A matter of pride

Chapter 14

Dillon stared at his dinner and tried to concentrate on what Craig was saying. Something about a client canceling on him maybe, Dillon wasn't entirely sure, there was too much noise in his brain, too many thoughts and conversations and emotions. So much had happened but he hadn't had time to process it properly and it was giving him a headache when he should have been happy."I just hate that sort of rudeness, you know what I'm saying? Guys who think they can just call you at the last minute and cancel, or change their order on the day you're supposed to supply. That's no way to treat a man. I don't stand for it. I gave that bloke a real dressing down when he did that to me. Send me half way across the state and then ring to say he's not even going to be there and can we make it next Thursday instead."It wasn't a question but Dillon got the feeling he was supposed to respond. He also got the feeling that Craig wasn't only talking about the client who'd canceled on him. He'd been incensed when Dillon texted him to say that he was getting a lift with a friend and would meet him at the restaurant. He'd called immediately and had made Dillon feel small and worthless and annoying. He didn't want to think what Craig might have done if he'd canceled the date all together. Maybe David was right, maybe Craig wasn't as nice as he seemed."It is hard to reschedule a, um, a meeting sometimes, especially when there's expectations tied to it," he said, speaking mostly to his fried rice. "But sometimes it can't, it can't... be helped. Life's complicated and we don't always know how we're going to, to, to feel, um, when the time for a date or a meeting actually comes, um..."He had seriously thought that Craig would turn up to their dinner in the same half-hearted spirits as Dillon, because their last two dates hadn't exactly gone well, but if anything he'd been the opposite. He'd opened the door for him and ordered an expensive bottle of wine and had complimented Dillon's shirt. He hadn't let Dillon's glass get even halfway empty over the course of the meal and kept urging him to drink with comments that even Dillon could tell were downright manipulative. He was the sort of dominant guy Dillon always worked hard to avoid and he tried to figure out how he'd ended up in such an unwanted situation.David had spent the night at his house and Dillon had fallen asleep with the man's warmth comforting him. It had felt strange, in a way, to wake up beside him again, because it had felt so natural and he'd found himself watching David's calm breathing as he slept as his heart tightened. In a week they'd met, argued, hooked up, argued again, and admitted that they really did like each other a lot and Dillon wondered what would happen next. David hadn't brought up the dinner with Craig again but Dillon had seen every time he'd wanted to because he opened his mouth, inhaled, paused, and then stopped himself. Dillon had spent the morning holding in his laughter because David's earnest expression was too much for him, and had been disappointed when David had needed to go in to town and actually get some work done.Then the countdown had begun, to the moment when Dillon had to let Craig Gillman down as gently as he could. He'd never had to dump anyone before, though he wasn't sure that it counted as dumping when they'd only had two dates. It was a panic inducing situation to be in and his anxiety had gotten worse as the day progressed until he wished he had just taken the coward's way out and cancelled when he'd had the chance. He probably would have too, if he hadn't had Lizzy on the one side thinking he was too timid to date, and David on the other side trying to tell him he absolutely had to cancel and not even think about dating other men. He'd over-thought everything after that and had found himself feeling horribly jealous of Lizzy and Bec and horribly suspicious of David's motives. It was still overwhelming just thinking that someone as intelligent and kind and god damned attractive wanted to be with him, enough to admit his feelings when Dillon was still terrified at the thought of feeling anything.He'd been making a sandwich and feeding seeds to Firetail when Lizzy had called in a panic because her attempt to propose that morning hadn't gone according to plan. That at least had given Dillon something to occupy his mind for an hour, until Lizzy told him she was going to try again that night when she took Bec out to dinner."The problem is," she'd sighed down the phone. "The only decent place in town is 'The Jade Emperor' and you're going there on your big date. I don't want to cramp your style by having a break down in the middle of the dining room as I fail, again, to ask my girlfriend to marry me.""It's not a big deal," Dillon had told her. "The date, I mean, not your thing. Proposing to Bec is super important, Love, but you should try not to stress about it, okay? If it's meant to be it'll happen."Now, Dillon wished he could hurry them up a bit, just so that he could have an excuse to stop listening to Craig. He could see them at the other end of the restaurant, looking like a matching pair in their slacks and patterned shirts and coy smiles. They looked so happy and comfortable together and Dillon wished he could experience that feeling again, the way he had with Sam. There was a hint of it with David, like a memory but one of what might be coming instead of one that'd just been."You're not drinking your wine?" Craig commented, lifting his own to his lips and waiting for Dillon to do the same. "It's a very mellow vintage, you'll find. Very smooth. But it's the same with wine as with anything isn't it? You get what you pay for. I hate for wine this good to go to waste."Dillon tried to make his grimace look more like a smile as he swallowed another gulp of wine. He didn't really care if it was smooth or expensive, he just wanted to finish his meal and say sorry, I'm not interested. He just couldn't seem to find a long enough gap in the conversation to actually say anything."So, what's up with you?" Craig suddenly asked, smiling at Dillon like he was posing for a photograph. "Have you... been up to anything over the last week?"The implication, Dillon could hear it in his voice, was that Craig was a busy, successful, business man, and that Dillon was recluse on disability benefits who never seemed to do much. Dillon hated the truth of it, and the fact that, in Craig's eyes, it was fair enough that he dominated the conversation because Dillon never seemed to have any news, or anything interesting to say."Actually I found a bird a couple of days ago," he said earnestly, hoping to at least prove the man wrong before he broke things off. "A painted firetail. They're a kind of finch and quite rare but very beautiful and this one had hurt-""That's great. Do you want to order dessert here? I have ice cream back at my place otherwise, and a nice bottle of champagne."Dillon blinked. Craig expected him to be impressed, or possibly charmed, but Dillon just felt creeped out, like he'd just looked down at his dinner and discovered half a slug in the bowl, and it propelled him in to action because there was no way he was going to play along with a guy who thought he could smooth talk him in to bed with the promise of ice cream in a campervan, no matter how fancy."Listen, Craig," he said before taking another swallow of wine. "The thing is, I actually feel that, um, I'm not really in to the whole dating site, dating app, thing. Um...""Oh, it's definitely has its draw backs, I agree, I've said it myself, it's a hard life, trying to find someone to connect with when you live out in the arse end of Australia, and a site that tries to tell you that bisexuals belong on a men's site, I mean, it's laughable. Not to mention that there's some sort of glitch in the damn thing and I've been getting the most bizarre, disointed messages. New users asking me where I'm going to be on a Sunday night, asking what my full name is, what I look like. I reported it all, of course, because it was basically gibberish. I'm just glad that I've met a few people who I actually relate to. Glad I've met you, I mean."Dillon had started to feel his dinner rising back up his throat at Craig's opinion of bi men, there was a reason he kept his sexuality to himself, but the feeling of nausea increased when he heard that Craig seemed to sense a connection that he did not, until he felt that it wasn't just half a slug in his belly but a whole swarm. He needed to set things straight. He needed to make Craig shut up long enough to make him hear what he was trying to say, and he needed to do it now!A gasp of delight across the room jolted him from his thoughts and he looked up with sudden excitement as he realised that Bec was down on one knee, a ring in one hand and Lizzy's hand in her other. He was on his feet before he realised what he was doing, but Craig pulled him back in to his chair."Don't make a scene," he hissed. "We may be on a date but I'm not out in this town and as far as this restaurant is concerned this is a business meeting. You do not go and congratulate two lesbians on their engagement!""What?" Dillon tried to put as much distance between himself and Craig as he could. "What do you mean, you're not out? You're on a queer dating app. And Lizzy and Bec are my friends.""You wouldn't understand. It's complicated. Just drink your wine."Dillon stood, grabbing his cane to steady himself. He didn't want to make a scene, he really didn't, but he was done with his dinner and he was done with Craig Gillman."I've had enough wine," he said, "and, and anyone who sees us together is going to realise you're gay, Craig, because I'm out and they're smart people, they're going to work it out. And, and, um, I can't see you again. I've met someone else, someone who actually listens. So I'm sorry, but you and I, we're not going to be going on any more dates. Sorry."He turned on his heel and tried to walk away with an equal amount of speed and dignity, and feared he was failing at both. He pulled out his phone to message David as he walked toward the counter to settle the bill, hoping Craig wouldn't follow him, but couldn't get out of there fast enough. Craig Gillman wasn't going to let him get away that easily and the panic was beginning to bubble forth and overtake him. He needed to get out, he needed to get away, but Craig's hand was already on his shoulder, before he even had a chance to press send on his text."And where do you think you're going?"*David was on edge. It had been an hour since he'd dropped Dillon off outside the Chinese restaurant and taken himself down to the local pub. For the first ten minutes he'd had his phone in hand checking and re-checking for messages. Finlay was the one officially on surveillance for the night and there was a second car stationed outside the restaurant proper; David was technically surplus to requirements but there was no way he was not going to stay, not if Dillon needed him."Hey! What's eating you tonight, Davo? Your little friend not tagging along with you?"Martin grinned broadly as he slammed down his glass on the bar. David gave the man a long look. Everyone in town was always telling him that Martin was a top-notch bloke and a boon to the town but he just reminded David of Gaston, and he had no desire to accidentally break out in song whenever the man appeared."Hello, White," he mumbled, pushing away his empty lemonade glass. "Thanks for sending over that information about the library security system. It's been very useful.""Aw, a pleasure, mate! I'd do anything for this town. The world might be turning down the road toward Hell but this town, mate, this town's something else. I never should've left it. Never will again. You'll never leave either, once you settle in. No city can compare to this town."He turned to look out across the bar like a king surveying his kingdom and David rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure how long he could stay in a small town, let alone this one. But if it worked for someone like Martin then it was all well and good."Why did you leave then?" he asked, letting his curiosity have a little free reign in order to distract himself. "If you love this place so much, why did you move away in the first place?""Well," Martin began, as if he was about to start a grand saga. "Two years ago I was offered a very lucrative contract with a government agency in Adelaide. They wanted the best and there I was. And the pay was great, don't get me wrong, but city life...""It's hardly a big city," David mumbled as he nodded to the woman behind the bar for another drink, but Martin just shrugged dramatically."But you know what it's like. It's why you've moved out here, right? The city warps people, corrupts people. But don't you worry, the country air'll straighten you out in no time. Clean, simple, living, that's what a man needs. Don't you worry, Dave."David wanted to correct him but knew it wasn't worth the trouble. There was something honourable, he supposed, about giving up a high paying job in favour of a simpler life, but Martin seemed to need constant pats on the back and congratulations and David didn't have time for that. He checked his phone again even though he knew there were no new messages. He would have felt it if one came through, but he needed something to do, something that made it clear to Martin that he wasn't interested in a prolonged conversation, or making friends. The information he'd given them hadn't actually been useful and he hadn't expected it to be. It was simply the names of the library employees and volunteers, information he'd expected, and without some sort of real, physical evidence to back up their case, Craig Gillman would be able to weasel his way out of any charge before they could make it stick."Hey, you know who you should meet?" Martin interrupted his musings with a slap to his shoulder. "Craig. I ran in to him in the library when I went to get you the security footage. He's a top bloke, you two'd get on great. He's a bit of a city boy, got some fancy, new age ideas, but he's great value. Great footy player, but he's got a temper mind. I wouldn't like to go up against him in a fight! But maybe you've got a few choice moves as well, hey? City boy?""Craig who?"David was suddenly at full attention, his eyes focused on Martin as he tried to stop himself from giving in to the urge to wipe the glib grin off the man's face."Craig Gillman," Martin informed him, shrugging his shoulder as if there were no other Craigs in existence and David's question was utterly ridiculous. "Why, have you met him? Or did he turn up already, on your surveillance?" He winked obviously and David felt his emotions beginning to boil. "He's a good bloke, yeah. And hey, forget what I said about his temper, I didn't mean it, he's a pussycat. Whatever our Finlay's got you looking in to, Craig-o, he's not your man. Dave?"David almost fell off his stool in his haste, and shook off Martin's hand on his shoulder when the man tried to steady him. If Gillman had been seen at the library but hadn't shown up in the security footage then that at least gave them a reason to bring him in for questioning. He rushed toward the door with his mobile in hand, ignoring a call from Martin asking him what was wrong. As he ran out of the pub his phone finally buzzed.'i'm so ready to go. leaving now.'He looked down the street, not honestly expecting to see Dillon outside only moments after he'd sent the text, but as he began a fast walk down the footpath he saw the man emerge, unmistakable even at a distance with his hair tucked behind his ears and his cane glinting under the street lights. He was moving faster than was probably comfortable and David sped up his own steps as he saw Craig Gillman exit a moment later, and grab his arm. David watched as Dillon's cane slipped as his arm was pulled. He began to run as Dillon lost his balance and fell, and called out when he saw Gillman lean over the smaller man and yell, his boot already colliding with Dillon's ribs."Hey!" he yelled, gaining speed. "Stop! Police!"Gillman looked up, hands a bear inch from Dillon's throat, and tried to run, only to collide with Finlay who had exited her car and tackled him."Mr. Gillman, you are under arrest," she shouted cheerfully as she held him down against the concrete and then looked up at David as he arrived on the scene. "He's all yours boss."David came to a stop and fell to his knees beside Dillon, trying to assess the extent of his injuries. His hands were scraped from the concrete and he was wheezing as he sat up but seemed otherwise fine, even if he was giving David an extremely confused look. David wanted to express his relief that Dillon was safe somehow but knew it was neither the time nor the place. In an ideal world he would have gathered the man in to his arms and kissed him and explained properly what had happened and why, but there was no time for that. And, he told himself, he had a job to do. He'd been working toward this arrest for weeks and he wasn't about to let it slip by."Good work, Finlay," he told her. "Very fine work. Mr. Gillman, as my fine colleague just informed you, you are under arrest.""What?" Gillman yelled, spittle flying from his mouth as he struggled to free his arms. His cheeks had changed from an angry red to a deep and unhealthy puce and David wondered how much of the colour was caused by his outrage and how much was a result of the struggle. Above him, Finlay hadn't even broken a sweat and she was grinning too, at Gillman's indignation. "Arrested on what charge?""Oh, Mr. Gillman," David said with a lightness he didn't feel, "you're an intelligent enough man, at least that's what you told me several times during our last chat. Surely you can figure it out. I just saw you put your hands to that young man's neck for starters."Finlay cuffed Gillman's wrists and moved back, kneeling with one knee down beside the man's head. He tried to rise but couldn't manage it and glared up balefully as he spat his words at her."This is assault! I'll have you stripped of your rank and badge for this!"Finlay just grinned wider and cocked her head to the side."Nah, that's what's called reasonable force. I reckon assault would be if I were to yank your arm real hard when you were trying to get away and then kick your walking stick out from under you and then verbally abuse you as I kicked you in the ribs before attempting to strangle you."David let out a grunt that was almost a laugh as he moved over to join her, leaning over Gillman until he turned his face to look up at him directly. He was enjoying this, he couldn't deny it, but he gave the man his most serious and intimidating look as he spoke."Mr. Gillman, since you asked, I'm arresting you on a charge of assault. But I am also arresting you in connection to the murder of Mark Chen.""What?""You have the right to remain silent, Mr. Gillman, if you choose to. You have the right to legal counsel. You also have the right for a family member or friend to be informed of your arrest. If you resist any further I will have to charge you with that as well and that, quite frankly, would be a pain, Mr. Gillman, and I'm in a good mood and don't want the burden of the extra paperwork."He smiled, knowing it looked more like a snarl, and watched the fight go out of Gillman at the sight of it. Blood was rushing through his veins and adrenaline was fueling his heart and he felt jubilant at the thought of finally having some proof, a way to link Gillman to the murders from several angles. He had Gillman's proximity to Mark Chen's dumped body, his lack of alibi for the night of the murder, Martin's eye witness account of him leaving the library, his own eye witness account of Gillman putting his hands to Dillon's throat. He had finally broken the case and nothing was going to take that feeling of victory away from him."Yeah, nobody needs that," Finlay responded cheekily. "Especially since it'd keep you stuck in Port Evans even longer! Here's hoping we can get this bastard stamped and gift wrapped and ready to be sent off to Adelaide for you over the next few days and then," she winked at him and David chuckled darkly, unable to hide his excitement. "Then it'll be back to Sydney and sleeping late and 'proper' coffee I expect, hey boss?""Boss?" David had almost forgotten Dillon was there and turned in surprise to where the man was sitting on the footpath, rubbing his wrist and wheezing as he tried to speak. "Was this, um, was this all... all a set up then? To catch a murderer? What was I then, bait?"David felt his racing heart trip when he realised what Dillon must think."Hey, no. Are you alright? Do you need an ambulance, anything like that?" Dillon shook his head, his expression one of disbelief, and eventually David realised he would have to actually answer the questions put to him. "No, you weren't bait. Not at all. It was a complete coincidence, my meeting you. I was sent out to answer your call as a part of establishing my cover. The fact that you became involved with Gillman was just a lucky coincidence.""Lucky?" Dillon whispered, confused. "Lucky that I ended up on a date with a suspected murderer? Lucky for who?""That's not what I meant," David huffed. He climbed to his feet, realising how ridiculous it was to be arguing while sitting on the ground, and pulled Gillman to his feet along with him. "Look, we can talk about this later. You know how I feel about you. You know I wouldn't do anything to put you in danger. Are you alright? Can you stand?" He offered his free hand but Dillon refused it and struggled to his feet with the help of his cane. "It was just convenient that you happened to be in contact with Gillman, it worked out in our favour tonight. But if you'll recall the argument, it was me trying to dissuade you from going out with him, and you refused.""Because I didn't realise he was a bloody murderer!""I am not a murderer!" Gillman shouted, and David watched as Dillon flinched.He gave Finlay a look and she led the man away toward the two waiting uniformed cops but when he looked back, expecting to see Dillon a little more calm, he saw that he was actually struggling to breathe, and that a small crowd had gathered to watch the scene."Dillon, look-" he tried to reach out, to put his hand on Dillon's shoulder, but it was shrugged off and Dillon moved out of reach, like a terrified animal, the panic visible in the shaking that was overtaking his muscles."Is, is, is that the only reason you were nice to me? Because I was convenient? Are you even... I mean, you've not really been transferred here, have you? You're just, just here for this case. So you were never, um, never serious about me? It was all an act?" David wanted to tell him that it hadn't been an act, but the words stuck in his throat. He didn't want to do this in front of a bunch of gawkers who'd come running from the restaurant. He could see Lizzy and Bec among the watchers, and Martin too, at the back. "When were you going to tell me?" Dillon said bleakly, his brown eyes large with emotion. "Or were you just going to, um, carry on like it was all fine until one day you, you, you weren't there anymore? I mean, what the fuck, David?""We can talk about this later," he said, hating the lack of emotion in his voice. He was filled to overflowing with the stuff but somehow he still managed to sound cool and in control and for once he hated that about himself. "Right now I have a job to do."He turned to walk back to his car, wondering if Dillon would join him. They had agreed, after all, that he would give Dillon a lift home after his dinner with Gillman, but the only thing that followed him was Dillon's sad, quiet voice."But I was falling in love with you."David didn't look back. He had kept Dillon safe, and he had caught his man. That was all that mattered. He could mend the relationship once he had Gillman's confession, and figure out where they would go from there. He'd been a fool to think it could be more than a fling and yet, despite knowing that he done what needed to be done, and that he'd finally arrested his serial killer, David couldn't shake the feeling that he'd managed to get everything wrong.