Hitman's Creed - 63

 

"Not true. I do it, just for the…" Glenn made quotes with his fingers, "the good guys."

"That was the trade-off; they wiped the slate clean in exchange for your becoming their private hitman?"

"I prefer the term liquidator, and, yes, for two years I was exactly that. Now I'm freelance."

"Freelance?"

"They have jobs for me, I can say yea or nay, depending."

"Why not just totally walk away now that it's safe?"

Glenn smiled a bit. "I guess because now I am working for people who are trying to keep the world safe, as cliché as it might sound. I'm one of the best around, and that's no brag, so why not put it to use in some positive way to make up for how I was before."

"I suppose it would be naive of me if I didn't get that what you're doing is necessary."

"But you don't like the idea. Understood."

"Did I say that? Don't go putting words in my mouth. I'm a cop, maybe just a small town one but I do know there are people out there who don't deserve to be left alive. Unfortunately there's nothing I can do about it, being what I am, how I am. That doesn't mean someone else shouldn't."

Glenn cocked his head in agreement. "So now you know what I am, and why, well part of the reason why, I did my best to keep you at arm's length."

Joey nodded slowly. "When you ran… umm, was it after that when you decided to talk to those people?"

"Yes. At that point I really had nothing to lose. I could have stayed, no one knew who I was and I'd made damned sure no one from my past could ever find me. But I didn't see that as an option. I..." Glenn pressed his lips together as if trying to keep the words in. "Even if you had been willing to be with me, as old as I am, everything we might have had together would have been based on a lie."

"Damn it," Joey growled, "will you drop it with the age thing. I've had that up to here." He touched the top of his forehead. "I can see what you were thinking however. At that point, if you'd admitted what you had been, I would have run like hell, and if I found out later it would have been the end of it because you hadn't trusted me enough to tell me."

"Exactly. So as I said, I had nothing to lose by trying to get my life onto the track I wanted. I had something to offer them if they were interested, in exchange for my… freedom, I guess."

Joey frowned. "You could be sitting in the penitentiary right now."

"True, that was a definite risk but at that point I really didn't care. Well…" he added with a small grin, "not too much anyway."

Joey looked around then, taking in the house and the property that surrounded it, before returning his gaze to Glenn. "Why did you come back?"

"Because this is my home."

"Oh." Joey tried to hide the hurt he felt. "Well, welcome home. Thanks for being honest with me about… everything. Now I guess I should leave and let you get back to whatever you were doing."

"Fixing the roof." Glenn watched as Joey stood. "I also came back because you were here," he said very softly. "Against my better judgment, but I did."

Although Joey felt unbelievable elation when the meaning of Glenn's words sank in, he showed none of it on his face. In fact he frowned, his hands tightening into fists. "And what if there's someone else in my life now? What then?"

Hitman's Creed - 62

 

Joey pretended not to understand what he knew Glenn was asking. "Do I like being a cop? You better believe it. Am I still living at home? Nope, I've got a place of my own."

"With a roommate?"

"No, all to myself."

"Ahh." Glenn essayed a small smile. "Like me."

"No one in your life?" Joey resisted crossing his fingers in hopes that there wasn't, even though he knew it would be for the best if there was.

"No. Never been that lucky, though there was a time when I hoped…" Glenn's face closed down.

"No you didn't," Joey said harshly. "You did all you could to push me away."

"What makes you think I was talking about you?"

"Oh, yeah, well I guess…" Joey stood suddenly. "I have to leave."

"Sit. Please." When Joey didn't, Glenn sighed. "Yes, I was talking about you."

Slowly, hesitantly, Joey resumed his seat on the stair. "Did you really hope?"

"In my own way, yeah, when I was willing to admit it to myself. Which wasn't often. I knew it wouldn't have worked but that didn't stop me from wishing."

"Why wouldn't it have worked? Because you thought I was way too young for you I get, but…" Joey studied him. "There was more, wasn't there?"

Glenn nodded, returning Joey's look. "We were diametrically opposite in too many ways. The age thing and, well you wanting to be a cop, which by the way was, is a good thing in my book."

Joey leaned back against the railing and asked, "If that made us, as you put it 'diametrically opposite', then would I be wrong in thinking you were on the other side of the legal fence?"

"Way on the other side. I can tell you this now without fear of any repercussions."

When Glenn said nothing more Joey cocked an eyebrow. "How far on the other side?"

Glenn shrugged. "I was a contract killer, a hitman."

After a very long pause during which several emotions crossed Joey's face, including shock, some surprise then acceptance, Joey said, "That explains a lot." He chuckled. "I was sort of thinking you were a spy or some sort of black-ops."

"Not even close back then."

That's when something Glenn said hit him. "You keep talking about that being in the past but aren't you… I mean even if you quit doing that, the police still have to be looking for you."

"I took a chance, made a trade-off with people who have the power to make me a person of non-interest now. Not that anyone ever knew who I was except for a few middlemen."

"You must have been damned good at what you did and how you did it." Joey was surprised at how calmly he was taking all of this.

So was Glenn when it came down to it. "Why aren't you walking away as fast as you can now that you know?" he asked.

"Hell if I know," Joey admitted. "Partly because I find that part of you… interesting? It explains a lot. Partly I suppose because you've implied that you don't do that anymore."

Hitman's Creed - 61

 

Glenn looked at his handiwork and nodded. 'That should end that problem, I hope.'

He’d just finished the repairs to the place on the roof where wind or maybe a squirrel had torn up two of the shingles. As long as he was up there he decided to check the rest of them for damage, so he made his way to the peak of the roof where he could see it in its entirety. The back side looked fine. He turned his attention to the front and paused when he thought he saw a car on the road that ran past his place. When it vanished from view behind the trees he shrugged and went back to what he was doing.

Then he froze when he heard it pull onto the lane. Seconds later it came into view. The sun hit the windshield so he couldn't see who was driving. 'Just a nosy parker, better get rid of them.' He slid down the back side of the roof, detached the safety rope tied to the chimney from around his waist, climbed down the ladder, and went around to the front yard.

"Well, well, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" Glenn said, trying for casualness he definitely didn't feel when he saw Joey get out of the car.

"Just checking to make certain someone hadn't decided to break in here." Joey replied. The excuse he'd finally decided to put to use sounded lame even to him. "Someone reported they thought someone was up here and…" He shrugged.

"And it never occurred to you that I might have come back? It is after all my house."

"Yeah, well…" Joey looked down at the ground, mumbling, "Now that I know it's just you I should get going."

"Don't go." Glenn immediately regretted the harsh and yet pleading tone in those two words but he couldn't retract them now so he amended it. "Stick around. We have a lot to catch up on."

Joey bit down on his lip as he considered the wisdom of doing just that. It was why he was here and yet… Finally he looked up and nodded. "Might as well."

Glenn thumbed toward the front porch steps. Joey nodded again and followed him, sitting guardedly on the edge of one.

"So you're a cop now," Glenn said with the hope that statement might make Joey relax a bit, if it were possible for either of them to do such a thing.

Joey nodded. "I am."

"I knew you'd make it."

Joey lifted his eyes to look at Glenn. "Yeah, you did have that kind of faith in me at least. And you? Are you still running around rescuing people from bad guys?"

"Nowadays, yeah, sort of. Wasn't really doing that back then. Helping all of you was just… It just happened."

"A lot of things 'just happened' back then," Joey replied somewhat snarkily. "At least that part ended… successfully?"

"All things considered, yes it was successful. How's Mary doing now?"

"She's alright, seeing a guy on the force, he's older but they seem to be making it work."

"Does he know...?"

"What happened to her? I have no idea. That's her story to tell when the time comes."

"And your mom?"

Joey smiled. "Mom is mom. She's good."

"And Harv? And hell I don't care about how he's doing. How are you doing? Do you… are you...?" Glenn looked away, not wanting to see Joey's face if he said he was involved with someone.

Hitman's Creed - 60

 

Nate pulled out of Joey's embrace to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"What makes you think anything is?"

"Your mind wasn't on what you were doing."

Joey smiled, touching Nate's lips with a fingertip. "I was kissing you and believe me my mind was definitely on that."

"No it wasn't." Nate leaned back against the arm of the sofa, pulled his legs up to wrap his arms around his knees, and shook his head. "Is something wrong at work, or with your family?"

"All right, yes something is bothering me. I keep worrying about Mary. She's so young compared to Eck," Joey replied, lying through his teeth. No way would he say anything to Nate about Glenn. After all what was there to say? He hadn't even seen Glenn since his rumored return. He could have checked it out, could have made a run up to the house while he was on patrol with the excuse that he was there to make certain the place hadn't been broken into. He'd even contemplated doing that, and chickened out.

He came back to the moment to hear Nate say, "…is only a number."

Nate sighed when Joey looked puzzled. "Pay attention. I was saying that age is only a number; it's what they feel in their hearts that counts. If you were ten years older than me instead of just one would that make a difference as far as you're concerned? I know it wouldn't to me."

"I… no. No of course it wouldn't. I'd still feel the same way for you that I do now. At least I guess I would." Joey smiled at him. "I mean how can I say for certain? I'm not ten years older. I suppose I'm worrying because she's my sister and I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Which makes you a good brother. That's one of the things I really like about you, you care about everyone."

"Especially you." Joey grinned at Nate because he needed to get back into the moment, not remain in the past. He took Nate's hand to pull him back beside him. "Now where were we?" he teased.

"I was about here…" Nate shifted, "your arms were here…" He wrapped Joey's arms around him again then shook his head and moved away again.

"What now?" Joey asked with a frustrated groan.

"If you do care about me then tell me what's really going on in your head. Perhaps Mary is part of it, but I don't think that's all." Nate watched Joey's face as he said that and saw it shut down. He stood and walked away from the sofa then turned back to look at Joey. "Is there someone else?"

Joey wanted to deny that there was, especially since there really wasn't except in his own mind. He owed Nate the truth however. "This is hard to explain," he began.

"Then there is." Hurt flashed across Nate's face.

"Not in the way that you're thinking." Joey patted the sofa but Nate shook his head and stayed where he was, his arms crossed over his chest. Joey nodded and continued. "A little over two years ago I met a man, a much older man, who…" He blew out a long breath. "I thought we had made a connection even though he kept trying to push me away. I thought that I loved him."

"That explains why you're worried about Mary and Eck," Nate murmured, avoiding the last part of what Joey had said because it hurt too much.

"Yes, in a way, even though they seem to be making it work. I couldn't. Make it work that is. If he cared for me he wasn't willing to admit it, at least to me. Instead, he… ran."

"And you've been pining after him ever since. That doesn't say much for how you feel about me."

"No! No. It took time but I finally got him out of my head then I met you." Joey smiled at him. "I do care for you, don't doubt that for an instant."

"You care… but. I can feel there's a big one coming."

Joey chewed his lip and nodded slowly. "I think he's back in town."

"You think, you don't know? How is that possible?"

"He's got a house but it's not in town. Eck said someone was living there now."

"The man." Nate sighed deeply. "Why haven't you gone to see him, or have you and you just don't want to tell me?"

"I haven't. Nate, damn it. I want to, I think, but I don't know. We, you and I, have something between us. It wouldn't be fair to you…"

"Screw fair," Nate spat out angrily. "What's not fair is my wondering if at any moment you will go to him and that just maybe whatever you thought might have been happening before..." He sighed again. "Joey, you need to find out. Maybe he's back just because it's his house, or maybe he returned because you're here." Slowly he walked back to the sofa and sat, but not too close to Joey even though he did reach across to take his hand. "You and I can't move on until you face this man. If he, if you," he dropped his eyes, "if you do love him and he loves you…"

"And if we don't?" Joey squeezed Nate's hand. "Now that you know, how could you be willing to be with me anymore?"

"Because I do care for you. It's not love, yet, but I do care." He looked at Joey, his face as serious as his voice. "Go talk to him. If it works and you want to be with him I'll understand. If it doesn't," he smiled slightly, "I'll be here for you however you want me, as a friend or more."

"You're damned amazing," Joey said with heartfelt sincerity.

Nate shrugged. "I'm just me." Then he leaned close enough to kiss Joey softly. "Now go. See what happens, for all our sakes."

Joey stood slowly, bent to brush the softest of kisses across Nate's lips, and started to say something. Nate shook his head. "Just go." Joey nodded, touched Nate's cheek, then left.

Hitman's Creed - 59

 

"Hey, you know the old William's place," Eck said while he waited for Mary to finish up with closing chores at the coffeehouse. "Looks like the man who used to live there is back. Or else he sold it and the new owners have moved in."

Joey, who had stopped in to pick up coffee on his way to work, felt his heart stutter. Mary on the other hand let out a whoop. "Glenn's back." She turned to Joey's mother. "Did you hear that? He's back."

Miriam nodded, her eyes focused on Joey. "Like Eck said, it's probably someone who bought the place. I doubt he'd come back after all this time."

"Who's Glenn?" Eck wanted to know.

"Just a man we sort of knew," Joey told him. "He lived there for a short time then moved. Guess he didn't like small town life."

Mary looked like she would refute that until Miriam shot a look at her. "Yeah," she said instead as she linked her arm with Eck's, "he was sort of a friend for a while. He was nice," she added almost defiantly.

"Nicer than me?" Eck teased.

"Well…" Mary pretended to think about it then grinned. "Not even."

With a kiss to her forehead, Eck suggested they'd better leave or they'd miss the movie. When they were gone Joey ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply. "Why now?"

"You don't know it's him," his mother pointed out. "And even if it is, why does it matter? You have Nate and you care about him. Don't go looking for trouble, Joey."

He gave a slight nod. "I know, mom. But why is he… Why would he come back?"

"The house does belong to him. Perhaps he's there to pick up whatever he left behind?"

"After more than two years? Come on."

She walked over to stand in front of him, her eyes searching his face. "Do you still care about him?"

"I never stopped," he said sadly. "I put him out of my mind, as much as possible, but not out of here," he touched his chest.

"But you and Nate…"

"I like Nate, I really do. We're good together. We mesh, if you know what I mean. But…" Joey turned away, looking toward the window.

"The passion isn't there," his mother said, understanding.

"Yes, I suppose that's it. I don't feel as if it would be devastating if he…well, if he suddenly decided to move on, or move away. I'd miss him but…but not like I missed Glenn. And that's so stupid." He spun back to look at his mother. "I hardly knew Glenn, not really."

She smiled softly. "No, but you were attracted to him from the first moment you saw him. I remember how you tried to pretend you weren't but a mother knows. The question is what are you going to do if he shows up in town? Because if it is him, and if he has moved back, it's inevitable that he will."

"Run like hell in the other direction?" Joey replied with a small quirk of his lips. "Honestly, mom, I have no idea. I just know that when Eck said what he did it felt as if somehow my prayers had been answered. Stupid, huh?"

"No, not at all. Whether or not there was more between the two of you than just being momentarily attracted to each other because of the circumstances, you never had closure so of course you still feel that he's…important for lack of a better word."

"He didn't feel the way I did, I know that, so why am I still hanging on to the dream?"

She looked at him, debating the wisdom of revealing what she knew of Glenn's feelings for him.

He returned her gaze, saw something in it, and asked, "What?"

"He did care. I think, no I'm certain, that's why he left." She smiled slightly. "I did the mother thing and talked to him. I needed to know… I didn't want you hurt so I had to find out if there was any chance that he might have felt something for you."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Joey asked, anger surfacing.

"It wasn't my place to at the time, and afterward what good would it have done? It would have just made you put your life on hold while you hoped he'd come back to you. For you. Something about his life, and I don't think it was entirely the age thing, made him fight the idea that he could be what you needed."

Joey scrubbed a hand over his face. "So now what do I do?"

"That I can't tell you. It's your decision to make."

He nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess it is."