Boy Toy by Michael Craft

Author:Michael Craft [Craft, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 9781480433946
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: 2001-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

Tuesday, August 7

SOMETIME AFTER MIDNIGHT, CLOSER to one, Neil and I arrived home, switched out a few lights that had been left on, and climbed the stairs together.

Our evening with the Geldens had been thoroughly enjoyable. We’d lingered for hours at the table—through the mushroom course, the meat course, the salad, dessert, then coffee. The meal was splendid, conversation nonstop, laughter frequent. I was glad they had invited us; not only did Neil and I discover strong potential for our future friendship with them, but I’d gleaned some immediate rewards as well.

I now knew, for instance, that if Jason Thrush had been poisoned by mushrooms, the fatal fungus was most likely fly agaric. I also knew that any student member of Fungus Amongus would have sufficient knowledge to harvest the fly agaric and put it to use—including Tommy Morales, who resented the victim’s affluence and coveted his role in a small-town theatrical production. What’s more, I’d learned that restaurateur Nancy Sanderson, who apparently harbored animosity toward the victim, was considered an expert in the do’s and don’ts of preparing local wild mushrooms for consumption. And on a different note entirely, I’d figured out that Neil’s cryptic promise of a fantasy masseur had been inspired by Frank Gelden’s hobby of pleasuring his wife.

These were all, in a sense, promising developments, but they could not outweigh my mounting concern for Thad. In the three days since Jason’s death, my nephew had come under heavy suspicion, and his friend Kwynn had clued me that my fears were well-founded: though Thad was still attempting to maintain a facade of indifference, the speculation and gossip of his peers had clearly gotten to him. The possibility of severe emotional damage seemed very real. Even worse, I now had to wonder if there was any possibility that Thad might face arrest. There was nothing imaginary about the tide that was turning against him. The ugly, prank phone call was proof enough for me, and the attack by a vengeful gang of jock thugs was proof enough for Thad—he was in a real predicament. This mess was not simply going to “go away,” and in fact, it was getting worse.

On top of everything else, there was the stash of fly agaric I’d spotted in his bedroom. Surely there was an innocent explanation—a class project, no doubt. Surely the hidden jar of poisonous mushrooms was not what it implied.

Though it was late, and though a busy day awaited me at the Register, I had more than enough on my mind to keep me up and thinking for a few hours.

“All in all,” said Neil as we reached the top of the stairs, “I’d say the evening was a total success.”

Stepping from the hall into our bedroom, I forced myself to dismiss my vexations and told him, “Any evening I spend with you is a total success. What more do I need?”

“God, you’re full of it.” He laughed softly, closing the door. Stepping near, he gave me a hug and a kiss—a friendly kiss, nothing passionate.

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