“I don’t need to tell you that this won’t be helping.”
“They said this isn’t about him being gay. It’s about his behavior. He won’t do what he’s told. He goes out drinking and they suspect he’s doing drugs, too. Cass suspects he’s taken money as well.” Carter rubbed a hand over his face. “There’s more going on.”
“They need to get him into some form of therapy.” TJ winced when he heard more screaming erupt. “He needs counseling before he gets worse.”
“We know that, but he refuses, and it’s a difficult conversation to have with Cass.” Carter shook his head, “You know how closed off Cass can be about these things.” A heavy sigh, then he said, “Let’s go.”
Carter walked around to the front of the house with TJ and the voices diminished. “Has he been physical with Cody before?”
“I have never seen him hit Cody, but I guess we all have our limit. He shouldn’t have done it, and I’ll talk to him when everything has calmed down. He won’t be in the mood to talk about it tonight.”
“No, I imagine he won’t be, but this has alarmed me. A push is usually the beginning. It can get worse. I’ve seen situations like this escalate to where a child is beaten to death. I’m not saying Cass will do the same, but this has been going on for several months now and we all have a breaking point. They’re refusing to go to therapy, so are dealing with this every day with no help. At some point, a parent can snap.”
“I know what you’re saying, and I agree with you. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. I’m as concerned as you are.”
Toni stood by the side of their car, and TJ went over to talk to the boys. “You both okay?”
“Why is Cody moody, Dad?” Arthur asked.
Reaching out, TJ ruffled Arthur’s dark blond hair. “I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.” TJ looked at Toni and Carter. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Carter helped Toni into the car, then got in. TJ walked over to his own truck and waved as they drove past. Getting in, he sat in the driver’s seat and waited. He briefly considered going back inside to check on Cody, but he wasn’t family. His ex-wife marrying Cody’s uncle didn’t make him family at all, but they all got on well, so he tended to be invited when they had gatherings like this.
It hadn’t always been like that. When Cass had found out TJ was gay, he’d been stiff around him, but Carter had spoken to Cass and now he appeared to be fine. Appeared. TJ wasn’t convinced, and now with Cody being gay as well, and seeing how Cass had reacted to that news… yeah, he wasn’t convinced.Again, there was only so much he could do. Even if he wanted to do more, he couldn’t. He had to leave it to Carter. He didn’t want to involve police and cause problems if he’d read the situation wrong.
His phone rang, and he saw Mom on the screen. Smiling, he answered. “Mom. How are you and Dad?”
His parents, Mary Jayne and Bobby, were in their sixties but fit and active with a wide social circle. They were always out and about, meeting friends or attending parties. They had a more active social life than TJ, but he was glad for that, too. The more active you were in your golden years, the better.
TJ had been a surprise baby. After years of trying, they’d given up, then in their forties he’d come along. A much wished-for baby, he’d never felt that his parents had been too old to have him. Some days he thought they were fitter than he was.
“We just got back, dear. We’ve been at Agatha’s for some food. We’re trying to keep her busy after Bert passed. How has your day gone? Did you go to Cass’ house? How are Toni and the boys? Did Carter get that promotion?”
TJ smiled and told Mary Jayne everything that had happened. When he reached the part about Cody, she told him he needed to sit down with the young man and give him some words of advice. Words Bobby echoed. “We know how hard it was for you, and you were an adult, son.”
TJ agreed, then spent a few more minutes talking to them before ending the call and driving home, trying to think of a way to help Cody that Cass wouldn’t think was TJ interfering. By the time he’d reached home, he still didn’t have an answer, but he was at work the next day, so he intended to spend some time researching and once he had enough information, he would speak to Cass.
Hopefully, Cass would listen.
Chapter Two
TJ
“Redding! Get in here!” TJ glanced at Miles Owens, who widened his eyes, then ducked his head. TJ stood and walked over to Sheriff Gonzalez's office and stepped inside. Sheriff Diego Gonzalez nodded to the door and TJ shut it, then sat at his desk. Diego’s dark eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring. “Crompton has been at it again. Making that shit he likes to call vodka. I need you to go out there and confiscate it all or threaten him with arrest. Take that Miles Owens with you. He might learn a thing or two, the lazy bastard. We shouldn’t have to put up with men like him who can’t be bothered to put the effort in when it comes to this job.”
Choosing to ignore the comments about Miles, TJ stood. “I’ll get right on it now, sir.”
“I want it put out of commission. Too many townsfolk are going there.” Diego’s brother ran one of the bars in Robinson, so if they were going to Crompton’s, then they weren’t going to his bar.
TJ walked out and caught Miles’ eye, nodding to the exit. Once they were outside, Miles blew out a breath. “Gonzalez didn’t sound too happy.” Running fingers through his chestnut hair, Miles’ hazel eyes narrowed.
Shaking his head, TJ unlocked the car and got in, waiting for Miles to get in the other side. “Crompton’s.”
“Oh. Has Diego’s brother seen a drop in business?”
“It isn’t as if Crompton is even selling it. He brews it for himself, but everyone knows his is better than what Diego’s brother sells.” Pulling away from the station, TJ drove to Crompton’s, which was the last place he wanted to go. “Look, Miles.” TJ inhaled, then slowly released it. He liked Miles. Saw the potential in him, but for some reason Diego detested the sight of him and wanted him out, which was something TJ couldn’t allow. To him, it didn’t matter if he got along with the other person or not. If they were good at the job and could work with other people without causing friction, then that was fine with TJ. He’d worked with people who he hadn’t particularly liked, but he could be professional. It was a job at the end of the day. He didn’t have to invite them to his house after.
“What is it?”
