Cattle Valley 28 - Second Chances (4 page)

After Oggie had returned to his seat, Drake made two rum and Cokes. He didn’t drink often, but when Oggie had mentioned his need for something stronger than juice, Drake figured he might as well indulge.

Drake handed Oggie a glass before taking the seat across the aisle. He felt like he should say something, but it wasn’t a situation he was comfortable with. “I didn’t expect that to happen.”

Oggie hoisted his glass up before downing the entire contents. “Me either,” he replied then hissed as the alcohol burned his throat.
“You sorry it did?” Drake had to know where he stood.
“Not particularly.” Oggie sucked one of the rum-laced ice cubes into his mouth. “You?”
“Not at all,” Drake confessed. He ran the cool glass against his swollen lips. “Although I wish it’d happened somewhere else.”
“Afraid your employer would disapprove?” Oggie questioned.
There was an uneasiness about the way Oggie asked that alerted Drake that the man was already starting to pull away. He moved his glass to his left hand and reached across the aisle with his right. Holding the back of Oggie’s neck, Drake stretched over and kissed him again. “Asa would more than approve. I meant that I wish we’d been alone, in bed preferably.”
Oggie licked his lips. “Oh.” He leant in for another deep kiss. “Are we staying at Joseph’s?”
Drake gave Oggie one last kiss before pulling back to sit straight in his seat. “No, Asa’s secretary reserved four rooms for us at a hotel down the street from the shelter.”
“Maybe we only need three rooms?”
Drake glanced at the cockpit door, sure that Stony had already worked his magic on his newest co-pilot. “Two’s more like it.”
Oggie sucked another ice cube into his mouth. “What’s your deal with the pilot? Should I be jealous?”
“Of Stony? Absolutely not. We’ve fucked, but usually out of boredom, nothing more.”
“Are you still fucking him?” Oggie’s eyes narrowed to mere slits.
“Not for a while.” Drake didn’t explain further. “And it honestly was all about fucking.”
“And are you bored now?”
“Excuse me?” Drake finished his drink and set his glass aside. “What’re you talking about?”
“If you’re planning to just pass the time with me, don’t bother.” Oggie stood and stalked towards the front of the plane.
Drake shook his head. “Damn, you run hot and cold.”

Drake pulled the rental car in front of the Rainbow Youth building. “This is the shelter.” He pointed to the small stone church across the street. “And Joseph ministers over there on Wednesdays and Sundays.”

It was Oggie’s first look at the shelter. Although obviously old, it appeared clean and inviting. “Is it just this one building?”
Drake nodded. “Yeah, it goes back a good amount, but there’re only rooms for ten residents, excluding Joseph’s quarters.”
In a city the size of DC, Oggie could understand why the shelter was looking to house teens in Cattle Valley. “Is Joseph the only adult?”
“He has a long list of PFLAG volunteers who come in to cook and help clean, but, yeah, for the most part, it’s just Joseph since his partner, Phillip, died.” Drake opened his door and climbed out.
Oggie took a fortifying breath before getting out of the car. The rest of the plane ride had been uncomfortable. His fit of jealousy over Stony was ridiculous and they both knew it, but instead of apologising, he’d sat there like a fucking bump on a log.
Truth was, the kisses he’d shared with Drake had been fantastic. So good, in fact, that the thought of Drake sharing his talented tongue with someone else honestly bothered him. It was a recipe for disaster, and Oggie knew it. Drake seemed to enjoy no-strings-attached sex, and, although none of Oggie’s boyfriends had bothered to stick around for long, it hadn’t been because he didn’t want them to. When he’d been on the force, his boyfriends couldn’t handle the odd hours or interrupted time together, and since the shooting, there hadn’t been anyone, but that didn’t mean Oggie didn’t want a regular boyfriend.
“You okay?” Drake asked.
Oggie blinked, realising he was standing beside the car with the door still open. “Yeah, sorry.” He glanced at Drake. It was his chance to set things right. “Sorry for the thing back on the plane, too.”
Drake waited for Oggie to shut the door. “Are you sorry we kissed?”
Oggie shook his head. “Just sorry I was an ass afterwards.”
Drake hit the key fob and locked the car. After waiting for Oggie to join him in front of the building, Drake wrapped an arm around Oggie’s waist and kissed him, slow and deep. “Good, because I like kissing you.”
With his arm still around Oggie, Drake pushed the intercom mounted beside the door. “Drake Smith and Robert Ogden to see Joseph,” he announced.
“Just a sec,” a young voice replied.
Several moments later, a buzzer sounded and the door unlocked. Oggie followed Drake inside. The room they entered was small, with pale yellow walls and a few metal chairs. Drake went immediately to the next steel door and waited for another buzzer to sound.
“Wow, they’re serious about security,” Oggie remarked.
Drake nodded towards the front window. “Bulletproof. Nate Gills donated quite a bit of money for upgrades, but Joseph said his number one priority was the safety of the kids living here, so that’s where the majority of the money was spent.”
“Are bulletproof windows really necessary?” Oggie asked as Drake opened the second door.
“You’d be surprised what some of the dealers and pimps will do to get these kids back,” a handsome man answered.
Oggie recognised Joseph’s voice from the phone conversations they’d had. He held out his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Joseph smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You as well.” He turned his attention to Drake. “I’m glad you were able to come so quickly. I’m really worried about Cullen.”
Joseph glanced around, clearly uneasy about something. “Let’s go into my office.” He led them down a short hallway and into a small, eight-foot by ten-foot windowless room.
Oggie took a seat next to Drake in front of Joseph’s desk. The room was incredibly plain as if Joseph hadn’t spent a penny of the donated money on anything in the room. Even the computer looked years out of date. The more he looked around the place, the more confident Oggie became in Joseph’s ability to put the needs of the teenagers first, unlike a lot of charities he’d come across over the years.
Joseph rested his elbows on the desk and rubbed his forehead as he spoke, “I’m afraid I drove Cullen away.”
“Impossible,” Drake argued. “Everyone here loves you.”
Joseph glanced up, wearing a troubled expression. “Yes, well, that’s part of the problem. I was working closely with Cullen because the transition from the street to the shelter seemed hard on him.” He stopped speaking and shifted in his chair. “Cullen kissed me, or at least he tried to. I pushed him away and he ran out.”
“And that’s the last time you saw him until last night?” Drake asked.
Joseph nodded. “I wasn’t totally honest with Asa. Cullen didn’t disappear, he left. I knew I had to make the situation sound dire or he wouldn’t have sent you, and from the bruises I saw on him, he needs help, fast.”
“Was he hustling before he came here?” Drake asked.
“Yeah. I first approached him about three and a half, four years ago, but I couldn’t convince him to come in.” A slight smile crossed Joseph’s lips. “I think the only reason he finally came in was to shut me up.”
“I asked you to come because I doubt I’ll ever get Cullen back into the shelter, but I think he’ll go with you to Cattle Valley if it’s offered.” Joseph’s deep voice had grown thick with emotion. It was obvious he felt responsible for the situation.
Oggie didn’t even need to meet the kid. “I’ll take him.”
“Thank you.”
“No need. I’ve seen my share of kids on the street.” Oggie glanced at Drake, wondering if he’d spoken out of turn. He realised he wasn’t the only one who had a say. “I mean, if you agree?”
Drake shrugged. “My job is to find him. It’s up to you whether or not you wanna open your ranch to him.” He gave Oggie a reassuring smile before returning his attention to Joseph. “What exactly did Cullen say last night?”
Joseph raked his fingers through his short, thick hair. “I noticed the bruises and split lip first. He told me I needed to leave, but I could tell it was killing him to tell me that. He seemed scared, like he was afraid someone would see us talking. When I asked him to come home with me, he said he couldn’t, that it would be better if I forgot about him.”
“Then what happened?” Drake asked when it didn’t seem like Joseph would continue.
“He ran.” Joseph’s hands dropped to the desk. “I tried to follow him, but he’s a lot younger.”
Oggie wasn’t sure of Joseph’s age, but he guessed the man was in his mid-forties, despite the silver threaded through his black hair. “We’ll find him.”

Drake yawned and took a sip of his coffee. They’d been sitting across the street from Cullen’s last known location for almost two hours and the long day was starting to catch up to him.

“This isn’t working,” Oggie said, shoving another Twinkie into his mouth. “We should get out and talk to that girl over there, show her his picture.”
Drake glanced at the photo Joseph had given him. It was an entire group of teenage boys with Joseph in the centre. Everyone was cheesing it up for the camera, except Cullen. The seventeen-year-old’s head was turned towards Joseph, a sad expression on his too-thin face.
“We can’t. Street kids take care of each other. We start asking around, and someone’ll get to him, warn him away.” Drake dumped the dredges of his coffee onto the street before stuffing the cup in the plastic bag at Oggie’s feet. Already leaning over the console, he took the opportunity to kiss Oggie’s neck. “We could make out while we wait.”
Oggie turned his head and captured Drake’s lips, opening for Drake’s wandering tongue. The kiss only lasted a minute or so, but it was long enough to get Drake hard and wanting.
“Wanna climb into the backseat?” Drake whispered, straightening Oggie’s Stetson.
“I want the kid off the street and you in a bed.”
With his lust driving him, Drake grabbed the picture and got out of the car. “Hold tight,” he told Oggie.
“Be careful,” Oggie replied as Drake shut the door.
Drake checked traffic before jogging across the street. The young girl, who was leaning against a mailbox, stood up straight and hiked her skirt up, so little was left to the imagination.
“You and your friend looking for a date?” she asked, pointing to their car.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t swing that way.” Drake smiled, trying to put the girl at ease. “But, hopefully, you can help me out. Father Joseph Allenbrand’s worried about a friend of his.” He held out Cullen’s picture. “Do you know him?”
“Yeah, Little Man.” She narrowed her eyes. “What’s the Padre want with him?”
“To get him off the street.”
The girl snorted. “No way Willy B’s gonna let you take him, although, from what I hear, Little Man’s been slippin’ lately.” She smacked her gum. “Willy worked him over pretty good a week ago, put him through a few days of retraining.”
“Retraining?” Drake’s stomach clenched. He had a good idea of what that meant, but he needed to know everything he could about Cullen’s life on the street. It would help Oggie once they got the kid to the ranch.
The girl shrugged. “It’s something Willy does when we don’t bring in enough money. Usually a good beating and several days of nonstop sex, sometimes he brings other men in to teach us new stuff.”
“Help me find him. I swear no one will ever know.” Drake hadn’t planned to tell the girl anything about where they were taking Cullen, but he needed to paint her a picture. “We’ve got a ranch out in the country. He’ll be able to ride horses, help take care of them.” He looked around. “Hell of a lot better place than here.”
The girl crossed her arms, tears filling her eyes. “If I help you get him away from Willy B, you take me, too?”
Drake couldn’t answer that question. He gestured to the car. “Let’s go over and talk to Oggie, he’s the owner of the ranch.”
The girl bit her bottom lip.
“What’s your name?” Drake asked.
“Honey,” she answered.
“What’s your real name?” Drake motioned for Oggie to get out and join them.
“You got a cigarette?” she asked.
“No.”
“Mandy,” she eventually mumbled.
“Oggie, this is Mandy, a friend of Cullen’s.”
“We’re not friends. We’re not allowed to have them.” Mandy’s gaze went to Oggie’s stump.
“Shotgun,” Oggie said in explanation.
“Mandy said she’d help us find Cullen if we take her with us.” Drake wasn’t sure if Oggie planned to house females at the ranch.
Oggie held out his hand. “Depends. You mind living with guys?”
Mandy snorted again. “Are you kidding me? There’s nothing they could do to me that my father and Willy B hasn’t done to me a hundred times over.”
Sadly, Mandy’s story was one shared by a lot of kids on the street. Drake knew if Oggie wouldn’t take her, he’d find somewhere safe for the girl to live.
After a moment, Oggie nodded. “Tell us where to find Cullen then go get your stuff.”
“There’s nothing I need bad enough to take the chance of running into Willy.” Mandy looked up at Oggie. “That guy said you had horses. Is that true?”
“Horses and cows.”
“Dogs? I’ve always wanted a dog.”
Oggie chuckled. “We have a couple of barn cats, but no dogs yet. You get yourself settled in and we’ll see about getting one.”
“The Blue Neon, room seven,” Mandy told Drake. “If he’s with a trick, there’ll be a Chinese restaurant magnet on the door.”

After dropping Mandy off at the shelter, Drake pulled into the parking lot of a small strip-style motel. “‘B ue N on otel’,” Oggie said, reading the sign, despite the burned out letters. “Classy place.”

It was easy enough to find Cullen’s room. Oggie pointed to the magnet. “He has company,” he mouthed.
Drake shrugged and knocked on the door. After a moment, he knocked again. He moved to the window and cupped his hands around his eyes, putting his forehead against the glass as he tried to see between the aging drapes. “Oh fuck!”
Without another word he kicked the door twice before putting his shoulder to it. The door gave with a splintering sound, nearly dumping Drake onto the floor. He forced down the bile that rose in his throat as he righted himself.
“Jesus, what happened here?” Oggie stood over the unconscious kid.
His wrists and ankles bound to the bed, Cullen looked nothing like the picture Joseph had shown him. Although the light brown curls were the same, they were matted with blood. Drake pressed his fingers against Cullen’s throat and held his breath as he searched for a pulse. “Faint, but it’s there. Call for an ambulance.”
While Oggie spoke to the 9-1-1 operator, Drake pulled a knife out of the sheath in his boot and cut the restraints. He sat on the stained mattress and called Joseph.
“Did you find him?” Joseph answered on the first ring.
“Yeah, but it’s not good. We’ve got an ambulance on the way, but I figured you’d want to know. How’s Mandy?”
“Sound asleep. I found her some clothes out of the donation box. She barely stayed awake long enough to take a shower and eat something.” Joseph paused. “Tell me about Cullen.”
The ambulance sirens cut through the night as they pulled into the motel parking lot. “He’s unconscious. He was tied up when we got here and has obviously sustained a very serious beating. I’ll know more once the paramedics get up here.” He heard a commotion outside the splintered door. “As a matter-of-fact, they’re here right now. I’ll call as soon as I know where they’re taking him.”
“Thank you for finding him,” Joseph said, his voice full of emotion.
Drake stepped away from the bed to give the paramedics room to work. “Don’t thank me. I’ll call you when I know something.” He hung up and moved to stand beside Oggie.
“I was a cop for years, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this,” Oggie whispered.
“Neither’ve I,” Drake agreed. Not only were there swollen contusions covering Cullen’s body, but there had to be at least twenty random slits in his skin, the most disturbing of which was the W slashed into the teen’s forehead.
Drake didn’t know where Willy B was, but the fucker better hope the cops found him before he did.