Page 12 of Having HIs Back

C hapter S even

Kerry felt like a fool and yet cared for in a way that seemed foreign.

The kind of guys he attracted tended to be the strong, silent, asshole type, and they didn’t believe in anything as tender as comforting.

They were into other, more active aspects of relationships. “Is it really going to be okay?”

“Yes, it is. Henry was able to confirm our prime suspect, and now he is going to move from a person of interest to someone I get an arrest warrant for. All we need is the DNA, which is going to prove he’s the…

.” Brian stopped because he did not want to go there.

They both knew what Chuck had done, and he didn’t need to repeat it.

“And this case was solved all because of the actions of a six-year-old.”

“Excuse me?” Kerry said.

“Yeah. Think about it. Henry was scared, and he let Pebbles out. Pebbles bit Caroline’s attacker and got his blood on his coat. Because of that, we have DNA… and Henry identified him. Your nephew is a hero. I think the police department ought to… I don’t know….”

“You can’t give him what he truly wants,” Kerry said, knowing that all the boys would want for a long time was their mother back.

“I know.” Brian said softly. “But I can make sure that they have their Uncle Kerry to look after them and love them. Chuck is not going to get his criminal hands on Phillip, and those boys will grow up learning what love is from you. And they’ll hear stores about their mom.

” Brian swallowed hard, and Kerry placed his hands on either side of Brian’s head, his palms against his scratchy cheeks as he drew him closer.

Kerry wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do, but he drew him in and kissed him.

He had intended to be gentle, but Brian closed his arms around him, holding him tight, and the kiss deepened within seconds to a red-hot sizzle that stopped all of Kerry’s thoughts in an instant.

Somewhere deep down, he knew he shouldn’t be doing this, but fuck it all.

Brian was hot as hell, and this dance they’d been doing needed to come to some sort of conclusion.

His entire body quivered with heat and excitement. Kerry pressed Brian back against the cushions, determined to take advantage of this moment.

“Uncle Kerry…,” Henry called. Kerry backed away and rubbed his mouth, kickstarting his brain as Henry barreled into the room, Pebbles right behind him. “Can I have another cookie?”

“Not right now. But later.”

He climbed onto the sofa and then sat on Kerry’s lap.

“What is it?”

“Where’s Phillip? Pebbles misses him.”

Kerry nodded. “He’s next door at Miss Karen’s.

He’ll be back home really soon.” Kerry hugged him tight.

“What do you want to have for dinner?” The juxtaposition of what he and Henry had talked about earlier seemed out of place with those kinds of questions, and yet they all needed as much normalcy as possible right now.

“Pizza.” Henry’s favorite.

“What do you want on it?” Kerry asked, already pretty sure he knew the answer.

“Cheesy with pepperonis.” He grinned. “Phillip wants cheese.”

“Okay.” He turned to Brian. “Do you want to stay?”

Brian was already standing. “I can’t. I have a number of things that I have to do, but can I come by later?”

“Certainly,” Kerry told him with a smile. “Let me know if there is anything that you need from us.”

“Just keep the doors and windows locked and your phone close by.” Brian seemed as though he had more to say, but probably didn’t want to say what he needed to in front of Henry.

Brian said goodbye, and almost as soon as he left, Kerry’s phone dinged with a message.

Charlie may make a play for Phillip. He’s desperate, and soon, he’s going to find out that we are on to him.

By then he isn’t going to have much to lose.

So, call right away if anything happens.

Get Phillip from the neighbor and hunker down until we get him in custody.

Okay , Kerry sent in response before taking Henry’s hand. “Let’s go get Phillip.”

They left the house, locking up before going next door. Kerry knocked, and Karen answered the door. “Phillip,” she called back into the house. “Your uncle is here.”

Phillip raced over and hugged Henry. “She has lots of Legos,” Phillip reported.

“Thank you for watching him. Everything went really well.” He kept his tone light, not wanting to upset the boys.

“Good. Do they have everything they need?” It was like they were speaking in a kind of code.

“Yes.” He thanked her again and took both boys home.

Pebbles was waiting for them, full of energy, greeting the boys like they had been gone for days.

They all hurried off to play, and Kerry tried not to pace the house nervously as he waited for Brian to call.

He hoped like hell that they were able to get Charlie in custody soon, but Brian was right.

They weren’t going to be able to arrest the guy just based on what Henry had told him.

They needed enough that Henry didn’t need to be involved at all.

Still, they were moving forward and getting closer to answers. It was up to the crime lab to provide them with the ammunition they needed.

“Let’s order pizza for dinner.” That got him smiles and even an excited bark from Pebbles.

“Uncle Kerry,” Phillip cried as he hurried up to him. “Why is someone outside?”

The pizza had arrived for dinner not half an hour ago. Kerry had checked when answering the door, and there had been no one there. Shit, when was all this going to be over? He was getting tired of feeling like he was on the edge all the time.

Kerry hurried to the front window. The man he’d seen out from before was across the street. Kerry knew who it was now and called Brian. “Charlie is across the street, watching the house. I half expect him to come over at any time and demand to see Phillip.”

“I have a call with the crime lab, trying to get the results we need. I’m going to ask Janine to stop over.

I’ll tell her to use her lights. That should scare him off.

If he comes to the house, do not let him in.

Don’t let him see the kids, and you can tell him that the police have been called and are on their way. ”

“What if he tries to break in?”

“Get the kids to a safe place and call the neighbors. Get them to come out and make themselves known if you can. Janine is already on her way. She left the station while we’ve been on the phone. She’ll be there in less than ten minutes.” He sounded calm, but worried.

“I need to hang up and call Karen.”

“Fine, but text me as soon as you’re off the phone with her.” Brian hung up, and Kerry called Karen, explaining who the man was out front.

“I’ll turn on my lights and call the other neighbors.

” Karen got off the phone and turned on every light she had outside.

Kerry did the same, and it wasn’t long before others on the street followed suit.

Kerry got the kids into Henry’s bedroom, pulled the curtains, and asked if they wanted to play camping.

He got them on the floor and used the bed to anchor a blanket over them all as a tent with the boys easily slipping under the bed so they could keep away from the bears.

Grrrrr. Apparently, for this game, Kerry was the bear.

A firm knock sounded on the front door. Kerry tensed, but refused to let the kids see any reaction. “I’m going to see who that is. But the bear is going to come back.” He growled again to squeals of laughter before leaving the room.

He checked though the window beside the door. “What do you want?” Kerry asked without unlocking or opening the door.

“I have a right to see my kid. I know you got the papers.” Charlie pounded on the door.

“The police have been called, and they’re on their way.

Go away. We want nothing to do with you, and you’re not welcome,” Kerry said as forcefully as possible without yelling so he didn’t disturb the kids.

He told himself that this was the man who killed his sister, and there was no way in hell that he was getting anywhere near them.

“Good. They will make you let me see him.” This guy really was delusional.

“Go away. You’ve been told to leave.”

“I have a right.” He pounded again, and Phillip and Henry raced out to Kerry, grabbing hold of his legs.

“Is that the mean man?” Henry asked, clinging to him.

Shit, he had hoped to avoid them having any contact with this all together.

“Go back in the bedroom and pretend the bear is coming. Can you do that for me? I’ll be right in. I promise.” Both boys looked at each other and then hurried away, hopefully to do as he asked.

A siren sounded, and soon lights flashed out front as first a single car and then multiples pulled up out front. “Charles Westerly,” a female voice said firmly.

“Yes. So what?” he snapped.

“You are wanted for questioning in the death of Caroline Sutherland,” Janine said loudly enough that her voice carried well into the house.

“I had nothing to do with that. All I want is to see my son.” He pounded on the door again. “This isn’t over. I know you got the papers from my lawyer. You can’t keep him away from me.” He sounded more and more desperate with each phrase.

“Put your hands where I can see them.”

Kerry peered through the window as two additional officers stood nearby. Janine got the cuffs on him.

“What are you arresting me for?”

Janine paused for a second. “Right now, disturbing the peace. But who knows.” She read him his rights and then led Charlie away, voices growing quieter.

Kerry went to the bedroom and found the two boys in their tent.

“It’s okay. Everything is quiet now,” he said.

“The bear is all gone.” Both boys came out, and Kerry hugged them tightly.

“You were really good. Let’s go get ourselves a snack.

” He led them into the kitchen and got the boys seated at the table with their treats, giving Pebbles a Greenies.