The Trials of Being Loved

Part 54 - No Retreat, Father Orca

New walked on his own today to the bathroom. He didn't glance at the cot or return the elder man's greeting. Rude? Of course it was! He had to be, he had to remember, he had to keep the small pieces of  himself together, however he could. 

As for that man, New knew who he was - of course he did. Tay had pictures of his family in his condo but when you are in the process of protecting your fragile self, the world can go fuck itself. Did he not treat his own family with the same cold disregard? Simple phone calls, rare visits home... He waited until the door quietly closed before allowing the tremors to rack his body.  

Why couldn't everyone just be satellites? Then they only needed to subsist on the outskirts of his life, then they had no power to influence or hurt him. 

It would get easier. It had too. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Vihokratana stood up at New's cold shoulder and walked out into the hallway, needing to take his mind off of the that particular problem. He flipped open his encoded phone and stared. His secretary had tried to reach him several times. Sighing, he dialed the man back. "Yes?" He listened intently to what was said and held back even more sighs. "Have you told Tam?" It was brief, the Undersecretary knew his job well.

He scratched at his short hair. He needed a shower badly but the facilities were limited. Suddenly, a thought hit him, like a thunderbolt. "I want you to mobilize every agent we have. I mean stat. They will start to destroy evidence and fast once the word is out that the Mafia is involved with us." Quickly, the instructions flowed smoothly and he knew the Undersecretary, after years of working with him, understood. 

This wasn't even going to the Prime Minister until after... well, not until afterwards. They would take it to the public if they had too. In case HE was corrupt too. 

Scratching his scalp again, Vihokratana walked slowly to the bathroom and plunged his head under the cold water tap, scrubbing it clean. He was surprised when a small towel was handed to him. "Thanks." 

Tam simply nodded. "Care to tell me why I have to leave?" He'd already been contacted by that insufferable voice, wondering why this man didn't just tell him in person.

The other man only sighed again. "Minister of Finance." He confirmed glumly, thinking of how many staff meeting he had observed that man in. Slowly he continued, reiterating the names that his undersecretary had given him, "Minister of Defense. There's more, do I need to go on?"

"No. I think that explains it." Tam turned and then looked back, "Is the Prime Minister..."

"I don't know, but if he is, I am going to stop him. I am paid to stop corruption directly by him." Vihokratana's voice was firm. " But my son and that boy are innocent. Together we have to find out everything and keep them safe. Somehow they saw something, or were part of something." 

"Other than the manager?" Tam asked, his lips pursed. An answering nod from his new boss.  Fuck, Fuckity Fuck. More complications. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Sayen stared at his rescuer in awe and then looked around his new digs. His whole body ached from the hard labour of the day, because even if the counting house was easier, it was labour none the less. Sex now would only complicate his pain, not help him. His back ached in ways he hadn't known were possible. Still, it was the bed that caught his eyes and he couldn't stop the soft moan that escaped... 

It had a mattress! An honest to god mattress,  not just a pad of woven bamboo that was what he had been sleeping on since he'd gone into hiding. Carefully, licking dry lips that had cracked under the hot sun, "What do you want from me?" He knew nothing in life was free. He knew that to sleep in a bed it would cost him.