One Plus Two Equals... – 9

As soon as Julyan left, Auden returned to what he was supposed to be doing. "This is a damned waste of time," he grumbled, even though he knew it wasn't.

He found out for certain it wasn't a while later when, several minutes apart, cars stopped in front of the building to let out passengers. Four of them were return visitors. Two others were, as far as he knew, there for the first time but that didn't mean he didn't recognize them. And the plot thickens.

He continued to watch while wondering why they weren't trying to hide the fact they were there. Either Vicario is overconfident or there's some method behind his madness. He suspected the latter from what he'd heard about the man.

With all that was going on he completely forgot about Julyan until he suddenly appeared by his side holding, unbelievably, two mugs of coffee.

"I figured… well…" Julyan shrugged.

"Yes?"

"Never mind, it was a bad idea." He started toward the fire escape.

"I could use some coffee."

Julyan came back, set one of the mugs down beside Auden and turned to leave.

"And some company."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Sit…please. No, not there," Auden barked out when Julyan started to sit on the parapet. "Sorry, but I don't want to be picking pieces of you up off the sidewalk." Nor did he want anyone looking up and seeing Julyan. It could give away the fact someone was watching the building.

* * * *

Julyan smiled slightly as he dropped down to sit cross-legged on the roof. After taking a drink of his coffee he looked thoughtfully at Auden. "So why are you up here? It's too dark to take pictures now."

"Actually it's not, with a good camera. I'm here doing a shoot for a photography magazine."

"Okay, if you say so."

Auden's amber eyes twinkled. "You don't sound like you believe me."

"Should I?"

"It makes me no never mind one way or the other."

Julyan shook his head. "You're strange."

"So I've been told, by more people than I care to think about." Auden looked at the coffee mug by his side. "I owe you for this."

"Oh come on, it's just a cup of coffee to make up for our not going out for some."

"No, seriously, I owe you." Auden gripped Julyan's shoulder, pulling him close enough so he could lock lips with him in a hard kiss.

One Plus Two Equals... – 8

"You seem to be fixated on the Crown Building," Julyan said.

Auden nodded. "It's an interesting structure and the people who go in and out are definitely a cross-section of humanity."

"Most of the people on the streets around the city are, when it comes right down to it, between the locals and the tourists."

"So tell me, Julyan, what do you do besides hanging out on rooftops waxing philosophical with strangers?"

"I work at a restaurant, or will starting tomorrow."

"Oh? Which one?"

"It's new. Tomorrow's the grand opening so you probably haven't heard of it."

"Well, if you don't tell me the name I might never hear of it," Auden pointed out with a smile.

"1803."

Auden looked bemused. "1803?"

"Yes. It's both the street address and, according to Mr. Reives, the date of the Louisiana Purchase. He said he got lucky that the building was vacant just when he was looking. You should see what he did with one wall. It has the entire history of the city on it with newspaper clippings and photographs and antique thingies and—"

"Antique thingies?" Auden laughed.

"Yes. Well, I don't know what else to call them. There's keys and bits of guns and a really old hand-mirror and…" Julyan shrugged. "You'll just have to come see for yourself. It's fantastic!"

After checking to be certain there was no unusual activity in front of the Crown Building at the moment, Auden turned his attention back to Julyan. "You sound quite taken with Mr. Reives."

"Duane's a nice man, or at least as far as I can tell he is. But…"

"But?"

Julyan shook his head. "Nothing, and I should get going so you can get back to what you were doing." He stood, holding out a hand to Auden. "It was nice meeting you."

"You as well." Auden shook his hand, saying as he did, "If you're free later and feel like coffee…"

"I… Maybe."

"Number?" Auden took out his phone, smiling when Julyan hesitantly gave it to him. "I promise I'm not a stalker. If I call and you say no then that's the end of it."

"All right." Much to Auden's amusement, Julyan almost ran to the fire escape, calling back. "But not too late. I have to work tomorrow."

"Got it."

One Plus Two Equals... - 7

The sun was just beginning to fade over the horizon when Auden made his way up the fire escape to the roof and took his position behind the parapet, camera in hand. He had names now for a few more of the people he'd photographed entering the building across the street; names that didn't make him or his boss particularly happy. It was definitely a gathering of the troops, or at least their heads, and that was not good. Too many factions seemed to be involved.

Setting to work, he took a series of shots, thinking with mild amusement if he'd been a sniper he could have wiped out half a city block before anyone was aware he was up there. It was possible, of course, that in a few days he might be asked to do just that. Well, not kill civilians but take out a few of the people whose faces now decorated the corkboard in his office.

He was so focused on what he was doing he almost missed the slight sound of someone coming up the fire escape. But he did hear it and spun around, his hand going to the gun holstered in the waistband of his jeans. He dropped it when he saw the young man step onto the roof. Not that age made him any less dangerous. After all, I don't look much older than him.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know anyone was up here."

"No problem. I was just taking a few pictures. The view from up here is pretty spectacular."

"I know. It kind of makes you realize you're just one small part of a larger…world, I guess."

"That's pretty philosophical." Auden dropped down to a sitting position, leaning back against the parapet so he could stretch his legs for a moment. "I'm Auden, by the way."

The young man nodded. "Julyan."

"As in Lloyd Weber?"

Julyan looked puzzled. "I thought it was Andrew Lloyd Weber."

"Julian's his brother, a cellist and a pretty good one at that. Of course he's a hell of a lot older than you."

"And probably spells it the normal way. Mine is spelled with a 'y', and before you ask, I don't know why except my mother was a romantic."

"Or a basketball fan. Naw, that Julyan would be about the same age as you."

"And I can't play basketball," Julyan replied with a laugh.

"So, Julyan, are you really up here to prove you're just one ant in a hill of ants?"

"No. I heard something, probably you, up here and came up to investigate."

"Me definitely, I'd say, since I'm the only one who's been up here in the last hour. You live down below?"

"Yes." Julyan moved closer. "What kind of pictures?"

Auden grinned. "Street scenes from above, where the people look like ants scurrying around."

With a snort of laughter Julyan sat down next to him. "Can I see?" He looked at the digital camera lying on the roof beside Auden.

            After a moment's hesitation, Auden nodded. There was nothing on the camera at the moment which would make a liar out of him. He flicked open the screen and showed Julyan a few shots he'd taken.

One Plus Two Equals... - 6

"Morning comes too damned early," Duane grumbled as he crawled out of bed. At least today he hadn't overslept which was a blessing since he had told all his employees to meet him at the restaurant at nine. He dressed and then fixed a quick breakfast, wondering while he ate if they were expecting him to feed them before the meeting. He hoped not. He just wanted to get it over and done with so he could tie up all the loose ends before the grand opening tomorrow.

As he rode the elevator down to the underground garage, he was more than happy he'd found this place. It was an easy drive to the restaurant, the price had been right, and it was secure, all selling points in its favor.

Next on his agenda, if the restaurant really took off, was to buy a new car. Nothing flashy, just something newer than his ten-year-old Kia. He'd bought the car from his foster-father, relieved at that point to have anything that had four wheels and an engine. It had stood him in good stead but it was time to upgrade.

Arriving at the restaurant, he parked in the small lot behind it. Several other cars already sat there, meaning his people were actually showing up, and early to boot. He let himself in the back door and after tossing his jacket over his desk chair went to open the front door for his employees.

"Coffee?" Jack asked hopefully after they'd all trooped in.

"I'll get some started," a good-looking woman said before introducing herself as Maxine, one of the chefs. She pointed to a tall, somber man who was already on his way to the kitchen. "And that's Phil, my husband and partner in crime."

Duane waited until everyone had arrived then performed introductions. He smiled slightly when he saw Julyan settle cross-legged on a rough table in front of the window; a table which would soon be filled with flowering plants. The young man made good window dressing. For a brief second he flashed on an image of him sitting like that on his bed, sans clothing, then shook his head. Never mix pleasure with business, he reminded himself as he started the meeting. That was one reason why he was down here, now. He'd mixed pleasure with business and then had to face the consequences.

Once everyone was settled, most with coffee in hand, Duane began to explain exactly what he expected of each of them, fielding questions as they came up. By the time he was finished, he felt comfortable that he'd made good choices with his new employees. He felt it even more so when they wanted to mingle and get to know each other once the meeting broke up.

Only Julyan seemed a bit reticent, remaining where he was in front of the window. That surprised Duane since he'd seemed so friendly and outgoing the previous day. Maybe he doesn't like crowds, and that doesn't bode well for his working here. Deciding to find out, Duane went over to where he was sitting.

Julyan looked up and smiled. "They all seem like nice people."

"Then why aren't you getting to know them?" Duane replied bluntly.

"Honestly? It's more fun to sit and observe. You can learn a lot that way. Like…" he looked around, "the girl over there with the long blonde hair. She's already crushing on Jack."

Duane cocked an eyebrow. "Will he reciprocate?"

"You're asking me? I suppose he might. He's definitely a ladies' man."

"And you?" Duane leaned against the wall beside the window, eyeing Julyan for a moment before turning his attention back to the room at large.

Julyan seemed hesitant to answer, shrugging instead.

"This is New Orleans," Duane said, "The bastion of all things gay, so you don't have to be shy about admitting it to me if you are."

"Okay, I are, I mean I am."

"I take it Jack knows."

Julyan nodded. "He knew before he suggested we room together."

"Yep. I figured with him as a roommate there'd be no competition," Jack said with a laugh as he joined them. "He goes after the good-looking men; I make plays for the women."

"I do nothing of the sort," Julyan spat out indignantly.

"I know, I was just teasing." Jack turned to Duane, started to say something and then shook his head. "We really shouldn't be discussing our personal lives with the boss."

"Probably not, but I did ask." Smiling, Duane headed off to the kitchen and so missed hearing Jack say to Julyan, "You like him, don't you?" and Julyan's slight nod as he replied, "But he's straight, so…"

One Plus Two Equals... - 5

What the hell did I do to deserve this? Auden pulled the collar of his windbreaker tighter. Not that it did a damned bit of good; the rain still trickled between it and his neck, soaking the edge of his T-shirt. He vowed he'd go shopping first chance he got for a new windbreaker, one with an attached hood so he couldn't lose it.

Peering over the edge of the roof, he sheltered the lens of the camera with one hand as he shot some more pictures. Of course with the rain, most of the people were opening umbrellas the second they stepped onto the sidewalk; that or ducking their heads to keep the rain off their faces. Still, he managed to get a few good shots. He also recognized a few faces as people from the previous night. Some of them, he was pretty sure, were just employees at the businesses inside the building, but he wasn't going to take that as gospel until his boss had checked to confirm it.

He was seriously considering calling it a night and finding something else to do when Vicario stepped out of a limo which had just pulled up to the curb. Following him were the two men Auden had recognized last night. All three of them hurried into the building.

Now do I stay here and wait until they leave or do I get nosy? He was very tempted to be nosy but he was under orders to stay away from the man for the time being. Discretion being the better part of valor, or so it was said, he obeyed orders. It paid off when half an hour later he saw another man who was a known confederate of Vicario's scurry from a cab to the front door of the building and vanish inside.

"Slowly but surely the troops gather," Auden muttered under his breath. "Now we just have to find out why and if some of the people I've been photographing are part of whatever's going down."

It seemed like hours later when he finally called a halt to what he was doing. He was wet and tired and needed food, a hot shower, and some sleep. Arriving at his condo he headed straight to the shower, taking a long one that eased the chill in his bones. Then he dealt with his hunger, fixing a thick steak with all the trimmings. Finally, he collapsed into bed and instantly fell into a deep sleep.