---

A deputy escorted Seth to the main interrogation room of the Reed County Sheriff's Department. He was still wiping the ink off his fingertips when Bran came into the room and sat down at the table across from him.

"You mind telling me why I was brought in here like some kind of criminal and fingerprinted? Next you'll be reading me my rights and taking mug shots."

Bran shook his head. "I don't think that will be necessary. As soon as my expert compares your prints to the partial found on the undercarriage of Nate's car, you'll be cleared and free to go."

"If you're so sure I'm innocent, why in the hell did you bring me in?"

Brandon held up the plastic bag containing the rental car receipt. "Because somebody went to a hell of a lot of trouble to implicate you. I want you cleared, with all the forms filled out in triplicate, so I can nail the bastard responsible."

Seth eyed the baggie. "I don't understand how I could be implicated. I didn't rent the car. Phillip did."

Bran opened up the file he'd brought in with him and pulled out Bingham's copy of the receipt. He handed it to Seth. "That's your name on the bottom of that form, and MasterCard says it's your card."

Seth stared at the paper with a blank face. "First of all, that's not my handwriting. Second, I use American Express for my personal transactions. The only time I use MasterCard is in my business dealings." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He removed his driver's license and gave it to Bran. "Go ahead. Compare the signatures."

"Look Seth, I already know you're innocent. You were in Georgia when Nate was attacked, and when he had his accident. Believe me, I already checked. So there's no reason to lie about the credit card."

"Exactly, so why would I lie?" He leaned forward. "Look, Brandon, I'll admit that I wasn't crazy about you the first time we met, but I've developed a new respect for you since then. It's obvious how much you and Nate love each other, and since I plan on being a part of my brother's life from now on, it's in my best interest to get along with you. I'm not lying."

"Then why did the credit card company identify you as the client?"

"I'm one of the card holders, but not the only one. My father and I both have cards that we use for Mor-co business. I've been working for Dad while finishing up my degree, so I've used the card quite a bit, but only for business expenses. As for the car, Phillip rented it the day he came in. If you'll remember, I took a taxi from the airport to the hospital. The next morning, Keith gave me a ride to your house. I depended on the kindness of various members of your family to get me where I needed to go until Phillip drove in from the airport yesterday."

"Why would Phillip sign your name, and what in the hell is he doing with a Mor-co Company Credit Card?"

"That, I couldn't tell you. I do know that he couldn't have used my card because I've had it with me ever since I flew in from Atlanta. I used it to purchase all that equipment for the hospital."

Brandon sat in quiet thought before saying, "Seth, I know how you feel about Phillip, but-"

"But if he's involved with what happened to Nate, I want you to fry his ass. No matter how I feel about Phillip, Nate comes first. To tell you the truth, whether he's involved or not, I'd like to know what in the hell he's doing with a Mor-co credit card."

"If that's how you feel, I think I know of a way to make him tip his hand. Does anyone know why you were brought in here tonight?"

"No. Sam dropped your grandfather off and told the rest of them that you wanted me to sign Nate's hospital report since I'm listed as his next of kin. If anyone was suspicious, I couldn't sense it."

Brandon nodded. "Good. We'll have to take Patterson by surprise. How are your acting skills?"

Seth raised his voice an octave and said, "Just call me Seth Morris, drama queen."

* * *

It was after midnight before Brandon slid into the bed beside Nate's sleeping body. He gathered him close and was almost asleep himself when Nate said, "Where ya been?"

Brandon sighed. He'd hoped to at least avoid this conversation until morning. He turned Nate over so he could look into his eyes. He gave him a brief overview about the case, including the latest news that Marjorie was in guarded condition, according to Eva, her partner. He also told him about Seth's credit card and his plan to incriminate Philip.

Nate was quiet for so long, Bran began to worry. "Nate, you know I would never do anything to hurt you or your family, don't you?"

Nate reached up and stroked his still raw cheek. "I trust you, Bran. I just have a bad feeling, that's all."

Bran kissed his forehead. "Me too, baby. Me, too."

* * *

Nathan decided to have breakfast in the kitchen with the rest of the family. All of Bran's siblings went home late the night before, except for Keith, who, after checking Nate over and finding his heart rate elevated, decided to stay, just in case. Grandma and Grandpa Taylor opted to go home, but Dean and Gale stayed. Nate had a feeling that as long as his parents occupied one of Bran's guest rooms, Dean and Gale would be close by.

He was seated at the table, drinking juice when Bran came down. He leaned in for a soft kiss then turned to the counter and grabbed the coffee pot.

Nate said, "You aren't really going to drink that coffee in front of me, are you?"

"Since when can't you have coffee?"

Keith came in and took the pot from Bran. "Since I checked him last night and his heart rate was elevated. I don't want him to have caffeine in any form for the next few days."

Brandon sat down next to Nate. "Is this something I should be worried about?"

Keith added a generous helping of cream to his coffee. "Not really. I'm sure it's just a reaction to the blood thinners they gave him to reduce the possibility of clotting, but I don't want him over-stimulated until they clear out of his system."

"Damn. That cuts out what I was going to do to him this afternoon." Keith and Bran both laughed at Nate's blush.

Phillip came in with Seth. "Where I come from, we keep sex talk out of polite conversation."

Nate started to say something, but Brandon beat him to it. "Considering you and Seth sleep in separate bedrooms, it looks like you don't have much to talk about, anyway."

Philip's face turned a mottled shade of red, but he didn't say anything. The sound of a door opening and then closing caught their attention as Gale came through the mudroom. She reset the alarm and walked into the kitchen.

"Sorry I wasn't here to start breakfast, kids. Your dad got an early call from one of Wayne's job sights, so I asked him to take me by the house so I could pick up my car. I'll have something fixed in just a minute."

Nate said, "Gale, you don't have to wait on us, you know. Bran has enough sugary cereal in the cabinet to give an entire third world country diabetes."

Bran stuck out his tongue and blew Nate a raspberry. "Just because my eating habits weren't the best before you came along is no reason to pick on me." He looked at Gale. "He is right, though, Mom. We can make do without you going to a lot of trouble."

"Brandon, there isn't a mother alive who doesn't enjoy fussing over her children. You're my boys. It's a mother's right."

Calder walked into the kitchen. "That's funny. I could have sworn Nathan was my son, not yours."

Nate saw the flash of anger in Bran's eyes and knew he was about to let Calder have it for being rude to Gale. Thankfully, Leda heard and came to the rescue.

"Calder, sit down and I'll pour you some coffee. Gale, how about I make my Grandmother Winston's buttermilk pancakes. Nathan and Seth just adore them, don't you boys?"

A double reply of "yes, ma'am" took the spotlight away from Calder. Nate said a silent prayer of thanks for his mother's interference. He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until show time. Brandon saw where he was looking and squeezed his good hand under the table.

Gale sliced some fruit while Leda mixed pancake batter. She'd just heated the griddle when someone knocked on the back door. Gale wiped her hands on a dish towel and said, "Sit back down, Brandon. I'll get it. It's probably just Megan coming by for lunch money. She stayed at home by herself last night and I forgot to give it to her. I didn't even think about it when I picked up the car."

Nate kept his eyes on his heavy cast so now one would see his apprehension. He glanced at Seth and was rewarded with a reassuring smile.

Gale's voice carried through from the mudroom. "Good morning, Sam. We were just about to have breakfast. Will you join us?"

"Thank you, ma'am, but no. I'm afraid I'm here on official business." He walked into the kitchen and came to stand by Seth's chair, whipping out his handcuffs as he went.

"Stand up please." When Seth complied, Sam pulled his arms behind his back and snapped the cuffs on his wrists.

Calder jumped up. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, Deputy?"

Sam ignored him. "Seth Morris, you're under arrest for arson and attempted murder." He pulled Seth towards the door as he read him his rights.

Calder said, "Now wait just a damn minute here. You have no proof that Seth has done anything wrong."

"I'm afraid we do, sir. His credit card was used to rent a car three days ago. The receipt was found at the scene of last night's arson."

Seth let out a frightened whimper. "Dad, I'm innocent, I swear it. I didn't even rent a car when I got here."

"Leda, call my lawyer. Don't you worry, Son. I'll get you out of this."

Bran stood up. "No offense, Mr. Morris, but if Seth's credit card was used to rent the car, I'd say the evidence is pretty solid."

Calder spoke to Sam. "Which credit card was used?"

Sam pretended to think about it. "I believe it was a MasterCard."

"That's the company card. I have one, too."

"Yes sir, the credit card company told us that, but you weren't in Illinois when the car was rented. Your son was the only one in the state with the particular card."

Nate couldn't help but enjoy the look of fear on Phillip's arrogant face. He must have sensed what was coming.

Calder said, "Seth and I aren't the only ones on the company account. There's one more card, and Phillip has it."

Brandon eased over beside Sam. "I wasn't aware you worked for Mor-co, Patterson."

Phillip's voice had lost its smugness. "I don't."

"Well, unless you can tell me what you're doing with a Mor-co credit card, I'm afraid we'll just have to believe you and Calder are lying to protect Seth. Sam, take him out to the car. I'm right behind you."

"Wait, dammit." Calder's eyes darted around the room like a scared rabbit's. "Patterson does have a card. I should know. I gave it to him."

* * *

Brandon took a perverse amount of satisfaction in watching Phillip sweating and pacing through the two way mirror of the interrogation room. Sam came up with a package in his hand. "I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

"Hit me with the worst news first. That way I have something to look forward to later on."

"You got it, Boss. Patterson's prints don't match the one on Doc Morris's undercarriage. Not only that, but the fire marshal says the fire was set between five-thirty and six o'clock. There's no way Patterson could have started that fire because-"

"Because he was sitting in my living room at the time. Damn. What's the good news?"

"Well, technically, we've got him on credit card fraud." He held up the package he was carrying. "This is the surveillance tape from Bingham's. It shows Patterson renting the car. The time stamps on the tape and the receipt match."

Brandon nodded. "I doubt Seth will press charges just because Phillip signed his name to a receipt. It might be enough to scare him into telling us the deal between him and Calder, though."

Sam's smile was enough to light the hallway. "I'll be out here watching. I can't wait to see you shake that cocky bastard up."

"I'm looking forward to it. Before we start, though, I want you to bring Seth into the hall so he can see the whole thing. Whatever's going on involves his father. He has a right to hear it first hand."

"Where is Mr. Morris, anyway?"

"Sitting in my office demanding that Seth be allowed a lawyer. He hasn't caught on to the fact that it's all a set-up, yet. I might feel sorry for him if he weren't such a pompous jerk."

Sam agreed and went to get Seth. When they returned Brandon put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Are you sure you're up for this, bud?"

"No, but what the hell? It's not like Phillip and I have this great relationship at stake. To tell you the truth, I'm starting to wonder if the guy's even gay."

Brandon wondered the same thing, but he didn't comment. He clapped Seth on the back and stepped into the interrogation room, videotape in hand. Phillip gave him that hunted look that told Bran he was on the verge of cracking.

"Look Sheriff, I know my rights. You have to let me call a lawyer. Hell, I don't even know what I'm being charged with."

Bran turned his chair around backwards and straddled it. "That's because you haven't been charged with anything, yet. You're being detained as a material witness."

"Witness? Witness to what?"

"To the transaction that produced the receipt we found at our crime scene."

"You mean the car rental? No, that was all Seth. I wasn't even there."

Bran walked over to the television in the corner and popped the tape into the built-in VCR. Patterson stared in slack jawed astonishment at the film of himself behind the counter at Bingham's.

Brandon crossed his arms over his chest. "Funny thing about security cameras. Everybody's got them these days, even car rental places. The time stamps on the tape and the receipt match exactly. Either Seth is a magician capable of such amazing feats as signing his name to a piece of paper from thirty miles away, or that tape proves you guilty of credit card fraud. Since I'm not big on out of body experiences, I'd put my money on the last one."

"I didn't steal that card. You heard what Calder said. He gave it to me."

"What I want to know is, why?"

Some of the smugness returned. "I don't have to tell you anything."

Bran walked to the door. "You're right. You don't have to tell me anything. I'll turn the case over to the F.B.I. and let them handle it."

He could almost hear Patterson swallowing. "The F.B.I.?"

Bran gave him a look of feigned surprise. "Well, sure. I thought a smart guy like you, so up on the law and all, would know that forgery is a federal offense."

"Seth will never press charges against me. He loves me."

"After you were ready to hang him out to dry to save your own skin? I seriously doubt it. Here, let's ask him."

Bran opened the door and Seth stepped inside.

"Seth, are you gonna press charges?"

Seth's face was a mask of disgust and hurt, but his voice was strong. "Oh, I think so. I mean, it isn't every day a guy finds out his boyfriend is willing to send him up river for a crime he didn't commit."

Brandon said, "Alright, then. Let's go get the ball rolling."

Phillip's desperation was sickening. "Wait! I'll tell you whatever it is you want to know if you promise not to prosecute."

Brandon said, "That all depends on what you have to say."

"Please. I'll cooperate. Just. . .don't arrest me, man. Please."

Bran took a seat and waited for Seth to do the same. "We're listening."

"Where should I start?"

"How about telling us why Calder gave you that card?"

"For expenses. I've been using it to take Seth out to dinner, rent hotel rooms, buy clothes, you name it."

"Why would you need to do that? You told me your parents were well off."

This time Phillip's disdain was for himself. "If by well off you mean able to afford a double wide trailer instead of a single, then yeah, they are." He lowered his head. "My folks are poor, man. Dirt poor."

Seth just shook his head. "But you go to college. If your family is so poor, how can you afford it? Surely my father isn't paying for that, too."

"No. I got a scholarship. It pays for tuition and books, but nothing else."

Brandon said, "Let me guess. It's a drama scholarship, right?"

"Damn, you're good. Yeah, it's a drama scholarship. Have you figured the rest of it out, too?"

"I think so, but I want Seth to hear it from you. And don't even think about lying. The least you owe him is the truth."

Phillip nodded. He addressed his next statements to Seth alone. "I'm an actor, Seth. I've been doing community theater in and around Atlanta, but I've also had a few voice-over parts. Your father contacted my agent and said he wanted somebody to play the part of a rich gay guy to come on to his son. My agent chose me because your father thought I was your type."

"How would he know? He thought I'd gone straight. "

"Apparently that campus shrink you were seeing after you broke away from Calder's therapist has a secretary who was hurting for cash. She sold a copy of your file to your dad. Everything you told that counselor went straight to him. As soon as he found out you were still having feelings for other guys, he decided to step in and do something about it."

Seth spoke in a flat voice that worried the hell out of Bran. "So what, exactly, did he hope to gain by hiring you?"

"I was supposed to come on to you, make you fall for me. Your father provided everything I needed to show you a good time. He wanted me to put it all on the card so he could make sure his money was being put to good use. He even told me to sign your name so if you saw the receipts, you would just chalk it up to a business expense. He wanted me to wind you up, get you hooked. He was adamant about no sex, though. I was to give you just enough to keep you interested. It was his idea to use the rape as an excuse to make you have an AIDS test. Your dad said that would buy me six months, at least."

"Maybe I'm just stupid-and obviously I'm not too bright or I wouldn't have fallen for your act-but what exactly did you need time for?"

Bran saw the first signs of remorse on Phillip's face. "Seth, your dad still thinks this gay thing is a choice. He thinks you'll snap out of it. He wanted me to make you love me, and then turn around and dump you. He wanted me to break your heart."

Seth sank back into his chair. Brandon could only guess at the pain he must be feeling, but he didn't have time to offer comfort now. Too many questions were still unanswered. He trained his cop's eyes on Patterson. "Morris thought if you hurt Seth badly enough, he'd decide to try his luck with girls?" As hard as he tried, he couldn't keep the disbelief out of his voice.

Philip nodded. "Calder thinks that Seth has chosen to be gay. He thought that if Seth's first relationship since the rape ended in disaster, the two bad experiences combined would make him give up on guys for good." He looked at Seth's stony face. "As I'm sure you've guessed, Seth, I'm not gay. That's why I took the job to begin with. My girlfriend is pregnant. Not that it'll make you feel any better, but I don't believe it's a choice. And Seth, if I was gay, I'd consider myself lucky to be with a guy like you."

"How much?"

Phillip was thrown by the question. "I'm not following."

Brandon was relieved to hear some emotion in Seth's voice, even if that emotion was anger. "How much did my father pay you to dick me around?"

"Fifty thousand. Twenty-five up front, the rest when the job was finished. That doesn't include what I put on the credit card."

Brandon said, "Nice work if you can get it, but where does Nate figure into all this?"

"According to Calder, Nathan is the reason Seth 'turned queer' to begin with-his words, not mine. When Seth started talking about seeing his brother again, Calder panicked. Then the newspaper guy's son called and told them about the attack outside the doctor's office. Leda wanted to fly up right then, but Calder stalled her by saying he wanted to reconcile with Nathan. He convinced her that he was alright with the whole gay thing and wanted time to make things right."

"That's why he took it so well when I told him I was sure I was gay. He already knew because he had my psych files. At least Mother wasn't in on it, too."

Phillip nodded. "As far as I can tell, Leda is fine with you being gay."

Brandon said, "So, what's Calder's plan concerning Nate? To come up here and pretend to accept our relationship? I got that, but to what end?"

Phillip shook his head. "That I couldn't tell you. Calder gives me just as much information as I need to do my job, but we aren't exactly pals." He leaned back a little. "So, what's the deal here? Are you charging me with fraud or am I free to go?"

Brandon inclined his head. "That's up to Seth."

"When's your baby due?"

Seth's question caught him off guard. "April. We hope to find out the sex pretty soon."

"You gonna marry that girl?"

"That's why I took your father up on his offer. I'm not really a prick, you know. That's just part of the act. Shelby, my girlfriend, and I wanted to get married right before Thanksgiving. We were going to use that money to buy a small house. One without wheels. Not that I deserve it, after what I've done to you."

Seth was quiet for a few minutes. Then he did something that surprised the hell out of Brandon. He smiled.

"I'll drop the charges on one condition."

"I'm listening. It's not like I have a whole lot of bargaining room."

Seth pulled a checkbook out of his pocket. "This account draws directly from the trust my grandmother left me. My father has no control over this money. It's mine, free and clear. Two-hundred-thousand of it is yours if you agree to use your phenomenal acting skills to help me turn the tables on my father."

Brandon whistled. "Can you afford that?"

"You really have no idea how much money our grandmother left us, do you? Nate said you didn't want anything to do with it, but I thought you at least knew how much we each started out with."

"No, and I don't want to know. Nate can leave it all to the kids after they come along. Until then, if anything happens to him, it all goes to Amy so she can continue to help patients who can't afford to pay. Even after we sign over power of attorney to each other, that won't change."

Phillip broke in. "I appreciate the gesture, Seth, but I owe you. I'll do it for free just to thank you for not pressing charges."

"No. I'm definitely going to pay you. If you can pull this off, it'll be worth every penny."

* * *

Brandon walked into his office and found just what he expected, a furious Calder Morris. So much the better.

"You've kept me waiting long enough, Nash. I want to see my son, and I want to see him now."

Seth walked in behind Brandon, his fingers tightly laced with Phillip's. "I'm right here, Dad. I'm alright, but we need to talk. Phillip told me why you hired him."

Calder flushed and started to stammer, but Seth cut him off. "It's okay, Dad. There's no need to make excuses. Phillip and I have talked through all of it, and we've decided it doesn't matter. I love him enough to forgive him. And how can I be mad at you for your interference when your meddling brought us together in the first place?"

Calder looked at their entwined hands much like one would look at a freeway accident. It was as if he knew he shouldn't look, but he couldn't stop himself. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Phillip put his arm around Seth's shoulders. "Let me tell him, babe. Over the past few months, I've come to care deeply for Seth, Mr. Morris. I'm not sure exactly when it became love, but after Seth was arrested today, I realized how empty my life would be without him. I'm giving you back your money, sir. Seth and I are going to build a life together."

"For God's sake, Patterson, you're straight! Your girlfriend is pregnant."

Seth said, "We know, Dad, and we regret hurting Shelby, but we both believe that she'll be far more hurt if Phillip marries her when he's in love with someone else. We hope that she'll share joint custody of the baby with us. You know how much I love children." He gave Phillip a lingering look before Phillip gathered him in his arms and stuck his tongue down Seth's throat in a kiss so passionate, Brandon even blushed.

Bran was enjoying Calder's suffering, but it was time to move on to phase two. Like clockwork, Sam came in and cleared his throat, breaking the pair apart. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Seth needs to be processed out before he can leave."

Seth gave Phillip one more peck on the lips and said, "I'll be right back, sweetheart. Maybe you can fill Dad in on our plans while I'm gone. He's been so excited about Nate's wedding, I know he can't wait to start planning ours." He left, but not before giving Phillip's ass a hefty squeeze for good measure.

Bran sat down behind his desk and motioned for Calder and Phillip to have a seat as well. "Kick back, guys. He'll be finished and free to go any minute now. Phillip, I believe you were about to tell us about your future plans."

"Well, I have one more year of school left before I earn my bachelor's degree. Seth and I thought we might go out to California so I can audition, go to casting calls, that kind of thing. Of course, it all depends on how open Shelby is about custody. Either way, we hope to be married before Christmas."

Calder didn't have a chance to comment before Seth came back in. "I'm ready to go if you are."

Phillip got up, but Calder said, "You go on ahead, son. I want a word alone with Brandon."

Seth nodded. "Okay, Dad. Phillip and I could use a little time alone, anyway. Now that the pretense has been dropped, I don't see any reason why we can't take our relationship to the next level, do you, babe?"

Phillip's grin was that of a man who was two seconds away from scoring. "I thought you'd never ask." They left holding hands. Calder waited until they were out of sight and then got up and closed the door.

"Alright, Nash. I'm ready to talk price."

Bran propped his feet on the desk. "Mr. Morris, I know how excited you are about the wedding, but I have more than enough in savings for us to have the type of ceremony we want. There's no need for you to chip in."

Calder slammed his hand down on the desk, causing Brandon to move his feet. Calder said, "Dammit, that's not what I'm talking about and you know it. I want to know how much it'll cost me to get you out of Nathan's life."

"I'm not sure I understand, sir."

"Don't play me, Nash. You're too damn smart to play the part of a moron. I want you to name a figure."

Bran nodded. "And if I do?"

"Then you agree to drop Nathan like hot lead. The more you hurt him, the better."

Brandon's stomach turned, but he forced his face not to show it. "If the price is right, I'll do it. But why should I make it more painful than necessary?"

"You want all the cards on the table, huh? Alright, then, I'll tell you. After what Landon did to him, having the first man he's dated since then drop him on his ass ought to turn him off men for life."

"How did you know I was the first man Nate has dated since Landon?"

"The private investigator I've had keeping track of him for the last six years told me."

"So, just like with Seth, you think Nate will stop being gay if he gets his heart broken again."

Calder snorted. "There's a big difference between Nathan and Seth. Seth is strong, but he's a little confused right now. Nathan has always been weak, spineless. Just look at his choice of professions. Hell, he gives a good portion of money each year to help those worthless indigents who can't even pay their own medical bills. When the little pansy told us he was gay, I wasn't surprised. In fact, I'd known for some time. No way in hell was I going to let him corrupt Seth."

Brandon had never wanted to hit a man so badly in his life. He knew he had no choice but to tamp it down and finish this, but his knuckles were straining for release. "You heard about Nate's attack from your investigator, not from one of your store managers."

"That's right. Malcolm Davis's son does work for me, but he didn't say a word about the attack, not to me anyway. He did tell Seth, but I found out from my investigator first. If you ask me, the only shame is that the guy didn't hit Nathan a little harder."

Visions of Calder Morris clutching a broken nose tempted Brandon's restraint. "If you hate him so much, why hire an investigator to keep track of him?"

Calder shook his head. "You just don't get it, do you? Seth has always adored Nathan, looked up to him. He's the reason Seth wants to be queer in the first place. I knew it was just a matter of time before Seth tried to contact Nathan. When he started seeing that campus witch doctor who convinced him it was alright to be a fag, I knew his next logical step was to come up here and beg that lowlife butt-fucker for forgiveness. No, my only hope for Seth is to convince Nathan not to be queer anymore. Once you dump him, we'll take him home with us and convince him to see that same psychiatrist who helped Seth the first time. Seth will go back to see her if Nathan does, and I'll have a normal family again."

"What about Phillip?"

Calder's smile was nauseating. "Patterson? Hell, he's already proven he can be bought. I'll just have to up the price, that's all."

Brandon nodded. "So, you're the one behind the attack on Nate? You hired someone to trash his place and cut his break lines?"

"No, all that was just a happy coincidence." Calder looked almost disappointed. "Wish I'd thought of it, though. When Leda and I got that call from Patterson saying Nathan had nearly bleed to death, all I could think was, 'Why the hell didn't it take them a little longer to pull him out of that car?' No, I'd gladly do away with the little fairy, but he simply isn't worth risking a murder charge." Calder pulled a cell phone from his pocket. "Now that we're clear on things, tell me how much you want. I'll make a call to my accountant and have the whole thing set up."

"Interesting choice of words, Calder, seeing as how that's exactly what this is, a set up."

Calder looked up to see his wife standing in the now open office door. "Leda, what in God's name are you talking about?"

"Save it, Calder. Next time you decide to make a grand confession, have sense enough to make certain the intercom isn't on. We heard the whole sordid thing. In fact, Brandon was kind enough to have his deputies make a tape of it for us. I'm sure my divorce attorney will find it most helpful."

"It's entrapment to tape a man without his knowledge. My lawyer will never allow it. I'll sue this whole damn department."

Brandon said, "Obviously, you didn't read the many signs posted throughout the office." He pointed to one on the bulletin board above the desk. "All communications in this office with the exception of those that fall under attorney/client privilege may be monitored and/or documented." Brandon read it word for word, pleased at Calder's rapidly falling countenance. "As it is, I have enough to book you on assault charges while I work to make a murder charge stick."

"Are you talking about the attempts on Nathan? I told you, I had nothing to do with that."

Brandon stood up and came around to the front of the desk. "Like your word means anything. Any man capable of wishing his own son dead is capable of murder, in my opinion. Calder Morris, you're under arrest for the assault and attempted murder of Nathan Morris and Marjorie Newman."

As Brandon read Calder his rights and cuffed him, Calder's denials grew more frantic. "I'm telling you, I had nothing to do with it. That little fag probably tried to fuck the wrong man and got what he deserved. Damned perverts. The whole lot of you is headed straight for hell."

Leda shook her head in disgust. "No one is more deserving of hell than a father who can say what you just said about his own son. Who knows, maybe I deserve to burn as much as you do. After all, I allowed your sick prejudices to keep me away from my boy for six years. I've also allowed you to beat me down and abuse me for almost thirty years. My only comfort is that Nathan didn't hear the vile things you just said."

"Actually, Mother, I did." Nate stepped away from Sam's desk where he'd been sitting and listening over the intercom. He was wobbling and shaking, but his voice was clear and strong. Brandon rushed to his side and put his arm around his waist. As Nate leaned into him, Brandon was overpowered with worry as he felt the extent of Nate's weakness.

"How the hell did you get down here, Nate? You're supposed to be at home, resting."

Keith came in, his face flushed and his lungs working for breath. "I'll tell you how he got here. When Seth called and told Leda the plan to gaslight Calder, Nate was listening on the upstairs extension. Mom had to do some grocery shopping, so I volunteered to baby-sit your intended. When Sam came by to pick up Leda, he tried to convince them to let him ride along. When I put my foot down and said he was too weak to go, he pretended to go along with it. The little fucker waited until I turned my back, snatched the keys to the Camero, and drove himself down here with one good arm and a head full of painkillers. You ought to arrest his ass for reckless driving."

Nate tried to shake his head, but he was trembling too bad. "I haven't had any pain medicine today. I had a right to know what was going on." He looked at his father with so much burning hatred, Brandon almost let go of him in surprise. "I knew this old bastard was up to something, but I never thought he'd take it this far."

Sam had Calder by the cuffs and was leading him towards booking. Calder said, "Call me whatever you want, you little shit. You're the one who's going to pay. All you faggots will."

Leda put her hand over her mouth, tears running down her cheeks. She turned to her oldest son. "Oh my God, Nathan, I am so sorry, son. I had no idea how sick your father really was."

Nate didn't answer. Brandon felt dead weight against his side and was just able to catch Nate as he crumpled to the floor.