The Gemini

53 - Set Fire

May 22, 1991

Two short knocks on the door. Tommy answered.

A silencer. A single bullet shot to the middle of his forehead.

Falling back, his body thudded onto the floor.

He was dead.

"Hey what's up?"

Roger blinked back from an alternated reality at the sound of Tommy's greeting.

"A word." he said simply.

It was enough to make the blue eyed man step aside and allow an entry.

Removing his sunglasses, Roger viewed around the hotel room. It wasn't anything extravagant. Out of the niceness of his heart, he almost offered to foot the bill for a place until Tommy could get himself together. Good thing for Tommy that he didn't because right about now, he would've made a call of cancellation and had his ass thrown out on the street.

Door closed. Tommy stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting. Roger made sure to keep a good distance between them; not because he didn't trust himself to be near, but because Tommy had a four inch height advantage and he wasn't about to raise his head to him. No way in hell.

"Why did you accept this position?"

After a short moment of puzzlement, "Because I like playing good music."

"You think my music is good?"

Roger kept his stare unwavering and his tone stoic. A chill that was the opposite of the fire he felt inside. A fire that he was still trying to suppress in this civil attempt.

"Yah, of course."

"What about my fiancée, you think she's good too?"

He watched the color drain from Tommy's face. It would be a lie to say that he didn't get a kick from that flash of fear.

"I want you to tell me exactly how you thought that was going to fly. Do you perceive me to be stupid?"

"No. I –"

"Obviously you do. You thought this wouldn't get back to me?"

"When I agreed to come back, I –"

"Thought that you would come in, play a little something and me at the same time? Looking at my wife with intentions to what? Get her back?"

Tommy shook his head, keeping his calm against the interrogation. "I didn't even know that Jody would be –"

"Pause." Roger interrupted yet again, this time his own calm slipping for a stern edge. Holding up his index finger, "Rule number one, you don't say her name. Clear?"

Tommy wanted to scoff, he nodded instead, "Yeah." A small sigh, "Look, I don't want any trouble."

Peaking his brows, "What, this?" he motioned between them. "Best believe I'd have your ass on that floor if I wanted to. This is communication, not trouble. I'm going to conduct myself like the better man that I am." Roger informed. "Now," sliding hands into his pockets, "I'm still waiting to hear your story."

Tired of standing, Tommy moved to sit in the armchair positioned beside the television stand. Still though he kept his muscles ready to move in defense if need be. Roger kept up. His shorter stature seeming to tower due to the dominance and power he exuded. The room was filled with it.

"I didn't come back for her. I wasn't expecting to see her at the video shoot. She came up to me and asked why I was there. I told her you rehired me."