They waited for a while, staring at the neighbor’s backyard, the silence broken only by the panting of the dog.
“You think Zander caught up with him?” Brian asked.
Charlie said, “Doc’s got long legs and a good head of steam.”
“Damon’s tricky, though.”
Nick said, “I think it depends how bad he wanted to get away.” What’s going on in Damon’s head? The gifts, flirting around with getting seen? If he’d wanted to stay hidden, all he had to do was not fix my damned car.
A minute later, Doc appeared around the corner of the next house. He was staring at the ground, but when he looked up and spotted them waiting, he jogged toward them. “Hey, Brian, Nick. Merry Christmas.”
“Did you see Damon?” Brian asked. “Is he all right?”
“Yeah, I saw him. Pigheaded, controlling, superior bastard that he is. He’s fine.”
“So what the fuck’s he playing at?” Nick asked.
Doc shrugged. “Reindeer games? I don’t know. He said that he was ‘working on the Turov situation.’ That things were looking good, but to be cool and careful.”
Brian said in a small voice, “I really hoped there was no more Turov situation.”
“Me too,” Doc agreed. “But I guess we have to trust him if he says we’re good right now.”
Nick couldn’t help a wordless growl. “I don’t want to fucking trust him. I want him to let me know if there’s danger and stay away.”
“I bet. Good luck with that.” Doc pinched the bridge of his nose, then smiled. “Well. Damon’s not going to wreck this holiday for me. He can go chase phantoms while we open presents and eat. I told him to come on in and join us. He said not today. So that’s his own choice.”
Nick wasn’t sure if he’d rather break bread with a killer like Damon or have Brian pining, imagining his brother eating C rations or something while they feasted. He tried to keep the acid out of his tone. “I’m sure he can afford a good dinner somewhere if he doesn’t want to hang out. Let’s go up and see what twisted gift he gave you in that big box.”
“Oh, he told me.” Doc laughed. “A top of the line home obstetrics kit. He told me I’d never get Lori to do a hospital birth unless she was passed out cold, so he was counting on me to do it right. I’m a GP, not an obstetrician or a midwife, so he was making sure I’m well equipped.”
“Is home birth more dangerous?” Brian sounded worried. “Because he’s right about Lori.”
“Not really. Lots of women choose it, and we’re close to the hospital if something goes wrong.” Doc’s smile was reassuring. “I’d have done fine even without the kit, but Damon’s default seems to be set on overkill.”
Brian turned to look back the way Doc had come. There was yearning in the line of Brian’s body and the shine of his eyes. Nick hugged an arm around his shoulders. “Come on, Solo, my man. If he’s off doing a lone Yoda, more pie for the rest of us, right? We can leave something out for Damon on the step, like feeding an alley cat.”
Brian dug an elbow into his ribs but let himself be turned toward the house. By the time they went inside, with the smell of roasting turkey now joining the pies, he’d relaxed under Nick’s touch. Nick gathered himself to be funny and warm, and pay attention, now and later. This was still going to be the best damned Christmas Brian had ever had.
Chapter 15
Brian wandered the beer and wine aisle at the back of the old, run-down country store where Nick liked to shop. The place had a smell to it he couldn’t quite identify, but he suspected it might be coming from the giant glass jar of pickles floating in cloudy liquid near the counter up front. He was looking for something that was kind of like champagne but cheap, when he caught sight of a familiar face. That’s gasoline Sam guy? Not likely, right?
He eased back against a shelf of wine bottles to get a better look. He was almost sure it was the arson guy. He turned to go the other way and not get face-to-face when he saw Nick at the front of the store spot the guy. Nick stalked over, that cop strut in his walk that was both threat and challenge.