Rentboy

clue. I passed out.”
    “What about your queer friend?”
    “I haven’t spoken to him.” At least that was true. There was no number for outside contact to the
    hospital. It wasn’t listed anywhere. Fox had arrived there unconscious, having no idea where he was,
    and when he left, he had noticed that there were no road signs or anything indicating that a hospital
    was there. He had no idea how to find the place again. And Eddie had not contacted him.
    “You won’t be seeing Atherton again. I’ve got plans for the future.”
    “What plans?” Fox asked cautiously.
    With his boots still on, Baillie stretched out his legs on the couch. “I’m going to get Tara sober
    so she can look after the twins, and you’re going to Peru in the next week or so. There’s a training
    camp in the jungle. I’ve already spoken with the commander. He’s going to make you into a real
    man.”
    “Oh yeah, what’s a real man?” Fox asked.
    “One who can kill,” Baillie said.
    “Mum can’t look after the twins. It will take her months to get sober. She needs to go to rehab.”
    “I’ll get her sober. And I’ll be here to help her look after the twins. It’s time they started acting
    like a proper girl and boy. You’ve let them get strange like they are by indulging them. I’m going to
    make them normal. You won’t recognize them when I’m finished with them.”
    Feeling nauseated, Fox stood up. “Can I go to bed, sir?”
    “If you want.” Fox reached the bottom of the stairs when Baillie said loudly, “And another thing.
    I want the twins sleeping in separate rooms from now on. They shouldn’t be sharing a bed at their
    age. Put Arden in the spare bedroom at the end of the hall.”
    “Right next to yours?” Fox asked.
    “Yes. Next to mine.” He chugged the remains of his beer.
    “I’ll do it tomorrow, sir.”
    Heavy with responsibility and fear, Fox walked up the stairs. His father had to die, he’d known
    that for a while, but to have it thrust on him before he felt totally ready added to the burden.
    When are you ever totally ready to kill your dad?
    The twins were not in their bed, and neither were they with Tara when he slipped into her room
    to check. “Fox, I’m really scared. I didn’t like the way he was looking at Arden or the things he said. I
    know he’s a bastard, but he wouldn’t touch her, would he? He’s not that bad.”
    Fox sank down on the side of her bed. “Mum, he’s that bad,” he said. “He told me to move her
    into the bedroom next to his tomorrow.”
    A sob heaved her chest, and she pressed her hand over her mouth to stifle it. “No, no. I know
    he’s rotten, but that? I’ve been worried about Arden because she’s so pretty, but I never thought she’d
    be in danger in her own home. Would he really do that?”
    “You have no idea what he’s capable of.” Fox would never tell her that her husband had ordered
    the torture of his own son. “I’m going to kill him tonight, so whatever you do, do not come out of this
    room till morning. I’d tell you to lock the door but he’s taken all the frigging locks off.”
    Eyes wide with fear, she asked, “What are you going to do?”
    Half a bottle of merlot stood on the bedside table with a dirty glass. She’d probably finish it as
    soon as he left. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll try and make it look like a break-in. Don’t worry. I’m going to
    stay with the twins until he’s asleep. He’s drinking. I don’t trust him not to try something with Arden
    tonight.” He kissed her and left.
    Fox ran to his room to find the twins in his wardrobe fast asleep, hugging each other, huddled on
    the nest of blankets and pillows. With care he closed the door again and stripped down to his undies
    and T-shirt before lying down on his bed. With the same sense of hope he’d had for the last week, he
    checked his phone, looking for a text or missed call from Eddie or Nik. Nothing. He tried Nik’s
    number and left a voice mail. He had not been able to reach her by phone or e-mail in a week. He
    tried Eddie’s phone next and heard the same thing he had heard before. This message box is full. Try
    your call later.
    Were they avoiding him?
    The farm, he should try there. Quietly so as not to disturb the twins, he went to his desk and sat
    down and switched on his laptop, opening the British Telecom Phone Book site. He punched in the
    Athertons’ name and address, but it came up ex-directory. Why the fuck did people have a