CHAPTER XXV: A GATHERING OF THE MINDS?

As I said I asked Rob at breakfast what he thought of gathering the families and friends of the victims or as many as we could get together and see if we could find a common thread beside the obvious ones that the victims were all gay, mostly young, most very athletic by nature and all but one were local boys. Plus all were very very bright but we weren't sure what that meant. Coincidence? By design? We had no idea. It seemed obvious that the killer was a homophobe but that too might be mere conjecture. We needed to know for sure and didn't.

He said it was worth a shot and so the twins and I got busy making the calls and setting the time that would bring the largest number together. The following Sunday afternoon was chosen, the place would be our house, and the twins helped me get a buffet feast of snacks and sandwiches and salads and goodies together, and being winter it would not be served on the patio. We chose the Great room because of its size and Rob brought in a couple of the long tables from the patio storage closet and they would serve as the buffet tables. We already have a built-in bar in there and we made sure it was well stocked with soft drinks, coffee, tea, and juices. (I decided we would not serve alcohol at least not until the meeting part was over. Clear heads needed to prevail.

Sunday afternoon came and they started arriving about 1pm and kept coming and kept coming until about 2:15. In all, I counted upwards of 60 people and we had figured we would be lucky to get 20. Obviously everyone involved had been affected deeply and wanted badly to be a part of finding the killer. Good.

Rob and I and even Drew and Dylan asked questions, solicited comments and stories from the group, and this went on until well after 7pm. About then the room kinda fell silent and I think the emotional toll all of this had taken on everybody was beginning to be obvious. After a couple of minutes I decided we should open the bar and did. Maybe that might help or at least be a welcome relief to the pounding this all had inflicted on everyone including us.

I can't say that we learned nothing, I can't say we learned a whole lot that was all that significant, but in the end I was glad I had thought of this for it seemed almost cathartic to the friends and relatives of the victims and for that I was grateful. This was a good bunch and I felt even more deeply for their losses.

7pm turned into 8 and then 9 and finally some started to leave about 9:15 and all had gone by a little after 10. AHHHH, clean-up which as usual was mostly the twins' project, but Rob and I did our fair share and by 11:00 we were done or as finished as we were gonna get that night and we kinda sunk into chairs in the Great Room, spent as Hell and looking it too.

Midnight came all too quickly and we in unison said BED TIME, and headed for the stairs. Hugs for a job well done all around and then we hit the sheets. Literally.

I can't remember when I have conked out quite that fast, but it had been a long day and indeed a long week. Rob and I had decided earlier in the week that Monday would be a day of rest and the twins decided that sounded good to them too so it was gonna be sleep late and rise when we damn well felt like it, and of course that did not take into account the FUCKING TELEPHONE ringing its ass off at the crack of yawn.

Rob got it.
"Yes? Ok, yes ok...sure, ok. Thanks."
"I don't wanna know," I said, sleepily.
"Ok,"
"FUCK YOU. You know I can't settle for that."
"HAHAHA. Ok, That was Ryan calling to tell me the Forensics findings on Brantford Casper."
"Ok,"
"Pretty much what we already know."
"Why did it take so long??
"Vacations."
"What?"
"Forensics team did the work but then went on vacation and just got back. They called Ryan and then faxed over their findings. It happens you know/"
"Ahh, vacation. I wonder what those are like?"
"I've forgotten," Rob laughed.
"Me too."
"What about when this is all over we take a nice long one."
"You got it, Hotstuff."
"Yeh?"
"YEH...of course."
"No, I mean about the hotstuff remark."
I paused. Make them work for it is my motto. LOL.
"Of course I mean it. You can't not know that after all these years we been together."
"Yeh, just making sure."

Pause.
"Honey, you know there will never ever be anyone else for me but you. Right?"
I rolled to my side and looked at him...hard.
"Yeh, and that goes double for me, Rob."

AND THAT IS WHEN HE FUCKING KISSED THE FUCK OUT OF ME.
WHOO HOO...and hugged the crap out of me too. I mean, that was the kind of bear hugs even bears would envy.

It kinda went on like that for awhile.
Touchy feely kissy smoochy face huggies and shit and God did it feel good...until the phone rang again.

"I am gonna SHOOT THAT FUCKER," I said, breathless from Rob's kisses.
"After I do," but he answered it...but it turned out to be the station for me.
Hehehe. Oh well, at least they weren't going to mention the latest body find. But they did want me to do an update on the late news and I asked for Tuesday and Rick agreed and I hung up and turned back to Rob who had fallen asleep again. FUCK.

lol.

It was somewhere between Midnight and Yawn AAA EMMM....when the still small about to be projectile sitting on my nightstand sprung to attention, bellowing like a sheep in heat.

"FUCK," I heard Rob mutter LOUDLY and I seconded it as I reached to answer it.
"Your quarter. Go for it."
"Hey Dylan. Morning to yah."
"Already?"
"Tough night?"
"You might say that."
"Ok, let me be quick so you can go back to fun with Rob."
I chose to ignore that.
"I need to see you two. Soon as we can, okay? It's important I think."
"Gimme a minute," and I told Rob what Jason had told me.
"The infamous Remington of fame and misbehaviour? Wants to see US?"
I ignored that too.
"Uh, yes."
"When?"
"Soon as we can he said."
"Hour and here?"
"Do I kick your ass now or later?"
"Later. You would hurt yourself if you did it now."
"Don't flatter yourself," and we both laughed, sorta.
"Ok, Jason. Come over in an hour."
"Do I get to crawl in bed with you?"
"I will leave you to wonder. See yah,"
and I hung up. Aways leave them guessing is my motto.

I knew that any more sleep this morning was out of the question so get up it was.
ARRRRGH.

Never a dull moment around here.

CONTINUE TO CHAPTER XXVI: