat. As long as the cat can move with us up the hill, I’ll be okay. What about you?”

Tad made a hurt sound. “I’ll live,” he said sadly, “but it won’t be much fun.”

“Yeah—well, if this falls out badly, it’ll be worse for him,” she said. “But I don’t know how to fix that.”

By caring for Guthrie as best they could, Tad guessed. But sometimes, not even that could do the trick.

THEY EXPECTEDGuthrie the next night, but when he didn’t show up, they weren’t too concerned. Tad called Agnes to see if he was sleeping there, and her answer wasnotreassuring.

“No, he said he was going to try to go to your place tonight, but supposedly something went down at Scorpio, and we can’t get any information. I don’t know where he is, and Lulu isn’t home yet, and I’m worried!”

Tad’s breath caught, and he checked Guthrie’s phone to see if the tracker still worked. It said between San Rafael and San Francisco, but that was where the damned club was. Dialing Chris’s number took no thought at all, in spite of the lateness of the hour.

“It’s midnight, Tad. The hell.”

“My Guthrie sense is tingling—and no, not in a good way. He didn’t show up, and he’s usually here by now, and his other apartment says he was planning on coming here tonight. The roads are clear, there’s no accidents?”

“Hold your horses,” Chris muttered. “I’m texting dispatch right now. Give me the address of the club.”

Tad did and waited breathlessly for the answer.

“Okay,” Chris said, coming off hold a few minutes later, “so don’t panic.”

“Nothing in the history of ever that started that way was good,” Tad said, panicking.

“He’s fine, but there was a mugging. I guess he took a knife to the shoulder. I got hold of an officer down there who said he’d lost his phone in the scuffle. My guy’s going to look for it so he can call you.”

“Oh Jesus.” Tad felt sick. “God, Chris, I can’t even go pick him up.” Tadmighthave been able to sit for the hour and a half it took to get there at this time of night, but the way back would have been excruciating,and he wouldn’t have been able to drive.

“Yeah.” Chris sighed, and it sounded like he was moving. “Laura, honey,” he murmured. “Want to help me do a thing?”

“Chris?” Two months ago, Tad had been afraid to trust this man with his dating history. Apparently, they reallywerepartners now, the kind who had each other’s backs.

“Do you have a code word or something?” Chris muttered. “Like, ‘This guy’s a cop, he doesn’t bite’?”

“Did you bite him up in Colton?” Tad asked.

“I wasn’t real gentle,” Chris admitted. “But I was worried about you.”

“Well, fine. Tell him I’m worried abouthim, and maybe you should drive the truck back because that thing’s a monster and I think the suspension’s going.”

“And the bushings,” April muttered, “and the chassis and the brakes….”

“Great,” Chris said. “I’ll have Laura say a rosary for me. It’s worked so far. If he calls, tell him to watch out for us. We’ll be there before he’s discharged.”

Tad felt tears in his throat. “Thanks, man.”

“Can we go to Colton now, partner? Please?”

Tad laughed a little, and the tears started to break free. “Yeah. I’ll talk him into it. You’ll see.”

“Blackmail. It’s a way of life. Talk more soon.” Chris ended the call, and Tad sank onto the couch, missing his donut pillow by a mile and wincing.

---