Golden Trail

  Layne shrugged off his leather jacket and was about to say goodnight to Dev and turn to the stairs when Dev said, “Need a brief, boy.”

  Layne’s eyes went to the old man, saw his face was serious and nodded. He tossed his jacket on the back of the couch, walked to an armchair, pivoted it to face Dev and lounged back, aiming his gaze at his friend.

  “Hit me.”

  “Got the goods on her ex-asshole, need to know how you want me to play it,” Dev replied.

  Layne didn’t get a good feeling about the fact Devin was asking. Dev wouldn’t normally ask. Dev would normally play it whatever way he wanted to play it.

  “What is it?” Layne asked.

  “Campaign contributions that, if taken public, would make him and the Republican Party a bit uncomfortable,” Dev answered.

  Jesus, Rocky married a Republican. She must have worked hard on convincing herself she was in love with the dick. Both Dave and Merry were staunch Republicans but Rocky had followed in her mother’s footsteps and voted straight ticket Democrat. Thus a variety of heated political discussions ensued over the dinner table, that heat mainly emanating from Rocky, and Layne had learned to keep his political opinions to himself.

  “Over the limit?” Layne asked and Dev shook his head.

  “Shell companies set up for the sole purpose of feedin’ into the current Governor havin’ his bed at the Governor’s mansion. Far’s I can tell, Republican Committee knew all about it because Astley sits on it. So do a good number of his buds, all of ‘em paid their dues but Astley was the mastermind.”

  “Use it,” Layne ordered, still not understanding why Dev was discussing this with him.

  “This hits, it puts him out there,” Dev replied.

  “It won’t hit, he’ll back down,” Layne returned.

  “Guy’s an asshole, boy, I get that you get that but I don’t think you get how much of an asshole he is. Thinks he’s untouchable.”

  “He isn’t, no one is.”

  “He calls your bluff, you got no choice but to put this out there. You put this out there, first, you make a fuckload of enemies and not the HOA, we’re talkin’ local power brokers here. Second, it’ll be a media circus.”

  Layne now understood why Devin was hesitating.

  “Roc’s clear of him, Dev,” Layne assured.

  “It ain’t Rocky I’m worried about,” Devin returned and Layne shook his head.

  “Got markers I can call,” Layne reminded him quietly. “Even if it gets hot and I get on power players’ radar, got markers I can call, markers with people who can trump anything he’s got and you know it.”

  “Ain’t you I’m worried about either,” Dev replied.

  Layne was losing patience and therefore asked, “We gonna play twenty questions?”

  That was when Devin gave it to him. “Worried about Marissa Gibbons.”

  “Who the fuck is that?” Layne asked.

  “Rocky’s replacement,” Devin answered and Layne’s brows shot up.

  “And I care about that bitch because…?” he prompted when Devin said no more.

  Dev leaned toward Layne, put his elbows on his knees and his eyes got intense as his voice dropped low. “You care about that bitch because her Dad was a drug dealer, he pimped out her Mom until she bit it due to an overdose, Social Services cottoned on and Marissa went into foster care. Bounced around awhile, managed to get a high school degree, no idea how except a sheer miracle because she followed in Mom’s footsteps and fell in with the wrong crowd and when I say that, boy, I mean it was the wrong crowd. Saw with my own two eyes the results of her acting career. She wasn’t no star but she was good. Even I was convinced she was lovin’ every second of it when she took a huge fuckin’ cock so far down her throat it proved positive she has no gag reflex whatsoever.”

  Layne felt his neck muscles contract.

  “Porn?” he whispered.

  “Three films, none of them starring roles, she did them under false names, different colored hair, carryin’ an extra twenty pounds, hadn’t yet had her boob job, was underage and looks it but no denyin’ it’s her.”

  Layne grinned, not because Marissa Gibbons’s life clearly sucked but because he fucking loved it that Astley was fucking a porn star. No doubt he was still shit in bed but at least she’d have the skills to convince him he wasn’t

  Devin watched him grin and shook his head, leaning even closer.

  “She pulled herself outta that shit, Tanner. Don’t know how she did it, but she did. She’s goin’ to IUPUI, studyin’ to be a social worker. She’s turned her life around. This shit hits, no matter how big the names are around hers, she’s the face of it for…fuckin’…ever. History books, boy. Online encyclopedias, Goggle her name and she could cure world hunger but that’s the first thing you’d see. No more Pacemate, the squad will dump her. She’ll quit school. She’ll go back to what she knows. You tip Astley, you destroy her life. We both know it wasn’t a good choice for her to hook her star to his or how she did it but now we know why she did it. You want me to use it, I’ll use it. I’ll even use all of it which means he’ll set her out before he takes you on, whatever way that comes about. But he doesn’t bite, you go the distance, you take her down. She’s not a good woman because she’s had no role models but, even so, she’s tryin’ like hell to learn how to be one. You do this, you set her back in that task, I’m guessin’ irrevocably.” Devin sat back and finished, “That said, your call.”

  Layne stared at Devin and made a decision.

  “Lean on ‘em both,” he ordered.

  Devin’s brows shot up. “What?”

  “Go to her, tell her what you got on him and what you got on her. Porn past or not, she can do better. Fuck, anyone can do better,” Layne explained. “I’m guessin’ here but what they got is no love match so we’re doin’ her a favor. She leans on him one way, we lean on him the other. We partner up, coach her, play it right, he pays her off, settles with Rocky and they both get on with their lives with him not in it but his cash in their accounts.” Layne leaned forward and continued. “He still doesn’t play, you go one by one through the Republican Committee. I’ll lay money down that one of ‘em will buckle and I’ll lay more down on it bein’ the first one you talk to, especially seein’ as this isn’t blackmail, you’re sellin’ quiet cheap. They won’t have to dish out anything but a little pressure. Astley may think he’s untouchable from me, from Roc, but those boys can convince him a fuckuva lot different.”

  Devin smiled and leaned back, saying, “Like the way you think, boy.”

  Layne pushed up out of the armchair, replying, “You should, you taught me how to think.” He moved to the side of the couch, stopped and looked down at his friend. “Losin’ your touch, old man, you’da called that five years ago.”

  “Lucky for me, I had the foresight to train my replacement before the dementia kicked in,” Devin shot back.

  Layne bit back his smile and shook his head, muttering, “Goin’ to bed.”

  “Don’t blame you,” Dev muttered back, his eyes moving to the TV.

  Layne hesitated then asked, “Ma all right with Roc while I was gone?”

  Devin didn’t look away from the TV. “Seein’ as both your boys threw down on Rocky’s side, then yeah.” He turned his head to Layne. “They’re good judges of character, like me.”

  That didn’t sound good.

  “They both threw down?” Layne asked.

  “Not a word spoken but blind, deaf and dumb would know that to them it’s warm as the waters of the Caribbean with Rocky, frosty arctic with your Ma.” Dev’s eyes turned intense again before he went on. “You didn’t ask my advice but I’m givin’ it. I don’t know what went down when I wasn’t here but I know by the aftermath it wasn’t good so you better tell that woman to get her head outta her ass. They love her but they’re your boys. They see that soft spot Rocky’s got and, like you, they’re movin’ in to protect it. Not only that, she makes you happy in a way your Ma cleanin’
your house and makin’ cake ain’t ever gonna make you happy and they want that for you. It’s a fight she ain’t ever gonna win and she better get smart before she loses a lot more than she’d ever expect.”

  “Roc’s stronger than you think, Dev,” Layne said quietly.

  “You think that, you better look closer, Tanner, because she sure as fuck ain’t,” Dev returned, just as quietly and those muscles in Layne’s neck went tight again. “I can see you hangin’ back and lettin’ the women battle this out and normally I’d agree with that play but not here. You’re skatin’ on thin ice, boy, and you better be careful with every stroke of those blades because, you fall through, those waters are bitter cold and you know it ‘cause you been livin’ in ‘em a long time. You don’t want those waters to close over you again, Tanner, you have a word with your Ma.”

  Layne sighed then he nodded, knowing after his mother’s behavior that day Dev spoke the truth but wanting to have a word with his mother about as much as he wanted to talk to Gabby yesterday.

  Dev gave him a stare and then looked back at the TV.

  “’Night, old man,” Layne muttered as he turned to the stairs.

  “’Night, boy.” He heard Dev mutter back.

  Layne was halfway up the stairs when he heard Tripp say, “Jeez, Jas, you’re gonna go over your limit of texts and Dad’s gonna be pissed.”

  He hit the top of the stairs to see Tripp at the desk and Jasper with his back to the weight bench, knees bent, soles of his feet to the bench, his cell phone held over his face as he replied, “Dad’ll be cool. He gets it about takin’ care of your babe.”

  “True enough, Jas,” Layne put in and Tripp swiveled around to look at him as Jasper’s head turned and his eyes focused on Layne. “Still, you go over your limit, I’ll be pissed.”

  “She’s hot, Dad, gotta keep her hooked so no one moves in,” Jasper explained.

  “Boy, why do you think I bought you that goddamned car?” Layne asked, he’d stopped and he crossed his arms on his chest. “Right about now, when you’re feelin’ like that, you stop playin’ it cool and her ass is here or your ass is there, you stake your claim and you don’t do it through fuckin’ texts.”

  Jasper sat up, dropping his feet to straddle the bench. “You cool with Keirry bein’ here when you’re not?”

  “Just as long as I don’t have to set up a crib in the corner of your bedroom, that is, if I win at hand to hand combat defendin’ my son against a gonzo Joe Callahan,” Layne answered.

  Jasper grinned and crossed his cell phone over his heart before he lifted it in the air, “Swear. Gentleman. Totally.”

  Layne stared at his son then looked to Tripp who was also grinning at him and who decided to add, “Giselle Speakmon’s parents are totally devout. When I get in there and we hook up, there won’t be any cribs for me either, Dad, because I reckon they’ll make her wear one of those chastity belts, knowin’ Jas is my brother and all.”

  Layne felt his brows go up and he beat down any thoughts of his youngest being sexually active. Jasper was the first born boy, his leap to manhood Layne took in stride. Tripp was still just a kid in his eyes. Layne was not ready to go there, not by a long fucking shot.

  Still, he asked, “You like her?”

  Tripp nodded. “Got her talkin’ to me and she’s cool and she can be funny, in a quiet way that’s kinda awesome.”

  “She at church today?” Layne asked and Tripp nodded again, his smile getting bigger.

  “Yeah, she was the blonde who sat next to TJ in church.”

  Layne felt his body lock as he looked at his boy. “Right next to him?” he asked quietly.

  Tripp’s grin faded at his father’s tone and he answered quietly back, “Yeah.”

  “She’s here after school too or you’re there. Jasper will be your ride,” Layne ordered instantly.

  “Her parents won’t –” Tripp started and Layne cut him off.

  “Then you call in Rocky. Even if her family’s religious, they won’t question Roc. They know she’s here, they’ll know Giselle is good. I’m not here and Roc’s not here but at her apartment, you’re over there with Giselle and I’ll talk to Rocky.”

  “Dad,” Tripp’s voice was still muted. “She’s cool. She’s there because she’s religious. I don’t even think she likes TJ.”

  Layne felt his gut squeeze. “She was sitting right next to him, Pal.”

  “She doesn’t like him but he way likes her,” Tripp replied and Layne’s gut twisted.

  “She’s here or you’re there. You tie her up one way or another, Tripp, you get me?” Layne asked and Tripp’s face got pale.

  “Do you think –?” Tripp started to ask and Layne interrupted him again.

  “I don’t think, Tripp, you don’t either. This is now, we move on from here and you tie Giselle up and you’re glued to her at Youth Group meetings.” Layne stared at his son and finished, “Now, do you get me?”

  “I get you,” Tripp whispered.

  “She got a cell phone?” Layne asked and Tripp nodded. “Got her number?” Layne went on and Tripp nodded again so Layne nodded back. “Go text her now.”

  Tripp slid from the chair and whispered, “Got it,” then walked to Jasper’s room.

  Layne looked at Jas to see his son’s focus was intent on him and he ordered, “You have his back.”

  “Giselle’s a favorite, Dad,” Jasper muttered.

  “You have his fuckin’ back,” Layne returned, Jas stared him in the eyes and nodded. “I want an address or the make, model and color of his car by tomorrow, Bud,” Layne ordered low.

  “You’ll have it,” Jasper assured him and Layne walked close to look down at his boy.

  “We’ve passed finesse,” Layne told him quietly. “We’re goin’ forward hard.” Jasper nodded up to him and Layne continued. “You don’t gotta be cool about this. He cottons on, I don’t give a fuck except you and your brother are in the middle of this shit. That you play cool, you play smart, you have Tripp’s back, you listen to your gut and you communicate with me. You walk down the halls, you know who’s walkin’ behind you. You have a chat with a Youth Group kid, you pay attention to what’s goin’ on on their face, not what’s comin’ outta their mouths and you also pay attention to who might be listenin’ in. You drive down the road, you check your rearview mirrors, you see a car more than once on your ass, you get a plate. You with me?”

  “Yeah, Dad,” Jasper whispered.

  “You’re in this house, alarm is armed. At all times, Jas.”

  “Right.”

  “Roc’s on his radar and Tripp laid claim to her today. Because of that, when light dawns, he’ll know where she sits with this. That means, I’m not around, you have her back too.”

  “Gotcha.”

  “He got any other favorites?” Layne asked and Jasper nodded.

  “Alexis McGraw.”

  “The redhead today?”

  “Yep.”

  “Any ideas how to keep her clear?”

  Jasper shook his head. “She’s in deep. She thinks he’s the shit. They’re always together.”

  “Fuck,” Layne whispered.

  “I’ll think about it. She used to have a thing for Seth. Maybe –”

  Layne cut him off. “Seth’s got enough to deal with.”

  “Yeah, which means, I figure, takin’ his mind off of that shit will do him good,” Jasper returned. “We’ve talked about this, before Tripp and me started undercover and Seth thinks it’s creepy as all get out too. I reckon he’d come on board and he’d be cool, Dad. After yesterday, he’d do just about anything for you and Rocky. Alexis is a freshman and Seth is a senior but she’s cute and it isn’t unheard of. Jamie’s a senior and he’s datin’ a freshman and Seth and Jamie are tight.”

  Layne nodded and asked, “Any bright ideas of how to shut the rest of it down?”

  “Yeah,” Jasper whispered and stood, clearing the weight bench and bringing him close to his old man. “We don’t have to play it c
ool anymore, I start a campaign. Kids think it’s weird, teachers think it’s weird but no one’s talkin’ out about it. It’s all real quiet. Whispers. I talk out about it. Make like I’m goin’ as a joke. Get Seth and some of the team to go with me. Start fuckin’ around at Youth Group and, at school, make it uncool other than to go for shits and giggles, a place to fuck around and pick up girls.”

  “I don’t know, Jas, bold play but could have the opposite effect, make the devoted more so and make it popular for kids to go, even if they’re fuckin’ around which might put more girls on the line. It also puts Tripp out there if Giselle is religious. She’ll want to think he’s into that too and her family will definitely want to think that if he wants to spend time with her.”

  “Just because Giselle’s family is religious doesn’t mean she has to go to Youth Group,” Jasper replied. “Tripp can play her and, in the end, she’s still a shy girl who’s got a chance at the only freshman on the football team. She pushes it that she prefers to be with Tripp, her parents’ll cave. The other shit, leave it to me.”

  Layne smiled and asked, “Lots of parents cave?”

  Jasper smiled back. “Totally. Especially the girls. How do you think I hit so many? Before Keira that is.”

  “Jasper Layne, football stud,” Layne muttered, still smiling.

  “Off the market stud,” Jasper muttered back, also still smiling. “Just like his Dad.”

  Layne chuckled as he lifted a hand and curled it around his boy’s neck, pulled him in and gently bumped foreheads with him before he let him go.

  “All right, Bud, you play it how you feel it but you communicate with me, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “You call your Mom today?” Layne asked.

  “Yeah, twice,” Jas answered.

  “Good man,” Layne murmured. “Homework done and tomorrow, thank your Gram for cleanin’ your room. She deserves it especially since, for most humans, it was a no go zone and I reckon Keira will be spendin’ time in it and we won’t want to rush her to the hospital after she’s exposed to the fumes.”

  Jasper shook his head, grinning. “It wasn’t that bad.”

  “Boy,” was Layne’s only reply as he turned to walk away but he thought better of it and turned back. “Did you get your sentences diagrammed?”