Toronto Tales 1 - Cop Out Read Online Free PDF Page A

few minutes later, Davy was no longer in danger of fainting, and Kurt levered himself into another chair. He’d just reacted, but those reactions would have his physiotherapist yelling at him for sure. He might even need to dig out the prescription painkillers he still had half a bottle of, when he got back to his mom’s. But he had more pressing concerns.
    “Okay, now?”
Davy nodded, a full nod this time, his eyes full of questions.
“I know this is where Ben lived. I know… or at least, I’ve deduced you lived here with Ben.”
    A slightly fearful look returned, and Davy fidgeted with fingers that looked bloodless and cold, he but didn’t reply.
Another light went on his brain. Ben’s partner. He’d introduced himself as Ben’s partner. The term had a much different meaning for Davy. “You were Ben’s partner. Life partner, right?” He didn’t see a ring on Davy’s finger, so he didn’t think they were married.
Pale pink lips compressed, as though Davy were afraid of what would fall out. Kurt had seen the action before, in guilty people who weren’t hardened criminals. The urge to tell the truth warred with fear of the consequences.
    Davy’s lips parted, but instead of the confirmation he expected, Davy repeated his previous question. “Why are you here?”
“Because I wanted to apologize. Because I wanted to offer my help, with anything.”
“I don’t understand. Apologize for what?”
    Kurt’s eyes began burning again. More memories had returned from that day, but not all. “I should have done more. Maybe if I had, Ben would still be alive.”
Davy cleared his throat. “Inspector Nadar explained it to me. I don’t think you’re to blame. You didn’t need to bring me food.”
    Kurt raised a brow as he inspected Davy from forehead to toe. He’d only seen Davy for a few moments at the funeral, but he’d lost ten pounds or more in the intervening days and was as pale as the paint on the wall. His mom would have a fit if he left Davy in this condition. He wasn’t about to let Ben’s partner kill himself through neglect.
    “I wasn’t kidding about helping you out. Ben was my friend.” Even if he hadn’t felt the same about Kurt. “Wife, life partner, kids… I would offer help to anyone Ben left behind. Now, it’ll be thirty minutes or so before the stew’s heated through. Is there anything you need me to do?”
    Davy’s breath hitched, once. Again. Then he startled them both by bursting into tears. Harsh, racking sobs and great gulping breaths shook Davy’s slim frame. Davy stood poised to run, rubbing his face frantically, as though he could hide his grief.
    Kurt couldn’t let him suffer, couldn’t let him run and hide more than he had been. Kurt grabbed him with his good hand and hauled him into his lap like a baby. Davy’s head landed on the top of his barely healed scar on his bicep, and Kurt bit his cheek to keep from yelling. He wrapped his good arm around Davy’s stiff, shaking body, and a few seconds later, Davy curled around him, absorbing body heat into his chilly form. Kurt shifted, so Davy’s head rested on his shoulder, hot tears—the only thing warm about Davy right now—wetting his neck. He rocked, like he would with one of his nieces or nephews, and Davy’s legs pulled up into an almost fetal position. Where the hell was Sandra? Where were Davy’s parents, friends?
    Crooning softly, an Irish tune his mother sung to him as a child, Kurt rocked Davy, let him cry, wishing they’d been on a couch when Davy had his meltdown. A few tears of his own slipped down and dropped from his chin into Davy’s soft hair. His loss wasn’t as profound, but hurt every damned day.
    He’d had complete strangers—victims and relatives of victims— break down and need comfort. Ben never understood how he could do it, but if he sensed he could help, he did. He and Ben had seen a lot of people under a lot of distress, and a hug could go a long way to ease the pain. Although he was