“Fucking right he did.”
“How’d you know?” was almost out of his mouth before he said, “Murphy. You talked to Murphy.”
“I was in a meeting at work and couldn’t get out of it on short notice. I wish I had been there with her…with you.”
“What would you have done?” Ethan asked.
“I’m at least armed,” Kira said.
“The last thing that place needed was additional firearms,” Mr. J. said, and Ethan glanced over in surprise. Mr. J. was not known for interrupting or speaking up. He was like a fly on the wall, observing everything but refraining from taking action. It was one of the reasons he excelled at his job. He knew when to remain silent. “That place had too many guns. Why they let college students open carry on a college campus is beyond me. Most professionals wouldn’t react well in today’s situation. Anyone who thinks a ‘good guy with a gun’ would help today is a moron. When the dust settles, we’ll probably learn at least a couple of the victims were shot by people with guns playing hero.”
“You took one down,” Kira said.
“Yes. And I turned over my weapon to the FBI for testing at the scene. I’m a professional with decades of experience and training. Any idiot in Texas can get a concealed carry permit.”
“It’s true,” Blayne said. “Even my parents have concealed weapons permits. They got them so they could protect themselves at church. Hell, their church even has a mini-militia that’s been ‘trained’ in case of an active shooter there. When they told me this, I thought it was the most imbecilic thing I’d ever heard. One church in Texas was targeted, and now every congregation has created its own police force. Seems like they’re worshiping guns more than God.”
“It’s clear,” Ms. Z. said, exiting Blayne’s apartment.
Blayne pushed himself off the SUV and made to enter his apartment. As he walked by Ms. Z., she handed him the keys. Ms. Z. said something to Blayne and patted him on the shoulder. Seconds later, Mr. J. did the same thing. Ethan picked the bags off the roof of Kira’s car.
“I’m starved,” he said. He gestured with his head toward the open door. Kira gave him a weak smile and followed.
“Ethan,” Mr. J. said as he entered the SUV. “Call us in the morning. I’m certain Rawlings and Hightower will want to meet with you.”
“Great,” Ethan said under his breath. He turned his head around and heard the SUV door close as he walked into Blayne’s apartment.
He headed straight for the kitchen table. Blayne was already getting plates from the cabinets.
“I need a shower,” Blayne said.
“I’m sure we both could use one,” Ethan said. He turned and looked at Kira. “Do you mind?”
“Take all the time you need. I’ll throw the food in the oven and watch TV while you two get scrubbed up.”
“Thanks.” Ethan turned to Blayne. “Let’s go get clean.”
Blayne seemed to come out of his fog as he said, “Together?”
“Of course together. I’m an environmentalist and want to conserve water.”
“Likely story,” Kira said as she opened the fridge. “Thank God, there’s still beer in here.”
Ethan reached out and grabbed Blayne’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Blayne
Blayne allowed himself to be led away from the kitchen toward the bedroom. He just kind of stood there in the middle of the room, unsure what to do with himself. It was one thing when they were playing spies. There was a certain thrill to everything, but he’d never even imagined what killing another person would be like. The enormity of taking someone’s life…even if that life needed to be taken.
“I love you,” Ethan said as he reached up and undid the buttons on Blayne’s shirt. Ethan untucked it and Blayne’s undershirt before undoing the buttons on the shirt’s cuffs. Blayne let Ethan completely slip him out of the shirt, throwing the discarded clothing into the hamper. Next, Ethan unbuckled Blayne’s belt and tossed it on the bed. Blayne stood there, shirtless. “We’ll get through this…together.”
Blayne looked down at Ethan and smiled. “I know we will.” He reached his arms around Ethan. “I just… I just…” Blayne was at a loss for words.
“Shh…” Ethan replied. He leaned up, put his arms around Blayne’s neck, pulled Blayne’s head down toward his and kissed him. After a few seconds, Ethan pulled away. “Yeah, we still need to do something about that breath of yours.”
Blayne laughed. Only then did he taste the still sour taste from his stomach acid. “Yeah, I need to brush my teeth. I’m going to go do that.” Blayne kicked off his shoes, unbuttoned his pants and shoved them and his boxers down to the floor, stepping out of them. “Hurry up and join me.” He walked across the bedroom butt-ass-naked except for his white tube socks. Entering the bathroom, he flipped on the light and immediately went for his toothbrush and toothpaste. He scrubbed his teeth then gargled with mouthwash, because he didn’t want that flavor in his mouth anymore.
Ethan entered the bathroom and threw his arms around Blayne’s torso. Blayne was just spitting out his mouthwash as he did.
