Last, closest to the sleeping area, was a little table that was obviously a castoff Malachi had collected, probably, from the state of it, resting against trash bins at a curb.
His nightstand.
On top of it, his books and comic books. Carefully, almost reverently arranged and Chace knew if he approached and looked closely, they’d be methodically organized.
His prize possessions, close at hand for when he lay in that bag and read.
His prize possessions, close at hand just because they were prized.
Chace sucked in breath to tamp down the surge of feeling moving quickly, freezing his insides and he shifted his beam through the space. Nothing much else, no furniture, some drifts of snow that came through the holes in the ceiling or the openings in the planks.
But in the corner opposite the sleeping area, assisting greatly in the stench, a hole was dug. As it was close to the door, Chace only had to take one step to look in it and see it was excrement and it was dug down deep. There was a large pile of dirt beside it. He shoved dirt on top, probably to aid in getting rid of the smell.
He didn’t see to the call of nature in nature.
He did it there.
And he did it there because he didn’t want anyone to find it elsewhere.
His fear of discovery was so great, he lived with his own shit.
He lived with his own goddamned shit.
Chace moved his beam across the dirt along the wall.
There were three other piles, dirt loose on top, small mounds.
Fucking shit, he’d been there awhile.
Fucking shit, he’d been there awhile.
“Jesus Christ,” Chace whispered.
“Brother, he’s safe now, got sweet sittin’ right beside his hospital bed,” Deck said quietly from beside him.
“Jesus Christ,” Chace repeated.
“I f**ked up with the homeless guy, I gotta let that go and Chace, man, you gotta work past this and let it go,” Deck went on.
Chace stared at the hole.
Deck was silent, giving him his moment.
Then he stopped being silent.
“Do not let CPS get their hands on this kid,” Deck whispered.
Chace nodded, his eyes still on that f**king hole.
“Whatever drove him to this desperation, do not set his ass in the system,” Deck went on and Chace turned, cutting his eyes to his friend.
“He’s not goin’ into the system.”
Deck held his gaze.
Then he nodded.
Chace’s phone rang and he pulled it out as he walked around Deck and got the f**k out of that shed.