Page 34 of Free
"Family?"
"No, my parents have both died. I was never close to my aunts or uncles. The few friends I've had to leave behind weren't anyone that mattered enough to miss. The only person who mattered in my life was the one I killed." Jeremy didn't look up from what he was doing. "I'm hoping now that I'm here, I can maybe focus on some new apps that I have ideas for, and maybe start going out more. I used to go to off-Broadway type shows with my parents, and I miss that a lot. I don't know what Denver has to offer, but I'll look into it once we get settled. I also am a huge baseball fan and excited to see about maybe getting Rockies season tickets."
D nodded. "I'm up for that. I love baseball. I play a lot of basketball too. Was hoping there is a rec center or something close where I can join a league."
"There's one not far from my house. I pass it on my way in."
They started talking about their homes and what was in the area. D noticed that Jeremy seemed less tense talking about ordinary stuff than he did talking about himself or what had happened, but D was still curious. "So how'd you become a computer nerd?"
Jeremy narrowed his eyes. "Nerd, really?"
"Geek?" D grinned.
Jeremy shook his head. "Whatever you say, Blondie."
"Hey, not any longer." D ran his fingers through his hair. "Seriously, I don't know what to call you. IT tech feels too snobby, and computer guru sounds just as nerdy as nerd does."
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Do I call you Cutter?"
"No, you call me 'The Muscle', at least that's what the other team calls us."
"We'll have to come up with something new." Jeremy stared at D's arms as if mocking his arm muscles.
"Fuck you." D laughed. "Seriously, we are all going to be part of the team. No need to differentiate one or the other. The whole process won't work without all of us. It's too dangerous." D skimmed the papers. "I want to talk to this guy who stabbed the coach if his background check holds up. I don't care if he's been arrested for minor things, what I don't want is someone who won't work well with others. We all have to be team players. I'm not as confident about this doctor. I don't know why, but my gut is telling me he's not our guy, even if he did have that reaction to the abuse."
"I have to let you take the lead." Jeremy took a drink.
D smiled, wishing he could take the lead with Jeremy. He was so fucking horny that watching his lips curl around the water bottle had his cock getting hard. He forced back his need and focused on the job. "Before long, you'll be handling everything just fine. It's just a matter of us learning what the other does. I never paid attention to the guys in the computer room before. I didn't have to, but now, leading the team alongside you, I want to know how to at least do some of the easier things."
"Fair enough. Carter told me it could take years to build a good team, so don't worry about it happening overnight. If these guys don't work, someone will come along that will."
"Easy for you to say. I want to get out there working again. It might sound horrible, but I miss the rush."
"No, I get it. I can see how doing what you do would be addictive. Knowing you're saving kids, stopping perverts. Not doing it would be hard."
"I feel worthless. Like I'm letting it happen when I could stop it."
"You're not though. You're building a team that in the long run will stop a lot more of them. You'll save more kids if you build a good group." Jeremy got serious. "It doesn't freak you out cutting off a man's cock?'
D grinned. "The first time I saw someone do it, I walked around with my legs crossed for a week. Seriously, it was all I could think about, but then Bryon took me in and showed me one of the videos they'd found. The kid was four years old. I was so pissed that two nights later, I went in with the team and cut the pedo's balls off myself without another thought about what I was doing. Now I look at it as if I'm disarming the bad guys, but instead of taking a knife or gun from them, I'm taking away another weapon."
"That's actually a great way to look at it. Still not sure I could do it. I cringe thinking about it."
"Maybe that's why I like sex so much. I'm confirming my parts are still there and in working order."
"Yeah, I'd probably be the same way."
D glanced at the paperwork again, reading about the man who'd stabbed the coach. He wasn't facing huge charges, probably nothing he'd serve time for. He needed more information. Once Jeremy did a full background, he'd decide if he would approach the guy. "You in the mood to get out of here for a while?"
"Fuck yes." Jeremy looked up with interest.
"Let's go drive around, check the area out. Then we can stop and pick up groceries or whatever. I just can't sit here anymore without anything to do. I ordered a bunch of stuff that's going to be delivered here this week, but nothing will come today. Tomorrow we can focus, but today, I'm just not in the mood."
"Sounds good to me. You driving, or am I?" Jeremy asked.
"I might as well learn my way around." D pulled his keys out. "I might even buy you dinner."
"I'm a cheap date in every way but food. It might cost you," Jeremy warned.
"As long as I get a big, juicy steak, you can cost me anything you want." He headed out the door with Jeremy behind them. If this was going to be his new home, he would make the best of it.
