Peter Pierce

Refuge/House

Chapter One

Not that any gas station chain was likely to get the land. Ten acres [4 ha] was a bit much for selling smoothies and beer with a fill up. And the neighborhood was not right either. Old old homes did not draw new new plaza's. Frat houses, professors and the odd retiree, yes. Gas stations and storefronts wanted more traveled roads and modern houses.

Adam shuddered at the thought of the mile or so of ranches and cape cods that had littered the landscape coming into Old Port. Couldn't be helped of course. The state college drew people to teach and the student population made small business's profitable. There was even a short strip of ugly big box stores to prove that Old Port was in no danger of having modernity and its attendant prefab monsters pass it by.

He looked up at the house and then glanced at his watch. Late by twenty minutes! He took a deep breath and cursed real estate agents in general and this one in specific and reminded himself to keep focused on the house.

Which, in his humble opinion, was absolutely beautiful.

Victorian was a good way to start describing it. Castle was another and if he was some cute little boy he would have gone with castle in a second. Unfortunately he had a masters in architecture and assorted classes in other fields that told him Victorian would work best.

The lower half of the house was a very impenetrable red granite stone including a porch from which you could have held off an assault by a platoon. There were places where it was being assaulted not by marines but by the same vines that were throttling the fruit trees but he was confident that a couple hours worth of pulling would end that problem.

Some helpful bunny had boarded up all the windows, which was probably a good idea for an abandoned old home, but the carpenter had been an ass and the plywood was warped and needed to come down desperately. Probably easiest to do it along with the repainting. Grey was the current color but it could have been any one of a dozen colors twenty years ago when it went on. Well at least the cedar siding looked in good shape. No squirrel had made it through the sides anyway.

The slate roof was a question mark. At least it looked OK but Adam had seen enough old homes to know that a slate roof that looked good was not the same thing as one that was going to stay up in the next ice storm.

His thoughts were interrupted by a worn white Volvo that pulled up behind his rented SUV. He smiled as the driver ground some gears in too much of a hurry to put the car into park. The poor thing actually lurched to a stop and the single occupant didn't even close the door as she shot Adam a fearful look and rushed towards him. She managed to catch herself only a few feet from the car, take a deep breath, smooth out a very severe looking blue print dress and fumble out a business card as she changed her pace to a brisk walk forward.

"Mr. Carter!" She offered in a mix that included one part professionalism, two parts stutter and a healthy dose of 'he's going to hate me'. "Judy Manson, I am so sorry Mr. Symansky was unable to make it. A last minute offer on another property and he asked me to show you the estate."

Adam had learned a long time ago to mask his emotions. Screaming and shouting rarely got you anywhere. Nor did taking the gloves off and playing hardball with an underling who was obviously covering up for her bosses idiocy. He made a mental note to have a long talk with Doug. It was his job to make sure that competent people did as they were paid.

"I see." He managed to keep his voice friendly as he accepted the card. Even looked at it! Which brought a smile as Ms. Manson's name had hastily been scrawled over that of her boss. Well, scrawl was a bit harsh, the printing had been done with care. "Well, no harm done Ms. Manson, do you have the keys?"

"Why yes of course, and Judy please." She blushed as she fumbled in a purse that did not at all match the print of her dress. White leather against blue and green was not pretty. Adam had her down as a housewife doing double duty as a secretary who had been drafted by her boss for what he thought was a waste of time.

Adam let her lead the way up the steps then caught her arm as her unsensible heel caught on warped board that desperately needed a nail or two.

"Sorry." She recovered and hurriedly went to the door. "I brought a pair of sneakers in the Volvo but I was running late and didn't have time to…"

Adam held up a hand.

"Go get changed." He reached for the keys. "The house is in no hurry to get looked at and I am going to be taking my time so you may as well get comfortable Judy."

She looked at him as if about to recommend something then visibly bit her lip.

"What?" It was rather amusing and he chuckled. Which brought out a rather nice smile.

"Well." Judy looked like she was about to throw caution to the wind. "My house is actually through the back yard. And if we are going to be tromping through the estate I would really like to put on some jeans. And check on Eric. He should be home from school and I can have him come and hold flashlights if you don't mind a ten year old?"

Adam blinked.

Judy Manson was not what she seemed at first sight. Whoever had her cowed it was not because she was a sheep. Personally Adam liked people who were willing take a risk. And pissing off a client was a risk. Besides there was nothing at all wrong with the idea of a ten year old boy named Eric. Judy Manson was a nice looking woman and it was doubtful her son was going to be an baby troll.

"Sure." Adam gave her a reassuring grin. "I will be at least an hour so take your time. And flashlights are an excellent idea. I will want to look through both the basement and attic. I hope your son is not afraid of a little dirt?"

"Hardly!" Judy laughed. "Look around all you wish, I will be back in about twenty minutes."

Adam watched her head back to her car and shook his head. On a whim he ignored the open door and flipped open his cell.

"Carter, Judsen and Smyth." came the immediate reply from a male voice.

"Oh shut up Ben." Adam laughed. There was no way Ben had not looked at the caller ID before picking up and playing receptionist was a bad joke. He heard a chuckle on the other end as well. "Work time."

"Sir." Ben went instantly serious. Doug had trained him well and he knew the change of voice.

"The real estate office is not taking me seriously."

"Do you want me to have a word with them?" Adam shook his head. Ben was all of twenty and sounded like he was dying to go ream out someone badly.

"No." though it was tempting "But I am putting you on notice to keep your cell with you. This house is amazing and I have not even set foot in the door. Contact whoever we are using for paperwork and make sure they are standing by the fax machine."

"On it." Ben answered promptly. "Anything else?"

"Nothing now." Adam replied as he opened the door. "Just stay by the cell if I need you."

He shut it down and stepped inside.

Museum? Gold mine? Heaven?

All words that filtered through his mind even as his mouth stood open. Now this was a weird feeling. Adam James Carter IV totally in awe. The house was not only a vintage Victorian, it appeared that no one had touched the furnishing or even updated them.

There was dust on the floor, a lot of it actually, and it was obvious that more than a few mice had used sections as a latrine. Still the Persian rugs were in place, the crystal chandelier was overhead and the leaded glass of the windows was uncracked. In fact just a rough guess said that there was thirty or forty thousand in antiques within arms reach. If the glass in the china cabinet to the right was really what he thought it was make that a hundred.

He stepped into the library on the right, each foot making a horrible mark on the floor, and blinked at the floor to ceiling collection of leather bound books that beckoned. There was no way he could take the year he wished to take just to wade through them and he let his feet carry him on. Maybe it was best to get to the sections of the house he would hate. Modernity often found its way into destroying old homes in the kitchen first, followed by the bathroom. Convenience would tear out a good stove for an avocado electric range and linoleum flooring.

And sure enough he had his first disappointment when he found exactly that. A horrid combination of avocado green stove, white vintage 1950's refrigerator and yellow patterned linoleum. Well at least time was doing its part and had buckled and warped the flooring. And at least one section of the house had an opening because the bird droppings and feathers on top of the mass produced cabinets spoke of pigeon. Adam snorted in disgust and looked through a side door at a small room with similar ugly modernity. In this case warped sheets of laminated wood wall paneling and yellow carpet.

"We're back!" A cheery voice called from the front of the house then in a more worried tone when he didn't promptly reply "Mr. Carter?"

"Kitchen." Adam shouted and continued to wonder who had kept the home so perfect and would allow this desecration. There was no sign of the previous kitchen but this side room still had a few built in shelves wedged into the paneling that suggested this was the pantry at one time.

"It's a bit dirty." Judy said from over his shoulder. Her tone said she was still at least trying to be a real estate agent. "But I am sure a bit of cleaning would do wonders."

Adam barely heard her. His eyes had glanced down to the thin boy standing at her side and done a fast inventory: Auburn hair, dark, so dark it was almost black. With the most amazing hazel green eyes. Skinny, way too skinny actually and so shy he barely glanced up at Adam long enough for the eyes to register. Pale skin but healthy enough looking. But the main draw was the face, beautiful in purely masculine and boyish way he was the type of kid who you just knew was going to knock them dead well into his fifties. Movie star quality if he wasn't so damned skinny.

But of course that could be corrected. A little hard work every day. Probably rebel a bit at first but a touch or two with a belt would end that and a healthy diet would do…

"I think this was Betrice's rooms." Judy kept talking and he tore his eyes off the boy. Too late she had already seen his look if not its meanings. "Oh, I'm sorry, this is my son Eric. Eric, Mr. Carter."

The boy looked up at last and the smile was tentative but genuine as he politely extended a hand. Adam shook it properly and smiled back.

"Pleased to meet you sir." The boy stated as any well brought up child was taught to say.

"And you Eric." Adam saw the giant yellow safety flash light in the boy's other hand. "I take it you are prepared to help me look through the attic and basement?"

"Yes sir." The boy's tone was innocent and charming. "Mom really wants to sell the house. I was afraid some old people would buy it."

"Eric…" Judy shot Adam a quick glance and rolled her eyes. "I am…"

"It's fine." Adam waved it off. "Now I've got some real estate work for you while Eric and I tromp upstairs. To start with check and make sure you have all of the paperwork you need for a purchase offer. You'll need the names of the estates lawyers and their contacts as well. I will want a quick sale and immediate occupancy. Oh, and I will also need an electrician to check the wires. I do plumbing and carpentry but won't touch electric."

Judy blinked.

"You're going to put in an offer?" She looked amazed.

Adam sighed, he had somehow taken an instant liking to Judy Manson even if she had a cute little number that he was fighting hard not to look at. And he needed someone to work through if he was going to stay here and have fun. Might as well do the speech now.

"Eric," Adam held out his cell phone, "think you can figure out how to take pictures with this?"

"Sure." The boy looked confident. Adam wondered if he would be once he opened the interface and saw what he was looking at in technology. He may very well hate anything post WWII but if he was going to buy electronics he always bought top of the line. "Do me a favor then and take at least two pictures of each room on the ground floor and one of each side of the house. If you can figure it out send them all to the last number I called. If you can do that then you can pick out where we eat tonight?"

"Lobster Hut!" The boy said instantly.

"Lobster Hut." Adam cut off his scandalized mother. "Judy why don't we have a seat in the dinning room and I will explain."

It took him a minute to get them there another two minutes to show Eric how to adjust picture sizes and then another to brush the dust off enough space to sit down.

"OK Judy," he began pleasantly, "just let me talk for a few minutes and then you can ask questions."

"To start with I am wealthy enough to buy this house easily. I would have thought your boss would have done a background check and confirmed that but obviously he did not or he would be here himself." He waved a hand dismissively. "His problem and I imagine he is going to be a bit pissed when he finds out you are taking the commission."

Judy had the good sense to keep her mouth shut but she did look worried and nodded in agreement.

"If he had done that check he would have also come to some bad conclusions though." Adam shrugged. "I am from a very wealthy family and I went to a very good law school after a tour in the marines. Both left me unsatisfied and I have spent the last ten years moving from college town to college town taking courses and rehabing nice old homes that caught my eye. This will actually be my second mansion, though it is much larger than any others."

Adam leaned back a bit to relax and wished he had a coffee.

"I found out a long time ago that I like carpentry and yard work and took the classes to learn to be good at it. I also am a bit of a history nut and I loath modernity in my houses. I'll probably update the kitchen to my tastes and turn those rooms you said belonged to Betrice into an office but the rest will be period. It should take me about two or three years to complete then I will sell it and move on. Unless of course I become bored. That has happened a time or two as well."

"It's a lot of money for a hobby." Judy looked skeptical.

"Four hundred seventy five thousand [€340K] was the asking price?" Adam asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, but I know Judge Clement. He is the executor and will take four [€280K]." She said then covered her mouth as she realized that seventy five thousand [€60K] in sales would go out of her cut.

"Judy," Adam sighed, "you will never make a good real estate agent." He shot her a grin. "But you do seem resourceful and you know a lot of people in town."

"Resourceful you get from raising a boy on your own." She shrugged. "Knowing people you get from living in a small college town your whole life. I chose real estate because my father was a carpenter here in town and I know all of the locals in the trades."

"A good electrician?" Adam asked hopefully.

"Most are not." Judy shrugged. "I can get you Andy though. If you don't mind rude old men he is the best of the best and he was the one who actually helped shut down the estate when Betrice died. He's officially retired but will do it for me."

"See." Adam spread his hands open in benediction. "Like I said, resourceful and connected. So as soon as this deal closes I will be happy to offer you a position as my personal assistant. Fifty thousand [€35K] sound like a good base pay? Bonus's will depend on performance."

"I…" Judy stammered "Well, I don't know… I…"

"Accept would be a good word." Adam laughed. "But think it over. We are still buyer and seller and I can't hire you till the deal is over. Now why don't you get that paperwork together. Write it up for four twenty five [€300K]." He glanced at an old fashioned pocket watch he kept in his jeans. "It's now four sharp. Any chance we can get it to this Judge before he leaves for the day?"

"Pretty good!"Judy laughed this time. "He would be one of your new neighbors. He'll be home at 5:10 sharp and I will be on his doorstep."

"Perfect." Adam rose up. "I'll take a look upstairs while you get the paperwork. Then I will look through the attic and cellar with Eric while you take the paperwork over. Once it is signed I better find my hotel and get cleaned up. Oh, and you should give me directions to this Lobster Hut."

"Oh you don't need to do that." She shook her head. "It's small town but it's expensive. We could do a pizza and Eric would be just as happy."

"No he wouldn't," Adam said seriously. "Plus I made a promise."

He stood up and left before she could say another word.

The upstairs was as much of a joy as the downstairs. Oh some idiot had run a hole in the floor for the old color television's antenna in one room and another had decided to dismantle a section of the bathroom for a new tub but it was nothing that couldn't be repaired. In fact the bathroom would be one of the few other exceptions to his plans. Hot water and a good soak were essentials and you could modernize and stay period if you took the time and enough tile. Adam had seen more than a few sunken tubs done by rich people in the late 1800's. Plus there was a second bathroom just off the main bedroom and that one screamed to be modernized.

Eric joined him just as he opened the door up to the attic. The boy looked worried and had the cell phone extended.

"Some guy named Doug," Eric looked worried, "he sounds mad."

Adam sighed. That would be Doug. Worried and therefore mad.

"No problem." Adam reassured the boy. "Why don't you see what's up there while I take the call."

Eric seemed eager to get the phone out of his hands and explore. At least the quick way he turned on the flashlight and the speed up the stairs gave that impression.

"Doug." Adam took a deep breath again.

"Not a penny more than a million two [€850K]." Doug growled instantly. "I have Carmina drooling over the computer but her best estimate is no more than a hundred fifty for the furniture. And the house is going to cost you a bundle just to move in," he paused, "and why did a little boy answer the phone? No, don't answer that!"

"He was the one taking the pictures," Adam answered anyway. It was after all easier than letting Doug speculate about prison sentences and legal loopholes and payoffs to angry parents. "Eric is the real estate agent's son. A very nice boy."

"Send a picture. CLOTHED!" Doug snorted on the other end of the line. "Now tell me you listened to me and it's no more than a million two."

"Four hundred twenty five [€300K] if the first offer goes through." Adam chuckled and heard Doug swear in disbelief.

"A steal?" Doug was in shock. "From you? I take it back. Buy. And do it fast before they think enough to get an appraiser on site."

"Way ahead of you." Adam agreed. "I am going to be doing my share to close immediately. You just make sure the staff is on call tonight."

"Ben will be staying at the office." Which meant that Doug's young lover was personally committed to the deal. Which in turn meant that holy hell would break loose the second anyone in the firm or out messed with it running smoothly. Ben was ruthlessly efficient.

"Excellent." Adam offered gratefully. "Now if you will excuse me I have a nice young boy waiting to explore an attic."

"As your lawyer and friend…" Doug began but Adam just laughed and shut the cell.

The attic was a disappointment. Empty, dusty and hot in the afternoon heat. Structurally sound, which was good, with only two places where you could see light through the slate roof. A piece of Adam regretted that as Eric looked disappointed.

The cellar was no better. There were a couple of work benches and it looked like the foundation leaked a bit but nothing of value or interest had been stored there. Eric looked disappointed again.

"Well, I guess the owners just weren't pack rats." Adam tried to ease the boy's mood.

"I figured it would be as crammed as the barn." Eric offered and Adam raised an eye.

"Mom calls it a Carriage House." Eric lead the way back up the stairs. "It's in the back. Lots of us play there, it's full of old furniture and boxes and stuff. Want to see?"

"I'll take your word for it." Adam glanced at his watch. Judy was due back any minute. "Anything else I should know before I buy this place?"

"Well." Eric sat on the top step. "Mom's book on Real Estate says she has to tell you everything so you should know a real bad guy built the house so it's haunted. And it's really dangerous behind the barn. There's a lot of glass and a big hole in the ground. Bart says it used to be a pool with a glass building over it. Like a greenhouse. Now it's just a bunch of trees. Oh, and you should know that Kevin and his guys hang out in the old orchards. They won't let anyone else in to pick berries either." Eric rubbed his chin in thought. "School taxes are real high, that's what my mom's boyfriend Ken says anyway. He's a cop and knows karate."

"I see." Adam smiled at the boy's concentration.

"I cut through here on the way to school sometimes." Eric shrugged, "mom doesn't like it but it means I don't have to go past Kevin's house. He… doesn't like me."

There was a lot in that statement and Adam did not pry. Besides Judy chose that minute to come shouting into the house.

"SIGNED!" She almost danced at they met in the main hallway with her waving a paper. "Judge Clement was thrilled. He even used his home fax to send the copy to your lawyers."

"With the immediate possession clause?" Adam asked quickly.

"With the clause." She nodded happy to please him. "Though I doubt you want to camp out here tonight!"

"Probably." Adam laughed. "Though I do have to get cleaned up for this Lobster Hut."

Eric cheered and Adam got a very spontaneous hug. Now that was nice and he tried to count dead chickens to take his mind off how nice.

Instead he glanced at the watch again.

Six fifteen.

"We better lock up." He said regretfully. "I need to find the hotel and get cleaned up. I'll meet you at the Lobster Hut at 8:30?" Judy nodded. "Oh, and is that idiot 'mart open till midnight? I'll need some things." Again she nodded and Adam started to lock up. She had just handed him the key when her own cell rang.

"Hello?" She asked tentatively. "Yes, sir. An hour ago. Four twenty five. No, sir. No, sir. I am sorry but… No… Well of course I will as soon as… It went on for a full minute as the sound of a man's voice became louder and louder. Judy was just about in tears but what really pissed Adam off was the embarrassed and worried look on Eric's face. It was enough.

He reached out without permission and took the phone.

"This is Adam Carter." He did not wait for a reply. "I will assume you are looking to get into a pissing match with me over the purchase of this house. Fine. My lawyers will be calling you within an hour. I suggest you use the time to decide to back down because if you are still creating a problem for either me or Ms. Manson you are going regret it."

"Who?… How dare you… I want to see you in the morning." Came the stuttered and fuming reply.

"Whatever." Adam closed the phone and handed it back to the wide eyed Judy.

"I think my job offer trumps his?" Adam grinned.

"Looks like." Judy looked skeptical. Eric looked wildly impressed and Adam was again counting dead chickens, this time in oceans of rotting cabbage. Hell, it worked.

Chapter Two

"Cool house." Was Ben's first comment on the phone. "Can I come out to visit?"

"Any time Ben." Adam laughed then got serious. "The Real Estate agencies owner, Symansky is being a pain. We still have Carlson on the payroll?"

"Yup, he's out on the island now but I can give him a call." Ben offered almost eager for the fight. Carlson was an ex marine, a very nasty lawyer and a man who specialized in making intimidating people feel less intimidating.

"Stick him on a plane." Adam decided he did not want to waste time.

"Yes, sir." Ben said with a note of satisfaction. Ben had issues with bullies, well anyone who messed with Adam or Doug anyway. "How nasty?"

"Whatever it takes." Adam shrugged. "Now I also need a truck. You know my tastes. Have it delivered to the house around noon."

"Can do." Ben replied.

"And you get to play." Ben was a horrible addict for technology of all sorts. "I'll need to set up an office and my bedroom. A flat screen in each. Trick out the entertainment systems as you see fit and make sure I have everything I need in the office. The house is a wreck so you have a week to deliver."

"Cool."Adam could almost hear the eagerness.

"Your butt won't be if Doug checks the receipts." Adam warned him.

"Then I won't show him." Ben said smuggly. "Or maybe I will."

Adam rolled his eyes and hung up. Time to get into a nice pair of slacks and air flight wrinkled shirt for Lobster Hut.

Every small college town had to have a least two good places to eat. One was bound to be just a dive with good food and cheap prices. That was where the locals would eat, the college kids would be expected to eat the garbage at higher prices from trendy little shops or chain burger joints. The other would be expensive. Someplace where you could take the date you were trying to impress or the one you were trying to make up with. Good food was optional there but if it wanted to stay in business in the off seasons it had to have some other draw other than linen tableclothes and wine on the beer list.

Lobster Hut had pretensions of filling that last slot. The Italian spot two doors down had it locked up but the owners here tried desperately to make a go for it and it showed. Adam was met by a nice enough looking college student working as part time door host and escorted to a very nice table in the corner right under the impressively stuffed swordfish and looking across at the semi enclosed bar area. Judy looked good in a dress that at least had the good graces to be simple and Eric was wearing dress slacks and a black shirt. The boy barely looked up from a menu full of seafood.

"Is he going to drool?" Adam asked as he sat down.

"Probably." Judy rolled her eyes. "Be warned he will try to order a whole lobster if you let him."

"Can I?" Eric perked up quickly.

"Don't see why not." Adam shrugged and motioned over to the waitress. Letting the guests talk over the menu was nice but Adam preferred to get to the point of eating. "Judy?"

"Shrimp and a salad." She picked then hesitated "And a glass of white wine."

Adam glanced over at Eric then winked.

"Two lobster dinners. Put a side of crab and shrimp on as well. Fries I think and a Molsen." Adam glanced over at his wide eyed dinner companion. "I don't suggest the Molsen, Coke OK?"

Eric giggled and nodded vigorously.

"Whole lobsters?" The waitress looked skeptically at Eric.

"Yes." Adam's tone hardened.

"Yes, sir." she walked away.

"Mr. Symansky called me back at home." Judy offered as they waited for dinner.

"Mom quit." Eric said proudly. "She called him a…"

"Mr. Carter does not need to know that word, Eric," his mother cut in firmly. "And yes I did quit. He is threatening to withhold my share of the commission," she paused. "He is also going to have the building inspector at the house in the morning. Fred McLeon is his cousin and Symansky also sits on the town board so expect him to be looking for code violations and refuse to issue permits."

"Really?" Adam decided to have two beers tonight and not to get as pissed as he really wanted to be. "Well we'll see about that in the morning. Did your electrician friend confirm a time?"

"Knowing Andy it will be seven am. Certainly no later than eight." Judy replied quickly as the waitress appeared with salads. "You are not worried about Mr. Symansky?"

"I am more worried about the list I have of things for my new assistant to do." Adam looked down at the iceberg lettuce and frowned. Oh well, civilization would arrive some day. "I'll have a list for you in the morning. We'll start with cleaning supplies and a few groceries. I'll take care of hardware needs myself."

"Can I help?" Eric added eagerly. Adam glanced over and saw that the mix on the boy's face was a combination of not wanting to be left out of the conversation and eagerness to hang out. Plus there was a distinct note of expectation that he would be told no that bordered on desperation. Wonder where that kind of self esteem thrashing had come from?

"Friday is a school day." Judy shook her head firmly. "Once you are done with school and homework you may help if Mr. Carter wants you to."

Again that expectant look.

"Well." Adam hammed it up a bit. "I expect hard work, I pay in pizza, soda and other assorted goodies and I am not above blistering your butt if you do anything I tell you not to."

Judy rolled her eyes but Eric visibly swallowed.

"Oh, I doubt you will need that." She tousled her son's hair. "Not that I would object if he really needed it. I haven't been the type to spare the wooden spoon a workout when he was younger. But overall Eric is a very well behaved boy. Plus paying off in pizza might fatten him up a bit. He eats like a bird!"

"Mom!" Eric complained.

"We can work on that." Adam enjoyed the boy's discomfort. "I have mentored a few boys and I tend to be rather hard on them when it comes to things like hygiene, diet and exercise. I understand you're dating a police officer into karate. Perhaps between the two of us we can get Eric interested."

"Ken has tried." Judy sounded a bit frustrated and Eric was suddenly studying the table cloth. "I am afraid Eric has not shown much interest."

"We'll see." Adam put it off as the food arrived.

Say what you want about eating like a bird but sparrow was certainly not the proper type when referring to Eric and his lobster eating habits. Vulture came to mind or perhaps one of those pelicans who could eat a fish as big as they were. Eric ate every scrap of the lobster, the dozen shrimp on the side and all three crab legs. He also did a fair job on the fries. He was however both bloated and in a little pain and notably refused to even consider desert.

"He'll be fine." Judy assured him after Adam had paid the bill and they had eased Eric into the side seat of the Volvo. "See you in the morning Adam."

Adam was feeling a bit too much of the beer and food himself and decided to suffer through a night in a motel. Thank goodness that it at least had a wake up service.

Chapter Three

"Adam Carter I take it." The guy came up the steps and handed Adam the board. "Andy Masterson. Information is on the top of the billing. You fill it out and I verify the credit card then we talk. It's two hundred [€150] for me driving out here but that covers the first two hours work as well. After that it's fifty [€35] an hour and that includes time if I have to go for parts. I'll bill you for those separately."

Adam liked Andy Masterson instantly. His attitude would piss a lot of people off but it was nice to deal with a direct man for once. Most of the contractors were compulsive about wanting to make friends with the client first. Some idiot idea from business school. Adam signed the agreement and handed over his card to verify the numbers.

"Good." Andy said in satisfaction. "Judy said you need the electric turned on. Since I turned it off when I was 18 and worried every second that old man Tankers was going to beat me half to death if I got it wrong I guess I can turn it on fairly quick. I'll want to check wires first though, unless you want to take the risk?"

"Of burning the place down because a squirrel made a nest we were to lazy to look for?" Adam snorted. "Take your time."

Andy nodded in satisfaction as if Adam had passed some kind of a test.

"What's your opinion of the heater?" Andy asked in the same 'I am testing you kid' tone.

"Piece of crap." Adam said promptly. "And no I don't want it turned on. Nothing wrong with a chill at night. If you want the job of replacing it I am open to bids but not one mention of changing the ducts. The house stays period."

"Then you would talk about putting the hot water heaters back in place of the forced air?" Andy took a long drink of the coffee.

"Talk yes." Adam told him "But I am not going to tear any more holes in the floors or walls."

"Anything else you want in the bid?"

"I am not a technophobe." Adam grinned. "Spend what you need to but I want an on demand hot water unit and I will be setting up an office in what I am told is Betrice's room."

"I don't do plumbing much." Andy shrugged. "I'll do the work but I am not an expert."

"I can do my share." Adam replied liking his honesty. "Between the two of us we should manage. Oh, and I do all the carpentry and restoration work myself. Though I may want a subcontractor for the offices and kitchen."

Andy nodded again and stepped past Adam on his way into the house. Adam expected a tool box at least but all the guy had with him was a tool belt. Two minutes later they were in the basement and Adam was standing well back from the fuse box.

"Bit old fashioned." Andy looked the box over with a flashlight tucked under his chin and an odd looking box in another. "I'll give you a quote for a new one. Wouldn't be running any major stuff on something this old." Andy took a battery out of his belt and put it into the box. "The man I learned to do this from was named Wendal Tankers. Bitch to work for and I have a scar on the back of my head to prove it. But also a genius when it comes to electric. Taught me this when I was 18. The battery is fresh and supplies just enough current to feed the system and register on the meter. If it registers then the lines are exactly as I left them. If not then some fucking squirrel or rat had a time on them and I go hunting."

Adam nodded but came no closer. One and only one thing intimidated him in house work.

"Damn." Andy tossed the box to the side. "Off to work. You might as well go do whatever it was you were going to do. Finding a gnawed line in a house this big is a pain in the ass. I'll give it two hours and then I recommend if I can't find it you let me run new lines. Probably better for some rooms anyway."

Adam nodded and went back upstairs.

A parade arrived an hour later. Judy in her Volvo loaded down with cleaning supplies she had snagged from her house and a very much needed container of coffee.

"Perfect." Adam sipped from a crystal goblet as she had not remembered to bring cups. He took a deep breath and pulled out the list from his pocket along with a credit card. "Now here's the first list. In addition to cleaning supplies we'll need a vacuum cleaner and don't cheap out on it. I will probably wear the poor thing out in a week. Also I have a list of groceries on the back. I measured the bed upstairs and it's a queen so I'll need a complete set or two. Bath towels and stuff as well. I suspect we can salvage the comforters so check with the local dry cleaner and see what they say. That should take till at least noon then stop back for lunch and we can take it from there."

Judy's eyes went as large as her son's had over lobster at the size of the workload but she barely paused before taking the shopping list and heading out. Which meant she almost backed into the black SUV pulling into the driveway. There was that usual confusion of who's leaving who needs to move and finally the SUV pulled up behind Andy's van. Andy who had come out for some wire and a quick hello to Judy looked up but did not look pleased.

Adam took a look at the plastic ID in the pocket and figured it was the building inspector.

"You can stop work now Andy." The guy stated as he walked up to the van. "I haven't issued a building permit."

Adam walked up and was about to open his mouth but Andy laughed.

"So." The old man pulled out a cigar and lighter. "You better go read the damned code. I don't need one unless I do structural changes. Which I ain't doing today."

"The code says a…"

"Qualified Electrician is needed to inspect all homes before power is restored if the home has been unoccupied for more than one year." Andy lit the cigar. "I wrote that myself after the Paisley house fire killed those two little girls back in '79. You're not claiming I am unqualified are you, Fred McLeon. Because if you are then a lot of people are going to laugh at you."

"No. Andy I am not that stupid." McLeon turned a bit red in frustration. "But you know perfectly well that if I look around for five minutes I am going to find a reason to shut you down so you might as well stop work till this guy gets a judge to give him his permits."

"And why should I have to do that Fred?" Adam had to give the portly middle aged man behind them credit. He may have been dressing in bath robe and slippers but he had arrived quietly enough not to be noticed and had the tone of voice of a particularly nasty drill instructor Adam remembered unfondly.

"Judge Clement." McLeon swallowed like a gull with a bone in its throat. "I am sorry sir. I just heard from Councilman Symansky that someone had bought the house and he was concerned that everything be in order."

"It is." Clement had a square jaw and it was set with an impressive set of muscles which were working overtime. "You may remember that I am executor of the Willington estate and I signed the sale with Mr. Carter here yesterday. He has immediate occupancy rights and I see no reason he should not begin repairs pending the filing of sale later today. Frankly he was very generous in his offer and I will be very pleased to inform the school of the sale as they are the primary beneficiary. You do still sit on the board don't you Fred?"

"Why yes." Fred now blinked like an owl.

"Good then you will agree that it is in our best interest if Mr. Carter gets local help and not hindrance in his efforts." It was a statement not a question.

Fred looked confused then took a deep breath.

"I am responsible to assure that all the codes are met sir," he said at last and Clement did not look at all pleased.

"I see." Clement glared at him. "Then I suggest you get moving and do an immediate full tour of the property. I will expect all code violations to be on my desk by noon for review. I am also giving a verbal waver till I have a chance to do the review."

Adam blinked this time. His law degree screamed all kinds of warnings about judicial procedures.

"Oh, don't worry." Clement seemed to read his mind. "It may not be good legal form but no one in their right mind is going to give me a hard time over it." He turned to Andy. "I suggest you take a few minutes and follow Fred around, I may need an expert opinion and you were in charge of building codes way before Fred."

"Sure." Andy seemed to be enjoying the cigar a lot now and motioned for Fred to lead the way though he did manage a word for Adam on the way past. "I am still on the clock bud."

"Judge Clement." Adam finally had the chance to offer the man an introduction. "Adam Carter. I would like to thank you for that."

"Why." Clement shrugged. "Pure self interest. That money is going to do wonders for our school and frankly the renovations will drive you up a tax notch or two which won't hurt either." He paused. "Plus when Judy came charging up to me while I was walking the dog she had the most adorable look on her face. Mostly outrage. So I just had to come see what all the fuss was about." He turned to look at the yard. "You're not going to touch the trees are you? I love those trees."

"No sir." Adam assured him, "the oaks stay. Just the brush will have to go."

"Good." Clement shook his hand again. "Any problems with Fred and you call me. I'll have his court ordered building permits done by my secretary before the end of the day."

Adam shook his head as the man walked away. Perhaps he wouldn't need his own hatchets after all.

The rest of the morning went fairly well. The carriage house beckoned but Adam put that off in favor of borrowing a ladder from Andy and pulling off the plywood covering the windows. It was a hot enough day to be shirtless and therefore earn a few scratches from old nails but the downstairs was complete and he had just started the second floor when Judy pulled up with her car overloaded with bags. Which reminded him, he had a car due to be delivered. Past due.

Judy was busy on unloading and he made a quick call.

"Ben, where's my truck." He said sharply. It was not like Ben to forget these things.

"What!" Was the instant answer. "I'll call you back in fifteen minutes Adam, I promise!"

"Nice shade of blue." Adam commented at the bedding as he helped carry the bags up the stairs to the master bedroom.

"I thought so." She obviously did not understand humor. The blue was way to dark for the room. It was a good thing he considered these purchases to be strictly utilitarian. "Besides it was the only color that was even close on the shelves."

So maybe he would forgive her. If of course no one he liked had to see them.

"The light helps," she said as she pulled back the drapes from the newly unboarded windows. It was a nice move but raising the windows only produced a pleasant spring breeze that did ugly things to dust on floors. "Ooops," she said as they both coughed. "Well I guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon. Dust removal with your new vacuum."

Adam nodded emphatically and went back to the ladder for more window assaults. He was up the first rung when Ben called back.

"I am having a car driven out to you from Tyler Port." Ben said indignantly. "It's the next major town over and it will arrive around four. The two local dealers in that town have suddenly decided that they didn't have a vehicle on the lot after all."

"I see." Adam gritted his teeth. "Make sure you let Carlson know. When is he due in?"

"Three days." Adam withheld the explosion and let Ben explain. "He said to tell you to keep a lid on it, Adam. It seems working with a small town big shot is not the same as working with one in a major city. Carlson needs contacts and paperwork and that takes time. He says he will be there Monday morning and this Symansky will then stop being a pain."

"OK." Adam decided he could put up with anything for a weekend. Especially with building permits in hand so he went back to work on the windows.

He had just finished the last one when Andy came up to the foot of the ladder with Eric tagging along happily.

"I'm ready to work!" Eric exclaimed eagerly.

"And I need supplies." Andy grumbled. "You have to sign at the hardware store to open an account."

"Well, we'll need help loading." Adam winked at Andy. "And I suspect we should take an eager worker."

"Whatever." Andy snorted and pulled out another cigar as he walked to his van. "Eric tell your mother you're with us."

Chapter Four

"So you're the guy I'm not supposed to do business with." Petersen was as friendly a character as Andy was gruff.

"Something I should know?" Adam asked calmly.

"Something that ain't exactly a secret." Petersen laughed openly. "Symansky has walked the entire business district telling wild tales about you're stealing the Willington Estate and that you are going to turn it into some kind of hospital for mentally ill patients. Of course he told Elly that it was that, he told me you are homosexual. Not that I'd care mind you. Got a gay nephew, best one I got."

Adam gritted his teeth.

"Fat lot of good it did him." Petersen laughed. "Symansky sold out the old time business's when he voted for the zoning for those big warehouse stores at the edge of town. Cut my business to less than half the first year. Only reason most of us survive is because we give better service and will settle for making a living over making a profit. You want hardware you come see me, lumber you see Ted down the street. Anything else you ask and we'll point you to the right place."

"Thankyou." Adam held out a handshake of friendship. "It seems we'll be needing a bit of that help. Andy says I need to set up an account?"

"Yup." Petersen pulled out a rough looking form. Probably done on a home computer. "For contractors I ask for a hundred dollar [€70] purchase the first time, plus this paperwork. That way I know the card works all right. After that I run it whenever you send Andy over for supplies. You get a complete invoice at the end of every month, we go over it together. Warehouse won't do that."

Adam nodded and filled out the form. He was about half done when he saw Petersen glance over at Eric for the third or fourth time.

"Your kid?" Petersen asked.

"For the day." Adam shrugged then looked over at Eric again. Old but functional jeans a size too small for him already and a faded school shirt. Plus sneakers that certainly did not belong on a construction site. "I take it that corner of clothes has his size." Adam motioned to the wall that held assorted rough clothing. Not the type fashion dictated but the kind you bought kids who had to work at chores.

"Certain it does." Petersen almost grinned. "Not much call for it but a few families still run real farms and want rugged jeans for boys so I carry them."

"You said to run up a first bill." Adam nodded to Eric. "Andy is still loading wire with your help so why not outfit Eric. Boots, jeans, a few heavy weight t-shirts."

"Works for me." Petersen went over to Eric who looked skeptical then shot Adam a wide grin. Adam decided that sticking around hoping for a shot of skin while the boy tried on jeans was a bad bad idea and went to see how Andy was making out.

Another of those college kid part timers by the looks of it, this time not looking happy as Andy kept adding to the things going in the van.

"No," Andy snapped as the kid put a coil of wire in the van. "I said two hundred feet of 110, that's only fifty. And no, two fifties is not enough, you lift more than that working out so go get it."

The kid opened his mouth to say something but Andy gave him a look that said he double dared him and the kid left.

"Needs a belt on his butt." Andy stated and Adam almost bit his tongue in reply.

By tradition he would normally be trolling for a nice twinky college boy as soon as class started for exactly that purpose. From the cute look of the jock who worked here part time he would easily qualify.

"I'm going for the rewire." Andy cut into his thoughts. "Since the house was originally gas the wiring was secondary and will come out with a good yank, no wall damage. I pulled one section already and it was torn in three places. Fire waiting to happen."

"I'll need light tonight." Adam sighed and looked around the shop.

"You'd go broke on batteries and I see no reason for Petersen to sell you that overpriced generator he has up front." Andy shrugged. "I'll have the punk add a gallon of kerosene and you can use the lamps."

"Lamps." Adam remembered the entire cabinet of them in the back room of the upstairs guest room.

"I was just a kid when Betrice had her last Christmas party. One of Willingtons old traditions, hosting a party at Christmas for all the local kids. Real big deal back in the twenties when the old man was alive I hear. She always had the house decked out in kerosene lamps, claimed electric would scare away Santa." Andy laughed then looked sad. "Had to be ninety at the time. Sweet old crone unless you said a word about her uncle"

"The original owner?" Adam was intrigued. He was hearing these odd details but had so far only been interested in the house. Oh, and the neighbor boy.

"Figured no one would say a word." Andy laughed as they watched the jock struggle with a huge coil of wire. "More than a bit of a scandal. And no not the original owner. That would be Winton Willington, rich old man who made a fortune selling something or the other to someone and then wanted a nice small town to retire to. He built the house in 1895 and it cost him almost what you paid for it today. Actually had to built the quarry for the stone himself and he made quiet a bit on it."

"But anyway, Old Winton was an eccentric times ten. Nothing ever proven but it's he who started the Christmas party for kids and he also had a habit of taking pictures of local boys. People thought he was a harmless old man. He left almost ten grand to the school when he died in 1920 so people wouldn't say much bad even if they thought it."

"Now his adopted son, Phil was another story. He was Betrice's beloved Uncle and quiet the opposite." Andy looked over a list the loading boy gave him and crossed an item out. "Nowadays they'd throw away the key on that one. He not only liked taking pictures of boys, he liked nude ones and more than a few boys made money at his house. He put in a big huge pool in the back in 1921 and that was quiet an attraction. Started the first school swim team. If it wasn't for his money and his friends he would have been in jail a dozen times over though. He died back in 1952 when I was seven."

"Ever meet him?" Adam asked with interest.

"Nope." Andy sent the boy for another item. "Knew more than a few men and boys who did though. And you may not approve but I'll tell you this, every single one of them loved that old pervert. Had a friend of mine Clark, he was twelve and got caught breaking into a local store. Willington bailed him out only to take a belt to him so bad he had to be in bed for a month. I saw Clark punch a guy out for calling Willington a faggot."

Andy shrugged.

"Betrice was his only relative and don't ask me how you get Uncle from someone who had no other relatives. It's in the records so it's what we accepted." Andy glared at the kid who went back for another item with a resigned look on his face. "She took over the house in '52 and managed to keep up the Christmas parties till she was too old for it. She left the house to the school on condition that it remain sealed for fifty years. Weird stipulation but it stuck for the most part. Clement did a bit of legal mumbo jumbo to make the years turn out right last year when the estate could no longer pay the taxes."

"I had the feeling he was a bit… creative." Adam offered

"A bit." Andy conceded and nodded that he was finally happy with the overloaded van. "Honest as you can get but pretty creative. It's why we keep electing him. Anyway we are all wondering at what point you find old man Willingtons stash of dirty pictures. Make a hell of a story and everyone wants to know if their granpa or great grampa is in them."

Adam laughed. As if he would share.

He glanced at his watch. Time to get a boy back for dinner.

Two hours later Andy was gone and Judy was cleaning up pizza boxes as Eric helped Adam fill the last of the kerosene lanterns.

"You're really staying here?" Eric asked for the third time. He seemed impressed.

"Sure am."Adam repeated.

"Think you will see a ghost?"

"Nope." Adam smiled.

"I bet you see a ghost."

Judy came in glancing at her watch.

"If we don't get home you may get to see the ghost yourself. And we have a long day Saturday, my new boss doesn't give me Saturday off, so you work too."

Eric suddenly looked thoughtful.

"If I stayed here I could see a ghost and be all ready in the morning." He offered hopefully.

Judy glanced at Adam who took a deep breath and did exactly what he did not want to do.

"Sorry sport," he tousled the boy's head. "No electric and no water. No electric and it's just a camp out and I'd say yes. But no water means no bath and I don't let stinky boys in my house after dark."

"Stinky?" Eric's eyes went large in outrage.

"Definitely stinky." Adam held his nose to much laughter. "I have a couple of gallons of water that will keep me from drawing flies till Andy turns the power on but I don't want to smell you as well as me."

"Can I stay over once the power is on?" Eric asked and Adam shot Judy a glance. She did not know what she was setting in motion with that nod but Adam took the plunge.

"Eric." He said seriously. "If you stay with me then you will follow my rules. All of them. Make sure you really want to do that and if the answer is in your heart to say that you will listen to me like you would your own father then the answer is yes, you may spend the night any time you wish."

There he had done due diligence and warned them both. Admittedly he had not come right out and say "I am your friendly neighbor who would like to turn your child into an obedient sex slave" but the implications were there. Don't come if you aren't willing to go further. He had learned a long time ago that the path to obedience started with a small step of accepting someone else had authority over you.

He spent the evening looking through the library. Lots of books on nature and plants. Quiet a few surprise books on medicine and a shelf of books on herbal properties. Not one sign of a book with even a hint of a picture of a boy. No matter, if the stash existed he would run across it sooner or later. Besides it gave him something to do other than think about the neighbor boy and how he would look in a leather harness strapped to a bed with lube coating his… enough of that. He had managed not to jerk off to that image for two days now and promised he would restrain himself. Another part of him told him he was being retarded and to get it over with.

"Ben," he said into the phone just before turning out the light. "Where's my truck?"

"What!" Ben exclaimed again.

"That reply is getting old." Adam warned him. "Figure it out and have a truck here by noon or I take a hand in it myself." He hung up.

Chapter Five

"Electric will be up by noon." Andy headed for the house. "You going to have the hot water ready?"

Adam thought about it.

"Plumbing yes.I will have to replace some lead later but it will hold for the basics. How we get electric to run the well pump or gas for the water heater I don't know. Did you call the utility company or do we wait till Monday?" Which meant he was going back to motel tonight. Failure to bathe was not an option even if it meant motel ugly.

"Not a problem. My nephew will be out this afternoon when I call him." Andy waved it off. "Works for the Company and owes me his college education. Least he can do is put down the channel changer and turn on the gas. Electric I'll do and he'll just sign off on it."

"Good." Adam walked him back to the basement where they each had work. "I like plumbing as a job but I would much prefer to be able to take a crack at the front yard. A good chainsaw would do wonders to that brush."

"You going to do the landscaping as well?" Andy asked as he leaned into the box again.

"A lot of it." Adam set out his welding tools. Sweating pipes was more fun then running modern day plastic. "I'll cut brush but I'll need a mulcher and I never did like planting flower beds."

"Got a name if you want." Andy offered then swore as some wire offended him and got hit with a wrench. "Claire Benet, and if you think I'm rough you wait till she shows up. Butch dyke lesbian so I hope you don't mind. Best gardener in the county though."

Adam paused. He should probably wait till after the electric was turned on but it was the right time so fuck it.

"No problem."He tried to sound casual. "It's not like I'm straight."

"True." Andy shocked him. "But I figured you aught to know she carries it like a chip."

"So you're not surprised?" In Adam's history people were usually shocked. The masculine type who enjoyed karate, was an ex marine and worked on old houses was not their idea of gay.

"Adam." Andy still had his head in wires. "I am old not blind. You just about devoured that poor punk at Petersens and you can't keep your eyes off Eric's butt. If I had to bet I would say you prefer the later but would settle for the former."

Adam was silent. Partially through shock. No one read him so easily.

"Oh get a grip and weld a pipe." Andy finally looked up with a glare. "Hurt that boy and I'll bury the parts of you left over in every sewer I can find. Otherwise I think it would do you both good. Kids as gay as you are if you haven't noticed. Besides somewhere up there Willington is laughing his ass off that you bought his house."

Which seemed to be the cue for Judy to shout down the stairs that coffee and donuts had arrived along with cleaning crew for the day.

Noteworthy events included: A blue and white marble found under a dresser in Adam's room. It went promptly into Eric's pocket. A rather earth shattering scream and attendant panic when Judy put her hand in a nest of baby mice under the bathroom toilet in Betrice's old rooms. A solid and very colorful round of cursing when Andy found himself two feet short on wire for the upstairs bedroom. And one very loud shout of Adam's name from the front yard.

"Mr. Symansky." Eric whispered helpfully from where he was holding a flashlight for a last weld on the drinking water line. Adam insisted on new lines for everything that carried drinking water. The rest were good with a pressure test. Adam finished the weld and turned off the torch.

The man on his front steps was overweight by about seventy or eighty pounds [30-35 kg] of pure blubber in all the wrong places. His hair was an odd mix of plugs and pattern balding and his suit was an expensively tailored monstrosity of pinstripe blue that was definitely not a spring weight. Add the 'I am so mad at you I am already red' look on his face and then top off the whole thing with designer glasses, black with a lime green stripe down the sides. Adam took a double take and decided neither laughing nor turning his back on the man was going to help.

"Yes?" He asked coldly. No reason to be polite after all.

"I am Mr. Symansky, you and I have business to discuss." The man almost spat it out as a challenge. Which was also amusing as it made Adam run through the twelve different ways he would take down a pile of lard without breaking an hand.

"Actually we do," he admitted. "I have a lawyer by the name of Carlson who should be contacting you for an appointment on Monday. Till then I suggest we refrain from antagonizing each other."

"Oh, you've already antagonized me, Carter." Symansky pushed. He was obviously the type of bully who liked to work himself up to a rage. "You are not doing business in this town without me getting a cut. I don't care who you are in the city but here you work through me, is that clear you little faggot?"

Now why did he have to say that? And why when Eric was three feet away hiding by the door hoping no one noticed him. You certainly did not set a good example for a boy by hiding or lying though so here goes.

"I take it you have problems with me being gay." Adam told him loud enough to be heard inside. "Tough. Now do you have anything else other than a corrupt building inspector and a bunch of your business friends?"

"How dare you!" Symansky took another step up the porch. "You will watch your tone with me and you will not libel my friends. You know people around here get upset with people like you moving in Carter. All kinds of things happen. They don't do business with them is just one example. You know there was a guy named Peck who killed a little girl. House burned down."

"Really." Adam kept his tone cold. Doug would slice long bloody strips off his back if he got into a threatening match with Symansky. Still a bit to impress the locals was called for. "You know we have almost forty eight hours till that meeting Mr. Symansky. I suggest you do a background check on me. Hire someone good as the others will find nothing. Certainly someone better than the idiot who told you it was OK to send your secretary to show a half million dollar estate. When they are done checking me out ask them if it is really a good idea to be in a pissing match with me. Because if you are going for me I will be coming for you Mr. Symansky. Now get off my property before I call a cop and have you arrested for trespassing."

"How dare you, you fucking fag…"

Adam had his cell out and open.

"Ask for Ken, he hates Symansky," came a very helpful young voice from around the door.

Symansky visibly shook himself and stepped back.

"Monday." He waved a finger in Adam's direction the looked at the door. "And I hear my nephew Kevin is looking for you Eric Manson. I am sure you'll meet before school."

Now that was just nasty and Adam heard a moan of worry behind the door. It was very very tempting to go beat the lardass to death with his own arm. Unfortunately there were witnesses, including a judge who just happened to be walking a rather nice looking beagle by the front gate.

"Eric." Adam walked back into the house and looked down at the boy. "Three things."

Eric looked like he was in a bit of shock but was listening.

"One." Adam held up a finger. "Yes I am gay. Either deal with it or not it's up to you."

"Two." Another digit. "I think it is time for a bite to eat and I have a brand new truck out back. I suggest ice cream if you'd run up and tell your mother where we are going."

Eric was already halfway up the stairs when he turned around.

"What's three?" He asked eagerly.

"Oh, it's for you to remind me to get the gate fixed. It seems that open gates let in any fat tub of lard who wants to pester you."

Judy came down the stairs before Eric.

"I take it you heard the drama." Adam offered.

"Yup." She suddenly hugged him which turned out to be a reason to whisper in his ear. "We will talk but Eric is on his way in a second. Just know that I have no problem with gay men and I think you are a wonderful influence on my son. I have a date tonight and if you still want to do the sleepover nothing has changed in my mind in the slightest."

Adam returned the hug and went to take a boy for chocolate.

Chocolate looked good on a ten year old. Assorted smudges on the chin and a very large splash staining a previously white t-shirt were fitting symbols of an afternoon well spent in Adam's opinion. One shared by a smiling boy riding happily in the passenger seat of a black pick up so new it still smelled like a new car and had only one chocolate stain on its seat.

"So." Adam broached the topics of interest on their way back. The way out having been filled with directions to the absolute best ice cream stand in Eric's opinion and assorted nasty comments about Mr. Symansky's weight. "Do we talk about me being gay or whatever problem you are having with young Kevin?"

Happy boy turned into studious observer of local sidewalks.

"Ah." Adam commented. "The 'I don't want to talk about it' look out the window silent treatment. Won't work."

Silence.

"You think you can wait me out till we're home?" Adam smirked and pulled the car into a convenient department store lot. "I'll just park here till you're ready to talk."

"I have to pee." Eric looked up suddenly.

"Stores over there." Adam waved a hand. "I'll be waiting right here for our talk when you are done."

Eric's look was pricelessly angry as he stared at the dash.

"So which one is it first." Adam asked keeping a friendly relaxed tone. "If I was you I'd do gay. Kind of embarrassing at first but every boy likes to find out about sex stuff. I promise I will do better than your teachers and be less embarrassing than your mom, who will probably try to find out how you feel about it herself once you get home."

"I am not gay!" Eric shot quickly then clammed back up.

"Whatever." Adam shrugged. "I am but I won't hold it against you if you're not."

Eric looked up bewildered.

"But…" he started to say it was supposed to be the other way around but Adam grinned at him.

"Well I am." he continued to press the issue. "I like other guys. Cute ones to be exact. If that freaks you out you'll be sleeping in a room with a lock so lock it. Your mom has a date tonight and we are not canceling your overnight because you're afraid I'll touch your junk."

Eric turned a very nice shade of red.

"Thought so." Adam snickered. "Tell you what. I promise never to touch you unless you want me too." He laughed again. "Might look though, you have a cute butt."

"Adam!" Eric shot him a wide mouthed look of shock. "You look at my butt?"

"Well it is a nice one." Adam commented appreciatively. "A bit flabby and skinny because you don't work out much but overall very nice in a pair of jeans."

Eric rolled his eyes.

"I am not flabby." Said at last.

"Whatever." Adam grinned happy that the boy was not freaking out. Uncomfortable yes. That was expected, but he wasn't a puddle or screaming for a cop or running down the street in panic. "By the way, if I ever do freak you out about being gay, let me know. It's best we talk about these things. Just you and me. I won't tell your mother or anything. You have a question ask it and I will answer honestly every time. Promise."

"You think I'm cute?" Eric asked suddenly.

"Yup." Adam replied just as suddenly. "Very."

Eric seemed to reflect for a minute then looked up with a seriousness that took Adam aback.

"Good," the boy told him "If I know then I won't be wondering. I'll be OK with you being gay Adam."

"Glad to hear it." Adam said truthfully. "Now to topic number two. Symansky is an asshole and it's a really bad asshole who threatens a little kid. But I heard it loud and clear so you tell me who this Kevin is and what's going to happen."

Silence again.

"Well it isn't like it's rocket science." Adam broke it. "Kevin is a bully. You are afraid he is going to beat you up. He's probably bigger than you and has a few friends. How am I doing?"

"You're right." Eric did not look happy to admit it. "Ken knows about it. Mom told him and he wants me to stand up to them. Offered to teach me karate." The boy laughed "But Kevin and his buddies go to that karate school. They would pound me to pulp if I showed up."

"Logical." Adam admitted and saw that Eric was shocked he agreed with him. "I didn't say that I agree, only that it's logical. Karate kids hang together better than most street gangs. Does Ken know that was your reason?"

"No." Eric sighed heavily. "He thinks I'm a wimp."

"Are you?" Adam asked without judgement.

"Yeah." Eric confessed.

"Do you want to be?"

"Nobody WANTS to be a wimp Adam." Eric almost shouted.

"Good, then if you want we can change that." Adam restarted the truck and headed home. "I am rather a nasty teacher but if you want we will start classes on Monday after school. You'll pay for them in hard work around the house."

"I'll be black and blue on Monday." Eric mumbled.

"Nope." Adam snorted. "I will deliver you to the door of your school myself and pick you up. No black and blue marks till we work out. Then I will give them to you. I'll also see if I can have Ken introduce me to his Sensei. About time I put in an appearance anyway."

They got back to running water. HOT running water and electric. No heat. Andy was already tearing apart the old unit but plenty of light and water. Judy had called it a day to get ready for her date and left a note saying she and Ken would stop over on the way out. Great, now he was being introduced to cop boyfriends.

Andy took off promptly at five. Something about parts and church and a bottle of scotch. Adam and Eric agreed to leftover pizza. Judy had stocked a sixpack of drinkable beer now that she knew he liked it and that there was a way to keep it cold so he had one of those as well. The cell rang while he was finishing it and Eric was taking care of the paper plates. Helpful boy.

"Ben." Adam picked up. "Nice truck."

"Sorry it took so long." The young man apologized. "You're suing the last dealer by the way. He cashed the check before he refused to deliver. Doug says I can hound him for a bit as practice."

"Have fun." Adam dismissed the problem. Doug had put Ben on it so it was his now. "What's up?"

"Carlson stopped into the offices. He has the look on his face he reserves for stepping on bugs." Ben laughed. "I asked Doug if I could fly out just to watch but he said no. Spoilsport. Which is the real reason I called. Doug says I have to check in with you every day and that I am to ask if you need bail or lube for that cutie?"

Adam thought of a quick snappy answer then of one that would drive both Ben and Doug crazy.

"Lube." he answered. "And put together a care package. You remember the things you needed when Doug took you off the streets. Pass on the favor like a good big brother."

Silence.

"Ok." came the soft response. Then more silence until finally Ben went back into gear. "I'll need a picture and then do the shopping myself. Hope it works for you two."

"Options are open." Adam shrugged "It worked for you and Doug. Now let's see what magic you can work and get me my wide screens. I have electric again and would really like to set up one in the bedroom."

"A good boy magnet." Ben agreed. "I'll make sure it comes with a selection of action films. And I know a very nice set that doubles as a computer screen. Even has a video conference camera. They market it to offices but I can see where it could be fun. And live steaming… yum."

Eric came back and Adam decided to cut Ben's fantasies off with a flip of his hand.

"What now?" Eric asked with a look of expectation.

Adam made a production out of smelling.

"Something stinks." he commented to giggles. "Oh, that would be me." Another sniff. "and you too. I therefore think it is time to figure out how much hot water we can go through. And we still have to set up your bedroom."

Eric looked suddenly worried.

"Bath? Together?" he asked slowly.

Adam rolled his eyes.

"Look cute butt." he chided and headed for the stairs. "It's one big room with one big tub. If you want to share that's cool. Heck, it's a big bed too and you're more than welcome to share that as well. But I am not going to have sex with you. Well, not till you beef up anyway."

"Hey!" Eric followed him up the stairs. "I thought you…"

"Nope." Adam kept walking. "Maybe some other time. Tonight I am dirty, tired and sleepy. I want nothing more than a hot soak in a tub and to fall asleep in a nice soft bed. A cute boy to cuddle in my sleep would be nice but you are free to do as you like."

Adam peeled off his shirt before he even got to the bathroom and his pants before he got through the door.

"Man are you ripped." Eric commented behind him.

Adam turned around.

"Thanks for the compliment, I try to stay in shape." He saw that boy's eye go where boys' eyes go when a man is naked in front of them. "Don't worry, it won't bite and it won't get stiff. I am counting dead chickens and ignoring cute boys tonight."

Eric giggled and Adam went back to starting the hot water in the tub. Two minutes later he was easing himself down into the thankfully large basin of deliciously hot water.

"Heaven," he told the boy perched on the toilet who still had all of his clothes on. He let his mind drift to neutral and concentrated on dead bunnies. It was particularly effective if he thought of rotting fish as well.

"You work out lots?" Eric made conversation.

"Quiet a bit." Adam agreed. "Once the house is clean and the yard back in shape I will probably put in a workout area in the carriage house. Which reminds me, we should look in there in the morning. I take it a few generations of boys have wrecked the place?" "No." Eric surprised him. "Well the downstairs is pretty bad. But the stuff they stored upstairs is in really big boxes so no one bothers."

Adam wondered about the lack of curiosity or vandalism in the local population and mentally shrugged. He would think about it when he saw the carriage house in the morning.

"It's hot in here." Eric commented.

"There are solutions for that." Adam did not open his eyes.

"I took my shirt off." Eric told him but Adam did not bite.

"Logical." he kept his eyes shut.

"You're not going to look?" the boy asked skeptically.

"Why?" Adam asked softly. "Do you want me to?"

"Kinda?" came the softest of replies.

"If I do I'll probably pop a boner." Adam told him.

Silence.

"Still want me to?"

"Yeah," again it was barely a whisper.

"Then ask me too." Adam ordered slowly. "Ask me to look at you Eric."

"Please look at me." It came out more of a plea than expected and Adam was half hard even before his eyes fully opened.

Nice. Extremely, exceptionally, positively, gorgeously nice. Skinny yes, but also spotless boyish perfection and all willingly offered up to a man. Adam took his time and savored the smooth body while watching the boy's eyes locked on another part of him.

"First one you've seen I take it." Adam opened his legs a bit. He was average in size but to a boy of ten it was probably impressive enough.

Eric swallowed and nodded.

Adam chose to lay back in the tub and run a bit more hot water. No pushing too fast.

"Can I get in too?"

Adam smirked.

"Would your mom approve?" He grinned.

"No way." Eric grinned back.

"But you still want to?"

"Yeah."

"Then I guess you better not tell her." Adam sat up to make room while Eric quickly shucked his pants. A minute later he had the boy leaning back on his chest as they both soaked. Eric did not comment on the item locked against his back and Adam made no attempt to touch the small one poking up through the water. Instead he ran a bit more hot water and relaxed.

"This is fun." Eric laid his head on his chest and closed his eyes.

"True." Adam decided to go back to counting… dead kangaroos this time with faces that resembled George Bush. Didn't work very well.

Half an hour later he had a sleeping boy on his chest and they were both resembling prunes. Best to avoid heat exhaustion and get to bed.

Which raised an interesting problem of having a naked boy who refused to wake up. Three attempts produced only mumbling and a tight lock around his neck as Eric buried his head in his shoulder. Well there were solutions to that. Stand up, carry said boy to the nice big huge bed and snuggle them both into the comforters. Yes it was a bit wet at first but the walk let them drip dry enough to keep it reasonable.

There was a moment of debate as Adam considered a quick feel or maybe just a tiny probe but he decided not to rush. Things were going just fine thank you and he could wait. Marines taught him that.

Chapter Six

Damn morning. Ruins the best cuddling.

Still an alarm was better than having Andy or Judy walk in on them and Adam walked down in his boxers to see how the new coffee maker worked. Neither showed up as expected and Adam wondered what was up with that. Still it gave him time to make some pancakes and walk them up to his little man.

"Pancakes with jam."Adam waved the plate over the sleeping boy and got a smile and a stretch.

"Pancakes in bed." Eric sat up slowly. "This is way cool."

"Agreed." Adam slid back under the covers. "Andy seems to have called it a day and your mother is late."

"Andy has church." Eric said with a full mouth. "Everyone knows he won't work on a Sunday. And mom is over at Ken's house and won't be back till at least noon. She does it about once a month."

"I see." Adam commented. "So we are alone today. What do you want to do? Carriage house?"

Eric glanced down at Adam's boxers and blushed.

"Ah, I see." Adam pulled the covers up higher. "Curiosity not satisfied. You do realize that once we start playing that game Eric it means a lot more?"

To Adam Eric did not look like he knew any such thing. Only that he had a new interest and he wanted it satisfied. Well. Too bad for that.

"Perhaps we need incentive." He stood up and walked towards the door. "Up and dressed and we do a brush clearing in the front lawn today. Later we can take a look into the carriage house and then off to home. I am sure your mom wants you ready for school and I doubt you did homework Friday."

"Adam!" Eric whined.

"No whining." The boy was told firmly. "I will take you to school all week. If you work out hard and show me A's on everything I will ask your mom to let you stay over BOTH Friday and Saturday. At that point, if you are still interested, I will let you take a bath like last night."

Eric grinned.

"Oh." Adam warned him and made sure his tone was deadly serious. "I am very demanding of boys who hang out with me Eric. Starting Monday I will be spanking you."

"Huh?" Eric sat bolt up in bed.

"At least one swat a day to remind you to be a good boy." Adam continued firmly. "If you misbehave or do not meet my expectations expect it to be more. Now is a good time to get you used to your therapy so pull down the covers and lay face down on the bed while I get a belt."

"But!" Eric started but Adam had already moved out of the room.

Eric looked after him while biting his lip.

It was a minor test. Would the boy rebel or not? Adam took his time getting to the bathroom and back into his work jeans. The heavy leather belt in them would do nicely. He did take the time to look in the mirror and assure himself that this was the right move. Submitting to a spanking regimen would be a sure sign that the boy was submissive and open to the type of play Adam enjoyed. Failure to do so meant that things had gone as far as he should let them go. A shame, but Doug would have a fit if they had to do the buy off parents and con the judge routine. Especially after that tramp Joey.

Now that brought a twinge of sadness and hurt. Joey had been his boy for a year before Adam found out that mom knew everything and was setting him up for blackmail. She had been rather easy to get rid of. A few counter threats and a six figure check. Joey had been tougher. It had been shouting and recriminations the whole time. At least it had been till Adam got out the ball gag and whip for a last farewell.

A deep breath to clear that thought and back into the room. Then ten praises to four saints of various denominations and a smirk. Eric had the covers down and was laying face into pillow. Since he had gone to bed naked his cute but was on display nicely.

"Very good." Adam nodded. "But not quiet right. When you are told to come to this bed you will place the pillow under your hips. Do it now Eric."

The boy did so with only minor hesitation.

"Good, notice how it puts your butt up in the air higher making it easier for me to spank." Adam walked to the side of the bed and went down on one knee till he was eye to eye with the boy. "Now spread your legs slightly. Good, I should be able to see your little hole winking at me."

Eric tried a fake smile but looked worried.

"Relax boy." Adam soothed as he gently stroked Eric's hair. "All boys need a touch of the belt to keep them in line. In fact you will probably grow to enjoy a few swats. I know a lot of boys get a stiffy when they are going to be beaten. You probably will as well."

"I am." Eric confirmed while turning crimson and looking both ashamed, scared and excited.

"Very good." Adam moved down to rubbing shoulders. "Concentrate on your boy cock. It's hard because you are scared and excited. I want you to think about the excitement. Think about the sting of the belt when it finally hits you. When it does I want you to push your hips as hard as you can into the pillow. Got it?"

"Yeah." Eric half whispered and Adam smirked. He recognized the change in voice. The boy was retreating into a kind of trance due to the overwhelming confusion. It was a form of natural protection for a young mind but also one that left him open to suggestions.

"You have to want this." Adam soothed and continued to massage the boy's shoulders. An inch lower. Nice firm kneading of the muscles. A calm confident voice in his ear. "You want to be my boy. To have me teach you."

"Yes." It was easy enough to confuse the desires in his state.

"You have to really want me to." Adam ran a hand over the boy's right butt cheek. "You have to want me to touch you. To beat you with a belt even. Whatever I want."

"I don't want you to hurt me." Eric sobbed.

"But I need to Eric." Adam whispered. "I need to beat you to make you strong. I need to beat you so you can prove you are a good boy. I only love good boys Eric. You do want me to love you don't you?"

"Yes." Eric sobbed.

"And to touch you?" Adam moved his hand back to the boy's butt and pushed it down into the pillows slightly. "To make your little penis hard? It will only be hard for me."

Eric bit his lip and moaned as Adam pushed down again.

"Feel how hard it is now Eric." Adam coached. "Because you are excited. Excited that a man who loves you is willing to take a belt to you. But you have to want it with all your heart Eric. I can't love you till you do. You have to give up your whole body to me. To be my boy body and soul. Do that and I will train you and love you. Otherwise we have to stop, we can be friends, I will always be your friend. But to go on you have to ask me to beat you like you need."

Adam paused.

"Eric?" He pushed after a second.

"Ok" came a half whisper.

"Eric you have to be sure." Adam put his face right up to the boy's cheek. "You have to give yourself to me. No one else is ever to know or be part of this. Just you and me. But it must be complete. So ask, Eric, ask me with a strong voice to be my boy. Tell me you want it."

"Please." It was not exactly a roar but it was louder and as he spoke it was with more conviction. "Please Adam I want to be your boy."

"You want to belong to me?" Adam asked firmly.

"Yes." Eric swallowed hard. "I want to belong to you."

"Every piece of you?"

"Yes. I want that." Eric was crying now. Some part of him knew what he was doing was more important than anything else he had ever done.

"Who does this belong to?" Adam reached down and cupped the boy's butt.

"You sir." came the sob.

"And this?" Adam reached between the legs and gently touched the thin hard shaft.

"You sir."

"And this?" He traced his finger across the tiny hole and Eric bucked for a second.

"You." The boy buried his face in Adams shoulder.

"Exactly." Adam held the boy too him. "Mine. You give yourself to me totally Eric and I will always be here with a shoulder for you to cry on. I will always hold you and comfort you. Give your body to me and let me take care of you."

He pulled the boy up and cradled him in his arms. It was a good cry for a boy. Naked and scared learning that the only safe place in the world was in his man's arms.

"Now." Adam said briskly once Eric had calmed down. "I think we should go out and get some yard work done."

"But…" Eric paused.

"Spanking?" Adam asked with a raised eye and got a terrified nod.

"I think it can wait." He laughed and dumped the boy on the bed. "Anticipation is best. And the longer I wait the more you will tend to earn. For now I would like my property unmarked and happy." He pointed to the clothes on the chair. "Jeans, socks and work shoes. No shirt or underwear today. You have permission to pee in the toilet but from now on you must always ask permission. A whisper in my ear if anyone else is around."

"Huh?" Eric blinked.

"See, you just earned another swat for questioning me. Correct responses are 'Yes, sir' and 'No, sir' or if you really don't understand you may ask permission to ask a question." Adam ruffled his head. "Don't worry Eric, it takes some getting used to. The easiest thing to do is always stay as close to me as you can and assume you need permission for everything. Once you have it down you'll actually like it."

Adam walked towards the door.

"Remember to brush your teeth as well then meet me in the front yard for hard work. Got to put some muscle on my property."

Adam was serious about hard work. It did both of them good to be sweating up a storm. The small chain saw chewed through brush and small renegade trees at a furious pace but it had a steady stream of sweat rolling down Adam's back and chest. Being still a boy did not mean Eric was exempt from a fair share himself as it was his job to keep the pile of debris growing.

A break at noon was strictly for water and Adam kept them working till a canary yellow van pulled into the drive. Now who the hell was "Rainbow Lawn and Garden"? Oh, Andy's referral, the one he had expected yesterday.

"Eric." Adam shut down the chain saw. "House. You may make us sandwiches and bring them to the porch. Your choice of what. You may also use the bathroom." He fixed the boy with a stare. "Do not touch your penis. That is for me later."

Eric's eyes went wide and then he grinned and almost ran for the house.

Adam grinned and turned towards the van where a fire plug in jeans and flannel shirt was getting out. My how stereotypical dyke.

"Claire Benet." She walked up with an outstretched hand and proceeded to prove she had a grip. "Andy said you needed some help."

"Adam Carter." He returned the grip and ignored the attempt to out squeeze him. "Yeah, I do need some help." He pointed to the five foot [1½ m] pile Eric had constructed. "I suspect we are going to be building a lot of piles like that. And I don't even want to think about how to get the stumps cleared. What do you recommend?"

"Let's walk around and I'll tell you." She said bluntly and headed for the row of trees. "Prices are negotiable and this is speculation not a bid yet." She said over her shoulder.

"Got it." Adam walked along behind her.

"Big trees stay." She said it as a matter not open to discussion. "I don't want anything to do with cutting them down. That means we can't bring in a backhoe to take out the stumps you're leaving. It will be a pain in the ass but I'd just grind them down and cover the whole thing with a new layer of topsoil. They'll try to sprout back up but just keep mowing them down for a year or two and they'll turn to mulch."

She walked to the side of the house with the hickories and nut trees.

"Same here." She commented as she walked. "Might suggest some benches and a planting or two but frankly this is the boring side of the house and I don't see anyone using it much. I'd just take out the brush and call it close enough. Oh, I haven't done mason work before but I'd be interested in taking a crack at it. Front is in decent shape, couple of patches is all. But the sides and back are falling in, out or over. Half the kids in this shithole of a town use it as a highway."

They came to the back and she looked up at the windows.

"Vines need to come down and out." She shook her head. "Pulling them is fine but you need to dig out the roots or they will be back up to the windows by the fourth of July. Ivy may look good on old houses but it is hell on the mortar."

"Back yard is a disaster." She said as they neared the carriage house. "That ruin in the back is a write off. Backhoe and topsoil and you could stand an area of grass anyway. Local kids will pitch a fit but I recommend you do the berry bushes in the back as well."

She headed for the orchard.

"I took a couple of courses in fruit trees." She sighed. "These are past their peak and a mess and it's too late in the season to trim them back much. Still they are some really good antique strains and it would be a shame to cut them out. I suggest getting rid of the crap chocking them and cut out the dead. Leave them for a year and I can trim them back in the fall. In the spring you take another look and if they aren't up to standards you can pull them then."

They ended back at the van.

"I can mulch that pile this week" She went on waving at the brush. "You can either have fun cutting or I can. I'll use the mulch around the house and give you a few ideas for flower beds. I like bright stuff that is easy to take care of."

She paused and gave him a firm look.

"I don't do roses, I don't like to use more chemicals than I have to and I am a lesbian. All that is non negotiable." She took a deep breath. "I charge four hundred a day with a half day minimum. As of right now I can give you two days a week. Oh, and keep the brat away from me, I don't like boys underfoot."

Adam rubbed his jaw. Direct he liked but her attitude was a bit grating.

"You have the job." He stuck out his hand. "Conditional on your not pestering my boy. He has the run of the property."

"Deal." She shook her hand. "I'll get your billing information from Andy if that works." Adam nodded. "Any problems with me starting Monday morning? Fine." She was back in the van in a heartbeat.

Lunch was nice baloney and cheese with coke. Then back to work. Adam had not had a hard workout in days and was having fun. Eric was staying with it like a trooper and Adam thought that boded well for physical training. Not one whine in the whole day.

"ADAM!" Judy's shout was what finally stopped him from attacking another sapling and he shut down the chainsaw to see her standing with her hand in that of a uniformed cop.

Adam smiled back at her and noticed Eric still valiantly piling his waste.

"Enough Eric." He told the boy who shot him a look that was full of appreciation for the end of the day. "Well enough, work." Adam corrected. "I think your mother stashed some Ice Cream in the freezer. Pig out."

"YES!" Eric punched a fist in the air.

"After!" Adam stopped him, held up his hand and began to count fingers. "You take the chainsaw back to the tools, you go take a bath as you look like the most filthy boy in the state and you change into clean clothes."

Eric made a face at him.

"Problem?" Adam asked firmly. It was the same tone he had last used in the bedroom and Eric caught it instantly.

"No sir." He said promptly.

"Then you best go about it." Adam turned to Judy and her boyfriend.

The cop was easy to read. Clean cut, a bit younger than the woman he was dating and spic and span polished in his uniform. He had 'nice guy' written all over him and if he wasn't the best looking guy Adam had met he was fair enough and certainly looked the cop part.

"Adam, this is Ken." Judy acted like she was introducing him to her father and Adam winced while keeping the smile in place.

"Ken," Adam shook a hand that was notably less intimidating in its pressure than the dykes.

"Adam," Ken said back and then relaxed as the macho formality was done. "I like the change in Eric. 'Sir'?"

"Eric and I have had a few talks." Adam shrugged and lead the way back to the house. He and Eric had brought a couple of chairs out to the porch rather than track dirt through the house and it looked like a good place to start. "I am starting him on Karate in the morning. Bully problems."

"What." Judy looked concerned but Ken did not.

"Thought that was it." Ken shrugged as he sat down. "He wouldn't talk to me about it though."

"You're dating his mom." Adam countered and Ken nodded. "Anyway, Eric and I have an agreement. He knows I take teaching seriously and that I consider it more than just fighting. He will get good grades and mind both his mouth and hygiene." Adam laughed. "I have him convinced I'll spank him raw if he doesn't."

The other two laughed. If only they knew.

"Oh," Adam kept hold of the conversation before the cop could do the cop thing and start asking questions. "I am told you are affiliated with the local dojo Ken?"

"Sensei Long." Ken acknowledged. "Shorin Ryu, but I started with Judo back in grade school."

"Any chance your Sensei would help the cause?" Adam asked "I need to buy a few things for Eric and I would like his help sitting on a couple of his students till mine is ready."

"Sensei will kick a bully instantly." Ken looked upset. "And I have money I know which ones."

"No need." Adam waved a hand. "That would just turn them on Eric faster. I just need a couple of months to get some confidence into Eric. He may not win his first fight but I guarantee he won't loose," he paused. "Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if you and I put on a demo fight. You up for a round or two tomorrow afternoon? Semi contact?"

"Semi." Ken looked almost like he had won the lotto. "Throws and take downs allowed?"

"Anything short of breaking bones." Adam grinned.

"Five sharp." Ken nodded and stood up. "Eric knows where the school is. Bring him and I will have a talk with Sensei tonight. Five is the juniors class and that will send the message you want." He glanced at Judy. "Sorry but I am on duty in five and need to get back to the car." He leaned down to kiss a cheek. "Adam, I look forward to it."

Judy watched him go with a look that bordered on sugar overdose.

"I'll drive Eric back in an hour." Adam informed her. "That will give you a few minutes. But make sure you get some rest too Judy. I am a rotten slave driver boss and Eric has helped me come up with a whole long list of things for you to do in the morning."

Chapter Seven

Mathias Carlson showed up at eleven in a rented SUV which he refused to leave. Mostly because of the rain and the fact that he was wearing two thousand dollar shoes and a five thousand dollars suit. That was Mathias, immaculate. The thought of going into a house under construction was probably worse for him than the thought of taking a bullet.

"Matt." Adam got in the car and suffered through the stern look at the shabby workout gear he was wearing. "Oh. Can it. It's not like I care what Symansky thinks of me."

"Good." Matt put the car in gear. "My people tell me he actually hired good help and he has more than enough to not like you at all."

Adam shrugged. It happened.

"You ready for him?" He asked coldly.

"Adam." Matt pulled out into traffic. "I am looking forward to it. Now tell me about this house. Doug showed me pictures and if you want to clean up that crystal in the cabinet I would be happy to talk prices."

Symansky. Wayne Symansky. Real Estate Agent. City Councilmen. Board Member. It was all spelled out in great detail in gold leaf on the door to a plaza office. Admittedly it was one of the newer plaza's on the strip and catered to the local Doctors and Lawyers but Adam still considered it tacky. Fortunately all he had to do was follow in the wake of the legal wrecking ball he had turned loose.

Matt had not said a word since turning off the car. He had simply stopped trying to weedle glassware as a proper service fee and reached for a slim black leather folder. Stepping out he had ignored the rain and made a brisk walk towards the door.

Said glass object had parted with a push and Matt had not even slowed down. He had his card out and on the secretaries desk before she had a chance to register who they were.

"Carter and Carlson." Matt stated formally. "Carter Judsen and Smyth Limited. We have an appointment."

"Pardon me?" The secretary was some college girl who had no idea what she had just been told.

"Adam Carter." Adam said as Matt rolled his eyes. "Symansky is expecting us."

"I see, sir." She finally got it. Adam glanced over for a name out of shear habit and found that the plate on the counter still said Judy Manson. Must be a temp agency. Well at least she got the next part right. "If you gentlemen would care to have a seat I will tell Mr. Symansky you are here."

Matt looked at the seats and visibly shook. There was no way he was putting his brand new pants into contact with that faux leather chair. Adam caught the look and hid a smile. That boded well, when Matt ignored his clothes things were serious. If he was worried about dirt on the seat of his pants he was confident and fine.

"Well at least you are prompt fag." Symansky came out of his office. Which was actually a surprise, Adam expected he would be kept waiting and then shown in the by the rent-a-temp. The fag comment was annoying but Adam had his eyes on Matt. He'd seen the quick way the word had spun his attention on the man and the slight flare of the nose. This should be very fun.

Adam led the way to the office and sat down. Matt wrinkled a nose at more faux leather and did so as well.

"I did that check." Symansky leaned back into an overstuffed chair. He was bordered by a wall of awards and pictures of him with various politicians. Adam recognized a Senator and a Presidential candidate from the last election. "Seems we need to up the stakes. My cut for you remaining in this town will now be seventy five thousand. With another thousand due at the first of each month."

Adam blinked. Already with the extortion? These things were supposed to have a rhythm. Back and forth, polite threat to polite counter threat. Maybe a heated word or two.

"Boring." Matt seemed disappointed and pulled a single sheet of paper from his folder and placed it on Symansky's desk.

"That better be a check." Symansky picked it up with disdain. Adam saw him read and then suddenly the color drained from his face.

"What's on line one through fifteen already took place." Matt stated. "I estimate you have lost five hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars at market level at the opening bell. Line Sixteen through twenty four will take place as soon as I make a call. Line twenty five through twenty seven are pending and you can probably insulate yourself against complete loss if you move quickly. You will note these are all financial penalties. If you wish we can discuss tangible ones now."

"Why you…" Symansky fumed in anger but seemed to control it. "You have no idea who I know. One phone call."

"Ah. Mr. Ianello?" Matt shrugged and Symansky nodded viciously.

"Local mob boss." Matt informed Adam. "I imagine he was contacted as the arsonist. You would be surprised at the amount of drugs, and crime out here, I know I was. But arson and insurance fraud are the mobs main stables this far from the city." He turned back to Symansky. "You will of course verify this but Mr. Ianello received a call from two friends of his last night. He has no further interest in Mr. Carter. I believe his exact words were. 'I didn't know' and some offers to assure that certain people were no longer a problem."

Symansky looked suddenly suspicious then nodded firmly and sat down.

"Gentlemen." He steepled his fingers over his triple chin. "Perhaps I am being a bit clumsy. Mr. Ianello, some hasty words. But I am not walking away just because you have some big city connections. You just cost me a house or two in losses. Fine. But I make one phone call and the police will be hauling you away in cuffs. We don't like child molesters out here. I had to pay a bit but I have a complete file on a boy by the name of Joey whose mother is still very upset over the minor payoff she received."

Adam was half out of the chair with blood in his eyes. Matt however had a grip on his arm and just about shoved him back into the chair.

"Very well played." Matt straightened the collar of his jacket and glared at Adam to stay put. "Now we will take the gloves off. For the record, and I am sure there is a recording taking place, Adam what did you do in the Marines?"

"That's classified." Adam sighed pure training had him say that but it was still true that he would not talk about it.

"Just the job description please." Matt sounded like he was in a courtroom.

"Assassin comes closest." Adam shrugged. "Sniper, explosives, close in work, that kind of thing."

"I see." Matt leaned back. "Also for the record you should know that Mr. Carter has a number of friends who would feel very strongly about false accusations. I am sure the mother of the boy in question misspoke. In fact I plan on having her exact statement taken as soon as I can contact her."

Matt sighed.

"Now, as we would never want Mr. Carter to be accused of any bodily harm that might befall you I suggest we put our differences aside." Matt slid over one more piece of paper. "For the record I suggest you not verbalize any reaction you have to what I just handed you."

Symansky picked up the paper with a jerk and read it. This time he visibly shook.

"Get out." He stuttered at last. The shouted "GET OUT NOW!"

Matt stood and motioned Adam towards the door.

"I believe the old fashioned term is 'do the right thing'" Matt took a minute to lean over the table and pick up every paper he had handed Symansky. "I will assume you will erase any recording." He motioned Adam out the door.

Adam shook his head as they got into the car.

"What did you do?" he asked.

"As your lawyer it is best you do not know." Matt told him bluntly as he put the car in gear. "I suggest you stay very visible and in public for the next few hours."

"What?" Adam insisted.

"A young girl of seven named Hannah Parker." Matt grimaced. "It was very bad. The body is buried in his back yard. A letter to that effect is on its way to the local DA. Mr. Symansky has no more than twenty four hours. Mr. Ianello was very cooperative."

"I see." Adam did not regret what they had done. Some monsters were worse than others.

Matt dropped him back at the house with a handshake and a bet that he could make an evening flight back to the city. Which gave Adam just enough time to dig out the battered bag he always carried in his luggage and pick up Eric at school.

Blue Dragon Martial Arts was a nice enough little dojo tucked over the top of a bookstore in the towns old storefront district. Such space was cheap enough to house a semi profitable part time business like a dojo and boasted the nice side benefit of hardwood floors to go along with plentiful space. Sensei Pete Long was standing near the door with Ken when Adam walked in followed by a visibly nervous Eric who was basically hiding behind him.

"Somewhere to change?" Adam asked after introductions "And could you find Eric a place to watch?"

Adam took his time as he found that the ritual of changing into his gi was one that centered him. Pete Long was younger than he expected, probably thirty at most, but he was polite and open and had freely offered them the use of the floor. From the pictures on the wall Long had quiet a career in competition but he lacked the arrogance Adam associated with most modern martial arts instructors and he seemed to be looking forward to seeing what Adam had to show.

The gi that he walked out with didn't tell him much. No fancy patches or stripes on the belt. A simple heavyweight white gi he had bought in Okinawa almost ten years ago and a belt that looked much too frayed to have ever been really black. More like a gray with hints of white showing through where it was worn too much.

"Long Sensei." Adam bowed onto the floor formally this time and tried to remember all the courtesies due in a Shorin Ryu school.

Long bowed back as did Ken.

"Class line up!" Long shouted and the assorted teens and young teens all rushed into straight lines by belt rank as expected. For a small town it was a respectable number. Thirteen in all and the range was from ten to sixteen. Four of them were girls but the rest were boys and all looked curious and excited.

"Rei!" Long bowed everyone in after the usual rituals then motioned them to have a seat. "Class we have a guest today. All of you know Ken Sensei. Today he has brought a couple of friends. Mr. Adam Carter is to be considered Sensei by you all. He has just moved into the area and I am hopeful he will agree to join us here in the dojo from time to time. His first student in the area some of you may know from school. Eric Manson."

Eric visibly tried to shrink back in his chair at the side of the room where everyone was suddenly looking.

"As I consider Mr. Carter to be a friend of the school I will assume all of my students will do the same with his student." Long paused. "That includes inside and outside school. Am I clear!"

"YES SENSEI," came thirteen strong voices.

"Good." Long said with finality. "Now, Mr. Carter and Ken have asked for some time on the mat. I am told they would like to engage in a little semi contact at a rather advanced level and I am sure you will all learn from it. If, however any of you are tempted to do the same, you will find I will kick you out of the school the first time I catch you sparring with no gloves or protection. Dojo rules apply!"

He bowed to Adam and Ken and walked off the matt.

"Ready?" Ken had a grin on his face as he moved into the center of the room.

"Looking forward to it all day." Adam grinned back and took a place just out of kicking range.

They both bowed.

Ken chose a rather modern fighting stance that would have worked well in a boxing match or full contact bout. Adam decided to go for classical and adopted a horse stance.

Which was a nice low stance and an open invitation to a sweep. Ken went for it and Adam reacted out of instinct. His side kick cut Ken in half and threw him back about four feet.

There was a very satisfying gasp from the audience but Ken was already back. It should have put him on the ground but he was launching a counter before Adam's foot was back on the ground. A pretty damned good counter as well as the first punch slipped Adam's guard and landed with a crunch on his jaw. The follow up to his ribs was less successful and Adam countered with an elbow that took Ken in the chest. Which Ken grabbed and tried to turn into a throw. Which Adam went with instead of fought and suddenly it was Ken who was airborne. Not that he landed hard, he rolled with it and shot a foot up in an attempt to catch Adam in the side as he followed him down. Which earned him a kick in the ribs.

And so it went for almost five solid minutes. Punch, kick, throw. Counter, attack, counter. Back and forth as each man looked for an opening to finish the match.

Adam saw a dozen of them. Less than with most as Ken was actually rather good. The problem was that each opening he saw would have resulted in crippling or worse and he had no intention of explaining to Judy why he hospitalized her lover. What he settled for was the opening that left another side kick and this time he made sure to put some force behind it. Ken did not pass out but he stayed down on the mat for a few seconds. When he got up he was smiling but holding his side and opted for a bow instead of a retaliation.

"Good match."Ken stated and reached out a hand which Adam accepted.

The room of course irrupted in much deserved applause.

"A wonderful demonstration of what you can do if you train hard." Long told his students taking back over the class smoothly. "Our dojo has been fortunate to have two such skilled fighters demonstrate for us today."

"How about you Sensei, you could take him!" One of the smaller boys shouted eagerly.

Adam raised an eyebrow in invitation and saw Long smirk as if he was just dying to try.

Long obviously stayed within his style and also disliked modern fighting stances and chose a cat stance modification. Adam took an upright left foot forward stance with both hands in guard palm out.

"Crap." Long whispered to him. "I haven't seen that stance since Okinawa. I take it I am in for it."

Adam winked and Long grinned then shot in a lightning fast front kick.

Adam had the block timed but Long was not counting on a hit. A backfist drove into Adams jaw and another kick slid off his side. His kids cheered their Sensei and Adam fell back a step. Another kick, this one a fake that turned into a brutal roundhouse to his thigh and Long moved in to take advantage. Only to find a palm heel slamming into his ribs and another coming up under his jaw. A third connected with his shoulder and a fourth drove his counter arm high up into the air where a fifth slammed into the ribs just under the armpit and Long was headed to the mat. He was up fast but winded.

Adam resumed the unusual stance as Long caught his breath.

The next round Long decided to play from a distance and opened with a very nice low high roundhouse that should have sent Adam's head into roughly next Tuesday. Adam took the low on his thigh and drove his palm into Long's thigh as it went up for the high. It pushed Long off balance enough that he had to spin away to recover but Adam had already started to step forward. A palm to the kidney. Another one high on the shoulder and the other hand slipped under his arms and around his neck. Slight twist of the hips and a pivot and Long landed right on top of his two brown belts laps.

"Ha!" Long laughed as he disentangled himself from the two embarrassed teenagers. "That was awesome!" He got up not at all ashamed of loosing and bowed. "Tamashi Family isn't it?"

"Yes." Adam grinned back and rubbed his thigh. "And your kick HURT."

Adam saw the faces of the students go from angry and upset that someone had bested their instructor to smiles as they saw no hard feelings. Which was all part of the lesson really. A fight between friends was not a fight in anger. They both bowed showing proper respect and Long turned to his students.

"I was fortunate enough to see that stance one other time while I was overseas." he explained. "As I have told you before, many of the martial arts were handed down father to son. This one belongs to the Tamashi family. They are very fond of using the palm of their hands." Adam noted that Long said nothing about the other things the family was fond of. Like young boys or the ability to break bones at will. Of course the one was usually written off as viscous rumors and the other as baseless myth. "If Adam Sensei knows it perhaps he will gift us with a demonstration of the Tamashi kata to end class?"

Adam did know it and was happy to oblige. Short version of course. He would teach Eric the longer version. Not that either looked overly impressive to young boys wanting to see flying kicks and fancy combinations. Tamashi Kata was big on slow breathing and complicated hand circles. Still the solid stances and muscle tensions showed off his muscles and that was nice.

"Have time for a beer?" Adam asked as they exited the Dojo and left Long with a promise to attend an adult class in the future. "I was thinking of treating Eric to a pizza then taking him home for his homework duties."

"Nope." Ken took a quick look at his watch. "Shift in an hour and I have to get cleaned up." He rubbed his ribs and chuckled "Or decide if you broke one."

"Nope, just bruised it as bad as you did my jaw." Adam laughed and accepted the good natured pat on the back as Ken walked over to his car.

"You were awesome!" Eric said as soon as they were in the truck. "And you're going to teach me that?"

"Over time." Adam put the car in gear and headed for pizza. "We'll start with some conditioning and a lot of heavy bag work." He jerked a thumb to the bag in the back. "Sensei was nice enough to sell me a gi for you and some other things but we'll have to get one of the bedrooms converted to a small dojo."

"Kevin wasn't there." Eric sighed.

"Nope." Adam shrugged. "Long tossed him from the dojo after his first week. If this Kevin was still telling you he was taking karate he lied. Basically he knows nothing."

Eric frowned.

Ah, so the world wasn't exactly as he thought it was and perhaps the bully was not as tough as he had made the neighborhood think. Adam could see the wheels turning in his boy's head and hid a frown. Now, just a couple of weeks to toughen him up and perhaps there would be a reckoning.

Weeknights were going to be a pain till school let out. After this karate adventure there was only time to get Eric home for dinner, school work and bed. Which left Adam alone to play in his new home. Tonight it was pawing through the books in the library followed by bed. In fact he was almost half asleep before he remembered to call Ben. It took two rings, which meant that Doug and Ben had probably already been in bed themselves.

"Hey, Ben." Adam found himself in a very good mood. "When can I expect my technology? I have the electric up to the bedroom and I have a very nice young boy I am planning of spending Friday and Saturday night with."

"Cool." Ben chuckled. It wasn't so long ago when that definition fit him. "I decided that I won't trust the locals and I have a truck leaving New York on Tuesday. It will arrive on Thursday morning. I have the driver calling me for an exact time on Wednesday night. Doug and I have been drooling over the cell phone pics you've sent us. Eric is a hottie. I stashed a care package for you in the truck so you will have plenty of fun.

Now that was a nice thought to go to bed to. A box full of assorted boy sized toys.

Adam awoke sharply and tried to figure out which was the more irritating, the steady pounding rain that told him he would probably be indoors all day or the pounding on the door. A glance at the clock told him it was 4am and he decided that the pounding on the door was definitely up for the award. Rain after all was at least good for the plants.

"Isn't it a bit late for a rematch." Adam joked as he opened the door and found Officer Ken standing on his porch. Soaked, which served him right for getting out of a very nice warm police cruiser to pound on his door.

"Not till after all the bruises heal." Ken shrugged and stepped into the house. "And this is almost a much business as it is social so why don't you put on some coffee. Pants too if you want."

Adam shrugged. If straight boy didn't like him in his underwear boxers he should not wake him up in the middle of the damned night. Ken didn't seem overly put out though because he followed Adam to the kitchen without pushing it.

"Business?" Adam asked as he got out the coffee and started the ritual of grounds and water, electric and time.

"Symansky is with the DA." Ken was watching him closely and Adam made very careful to look confused. "I am told you had a meeting with him today."

"True." Adam never ever lied to a police officer. Shades of truth were another matter. "I had a lawyer of mine with me and we all exchanged nasty threats and accusations. I was rather put out that he withheld Judy's share of the commission for selling me this house and that he seemed to think he could use his local contacts to harass me."

"Ah." Ken sat at the counter and Adam wondered why the man didn't use that hawk after a mouse intensity when he was sparing. "And would those threats include a letter the DA received this afternoon?" Ken paused and Adam continued to make coffee.

"I see." Ken frowned. "And he either moved or destroyed the body. He was very clear with us that we could dig up his whole damned house if we wanted to."

Adam went to the cupboard for mugs.

"He also plays nasty." Ken told him. "He wouldn't do it publicly but he knows how protective I am of Judy and I had a nice folder on the seat of my car when I came back from my first break." He paused. "Oh, by the way the DA is my stepbrother and I can assure you he will say nothing."

"About?" Adam set out the cups and went for sugar and cream.

"About you liking little boys." Ken offered without the slightest note of emotion.

"Should I be talking to my lawyer or you?" Adam asked in the same tone. Actually it was to get this conversation to wherever Ken was headed. Entrapment, blackmail or whatever.

"Oh, definitely me." Ken laughed and held up his hands palm up. "And for the record you may search me. I am not wired."

Adam raised an eye. Today you could wire someone with a chip the size of an almond.

"Fine." Ken seemed amused. "Be paranoid. I like you Adam and I'm going to say what's on my mind, you decide how much you want to believe or trust."

Adam poured the coffee and waited while Ken sipped.

"Damned good cup." Ken praised then looked up. "Now we all know you're gay. Judy has no problem with it, Andy sure doesn't and you'll find most people around here either don't care or will let live as needed. Judy is impressed with how you and Eric have hit it off and frankly so am I. Eric is a painfully shy kid and for him to take to you like this? Well, I have been trying for a year with no luck."

Ken did not seem upset, just stating the facts as he saw them.

"Judy and I got married almost six months ago by the way." He continued. "I promised her that we could keep it a secret till we figured out what to do about Eric." He sighed. "I want my own kids, Adam. and Eric is not exactly my idea of a son. Perhaps you'll do something with him but for me? Well let's just say that I failed to bond with him as much as he failed to bond with me. A very good solution from my self interested point of view would be if you had full custody and Judy and I started a new family."

Adam's eyes narrowed. He suddenly did not like Ken at all. Still the man may very well have his uses.

"Oh, I agree." Ken laughed at him. "I am a bastard. But I really do love Judy. I just don't love Eric." Again a pause. "I was abused a bit when I was a boy myself you know. My uncle liked boys. For the most part it was harmless enough. At least till he started fucking me when I was twelve. God, Hank was hung like a horse." Ken shuddered. "But I liked the rest. Even learned to take an occasional belt when he felt in the mood. Overall he was a decent influence on me and the only family that kept in touch when I was sent to foster."

Ken looked into his coffee cup a minute and then up at Adam.

"Judy thinks I got my cock pierced in Bangkok when I was drunk. Actually it was Hank when I was thirteen." Ken shook his head wryly. "So yeah, I know a bit about rough play and being a boy. I also know Judy would freak out if things came out so you be careful. I am going to be pestering her more for weekends together and I'll expect Eric will be just as happy to spend them with you. In a week or two I'll see about a long weekend vacation. Then this summer a two week one to my cabin up north. If you can come up with other reasons feel free but by next fall I will be looking for a reason to suggest Eric move in with you full time. I imagine if we work it right it will be de facto anyway."

Adam sipped his own cup and watched Ken take a deep swallow and set his down.

"Nice coffee." Ken said and stood up. "And thanks again for an excellent match. I have to get back on the road. This is a college town and I am sure some idiot is in trouble by now."

Adam had not said one word but Ken gave him a firm handshake as if they were closing a deal and headed for the door. Adam turned off the coffee and went back to bed.

Chapter Eight

Doubts and fears. Doubts and fears.

There was no denying that he was going to be sexually engaged with Eric. Already had been after all. Still there was a big difference between a little touching and what he craved. Would the boy submit passively? Part of him hoped not. The joy of breaking a boy was all part of the game. On the other hand he wanted the boy to need him and beg for more. That would take more than some rope and a belt. On top of that Eric was certainly no Joey! He was not a jaded little model whose mother was shoving him at his next meal ticket.

Well it was raining and it was wet and it was damp and it was that kind of a morning anyway so why not bail and get out to look over the Carriage House? Jeans, a sweatshirt and crowbar should be enough. He ended up grabbing a tool belt and a flashlight as well but was breaking the lock off the door and trying to avoid getting soaked before dawn was really finished.

Mess. Dusty but dry, which was surprising.

A few generations of petty vandalism had certainly taken place in the downstairs. A couple of pieces of ancient furniture were torn and scattered in the midst of old beer cans and a couple of porn magazines but mainly it was a litter of old soda bottles and candy wrappers. Oh and in good tradition there was more than a little spraypainted graffiti on the walls. Adam sighed. Highly uncreative of the local kids.

It was a problem area quickly solved when Adam found the four missing boards under a back window. Ten nails took care of that though he would have to come back and do a proper carpentry job on it later. Of more interest were the piles of wooden boxes scattered around the first floor. At least with these the kids had had a field day or two and most were broken and whatever contents they held were gone. At least the valuable stuff. There were tools of assorted sizes and functions still in some and mice had shredded one of moldy clothing. A box full of old china was a mix of smashed and cracked and another held what appeared to be spare parts but for what Adam had no idea. Machinery of some kind.

There was a small tractor with a lawn cutting attachment that appeared to come from prior to WWII. A clean write off there as it was more rust than not. Another pair of small hand mowers, the kind where the blades turned as you pushed them. Antique and cool and possibly salvageable with those. Other assorted junk kept him busy for the first hour but his overall assessment was to simply call in a bin and toss 95% of it all.

One glance at the clock told him that the car pulling in was probably Andy and he debated whether a cup of coffee and breakfast were in order. The answer was a surprising no, as he was in no mood to banter and not that hungry. He would take at least a look at the second floor before being pulled away to other things.

At which point he found out what had kept the upstairs from being as pillaged as the downstairs. No access. Someone had removed the stairs. Which was a weird thing to do. Still Eric had said he knew what was up there so there had to be a way. One Adam didn't find in fifteen minutes of searching and he finally resigned himself to raiding Andy's truck for a ladder. And a trip to the kitchen for coffee of course.

"Want help?" Andy asked from the basement door.

"Is my electric run for the heat and are you on the clock." Adam asked and handed him a cup.

"No and yes." Andy laughed. "Grouchy today."

"A bit." Adam shrugged but didn't elaborate. He looked around the kitchen. "We need someone to gut this crap out of here and put in a decent drywall. I'll pick out tile and do it myself but I don't like prep. Can you call someone? Oh, and he might as well do Betrice's room as well. I need a good kitchen and office. And we'll need a dumpster. You wouldn't believe the load of crap that will be coming out of the Carriage House."

"Yes I would." Andy shrugged and downed about half the cup. "Almost fifty years of kids have been using that as their personal playhouse."

"I ended that with a few nails." Adam took a minute to sit down and grab a day old danish, breakfast of champions. "If you get to Petersens we need a lock for the door though. I had to smash the one that was on it."

"If I'm acting as gopher you're still paying me as electrician." Andy frowned.

"Would you rather I just hired you for a flat fee?" It was after all logical.

"Fuck no!" Andy cast him a dirty look. "I'm old and I'm retired. If I take a full time with you then I can't work when the hell I feel like it. Right now you're interesting and the work is good. I have no problem with running a few other errands, just keep them fun."

Adam agreed and stuffed the last of his danish into his mouth. Back to work.

Ladders are a marvel. Making room in a clutter of discarded and torn up boxes is not. The rain was pounding harder and it was hot and damp work but an hour later Adam had a space cleared and was about to go up. Unfortunately Judy showed up with an umbrella and looking for her daily quota of jobs, which Adam rattled off at blazing enough speed and Judy was off to take down all of the curtains in the house and get them to a drycleaner on her way to other chores.

Adam never heard her leave as he was already up to the second floor and looking around in wonder. Crates. Twelve of them to be exact and the smallest was only four by four [1.20x1.20 m]. Each was made of solid hardwood and probably weighed enough to give the beams of the building a workout all by themselves. And all had been sealed using some pretty damned hefty nails as well.

At least whoever had put them up here had left plenty of space around them and Adam decided that the back was as good a place to start as the front. Fifteen minutes later the boards on the lid yielded to one last heave on the crowbar and a swear word best not repeated on this prude of a planet.

"Holy shit." It was not creative but neither was the open jawed expression as Adam looked into the box in total awe. Furniture. 1800's vintage by the looks of it and brand spanking new, he almost dropped his cell phone as he flipped it open, shot a quick pic and dialed.

"Adam?" Ben answered on the second ring. "I was going to call…"

"Ben shut up."Adam could think of nothing more important than these boxes. Well a boy he was going to play with in a few hours came to mind but other than that nothing at all. "I just sent you a picture. Call Carmina, then have her call some friends. I want an appraisal. What am I looking at? In fact Doug is the antiques hobbiest run it by him as well. If it's as good as I think then I'll need a truck out here within a day."

"OK." Ben sounded skeptical but hung up to do as ordered. Good boy like that, Doug had trained him well.

Back to the gold mine for box two and this time Adam spotted the faded red printing and stamps on the far side. OK idiot, read labels. This one said Scotland. He checked the one he had just opened and found what appeared to be Germany and the date 1882. Within an hour he was giddy and wondering if he was going to make the cover of Archeology In Your Barn Monthly. Or perhaps a website titled "No Way!" Whatever title they gave him he was sure to be wearing one heck of a grin.

Or perhaps not. The ink was barely dry on the property deed and some helpful bunny was going to be very eager to claim that the local school needed a larger cut, Symanski came to mind as being the logical choice for that move, which meant years of litigation and crap he did not want to think about. Like rancid old museum curators who would be hounding him for exhibits. He shuddered at the thought. You didn't grow up in a well to do major city family without learning the ugly truth about charity fundraising. It was boring beyond belief and every museum had a full time person prepared to beg till your wallet opened just to get them away from you.

Nope. He would send the stuff to New York and have it restored and then once the house was back in shape he would use the better stuff. The rest was going to some nice safe place where no one was going to mess with it or him.

Four boxes later he figured out that the big boxes in the back were from a world tour by a very rich man. Which left a whole bunch of boxes of very little interest. One was full of old mens clothes from the 1920s era. Boring and assorted wool eating insects had been having a field day anyway. Another was a collection of old books and magazines none of which had much interest and all of which dated from the mid 1930's to early 50's. There was a box with old record albums. Now that was nice, Adam was not a fan but someone would be thrilled.

Which left the small box and just enough time to open it before he had to pick up Eric from school. Jackpot. A very nice collection of antique photography equipment. Andy's statement about the missing photos went to his mind instantly and he rummaged for copies.

Nothing. Which was a real pain and not a way to end a treasure hunt.

Well, nothing but one last negative left in the enlarger. He picked it out with little real hope. Then grinned as he held it up to a light. You couldn't tell much but this was definitely a picture of the Library and the boy sprawled out on the chair was most definitely naked. Not much but it showed that the rumors were true.

Now what to do with it?

Doug would say burn all evidence immediately. Which was smart. On the other hand what would be the harm in waiting a bit? Maybe tonight he would hook up a projector and see if he could enlarge the image.

Adam stashed the negative in his pocket and went for the ladder. Duty and pleasure awaited.

NEXT PART