A big hug to winterschild11, Sassyascanbe14, BTR'slovesong, LazyLazyWriter, Logan 4 the win, bubzchoc, HappyDazeChick, BookWorkKendall, and guests!
It's a longer chapter. :)
The natives were getting restless, so...
8. Trust
Carlos dropped his keys to the floor, startled by the two men, and did the first thing his instincts told him to do. Turn around and run. There was no reason in his mind that the officers could be waiting in their kitchen when no one else was home...except for bad reasons.
The men were as agile as he was and easily captured him, pinning his arms behind his back as they walked him back up the driveway. "Guilty conscience?" The dark-haired one asked. Carlos' eyes traveled to the name on his front pocket. Officer Zimmer.
"You scared me. I'm not u-used to seeing strangers at my kitchen table," Carlos stammered. "Did I do something wrong?" he asked in a small voice brimming with apprehension.
"You tell us, Carlos. Come on in and join us," the other one said, giving him an unnecessarily harsh tug. Carlos glanced at his chest to see the name. Officer Barton. Shit, he cursed inwardly. He recognized the name as the one old man Richards had called the blond boy in the black car. Now, his fear escalated.
Zimmer pulled out a chair for him, and Carlos slid slowly down to sit. He stared at the officers, distrust clear in his dark wide eyes.
"Let's get right down to business, Mr. Garcia, Barton accentuated. "We obviously know who you are. The son of a fellow officer. So, you expect us to give you the special treatment. Look the other way when you stray."
"No!" Carlos exclaimed, shaking his head, "that's not true!"
They hardened their stares. "Cut the crap," Zimmer said. Carlos' eyes widened even more.
"I don't know what you mean. I haven't done anything wrong."
"Let's just recap for you, son. My nephew Bobby, went for a night out with the boys. From what I understand, they were minding their own business, when a motorcycle comes up, and a punk kid gives them the bird.
They try to ignore that the cycle is taunting them, cutting in and out in front of them and speeding around, then slowing down to screw with 'em." Carlos was shaking his head vigorously now, his jaw dropped.
"Yeah," Zimmer took over the story, "then they pull into Richard's Liquors to turn around , and the cycle follows them. Before they knew it, they were being chased down the road. It resulted in the cycle landing in a ditch."
"The funny thing is," Barton said icily, "those same boys, my nephew Bobby and his son Danny, ended up in a terrible accident only a couple of days later. The car was lost in fire, and one of the boys in that car is in the hospital."
"W-what?" Carlos asked nervously.
Barton leaned forward. "You heard us, punk! That boy might die and I think you were responsible!"
"None of this is true!" Carlos cried.
"Then, how about we check out the cycle, and make a formal report on any damages we find?" Zimmer said.
"I fixed that already," Carlos said shakily.
Barton smiled and leaned back in his chair. "So, there's a receipt sayin' that you purchased stuff to fix it up with. Tryin' to hide the evidence?"
"You-you told me to fix it myself...and keep quiet about it-"
"Are you sayin' we blackmailed you, boy?" Zimmer asked.
"No...God no," Carlos whimpered. He noticed a shadow pass by the kitchen window, then stop at the door. The door opened as Kendall called, "Logan!"
He looked startled. "Hello, Mr. Knight. Take a seat. We have a few questions to ask you."
xxx
Logan was just about to head out and meet Kendall, when he saw the patrol car coming up the drive. His heart raced and he panicked. They had to be coming for him. Somehow, they had found out that he raced the car that overturned. Instead of going to the garage, he slipped out the back and raced down the beach, hiding behind a hill.
He was so nervous. He had been there for what seemed like ages, just wondering how long before they came searching. Maybe Kendall would come home for him, and save him like a true superhero. He really didn't know of any other way he could be saved now. They knew where he lived.
He peeked over the hill to see where the policemen hid the black and white. They had parked it behind some trees and it was still there! Why else would they hide the car, if they weren't there to arrest someone. He shuddered, pulled his knees tightly to his chest, and waited.
Inside, Kendall was getting the same treatment that Carlos had. After drilling him on what all he knew, the threats were pulled out. "You do realize, Mr. Knight that we are watching your every move. You won't be able to so much as piss in privacy, without one of us knowin' it. Got it?"
Kendall nodded, glaring. "Got it," he said angrily. "I'm ready for my interrogation."
"Don't get wise, beatnik! Just remember, if you're protectin' one of your little buddies here, you're shittin' up your life. He will go down, and he's gonna' take you down with him," Zimmer warned.
James chose that moment to enter, back from his modeling interview. "Hey guys!" he called cheerfully, falling through the door that he had not expected to find ajar. "Whoah!" he exclaimed.
"Mr. Diamond," Barton greeted.
"Hello?"
"Take a seat. Join the party," Zimmer said mockingly.
James sat down warily and studied Kendall and Carlos, worried by the looks on their faces. "We'd like to ask you a few questions," Barton said.
xxx
Logan saw James' truck pull up, and he was pretty sure that Kendall's car was there too. He began to bite his nails nervously. How much longer could he hide? What was going on in there?
"Know anything about an accident that occurred recently, Mr. Diamond?"
"Uh..." James looked at the others. They looked scared of what he might say. "Just that one happened out at Hudson-er that road that the kids like to race at."
"Uh-huh, that's right. Know where you and your roommates were that evening?"
James shrugged. "Mostly home. We had a party the day before, so we were kind of tired."
"So, you're sayin' no one ever left the house that day?"
James thought for a moment. He remembered that Logan had gone out and disappeared most of the day, but something told him not to share the information."Don't think so," he said nonchalantly.
The men stared. "Tell me, boys, where's the other little guy? I believe someone's missing," Barton said.
"I just got here," James reminded them. "I have been at an interview, so I have no idea where Logan is."
The men turned to Kendall. Kendall shrugged and shook his head. "So, why did you call for him when you came in? He didn't show up somewhere?" Zimmer asked.
"No, I just wondered if he was home."
"Okay," Zimmer said smugly. 'Carlos, any idea where the boy is?"
"N-no," Carlos answered.
"Well, just let him know that he needs to stop by the station by tomorrow, so we can ask him a few questions too. If he doesn't, we'll know where to find him."
"Yeah, our kitchen," Kendall said sarcastically.
"Yeah, isn't it illegal to break into someone's house when their not home?" Carlos asked, feeling braver with his friends present.
"Ask your daddy," Zimmer said with a smirk. "It's not breaking in, if the door's left unlocked."
Something told them, that the policemen knew there was no way they were mentioning the visit to their families.
Xxx
Logan saw the police car slowly pull away. He exhaled long and hard. He was hungry, frightened, and eager to find out what they spent so much time discussing in there. He entered the kitchen, hunching guiltily above the boys, still seated at the table looking rather shell-shocked.
"Hey," he said quietly, shutting and bolting the door behind him. Kendall's vibrant green eyes flashed at him, and Logan swallowed nervously. "What was that all about?" Logan squeaked.
All Kendall could think about was how Logan had lied, and about how a boy was in the hospital who might still die. This was going to follow them forever, and there was no telling how it would end.
James worried about their future. This would not be good for their reputation, regardless of how it turned out in the end. Carlos worried for his life. He would never be able to stop looking over his shoulder for the officers. His father was even in danger of becoming involved now.
Kendall stood slowly. "You lied to me," he said grimly.
Logan licked his lips and slid his hands into his front pockets. "About what?" he asked innocently. He knew they would never forgive him if they knew the truth.
Kendall came closer and stared into Logan's guilty eyes. Logan shook his head and backed away..
"Don't" Kendall pleaded. "Just don't."
"What the hell do you want me to say, Kendall? That I wanted some kid to crash? That I wanted to get us in deep shit, and bring the fuzz sneaking around? That I wanted to get you all involved?"
The room was uncomfortably silent. Logan looked down at his feet, his face flushed. Kendall did not reply. Instead he walked off down the hallway, and shut the bedroom door quietly behind him. James and Carlos just stared at Logan. Unable to handle the scrutiny, Logan went outside and paced in the driveway, trying to figure out what to do next.
He was afraid to go for a drive to clear his head. He had no idea where the cops were, and he didn't trust the boys in the black car either. Carlos told James about the red mud and gravel he had found on Logan's tires. Kendall could hear the conversation from where he sat, on the foot of the bed, head in hands.
xxx
They went about things as usual, and shared a couple of pizzas from the freezer for dinner. No one was in the mood for cooking. They watched a couple of hours of television, than began to yawn. Logan sat in a living room chair reading a medical book, but never grasped a single concept. He found himself re-reading the same words over and over. He knew Kendall was furious.
James and Carlos got to their showers first, and Logan and Kendall were avoiding one another as much as possible.
Later that evening, the feelings of anger and betrayal were beginning to build within Kendall. Why didn't Logan trust him enough to tell him he was in trouble? Why hadn't he trusted all of them to protect him, or help in any way they could? Maybe he just didn't get it. But Logan was smart, he reasoned. Smarter than anyone else he knew. Things were going to get out of control...and Logan was keeping everything to himself, not even admitting the role he played in the entire mess. Now, a boy might die...would it be a form of murder?
Kendall jumped from the bed and flung open the door. "Where is he?" he demanded to know.
James looked perplexed. Carlos pointed to the driveway, and Kendall stormed out. "Uh-oh," said Carlos.
"Yeah," said James.
Kendall was hoping to calm down and not get more worked up, but old memories kept resurfacing and he was tired of keeping things bottled up inside. He chose to face him sooner, rather than later. He found Logan pacing outside again, and grabbed him by the wrist, spinning him around to face him.
"Kendall!" Logan shouted, pulling on the wrist he held.
"Why, Logan? You're the smart one! I thought that of all people, you'd have more sense!" Kendall reasoned.
"I guess not! But, you always said I was reckless, remember?" Logan shot back.
"You really made a mess of things this time, Logan!" Kendall scolded. "And, where was the trust?" he asked quietly.
Logan felt a stab to the heart, and his face fell. He hated to disappoint more than anything. Memories of his own father telling him what a disappointment he was to him, came flooding back. He snatched his wrist away.
"I screwed up, okay!" Logan shouted. "So, sue me!"
Kendall couldn't believe it. "Screwed up? A boy might die because you couldn't resist a stupid challenge!" He gripped the wrist again.
Logan set his jaw stubbornly. "I mean it! Let go of me!"
He wasn't owning up to the fact that he had endangered his own life, as well as another boy's, or considering how his actions would affect all of them.
"Stupid!" Kendall raged, fueling Logan's own internal anger. "I thought bringing home a bunch of crazy girls was the limit, but now this!"
"I learned my lesson, daddy! I promise I won't race again!"
"We have a town-full of enemies, now!" Kendall shouted.
"We had enemies before this, obviously!" Logan shouted back.
"You could have died! You really don't get it!" Kendall cried in a high-pitched voice of exasperation.
It brought Carlos and James to the window, just in time to see him throw Logan up against the bumper of his car. He slapped him across the cheek, leaving a stunned look behind on all three faces.
Logan placed his hand to the stinging cheek, eyes narrowed. "Don't you ever-" Logan began coldly.
"Don't ever what, Logan? Lie? Sneak? Endanger my life? Or all of ours?" Kendall hissed.
Kendall didn't think, before he did what he did next. Later, he would spend hours trying to analyze why he did it, but for now he was acting on pure emotion. He flung Logan face-down on the hood of his car, twisting a fistful of his cardigan, and pinned both of his wrists behind him. He had simmered over the 'daddy' references for days now, and he finally had enough.
Logan struggled to lift Kendall's weight off of him, but his face was painfully pressed into the cool steel. Seeing red, Kendall began to vent his rage on the back of Logan, forcing him forward with each forceful smack to his rear. It took Logan a full moment to register that he was actually being hit the way he was, before he fought to free himself. Even though he did, it was to no avail. Kendall was driven by rage, and seemed to possess that superhuman strength Logan always joked about.
"Do something, Man! Kendall's going ape on Logan!" Carlos wailed.
James was too shocked by what he was witnessing, to even respond. Smack after smack, led Logan to yelping and whimpering, but Kendall was ruthless and wouldn't relent. How could he take life so carelessly, Kendall wanted to know.
"Kendall! Stop!" Logan pleaded, gritting his teeth. Finally breathless, Kendall slowed down a bit, while Logan wriggled against the slippery hood.
"Kendall, stop!"Carlos yelled, running out from the house.
Kendall snapped out of his rage when he heard Carlos' sweet, pleading voice. He slowly turned to face the two curious boys on the porch as if in a trance, and walked back to the house, leaving Logan still lying prone over the hood of the car. They stepped aside to let him pass.
"Logan? Are you okay?" Carlos asked in a concerned voice, stepping out into the semi-darkness to meet him. Logan finally lifted himself off of the car, and slowly stood upright. He wouldn't look at Carlos.
"Yeah, sure," he choked out bitterly. He limped to the door, and turned his face away from James, who stood blocking the doorway with both arms. He tried to brush past him, but James shook his head.
Logan kept his eyes down, and wiped his wet face with the back of his hand. "Pleeease. James," he tried again, "just let me by."
James wrapped his arms around him. "Wait, what just happened out there?" he asked softly, pulling him in closer.
"What do you think!" Logan asked in a high squeaky voice, full of hurt. "Kendall's flipped his wig! Now move!"
James raised his arms to block him off again, and stood his ground, waiting for some sort of explanation about what was going on between the two of them. Logan tried to press his way in once more.
"Logan, just stop running away," James said firmly.
"What? Do you want a go at me too? Would you like me over your lap, or back over the hood of the car?" Logan spat at him.
James dropped his arms, shaking his head. "No, Logan. Not unless you keep smarting off to your friends like that. But, we do need to talk to Kendall, and find out what's really going on with him."
"What's going on with him? He wants to give me a curfew, and enforce it too!" Logan said defiantly. "No way! I'm not talking to him."
James noticed that Logan was trembling now, and he hated to see him so broken. He was a pretty tough guy, as long as he'd known him, but this was enough to break anyone. He let him pass.
Logan avoided the bedroom, where he knew Kendall went to retreat. There was no way he could face him now. He clicked off the floor lamp, and plopped down heavily into the living room chair. Carlos stood watching.
"Hey, Logan," he said sympathetically. Logan just hung his head, feeling a kaleidoscope of emotions, including anger, sorrow and humiliation.
Carlos caught the shine of a stray tear in the soft light, and wiped it gently from his friend's cheek. Logan swatted the hand away. "Don't!" he snapped. "I'm not a baby!"
"I never said you were," Carlos said, hurt by the response to his caring gesture. "It's been a long day, I'm just going to go to bed. Night," he said.
"Night," Logan mumbled.
"He's pretty pissed off," Carlos whispered to James in the hall. James made a u-turn, and decided to stay away from both of the guys until things calmed down.
"Really, I don't blame him, but I don't blame Kendall either."
Logan, aware that they were whispering, went into the bathroom to take his evening shower, banging the door behind him. It rattled the windows of the bungalow.
"Logan!" James scolded.
"Aw, let him be," Carlos said. "Did you see Kendall's fury? I hope he never goes off on me like that! I never even got spanked as a child, never mind pummeled like that," he said with a grimace.
"Well, I don't think Logan did either. His dad liked to use words to punish him, from what I hear."
"What a drag," Carlos said.
"I don't think he would ever react that way with us, anyway," James said honestly. "I think he only does that with Logan...and we need to find out why."
Logan ran the shower hot and long. He cried silently, letting the tears mingle with the stream of water. He hated when things weren't right between him and Kendall. It always mattered to him what Kendall thought, and this time his heart ached, and his stomach felt like a clenched fist. His felt like his life was falling apart.
xxx
There was no way Kendall could fall asleep after what had happened, but he pretended to. Shortly after the shower stopped running, Logan slipped into the bedroom with the stealth of a cat. He slid into his bed and turned his face to the moon, bright and full in the window.
Kendall could see his dark eyes glistening in the moon beams. He, himself had been crying. It hurt that Logan didn't trust in him the way he should. It hurt that things had come to this. He loved the guy like a brother, and maybe something more. They had shared so much together. He couldn't stand to think of Logan hurt... or worse yet, gone. He'd already lost one brother and he couldn't bear to lose another.
Logan's eyes drooped heavily, and Kendall watched him finally concede, roll over on his side away from where he lay in his own bed, and fall asleep. He listened until he heard his breathing even out, before closing his own eyes and succumbing to sleep. He wished that he could just give him a warm forgiving hug, and put everything right. But, it wouldn't be right to do that, because the truth was, Kendall was still hurt and angry.
xxx
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