As Sean opened the door and climbed out of the vehicle, Viggo made up his mind. Stepping out of the car, he shut the door and hurried the few steps to catch up to his partner. He caught Sean by the arm then turned his gaze back to the car. It wouldn�t do to have Boyd duck out on them now.
�I�ve been thinking, Sean. I don�t trust Billy. He�s being entirely too cooperative. Taking him on the train would just be asking for trouble. I say we extend our rental and drive to Glasgow.�
Sean glanced at the car then back at Viggo, looking doubtful. �I don�t know, Vig. What if the car breaks down or something?�
�Don�t worry, Sean. I won�t leave you alone with the big, bad Scotsman.�
Smirking and glancing once more at the car, Sean gave Viggo a slight shove on his shoulder. �He�s definitely not big, but I don�t doubt he could kick my arse if he really tried. Alright, we�ll do it your way. I�ll see what I can do about extending our agreement. You keep an eye on Boyd.�
Viggo smiled and nodded, heading back to the car. Sliding into the passenger seat and shutting the door, he sighed. �Change in plans, Billy. We�ll be driving back to Glasgow.�
�What difference does it make? Either way I�ll end up in the nick for something I didn�t do. What do I care how we get there?�
Twisting around to lean his head between the seats, Viggo looked to see Billy slouched in his seat with his shoulders slumped. His cuffed hands rested limply in his lap, head leaning wearily against the seatback. Once again feeling a small twinge of doubt, which he ruthlessly smothered, Viggo chose to remain silent. The two men waited for Sean, both lost in their own thoughts until the quiet was broken by a knock on the driver�s side window. Startled out of his thoughts, Viggo unlocked the doors he hadn�t realized he�d locked.
Climbing in and shutting the door, Sean smiled. �Got us a good deal on the car. Won�t cost as much as we thought it would.�
Viggo simply nodded as Sean once again locked the doors, and pulled out of the carpark. Reaching into the side pocket, Viggo pulled out a map. �Why don�t we stop in Birmingham to grab a bite to eat. I�m sure you�ll be starving by then.�
Laughing softly, Sean checked behind him before changing lanes. �I�ll be starving before we get out of London, but I suppose I�ll manage.�
Fishing around in his jacket pockets, Viggo pulled out a package of chocolate biscuits and held them up with a smile of triumph. �Here you are. Breakfast of champions.�
Sean leaned over for a quick kiss, taking the bag of goodies from Viggo. �I don�t think this qualifies at breakfast, but my stomach thanks you just the same.�
He opened the bag with his teeth then held it out to Viggo, who took two of the chocolate wafers. Reaching back between the headrests, Sean offered the bag to Billy. �Want one, Boyd? I bet you�re hungry as I am by now.�
Not even bothering to raise his head, Billy mumbled, �No thank you.�
Shrugging, Sean dropped the bag in his lap and fished out a biscuit for himself. �Suit yourself. Just don�t whinge about being hungry before Birmingham.�
London traffic was murder that morning so it took forever to get out of the city. By the time they finally stopped at a place to eat, Sean thought he�d faint from hunger. The biscuits hadn�t done much but make him realize just how hungry he was. Parking in front of a small caf�, he pulled on the brake and turned to Viggo.
�Want anything to eat? I�ll get it if you stay here with Boyd.�
�Just get me a scone. And a nice, large coffee to go with it.�
�Got it.� Turning around, Sean raised an eyebrow at their captive. �Anything for you, Billy?�
�Not hungry.�
Sean rolled his eyes at the sullen tone. �C�mon, Boyd. You might as well eat something. Pouting like a child won�t get you anywhere.�
Rolling his head against the window, Billy shrugged lethargically. ��M not pouting, Bean. Just not hungry. Feel a bit sick.�
Well, the lad did look a bit pale. Sean decided to just leave well enough alone and went inside to get breakfast for himself and Viggo. He grabbed a bottle of water for Billy. Even if he wouldn�t eat, Billy needed to stay hydrated.
Returning to the car, Sean handed the bag and one of the coffees to Viggo. �One orange-cranberry scone for you, with a disgustingly large coffee. One less piss-inducing coffee for myself.�
Viggo set his coffee in the cup holder and smiled. �Yes, but I�ll be more alert.�
�Bouncing around the car, more like.�
�What did you get for breakfast?� Viggo pulled at the edge of the paper carrier with one finger and tried to peek inside.
�Toast and a few hard-boiled eggs.�
�How many is a few?�
Peering over his shoulder to check traffic, Sean backed the car back onto the road. �Four.�
�Well, that should hold you for a few hours anyway.� Viggo laughed and reached for his coffee, swearing as the car lurched forward when Sean shifted into first gear. �This coffee is hot, Sean. Damn.�
�Coffee usually is, Vig.�
Viggo decided to ignore the sarcasm and started in on his own breakfast. Only the low sounds from the radio broke the silence as the two men concentrated on eating. Viggo wouldn�t admit it, but he was as hungry as Sean.
He was just putting his empty cup and napkins into the paper bag when a sound from the back made Viggo twist around in his seat. Their captive was slumped against the door, sweating and clenching his shirt with his cuffed hands. The young man looked a bit green.
�Billy?�
Swallowing convulsively, panting against his discomfort, Billy turned a panicked gaze to Viggo. �Sick.�
Shit. �Sean, pull over. Hurry.�
Pulling quickly over to the shoulder, Sean stopped the car with a jerk. Viggo jumped out and pulled the back passenger door open. Catching Billy as he nearly tumbled off the seat, Viggo helped him stumble a few feet then held the lad�s head as he lost his battle with nausea.
When the small frame finally stopped dry heaving, Viggo wrapped an arm around Billy�s shoulders and helped him to sit on the front bumper of the car. Sean was waiting with the bottle of water.
When Billy shook his head, Sean insisted. �You need the fluids, Billy. Just a few swallows.�
Looking up, his narrow face streaked with tears forced out by the fierce spasms, Billy reached out a trembling hand for the water. He took a few shaky breaths and swallowed several times before daring to drink. He was afraid it would come right back up. That had not been fun.
Sean took the bottle when Billy handed it back over after a couple of swallows. �Jeezus, Billy. Why didn�t you say something?�
�I told you I felt sick when you stopped for breakfast, you great pillock.� Pressing a hand to his stomach, Billy leaned back against the car�s bonnet.
Sitting next to Billy, Viggo frowned. �You didn�t bring up much. When was the last time you ate something?�
�I dunno. Yesterday afternoon? Yeah, I�m pretty sure I ate something about one-ish yesterday. Before my shift at the pub.�
Sean sighed and shook his head. �Well that�s part of the problem right there. You really should eat more, Boyd.�
Billy stood a bit shakily and jabbed a finger in Sean�s direction, handcuffs clinking. �Well I would�ve had dinner last night if you two hadn�t grabbed me, now, wouldn�t I? Then I wouldn�t be sicking up on the side of the road, would I? If you�d just waited one day, I would�ve caught up to Serkis and made him talk to me. It would all be over! One fucking day!�
That was apparently a bit too much emotion. He felt a queasy flip and Billy found himself on his knees, nearly sobbing from the heaving of his empty stomach. Spots drifted into his vision as his lungs were paralyzed by the spasms. Thankfully, it ended fairly quickly. The vice around his torso released and Billy gasped for air. A cool, damp towel settled on the back of his neck and a large hand moved soothingly over his shoulders.
�Think you�re finished?�
Letting out a shaky breath, Billy nodded. �I think so.�
The strong hands that pulled him to his feet belonged to Sean, and Billy couldn�t understand why the man would be so angry one minute and so kind the next. It was all so mixed up.
Letting Sean help him into the back seat, Billy went limp with weariness. Sean fastened the seatbelt then shut the door. Rolling his head to thump against the window, Billy watched the grass fall away to pavement. He felt shaky and sick. And scared. So very afraid of what waited for him if they made it to Glasgow.
His body spent from the bouts of nausea, Billy�s eyes slid closed as he drifted to sleep.
Gazing at the sleeping lad in the rearview mirror, Viggo struggled with his thoughts. Billy had sounded so sincere earlier. Was it possible?
�Sean? You�re gonna hate me.�
Jarred out of his own thoughts, Sean glanced back at their sleeping passenger then smiled at Viggo. �I could never hate you, love. What did you do this time?�
Staring through the windshield at the road ahead, Viggo sighed. �I�m beginning to believe the little bugger.�
�Very funny.� Sean�s laughter tapered off at the look on Viggo�s face. �You�re serious, aren�t you?�
�I�m sorry, Sean, really. I just�I�m beginning to think maybe he didn�t do it.�
�Viggo, you found the transfers on his computer. We found an envelope with over 1,000 pounds in it.�
Hating himself for it, Viggo nevertheless pressed the issue. �That stuff could�ve been planted. And we never found any more of the money. Those transfers disappeared into accounts overseas that we haven�t been able to trace.�
Leaning toward his mate, Sean tried to be reasonable. �Look, I understand. I�m even starting to like him. But Viggo, he took that money. And when it looked like he was going to be sent to prison for it, Billy ran. He did it.�
�I just want to be sure, Sean. I hate the thought of the wrong man being convicted.�
�That�s not our job. We were hired to find Billy Boyd and bring him back to face justice. What happens after that isn�t our problem.� Maybe if he said it often enough, he�d believe it himself.
Yes, but if not their problem�then whose? Viggo sighed and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. This whole case was giving him a headache.
~*~
They were pulling into a petrol station when Billy awoke. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he grimaced at the taste in his mouth. Maybe he could talk Sean or Viggo into buying some gum. Or a mint. Anything. Sitting up, he listened intently to the conversation between his captors, latching onto any opportunity to escape.
�You�d have to stop for gas eventually, anyway. Stop your complaining.�
�Petrol, Viggo. Petrol.�
�A fuel by any other name�still moves the car.�
�Cheeky. Besides, I told you that coffee would make you have to piss like a racehorse.�
�Actually, you said it would have me bouncing around the car. Look, if I say �you win�, can I go pee?�
As Sean laughed, Billy leaned forward as far as his seatbelt would allow. �I have to go, too, Viggo.�
Sean snorted in disbelief as he opened the door to get out of the car. �I don�t see how you have anything left inside you to come out.�
Ignoring Sean, Viggo climbed out and opened Billy�s door to let him out. �Just ignore him, Billy. Sean�s bladder is the size of a basketball.�
Shutting the doors, Viggo smirked at Sean as they passed by the pumps. Following Boyd into the petrol station, Viggo glanced around and quickly spotted the restroom. He gave Billy a nudge in that direction and gave the proprietor a reassuring smile, getting a suspicious frown in return.
Having already seen the sign for the loo, Billy needed no urging. Through the open door, he�d seen a small window�and his chance to escape. As they got closer to the loo, Billy lengthened his stride then lunged through the door, slamming it shut in Viggo�s astonished face. Hands frantic, Billy scrambled to slide the bolt near the top of the door. Succeeding, he took a deep breath and turned to shove open the window. Upending the rubbish bin beneath it, he used it to boost himself through the narrow opening and to freedom.
The slamming door had not only caught Viggo by surprise, but it damn near hit him in the nose. Shouting for Billy to open the door, Viggo jiggled the handle and tried to force it open. Swearing, he ignored the angry complaints of the owner and yelled for Sean.
�Sean! Billy locked himself in the bathroom. Check around back!�
�Shit.� Sean released the pump handle and sprinted around back, just in time to see Billy struggle to his feet, a look of determination on his face.
�Stop right there, Billy.�
Of course, he didn�t really expect the lad to listen. Sean sped up and hit Billy with a rugby tackle that brought them both to the ground with a thud. Sean scrabbled for a hold on Billy, who was just as determined to get loose.
�Viggo! Give us a hand, will ya?�
Grunting with pain as Billy managed to plant a bony elbow in his solar plexus, Sean struggled to hold the escapee down. He lost his temper when a worn trainer caught him a good kick to the side of his head. Shaking his head, Sean leaned back for leverage and managed a shot to Billy�s face. He got a swift knee to the groin for his trouble and lost his hold.
Viggo rounded the corner just in time to see Sean lose his grip on Boyd and roll to cradle his groin protectively. Catching hold of Billy as he staggered to his feet once again, Viggo dug unforgiving fingers in near his neck, searching for a particular nerve. Pressing in, he smiled as his captive stopped struggling and slid silently to the ground.
�Now you know how I felt.� Smirking at Sean�s glare, Viggo reached out a hand to pull his lover up from the ground. �You were right. He could kick your ass if he put his mind to it.�
Sean winced as he stood, and fought to resist the urge to pound the unconscious Boyd. Christ his balls ached. �You�re the one that let him get away, Viggo.�
Shifting his feet, choosing to ignore Sean�s dig, Viggo pointed at Billy�s still form. �You carry him to the car. I still have to pee.�
Inventive swear words rumbled under Sean�s breath as he leaned down to grab a limp arm. �You still think the little shit is innocent?�
Oddly enough, angry as he was, Viggo was still uncertain.
Part 3
Feedback