Domestic Bliss

The Finished Product

"Are you sure we need to take this to the police?" Justin asked as they entered the local police station.

"What else are we going to do with the contents of that box? Go to the fucking tabloids?"

"I'm just not fond of policemen and police stations," Justin said hesitantly.

"And you've had a lot of experience with them?" Brian asked with a quirk of his brow.

"You know … the bashing."

"Shit! I forgot about that. Not the bashing, the police. I thought you were unconscious for all that."

"I woke up eventually, Brian."

"Of course, and thank the gods that you did," Brian whispered as he gave Justin a hug.

"Can I help you boys?" the policeman asked from behind the desk. His look of disapproval spoke volumes.

Brian noted it and deliberately gave Justin a kiss on the lips. "We need to see someone about a murder," he said releasing Justin.

"Is this about reporting one or committing one?" the policeman asked in a rather derisive tone.

"Oh, we have a real comedian here," Brian said. There was no humor in his voice.

"Excuse me!" the policeman replied. There was anger in his eyes.

Justin squeezed Brian's arm begging him to be quiet. "This is really important, Officer," Justin said. "It's about an old homicide."

"It better be serious. Wait here." The policeman left the desk and went through a door to the back.

"I wonder if he's getting some more officers so they can lock us up," Justin said.

"They fucking better not be!" Brian said through gritted teeth.

"Maybe we shouldn't have come here, Brian."

"We have as much right to be here as any other fucking citizen."

They had discussed over and over about going to the police station. Each of them had had less than satisfactory dealings with the police over the years. It was too late now to just turn around and walk out.

"Detective Horvath will see you," the officer said as he returned to his place behind the counter. "Through there." He pointed to a door at the end of the room.

Brian and Justin walked towards the door wondering what would greet them on the other side. They opened the door and stepped through.

"I'm Detective Horvath," a middle aged man said. He was a little on the chunky side and had thinning hair. He had a pleasant face which made Justin feel a little better. Brian remained wary. "Come into my office," the detective said

Brian and Justin followed him into an office where he sat behind his desk. The desk was littered with file folders and a half eaten lunch.

"What homicide do you have information about?" Horvath asked as the younger men sat down.

"It's kind of complicated," Justin began.

"Have you ever heard of the old Baggley house over on Windermere?" Brian asked.

"You mean the haunted house?" Horvath asked. "Yeah, I know it. I investigated a series of accidents there when I first joined the force."

"I bought the place a few weeks ago," Brian said. "Did you know that the butler was murdered there almost a hundred years ago?"

"Yeah, it's common knowledge among the Pittsburgh police force. An unsolved murder! We don't like unsolved cases."

Brian listened to Horvath speak. The man sounded genuine, no bullshit. "We had a few 'accidents' during our renovations too," Brian admitted. "But Justin, this is Justin Taylor, and I'm Brian Kinney, by the way." Horvath nodded. "Justin got very interested in the story of the butler's murder."

"Is that right?"

"Justin, show the detective the box," Brian prodded.

Justin reached into his messenger bag which was slung around his shoulder. He pulled out the box and handed it to Horvath. "The butler, Algernon Blackwell, and the owner of the house, Joseph Baggley, were gay. They were having an affair. Joseph's wife killed Algernon when she found out. It's all in the letter," Justin explained.

"You're kidding, right?" Horvath asked as he opened the box and looked at the contents.

"I'm not kidding. We thought the police should know," Justin said. "It's all explained in the letter."

Horvath took the picture and the pocket watch out of the box. Then he picked up the envelope and pulled out the sheets of paper. He quickly skimmed the contents. "Well, I'll be damned! Where did you find this?"

"Hidden behind a bookcase," Brian supplied. "Actually it was my son who found it."

"Your son?"

"Yeah, it was quite well concealed, but you know how inquisitive little kids can be…" Brian said with a shrug.

"I'd like to see where this came from," Horvath stated. "Would you accompany me back to the Baggley house?"

"Um … I have a very important meeting in a little over an hour. I really need to go home and change," Brian tried to explain.

Horvath studied Brian for a minute. "What about you?" he asked turning to Justin.

"Um, I could go with you," Justin said reluctantly not wanting to go alone but he knew Brian had to meet with Remsen, So much depended on a good outcome to that meeting.

"Okay, let's go," Horvath said.

*****

Some time later Horvath pulled his car into the driveway of the Baggley house. Justin looked at the façade of the mansion as they approached the front entrance. It looked very impressive. He couldn't help but smile. The business was almost there. All they needed was for Brian to get the Remsen account.

"This place looks good," Horvath said as he got out of the car. "You fellas have got a lot farther with the renovations than anyone I can remember."

"We hope to be up and running this week," Justin said as he followed the detective up to the front door. "Nate!" he called as they went inside. Nate appeared out of the office. "Nate, this is Detective Horvath. We turned the box into him this morning."

"Did you find out who murdered the butler?" Nate wanted to know right away.

"The wife."

"The wife? Shit! I thought it was Baggley. I lost the pool."

"What pool?" Justin asked.

"The one that Emmett started last night."

"How did he have time to organize…"

"Excuse me," Horvath interrupted, "but I need to see where this box came from."

"Sorry, Detective," Nate said. "It's in here."

Detective Horvath went into the office and squatted down to examine the cavity where the box had resided for so many years. While Horvath closed and opened the panel a couple of times, Justin and Nate were whispering about the contents of the box and what Justin had discovered. Justin wanted the lowdown on Emmett's pool too.

"So, a child opened this door?" Horvath asked.

"Yes," Justin replied. "We were getting ready to leave last night and Gus' babysitter dropped him off."

"I told him to sit over there and not touch the machinery," Nate added nodding in the direction of the power saw that still sat in the middle of the room. "I went to measure something in the foyer and that's when Gus found the opening."

"I see," Horvath said with a frown. "I may need to speak to him. Gus Kinney, was that his name?"

"Um, no," Justin said quickly. His name is Gus Marcus-Peterson. He lives with his mothers."

"Mothers?" the detective asked raising an eyebrow.

"They're lesbians. Brian was the sperm donor."

"Modern families," Horvath said with a shake of his head. Justin wasn't sure whether Horvath was disapproving of someone being a sperm donor or of Gus' mothers being lesbians or of modern families in general.

"If you don't have any more questions, I need to get back to work," Nate said.

"Go ahead," Horvath told him. Nate quickly left the room. "I'm going to go through the letter and the other items in that box, and then I'll get back to you," Horvath said to Justin. "I'm finished here for now. Do you need a ride?"

"Um, no thanks. I'll stay here for now. Brian will pick me up later."

"Is he your partner?" Horvath asked, curiosity evident on his face.

"Yeah."

The detective again shook his head. He seemed slightly baffled by the whole thing. "I may need to be in touch with you again," Horvath said. "I might have some more questions."

Justin nodded. "Is it possible to get the box and its contents back … not now … but later, you know, after everything's been settled?"

"I'm not sure. I'll see what I can do," Horvath said before he left the building.

Justin watched Horvath walk away. The detective had been nicer than Justin had expected him to be. He seemed a little mystified by homosexuality and its implications, but at least he hadn't seemed homophobic, like that prick at the desk in the police station.

Justin really hoped he would get the letter and the watch back. Somehow he felt that he was destined to have them … to honor Algernon's memory. He started up the stairs. He knew where he needed to go.

"Justin," Nate called, "is Brian coming in later today?"

"Um … I think he'll be here in an hour or two."

"Good, I need to see him."

Justin continued to climb the stairs heading for the attic. He stopped on the steps and looked at the area that had been walled off until a few days ago. It looked now as it had probably looked when Algernon and Joseph had climbed these same stairs. The house seemed to be returning to normal.

Justin smiled to himself. This was how the place was supposed to be. This was where he and Brian could build their business. This was the future climbing out of the past. But there was one more thing that still needed to be done.

He walked into the attic space. He stood for a moment looking around.

"I know you can hear me, Algernon. I found out everything. It's all going to be settled soon. You can rest now." Justin waited not really expecting to see or hear anything. "I know Joseph loved you. He said so in his letter. I love Brian and we will never forget you."

The curtain hanging on the window shifted slightly.

"I know," Justin said softly. "You can rest now."

The curtains remained still. Justin knew in his heart that they would have no more encounters with the ghost. It was finished. And it was good that it was finished. Justin walked over to the window and lifted down the old tattered curtains that still hung there. He had deliberately left them when they had cleaned out the attic. The chest of drawers and the old chair had been removed, but he had left the curtains. They were the last connection with the ghost of Baggley mansion. Justin rolled them up and started down the back stairs to the kitchen. It was time for the curtains to be out of the house.

Justin stopped at the second step down. "Goodbye, Algernon. Rest in peace."

He continued down the stairs.

When Brian arrived a couple of hours later, Justin was up in his art department with a pad of paper sketching out possible layouts for the room. Brian called Justin's name and Justin told him where he was.

"How did it go?" Justin asked as he stood up and kissed Brian on the lips.

"Good, I think. Vance was there pushing his campaign. Mine was better, of course."

Justin smiled. He liked the positive and confident Brian. "Has Remsen decided?"

Brian shook his head. "He said he'd let us know by Wednesday."

"You'll get it," Justin said confidently.

"I know," Brian smirked.

"Oh, Nate was looking for you," Justin said.

"I better go see what he wants. I like this arrangement," Brian said with a smile as he looked at the layouts Justin had been working on.

"Me too," Justin grinned.

"I think we should go check out some furniture for this place. You ready to go after I speak to Nate?"

"I will be." Justin liked the idea of selecting furniture. The painting they had done on the weekend really looked great. With all the ugly wallpaper gone, he could actually visualize what his art department would look like. He hugged himself at the thought as Brian left the room.

"Nate, you wanted to see me?"

"Yeah," Nate said as he was assembling what looked like cabinets in Brian's future office. "I think we're going to be finished here by Thursday."

"Thursday?" Brian asked in surprise.

"We got a lot done on the weekend with all your friends helping."

"You mean they actually did their jobs correctly? I thought you'd have to rip out and redo everything they had fucked up."

"They were a great work force. We'd be no way near this far along if they hadn't worked all weekend," Nate explained. "My two men are finishing up all the carpentry and drywall that was left to do. I'm almost finished your cabinets for the foyer. Tomorrow everything gets a second coat of paint. Wednesday will be mostly touch up and getting these put in their right places." He gestured to the cherry wood cabinets he was constructing. "Thursday we clean up and make sure everything's pristine. And then we're outta here."

"I … I can't thank you enough for sticking with this," Brian admitted. He hated having to be grateful to anyone, but Nate had earned his thanks.

"I like to finish what I start," Nate said simply.

"I had a call from the sign people," Brian said. "They're delivering the 4Front sign for the front of the building tomorrow. If I show you where I want it, will you make sure it gets put in the right place?"

"Sure."

They walked outside together.

"Right above those windows," Brian explained pointing. "Make sure they center it in that space between the upper and lower windows."

"That's the perfect spot for it. I was thinking you would have a sign out by the road," Nate said.

"Like every other fucking business on the block. 4Front is an original."

"Just like its owner," Nate said with a smile.

"Well, I better get back to Justin. He's drawing floor plans of where everything should go. We're going furniture shopping now."

"Have fun," Nate said with a laugh as he went back inside.

Brian stood looking up at the old building. The improvements on the exterior really looked great. He had to glance up at the attic window but he didn't expect to see anything … and he didn't. Brian felt proud of the place, proud of what they had accomplished so far, and he knew he would be proud of the new business once it was up and running.

Justin was coming down the stairs when Brian went back inside.

"You ready to go?" Brian asked.

"Yeah. Are we going to look for some furniture for your office too?"

"I think so. I know what I want."

"You do?"

"Yep, come here." Brian grabbed Justin's hand and pulled him into the office. Nate was nowhere around, probably checking on his men who were working on Ted's office upstairs. "I see this sort of freeform desk sitting across that bank of windows."

"Freeform?" Justin asked with a grin. That surprised him.

"The building is so traditional. I want the inside to speak new and modern and cutting edge."

"I seem to remember you saying something about cutting edge before," Justin replied with a smile.

"I can't wait to get started," Brian said enthusiastically.

Justin knew he had never seen Brian so excited about something before. This would be Brian's business, reflecting Brian's taste and speaking of Brian's success. It would have a part of Justin too, but mostly it would be Brian's. Justin thought these things, but he didn't say anything. He knew Brian would only deny them and pretend to be all blasé. Justin merely enjoyed this rare moment of candor. It wasn't often that anyone saw the uncensored Brian Kinney.

"I want to start right now," Brian stated.

"Furniture first," Justin told him.

"When did you become so practical?"

"When I hitched my wagon to your star," Justin said softly.

Brian stared into his eyes. Justin could see the love and trust that resided there. Brian pulled him against his body and kissed him deeply and completely.

"Ahem," Nate said clearing his throat when he came into the room in the middle of the kiss.

"It's not like you haven't seen this before," Brian smirked.

"Not in a place of business."

"Stop by any time and we'll give you a show," Brian said tongue in cheek.

"Brian!" Justin chastised his partner with a swat to the chest.

"We have several more rooms to christen," Brian whispered in his ear.

"Later," Justin grinned.

"Nate, do you think you can make that desk that I talked to you about?" Brian asked.

"Already started. It will fit the foyer perfectly."

"And if we don't find the other desk I want, I may ask you to make one more."

"No problem," Nate smiled.

"I can't wait to see everything come together," Justin said happily.

"If we find furniture today, can I have it delivered on Thursday?" Brian asked Nate.

"That would work, and we'll help you set it up."

"Deal!" Brian said shaking Nate's hand.

"Let's go, Sunshine. We have places to go and furniture to buy." He took Justin's hand in his and they walked out of the offices of 4Front.

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