Brad sighed heavily as Jeff hung up the phone. He
felt love towards the younger man but… he didn’t know
why Jeff was always ditching dates and making up
excuses. He didn’t understand it and it frustrated
him. He loved, and was still in love with, Jeff. He
idolized the young man, not only as a friend and
lover… but also as a confident young man striving for
greatness. He saw the potential and he knew that the
others saw it as well. Brad had already guessed the
two regulars on the show when the others got too old
to do it would be Jeff and Wayne. They, in Brad’s
personal opinion, were brilliant young men with the
moves and energy to be great. He wasn’t going to deny
that. Brad put the last knick-knack on the shelf he
had finished dusting and glanced at the time. Good, he
thought, I still have an hour. Just then a knock on
the door interrupted his thoughts. He went over to the
door. He opened it and saw a man Jeff’s age or a
little bit younger, standing outside the door. He
looked Mexican, because of his features and his skin
color. He took a moment to contain himself.
“Can I help you?” Brad asked, hoping that the man
understood, and spoke, good English… Jeff couldn’t
translate while he wasn’t here.
“Sí señor. I am looking for Jeff Davis.” The man
said, “My name is Diego… I am his boyfriend.” Brad’s
smile melted away as he realized what he had said.
“I… I… I don’t… know where he… is. Did you say you
were his boyfriend???” Brad asked, his face turning
quizzical.
“Sí señor. He said he loved me.” Diego said, looking
at the ground as though it was the most interesting
thing in the world.
“Now, now… that’s just fucking hilarious. He said
that he loved me as well and he happens to be my
boyfriend as well. Imagine that.” Bitterness dripped
from his voice like a snake’s venom. Diego looked
around when both of them heard a familiar sound,
Jeff’s car. Diego looked at Brad and saw a look of
hurt and fury in his eyes. His eyes held a fire, and
Brad knew that his own eyes had that look. Jeff walked
in the door and did a double take when he saw them
both. His first thought was how Diego got their
address and then he remembered he had given it to him.
His second thought was why Brad wasn’t taping. He
looked at the two of them and then he looked at Brad.
“What’re you doing here?” He asked, confusion on his
face.
“I, you know, kind of live here…” Brad said, his look
shooting pure venom. Jeff stepped back, seeing that
look on both of their faces.
“What’s wrong?” Jeff asked, his face remaining calm
and dignified.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Brad said sarcastically, “ I have
a strange man come knocking on my door looking for
someone he claims to be his boyfriend and his
boyfriend happens to be the same man I’m dating.”
Brad glared at Jeff. Jeff looked back and forth
between the two men. Diego looked crushed and Brad
felt bad for the man. He turned to Diego.
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to put up with this
shit. I don’t know what I was thinking. I should’ve
known there was a reason for all those excuses.” Brad
looked at Jeff. Jeff looked Brad straight in the eyes.
“I don’t know what you are talking about sir.” Jeff
said, looking at Diego, “Brad, I don’t know who this
man is.” He added, pointing at Diego.
Part 3: The Betrayal
Diego sat in his apartment, nursing a beer. He was drinking
*his* favorite beer and watching television. Not surprisingly, he
was watching “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” He watched as Esteban and
Jeff’s nemesis spy, Chip Esten, sang a duet with Wayne Brady. He
sighed and clicked off the television. He picked up a phone and
dialed the number to ABC Studios. He got transferred to the Whose
Line set, after a few minutes talking with the receptionist.
Someone picked up.
“Hello, ABC Studios, Drew Carey speaking. Can I help you?”
Drew Carey said.
“Hello, yes, Jeff Davis, please?” Diego said.
“He isn’t here. Is there anyway I could help you?”
“Yes, there is. Can you tell Chip Esten that Diego Lupez
would like to meet him at 8:15 tonight at La Sombrilla De Verde.”
“Sure… I’ll tell him.”
“Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.” Diego hung up the phone, wiped his eyes, and
began thinking of what he was going to say.
***
Drew walked over to where Chip and Brad
were talking.
“Hey Chip,” Drew said, “A man named
Diego Lupez wants to see
you at 8:15 tonight at La Sombrilla De
Verde.” Chip nodded his
acknowledgment and
went back to talking to Brad. Drew walked away
and watched as Jeff
walked in, his eyes were on fire. He
stalked
over to Brad.
“C’mon Brad. We need to talk.” Jeff
pulled Brad carefully
in a private room.
“How come you’re talking to my enemy? I know
you know he’s my
enemy.”
“Well… I can’t just suddenly pretend to
hate him after we’ve
been friends for 5
years or so. That is just plain wrong.” Brad
replied.
“Oh… alright but don’t tell him a word
about me. Okay?”
“Alright, fine by me.” And with that Brad
walked out of the
room and went back to
talking with Chip.
***
Diego waited patiently as 8:15 rolled around. He saw Chip
Esten and stood up to
motion him over. Chip walked over, his gaze
flicking over the
assembled crowd, and he sat gracefully. He
smiled at Diego.
“What did you need sir?” Chip asked.
“I’m only going to say this once. Please
listen carefully.
Jeff Davis is a
Mexican spy, and his mission is to kill you. You
guys are both working
on getting plans from the other government.
Our government found
you out, and that is my fault. I didn’t think
anything of it until
recently, but I decided you needed to know…
and that it might be
able to help you gain an upper hand on your
enemies. I’m not with
them anymore.” Diego took a deep breath and
fell silent. Chip
contemplated for a minute and then spoke up.
“Why are you telling me this?” Chip asked,
his curiosity
finally winning over
him.
“I was betrayed by my lover. He told Brad
Sherwood that he
didn’t know me and it
hurt. I don’t know what you are going to do
but please take
action. Don’t tell anyone I told you. Our meeting
is tomorrow at 6:45pm, I can help you in… you
have to stay in the
shadows though.” With
that, Diego stood up and walked away.
***
To be continued.