When the Bough Breaks

Chapter 4

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Justin let himself into the loft and checked the machine. The little red light was flashing frantically. Pushing the button, he listened to Brian's hysterical messages and tried to figure out what he was saying. All he could understand was Gus, and that frightened him beyond words.

Justin's greatest fear was that Gus would be found in a shallow grave somewhere. He knew it would destroy Brian. He also knew that it would finally be over then and they could all get back to some semblance of a life.

Seven years was a long time to not know what happened to someone, but it was also a long time to carry around the pain bottled up inside.

He'd been trying unsuccessfully for years to get Brian to at least talk to him about what he was feeling. If Gus were dead, then maybe they could have a future.

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Brian refused to move from the spot he was standing in until he had some answers. He was still there ten minutes later when Tom Garrett came in.

"Where's my son?" Brian was frantic and not thinking clearly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Gus, where is he?"

"Mr. Kinney, I'm sorry but I don't know anything about your son or his whereabouts. In fact I was unaware that you even had children. I thought you were..." he let his words trail off.

"Gay? Is that why you took him? Because I'm gay?"

Cynthia chose that moment to enter the room, having heard the voices down the hall.

"Bri, what's going on?"

"This son of a bitch is the bastard who took Gus."

"Brian, you know that's not possible. If Gus were here, the police would've found him by now."

"He wasn't here. He was wherever the fuck this bastard lived before. Only he fucked up by taking a job with Gus's father and displaying a picture of my son on his desk." Brian turned his attention back to Tom. "Did you think you'd get away with it forever? Did you find it funny that you could just put his picture out and think I'd never put two and two together?"

"Mr. Kinney, I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. Eric is my son."

"Gus, his name is Gus."

"Brian," Cynthia put a hand on his arm and tried her best to calm him down. "Let's take a step back and get some air for a moment."

"I don't want any fucking air; I want my son."

Tom looked frightened beyond words and Cynthia knew the only way to save the poor man was to get Brian out of the office. She turned to Tom to try to diffuse the situation. "May I see the picture of your son?"

Tom handed it to her and her gasp was audible. She was staring into the face of a child she thought they'd never see again. Shaking she handed the picture back to Tom and took a deep breath.

"Brian, I know that Eric looks a lot like Gus, but we can't be sure it's him. We have to call someone, and you know that doing it this way will only hurt Gus. I'm going to call Justin and Lindsay and get them here. Mr. Garrett I suggest you call your wife and an attorney."

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Debbie was on her way out the back door of the diner when Horvath called. She almost told Kiki to take a message, but she knew that Carl would only call if there was a major emergency. Taking the call she held her breath, waiting for the bad news.

"Deb, honey, there are officers on the way over to Kinnetik. All that came over the radio is that there is a disturbance. But, word around the station is that it has something to do with Gus."

"Have they found him? Is he alive?"

"I don't know, honey. I'm going to make my way over there now, but I wanted you to know so you can rally the troops if necessary."

"Thank you, Carl. I'll call Michael and Ben as soon as I get home. Does Justin know?"

"I don't have any more information that what I've told you."

"I'll try calling him now." Debbie hung up after telling Carl she loved him and tried unsuccessfully to reach Justin at home and on his cell. She hurried home to call the boys.

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Lindsay was putting Jenny Rebecca down for a nap when Cynthia called.

"Lindz, it's Cynthia."

"Hi Cyn, is everything okay with Brian?"

"I think you and Melanie should come down to the office."

"What's happened? Is it Brian? Is he okay?"

"I'd prefer not to go into it on the phone, but can you get here soon?"

"I have to call Marie to sit, but we should be there in about half an hour."

"Try to get here sooner, Lindz."

Lindsay was confused by Cynthia's call and called Melanie at the office and asked her to meet at Brian's office. She gave all the information she had and quickly gathered JR and her stuff to take to Marie's. She was out the door in record time and parked in front of Kinnetik fifteen minutes later.

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Justin was getting out of his car when Lindsay pulled up and parked near Brian's jeep. Both had ignored the reserved parking spots and were about to speak when the two patrol cars pulled in. Breaking into a run, both Lindsay and Justin were inside and climbing the stairs before the officers could get out of their vehicles.

Justin saw Cynthia trying to keep Brian calm and away from the other man in the office. Justin didn't recognize the man, but he did sense the hostility between the two men. He rushed over and tried to find out what was going on.

"Brian, what the hell is going on here? Why are there cops outside?"

Brian stared at his partner and then looked to Lindsay. With tears streaming down his face he told them the truth as he knew it.

"Gus is alive. This asshole over here has him and he won't give him back."

Cynthia jumped in and attempted to explain. "Mr. Garrett has a picture on his desk of a young boy, about the age Gus would be now, who looks an awful lot like Gus."

"What do you mean he looks like Gus?" Lindsay questioned.

"Well, the little boy is the spitting image of Brian."

Justin looked at Mr. Garrett and took note of his light hair and blue eyes and asked to see the picture. Cynthia crossed the hall and brought it to him. Justin recognized Mrs. Garrett and almost fainted when his eyes settled on the little boy.

"It really is Gus." He handed the picture to Lindsay and watched as Brian held onto her as she let her tears flow freely.

Turning to Tom, Lindsay demanded, "Where is my son?"

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but that's my son."

"When was he born? Where was he born? How did you get him? Is he okay?"

"Eric was adopted seven years ago."

"Exactly the time frame when Gus was abducted. I want my son."

"I can assure that Eric's adoption was completely legal. He's a happy little boy."

"But he's not your son. He's mine and Brian's and he had a happy life here before you took him."

Lindsay was interrupted by the police. Cynthia did her best to explain the situation to them. Everyone managed to stay calm long enough for the whole story to be told. Officer Rodriguez called into the office requesting that a detective go collect 'Eric' and his mother and return them to Kinnetik.

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Tom phoned Abby and warned her that the police were on the way to bring Eric to the office. He also warned her not to try to run. He was positive that this was all a misunderstanding and that once Eric was at the office everyone would realize their mistake and things could go back to normal.

Abby nervously called her son downstairs and asked him to put on his coat and shoes. She explained that they had to go to Daddy's office for a bit, but that when they got home she'd make cookies for him.

After sending him upstairs, Abby met the detective at the door.

"Mrs. Garrett, I'm Detective Horvath. I'm here to take Gus to Kinnetic."

"I know why you're here, Detective. Eric is upstairs getting his shoes on. I don't want to scare him with the police coming to take him away."

"I understand, but he needs to know what is going on. There is no need for him to be blindsided when he gets there."

Carl looked up at the sound of someone running down the stairs. He almost gasped out loud when he looked at the young man standing before him. Eric Garrett was the spitting image of his father.

TBC......

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