“The chickens have come home to roost.” The first time I heard my grandfather say these words, I asked what they meant. He told me that it was when all the facts came to light, and we had to face the consequences of our actions.
I talked to Paul Harris for a bit longer, I told him, because of my relationship with Conrad, I was not the best person to give my thoughts on him or Will Kline. Not only had I never met Will Kline, but I was also finding it hard to believe that Conrad would be so vocal against LGBT issues, if he was indeed a member of that community.
After I ended my call, I sat back and tried to make sense of all this new information. Had Conrad and Will actually been a couple for 18 years? Did Heather know about it and was she a willing participant? What was she getting out of it? Had she been paid off? Was she being blackmailed? I could see either of those possibilities being true.
My curiosity got the best of me, I did a quick search on Heather Wilcox. She was from Tulsa, like Conrad, her father was a lawyer and an influential man. I chuckled, these rich families always treated marriage as a business arrangement, never worrying about whether there was any love involved. She and Conrad met in college and quickly became the “it” couple on campus. She followed him to law school, although she didn’t pursue a law degree herself. She did take some psychology classes, the field she already had a bachelor's degree in, but she didn’t get her masters. It looked like she was just keeping busy until Conrad graduated. In one interview, she mentioned she wanted to be a family counselor, but felt it was more important to support her husband, once she and Conrad were married. She and Conrad were married the summer after he passed the bar, it of course, was the social event of the year.
I was shocked when I read the next bit of information, Heather had two children. Both were boys, the first was born two years after her marriage to Conrad, the second, two years later. From the things I was reading, she was fiercely protective of them and so was Conrad and his family. I further discovered that the Wilcox family was just as tight lipped about the boys. Heather’s father had recently been appointed to the bench, as a judge in district court. Between him and Conrad’s father, it was made clear to the press that the boys were off limits. They were never to be photographed at any public appearances, but it appeared that they were rarely included at any such events.
I considered all this new information, maybe Heather was just a dedicated mom just taking care of her sons. Maybe, the tradeoff for putting up with Conrad was the financial security he and his family provided. Was that enough for her to accept that her husband was maintaining a relationship with another man. Her family certainly wasn’t hurting in the money department, surely, they would take care of her.
I shifted my focus to Will Kline. After years of working on the newspaper, I knew where to look for information on people. The internet is full of tidbits about each and every one of us, if you know where to look. Like Heather, Will met Conrad in college. He was from Kansas City and was also working towards his law degree. He and Conrad went through college together, taking the same classes, they then moved onto law school together. Paul was right about them being at each other’s side the entire time. I looked up old school newspapers, college year books and anything that included pictures of Conrad. If there was a picture of Conrad, Will was also in the picture. Will was in more pictures with Conrad than Heather was. He may not have been front and center, but he was always there, even if it was only in the background.
After they graduated law school, Conrad moved back to McAlester to join his father’s law firm as junior partner, Will followed and was hired as an associate. When Conrad was elected to the city council, Will never missed a meeting. The meetings are open to the public, so no one ever questioned him being there. When Conrad moved on to mayor, Will was hired as part of his staff, the same when Conrad was elected to the senate.
While all of this was purely speculation on my part, all the pieces were fitting together perfectly. Were Conrad and Will carrying on a secret affair for the last 18 years? Either Heather had no idea, or based on her comments to me, she knew everything and was a willing participant, I could even believe she was being blackmailed.
I was still trying to process all this new information when I heard dad come home from work.
I came out of my room as dad was emptying his lunch box. I asked, “how was work dad, did you have a good day.”
He turned to me with a smile, “yeah, it was fine, we just started a new contract, so we’ll be busy the next few weeks. It’s better to stay busy, the day goes by faster.”
I grinned, “yeah, keeping busy does make the day go faster.”
He asked, “what about you, did you get some work done?”
I said, “yep, I have my latest book submitted, just waiting for the editor to send it back so I can do any rewrites that are needed. I’ll get dinner started, you remember, Mike is joining us tonight?”
Dad smiled, “yes, I remember, I’ll go get cleaned up and I’ll help you get dinner ready.”
I was putting the finishing touches on our spaghetti and dad was setting the table when Mike arrived. Dad got us each a beer as we sat down to eat, he asked, “were you busy at the shop today, Mike?”
Mike nodded, “it was steady, a few oil changes and we had a starter to replace on Honda, you know, the normal stuff.”
Mike turned to me, and said, “so, have you decided what your next book is going to be about yet Devin, I know the Oswald book is getting close to being complete.”
I sighed, “I started looking at a couple of interesting cases, I haven’t decided on anything yet. I did get an interesting call this morning. I kind of wasted the day searching down that rabbit hole.”
Dad asked, “searching for what?”
I told them everything I found out about Conrad, Heather and Will.
Dad asked, “is that proof that Conrad and this Will guy are in a relationship?”
I took a drink of my beer, “no, not at all. I was just speculating on what it all means, I certainly could way off.”
Mike asked, “so, what are you going to do about all this?”
I shrugged, “I’m not planning on doing anything. That’s why I said I wasted the day on it.”
Dad said, “if Conrad is gay, why would he be so anti-gay when he is in the senate?”
Mike chuckled, “that’s the way Conrad is, he’s always been two-faced.”
Dad shook his head, “I guess it runs in the family, his old man is the same way. Everything he does is to make the family look good.”
Mike and I agreed, Mike said, “it makes sense, especially after what Heather told you the night of the reunion.”
I nodded, “yeah, I thought of that too. It doesn’t matter anyway, like I said, It’s none of my business. Besides, I think the shit will hit the fan soon enough. Paul, the reporter that called me, is already on the story. I think he already has an idea of what is going on.”
Dad stood to start clearing the dishes from the table, “good for you Devin, don’t get involved in this mess. If any of this is true, Conrad will get what is coming to him, karma gets everyone in the end.”
Mike chuckled, “you’re right Dave, but it sure would be fun to be there to see the look on that smug asshole’s face if and when this all of this comes out.”
Mike helped us clean up and do dishes, just as he always has done since he started to join us for dinner. After we were done in the kitchen, we all watched tv for a while and dad excused himself to go to bed. Mike and I sat on the couch and after the news was over, with no mention of Conrad, he headed back to his place for the night.
A couple of days later, I went down to the coffee shop as had become my custom over the last few months. I was surprised when the lady behind me said, “please let me pay for your coffee today.”
I said, “thank you” as I turned to see who she was. She was dressed in an oversized sweatshirt, a cap with her ponytail pulled through the back, and dark sunglasses.
She said, “you’re welcome, would care to join me on the patio?”
I nodded, “sure.”
As we sat down, she took off her glasses, I did a double take, it was Heather. She looked so different without makeup and jewelry. The only other time I had seen her was at the reunion, and she was wearing a fancy dress, just as she was doing in all the pictures I had seen when I was doing my research.
Heather said, “it’s good to see you again Devin.”
I said, “you too Mrs.…”
She stopped me, “it’s Heather, please.”
I said, “ok Heather, is there something I can do for you?”
Heather asked, “did you receive a call from a reporter named Paul Harris?”
I nodded, “I did.”
She took a sip of her coffee, “were you able to answer his questions?”
I said, “look Heather, it’s no secret that Conrad and I don’t get along. I simply told Paul that I would not be able to give him any information and remain objective when it comes to Conrad. One of the first things they teach in journalism school is that a reporter should not let their personal feelings affect any story they are working on. I just told him that we went to school together, a long time ago, and I had only seen Conrad a couple of time since.”
Heather sighed, “that’s too bad, when I happened to mention your name, I was hoping you would tell Paul what Conrad did to you in high school.”
I asked, “so you told him to call me?”
She nodded. I continued and asked, “and you know about what Conrad did to me and Mike?”
She said, “yes, Conrad let it slip. The night of the reunion, he saw me talking to you. When we got in the car to go home, he asked me what I was talking to you about. He said, “I suppose Devin told you about me talking those pictures. I finally got him to tell me the whole story and to be honest, I wasn’t all that surprised that he would do something so mean.”
I said, “ok Heather, that was a long time ago, frankly, I couldn’t care less about Conrad Brooks, I have moved on, why can’t he?”
She rolled her eyes, “Conrad can never move on, and he thinks everyone is out to get him. He is so consumed with his power and what he will have to do to get to the next level.”
I chuckled, “if anyone is out to get him, I am sure he brought it on himself. I’m sorry Heather, but I have to ask, why do you stay with Conrad?”
She sighed, “you are lucky you are who you are Devin. When you come from a family like mine or Conrad’s, there are certain things that you have to endure. I thought when I left for college, I would be able to become more independent, my father had different ideas for me. Conrad’s father and my father met at some fundraising event and found out Conrad and I were attending the same college. The very next week, Conrad sought me out and I got a call from my father suggesting it would be a good idea to become friendly with the young Mr. Brooks.”
I asked, “and you couldn’t say no to marrying him either?”
She chuckled, “to be honest, I never thought marriage would ever be a possibility. Two weeks after our first date, I caught him with Will Kline. Conrad talked me into “keeping up appearances” for both of our families. I assumed it would just be through college, before I knew what was happening, I went with him to law school and then our parents were planning our wedding. It just seemed like I was in too deep by this point, I just went along with everything.”
I asked, “so, his parents or your parents don’t know about Conrad and Will?”
She rolled her eyes again, “Conrad’s dad is only concerned with his next election, his mom doesn’t care what he does as long as she can have a glass of vodka in her hand. My parents are only worried about their next fundraiser or cocktail party, they figure since I am married, their job raising me is done.”
I thought to myself, “I am so glad I wasn’t born rich, my life was ten times better, being raised by a working-class dad. I asked, “what about your sons?”
Her eyes went wide, she said, “I should have known you would do your research. Neither of our parents want to be bothered by grandchildren until they are grown and it’s time for them to go into the family business. My family has seen the boys exactly two times when they were still toddlers. Conrad’s folks have seen them a few more times, but not in the last 3 or 4 years.”
I said, “so Conrad did, um, perform his husband duties at least twice?”
Heather laughed, “hardly, he couldn’t get it up if I was in the same house as he was. Will is the only one that can do that for Conrad. Teddy and Robbie’s father is Jeff Carlson, we have been together since right after I married Conrad. The four of us live just outside of town, the boys are enrolled in public school, we are hiding them in plain sight. The boys have Jeff’s last name and so do I on all the school paperwork.”
I was shocked, “and Conrad allows this?”
She sighed, “he does, I’m sorry to say, I am just as big of a hypocrite as Conrad is. I keep my mouth shut in exchange for that house and a monthly paycheck. I have to dress up and play a dutiful wife a few times a month and my real family lives a comfortable life. Conrad and I both deserve an Oscar for the parts we have been playing all these years.”
After I thought about all this for a moment, I asked, “so why are you risking going public with all this after all these years?
Heather said, “The boys are getting to the age that the press will start asking more questions about them. Pretty soon both of our father’s will be pressing to have the boys out in public, to show off the perfect family, you know. Conrad is so worried about his public persona that I am sure he would never consider letting us split up, so I am forcing his hand. I know it will probably mean my family will disown me too, but I just don’t care anymore.”
I asked, “but why are you telling me all this? I’m sorry, but I will not be reporting any of this.”
She nodded, “I know that now, but I figured if anyone deserve to gloat, it would be you after what Conrad did to you.”
I took the last drink of my coffee, “thanks for thinking of me Heather, but I put that little incident behind me, a long time ago. Thank you for the coffee, and good luck with everything.”
She finished her coffee and we both headed our separate ways. I was still trying to understand why she and Paul were telling me all of these things. The one thing I was sure of was that I wanted no part of outing Conrad, I had made my peace with everything that happened between us, a long time ago.
I went home and was researching story ideas for my next book but was having trouble concentrating. As soon as it was late enough that I thought Mike would be coming home, I drove to his place. I pulled in just as he was getting home.
He said, “hey, you’re here early, I haven’t even started making dinner yet.”
I said, “I know, I just couldn’t wait to see you. You will never believe who I had coffee with this morning.”
I followed him inside, he asked, “who?”
I told him everything that happened at the coffee shop that morning.
He shook his head in disbelief, he asked, “why did she tell you all of that?”
I shrugged, “she said I deserved to gloat.”
Mike chuckled, “so, are you still going to do nothing?”
I nodded, “yeah, I think the wheels are already in motion for Conrad Brooks to be put into his place.”
He said, “I think you are doing the right thing. Let me take a quick shower, then I’ll get started on dinner.”
I stood up and took his hand, I asked, “can I give you a hand?”
Mike said, “no, I think I have everything ready, I just need to pop it in the oven.”
I rolled my eyes, “I was talking about the shower.”
He laughed, “oh, yeah. Sure, I would love your help with that.”
We quickly made our way to Mike’s bedroom and began to strip. My eyes were glued to his ass as he bent over to take off his underwear. Even though we were both pushing 40, we were still in pretty good shape. Mike from the physical nature of his job, and me from hitting the gym at least 3 or 4 times a week. I started that a few years after college when I realized sitting at a desk everyday would cause me to earn that middle age spread before I reached 30. I reached out and gave that sexy ass a squeeze as I followed him into the shower. We quickly soaped and rinsed each other off so we could move on to other fun things that naked men do together.
Our lips were locked onto each other before the last of the suds were washed down the drain, our stiff members dancing the tango, dripping precum on each other. I reached down to cup Mike’s cum-filled nuts while he gripped both cocks and stroked them to full hardness. We sighed into each other’s mouths as pleasure washed over our bodies at each other’s touch. Mike fell to his knees and sucked my engorged manhood down his throat in one smooth motion. I gasped as my hands went to the back of his head and I started to fuck his face. Mike was tugging on my nuts with one hand while he worked a finger from his other hand into my manhole, causing me to become a bit lightheaded. Worried that I would spill my seed too soon, I pulled him to his feet and after a kiss, I went to my knees to return the favor. I reached around and pushed a finger into my own ass, replacing the emptiness that I felt when I pulled Mike up. Once he fingered me, I knew I wanted more in my hole tonight. I looked up at Mike as I sucked him, he was smiling down at me. I let his cock fall from my mouth as I stood and turned toward the wall. I reached down, spread my cheeks and said over my shoulder, “you need to finish what you started.”
He sighed, “if you insist.”
Mike stepped behind me, rubbing his cock up and down my crack. He leaned forward to kiss the back of neck as he sunk his torpedo into my love tunnel. I braced myself against the wall as he began his assault in earnest. Mike nibbled on my ear as he wrapped his arm around my chest, thank God he did as my knees suddenly went weak. I started to push back, meeting his every thrust, working us both into a frenzy of unbridled lust. Mike breathing felt as if it was going to set my neck on fire as I felt him bite into my quivering flesh. I knew we were both close. Mike let out a loud grunt as he gave one final push. The second I felt his hot seed start to flood my hole, my cock erupted, sending my own hot lava flying across the tile of the wall. It was as if Mike’s cum was shooting straight through me, our spasms were completely synced up. I fell against the cool ceramic, Mike melting into me as we both tried to catch our breath.
His deflating cock slipped from my well-fucked hole as I turned around. We made out until the water began to run cold, causing us to break our embrace.
Mike chuckled, “I guess we used all the hot water.”
I laughed, “yeah, I suppose we are clean.”
We reluctantly got out of the shower, dried off and we each pulled on a pair of shorts. We got dinner ready and sat down to eat.
Mike asked, “so have you thought about when you’re going back to Houston?”
I shrugged, “not for sure. Dad is doing well enough, he really doesn’t need my help anymore. I guess I need to figure that out.”
He thought for a minute, “they have mechanics in Houston, don’t they?”
I chuckled, “of course, why?”
He said, “well, I was thinking that I want to see where things go with us. If you go back to Houston, I don’t think I would like the long-distance thing. I could sell the shop and find a job there.” He paused for a second and looked at me, “If you want me to.”
I took a deep breath, “or… I could find a place here.”
His eyes went wide, “really?”
I smiled, “I can work from anywhere, I’ve already talked to dad, and we both like the idea of me staying here.”
Mike grinned, “I like that idea too.”
I said, “I would just have to find a place to live.”
He said, “well… my house is paid for… there is room for two… so…”
I laughed, “are you saying I could move in with you?”
He said, “maybe, if you ask me nicely.”
I asked, “can I move in with you?”
Mike shrugged, “it’s a free country.”
We burst out laughing at his choice of words, then we jumped to our feet to seal the deal with a kiss. Just as we were about to head back to the bedroom to further seal the deal we were startled by loud banging on the front door.
Mike opened the door to hear yelling, “where is he? Where is that son of a bitch, Devin.”
I was shocked to see Conrad burst through the door, he threw a newspaper at me and yelled, “you’re behind this, aren’t you?”
I opened the paper and read the headline, “Conrad Brooks out of consideration for Lt. Governor”.
To be continued...
