“Not so fast, gentlemen!” Casper wheezed and flapped his hand. “I would like to amend the terms of our agreement,” he said. Blink’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Hawk to Casper.
“So, you do intend to stay?” He asked Casper. Hawk and Casper exchanged confused looks.
“Did I say I was leaving?” Casper asked then frowned and looked to his right. “Did I...?” He chewed on his thumb nub and gave his head a quick shake. “I’d remember.”
“The two of you spent the afternoon in Lake Cliff. I was sure Dr. Hawkesworth convinced you to defect to the Island of Misfit Boys,” Blink replied and Casper clapped as he became insensate.
“That’s perfect! I love it! I still want this cottage and my lab. We’ll visit Lake Cliff when we’ve had our fill of your meddlesome bullshit and need to get away,” Casper said then gestured at Hawk. “I also require the services of a live-in physician. A very specific physician,” he added and raised his brow at Blink, daring him to say no.
“Now, I don’t think I want to wor...” Hawk argued but stopped when Casper hissed and pointed threateningly at him.
“I said I would handle this and you deserve to be compensated for the hell I put you through,” he said. Blink rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he watched Hawk.
“It might not be a bad idea to keep a surgeon close at hand and on the payroll,” he murmured. Hawk’s nose wrinkled but his instincts told him to consider.
“There is the matter of this,” Casper said as he flourished a two-inch Ziplock bag.
“What is that?” Blink and Hawk asked as they moved in for a closer look. Casper laughed softly as he held it up so the dancing light from the fireplace glinted off the tiny metallic chip inside the bag.
“Your mystery package was meant to look like a mislabeled delivery and contained a rather benign looking assortment of cookbooks. But it occurred to me that so many mysteries of late have a Trojan horse or a practice run feel to them,” Casper explained airily and Blink’s head canted.
“Was it a Trojan horse?” He asked and Casper shook his head. “You think the package was meant to be a trial run?” Blink looked to Casper and he hummed in agreement.
“This is designed to transmit a simple signal, so it can be located. It was inserted into the cover of an old Sunset Recipe Annual. My guess is that someone wanted to see where this package would go, if it made it inside Blackhurst.”
“Nothing unaccounted for gets inside Blackhurst. Everything is screened and doesn’t get past the gate if it wasn’t authorized by myself, Elliot or Alon,” Blink said and Casper nodded as he waved the baggie at Blink.
“They’ll know that now. I’m tracking down the manufacturer. It wasn’t made in the U.S.A. or I’d already have a list of buyers.”
“I’m encouraged though,” Blink said and reached so he could give Casper’s scarred cheek an affectionate pat. “I think this will work,” he mused as he turned and offered Hawk a slight nod. “Decide your terms and forward them to my secretary. A happy assassin is a productive assassin, I’m hoping. And he could do with more supervision,” Blink noted before leaving them.
“And he could do with more supervision,” Casper mimicked then snorted. “He isn’t wrong,” he admitted under his breath.
“No, he isn’t,” Hawk agreed as he heaved their bags inside then locked the door and went to Casper.
“Don’t be afraid to demand an absurd salary,” Casper said as he tossed his crutch away and fell into Hawk’s arms.
“I doubt it,” Hawk chuckled as he lifted Casper so he could wrap his leg around his waist.
“You better. Blink’s going to put you to work. You’ll be on call here and if anything happens in Lake Cliff,” Casper warned.
“Good point,” Hawk conceded then shook his head as he carried Casper up the stairs. “I’ll worry about that later. The last few days have been a lot. All I want right now is to get naked and drink a bottle of wine in the tub with you.”
“Nothing would make me happier,” Casper said and got the bathroom door for Hawk. He chuckled in agreement as he deposited Casper on the counter then captured his lips for a kiss. “How do you feel about dogs?” He asked hesitantly and Casper frowned.
“I’m not an actual monster. I love dogs.”
“Good. I love you, you spooky asshole,” Hawk said and Casper’s eye brightened and a delighted smile spread across his face. He glowed brighter each time he told him but Hawk was determined to tell Casper until it no longer took him by surprise.
“You have no idea... I still get goosebumps when you say that. I love you so much, Hawk,” Casper replied in a cracked whisper. His hand cradled Hawk’s jaw and there was so much joy and hope as Casper laughed and kissed him.
“Goosebumps?” Hawk asked and made a concerned sound as he unzipped Casper’s hoodie. “That sounds like something I should take a look at.”
Epilogue
The trees were bare and Casper could see the lake in the distance. It was steel grey but the sky was almost as dark. For some reason, he imagined it would be sunnier in Lake Cliff and found the overcast morning a pleasant welcome. They arrived in the middle of the night and Toly and Wilder stayed up long enough to say hello before wishing them a goodnight. Casper yawned and rubbed his eye as he stretched. His head rolled towards Hawk’s pillow and he smiled at the note.
Went for a run. Be civil and DON’T BREAK ANYTHING.
Love you.
“Not really in the mood to break anything but myself at the moment but you’re not here,” Casper complained. He sat up and his prosthetic leg was resting against the bedside table with a note taped to it.
Remember that Toly is watching and listening to everything outside of this room and can kill you with the toaster.
Love you.
“He’s one of the few people I’m truly afraid of,” Casper murmured as he donned his leg and stood. He gave it a few test bends then took a deep breath and put on the flannel robe Hawk left at the foot of the bed. His toiletries were in the bathroom with another note telling Casper that coffee would be waiting but there were plans for breakfast at the Holderson’s. Casper’s stomach twisted anxiously as he brushed his teeth and fixed his hair but he wanted coffee so he decided to get it over with. He couldn’t stay in Toly’s house without having to face him. Casper opened the bedroom door slowly and peeked around it. The guest room was downstairs, off the living room. It was a mostly open floor plan downstairs and Casper leaned out and became curious when he spied Toly, working as he sat cross-legged on the sofa with a bowl of cereal in his lap. Toly’s back was to him and Casper could see that he was watching something through the lenses of his glasses. Casper considered himself a talented hacker but Toly was a god. He built his hardware into his hands and turned himself into a walking computer. Toly owned anything with a microchip and a transmitter in it and could bend technology like a conductor directed an orchestra but with lethal results.
“There’s coffee. Please make yourself at home,” Toly said but his hands continued to sweep and poke at the air in front of him.