Page 62 of Holding On to a Hero
“Fuck safe! I want my life back!” Dave decided our yelling was not conducive to maintaining his Zen, so he jumped down and went to the kitchen to see if there were any more scrambled eggs in his bowl.
I forced myself to pause before I gave my usualmy-way-or-the-highwayresponse. In truth I’d been feeling the same as Cole, but my concern for his safety had been my driving force. I needed to remember he was an adult too. We’d been waiting six weeks for the police to find the shooter, and they hadn’t made any progress we were aware of.
Cole must have sensed my wavering. He went on in a softer tone, “Jason, we have to do something. We can’t live in hiding forever. Someone is going to recognize me. And we have to get back home before Will gives up and stops putting photos out there for us.” A pain shot through my heart as Cole put into words the fear I’d just been contemplating.
I looked at the photo of Will and his niece. “Let’s call Brian. We can talk him through the plan and get his feedback. Maybe he even has some sort of update from the cops.”
“Really? Oh, my God, Jason, that’s—” The encrypted phone rang. Unknown number, but since only one person would be calling…. Cole and I gave each other relieved smiles.
I answered, “Billy Bob’s Pizzeria.”Able to talk and not under duress.
“Hey, big bro.”Able to talk and not under duress.
“Brian, I’m putting you on speaker so Cole can hear. Please tell us there’s been some sort of movement on finding the shooter.”
“Well, there’s been a development. I need you guys to get packed up. You have five hours to get to the airport in Fargo to pick up Will. Can you do that?”
“What? Did you sayWill?” Cole clutched my arm hard enough to leave a bruise. “I mean, yes, of course, but—”
“Great. You won’t be returning to the cabin. I’ve got to finish making arrangements. I’ll call you back in a while.” He hung up.
Cole and I regarded each other in astonishment, and then we leapt off the couch.
“Pack!”
“Find something to carry the cat in!”
“Fucking Brian better call us back ASAP to tell us what happened with Will!”
* * *
We were on the road to Fargo within 45 minutes. The cabin had been in northwestern Minnesota, and we’d be there in a couple of hours. Cole and I were driving each other nuts with speculation, not to mention Will-based sexual fantasies, so we were completely on edge when Brian finally called an hour into the drive.
Once Brian and I got through the code phrase check, I was done waiting. “Brian, tell us what happened.”
“Will can tell you the details, but the short answer is someone shot at him last night.” Cole and I exchanged worried glances but didn’t interrupt. “Well, at him and, er, the friend he was with. Based on everything we know, the police are assuming Will was the intended target. He’s fine. Neither of them were hurt.“
Cole’s voice was strained. “You think Will was the target all along?”
“The police and Ranger Ramirez think it’s highly likely. This does mean that we can start working on a way for you to make a sudden recovery from your coma, Cole. But for now I don’t have a safe house for Will so it seemed best to send him to you guys. The cops have already talked to him, and I’ve got him on a plane headed to Fargo.”
That was a big information dump, but Cole remembered what was important. “We’re done with hiding. If Will’s the target we’ll need to talk to him about this, but I want to set a trap for the shooter.”
“You’d be willing to do that? Jason, are you also on board with that?”
“Unless the cops have more leads than I think they do, I think it’s the only way we’re going to end this. I’m not happy about it, but I don’t see another way.”
“Huh. I’ll bounce that off of Ramirez, but for now let’s just have you head back in a southerly direction after you pick Will up. No-tell motels, et cetera. You know the drill.”
Cole wrinkled his nose. He was ready to be home. I reached over and picked up his hand to kiss it. At least we’d be with Will.
“Got it,” I responded to Brian.
“Great. I’ll text you the number to Will’s burner phone and his flight info. My guy told him someone would text him how to find his ride once he landed. He doesn’t know it’ll be you two.”
“Wow, I can’t wait to see him!” Cole caroled as he bounced up and down in his seat. Occasionally I marveled none of his fans had ever suspected he was gay.
“Oh, right. Yeah, I should mention something before you see him.” Brian’s voice had the same hesitant sound as when he had to tell Mom he’d dented her car in high school. My spine straightened and my senses went on alert.
