Page 19 of Devil and the Deep Blue Fish

Jackson kept the explanation quick and to the point and watched as both men grew sober and attentive.

“I’ll call in for the week,” Sean said. “Can I tell Andre?”

Andre was Sean’s partner on the force, and Jackson nodded. “Yeah, that’s fine. But….” He paused and hoped Sean would fill in the rest.

“Nobody else on the force,” Sean said, understanding. “These women—they’ve got an ungodly amount of pull.”

“Nobody wants to piss off the bigPapi,” Billy said sourly. “I’m pretty sure he doesn’t give a shit if people are gay—enough of them buy John’s porn.”

Well, yes, sexual repressiondidbreed hypocrisy, but they had to get past that tonight.

“Here’s the thing,” Jackson said softly. “If law enforcement gets their hands on this boy, the DA is going to need him to testify, and they’re going to keep him in custody, and guys… he’s terrified. I want to get to the bottom of this, and Ireallywant to get the fucker who got Henry, but….” He swallowed. Kryzynski used to be a law-and-order man, down to his toes. But a year and a half in Jackson and Ellery’s circle had made him an ally—and the kind of man who could fall in love with Billy with his eyes wide open about Billy’s time as a sex worker. He’d grown a lot—and he had law enforcement ties and knew how to handle a weapon and defend people.

Had he grown enough?

“You want him to be safe first,” Sean said slowly. “I hear you. You’re right, Jackson—he probablywillhave to testify at some point, but until the police know who they’re looking for and what they’ll find, it will be best to keep him hidden.”

“I’ll do anything,” Billy said unhappily, “but are we just going to shove them in the house and tell them not to stick their faces out?”

Then Jackson gave them both a ragged grin and suggested what he’d been thinking ever since Dex said he and John would pay the tab.

Not Disneyland

“DISNEYLAND?” ELLERYasked as Jackson and Dex made their way into the small surgery waiting room they’d been shown to after giving Henry’s name. Crystal and AJ were sitting behind him, appearing tired and worried, as did Jackson’s sister—and Ellery’s paralegal—Jade and her boyfriend, Mike, sitting kitty corner to them, and Galen, who was obviously stoic and in pain and exhausted in the bank of chairs to the rear of the tiny room. John had moved a stack of newspapers under Galen’s injured leg and was pacing back and forth out of everybody’s line of sight, pausing every time he drew near Galen to brush his shoulder with anxious fingers.

Ellery knew there were more people coming. As soon as Crystal had deactivated the tracking app that had been remotely opened on his phone after it had been cloned, John had been texting the boys Henry and Lance mentored almost nonstop,ashe was pacing. Part of that had involved finding a friend to get Isabelle’s kittens out of Ellery’s car and take them safely home, but most of it had been for Henry.

Henry had come to Sacramento nearly a year ago, and he’d been surly and angry and deeply disappointed by life.

Once he’d come to accept himself, though, and both the good and the bad in his own heart, he’d blossomed. Ellery hadn’t been the only one to see it. Henry was now not just worried about—he wasbeloved.

Which was why Ellery had understood Jackson’s need to haul out into the rainy dark to find Isabelle and Cowboy and get them to safety. But that didn’t mean he’d been okay with it, even knowing Jackson had no choice in the matter.

“Shh!” Jackson held his finger to his lips. “Nobody but us knows. I’m, uhm, calling Cotton and his friends to see if they can, you know, escort them for a couple days. After a week, at the very least, we should know what we’re working with.” Jackson let out a breath, and Ellery filled in the blanks.

“And if we need to contact the federal marshals or not,” he said grimly.

Jackson was sopping wet and probably not aware he was shivering hard enough for his teeth to chatter. “I swear to God, Ellery, if I thought they’d be safer in the hands of the authorities, I’d call them.”

Ellery nodded grimly. “I hear you,” he said. “And I know they’re in good hands. I just… do we know what our next move is?”

Jackson opened his mouth, his shoulders and feet already turning toward the door, and Ellery felt a shaft of fear. This was not the first time Jackson had gone haring off into a dark night, angry and hurt and dangerous. The first time, he had almost not returned. Ellery didn’t have nightmares often—certainly not on the scale of Jackson’s demons—but when he did, he would dream about the day he came home to find Jackson asleep and feverish in their bed, except… Jackson wasn’t there.

And Billy Bob was gone too.

“Stay,” he blurted, reaching out to catch Jackson’s hand. “Just… stay until we know if he’s stable. Stay and plan with me and John and Galen. If nothing else it will give them something to do. Stay and see how your friend is doing. Please.”

Stay, so if the worst happens, you’re not alone. Please, baby, just for a moment, just for a heartbeat, stay and comfort me.

Because Ellery loved Henry too.

Jackson’s half-out-the-door position shifted, and he turned his shoulders toward Ellery and squeezed his hand. “I was goingto get the flophouse guys,” Jackson murmured. “Dex said they’re all gathered in the entrance to the ER. They won’t know to come in here.”

He leaned forward then, as if to kiss Ellery’s cheek, and Dex, who had been at his shoulder, said, “I’ll get them, Jackson. I think Kane’s here too, with Frances.”

Ellery took in David Worrall’s strained expression. “Go,” he said. “Bring them back here. Worrying in a big group is a lot easier than worrying alone.”

Dex nodded, and Jackson watched him go. Ellery could feel his muscles straining to follow him, but after a brief squeeze of the hand, Jackson focused his attention on Ellery and gave a brief acknowledging smile.

---