1
“Iappreciate this, Isaac. I apologize for the lack of notice.”
Lack of notice? It wasn’t like Cyrus could possibly have known that his client was going to die, let alone when. Tragedy wasn’t something to be scheduled, though it was just like Cyrus to wish he could. Isaac put his cell phone on speaker and set it on the desk, then opened his briefcase beside it.
“Don’t worry about a thing, Cyrus. Alain can stay with me while you’re in Texas, and until you’ve got your balance back. It’ll be fine.”
He started stuffing files into his briefcase. He was going to have to get some work done at home tonight, and possibly reschedule some of his patients tomorrow, but Cyrus Hughes was the sort of man who helped everyone else; it was a rare thing that he asked for help himself and there was nothing Isaac wouldn’t do for him.
“Thank you. I can’t predict how the next few days will go, but—”
“Cy. Alain will be just fine with me. I understand his needs, and I’m happy to do this. Just focus on yourself for a few days, for god’s sake.” He knew what Cyrus was going through losing a client; he’d lost a few patients over the years himself. Those feelings could be incredibly difficult.
Cyrus sighed heavily on the other end of the line. “Yes. I’ve got some…things to work through.”
He snorted. “Feelings, Cyrus. They’re called feelings. Give it time. Go get your closure.”
Cyrus cleared his throat. “Thank you, Isaac. I’ll be in touch.”
“Take care. Safe travels.” Isaac hung up the phone, closed his briefcase and headed out. Once settled in his cab he called Neil to see if he was available. This would be easier as a two-man job.
“Hola, Guapo.”
Isaac rolled his eyes at the nickname. Neil Morrow had latched onto the compliment upon their first meeting, and he absolutely refused to give up on it.
“Hey, there. What’s your schedule tonight? Are you free? I need you to help me with something…or, well, someone.”
Neil chuckled softly, but there was something raw about the sound. “I’m on a week’s leave without pay, thanks, so I’m in. I just got to my apartment.”
A week would work, but…what? He was going to have to unpack this with Neil more formally later. “Without pay? Sounds like we have something to talk about. But I have to be honest, it’ll have to wait, because this is a bit of an emergency. Can you meet me at Cy’s place? Alain’s going to stay with me for a bit.”
“Sure, man. No worries. You want me to drive over or not?”
“Yes, please. We’ll have to pack a suitcase for him. Cy will be gone when we get there, because he had to fly to Texas for a funeral.” Cy said the doorman was expecting them and would let them in.
“Texas? Like my Texas? Who died?”
Neil’s Texas. Seriously?
He could hear the door close, and Neil started heading down the stairs toward the garage.
“No, Texas, New Jersey. Yes, idiot. Your Texas. One of his clients hung himself. A sub.” Most of Cyrus’s clients were subs. Maybe all of them.
“Oh fuck. That sucks hard, man. I’m sorry. Seriously. Did the little bit know the guy?”
It did suck. “I didn’t get that impression. Cyrus had no intention of taking him along. He just doesn’t want Alain to be alone overnight.” He didn’t even know what Alain knew, or how the boy was going to feel about being dragged out of Cyrus’s place. “I hope he’s cool with this. I have no idea.”
“If he freaks, I’ll call Peter. We hang out quite a bit.”
“I love that your subby half has little friends,” he teased. He couldn’t help it. Peter was a good boy, and very, very taken.
“Fuck off, Guapo. You don’t know what to do with me.” Neil’s laughter was warm, and Isaac could see Neil’s expression in his mind’s eye.
If he was being honest, Neil was the handsome one. But he wasn’t planning on being that kind of honest today. “Oh yes I do. And I’m looking forward to what I get to do with you once we discuss why you’re on leave without pay.”
His cab stopped at the curb, and he punched the button for a receipt out of habit. He didn’t need it; he wasn’t getting reimbursed for this house call. “I’m here.”
“I’ll be there in twenty. Don’t scare the kid. He’s just a baby.”