Mr. Meyers served Ian the bundle of papers that included his client’s last entanglements, business and personal. Hard to believe it was their first time out together. Not just today, but the whole month since the news of Jake’s death. That’s when his co-star, at least that was all that Ricky thought they were then. No wonder he’d completely shut down on the topic of Jacob Monk, except for news about the murder investigation. His Tommy Glock curiosity at work instead of his Ian Hornsby heart. Heart, he hoped he’d tap to decide the fates of Kitty, back in action, Tori, Markus, and Tyler. The Fantabulous! staff quietly sat at their booth around the empty spot he’d occupied. He only guessed another of Jake’s second hands.
“Ian,” Emmet summoned again and pulled him aside, “there’s some additional business I have with you. Mr. Luna is invited to join us.”
“Ricky?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
“It’s alright,” he replied, “I’ll update the staff and try my best to reassure them.” Ian seemed as overwhelmed as his four new acquaintances, but he’d be more useful to them. Not that announcing they decided to try and make a good decision comforted. His own two cents that they locate a buyer who’d keep the place and the staff “as is” was apparently undoable. Was it better than Ian’s sell-so-we-can-go-home solution now? Not that he didn’t want to go home, too. Eventually.
At least talking in private, just the two of them, they finally communicated. Raised the uncomfortable facts. Ian: No winners in this. Ricky: It’d take serious thought. Together. He watched Emmet hand over something new. A small, cream-colored envelope with “Ian” scribbled on it. Was it Jake’s handwriting? Additional business? No, this was personal. Ian exited the way the lawyer entered. He should have tagged along.
“You’re not going to sit in on whatever they’re cooking up?” Kitty asked, nostrils flaring.
“I’d rather have a chat with you guys.” His throat tightened.
“But you’re sorta like our union representative, Mr. Luna.” Markus had a gleam in his eye. “Speaking from experience, it helps to have a voice.”
“I’m sure Mr. Hornsby will stand up for us,” Tori said dreamily.
“But, Tori Spelling,” Kitty corrected, “he is the man. We’re standing up against him.”
He sat at the empty spot. Unworthy as he was. “You guys should be comforting each other over losing Jake. Not commiserating over whether you’ll have this place. And a paycheck tomorrow.”
“So you haven’t made a decision to…” Tyler added to his co-workers’ uneasiness. He impatiently tossed his head. His dark blonde hair stuck out like spikes over his delicate face. His close-fitting t-shirt exposed his lean, “heroin chic” frame. Very River Phoenix. Casual. Cool. Undeniably younger than him.
“To?” Ricky admired his frankness from the start. It shone in his words and earthy eyes.
“To stay and run Fantabulous! It’s what Jake wanted. Why he gave us to Mr. Hornsby.”
“Ty-boy, hush.” Kitty touched her nose. “We don’t want to trouble Ricky or the man. And we aren’t part of the fucking package. We are merely an option.”
“I agree with Tyler.” Tori nodded at full tilt. “I read all Mr. Monk’s mail since I was the first one here in the morning.” She frowned. “He had no shortage of offers to sell Fantabulous! especially from Abbot Enterprises. They own a couple of other gay bars in L.A. Maybe they own the Boardwalk. Who knows? But Mr. Monk…Jake…wouldn’t give them the time of day. He would never give Mr. Hornsby this place to sell.”
“Since Jake isn’t around,” Kitty said, “we’ll never know why he left the real love of his life to the man who despises it.”
“You mean his one true love.” Markus corrected. No longer just the strong, silent type, he was adorable with his Cheshire Cat grin and gleaming eyes. “Like when Sam chose Cheers over Diane on the last episode. Makes sense, Fantabulous! was Jake’s.”
That he remembered TV trivia like Ricky meant everything. He also cleared up why he shouldn’t be jealous of Jake. He wasn’t his rival for Ian’s love. Not because he was dead. Because, when all was said and done, he loved his bar, not Ian Hornsby. He could hug Markus for the home truth!
“That proves it, we all watch too much TV, and need dates,” Kitty said, smiling, “except Tyler.”
At the mention of his name, he jumped up. “One of our regulars couldn’t make it to the memorial. I told him he could drop by after midnight.”
“Our regulars?” Kitty peered past the patio onto the street for a clue who was coming. “Or yours?”
“What’s his other business?” Ricky asked.
“I’ll stay by the door in case other slowpokes arrive.” Markus excused himself.
“And I’d better sort out the mess in the office.” Tori also rushed off.
“Monkey business naturally,” she huffed. “Good, we’re alone. I wanted to catch up.”
“Uh, catch up?”
“Yes!” She protected his skittish hands with her still and well-manicured ones. “What about you, Ricardo? Hanging in there?”
“Ian and I promised to make the right decision for Fantabulous! For all of you.”
“Much appreciated, amigo, but you don’t owe us anything.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “And as much as I’ve harassed Ian tonight, I don’t want your lives to be uprooted. Like ours.”
“What do you wish could happen?”
“I wish Jake were alive,” she howled, hands trembling. “I wish whoever took him from us suffers as much as me.” It wasn’t hatred in her eyes but absolute heartache.
He grasped at straws to say something…anything…to mend her heart. Give her a sliver of hope. “The LA Times said the LAPD has made finding Jake’s murderer a priority. He’s a business owner and a community leader. Ian says Detective Beecroft was here tonight because killers always return to the scene of the crime.”
At least, she giggled. “Where’d he pick that up? Murder She Wrote?”
“Cui bono?” A voice cooly offered. “I prefer it when solving murder mysteries.”
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