Page 5 of Cuddles for the Bear
Cyrus nodded, and perhaps he understood more than what Devon was saying. “I’ll send Michael’s details to your phone. One more thing I should mention is that the agency boys think there’s a possibility that Michael is involved in some kind of network.
“The ease with how he seems to find people to buy – it’s not like he can go onto a regular social media group and broker a deal that way, so logic dictates he must be a part of some group that specializes in this sort of shit. If that’s the case, the agency wants to bring that down, too. This is why you can’t go off half-cocked. This one case has the potential to save so many people like your friend.”
“I can’t see BlueKnight64 knowing anything about Michael’s dealings outside of the house. You said yourself, he’s basically a prisoner. He’s the innocent in this. He’s never mentioned anything odd or out of character in our chats before today.”
“I know,” and Devon realized Cyrus probably did. “Just find Michael, suss out the situation, and Devon, be prepared that once you do save your online friend, there’s a good chance our agency boys are going to want to interview him. Every indication is that this is a lot bigger than one guy asking you to kill somebody on a whim in an online chat.”
“Let me make sure he’s safe first.” Devon would deal with everything else after that.
“One last thing,” Python said as Devon got up from the floor and went to leave. “Don’t go getting in touch with your little frienduntil this job is done. You can’t give him any hope or anything like that, because you know anything he hears has the potential to change his behavior. This Michael shit already seems to know when people are looking for him. Any hint or the slightest change in his attitude or behavior could be the death sentence for your online warrior. No matter how much you might want to, do not engage. Find Michael and go from there. Understood.”
Oh, Devon understood all right. That didn’t mean he had to like it.
Chapter Four
“I’m going out, and no, don’t bother moving yourself. You’re not coming with me. You’re a wreck.”
Wren barely nodded. It had been three days since he’d been allowed to sleep. The laptop hadn’t moved from where he’d shoved it three nights before. Wren was keeping himself going through sheer force of will. The only hope he had left was that he’d get five minutes to himself. He could complete his message to Bear, pray that someone might save him, and then sleep – blissful sleep.
Every surface of the house, including the ceilings, had been scrubbed with what seemed like a never-ending supply of toothbrushes Michael kept throwing at him. The only rooms untouched by those toothbrushes and Wren’s elbow grease had been Michael’s bedroom and his own.
“I can’t have you lying around with nothing to do, though, can I?”
You could. You really could if you had one ounce of kindness somewhere in that suit of yours.
“Hmm. You’re very quiet.” Michael laughed, and Wren’s heart froze. That was never a positive sound from his perspective. “Did you think you could escape my notice if you didn’t say anything? Were you already planning to loll around in my sparklingly clean bath while I’m out, have a bit of a nap or something equally lazy?”
Wren quickly shook his head. “Meal planning,” he said. Then he coughed and tried again. Even his words were too tired to come out properly. “I was going to plan your meals for the next week.” His voice was raspy, but at least it could be heard. “If youleave me some paper and a pen, I can make up a list for your approval.”
“Sounds to me like you’d still be sitting on your skinny ass.” Michael sneered. “I have something different planned for you. When was the last time you’d done a thorough spring clean ofyourroom?”
“It’s tidy. I promise.” His tiredness vanished as Michael stormed across to the door of his room, flinging it open.
“Tidy’s not good enough. I want this place to sparkle. Hmm.” Michael had his hands on his hips, the corner of his lip twisted. “I don’t like this layout,” he said, looking back at him over his shoulder. “This room needs revamping.”
How?All Wren had in his room was a small dresser with four drawers and a single bed.The bed? Oh, no. The laptop. If he touches the bed…
“Are you hiding something in here?” Michael laughed so loudly it grated on Wren’s nerves. “What am I going to find if I go into your drawers, for instance?” He disappeared from view, and seconds later, Wren winced as he heard wood hitting the floor. One…two…three…four.
“Nothing here but clothes.” Michael stuck his head around the doorframe. “But you’re looking as if you’re about to shit yourself, and I can smell your anxiety from here. Are you hiding girly pics under the mattress? Let’s see, shall we?”
No, please.Wren bit the words back even as his hands reached out.What am I doing? I can’t stop him.Michael’s laughter continued to mock him as his head disappeared and a louder, yet more muffled thump hit the bare floor.
“Gods above, are you thieving from me now?” Michael came back, framed in the doorway, the old laptop held up in bothhands. “I’m damn sure this was supposed to be thrown out in the trash when I realized how useless those classes you were doing were for me and my lifestyle. Were you keeping this as a keepsake, or did you have more nefarious plans for this?”
His hands clasped in front of his mouth, Wren just shook his head. His whole body was trembling.Please don’t open it. Please…
“I haven’t got time for this, or for you, but you can kiss this trash goodbye.” Flipping the laptop open, Michael swung it with both hands, smashing the screen against the door frame. There was a loud crack, and a few chips of glass fell onto the floor. Flipping it around, Michael smashed the keyboard side against the same frame, causing key caps to tumble to the ground.
I might be able to save it. Devices can work with a few missing keys and a cracked screen, can’t they?But it was as if Michael could read his mind. Holding one side of the laptop in each hand, Michael showed his teeth as his biceps strained, tearing the laptop apart at the hinges with his bare hands. Dropping both pieces onto the floor, Michael brushed off his hands against each other.
“I’ll deal with you when I get home,” he sneered as he stormed past. “Clean up your shit, and when you’re finished, you’d better be alert and kneeling on the damn floor until I get back. If you’re asleep when I decide to come home, I’ll make that sleep state permanent.”
Wren didn’t wince when the door slammed shut. He was used to that. His lips tightened as he heard the key in the lock. His tears didn’t fall until he heard the bolt Michael had installed at the top of the door, on the outside of course, and he heard the man stride away.
Barely able to see for his tears, Wren crawled across the floor, picking up the broken screen of the laptop. Cuddling it close to his chest, he let go then, sobbing out loud, not even caring if Michael came back suddenly and heard him.I’m so sorry...oh, Bear, I am so very sorry. Goodbye, my only friend. I will miss you so much.
In that moment, it wasn’t only Bear’s friendship that Wren was mourning, it was what he perceived as his only chance at being saved.
