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Chapter Fourteen: Familiar Voices

The Chemung County Police Department rented out a two pavilions parallel to each other in Genesco Park and set up a giant ten in the middle to connect them. In the back of the tent, a stage was set up where a band of teenagers played.

It was 7:37pm and the sky was turning orange, the air was getting cooler (it had been a hot day), and the crowd only seemed to get louder as the food made way for more drinks. Marcus's parents had left an hour ago, leaving him and Reis sitting at a table drinking cheap beer in plastic cups.

Reis placing his arm around him.

Marcus looked at him "You comfortable doing that around all your cop friends?"

Reis frowne,. "It's no secret, Marcus. Not for me and not for Karma."

"They may tolerate it, but do you know if they accept it? Do you know if they really don't care what you do until it becomes public?"

Reis shook his head, "Since when do you care what other people think?"

Marcus looked back down at the table, rubbing the gold ring on his left hand. "I'm sorry babe. I'm... I'm just frustrated." Reis ran his arm up and down Marcus's shoulder.

"Thinking about Florentine? How their state legislature didn't pass gay marriage?"

Marcus, still looking down, nodded and raised his plastic cup, "Thank you, Pastor Baudor."

"You're not gonna blame this on that nut-job are ya? After all, you were the one who crushed his campaign, didn't you?"

"Yea, and made him a martyr to all the nut-jobs like him. Reeled up the anti-gay vote and pressured every...politician...to bow to their prejudice."

Marcus's eyes were glazed, the bottom of both lined with water. "I was really hoping that...that we'd have a chance there."

Reis rested his head on Marcus's, "I know how much you want to go through with this, baby. I want it as much as you do."

Marcus turned to embrace Reis, "Oh Reis, I just don't understand it...I don't understand what is so wrong with wanting to marry the one you love."

"I know...I know, Marc. It's because these days many people still think of gays as overtly arrogant flamboyant hedons who are only obsessed with sex. But that will change. It will change when people...can see more people like us." Reis spoke as if he were reciting something.

Marcus raised his head. "What do you mean?"

Reis smiled, "They'll see that what people like us have real love for one another. That our love is just as precious and just as unconditional as the love every person has been told they should have for their spouse, for their family, and for each other."

Reis gently placed his left hand against Marcus's left breast. "Be patient, Marc. We'll get married. It's only a matter of time. But right now we have something that I think too few straight people in this country have anymore..."

"What?"

"Appreciation for the value of marriage. Any straight teenaged couple can run down to the town hall and get a marriage license. They take it for granted, and then they get divorced after two months because they then realize that they couldn't stand each other to begin with. But us...we're only devoted to each other. We already know that we're gonna be spending the rest of our lives together. That will make our wedding day all the more satisfying for us. We fought for something and earned it. And we are the last generation of gays who are gonna be able to know what that feels like."

Marcus paused, looking into the sincere blue eyes of his love. It was not like him to speak in tangents. "I guess I still forget how deep the well runs."

Reis chuckled. "Yea. Some of the stuff Joji has me read is..."

Marcus interjected, "-Please don't..."

"-ALRIGHT EVERYONE!" shouted a familiar voice over the speakers. It was Karma's, he was standing on top of the stage, microphone in hand. He was obviously a little tipsy. "About a few minutes ago, the Sheriff arrived, and he's got a special treat for us. Well, actually two because we just convinced him to sing. We told him that it wouldn't be a party if he didn't."

Joji began to make his way up the stage, with an awkward smile on his face. Karma put his arm around Joji, "So what's it gonna be this time? Bob Marley? Led Zeppelin?"

"I hate you," said Joji laughing. He then opened his button down to reveal the shirt he was wearing underneath. "These kids know any Lynrd Skynrd?" The crowd of department officers began to cheer and egg Joji on.

Reis grinned and began to pull at Marcus as he got out of his chair. "We've got to see this."

Marcus shook his head. "You go ahead. I need some air. But I'll get us a couple of more drinks while I'm at it."

Reis shrugged, "Suit yourself. I'll see you in a few." He then took off for the stage. Marcus got up, tossed his and Reis's plastic cups into the nearby trash can, and made his way over to the mobile pub.

Joji's voice boomed over the speakers. "Now that the crowd has thinned a little, I think it's appropriate to say that the reason why I'm late is because I had to make a stop at the airport to pick up my brother's shipment of a hundred and fifty boxes of wine which is now being stashed in the pub. And it is free of charge!" The crowd gathered around the stage cheered. Marcus could see that at the pub, sure enough, a pile of wine coolers were being staked up.

"Plus," Joji continued as he pulled a check out of his back pocket, "I have here a check for all cabs home tonight!" Again, the crowd cheered, this time louder.

Marcus rolled his eyes and shook his head as he rested his arms on the plastic table set up in front of the pub. "What can I get ya, Marcus?" said another familiar voice. Marcus turned his head to see who it was. It was Massak.

"Hey, Massak," said Marcus happily, "Guess I'll have the house wine. Two, please."

Massak nodded and right from below the table he picked up a case of wine, took two plastic cups and poured them. As he was pouring, Massak said "It's been awhile. We're you been?"

"Guess I've been really busy. You know, working at the office and all."

After Massak finished pouring the two plastic cups to the brim with red wine, he placed them in front of Marcus.

"Thanks, Massak." said Marcus.

"You're not going anywhere now, are ya?" asked Massak.

Marcus shook his head. Massak took out another plastic cup and begin to fill it, "Then have a drink with me. I'll fill yours back up later."

"Be glad to," said Marcus with a grin. When Massak finished filling his glass he raised it, Marcus complied and the two drank. Marcus had to admit that Jessica's Vine from LaFleur Vineyards was one of his favorite dry red wines.

"How's Karma?" asked Marcus.

Massak smirked, "Fine as ever. Especially in bed."

The two of them laughed.

"How's Reis?"

Marcus looked back to the stage. In a distance he could see Reis standing among the other young cops surrounding the stage, cheering as Joji sang. Marcus looked at the stage. Joji was swaying back and forth, parading around the stage with giant steps. His southern twang filled the tent as he sang something about a blue and cold gun barrel that would put a man six feet in a whole.

Marcus looked back at Massak, "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course, man."

"I think I'm scared for his life."

Massak retraced Marcus's prior glace with his eyes.

"He's Joji's new partner, isn't he?"

"Did Karma tell you that?" asked Marcus.

"Yea, but to tell you the truth, I would have figured it."

"What do you mean?"

Massak shrugged, "I think that he has a knack for taking the younger, newer cops under his wing."

Massak moved in a little closer. "Don't get me wrong. I've only known Joji for a little bit, he was Karma's old partner when he started out, before Joji became Sheriff. But there's something about him that just..."

"... doesn't sit well?" finished Marcus.

"Exactly. Like I said, he seems like a good guy. Karma is good friends with Joji, too. In fact, Karma said that Reis is lucky to have Joji as his new partner. But ever since I've known him, I get this feeling that there is something about him that...he's hiding. You know what I mean?"

Marcus nodded, looking back at the gray dog prancing around the stage "I guess so. Like hiding as in..."

"-Something bad. Even Karma says that he can be really aggressive sometimes over weird things."

"Really?" said Marcus half listening as he locked his eyes on Joji again.

"Yea. I think I heard once that a few years ago he bet some drug dealer to a pulp because Joji caught him talking to some little kids."

"Damn."

"You know what I think it is, Marcus?"

Marcus looked back at Massak, "What?"

"I think he's closeted."

Marcus's ear perked up. "What?"

Massak smiled as he nodded his head eagerly, "Yea. Call it a prejudice, but I find the most closeted men hid their desires with violence of some sort. Plus, you know that kid he looks after? Alex? I suppose you can tell that he is openly gay, too. I think Joji wants him."

Marcus's face shuttered. "I don't..." was all Marcus could say before Massak interrupted.

"Oh look who it is..."

Marcus turned around, facing one of the entrances on the other side of the tent, closer to the stage, he could see Alex.

The music had stopped, and the crowd around the stage erupted into applause as Joji stumbled down the steps, greeted with pats and embraces from his fellow officers. The band's guitarist had also gotten off the stage, and ran right into Alex. Marcus recognized the guitarist; he was the otter who he saw in the park with Alex a few months ago. Marcus could not hear what the two were talking about, but it did not seem like a friendly conversation; at least not on the part of the otter. The otter glared at the short, thin Dalmatian who only smiled and laughed at him. The otter lightly but angrily tugged at the Alex's jacket; he was not happy that Alex was wearing it. As Marcus strained his eyes, he could see that the jacket was in fact the same light purple high school basketball jacket he had seen the otter wearing that day in the park.

"Excuse me, Massak. I need to...see someone."

"Wait..." called Massak, Marcus turned back, "Don't forget you wine..."

After picking up the two cups, Marcus made his way to the other side of the tent. He hated having to push through crowds with only one cup full to the brim to watch over: so he despised the double trouble. He tried to keep one eye on both the cups and another on the couple near the stage. Still, he ran right into a big Doberman, who strangely enough was wearing a jacket similar to the one Marcus saw on Alex: his also said Mayfield High Basketball. The young, but hefty Doberman glared at Marcus, and took a few steps forward in a threatening gesture. "Watch wear you're going."

Marcus could feel an instant sharp pain of fear go right down his chest to his abdomen, harkening back to the handful of times he faced off jocks like this one. But Marcus stood his ground, anchoring his feet into the asphalt beneath him. "Keep in your right of way..." was all that Marcus said back. The Doberman only moved a bit closer and began to clutch his right fist. I'm not going anywhere...Marcus's mind screamed. But then, an arm from behind the Doberman placed itself across the menacing dog's chest.

"Ted..." said a voice coming from behind the Doberman. As the Doberman pivoted to see who it was, the otter emerged from behind him.

"Luke?" said the Doberman to the otter.

"Come on. I got something to talk to you about." As the otter pulled the Doberman away from Marcus, the jock dog gave a final glare to Marcus, but soon disappeared into the crowd. Marcus looked back to the stage only to see that Alex had also disappeared.

"Young Mr. Laramie!" shouted a voice from behind Marcus. Marcus turned to see that the other familiar voice belonged to yet another familiar face.

"Officer Richards. Nice to see you again." Marcus said properly.

"It's been...what? Two...three years?" asked Richards slurring some of his words and splashing some of the beer in the plastic cup in his hand.

"Yea, I think so."

Richards smiled and nodded his head toward a small high rise table that hugged a metal pole on the outer part of the tent. "Come on son, have a drink with me."

Marcus walked over to the table and placed the two cups on the table. Richards leaned against the table as he took a swig of his beer. "So...is Reis been adjusting okay."

"He's certainly happy with himself lately."

"Oh..." said Richards taking another swig of beer. Marcus took the opportunity to sip down some of his wine.

"I guess I can credit that to the Sheriff," said Marcus as he placed his cup back onto the table.

Richards gagged for a second. "Joji?" he asked. Marcus looked back in surprise, "Yea." Richards looked to down, "Then I guess Reis needs your help more than ever."

Marcus was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"

Richards looked back up again, "I know Joji has taken a liking to him. He wants that with all of the new cops. He needs to build a base."

"What are you talking about?"

Richards looked Marcus directly in the eyes, "He's been pissing off a whole lot of people in the county's service, including some of the older cops like me. He's increasing patrols, increasing the staff, and upgrading the equipment. Sounds good, right? But it has been cutting into the rest of our benefits and pay 'cause the county doesn't want to spend additional money on the department because they see no need to expand its priorities. Course, Joji thinks different. So he needs some loyalty if he's gonna be able to get anything done."

Marcus was stunned, but before he could say anything, Richards continued.

"Don't get me wrong. He was a great cop, and before that, a great soldier. I knew his father for a long time. In fact, I helped Joji get a job at our department after he got back from Iraq. He was a bit on edge then...which I think he compensates with his job. But now he feels he's got to prove himself as a leader. And it's scaring us. His fiery idealism attracts the younger cops who share it. That, mixed with the his lingering...I guess you can call it PTSD ...and the fact that he's under increasing pressure to make some improvements to the crime situation before the election. I guess it all means that...well, anyone would be endangered."

Marcus's face sank in anguish, which Richards recognized right away, and took a giant slug at his wine, finishing almost half the cup. The bitter sweetness of the liquid stung at Marcus's throat as it went down.

"I don't mean to scare you, kid," said Richards reassuringly, "but I care about Reis, too. And if I know a healthy relationship, only the one he loves can truly keep him grounded."

Marcus drank the last of his wine, than he picked up the other cup and began to back away from the table. "I gotta go. It was nice seeing you again, Officer Richards."

Marcus darted in the other direction so quickly that he could not even hear if Richards said anything else in return. He needed to find Reis.

As Marcus hustled his way through the crowd people, he couldn't see Reis anywhere. By the time that Marcus had gotten to the other side of the tent, he was almost out of breath, placing his hand on a metal pole to give himself support while he sucked in more air.

Where could he possibly be?

Suddenly, Marcus felt a hand on his shoulder. As he turned to see who it was, right before him stood the hefty Shepkita sporting his razor sharp teeth with a wide grin.

"Marcus!" said Joji with his loud, Louisianan drawl, "What's been keeping ya all this time? You afraid of me or something?"

"Huh?" said Marcus blankly as he limbered up a bit.

Joji only smiled, "Well, every time I pick Reis up, if I see you at all, you only go so far as to nod you head in my direction or just star at me. Plus, every time I have Reis over at my place or if we make plans to hang out somewhere, you never seem to be able to make it."

"Been very busy. Then again, an outfit like that is bound to give anyone the heebie-jeebies," said Marcus referring to the fact that Joji was wearing a navy blue flannel button-down over a black LYNYRD SKYNYRD shirt. Joji looked down, maintaining his grin.

"What can I say? It's my jam. But I guess you people have a sensitivity for this kinda stuff, huh?"

Marcus's blank stare morphed into a glare.

"My apologies, Marc. Sometimes I get a little too friendly."

Joji then put his arm around Marcus and began leading him away from the tent and through the pavilion.

"There is something I need to discuss with you though."

Walking out of the pavilion, the two moved over to the grass, which separated the pavilion from the adjacent wooded area. Now the dusk had faded into darkness, and the only light in the area came from the pavilion's lights, which descended on Joji's right half of his face.

"I'm sure you know that I have an election coming up in a couple of months," said Joji, his face looking all the more sincere now. Marcus nodded his head. Joji moved in closer, "And I guess you might have heard that Carol's not interested in running it anymore." Again Marcus only nodded his head, and then looked down to the cup he was holding, which was full, and all the wine he had left. Marcus put the wine up to his lips and slurped at it, raising his head back up to Joji as he did so. Joji's face was now covered in the look of sear earnestness.

"How'd you like to?"

Marcus gagged and gave a quick cough as the liquid trickled down the wrong tube in his throat.

"Me?"

Joji nodded his head in upmost certainty. "You heard me right. I want you to manage my re-election campaign."

Almost instantly, Marcus shook his head. "I can't," he said, "I have no experience." Joji only pursued further, "Bullshit Marc, of course you do. Reis told me all about your activism in FERAL, how you just finished a term being president of your chapter in Florentine. And quite frankly, I am very impressed. He told me how you brought down the campaign of some homophobic nut-case."

Marcus wasn't moved. "Anyone one could have gotten that video of Baubor. Running FERAL is nothing like running a political campaign. I know. I used to help out in my dad's campaigns when he was in the legislature. Besides, I've been really busy at the DA's office."

Joji beamed, raising his finger in discovery, "So you do have experience in campaign work."

Marcus said nothing, feeling that anything else he might say would only lead into some kind of trap set for him. Joji placed his hand on Marcus's shoulder, "You can't possibly be too busy to turn up an opportunity like this. I can't promise good pay, but I can nonetheless pay off good."

Marcus tilted his head slightly to the side in curiosity, asking with his eyes what Joji meant. Joji read the expression like a book and without hesitation continued, "What I mean, Marc, is that I can make a quick phone call to any of my dad's friends, in business, in politics, you name it. And in one day, I can get you far more connections than the average law student builds up in three years, and with all the jobs any aspiring lawyer would kill to get a foot in. I can almost promise you a very well- paying job when you graduate law school."

Marcus stared blankly, trying not to show the lease bit of emotion. "How do you know what jobs I aspire to, Joji?"

Again, Joji's beaming face sank into a somber look, as if his smiles were held up by helium, which someone had drained him of. "That's not all," he said with a hint of aggravation, "I can also promise that with just a quick phone call, your FERAL chapter in Florentine will receive a hefty anonymous donation, and maybe even some of the other surrounding chapters. I know that the gay marriage thing back there is going to be on the ballot his November..." Joji nodded his head back to the tent, making Marcus look in that direction, toward Reis who was talking to a few guys near the stage, "...and if it passes, you two might have a shot."

Marcus glared, "You think anybody can just be bought off, don't ya?"

Joji was taken aback, "Hey...Hey...What are you talking about?"

"You're just trying to get me on your side because I work for Carol and I am Reis's mate. You think you can buy me out to have a leeway to both," Marcus flared.

Joji locked his face into a deathly stare and said with stern intonation, "Far from it..." he then prompted himself up, as if to look as tall as possible.

"...Has Carol or Richards been talking to you about me?"

"This isn't about them," sapped Marcus. Joji went silent for a second. "You're right, let's cut to the chase. Marcus, I want to get re-elected, and O'Hara is putting up a tough fight. But he is of the old school. I need someone sharp to manage my campaign. Someone like you. Besides, O'Hara is a homophobe. Couple years back, I heard him say that..."

"-I've heard enough." As Marcus turned, he again felt the large hand of Joji on his shoulder, which pulled him back to face the glaring Shepakita.

"Look Marcus. I need your expertise in this field and your passion. What would you do it for?"

Marcus placed his hand on Joji's and pushed it off of his shoulder, then he looked Joji square in the eyes. "Okay, Joji. I'll run your campaign, but in return all I want is for Reis to be partnered up with Karma again. Not you."

Joji stood there, his mouth slightly hanging, showing his sharp canines, his eyes moving from right to left as he looked over Marcus with a fury that was so immense that it could barely be contained. All the Shepakita could do was just stand there and wait for words to start flooding out of his mouth, but nothing came out in time to hide the fact that he was absolutely dumbfounded. Marcus stood tall, not letting one of his eyes leave those flickering ones of Joji. Then Marcus noticed that Joji's eyes began to move upward, fixing themselves on something, channeling all the anger behind them onto a selected target. But the target was not Marcus. Joji's death stare was directed at something behind Marcus, in a distance. Marcus did not dare turn his back to the large gray Shepkita to see what he was looking at. Rather, he waited for Joji to push him aside and walk past him, as if he were a ghost, before he took a good look.

Joji's heart pounded and a light glaze of sweat cooled the contracted muscles of his frown. As if by an invisible rope, Joji was pulled with all haste toward Alex, who had his arm around a big, young Doberman. Joji increased his speed as not lose the two as their bodies were absorbed by black shadows as they descended into the dark forest. Once the two had gone, Joji quickly entered the forest himself. The darkness forced him to slow his motions as not to run into a tree or trip on a root. The restraints of the darkness only filled him with greater rage. Joji's ears pointed to the sky as he listened for any noise at all that would give him some direction to where the two had gone. As he moved, small twigs beneath him broke, producing a cackling. They'll fucking hear me, he exploded in his mind. Suddenly, Joji's left ear twitched as it detected a noise coming for several yards away. It started out as a murmur. Joji stepped with ease toward where it was coming from. The sound gradually grew more distinct, and Joji could not tell if he was getting closer to it or if the sound was just getting louder. But as the sound intensified, so did Joji's fury, as he could make out was it was: it was moaning.

Finally, standing in a small clearing in the woods, in a place where some moonlight managed to trickle through the parted tree branches, Joji could make out the figure of the Doberman, eyes closed and facing upward toward the incoming moonlight, with both of his hand on the top of the head of the young Dalmatian, who was on his knees and wrapping his arms around the Doberman's waist.

With swiftness, and in great form, Joji took three large leaps toward the shadowy Doberman, and in one blow, struck him along the side of his face. In that one strike, the Doberman fell to the ground, where he grabbed onto his face and screamed in pain. But the hefty young dog was not on the ground for long, as he almost immediately rose to his feet and darted in the opposite direction, hands on his pants to keep them up, and not even looking back to see who had hit him. This was a good sign for Joji, he may not know who to press charges against.

After the Doberman had cleared the seen, Joji grabbed Alex by the sides of his jacket and hauled the pup up to his feet, pulling his muzzle close to his.

"Let go!" shouted Alex.

"He another one of your costumers? Huh? LIKE THE ONE WHO GAVE YOU THIS JACKET?"

Alex grabbed onto Joji's hands, making a futile attempt to pry them off. Finally, Joji let go, dropping Alex to his feet. He then pointed at him, "I swear, Alex, if I ever catch you with another guy like that I'm...I'm gonna kill ya!"

Alex shuttered a bit, his eyes beginning to tear, but he remained steadfast, facing Joji right in his fiery eyes. "Fuck you..."

Joji's jaw dropped, "What did you say?" he asked ever so slowly.

Alex puffed out his chest a little bit more and sucked in a breathe before he shouted out "I SAID FUCK Y-"

Alex was stopped in an instant as his right check met the back of Joji's right hand. The blow was hard enough to knock Alex off of his balance, causing him to stubble to the ground. He cowered as he prepared for the next smack that he could see Joji winding up for.

"DON'T YOU EVER...."

But the blow never came. Noticing the unusual delay, Alex braved himself to look back up. Standing right above him was a large dark wolf, grasping Joji's right hand.

"Joji, that enough!" spoke the tall wolf, in a voice that Alex recognized as Reis's.

Reis threw Joji backward, extinguishing Joji's stamina; all he could do was coldly, almost menacingly, stare at Reis.

"That's enough, Joji," said Reis in a calmer tone as he helped Alex back to his feet, "I'll take him home."

Reis placed both his hands on Alex's shoulders and started to escort him away. But Alex knocked Reis's hands off of him and stormed right up to Joji.

"I hate you! I wish they never stuck me with you! A psychopath! And when I turn eighteen in January, I'm ditching this fucking town and you for good!

Reis pulled at Alex, "Stop that, Alex. Let's all just forget about it until after we've slept it off."

As Reis led Alex away, Joji clutched his face with both hands and fell to his side, his left shoulder landing on the side of a tree. With his right hand, and giving out a yell, he punched the tree with all his might. Then, after grasping his right hand in pain, Joji slide down the side of the tree sobbing.

Kneeling on the ground next to the tree, holding his bleeding hand tight, he could feel the presence of another behind him. It was Marcus.

"Go away," demanded Joji.

"No, Joji. I think there is something we can work out after all."