Diversion 1 - Diversion (23 page)

The first thing Lucky noticed was a steady, mechanical hum and a few rhythmic beeps grating on his nerves. Performing a cautious inventory, he wiggled the fingers of his right hand, a pinch and pull warning him of an IV drip. Next, he tried his left hand. “Oh dear Lord!” he attempted yelling, but his words came out a weak rasp, hardly sounding human.

A chuckle came from his left . “I see that rumors of your death are highly exaggerated.”
Walter. Hed died and gone someplace bad, to be greeted by Walter Smith. Despite the many times hed made the accusation, he hadnt actually believed Walter ruled the underworld. Until now.
He kept his eyes closed, hoping for sweet oblivion to claim him again. No such luck. “I know youre conscious, Lucky. Time to wake up and smell the coffee.”
“Coffee?” He coughed around the hairball lodged in his throat. “Water!” he croaked. Something touched his cracked and dried lips, and he pried them open to take a straw inside, slurping down the cool liquid like the nectar of the gods.
“Im sorry. I did bring you coffee as I have every day. Unfortunately, since you werent awake, I was forced to drink it myself.”
The bastard didnt have to be smug about it. Lucky managed to open his eyes, slamming them closed again at the harsh fluorescent lighting highlighting Walters bulk like a bizarre full-body halo.
A question poised on his tongue, but he dared not ask and give too much away. Would their “fraternizing” jeopardized Bos deal if Walter found out? Lucky weighed his options and voiced his second most pressing concern: “They get Ryerson?”
“Yes, and Elledge and Burnett, too. Theyve also rounded up quite a fewaccomplices. Even being in intensive care wouldnt have saved you from the reaming out Id be giving you if your vigilante justice hadnt stopped their escape.”
Lucky sighed, stopping mid-motion when the deep exhale spiked pain through his chest. Broken ribs. More than one. “Ill bet shes regretting the day she ever met me.” What would happen to her, to her kids, if she went to prison? If tough old Victor cashed in rather than suffer the consequences, would the doctor? Lucky didnt want another suicide on his conscience.
“To hear you tell it, shes hardly the first. If youre worried about her giving up, youre underestimating her. Its not easy to pull an MDs license, and shes hired an entire team of the best trial lawyers in the state. Shell try to make a deal.”
Lucky lay still, listening to the sound of his own breathing. His hand, a leg, and various other areas cried out in pain, but he reveled in it, glad to be alive…and free? “What day is it?”
“January second. Im afraid you missed both Christmas and New Years.”
“January?”
“You were out of it for quite some time, though your doctor believes you would have made a full recovery if you hadnt taken an unexpected turn for the worse.”
Fuzzyheaded, he couldnt quite process Walters meaning. Nothing mademuch sense right now. “A turn for the worse?” You mean it got worse than how he felt now?
Walter heaped a generous helping of theatrics into his woeful sigh. “Yes. It seems you died on December twentieth.”
“Died?”
The nurses must have given me some damned fine drugs, because it sounded like Walter said, “You died.”
“If Im dead, this proves my theory that you do rule Hell.” That earned him a hearty, bodyshaking belly laugh. Luckys ribs ached in sympathy.
“That would definitely be your idea of Hell.”
The fuzz cleared from Luckys brain. Oh yeah, Walters “drastic measures.”
“Im afraid that despite our best efforts, Richmond Eugene Lucklighter died at seven P.M. on December twentieth, saving me the trouble of creating a suitable death for you. Put a big damper on Christmas, let me tell you, and almost made my superiors more compassionate about the car you willfully destroyed. Lucy and I sent a lovely poinsettia arrangement to your sister. Charlotte told me to tell you that she doesnt believe youre dead for…how did she put it? Oh, yes, I quote, „My brother didnt die in no damned car wreck; hes tougher n a pine knot. Youd better tell him to get his sorry ass to Spokane or I will hunt him down like the dog he is.”
For a huge man with absolutely no feminine side to speak of, Walter did a deadon impression of Charlotte and her “southern belle who can kick your ass.” He cocked a fluffy brow in question. “Exactly what is a pine knot and how tough are they?”
“Google it,” Lucky replied, cheered by his sisters words. Seemed she understood his message loud and clear, and he trusted her to keep the knowledge on a must-know basis—meaning their parents now considered themselves down by a kid, if they hadnt already. Thinking of his parents, he probed the raw wound to see how badly it still hurt. “Mom, Dad?” He held his breath, heart seized in a painful grip.
Walter suddenly found the floor of great interest. “They didnt attend your memorial service, nor did your brothers.”
Lucky closed his eyes, releasing his pent-up breath. What did he expect? For them to suddenly realize theyd been wrong?
Fat chance.
Walter, however, wasnt finished. “Keith and Art made sure everyone in your hometown knows you died a hero. If its any consolation, your parents phone is probably ringing off the hook with well-meaning neighbors calling to tell them how proud they are of a hometown boy making the evening news…in a good way.”
Yeah, small consolation indeed. He visualized the sprawling farmhouse hed grown up in, how hed stopped thinking of it as home a long time ago. Home; where was that? With Victor? With Charlotte and her boys? Someplace yet to be discovered?
“Home” brought to mind the tiny house in Kissimmee, the big bed hed slept in every night, limbs tangled with his lovers, even if his lover had been part of a temporary arrangement. He wondered what had happened to the packages hed left under the Christmas cactus. He imagined Bos handsome face, streaked with tears, unwrapping the Perky Peckers Lucky had bought with the hopesof an appearance of The Dimple. That is, if Bod survived. Had he saved Bos life? Lucky dared not ask. Until he knew for sure, hed hope he hadnt caused more pain to a man whod already experienced too much. Surely Walter wouldnt be upbeat if hed lost a man, would he? Even he wasnt that heartless.
Instead of the question threatening to explode his brain, Lucky asked instead, “I cant believe my time is finally up. What now?”
“As wed first discussed months ago, Richmond Lucklighter is now legally dead. You neednt worry about Victors henchmen or any of the new enemies youve made over the years tracking you down.” Walter gave him a mock stern glare. “Youve been given a new life; try not to fuck it up.”
“What about testifying against Ryerson and the others?”
“Dont you remember?” The moving mountain exaggerated surprise. “You came to long enough to answer questions for the record before your untimely death, and there are also your reports and surviving partner. Not to mention that Elledge, possessing few functioning brain cells, apparently, didnt cover his tracks. The whole incident of kidnapping Bo from the clinic was caught on the security cameras, and we found dozens of Regency labels sporting bogus lot numbers and expiration dates in his office.”
Surviving partner? Bos alive! Hallelujah!
“You mean those cameras actually worked?”
“Regardless of what youd like to believe, Keith is good at what he does. He tapped into their feed weeks ago.”
Lucky finally voiced the burning question: “Is Bo all right?”
“Bo? What? No more „Newbie or „Asshole? Why, Lucky, I do believe your coma mellowed you.” Walter bared his teeth in either a grin or an attempt to scare the shit out of someone.
Lucky didnt scare easily. His patience came to an end. “I dont work foryou anymore; I dont have to play nice! Now tell me—”
“Nice? Since when have you ever played nice?”
Lucky scowled, giving it up immediately when something pulled over his eyebrows. “Id like to know that my replacement is at least functioning, though hell never be as good as me.” He held his breath, hoping he hadnt given too much away.
“Other than being brokenhearted over the loss of his partner, hes fine. Right now hes neck deep in Regency Pharma, separating the lambs from the goats, as it were. The corruption there sank deep, and it will take months to sort out the details. But we have undisputed evidence that Burnett received kickbacks for providing short dated products and new labels to Rx Dispose, who in turn, provided the Ryerson Clinic, oftentimes with expired product.”
Inwardly Lucky breathed a sigh of relief. “Bos not in a pharmacy?”
“No, hes not in a pharmacy. Hes currently Frasers right hand man, and though I dare say he misses the action of his former assignment, itll give him a chance to further establish himself.”
“Fraser? Regency Pharmas CEO? Hes clear?”
“Yes, Fraser is clear. With the investigation wrapping up, Im free to disclose that Fraser never was under suspicion. He first approached us when he began to have doubts about some of the players on his team, which is why we staged our little demonstration and placed you at Burnetts facility. We decided to give them enough rope and let them hang themselves, though at the time we had no idea how far-reaching their schemes were. Ryersons isnt the only clinic to close. The three others that you tracked deliveries to were raided a week later. All that remains is to tidy up the loose ends, which Bos helping with. Quite a mind for business, he has.”
Walter patted Luckys shoulder with one beefy hand. “You trained that boy well.” He sank onto a chair by the bed, his mien thoughtful. “I hesitate to suggest this lest you start throwing expensive hospital equipment, but I do wish youd stay on with us. You and Bo made a good team. However, Ill respect your choice. If you dont mind my asking, what plans do you have for the future?”
Having had plenty of time to dwell on that particular possibility, Lucky thought hed have a ready answer, but he didnt. He improvised. “I plan to take it easy, settle into a new life, do some fishing. Ill try to find a way to safely tell my sis Im okay, and go for my CDL license, maybe do a little long-haul trucking. See the country a bit.”
“Make sure you come by your loads honestly. My entire department was trained by the best diversion consultant in the business.” The twinkle left Walters eyes, and, for a split second, he appeared truly sad that their time together was at an end. Once more Lucky wondered exactly how badly Walter had pissed off the cosmos to wind up working with him. “Think what you like of me and yourself, but Im honored to have worked with you. Like it or not, about six years ago, you actually stopped seeing this as a sentence and truly put your heart into stopping the bad guys. I need a few more men like you and wholeheartedly wish youd reconsider leaving. You could still work for me, even with your new identity.”
Lucky considered, genuinely considered, staying—for about half a second. Hed lived for this moment far too long to give it up without a fight. Once more he pictured Bos sad face. The man had had weeks to mourn, thinking Lucky dead, and didnt need an ex- con in his life. Lucky hoped someday Bo would find someone to love him, cherish him, someone he trusted enough to let out all the bad memories, and whod help him make better ones. Though honored to have been that man, even for a short time, it tore Luckys heart out to say, “Its time for me to move on. Keep an eye on Newbie for me, will you? Hes not half bad once you get to knowhim.”
He closed his eyes and lay back on the pillow, willing Walter to leave before he said something hed regret.

“Oh, fuck yeah!” Bo moaned, writhing and impaling himself on Luckys cock.
Lucky pumped faster, tension pooling in his groin, gathering for release. He shouted out his pleasure, shooting his load into his lovers frantically bucking body.
His eyes shot open, his hand wrapped around his spurting flesh. Lucky groaned, casting a wistful glance at the pillow next to his.
What I wouldnt give to have Bo here.
No sounds of life came from the kitchen, no wonderful aroma of brewing coffee beckoned. In the past few weeks, Luckyd learned to hate silence. He rose and dressed, not bothering to shower and shave, and trudged down to the local Starbucks, as he did every single “cant tell one day from the next” morning of his life. Sadly, though he kept to decaf and stevia, he didnt sleep well alone.
“Good morning, Simon!” a too-cheerful clerk greeted, handing him his usual.
Simon—
Did they have to fucking call me Simon?
—Harrison grabbed a newspaper from the rack by the door and perused the days headlines at his normal table.
“Operation Exposure a Success. Twenty-Four Charged in Pharmaceutical Diversion Sting.”
Damn! The corruption did run deep. He ran down the list of names and charges. Nearly everyone employed by Ryerson was named, as well as several at Rx Dispose and the Raleigh division of Regency Pharma. He wondered how Burnetts prison jumpsuit would match that horrid tie.
He skimmed the article,
“Task force operatives take down multistate drug diversion operation.”
There was no mention of Bo or Walter, though the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau received a small footnote. It startled him to see his own name:
“Agent Richmond E. Lucklighter, Southeastern Narcotics Bureaus Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, killed in the line of duty.”
That ought to stick in a few craws.
Lucky felt a smug bit of pride to have had a hand in that operations success, something hed never allowed himself before. No, before he was too busy chafing at the bit, ready to shake off the stigma of his mistakes. He raised his coffee cup to his lips, toasting a quiet, “Heres to the team.”
He folded the page and carefully ripped out his thankfully pictureless obituary, not having a clue why he wanted to save it.
To piss off the next customer in here who picks this paper up and tries to read it,
he rationalized. He raised his cup again, annoyed to find it empty.
“Black decaf, four stevias?”
Face still hidden behind his paper, he replied, “Thanks, but I didnt order another.”
The man standing beside his table didnt budge. With a weary sigh “Simon” raised his eyes, falling instantly into the deep chasm hed often worried hed never escape from.
“Y…you!” he stammered, all eloquence stolen by the one who finally managed to track him. His heart slammed against his ribs.
“Hello, Lucky,” Bo murmured, voice low enough not to be overheard.
“Its Simon now. And how did you find me? Or better yet, howd you figure out I didnt die?” Theyd planned everything to a T. How had this man tracked him down in less than a month? Was he losing his touch? If Bo found him, would the ruthless bastards hed pissed off hunt him down, too?
“Dont freak. I came alone. No one knows Im here.” Bo may have towered over Lucky by a good few inches; at that moment he appeared small and lost. “I needed to talk to you.” His gaze roved over the crowded tables, falling to rest again on Lucky. “Alone.”
Lucky nodded, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat. He took the cup from Bos hand and made his way outside and across the parking lot to—Bo drove a Durango on his own time? He climbed up, way up, into the passenger seat and shuddered, uncomfortable not being on the drivers side.
Bo slid beneath the steering wheel, sipping green liquid from a Starbucks cup. Lucky licked his lips, remembering tasting Bos favorite beverage in a kiss. “Now, to answer your question, I had a good teacher. He told me that everyone has a weakness. Watch the weakness and youll find the man.” He slipped a hand across the console, resting it on Luckys knee. When Lucky didnt respond, he withdrew.
Lucky grabbed Bos fingers, lacing them with his own and bringing their joined hands to rest on his thigh. He gave his lover a tremulous smile, torn between happiness to see him again, and fear of what might come next.
“You may not be aware of it, but Walter adores you. After the crash he was inconsolable. But, something changed. He announced your death without batting an eye. Id seen him blubbering incoherently at the scene, thinking you were dead. At first, I thought hed become numb. Then I caught him personally packing away your things. He smiled as he put them in a box. I remembered losing guys in Afghanistan. We didnt smile. I figured your time was up, and that you and Walter had faked your death to give you a way out.”
Smart man. Too smart.
“And how did you find me?”
“That took a little more time. Having heard you talk about how much you love the south, I narrowed my search to six states, after nearly having my ass kicked by an angry woman from Spokane.” He closed his eyes and shuddered in mock horror. “Do you have any idea how many Starbucks there are in the south? Oh, and youll be happy to know that youre not the only regular who likes black coffee with sugar, or even the only one who takes four sugars. That did narrow down the playing field considerably, however. And then, low and behold, I located a Starbucks in Alabama that stocked stevia and served massive amounts of decaf to one particular customer.” The Dimple appeared, igniting a fire in Lucky. Hed always wondered how it felt, the elusive thing for which his sister put up with too much shit for far too long, and that kept Walter and his Lucy together for umpteen years.