Glass Hearts

29

Lance and Jeremy join Jim at the window. Jeremy relaxes when he sees the car. "That's Shawn's car. He must be off work or on a break. I have rather lost track of time."

Yet still the others in the room remain tense until Shawn pulls up to the house.

Leann breaks the silence, "Roger says that you should question Shawn. He says that something isn't right."

Jeremy narrows his eyes at his newest slave and lets a small, wicked, smile play about his lips. "Very well."

He turns back to the group surrounding him. "I have been a poor host have I not? Please sit, can I offer any of you something to drink or eat? I think my slaves have a wide selection of beverages and I know they bought some cookies the other day."

"I'll take a tea, peppermint if you have it and Roger would love a cookie. He practically threw himself out of my arms when you mentioned it." Leann says dryly. She had taken Roger back when Jim had made his announcement.

The front door opens, "Master?" Shawn calls.

"In here Shawn," Jeremy says softly.

Shawn opens the door and finds the room unexpectedly full of people. He blushes and starts to back out, "Forgive me master I didn't know you had company."

"Stay." Shawn immediately stops. "I need you to make tea, peppermint."  The Jeremy looks at the others and they all shake their heads no. "Also make sure you put on some cookies on the tray."

"Yes, master. Mistress Leann, do you like milk and honey or sugar with your tea?"

"Sugar please, thank you," Leann smiles at the slave. Shawn isn't a bad looking man and Leann can most certainly appreciate a fine figure. Shawn jumps when Lance starts growling.

"Leann, that wasn't very nice of you," Jeremy chides. Leann tries but fails to hide the smile and lets out a little giggle.

"You're right and when he comes back I'll apologize to him." Leann reassures Jeremy even as she bounces Roger up and down on her knee. Roger's squeal of delight makes them all smile.

A few minutes later Shawn returns with the tea things and cookies. After setting it down he stands up uncomfortably aware that he's in a room full of others.

"I'm sorry for my bad manners earlier, Shawn. It was terribly rude of me to do that and I thank you for fixing the tea for me." Leann gives him a small apologetic smile.

Shawn looks down and mumbles, "It's alright."

"Shawn, did you need me? You don't normally call for me when you come in." Jeremy pins his newest slave with his stare.

"Yes, there is something wrong, but I don't know if I should say anything now." Shawn nods to the company.

Lance waits for Jeremy's decision but says, "We can go, if you wish."

"What does it have to pertain to, Shawn?"

"The dead and missing frat boys." His words drop into the room like a nuclear bomb.

"I think you should go ahead and tell us everything Shawn," Jeremy says hiding his sudden fear. If he's connected to their deaths Tenesa will never be allowed to be part of his life.

"They found the body of the missing frat boy. Now they think that there was someone else involved in their deaths. They are going to reopen the investigation, you will be their number one suspect master."

"Do the other police officers know that you live here?" Lance demands in the silence following Shawn's announcement.

Shawn shakes his head, "I only talk to a couple of the guys on the force. For some reason they don't like me much." That might have something to do with the fact that Shawn is young and good looking and in good shape while they are all older and sadly very out of shape. Jealousy is a terrible thing.