Like Father, Like Son - 27

“What a gloomy looking place,” Nicky said when they saw the asylum up ahead of them.

Declan had to agree, although he thought some of that was because the day was dark and dreary with heavy rain clouds gathered above them. “Like something out of a bad movie,” he replied with a small smile.

“Exactly.”

Declan drove up the long driveway, found a place to park their rental car, and got out just as the first raindrops began to fall. They raced to the front porch of the large brick building. After taking a deep breath Declan opened the door.

A large, nicely furnished entryway faced them. Across the expanse of tiled floor was a desk, manned by an older, gray-haired woman. She looked up, saw them and smiled. “May I help you?”

Declan nodded. “I’m here to see my father,” he told her once he stood in front of the desk.

“Who would that be?”

“Bryant Hill.”

She frowned. “To the best of my knowledge Mr. Hill has no relatives other than his father.”

Declan nodded. “I know. I mean I know you wouldn’t know about me. But I can prove I’m his son.” He took the well worn birth certificate from his wallet, handing it to her. Folded in with it were the pictures of his father and grandfather taken before he’d been born, and the one of his father and uncle he’d found in his grandfather’s wallet.

She studied the birth certificate carefully, and then the pictures. She looked at the newer one of his father and then up at him and back. “I can see a family resemblance. Let me take these to the administrator. If he agrees, and Mr. Hill’s doctor gives his okay, then we’ll allow you a short visit.”

“That’s all I ask,” Declan said, his heart beating faster. “I just want to see him, just once. I never…” He shook his head. “I’ve never met him.”

“I understand. Please have a seat. I’ll be back to let you know as soon as possible.”

“So?” Nicky said when Declan sat down beside him.

“So I wait to see if the powers that be are willing to let me see him.” His face darkened. “He won’t know me of course. He won’t even understand what’s going on, or at least that’s the impression I got from my grandfather once, when he was less…sick. But that doesn’t matter. At least I’ll know. No matter how lost he is in his mind, at least I can say I finally met him.”

“And that’s what counts,” Nicky told him, hugging him.

They waited in silence then. Finally the woman came back and crossed to where they sat. “Mr. Hill’s doctor has given his permission. He’s not here but an orderly will be out momentarily to take you to him. I’ll warn you, he doesn’t look at all like he did in that picture. And, he probably won’t even know you’re there.”

“My grandfather told me he was…off somewhere else in his head?”

“Precisely.” She saw a man enter the room and waved him over, introducing him as Lee Whitney.

Declan thanked her then stood. “Is it…can my friend come with me?”

She eyed Nicky, who tried to look as innocuous as he possibly could. “He can’t go into the room with you but he can wait outside.”

“Thank you.”

Declan followed the orderly, Nicky walking beside him. They went down a long hall to a bank of elevators then up three floors. The orderly informed them this was the locked ward, which was quite obvious from the number of doors they were buzzed through before arriving in front of the one to Bryant’s room. While the orderly unlocked the door, Nicky gave Declan’s hand a tight squeeze. Declan smiled his thanks for his support.

Like Father, Like Son - 26

Declan ran his hand through his hair as he closed his cell. “Damn, damn,” he whispered softly. Nicky was beside him seconds later, asking what was wrong. “My grandfather had a heart attack. They don’t expect him to live more than a day or two, if that.” He jumped to his feet, opening his cell again. “Go get packed, we’re heading to back there. I want to say my goodbye’s to him, even if he has no clue who I am.”

“What about your job? Aren’t they going to be upset, you’re taking off on such short notice?”

Declan shook his head. “I’ll let them know why, so it shouldn’t be a problem.” He paused long enough to make plane reservations then let Nicky know they had two hours to get to the airport.

“That was fast.”

“The only real perk to who my stepfather is, I tossed out his name and they jumped through hoops to get us on the next plane out.”

They hurried to the bedroom to get ready. As it was too early for anyone to be at the office yet, Declan left a message explaining what was going on. By the time they were dressed and packed the cab Declan had ordered was downstairs waiting for them.

* * * *

It wasn’t until they stepped off the plane in Minneapolis that Declan actually showed any emotion other than worrying if they’d be in time. He had a feeling Nicky found it strange but he didn’t give a damn. They didn’t need to stop to pick up their luggage as they’d each packed only one carry-on bag, so they were able to get out of the airport and into the heart of the city quickly. Declan picked the first decent hotel he saw, got them a room, and when they’d tossed their bags on the beds he called the nursing home.  

“He’s at the hospital, of course,” Declan told Nicky after he’d hung up. “The administrator agreed to tell the people there I was a relative so I could get in to see him.”

Nicky frowned as he followed Declan back to the elevator. “They don’t know?”

“No. I never told them. I…didn’t want questions. I just let them think I was a nice kid who was concerned about a man I’d found wandering in the cemetery one day. As far as they knew he had no family other than my father.” Declan smiled sadly. “And father was in no condition to visit him.”

When they arrived at the hospital, the nurse made Nicky stay in the waiting room while she took Declan to his grandfather’s room.

“I’m afraid he won’t recognize you,” she said as she held the door open for him.

“I understand.” He walked to stand at the side of the bed, looking down at Gerard. “He’s so…so thin,” he murmured. When the nurse didn’t reply he turned and realized she’d left, closing the door silently behind her.

Declan pulled the only chair up to the bed and sat, taking Gerard’s emaciated hand in his. “I’m sorry I never got to know you,” he whispered. “I’m carrying on with the game though, grandfather, following in your footsteps. Maybe a bit differently but I’m still doing it for the right reasons, just as you and father did.”

For a second he thought his grandfather’s hand moved in his. He squeezed it gently but there was no response.

“I love you, grandfather. You’re all I had left, you and father.” He sighed deeply. “I wish… I wish I could visit him, see him just once.”

“Go…”

The word was a bare whisper, so soft Declan wasn’t certain his grandfather had even spoken it. “You want me to go see him?”

Gerard’s eyelids fluttered once.

Declan straightened then stood. He bent to kiss his grandfather’s withered cheek. “I will, I promise.”

He walked slowly from the room, stopping at the door to look back at his grandfather. “I’ll go tomorrow. I promise.”

Like Father, Like Son - 25

“Self-righteous, bigoted, mother-fucking ass,” Nicky growled as he met Declan outside the bar. His normally casually combed dark hair was spiked now with pink tips. Makeup lined his eyes. Diamond studs, fake but apparently real, decorated his ears. With the clothes he had on he looked like a redneck’s vision of a gay male.

“And that’s exactly what we were looking for,” Declan replied as they started down the street. He took a quick glance behind them. “He’s watching you, with two of his buddies, my cue to leave.” He kissed Nicky quickly before saying just loudly enough to be heard by the man in the doorway of the bar, “I’ll meet you at our place, sweet thing.”

“Sweet thing?” Nicky muttered. “Okay babe. And hurry.” He watched Declan cross the street to one of the cars along the curb then continued up the street to the dark parking lot next to a row of closed shops.

When he got to his car a voice called out from a few yards away. “Hey, faggot, where you think you’re going?”

Nicky swung around, pressing back against the car as he eyed the man and his two companions who were a few feet behind him. “What do you want?” he asked, putting fear he didn’t feel into his voice.

“To teach you the facts of life. You’re kind aren’t welcome in decent bars, queer boy.”

The three men moved closer, so intent on him they were unaware of Declan who moved up silently behind them. Nicky wasn’t though. He watched as Declan grabbed the bat one of the men was carrying. The man’s shout of surprise came too late. Declan swung it hard, catching the man across the back of his head. Another swing and the second man hit the ground as well, both of them unconscious.

Their target was within arms length of Nicky by then, grabbing for his wrist. Nicky let him get hold of it then brought his other hand around, pressing to taser he held to the man’s chest. The man’s body jerked uncontrollably, Declan stepped forward quickly to open the back door of the car, and Nicky shoved their victim inside.

“Good work all around,” Declan commented, looking at the downed men. “Bet they think twice before trying to assault someone.” He slid into the driver’s seat, waited until Nicky had gotten in as well, and they drove out of the lot.

* * * *

“It’s different with men,” Nicky said several hours later, a feral grin on his face. “They last longer, and the screams are different.”

“Noticed that,” Declan agreed as he picked up the tools which were now bathed in blood and gore.

Nicky looked down at the dead face of the man. “Sort of reminds me of a pig hung upside down for slaughter to let the blood run out.” He gave the body a push, jumping out of the way when it swung back toward him.

“Well he was a pig, so that fits. Let’s get cleaned up and head home. I’m in the mood for some real sweet loving in our own bed.” He chuckled when Nicky gave him a high-five on their way out of the shaft.

As they walked down to the stream Nicky asked with concern “Did this help?”  

“Yeah, it did. I don’t feel so tense now. Like you said, it’s different but it’s still killing someone who deserves it.”

“Aren’t we a moral pair?” Nicky laughed. “Killers with a cause.”

Declan nodded with amusement. “Guess we are. Maybe someday we’ll be the subject of a movie of the week.”

“Hopefully not until we’re dead and gone ourselves,” Nicky replied seriously, “of natural causes.”

“Trust me, my sweet boy, that’s exactly how it will end, us sharing a room in a nursing home, colorful old codgers telling stories no one will believe about our exploits.”

Nicky grinned broadly. “Now that’s an idea I can live with.”

Like Father, Like Son - 24

For the next month Declan and Nicky spent their time as any normal pair would. Declan’s days were taken up with the two new restaurants he was involved with. Nicky spent the first week hunting for a new job, finally finding one at a small clothing store in one of the malls. Their nights and weekends were spent together. Declan managed to deflect any requests by his mother to join her and Reginald for Sunday lunch. She also seemed to be suppressing her need to call him several times a week at work. He suspected, although he didn’t ask, she felt he was finally moving up in the company and didn’t need her guiding hand. For the moment at least.

Even though everything was going smoothly, the urge to kill began to build again as Declan knew it would. It was part of him and what he was. He also knew Nicky was aware of it from the way he acted, watching him in anticipation when he didn’t think he would notice. Their sex life became rougher, Declan delivering as much pain as he knew Nicky could withstand, and sometimes more.

After their last bout Nicky had turned to him, tears from the pain he’d taken still rolling down his cheeks. “We need to do something or it’ll be me you kill.”

“That won’t ever happen,” Declan had growled, enfolding him in his arms. He’d sighed. “You’re right though, but…”

Nicky curled up against his chest. “The trigger isn’t there because your mother isn’t on your ass right now.”

“You know me well.” Declan kissed his temple.

“Then we find another one. I want to do it again. Desperately.”

“Silly boy,” Declan murmured softly, “why didn’t you say something. This isn’t just about me. If you have to need to kill someone then we will.” He ran his fingers through Nicky’s hair then tugged it until Nicky looked up at him. “Who knows, perhaps it will even lessen my urge, or fulfill it.”

“Do you think..?”

“Sometimes.” Declan interrupted with a laugh. “Not always, but sometimes. Yes, I think we should decide who deserves our ‘attentions’ this time.”

Like Father, Like Son - 23

Declan rolled over, smiling when he saw Nicky lying there still asleep. They had made it back to the apartment just as the sun peeped over the horizon. After quick showers to rinse off what blood the dip in the stream hadn’t washed away they’d fallen into bed and instantly to sleep.

A fast glance at the clock on the nightstand told him it was well after noon, which explained why he was hungry. He placed a kiss on the nape of Nicky’s neck then rolled out of bed, headed to the bathroom and from there to the kitchen where he began to make lunch.

The sound of water running told him Nicky was up and moving so he wasn’t surprised when he heard soft footsteps come up behind him a few minutes later. He turned to smile at his lover, saying “Good morning. Sleep well?”

“Very well, and it’s afternoon in case you hadn’t noticed.” Nicky kissed him quickly then reached past him to snag a strip of bacon.

Declan slapped his hand. “That’s for BLTs. If your hungry help me get them made, or better yet set the table.”

They worked together in companionable silence then sat down to eat. After devouring one sandwich and reaching for a second, Declan asked, “How are you doing?”

Nicky knew what he meant and shrugged. “Okay I think. It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done, but, well…” He took a big swallow of coffee. “I think I’m feeling guilty because I don’t feel guilty, if that makes any sense.”

Declan took his hand, nodding. “You’re not like me, it’s not what you’re used to.” He brought Nicky’s hand to his lips, kissing the palm. “What you have to remember is we’re better than the people we kill. Those women are rich sluts who use men, who use anyone truth be told, to gain what they desire. Wealth, prestige, you name it, it’s all they want out of life and they’ll do anything they can to get it. We’re doing everyone a service by eliminating them.”

“I guess.” When Declan arched an eyebrow, Nicky said, “All right, I know you’re right. They are worthless drains on society.”

“Exactly. Just keep telling yourself that.”

“You know,” Nicky’s eyes glowed in anticipation, “there are a lot of them out there.”

“True, but we’re not animals who kill anything that crosses our path. There has to be a reason.”

“You just said…”

“I said they deserve to be killed. But we have to do it at proper intervals. After all we don’t want to be caught, do we?”

“Of course not. So the ‘proper interval’ is when your mother pisses you off so much you can’t control the urge to do something.”

Declan chuckled. “According to all the research that’s what makes a serial killer kill, an uncontrollable urge triggered by an event or a need.”

Leaning back, Nicky stared at Declan. “What happens if I get the urge to kill?”

“Then if you can’t control it we find ourselves a victim. Learning control is essential, my boy. You can control your urges when we’re in bed, now you have to do the same when the need to kill hits you.”

“You don’t.”

Declan smiled. “If you think about it, I do. When Mother makes me angry I don’t dash out to find the first woman who reminds me of her and drag them off to my lair, so to speak. I take the time to plan it out.” He held up a hand to stop Nicky from saying anything. “Last night was not the norm. It was spur of the moment because what Mother did hurt you. I will not allow her to do that.”

“It’s too bad,” Nicky replied pensively, “we can’t just kill her.”

“Mother? No,” Declan spat out.

“Why?”

“She’s…my mother, my family. You don’t kill family. If you do then you go insane, like my father.” Nicky looked at him in question so Declan told him the story of how his father had killed his own brother.

“Damn,” Nicky said softly when Declan finished. “It sounds cliché or…something, but I do mean it, I’m sorry. Now I understand.”

“Thank you.” Declan touched his cheek then leaned in to kiss him. “You’re a good person which is why I…care for you I suppose.” He chuckled wryly. “A bloodthirsty one now, thanks to me, but still all in all you’re good people. Don’t let what I just said go to your head,” he added quickly. “This isn’t some big romance we have going now. I’m not capable of that, which I suspect you’ve figured out, but take it or leave it I do care for you.”

Nicky grinned. “I’ll take it.”