Part 28 (1/2)

”He was worried about Gerald. He convinced himself the guy was watching my flat. Jeremy was trying to disguise himself.” He gulped. ”You really think someone might have been after me? But who? Why?”

The lawyer raised his eyebrows. ”You accused Gerald of rape. That's a terrible accusation and even if he didn't do it, the mud would stick and he's in public office. He can't afford the risk. Maybe he told Prescott. You refused to go to more of Prescott's parties despite his threats. If you're causing ripples in his operation, he might have wanted to get rid of you. But why not wait for you to come and then kill you? Why put those items in your pocket? I have to say it all seems rather extreme. Plenty more fish out there, so to speak.”

Gee, thanks.

The door opened and a doctor came in. ”You're supposed to be resting,” he said to Tyler.

”I am,” Tyler mumbled and when the doctor glared, he lay down.

”I thought you might like to know that Jeremy's out of theatre. He's going to be fine.”

Tyler let out a low moan of relief and put his hand over his eyes for a moment before he stared at the doctor. ”He wants to be a pilot,” he blurted.

”There's no reason why he can't be. He's a lucky guy.”

”Is he talking?” Dunnock asked.

”Not yet. The police are waiting to speak to him.”

”Thank you,” Tyler said. ”Thank you for coming to tell me. I thought...thank you.”

Haris felt like he'd been caught up in a sandstorm and spat out the other side rubbed raw. The man embracing Tyler in the photo Stan had taken was Jeremy and not some stranger. Haris hadn't looked beyond the black hair. Maybe whoever attacked Jeremy hadn't looked beyond the black hair either. Had Tyler been the intended target?

He belatedly realized the doctor had gone and Michael was speaking to him.

”I don't see any point in me hanging around,” Michael said. ”When Jeremy is able to talk, hopefully he'll confirm Tyler didn't stab him. If he doesn't know who attacked him, we might be in trouble but whatever the case, Tyler will be in here until tomorrow and the police aren't allowed to question him until he's been declared fit. I'll be back in the morning. Either here or at the station.”

Haris stood up and shook his hand. ”Thanks, Michael.”

”Walk me out?” he asked.

”Sure.”

When Haris glanced at the bed, Tyler was coiled up again, his eyes closed, and he felt a rush of protectiveness, an urge to kill anyone who tried to hurt him. Outside the room, the policeman who was supposed to be watching Tyler was still chatting at the nurses' station.

”Do your job,” Haris snapped. ”He might have been the target.”

The policeman straightened and Michael dragged Haris out. ”That's not helping.”

Out in the corridor, Michael let him go. ”Is there any other reason Tyler might have been the target? Has Karl tried to contact you?”

Karl?

Haris dragged his fingers through his hair. ”I haven't seen or been in touch with Karl for almost five years. Have you?”

”No. If he's still playing, he's doing it very quietly or in another city.”

”You can't think Karl is behind this.”

Michael shrugged. ”I find it's best to keep an open mind. Karl was an angry young man.”

”But five years? Why start now?”

”Well, it was just a thought.”

”Do you know an Asian rigger called Lu?” Haris asked.

”I've heard of him. I've not seen him work.”

”You might like to drop a hint on the circuit that he should be watched. He's not...careful with his subs.”

Michael nodded. ”Noted. Are you and Tyler...?”

”No. He's not into it and neither am I, not anymore. It almost cost me everything. I would never take that chance again.”

”Be careful, Haris. The lifestyle doesn't ever really let you go. Tyler has sub written all over him.”

Haris smiled. ”Actually, you're wrong.”

After Michael had gone, he leaned against the wall and tipped his head back. Five years ago, his relations.h.i.+p with Karl had almost ended in disaster. He should have known better than to let his sub dictate the pace. He did know better, but he'd felt something for Karl who'd continually told Haris he loved him until Haris had been convinced he loved him back. He'd allowed Karl to push his boundaries beyond the acceptable.

Haris didn't recognize the problem in the relations.h.i.+p until it was almost too late. In a final refusal to go as far as Karl wanted, Haris opened the door to another taking his place, a Dom with less qualms, and Karl had nearly died. When Karl had sued Haris, he'd turned to Michael and been stunned when he realized by chance he'd found the one lawyer who knew the BDSM world inside out.

Haris had emerged more or less intact from the whole business, Karl had given up his ridiculous suit, but Haris's capacity to trust had been shattered. Karl hadn't loved him and he hadn't loved Karl. Getting so deeply involved with anyone was too risky. He should have learned the lesson when he'd been arrested in Riyadh and discovered who'd betrayed him.

Never trust anyone.

But he hadn't counted on meeting a guy like Tyler. He was f.u.c.ked up beyond belief, but Haris had seen an innate innocence about him that had made Haris open his heart. He'd warned himself to be careful and he'd still fallen. Tyler might not have cheated on him but he wasn't an innocent. What a f.u.c.king mess.

He stayed in the hallway for almost an hour, trying to think of what to say to Tyler. He didn't believe for one second he'd stabbed Jeremy, but had he even managed to tell him that? As he pushed himself upright, he spotted a uniformed policeman and another man who looked like a cop walking toward him. Or rather walking toward Tyler's ward. His heart jumped into his throat as he stepped forward.

”Is Jeremy okay?” he asked.

”You a friend of his?” the one not in uniform asked.

”I've met him once. I'm a friend of Tyler's.”

”Then you'll be pleased to hear Tyler's no longer a person of interest. Jeremy came round asking for him and told us Tyler didn't stab him.”

Haris exhaled in relief. ”Does he know who did?”

”A guy he'd never seen before.”

Haris followed the police into the ward and watched Tyler crumple when they told him they no longer suspected him of attacking Jeremy.

”We'll need to speak to you tomorrow after you're cleared of concussion, but for the time being, you're free to go,” said the man who'd spoken to Haris. ”You can collect your clothes and phone from the station in the morning.”

The moment the police left, Tyler swung his feet out of bed and stood.

”Hey, what are you doing?” Haris moved to his side.