Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

an ambulance. He quietly parked his car on the other side of the street like he was just some neighbor, despite the shaking of his hands.
    He got out slowly and removed the purchases from the back seat while at the same time trying to keep his face away from any cop that might be watching. Then the door to the other half of his duplex opened and an ambulance crew came out with a gurney followed by a cop. He could see Mrs. Laramie sitting up with an oxygen mask on, but the paramedics didn't seem to be in a huge hurry.
    He took a couple of long strides across the street, putting a proper look of concern on his face. And the truth was he did like Mrs. Laramie and didn't like her useless children. She spotted him and waved him over. The paramedics stopped as he approached.
    "Hey, Mrs. Laramie, who did you pick a fight with?" She had an eye that was swelling a little and a small cut on her forehead. Her arm was already in a sling. and she was wet and wrapped in a bathrobe, so he guessed what had happened.
    "Oh, just had a little disagreement with my shower, but I was wearing my bracelet." She held up her wrist with an alert bracelet on it. "I'm going to be just fine."
    Sebastian looked at the paramedics who gave a little nod of confirmation. "Okay, but when you get home, give me a call, and I'll put some of those sticky rubber things in your shower for you."
    She smiled and reached up to give him a pat on the cheek. "You're a good boy. If only I was sixty years younger and you were straight."
    Out of the corner of his eye Sebastian could see the cop trying not to crack up. "For you, I'd make an exception. Now get out of here. Go harass some poor young doctor."
    She smiled at him and the paramedics lifted her into the back of the ambulance. The cop waved him aside. Sebastian tried to keep up the calm look. "Yes?"
    "I take it you live around here?" the cop asked.
    "I've got the other half of this place. Why?" He gestured towards the duplex.
    "I just noticed a pile of bills stamped "Overdue" in there. I'd hate to see her lose power or her phone."
    Sebastian sighed. This had been going on when he moved in less than a year before. "Her kids are supposed to take care of her bills, but they forget or get into fights about whose month it is."
    "I see; I don't suppose you have their number?"
    "It's on the wall right by the door." He pointed to the still open door. 
    "Great, thanks."
    "And I'll pop in on her once she's back. Make sure she's okay." Like Sebastian really needed another person to take care of at this point.
    "I'm sure she'll appreciate it. You have a good day."
    "You too, officer."
    Daren let himself into the house, dropping his bag by the front door. "I'm home." He called out. He wasn't actually expecting an answer since Daren would probably be asleep. Then he saw the streak of blood on the floor heading across from the bedroom towards the kitchen. He pressed himself against the wall then carefully tried to peek into the kitchen. There was a trail of small bloody streaks.
    Sebastian followed them, trying not to puke as terror and dread warred in his stomach. He peeked around the counter and dodged a metal measuring cup that was flung at his head. Daren was on the floor with his back against the oven. He had a large kitchen knife in his left hand and the contents of the random-kitchen-stuff drawer scattered around him. There was blood down his right leg from the cut on his thigh that should have had stitches and was still breaking open every other day.
    "You called the cops! You promised!" Daren screamed at him, tears flowing down his face. He flung a cheese grater with his right arm.
    "Calm down!" A ladle flew towards his head. For having a broken arm, Daren was showing some good strength and accuracy.
    "I can hear them!"
    "Mrs. Laramie slipped in the shower. She pressed her Life Alert bracelet. She bumped her head; she's on her way to the hospital."
    Daren was gasping for air, the knife still held in front of him.
    "Calm down, please."
    Daren started to cough, and his arm finally dropped. Sebastian approached slowly until he could kick the knife out of easy reach. He reached out for Daren, but Daren pushed himself away, still coughing. Sebastian took the hint. Instead, he put the kitchen-stuff drawer back in its slot and started loading it up again, managing to find all kinds of things he didn't know he had, including a garlic press and an egg slicer.
    By the time he'd performed some three-dimensional-Tetris magic