Chapter 25: Bay - Pisces

Bay watched Finn apologize over the phone to Wes Finkle. He explained that the artist could keep the deposit, but the film was on hold until he could get his life straightened out back in LA. It seemed the call was going well, and Finn, despite his failure, seemed to be in good spirits.

That was about to change.

Bay’s conversation with Darek Blake had angered him. Knowing that Finn had not been able to follow simple instructions had Bay wanting to strangle him. As soon as Finn said goodbye and hung up the phone, Bay approached him. “I talked to the police today. They found a body down in the river. Hannah Halston.”

Finn’s eyes widened. “Already?”

“What the fuck do you mean, already? As if they were supposed to find her at all? I gave you and Lou specific instructions, so I want to know what happened. Every. Fucking. Detail.”

Someone had dropped the ball, and while he thought that Lou had a lot to do with it, which was why the man had called him and told him that Finn had done a shitty job, Finn should have made sure that things were done the right way.

Finn looked terrified. “There wasn’t a bag of concrete mix in the garage. Since it was midnight, we weren’t able to go and buy any. We had nothing to use except for a few bricks, but those didn’t work. They weren’t heavy enough.”

Bay was tired of hearing excuses. He had hoped that by keeping Finn close, he’d be able to use him as a scapegoat. Bay figured he’d get his hands dirty, make him feel secure, and then when the time was right, throw him under the bus, but the guy was about as useless as tits on a boar, as Bay’s father used to say.

“Did they say anything else?” Finn asked, shaking like a leaf. “Do you think they’ll be able to put me at the scene?”

“That depends. They know it’s the work of an amateur, but as long as you didn’t leave any DNA, say on her clothes when you were suffocating her, then you should be okay. Did you leave a mess, Finn?”

“I don’t know. I tried not to, but she just kept talking. She wouldn’t shut up. She made me angry, and I hit her.”

“You left your DNA on her, didn’t you?” Bay asked. “Once they comb her body for clues, they’ll look at her clothes. One hair, one piece of skin under her nails, one tiny trace of anything.” He wanted Finn to worry, to wonder if he was going to be in trouble. Bay needed him on edge to test him one more time. Make or break.

“I just did what you told me to do,” Finn said. “I thought that you’d keep me safe.”

“You’re worried about yourself, but what about me? What about the others? If you get caught, it could lead right back to me. To all of us.” Bay knew he had his own bases covered, but he liked the head fuck that he was giving Finn.

Finn’s wide eyes were ringed red, and he crossed the room, seeking comfort. “I’m sorry, Bay. I didn’t think she’d be found. Tell me what to do now.”

“You go. You get your ass back to California, and you hope that nothing leads back to my doorstep because if it does, you’re the one who will face the music.”

“I’m sorry.” He tried to reach for Bay, but Bay pushed him away. He wasn’t into Finn like he’d made him think. The only physical contact had been minimal, and only to coax Finn into thinking Bay wanted more. Making him think he had a chance was the only way he was going to solve his Hannah problem.

The woman had become more and more violent, and it had become obvious that she wasn’t going to conform for her own good. Bay knew he couldn’t risk allowing her to turn on him, and he was starting to think the same thing about Finn and Logan.

The two of them, along with Darek, had tried to keep him out of the loop at every recent turn, and Hannah had sung enough that he knew she had almost turned them against him. The fact that Logan had messed up and told her all of the Zodiacs’ secrets had sealed her death warrant, and it amused him to make Finn do it. But now, he was tired of playing. He had to send a final message, not only to Darek Blake but to the killer. Both of them needed to know who was really in control.

“Just go home, Finn. Get your shit straight, and maybe you can come back to me when you’re really ready to be the man I need.”

Finn’s jaw dropped. “But I did everything you said. I’ve always tried to please you, Bay. You haven’t even held up your end of things once, and frankly, I’m beginning to think you’re never going to. Hannah was right. You use my love against me.”

Bay laughed. The fact that he was just figuring this shit out was sad. “Then maybe you should just stay in Cali. Find you a nice girl and settle down. I’m sure she can give you what you need. Maybe Edie will take you back.”

“She’s pregnant, you know?”

“Congratulations,” Bay said. “Maybe you’ll figure out how to be a man and a father.”

Bay couldn’t get over that Finn hadn’t told him, that he’d been willing to stay in New York away from his child so he could become Bay’s lover. Not even his exclusive lover, but a side piece that was third string at best. What a fool. There was no way he’d ever abandon his child, and if Lila ever tried to take off with their baby, he’d put her in the ground, too.

Finn met his eyes. “You were never going to be with me, were you?”

“I guess you’ll never know.” Bay shrugged, hoping the not knowing would eat at him for the rest of his days. “I’ll have Lou drive you to your car.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey,” Bay said. “It’s the least I can do before I leave.”

“You’re leaving?” Finn was insulted, and Bay thought it was amusing.

“I have clients to see. I have a career, remember?” He liked to rub it in since Finn had told him about how his own parents wanted him to pursue law or medicine.

With that, he readied himself to go and made arrangements for Finn’s departure. When Lou showed up, he patted the man on the back and whispered in his ear. “Call me when it’s done and bring me his phone.”

He left without blinking an eye and then went to his car, knowing that by the end of the day, he would have fewer problems to deal with.

He drove down to the prison, and after checking in, he went to the meeting room to wait for Logan. He made sure he was in a private room with one guard and no video. He had a feeling that he was going to be right about the man’s attitude, but he had to see for himself before he jumped to conclusions.

Even though he knew his next move was due, he had to see Logan before he made it.

“I know what you’re going to say,” Logan said when he arrived, with hair buzzed and looking more like a man on the inside than he had the last time Bay had seen him.

“And what’s that?”

“Hannah’s gone,” Logan said. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“Why would I?”

“Yeah, right. I know you, Collins. You knew she was going to take you down, so you moved first. You always move first.”

“I always move last, too, which is why you should watch your attitude. Besides, don’t think I don’t know that you were trying to shut me out. I know all about it. I know you told her everything and that she used you. Because you’re weak. So weak you had to pull that desperate move to take off your brand. You got sloppy trying to go on your own. You’re nothing but a traitor, Logan. Did you think it was smart to try and leave me out of the loop?”

“Not everything is your business, Bay.”

“No, but you don’t mind it when it is, do you? You love the benefits of my connections, of my money. It’s all good when I can do things for you. You’re no better than the others. As a matter of fact, you’re worse because you couldn’t even stay true to the group.”

“Removing my mark had nothing to do with remaining true to the group. I did it for Hannah. You might have silenced her, but you can’t stop me. I’m in here, and you’re out there.”

Bay nodded. “You’re right. I can’t touch you. You’re really smart, Finn. Do you want to know what Hannah said at the very end? She said she still cared about you. That she was going to get free and tell the police everything so she could save you. She wanted to have a life with you. Buy a house and have some children. She had a really pretty picture in her mind, and I really hope it was the last thing she saw.”

“You son of a bitch!” Logan jumped from his seat and came across the table, but the guard came in and grabbed him just as Bay was backing up. “I’ll kill you! I’ll make sure the police know everything you’ve done!” The guard got him in a headlock, and he gasped for his breath.

“Goodbye, Logan. I’m afraid I’m no longer going to be able to be your lawyer. There’s no help for someone as sick as you.” He turned to the guard. “Take him out of here. He’s lost his mind.”

Bay turned and gathered his briefcase. Then, as he walked out of the room and through the building, he took out his phone. Once he was outside the building, he walked out to his car and made a call. He leaned back in his seat and waited for someone to answer.

When he heard the voice on the other end, he had two words to say: “It’s time.”

The line went dead, and as Bay started his car, he knew that the task would be finished as soon as Logan returned to his cell block. Accidents happened every day in prison. Lucky him.