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“You know, I may take you up on that. It’d be nice to be able to talk to someone about this. Normally, I’d go to Kate, but I don’t want to upset her this late into her pregnancy.”

“Come on. Grab a couple cases of soda and we’ll head back to the front. Just remember, Bran is probably just as twisted around the axel about what happened as you are,” Connor said, lifting a couple cases of soda easily.

Caleb nodded and grabbed a few more. “You’re right. I probably should have said something sooner.”

“Sometimes it’s harder to see when you’re in the middle of everything. It’s why friends are important. We usually have a clearer view from the outside.” Caleb bumped shoulders with Connor.

“Ice fishing?” Caleb asked, laughing as they walked out of the freezer.

“Yeah. Fuck that. I’d freeze my ass off,” Connor admitted, laughing.

Caleb chuckled and helped him to stack the soda next to the cooler in the diner. “No doubt.”

“What’s so funny?” Kate asked, her smiling face glowing from her pregnancy.

“Connor wants to take up ice fishing,” Caleb said, winking at Connor.

“Good. For a second I thought you were moving in on my man,” Kate said, scrunching her nose up at Connor, who laughed.

“He is a sexy devil.”

“No way. If Connor ever switched teams, he promised me first at bat,” Rian yelled, from two tables over where he sat eating lunch with Damian.

Connor nodded. “It’s true. I told him if I ever started to like boys that we would go out.”

“Seriously? How old were you?” Kate asked, laughing.

“Shit. Rian, we were in what? Ninth grade?” Connor asked.

“Yup, it was about that time that I really started to love gym class.” Rian wagged his eyebrows.

“Didn’t the other guys mind?” Kate asked.

Bran and Connor shook their heads. “Rian and Damian were too likable to really get mad at. They were never really pervy about it and were never aggressive about coming on to other guys. It just became normal to have Rian catcalling in the locker room or slapping us on the ass. The one that used to bother me was Harvey Miller,” Bran said, shuddering.

“Who was Harvey Miller?” Kate asked, completely riveted by Bran’s reaction.

“Harvey Miller was this sicko from high school. He had to repeat like three grades so he was older and much bigger than most of us. He would get all weird in the locker room, like breathing heavy and staring at us while we were changing kinda weird. He was constantly cornering Rian and Damian in the shower stalls. In my senior year I caught him when he had Gavin shoved against the lockers trying to get his hand down his pants. The next day he had a little accident with some cement and his family decided to move out of Arkadia,” Connor said, shooting a glance to his Ma and Pa to see if they were listening.

Ma turned to face him. “I knew you boys had something to do with that! I just never knew why. Good!” she said, wiping down the counters.

Pa just smiled into his coffee.

“Cement? No wonder Rebecca fits into your family so well. Tell!” Kate demanded.

Connor looked over to Ma, who waved him on. Shrugging, he continued his story.

“After I beat the ever-loving shit out of Harvey, I calmed Gavin down and sent him back to class. I stuffed Harvey into a locker and locked it. Then, I interrupted Mr. McMillan’s World History class to pick up Emmett and Duncan, telling Mr. McMillian that I needed my brothers to deal with some family business.

We got Harvey out of the locker and dragged him by the ankle down the stairs, across the back field, and through the briar patch next to the edge of the perimeter.

” He chuckled as he remembered the next part.

“Duncan stole a cement mixer, we added some quick-set cement, and we had ole Harvey sit in a box and we filled it with cement up to his neck. By the time he came around the cement had hardened nicely. We told him if he ever so much as made another person uncomfortable, next time he would be on the outside of the perimeter and we wouldn’t stop at his neck.

His dad had to shift to track him down. The next day they were moving.

” Connor shook his head at the memory and looked over to Kate.

“Kids can be crazy huh. So, you’re having two, right?” he asked wickedly.

Her eyes widened and her hand went to her belly.

Ma laughed. “Connor, be nice,” she admonished.

“Harvey should have known better than to mess with my friends and my little brother,” Connor said, reasonably.

“Man, I haven’t heard that name in years. Is that asshole dead yet?” Gavin asked, walking in.

“No clue. What’s up, littlest bro?” Connor asked.

“Hungry,” Gavin said shortly and sat at the counter next to Pa.

“Hungry, man-food hungry? Or need-to-pick-at-my-food-while-I-think hungry?” Connor asked.

Gavin thought about it for a second before answering. “Man-food hungry, though I reserve the right to pick at dessert.”

“Okay, one pot roast meal coming up,” Connor said, making up a plate.

“What has you picking at your dessert, baby boy?” Ma asked.

“Magic,” Gavin snarled.

Everyone turned to look at Gavin.

“What about it?” Caleb asked.

“It doesn’t make sense. It’s never consistent or measurable. It varies from user to user. It defies all documented forms of science.” He exhaled loudly. “Actually, can I get that to-go, Connor? I want to head back to my studies,” Gavin asked, sounding frustrated.

“Sure thing.” Connor easily transferred the food from the plate to a to-go box and added a large slice of pie.

“Thanks.” Gavin picked up the bag and, muttering to himself, walked out of the diner.

“I know that Rebecca has been going nuts trying to understand how it all works, too,” Kate admitted.

“Lord help us all if she starts dabbling in magic,” Connor said out loud. Nearly everyone in the diner swallowed hard.

“Spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch,” Rian said, crossing himself.

“Since when are you Catholic, Rian?” Damian asked.

Rian looked at his friend, surprised. “I’m not, but sometimes you need all the help you can get,” Rian said, unfazed.

Connor couldn’t help laughing. “Yup, Rian, if I were to ever switch teams, you’re my first stop.” He grinned at Rian, who blew him kisses.

“Hey, family,” Emmett said, walking in the diner.

“Hey, Em,” Connor said, bumping fists with his brother.

“It’s slow at the hardware store, so I left Duncan there to close up and decided to come here to help out with the dinner rush.” Emmett hung up his coat and walked behind the counter.

“Good. Connor, why don’t you head home? You’ve been here since before dawn prepping for breakfast. You should relax and turn in early. Get some sleep,” Ma said.

“Subtle, Ma. Real subtle,” Connor said, kissing her cheek.

“I don’t have to be subtle. Now, go home and rest. And don’t show up back here till after breakfast that’s an order,” she said, kissing him on both cheeks.

“Yes, Ma.”

Emmett looked at him, a worried expression on his face.

“You okay?” he asked.

Connor nodded. “I stayed up late watching monster movies on Syfy this weekend. Threw my entire sleep schedule off,” he said, grabbing his coat.

“Right. I’d believe that, except I know that you don’t have cable since I tried to watch football at your house last weekend. So, try again,” Emmett said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Really. I’m cool. Just need to get some more sleep, that’s all,” Connor said quietly.

“Then carry your ass home and get some sleep,” Emmett said, pushing him toward the door.

“Roger that. Bye, everyone.” Connor waved and headed to his truck.

The drive home was quick. He showered to get the grease from breakfast off and then settled on the couch to watch some television. He made it all the way past Jeopardy before he found himself sitting at his computer. Sighing, he logged in and checked his email.

“Motherfucking, son of a bitch!” he yelled out loud and clicked on the email with the subject line.

He got two more.

Pulling up the email with the attachments, he got comfortable and began reviewing the information sent to him.

When he looked up from his research, he saw that the sun had come up and he had yet to get any sleep. He replied to the email with his notes and advised them to contact him again if there were any new developments. Sighing, he picked up his phone and called his ma.

“Ma, I’m sorry but I won’t be in today. I’m just now heading to bed,” he confessed.

“Do I need to come up there? Are you okay?” she asked worriedly.

“I’m fine, Ma. Just got caught up in some work. I’m going to bed now. I’ll be in tomorrow for sure.”

“We’re going to have a long talk when you come in, Connor,” she warned.

“Yes ma’am. Love you, Ma,” he replied.

“I love you, too, baby boy. Now eat something and go to bed.”

“I will. Bye, Ma.” Connor ended the call and stared at his phone. He had lied. He knew that he wouldn’t be getting any sleep anytime soon with the images from that email in his head. He didn’t feel like eating either. Feeling completely out of sorts, he decided to go for a jog.

He was jogging up the driveway when he saw a car parked out front. Shaking his head, he slowed down and walked through the front door. As the door closed behind him, he was greeted by a familiar voice.

“So, your mother tells me that you aren’t sleeping. Get in here so I can check your vitals,” Doc Claybourne ordered from the den.

“My mother doesn’t really respect her children’s privacy,” Connor said, heading up the stairs to his bedroom.

“This will be easier if you cooperate,” Doc called out.

“Just washing up, Doc. I just finished a ten mile jog, I’m funky,” Connor yelled back.

“By all means,” Doc shouted back.

Grinning, Connor washed up and pulled on his comfortable sweats.

“Okay, Doc, poke and prod to your heart’s content,” he said, collapsing into his recliner.

“Get on the scale.” Doc pointed to the floor.

Connor pulled himself out of his chair and stepped on the scale. He was surprised at the number.

“Connor, did you know you’ve lost nearly fifteen pounds since your last checkup three months ago?” Doc asked.

He shook his head. “I didn’t realize I had lost so much weight,” he admitted.

“You’re working another case aren’t you?” Doc asked.

Connor sighed. “I never should have told you about my side work,” Connor said, returning to his recliner.

“You put your mind and body through the wringer every time you take on one of these cases. It must be bad this time if you can’t hide it from your family.” Doc sat back on the couch.

“I normally leave town when I know it will get this bad, it’s just everyone is still reeling from what happened with the virus and Rebecca’s due soon. If it continues much longer, I’ll tell them I’m attending another conference,” Connor said, rubbing his forehead.

Doc frowned. “Tell them to call someone else. Connor, bow out on this one. Have you ever heard of the expression ‘Physician heal thyself’?” Doc asked.

“What you’re saying is I’m no good to anyone while my own shit is falling apart?

” Connor smiled and continued. “I know all that Doc, but they only call when they have no leads. I am their last resort. So, I can’t bow out, I’d never be able to live with myself if this monster went free because I wasn’t doing everything I could to help catch him. ”

Doc Claybourne sighed. “I knew you’d say that. Here, take this. It will help you sleep. When you wake up, eat a large breakfast. I want you to make sure you’re eating three times a day, Connor. If you want to continue working this case, you need to be healthy.” Doc handed him a small bottle.

“Thanks, Doc. I promise to take better care of myself,” Connor swore.

“Good, because you shouldn’t worry your mother,” Doc said, smiling.

“She worries whether we give her cause or not.” Connor grinned.

“Be thankful for that,” Doc said, picking up his bag and travel scale.

“I am. Thanks again for coming out and for not saying anything.” Connor walked him to the door.

“It’s not my place to say anything. Sweet dreams, Connor,” Doc said, giving a small salute.

“Bye, Doc.” Connor closed the door and stared at the bottle in his hand and shrugged.

They couldn’t hurt. Walking into the kitchen he got a glass and filled it.

He read the directions on the bottle, popped the cap, poured two pills into his hand, and downed it with the water.

Yawning, he walked back to his bedroom and lay down on his bed.

He was wondering how long it would take for the pills to kick in when darkness swept him away.