Round and Round Read Free

of the man—” What could he say? “The guy they just took out.”
    “They’ve spoken to you, right?” MacDreamy asked, and Bradley nodded. “They’re taking him to the medical examiner. They need to find the exact cause of death. I know it’s hard, but the best thing you can do is go home. Call your family and make sure someone can be with you. Sitting alone at a time like this is not good.”
    “Do you have anyone?” Kevin asked.
    “My sister,” Bradley answered.
    “Then call her. We’ll stay with you until you know.”
    “She has kids.”
    “I’m sure they would love to see their uncle, no matter what the circumstances,” Kevin said. He stayed with Bradley while he made a call.
    Apparently Bradley’s sister told him to come right over. “She’s going to wait up,” he said.
    “Then I’ll go check and make sure they’re done with you.” MacDreamy hurried away, and Kevin couldn’t help watching him leave.
    “You’re going to be okay.” Kevin stayed with Bradley until the police said he could leave. Then he and Jeremy walked Bradley to his car and made sure he got on the road okay before rejoining the ever-dwindling groups of people. Of course, the news vans showed up a few minutes later, adding even more excitement as they set up cameras and lights to do their stories.
    “You might as well go home,” Bull said to both Kevin and Jeremy. “Harry and I need to stay, but if you could get Zach and Tristan home too, I’d appreciate it.”
    Kevin had had a few drinks, but that had been hours ago now. He offered to drive, so they all piled in his old Taurus and he made the rounds, getting everyone home before going to his own small, crappy place.
    For the past few years, Kevin had lived with one of his friends, but when Tristan paired off with Harry, that had left Kevin on his own, so he’d moved from the place they’d shared to a small one-bedroom apartment he could afford on his own. For Kevin, there were things more important than his apartment, and those were his computers. Once he arrived home, he went to the bedroom, which doubled as his office and work space. He logged in and checked his e-mail for anything urgent. Thankfully there was nothing other than a note from his father, which could wait until morning.
    Knowing everything was okay in his little world, he undressed, putting his stinky clothes in a plastic bag and getting them out of the room. Then he hopped in the shower to get the smell of smoke off him before climbing into his twin bed. There hadn’t been a need for anything bigger with Ken gone, and this way he had more room for his electronics. Kevin turned out the lights and tried to go to sleep, but it was hours before he was able to drop off.
     
     
    KEVIN WOKE to knocking on his front door. He got out of bed and had the presence of mind to put on a robe before opening the door partway to see who was banging at this hour of the morning. “Mrs. Vertebedian.”
    “I heard you come in late last night, and since I made baklava, I thought I’d give you some.” She offered him a plate, and he took it gratefully.
    “I love you,” he whispered, and the old lady giggled. “That’s so thoughtful.”
    “You know, you shouldn’t stay out till all hours. I know it’s what you kids do, but did you see there was a fire at one of those places? I know you like to go out dancing and hunting for boys, but you should be careful.”
    “I was there,” he said and stepped back from the door, letting her in. Kevin had met her the day he’d moved in, and she was sweet, but very lonely. “How about I put on a pot of coffee and get dressed? Then we can sit down and eat ourselves into a delightful sugar coma, and I’ll tell you all about it.” He started the coffee and then padded to his bedroom and closed the door before pulling on clothes. When he returned, the apartment smelled of coffee, the scent enough to revive him a little. Kevin got two mugs, filled them, and handed one to his