Somehow AJ managed to keep his cool. How, he didn’t quite know. But he did. He walked into Brian’s room without even an outward tremble. Everything was locked down underneath that external shield. At another time it might have bothered him to discover that the part of him he had thought he’d buried, that he’d thought was gone, had been so close under the surface. At another time he might have hated finding out that the skills he learned on the street were still with him. Now, all he could do was thank God those abilities were still there.
Using them allowed him to stand in Brian’s room without killing Jeff. It allowed him to calmly look right at his face when Jeff asked him “What are you doing in here?”
With a look of bored detachment, AJ turned to look at Marcus. “If I give you my word I won’t touch anything without permission from you, would you mind if I looked around?” he asked him. The look in Marcus’s eyes said that he may not have known what was going on, but that he had his suspicions. “Go ahead, AJ.”
“Hey!” Jeff cried. “We can’t let him wander around in here. The police will be here soon and we can’t have him in here tampering with evidence.”
“Until they arrive this is my scene as head of security here and I say that he can be here so long as he keeps his hands to himself. You got a problem with that, Jeff, you take it up with me.” Marcus growled menacingly.
Now that he had his permission, AJ paid no attention to anyone else. He walked over to the patio door to look at the hole there. He kept his hands to himself as he looked at the hole, at the pattern around it, and through it to see if he could gauge the pathway of the bullet. Then he moved to the wall where the bullet itself had finally hit. He took a few minutes to just stand there and look.
Whoever had shot this had been talented at his work. To make the shot they had and manage to make it brush right past Brian’s face but not actually hit him. That took talent. Only a professional could do something like this. What he’d been able to see through the door showed only two different spots that the bullet could have come from. If only he could break free from security for a while and go look to figure out which one.
It wouldn’t really make a difference who did this or how. The why was what was important. But AJ knew the importance of gathering information. The more information you had the better off you were. But he’d managed to gather up the basic information that told him the outline of facts. He walked over to where Marcus and Jeff were still arguing. “Thanks, Marc. I got what I need. The group of us is relaxing in Kevin’s room right now, but I think someone needs to contact management to delay the next two shows. Also, I’m going to boot Kevin out of his room. He’s the only one without a patio. Brian can stay there until things are taken care of.”
“Of course, AJ. We’ll post added security in the hall today and tonight. No one will get by us to get to the door.”
“If they do, I’ll be waiting for them. Nothing will lay a hand on him. I’ll keep watch from the inside tonight.”
Jeff stepped forward, his face a mask of anger. “Now wait a second. You have your own room. There’s no need for you to be in his room when we’ll be keeping an eye on him.” He snapped out. “You’re a client, not a guard. You’re just a kid from a boy band. What do you think you can do?”
The look on AJ’s face must have been intense because Jeff and Marcus both took a step back. “Pardon me, but that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. On your watch, Jeff, he almost died. I guarantee that it won’t happen again.” He took a deep breath and that calm feeling spread inside of him again. “Marc, can I steal Rex for a while? I have an errand to run.”
A quick flash went into Marcus’s eyes. He and AJ were the only two that knew Rex’s past and how much it resembled the type of past that AJ had. Not even management knew that Rex Allen used to be known by a totally different name or that he had lived an entirely different life before he’d cleaned up. Marcus was the one who’d helped him clean up and to get this job that he had now.
In one charged look, the two friends shared a message. Marcus knew that AJ was planning something, and AJ could see that Marcus knew. But neither of them said a word about it. The only sign that Marcus gave was a small nod. He understood what AJ was planning and respected it. “Rex!” he called out, waving the man over.
Rex walked up to them, his normally happy face set in serious lines. “Yeah, Marc?” he asked. With the hard look on his face, Rex looked more intimidating than any of the other guards at the moment. Standing at six foot six, he stood above most of them, but his frame was lean like AJ’s was. The pony tail and the single earring almost gave him a pirate look. Generally he was a pretty happy guy; very pleasant. At the moment he looked harsh.
“I need to stay here, and AJ needs to make a run. He wants to know if you’ll go with him.”
The two men shared a look on that, but they were too well trained to let much into their expressions. Despite how hard Jeff was watching them all, not a one of them was giving anything away. It was obvious something was going on beneath the surface, just as it was obvious that it frustrated Jeff that he didn’t know what was going on.
“Let me escort you to your room so you can change and we’ll be on our way, Sir.” Rex said politely. His eyes traveled down to AJ’s bare feet. “I imagine you’ll want to put shoes on.”
“Probably be a good idea.” AJ let a smirk curve his lips, forcing his face to show emotions that he didn’t really feel. He had become better at lying with his eyes, though he still wasn’t perfect. Absently he wished for some sunglasses.
He and Rex left the room, both of them feeling Jeff’s eyes on their backs. But they said nothing as they went to the elevator. Once they were inside, Rex pressed the button for the floor below and the doors closed. Still, neither one of them spoke, knowing too well that it was too short a ride to say what they wanted.
Rex led the way from the elevator to AJ’s room, taking the key from AJ to open the door and step inside. He checked the area, made sure it was secure, and gestured AJ inside. After coming in, AJ shut and latched the door. Then he gestured for Rex to follow him to the bathroom. In that small room, AJ started a quick sweep, making sure there was nothing in there. No listening devices, cameras, nothing. Maybe it might have seemed silly to others. But if Brian and Nick were using those just for practical jokes, what’s to say Jeff or management wasn’t using it to seriously spy on them?
Only when he felt he was safe did he walk over to the shower stall. There he turned the water on and the shower on, letting the noise act as a cover for them. Rex hadn’t flinched the entire time. It would have taken so much more than this to startle that man.
“I need your help getting a few things.” AJ spoke in a low voice, knowing that if he was too loud he would still be heard even over his shower cover. He wouldn’t put it past Jeff to try to find a way to be eavesdropping on them.
Rex didn’t bat an eye. “A specific list or just general items?”
“A specific list. I have certain things I’m comfortable with and know how to use. Right now I don’t want to be trying to learn to use something new. I want to be capable and accurate.”
“There’s only so much all of this can do. If it comes at you two as another gunshot, none of this stuff will prevent it.” Rex pointed out quietly. He hadn’t needed any kind of explanation as to what AJ needed these things for. He knew without even being told. That had been another reason that AJ felt comfortable enough to trust Rex with this. The man had a quick mind and he was loyal to his friends.
Nodding, AJ felt his features harden. “Despite him saying that there was a chance for another, I highly doubt they’ll try gunfire again. They’ll want something more up close and personal. Something they can publicize. Not to mention that security wherever we go will be upped, looking for an LDS.” LDS stood for ‘long distance shooter’. “I don’t intend on letting anything happen, but to do that I need to be prepared.”
“You do remember that tour takes a break in a few days, right?”
It had been almost an entire month since they’d been back on tour. They were due for another two and a half week break. “I know. I was thinking that if they decide to pull something stupid, than either here or break will be the time they do it. Might be that how we act for break is going to decide how they react to things. I plan on teaching Brian some self-defense during our break time together. Most likely the first week back is when things will go down. I need to be prepared.”
“I understand, AJ. Trust me.”
“I know. If I didn’t trust you, we wouldn’t be here.” Pausing, AJ looked up. “Oh yeah. Just FYI, I do have a concealed weapons permit. When Marc tested for his I got mine at his suggestion. He always said that since I knew how to shoot I might as well be prepared to pack for my own safety.”
The grin that flashed on Rex’s face was almost identical to the one that AJ wore. Sharp, lethal, and slightly amused. They shared an understanding in that moment, one ex-thug to another.
“All right, let’s get the list in order. What exactly are you looking for? We take much longer in here and anyone listening in will become suspicious.” Rex said, all business.
God, it had been so long since AJ had been forced to think this way. To live this way. Back in that time of his life he had lived like this daily, without a thought about it. But Xander had been dead and buried for so long that he found that some of it took some thought. After thinking for a quick minute, he knew what he needed.
“Let’s start simple with some. I need an ankle harness for a knife as well as a gun. I want a few standard knives for my clothes and such, you know the kind. I hate to say it, but I need all legal issue for now. When I get back home I can get the other stuff….”
~~~~~~~~~~
One hour later AJ was back in the hotel again, heading toward Kevin’s hotel room. He had almost everything on his list, and Rex was taking care of the paperwork for the legal part of things, mainly permission for him to leave the country with them all. It needed to be done quietly and discreetly if he wanted to make sure no one found out what he was carrying.
That left him walking alone, though. It didn’t surprise him when Jeff stepped out of what had been Brian’s room. It looked like the cops had all left. Only Jeff was there for the moment. Because he’d been half expecting it, AJ didn’t startle or react in any visible way. But he did loosen up his muscles and relax his walk.
“An where have you been, Mr. Mclean.” Jeff asked him in a nasty voice.
AJ smiled at him, knowing it would piss Jeff off. “Running errands with Rex. He said to let you guys know he’ll meet up with y’all in about a half an hour.”
“What kind of errands?”
When they were barely a foot apart the two of them stopped. AJ hooked his thumbs in his jeans pockets, adopting as casual pose as possible. “Now, now, Jeffy. I don’t quiz you about your personal time.” AJ said in a fake sweet voice. “What errands I ran are my own. Now, run along and go make your report to management.”
“You better watch your mouth, AJ.” Jeff said, dropping all pretense of being friendly. “You weren’t so cocky earlier. I suggest you remember that feeling, and shape up and do what you’re told.”
“Threats, Jeffy? My, aren’t we brave today. Sure takes a lot of guts to hire a man to shoot from a distance, doesn’t it?” AJ shook his head and chuckled. “Guess management didn’t think you were man enough to handle things on your own. They had to go and hire a pro to take a cheap and easy shot. Maybe it’s cause they know that it’s the only way you’d win.”
Jeff stepped out of the doorway, his hands clenched into fists. “I could take down a little punk like you any day of the fucking week.” He hissed at AJ. “As for your little pretty boy down there, taking him down would be a snap. It will be a snap.”
Before Jeff could even blink AJ had shot forward, shoving Jeff against the side of the doorframe, one arm over his throat. When Jeff opened his mouth to speak, AJ slid two fingers into the sleeve of his shirt and unsheathed the knife that was there, letting the serrated edge press against Jeff’s throat. “If you think for one minute that I’ll let you lay a single hand on him, you’ve got another thing coming.” He seethed, leaning close in to Jeff’s face. “You forget who you’re messing with. Brian may be a sweet country boy, but I’m not. If you threaten him, if you touch him, I will not hesitate to use this next time.”
With a final glare, AJ pushed him back and let go. Though he paid close attention, he heard nothing following him as he started back to Kevin’s room. Only as he went through the door did he slide the blade back home in his sleeve.