A Timeless Place Ch. 04

"And Tony would've killed Maurice, but he was afraid he'd hit you." Bruce informed him.

"Yes, Tony was always afraid for his aim. But I grant you, he is very good. His confidence was weakened the day Bowman asked him to take one shot at Maurice…."

It was after their return from Russia. Maurice had finally healed from the beating he had miraculously lived through. Jim was most displeased at this fact and wanted Maurice out of the way completely. His anger still hot, he sat one day thinking of ways to be rid of the mongrel.

"Tell me what you think, Peter. You are the most level-headed of us all. What would be your solution to this problem?" Jim nonchalantly waved the hand of the arm that the elbow was propped on the arm of the chair he sat in.

"Sir, I will not be a part of blatant murder…"

"Can it, Peter. You're in this as deep as the rest of us." Jim chuckled. "Just answer me, please," his tone was one of such calm that it seemed he was having one of his better days that day. "I must be rid of him, before he kills us all. Now, please, what are your thoughts on this?"

"I agree that Maurice is a liability to this organization. And to answer you, there are many ways to be rid of him. Poisons are expensive that are not detectable, but very effective. There are those that will make it appear he has had a heart attack. One will slow down his circulation and respiration so that he will appear as dead. But once he is buried, he will awaken not long after…"

"Hmm…" Jim grinned, thinking on that one seriously. "…That would be gruesome." he chuckled then. "What else could be done?"

"Just shoot him, sir." Tony piped then. "Get it over with, damn." his vehemence was most evident.

Jim studied Tony long for a moment. "Are you willing to be the shooter? I will not pull the trigger a second time. I could have ended my whole career over him that day. But if you do this, Tony, You get one shot at it. And clean up your mess afterwards. You're a damn good shot, kid. I wouldn't deny you your vendetta against him. So, think about it and let me know quickly."

"I don't need to think about it, sir. Give me a rifle and a scope. I'll have him out of your way in ten minutes or less." Tony piped.

Jim chuckled. "No, Tony. Let's make a sport of it. Use your police revolver instead."

Tony looked at Peter then back at Jim. His breath was caught in his throat for a moment. "You can't be serious, sir." he grumbled.

"Actually, I am, Tony. You are more familiar with that weapon, so use it." the man stood going to the bar. "And once you are done with him, return to me so that we can discuss your future with us."

"Sir?"

Jim finished pouring his drink then turned taking a single sip of it. Returning to the chair he was seated in, he sat gracefully. "Where is Jonathan?" he asked of Peter then.

"I'm not sure, sir. The last I saw him, he was resting from last night, sir." Peter reminded him in his way that Jonathan had only just returned that morning from servicing one of Mr. Bowman's customers.

"Ah…" the memory of that struck him at its mention. "When he awakes, I'd like to see him. There are some things I need to discuss with my nephew." he ordered gently.

"There's no need to bring the kid in on this, Bowman." Tony grumbled.

"NO?" the man leaned toward him in emphasis.

"Sir, I will do it. But holding Jonathan will only make me nervous. I'll probably miss."

"What kind of monster do you think of me, Tony? I have no intentions of putting Jonathan up for your loyalty to me." he relaxed again. His face appeared suddenly unimpressionable. "My nephew and I have things to discuss for tonight. This has nothing to do with you. But I feel you have something to confess to me, don't you, Tony?" he grinned finally.

"Sir?" Tony shifted nervously in his chair trying to act as though nothing was wrong.

"Yes, my love. But, I am willing to offer you much. I have need of you. And I do like having you here. You do an excellent job for me. I am willing to pay you twice what your organization is paying you now. Besides that, you have stolen my interest. I'll give you a car, pay all of your outstanding bills, I'll even give you a bonus to start that would help you take care of that one debt that keeps hounding you so. You think about it while you rid me of Maurice." he waved the man off like he always did when he was finished with whomever he was talking to at the time.

"Sir…" Tony stood knowing he had already been dismissed.

"Go, Tony. Return to me with an answer. You will be happy with me if you stay. I will say that." the man blatantly rested his hand over his crotch where Tony's eyes settled, knowing they would.

Groaning, Tony rushed out of the room. Sweat beading on his face as he did. He almost hated the affect this man had over him. But now the man knew he was a cop. What would he do?

He rushed to his room to retrieve his revolver, trying to quell the implications that had suddenly arisen. His only thought now, should be killing Maurice. But deep in the back of his mind his own survival was prevalent.

Going up onto the roof, he knew Maurice was in the courtyard. It was his ritual lately since he was now living in the hospital of the mansion. Each day he was brought out to the courtyard to bask in the sun. Today would be no different.

Finding the closest vantage point, he positioned himself. Sweat was dripping into his eyes as he aimed down at the man's head. Wiping it away with the shirt over his shoulder, he aimed again. His hands trembled.

Come on, Santini. Ease up. Stop thinking and just shoot the bastard. He was thinking to himself.

Taking a deep breath he aimed again, letting it out slowly. Knowing he had his target, he fired that one shot that was afforded him. But to his dismay, Maurice bent down to smell a stupid rose. The bullet zinged past the point Tony had aimed.

Son of a bitch! I should've anticipated that! He scrambled back from the roof as Maurice began to look up to see who was firing at him. Crawling to the trapdoor, he jumped down and hurried back to his room. Quickly, he packed up his belongings. In a matter of two minutes he was out the front door. He knew Jim would be furious that he missed. And knowing that, he would also be murderous at the same time, having seen the results of Maurice's failed attempt, he also knew Jim wouldn't make that mistake twice.

"Damn…" Bruce commented harshly. "Poor Tony."

"Yes, but at least he was finally away from the confusion that had him trapped." Peter remarked.

"Oh, yes…"

"And he did come back to tell him his answer. Mr. Bowman insisted he return to at least 'clear the air' with him."

"You're joking?" Bruce coiled finding it hard to believe Bowman could be so thoughtful.

"It was a ploy to get Tony back under his wing. You see, as he stated in the tape, he wanted Tony. He was hard up for him and miserable the entire time he had been gone. He began to substitute Tony's presence in his bed with Jonathan or…"

"Maurice…" Bruce groaned.

"Yes." Peter smiled. "He wanted Tony. But not having him there, he had to feed his appetite somehow."

"Was he that sexual?" Bruce asked then.

"As much or more than Tony is." Peter stated with a grin.

Bruce laughed. "Okay, I get the picture, now."

He thought for a moment. He still had so many questions to ask of Peter. But he didn't want to weary him with so many at one time.

"If you would like, we can continue this in the morning, Bruce. I know you must be tired." Peter offered.

"That would be nice, Peter. But I'm not ready to go back to the room just yet." he volunteered.

"As you wish, my friend." the man smiled with understanding.