Chapter Six

 

 

TERRY GLIDED through the water. He loved this feeling. It was as familiar as home, and he’d missed it so very much in the time he’d given it up. It seemed like such a stupid thing for him to do. But at the time, James had made everything seem so fucking logical. His rhythm faltered for a few strokes, and he worked to get it back. What he needed was to keep James out of his thoughts. Terry had already figured out that was the fastest way to screw with his rhythm, and his life.

“You need to concentrate and stay focused.”

Terry put his feet down and stood up, turning toward the side of the pool. “Oh, hey,” he said to his manager, Steve, who knelt by the side of the pool. Terry pulled his goggles off so he could see better.

“I’ve been watching you. Terry, you’re very good, probably one of the fastest I’ve ever seen in real life. You should be competing and winning. I have experience—I could coach you if you like. The Y is even willing to help with some sponsorship money.”

“Thanks.” Terry wiped his face with his hands. “I think I’ve been out of this too long to get there. But I really appreciate the offer.”

Steve stood up. “Okay. If you don’t want to do this, that’s one thing. Swimming competitively takes focus and isn’t something anyone should do without a great deal of dedication. I get that. But I also think you’re using the time you took off as an excuse. You’re damn fast, and with training you’d only get faster. You already spend the hours in the pool. So why not work toward a goal to be the best you can possibly be and maybe stand at the top of the sport?”

Terry blinked. “Red said that you had talked to him.”

“We were just talking as we watched you swim.” Steve knelt down one more time. “I really think you can do this. US Olympic trials are in DC next year. We could get you ready.” The excitement in Steve’s voice was catching. The Olympics had been Terry’s dream—the dream he’d given up to be with James.

“It’s tempting, Steve,” Terry told him as a spark of excitement and competitive spirit sprang to life inside him.

“I’m serious, Terry. The club would help sponsor you, and I would be pleased to coach you.” Steve met Terry’s gaze. “Just think about it. You don’t have to give me your answer this minute.” Steve touched Terry’s arm. “But don’t take too long. As you said, you’ve been out of training, and we’ll have to make up for some lost time. But I’m confident you can do it.”

“Thanks. I’ll think about it. I promise.” Terry smiled and watched as Steve stood up.

“Now, regardless of what you decide, clear your mind and focus on the swimming. Your rhythm was off, and you were barreling instead of cutting through the water.” Steve turned toward the doorway.

“Thanks,” Terry called after him. He put his goggles back on and returned to the water. Within a few minutes, he’d cleared his mind and was swimming free and clear. There were times when he wanted to be able to do this in the Caribbean, like, over a reef or something. He used to like to imagine that he could swim with the fish, be one of them and go where they went. That would be so awesome.

He kept track of his laps, and soon he was there. He needed to train his muscles so they knew exactly what to do, until each movement was so engrained it was perfect. Terry knew he was always at a bit of a disadvantage. If he decided to do this, the guys he would compete against were slightly taller and had longer arms than him. Those things he could do nothing about. So he had to train harder and make sure he made up for that. He did have big hands, which really helped, and he also had less weight to pull through the water than the bigger guys.

What he wanted to do swirled around the back of his mind while Terry completed his workout. When he was done, he glided to the edge of the pool and rested there, eyes closed, with a smile on his face.

“I was hoping I’d see you.” Terry knew that voice, and his relaxed feeling of accomplishment was instantly replaced by suspicion and caution. “You haven’t been back to your apartment.” James’s voice was smooth and soft, but Terry caught the sharp undertone and the way he’d just let Terry know that he’d been watching for him.

“I’ve been staying at a friend’s,” Terry answered. He pushed away from the side of the pool and slowly turned around. James was handsome, there was no doubt whatsoever about that. He could even be called regal. Tall and broad, with a presence that was impossible to ignore. When he gave you his attention, you felt special. James’s eyes sparkled, picking up the color of the water, but Terry now saw them as cold. “What do you want, James? I need to get changed and ready for work.”

“You know what I want. I let you have this time to yourself so you could figure out how good you had it with me.” James took a step back from the side of the pool. Terry was sure it was so he could see what he was supposed to have been missing. “Who else was going to take you out to nice places every night, buy you the expensive clothes you like?” James met Terry’s gaze.

“James, I left. I’m happy.” Terry knew those were the wrong words. James’s expression darkened.

“I miss you, and you belong with me.” He bent down and reached out for Terry, who stepped further into the pool. “I love you, Terry. You need to know that.”

“No, you don’t,” Terry countered. “You want me in your life the way you want your car or the house you live in. You really don’t love me.”

“Who the hell says so?” James asked loudly, his voice bouncing off the walls and echoing through the huge room. “What in hell ever gave you that idea? I took care of you the entire time we were together. I bought you everything you ever wanted. We went on vacations all over the world. I treated you like a king, and this is how you repay me?” He wasn’t yelling any longer, but the power and cold in his voice were unmistakable.

The door to the pool banged open like a gunshot that rang and bounced off the water. Even James jumped at the sound, which made Terry smile a little. Red strode inside in full uniform. James turned away from him, and Terry watched as the two men’s gazes met, and they stared at each other.

“This is a private conversation I’m having with my boyfriend.” James’s voice was suddenly controlled but with a definite edge.

“Someone reported some yelling, and since I was here I decided to investigate,” Red said and turned to Terry. “Are you all right, sir?” Red asked him. Terry blinked a few times, wondering what was going on.

“Yes,” he stammered slightly.

Red turned to James. “I think it’s best you leave, sir. The yelling is upsetting the other patrons.” Red sounded so controlled, almost deferential. “I trust this is a simple misunderstanding that will be cleared up in a reasonable way when the time is right?”

James straightened his dignity around him like an ermine cloak. “Of course. I didn’t realize how loud I was being.” James turned to Terry. “We’ll talk about this later.” James turned to leave, and Terry watched him go. As soon as the door closed, Terry turned to Red, ready to demand an explanation.

Red shook his head. “You need to get dressed and come down to the station with me. I don’t want to talk about any of this here.”

Terry climbed out of the pool and got his towel to dry himself. He noticed that Red didn’t take his eyes off him, and he liked that. In fact, Terry made sure Red got a good look at just what was barely covered by his Speedo.

“That’s just cruel,” Red whispered.

Terry turned and flashed him a smile before wrapping the towel around his waist and heading to the locker room. He changed as quickly as he could and went to meet Red, who was talking quietly to Steve.

Julie hurried toward him as he approached, and he veered off to hug her. “How’s your mom?”

“Better, thank goodness. She’s going to be fine,” Julie said with relief in her voice. “I just got back and thought I should get in here.” Julie’s gaze wandered to Red. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. But James was just here, and….” Terry paused a second. “I have a lot to tell you. But I need to go for a while.” He watched as Steve turned and walked down the hall to his office. Red came toward him.

“Are you in trouble?” Julie asked,

“No. But I’ll tell you all about it, I promise,” Terry told her. “I have a lot of news. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” Julie said, obviously confused as Terry joined Red, and they left the building.

“What was all the cloak-and-dagger stuff?” Terry asked once they were outside. “Why were you acting like you didn’t know me in there?”

“Because I was on my way to get you. We found out some things about James that we’re hoping you can help us with, but we don’t want James to know we’re looking into him, so I played dumb. He doesn’t need to know I’m anything other than some cop who happened to be nearby and was asked to look into what could have been an argument.” Red led him to a police car, looking around. “I think James has already left.”

“I was wondering. He can be sneaky.” Red opened the door, and Terry climbed inside. He’d never been in a police car before and took a few seconds to look around. “I wasn’t expecting all this.” He motioned toward the laptop and other equipment.

“The car is a mobile office, communication center, sometimes armored vehicle, and radar station.” Red pulled his door closed and started the engine. Terry put on his seat belt, still wondering what in the hell was going on. When Red had said he was going to look into James, he figured he might find some parking tickets or maybe a domestic complaint. But this seemed rather serious.

The ride to the station didn’t take long. Red parked, and Terry followed him into the building. He expected to be taken to one of those little rooms like he saw on television, but Red took him to a plain metal desk and asked him to sit down.

“I take it you found something,” Terry said.

Red nodded. “Tell me what you can about James’s business.”

“He’s got that building downtown that he runs a trucking company out of. He tells people he’s into shipping and receiving. I assumed he arranged for people to ship stuff, like UPS or something, only bigger. I was only there a few times, and I waited in the car. Why?”

Red turned around, and another officer came over. “Terry Baumgartner, this is Officer Aaron Cloud. He’s in charge of this particular investigation, and I’m assisting him.”

Terry stood and shook the officer’s hand. “I’ll help any way I can, but I’m not sure how.”

Officer Cloud pulled up a chair. “Well, this particular investigation seems to have taken a very winding route. Red here apparently asked a friend of his to look into James Guthrie because he was concerned for your safety.”

Terry nodded. “Red told me he was going to do that.” He bit his lower lip. “Red isn’t in trouble because of that, is he?”

“No,” Officer Cloud said. “That little question and the information he found has opened avenues of additional inquiry.” Terry glanced at Red, wondering if Officer Cloud always spoke like the character from a television show.

“Terry, there’s way too much money flowing through there. Huge amounts, sometimes. It’s likely the business is a front and that it’s being used to launder money. James apparently has a reputation for being very free spending. When he was with you, how did he pay for the things he bought?”

“Cash,” Terry answered. “He always had a lot of it in his pocket, and he spent it like water…. But that doesn’t mean he’s doing anything wrong. Lots of people use and spend cash. James always said he hated credit cards. Something about his parents getting into debt trouble, so he never used them.” He’d asked him once about the cash because it seemed unusual, but after that he never thought about it again.

Both Red and Officer Cloud wrote notes. “I told Red where he lived already and how he always drives expensive cars. He likes to be noticed.”

“What sort of places did he take you when you went out?”

“Restaurants and clubs. He always seemed to know everyone in the place. People would come up to him and want to talk to him. When that happened I’d excuse myself and get a drink or something. It happened a few times a night, and they always talked about boring crap anyway. Company names, street names, stuff like that. It was Greek to me.”

“So you’re saying you really know nothing?” Officer Cloud pressed.

“I was with the guy for nine months and realized how he was trying to take over my life. I had to get the hell out. That’s all I want. If he’s doing anything illegal, I don’t know anything about it. I never saw anything, and I think if he was doing something, he’d try to keep it from me.”

“Why?” Aaron pressed.

“I never got the impression that he trusted me with things that close to him. Which maybe was just as well, because if I knew he was doing something illegal, I would have gotten the hell out of there.” Terry had seen enough episodes of CSI to know he didn’t want to get messed up with anything like that. “So do you know where the money is coming from?”

He looked at both of them and instantly knew they had no idea. “No. Everything looks remarkably clean from the outside. It’s only the amounts of money involved that make him look suspicious.”

Terry nodded. “I do know that James has lawyers. I’ve met them more than once. They sometimes join him for those business meetings over dinner. So does a guy he said was his accountant.” Terry tried to run through who else he’d seen. “There was the guy who manages his money for him. Some hotshot investor guy who drives a Ferrari, I think. Black car, if I remember.” They were writing down everything Terry was saying. “James thought it was pretty cool and talked about buying one too, but went off the idea pretty fast about six months ago and never mentioned it again.”

“What else can you tell us about him?” Officer Cloud asked.

“What do you want to know? You’re going to have to help me here. I stayed at his house for about three months before moving out. The place is huge with overtones of oppression. Everywhere you look there is this awful art that James likes and pictures of him with famous people. I don’t even know if they’re real. He never met anyone famous when we were together, and I certainly didn’t get my picture taken with hunky professional football players.”

Office Cloud put up his hand. “What is he into? Other than guys.” He looked at Terry and then at Red, but said no more.

“You mean, like, goats? Leather?” Terry joked. “Nothing too weird, I guess. He likes to be in control all the time.” Terry paused. “Is bedroom stuff what you’re really looking for?”

“Not really.”

“Is he faithful?” Officer Cloud asked. Terry opened his mouth to answer “yes” but closed it again. He had no fucking idea. James could have been screwing half the city, and Terry wouldn’t have known.

“He says he is,” Terry answered. Fuck, he felt like such a slut—a used, wasted, stupid slut. If the quantity of sex James required when they were together was any indication, in three months he’d probably laid half the boys in town. “James is always ready and raring to go.” He was a fool to think that James had loved him, really loved him.

“It’s okay, Terry. We know this is difficult, and we don’t think any less of you for being honest. People like this use others for what they can get,” Red said. He looked at Officer Cloud, who nodded his agreement.

“Were there specific clubs or other places he frequented?”

“Yeah. He liked Café Fresco a lot. Most of the people there know him on sight. He also went to Bronco’s for a while but then stopped all at once in a huff about….” Terry thought carefully. “January. Yeah, it was right after we had that huge storm. He had some argument with the owners and ended up leaving. I got the impression from some of the other patrons that James had been banished from the place and wasn’t welcome any longer, but I don’t know.”

“Let’s talk to the owners and see if they can tell us anything,” Officer Cloud said to Red, who nodded. Maybe he’d been able to help after all. Terry smiled when Red did. “Where did he start hanging out after that?”

“Various places. But he didn’t go to the clubs as much anymore. He said they were for kids, and he wasn’t a kid anymore. It was then that we started going to Fresco and Char’s. He liked the food, and once he started going there regularly, they began fawning over him, which James seemed to love.”

“Okay.” Officer Cloud was quiet for a few minutes.

“You didn’t see James conduct anything illicit?” Red asked.

“If you’re asking if I saw him dealing drugs or hurting people, then no. James was the center of attention, and he liked it that way. If someone didn’t give him the due he thought he deserved, he simply froze them out of the circle. He was good to the people around him. Always picking up dinner and drink tabs, tipping big. But….” Terry paused as he remembered something.

“What is it?”

“James had a boyfriend before me. I think his name was Kirk. I met him once. He reminded me of a deer in headlights. Kirk was having dinner at Fresco, say, four months ago. He was with some friends. When James came in, he went over to say hello to Kirk. I didn’t know who it was, but I saw the two of them talking. After about five minutes, Kirk and his friends left the restaurant. James told the restaurant manager to add their bill to his and that none of them would be back.” Terry shivered slightly. “The way he said it made it sound like they would never be back… ever.”

“Okay…,” Red prompted.

“I asked around after that. None of James’s friends would talk about it. I never saw Kirk again, and when I asked one of the bar guys, they said that Kirk used to come in sometimes. He didn’t after that as far as I’m aware.”

“Do you know Kirk’s last name?”

“No. Sorry. But there’s a bartender—James always called him Slim. He took care of James at Fresco, and if he’s still there, he might be able to tell you, but I don’t remember seeing him the last time I was there, so that may be useless.” Terry checked the clock. “I really need to get back to the pool. Julie can handle things alone for a little while, but there will be some bigger classes coming in, and both of us should be there.”

“Okay,” Red agreed. “I’ll take you back.”

Terry stood up and followed Red through the room and out toward the lobby. “Do you really think I was a help?”

“Yes,” Red answered as they went outside and to the patrol car. “I’ll pick you up after work and take you to your apartment. You can get some more things if you like, but after today I don’t think you should go back there until we have figured out what’s going on.” He made it sound so reasonable. “I doubt Guthrie is going to be too concerned for your safety if he learns you’ve been talking to us about him.” Red got in the car, and Terry did the same. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, and I don’t trust James not to hurt you.” Red paused. “I know you don’t think he’d hurt you, but what I saw at the pool was anger that was barely under control.”

“I know. I saw it too. I thought James was just an overcontrolling boyfriend. I didn’t know he could be some sort of criminal. Do you think he’s tied to the mob?”

Red laughed. “I doubt it. They operate in the shadows whenever possible. They would never stand for anyone as flashy and attention seeking as James. He’s dirty, I can feel it, but I don’t know how yet.” He reached across the seat and stroked Terry’s cheek. “So let’s get you back to work, and I’ll come by in time to pick you up and help you deliver your meals. Aunt Margie is going to love to see you again.”

“I’m perfectly capable of delivering meals in my own car without a police escort.”

“And what if James is following you or has you followed? Your car isn’t exactly one that blends in. Just humor me, okay?”

“All right,” Terry agreed.

“Good. I told your manager that James had been causing you some problems, so he won’t be allowed in the club any longer. You should be safe enough there for now, but pay attention to the people around you. Look to see if anyone is watching you rather than what their attention should be on. That’s the real giveaway. Presidential assassins have been caught in a crowd based upon where they were looking.”

Terry rolled his eyes. “Yeah, so if the girls aren’t paying attention to the swim instructor and are watching me, I’ll assume they’re working for James and have them frisked.”

“Smartass,” Red retorted, and Terry broke into a smile.

“I’ll be fine. There are a lot of people around all the time, and Julie and I will be working together. Don’t worry about anything, but I will keep my phone with me in case something happens, and you can rush right over and save me like I’m the damsel in distress.” He batted his eyelashes at him. He knew he was being an ass, just a little, but he didn’t need someone to ride herd over him and watch him throughout the day.

“You are no damsel, and that’s not what I meant. I just want you to be careful.” Red was serious, and the smile slipped from Terry’s lips. “I really think James is dangerous, and I don’t want him anywhere near you.”

“Are you jealous of him?”

“No,” Red snapped back way too quickly.

Terry turned away and looked out the window. “You know that green is most definitely not a good color on you.”

“I’m being honest and concerned for your safety, and all you do is give me a hard time.” Red sounded really hurt.

Terry turned back toward him. “I was just teasing.” He sighed. “I know you don’t think I’m a damsel in distress, and I’m not interested in James anymore. That’s over and has been for months.”

“Because he’s a huge tool,” Red whispered.

“What has you so nervous about James? I know you think he’s dangerous, but something else is bothering you, and don’t tell me it’s nothing. The sullen and withdrawn thing isn’t any more attractive than jealousy.” Terry waited while Red pulled out of the lot, and they began the drive back to his work. He wasn’t sure Red was going to tell him what had him so bothered. Terry watched as Red chewed his lower lip.

“I saw him today for the first time.” Red continued driving, gripping the wheel tightly. “I can see why you’d like him and want to be with him. He’s very handsome and… it just helped things make sense, that’s all.”

“James is a knob. You and Officer What’s-his-name pretty much made me see that with the questions. I hadn’t even realized what he was doing until it was almost too late. And to top it off, you think the knob may be doing some illegal shit at his business.” Terry stared across at Red as they drove. “I don’t get you, unless you think I’m so ridiculously dumb and so completely shallow that I would rather have someone like James, who treated me like I was his property, than someone who has done his best to show that he cares and wants to keep me safe.” Red pulled to a stop, and Terry opened the door and got out.

“I’ll be here when you get off work, and we can go make the deliveries.” Terry closed the door and strode to the club. At the door he turned to see if Red was still watching and then went inside.

 

 

TERRY SPENT an entire shift sitting in his stand by the pool watching the open swim sessions. He also helped with some of the kid’s swimming lessons. He loved that part of his job. Working with the little kids who were often afraid of the water and helping them overcome that fear was rewarding. As an added bonus, he got to share in an activity that he truly loved.

“What do you have planned for tonight? Do you want to go out?” Julie asked once they had ended their shift and were getting ready to head to the locker rooms.

“I’m delivering meals and then going back to Red’s.”

Julie grabbed his arm. “Who is Red? I know I’ve been out of it with my mother and all, but what the hell happened while I was gone?” Julie’s eyes widened, and her mouth formed an O before she put her hand over it. “You have a new boyfriend.”

Terry stopped her. “I’m not sure what the hell is going on. Okay. To make a long story short, the cop at the pool—with the scars on his face? His aunt is one of the ladies I deliver food to. Anyway, she was worried after James called, so she sent Red over to my place. James had showed up. It was a mess.” He began talking faster and faster. “You weren’t home because of your mom, so Red took me to his place. Things happened, and I’ve been there ever since for my safety. I don’t know what Red is. Right now I’m trying to figure all that out. It’s only been two days, and a lot of stuff has happened.”

“Including James showing up and Red coming to the rescue,” Julie supplied. “How romantic,” she added with breathy melodrama. Terry turned toward the men’s locker room. “Wait, I’m confused.”

Terry spun around. “Honey, you’re confused? In two days I’ve had my entire worldview altered by a man I called names when he was here.” He stepped closer to her. “And it’s all your fault. I’m doing things to help people. I started reading a book I got a year ago. Not that I’ve had a chance to read much, because, well, things have been busy, but it’s a murder mystery and has race horses, so it sounds like fun.”

“So you’ve unshallowed yourself,” Julie said, sounding so freaking pleased with herself.

“I guess.” Terry sighed way too dramatically for the situation. “I like him. He’s a nice man….”

“So what’s wrong?” Julie moved to stand right next to him. The other lifeguards had taken their places, and kids were entering the pool for open swim, so they had to keep their voices down. “Is he bad in bed? Wait, I’m assuming you have been to bed with him.” Terry blushed. He couldn’t help it. “So you have been to bed with him. Man, you move fast. So if you’re reticent, then… he wasn’t good.”

“Julie, I’m not going to talk about this.” Terry was as firm as he could be, even as his cheeks flamed like never before.

“Oh….” Her mouth dropped open. “Ooooh.”

“Yeah, the last one.” A zing went up Terry’s spine as he remembered the night before. He had to push that from his mind or he would need to make a mad dash to the showers.

“So what’s the problem? Does he treat you right? Is he a good guy?” Her questions came quickly, and Terry nodded at each one. “Are there more scars under the uniform? Is it the way he looks? Is that the problem?”

“Julie, stop. The way he looks isn’t the problem. I mostly don’t see the scars anymore. He’s a good man who thought enough of a person he barely knew to take him in when he needed help. Red has a huge heart.”

“You know what that’s code for?” She wagged her eyebrows and held up her pinkie.

Terry wanted to slap her but rolled his eyes instead. “I’m not discussing that here. But you’re way off.” Terry sat down in one of the chairs against the wall, draping his towel over his shoulders. “I don’t know what it is. I like him, I really do. But I keep wondering if all of this is because of James. What if he’s some rebound guy from this crap with James?”

“Do you want him to be?” Julie asked, and Terry shook his head. “You really like him.”

“Yeah, I do. He can be sweet and kind but brash and bold. He’s strong as hell but seems to listen.”

“He sounds like the perfect guy.”

“Maybe he is. And maybe my ability to pick guys is so bad….”

“Hey. James is over. You left and got the hell out. Don’t let him influence a possible relationship with someone you really like and who could really like you. James used people. At least that’s how you described him to me. Do you think Red would ever do that?”

“No,” Terry answered right away, and a little of the knot of self-doubt seemed to unwind. When he was with Red, he felt none of this, but when he was alone, he spent a lot of time second-guessing everything. He never used to do that, and he blamed James for it. What the hell, heap it all on the man’s doorstep. Why the hell not? “Red makes me feel like myself. Like the person I really want to be, deep down, you know?” It was hard to explain.

Julie patted him on the shoulder. “You’re a very lucky man, and you don’t even know it. What you just described is what everyone hopes to find—that one person who helps make them what they could be. Sure, Red may not be what you had envisioned your Prince Charming to be, but it looks like you found him.” She turned toward the women’s locker room, and Terry swore he heard her mutter “lucky bastard” under her breath.

Terry showered and changed and packed everything in his bag. When he walked through the lobby, Red was sitting in one of the chairs by the door, watching people as they came and went. He stood, and Terry joined him, wishing people a good night as he left the building. “We were going to go back to my apartment?” Terry wanted to make sure everything was okay.

“Yes. I checked on your car, and it’s fine. No one has bothered it, and it can stay where it’s at for a few more days. The guys keep wondering whose it is, so they’ve all noticed it.”

“So if anything happened they’d know right away?” Terry asked, and Red nodded. “Okay. I’ve been thinking of selling it anyway.” He loved the car, but he was now more determined than ever to get rid of the things in his life that had come from James, and the car was a huge part of it. “It’s time to move on, I think.” Terry stared out the window as the houses passed by. He’d made a huge mess of everything.

“Are you okay?” Red asked as they pulled up behind Terry’s building.

“Yeah. Just wallowing in self-pity.” Terry opened the door and got out of the truck. He waited for Red and walked with him into the building. Everything looked okay as they climbed the back stairs to the second floor. His door was closed, and Terry fished out his keys and unlocked the door. It swung open with little pressure.

Red put his arm in front of him and pressed him back. Terry moved out of the way as Red peered inside. “What’s wrong?” Terry peered around the doorframe and looked inside. The room appeared the same to him. Nothing was broken or overturned. “It looks okay.”

Red took a step inside. Terry followed after him. The apartment was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator. “I’m going to check the bedroom. Stay here and run like hell if anything happens.” Red pushed open the bedroom door, and Terry saw him relax for a second and then stiffen again.

“What is it?” Terry closed the apartment door and heard it latch shut. Red stepped back and waited while Terry crossed to the back of the living room and peered into his bedroom. “It looks okay to me.” Then Terry saw it. A glistening pile in the corner. He walked over. It was glass, a lot of it.

“He’s been here,” Terry said swallowing.

“What was that?” Red asked.

“James used to say that he saw me as someone as beautiful and elegant as fine-cut crystal. So that was what he used to buy for me.” Terry turned to his dresser. “There used to be a bowl that I kept on the dresser. I suspect it’s part of what’s been broken.” Terry took a deep breath. “I think he’s trying to tell me that he’ll break me like he did that.” He walked around the bed, careful not to trample the glass or touch anything. More glass littered the carpet on the far side of the bed. Terry gasped and turned. “He knows about you.”

“Knows what?”

Terry pointed to the shards. “They’re red.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.” Red gently touched his arm. Terry knew it was meant to be reassuring, but it only made his knees shake and his breathing shallow.

He turned around. “I didn’t have anything that color. Whoever was in here, and I’m assuming it was indeed James, brought that piece of glass with them because it wasn’t already here. He’s leaving a message that he’ll do to me what he did to the glass, and he doesn’t care if you get in the way or not.”

“He’s escalating,” Red said and looked around. “He could have spent quite a bit of time in here.”

“What are you saying?”

“Let’s get out of here. We’ll buy whatever you think you might need.” Red took Terry’s arm and guided him out of the room and the apartment. Once they’d secured the door and were standing in the hallway, he made a phone call. “Aaron, Terry and I were at his place.” Red described what he found. “I’d be willing to bet he placed a camera someplace in there. He went to a lot of trouble to send a message, and I bet he would want to know we received it.” Terry leaned against the wall for support as Red listened. “Okay. We have something to do, and then I’m getting him out of here.” Red listened again and began nodding. Then he relayed what they had found and explained the significance. “I agree. We need to move faster, or this could fall apart.”

Terry’s heart pounded, and he waited for Red to finish. “Are we going?”

“Yes. We’re going to get those meals delivered as fast as we can. Aaron will come by and take charge here to see what they can find. We aren’t hopeful they’ll find anything. If what you think is true, James would have been careful not to leave anything we could use to tie him to this.”

“Are we going back to your place after we make the deliveries?”

“No. I’ll stay in touch with Aaron, but after we’re done, you and I are going to go clubbing. We need to speak with the people at Bronco’s, and we need to do it carefully. That isn’t our jurisdiction, so I can’t approach anyone officially.”

Terry smiled. “Don’t worry. I think I know someone who can help.” They left the building and walked out to the truck. They took off, and Terry guided Red to Lavelle’s. They took the meals and got them delivered. At Red’s aunt’s, they made sure she was settled and happy. Then they left. Red had been watching all around them the entire time.

“Are we being followed?” Terry asked.

“I don’t think so. I mean, all they would see is us delivering meals to shut-ins. This is a great cover—maybe I should see about using it in the future. Anyone trying to follow us would be driven crazy by all the stops.”

Both of them were starving, so Red went through a drive-through, and then they headed toward Harrisburg. He parked near the club, and they walked to the entrance and went inside. It was definitely early. The music was playing, and the lights were going, but very few people had shown up yet. Terry nudged Red as they took seats at a table. “That’s Bull. He’s the guy you need to talk to.”

“Jesus,” Red whispered. “I thought I was big.”

“Bull’s not as big as you. Anyway, he’s the head of security and an owner of the club. If it’s happening here, he knows about it.” Terry caught Bull’s eye and waved to him. He’d met him a few times. Tristan, a friend of Terry’s from school, was friends with Bull’s partner. Bull walked over to their table.

“Is Zach here?” Terry asked brightly.

“Not tonight,” Bull answered suspiciously. The man seemed to trust no one. “James isn’t around, is he?” Bull scanned the room, his bald head shining as the lights passed overhead. The man was intimidating as hell, though Terry knew that image was well cultivated.

“I’m not with him anymore,” Terry explained. “He wasn’t what I thought he was.”

Bull nodded. “There seems to have been a lot of that going around.”

Red stood up. “Bull, this is Red. He’s… well, he’s interested in James, and I was hoping you could talk to him about what happened a few months ago.”

Bull looked Red over. “Are you a cop?”

“Yes,” Red answered. “I’m off duty, and you could be a big help.”

Bull hadn’t been expecting that answer. The surprise on his face was obvious, but it didn’t last for very long. “I’ll do what I can to assist.”

Bull pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. He turned and motioned to one of the bartenders, who brought over a glass of clear liquid and set it on the table. It looked like liquor, but Terry figured it was most likely something nonalcoholic. But he didn’t ask. He ordered a beer, and Red did the same, then the bartender turned and walked away without a word.

“Terry told me that a few months ago, James was banned from the club. Will you tell me why?” Red asked, leaning over the table. “I know you don’t really know me, but I’m not here to cause you or your club any trouble. We’ve been looking into James Guthrie, mostly because of Terry, but the investigation is broadening fast, and we need to get a handle on this quickly.” Red’s gaze flashed to him and then back to Bull.

Bull lifted his glass to his lips and sipped. “We were never able to prove anything, otherwise we would have called the police at the time and let them handle it. But James began coming in here, and suddenly we had a problem with illegal substances making an appearance.” Bull set his glass on the table. “We run a clean club, always have. We get rid of one guy and another one tries to muscle in. Drugs aren’t the way we want to do business. I’ve never tolerated them, and I never will. They lead to nothing but problems.”

“So you banned him from the club on suspicion?”

“No. Like I said, we couldn’t prove anything. I banned him for mistreating one of the servers. He had apparently decided that the cocktail waiters were also for sale by the evening. I don’t stand for that sort of thing either.” Bull lifted his glass once again and downed the liquid. “My employees are important and must be treated with respect at all times. This is a club, not a drug den or a whorehouse.”

“I wasn’t questioning your judgment,” Red said levelly. “Just asking. James seems to spread his money around very liberally, and it would be hard for a business owner to easily wave that off. That’s all.”

“That’s fair,” Bull said.

“Bull,” Terry interrupted. “Did you notice anything after James was no longer coming here?”

“Some bad stuff was making its way into town, and it had shown up very suddenly in my club. We were just figuring out how to deal with it when it disappeared, at nearly the same time James did.” Bull turned to Red. “I can’t give you anything more than what I know, but the drugs went when James did. Or I should say that they moved on when he did. Thank God, because the stuff that’s out there now, especially the heroin, is strong as shit.”

“We’re seeing it too, and people are dying because of it.” The slight tremor in Red’s voice went right to Terry’s heart. It would be so easy for him to dismiss the people who were being hurt by this. They were drug users, people with problems, and the ones no one wanted to look at. But Red was willing to see them and try to help them.

“No doubt. But I have to ask: Why do you care? It isn’t like the users make it any easier for you to do your job. They provide the market for the scum that peddles this crap. You’d think a few less users on the street would only make your job easier.” Bull’s gaze was intense, and Terry was happy he wasn’t looking at him like that. He wanted to squirm for Red; he could feel so much residual heat.

“Some would think that. But the only thing that makes my job easier is making it so this shit doesn’t hit the streets at all. Period!” Red’s gaze bored right back at Bull. “I’ve had two men die right in front of me in the last few days from this shit because I got there too late. I think I was able to help one other, but who knows. They aren’t hopeful that the drugs haven’t scrambled his brains permanently. Maybe he’d be better off dead. I don’t know.” Red paused. “I used to believe in black and white. Now I’m not so sure about a lot of shit, but I do know this crap is bad, and a lot more people are going to die because they don’t know what they’re taking.”

Bull nodded once and stood up. “I don’t know how he’s doing it or how he’s covering it up, but he’s as dirty as they come. I have a nose for shit, and when he was around it was going off like a fire alarm.” He looked toward the door of the club and then back to them. “I won’t testify about anything, so don’t ask. I have a club to run, and that’s what I intend to do.” Bull’s gaze shifted to him, and sweat broke out on Terry’s back. “You better be done with James.”

Terry nodded. “I am.”

“He’s making threats,” Red told Bull.

“Guys like James do not like to lose… at anything. They may retreat for a while, but when they come back, it’s with a vengeance, especially if they feel their pride or reputation has been affected.” Bull picked up his empty glass. “I wish you both the best of luck.” With that he turned and strode across the club, people parting to let him pass.

“Holy shit,” Terry muttered and picked up his beer. He downed most of it to steady his nerves, put the glass down, and then raised it again, emptying the glass. “I was… I was….”

“Hey, you didn’t know.” Red reached across the table to pat his hand.

“But he… he’s a…,” Terry stammered and got up. He walked to the bar and ordered another beer. He paid and walked back to the table, instantly wishing he’d gotten something a hell of a lot stronger.

“Terry, you didn’t know what he was,” Red said as soon as he returned to the table. Not that it mattered one single bit. Terry was still chilled to the core and half shaking in his shoes. He had thought he was just dating a guy, and he’d really been some drug lord’s moll. He was never going to get over that… ever.

“It doesn’t matter.” He set the glass on the table harder than he intended, and some of the beer splashed out. “I didn’t want to see what he was. All I wanted was to see the fancy clothes, the nice restaurants, cars, and other stuff his money could buy. That was why I was with him.” Terry inhaled a deep breath and coughed. “I thought I loved him and he loved me, but that was a bunch of crap. I was nothing to him, and he was just a source of the things I wanted.” Terry snatched up the glass and began drinking again. He fucking needed it. He drained the glass and set it on the table. “I bet he was seeing guys behind my back. I should have known that too.” His hands shook, and he clamped his eyes closed, trying to will the fears from his mind.

“Were you… safe?” Red asked just above the volume of the music.

Terry nodded. “But I better get tested, just to be sure. God knows what he brought home with him.” He looked back at the bar again.

“I think you’ve had enough for now.” Red stood, leaving his beer unfinished. Terry was tempted to snatch the glass and finish it. Instead he let it be and followed Red. He expected to be led toward the door, but they ended up in the middle of the dance floor. Red turned around as the music stopped. Red took Terry’s hand, and the dance beat started again.

Terry moved with Red as best he could. He was surprised… no, shocked, at the way Red moved. It was inelegant, brash, bold, uncoordinated, borderline dangerous, and the most incredible dance Terry had ever had in his life. He laughed, Red laughed, and the people near them all got out of the way. It was fun, and at the end when Red pulled him in, wrapped Terry in his arms, and kissed his breath away right there in front of everyone, they raised a chorus of catcalls and maybe garnered a few jealous looks.

“I think it’s time we go home now,” Red told him.

Terry nodded and held Red’s hand as they walked together off the dance floor and toward the club entrance. Bull stood near the door, and when they passed, he followed them out onto the sidewalk. “You are aware that your little display is certain to get back to James.”

Red paused and nodded. Terry stifled a gasp. Was all this just for some show? “I hadn’t thought about it at the time, but I believe you’re right. And I believe it’s time James knew that he can’t just take what he wants anymore.”

“He’ll find out who you are,” Bull added. “You’re a very distinctive person, Officer.”

“Then maybe he’ll find a hole to crawl down like the other vermin and stay there. Either that or he’ll decide to get out of Dodge while he still can.” The vehemence in Red’s voice was chilling and thrilling at the same time, and Terry wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.

“He isn’t likely to do that,” Bull said softly. “Guys like him like to fight. The ego is just too big.” Bull stepped away from them. “You two have a good night.”

Terry and Red turned away and walked toward the truck. Red was silent, walking with his hands in his pockets. “I made a mistake. Bull was right. James will find out that I was with you. I may have just screwed up everything. He’s going to know I was here with you, and chances are he’ll remember me from the pool.”

“Well, if you remember the whole glass thing, I think he’s already put some of the pieces together.” Terry stopped. “If anything we need to figure out what he’s up to quickly. I mean, if Bull is right and James is as volatile as he says, then the safest thing is to have him out of commission, right?” Terry pulled open the door to the truck and got in. Red did the same, pulled his door closed, and turned to him.

“Don’t go anywhere near James for any reason,” Red scolded. “If you see him, call the police.”

“Where is this coming from?” Terry asked.

“I don’t want you thinking you can seek him out or look into what he’s doing. You said ‘we.’ I’ll look into him. It’s what I do. You will stay safe and as far away from trouble as you possibly can. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, your imperial majesty. The fucking deaf can hear you.” Terry grabbed the door handle and pulled it. “I can take care of myself. I’ve had to do it for a few years now. I may have messed things up, but they were my mistakes, and I don’t need you telling me what I can and cannot do.” Terry pushed the door open and stepped out of the truck. He turned and threw the door closed with everything he had. The truck rocked, and Terry turned and walked away from it.

He kept going, getting farther and farther from the truck, his spirits sinking with each step. He felt like shit, and to make matters worse, he heard footsteps behind him. Terry looked over his shoulder and sped up.

Arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him to a stop. “I wasn’t telling you what to do. I was concerned that James might hurt you.” Red paused. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. It would hurt me too much.”

“Then why didn’t you just say that?”

“Because sometimes I’m a big oaf who issues orders and tells people what to do. I’m used to taking charge.” Red held him closer. “I know I did it wrong, but it’s because I care. I don’t want you anywhere near James. Hell, I don’t want anyone coming anywhere near you except for me. But that may not be what you want. I want you safe. I can live with myself, no matter what, as long as you’re safe.”

Terry stopped trying to get away and turned around. “Then why didn’t you just say that in the first place? You didn’t need to be so heavy-handed.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Red paused and tugged Terry to him. Red put his arms all the way around him and settled a hand in the small of his back. “I didn’t mean to yell or growl. I want you to be safe.” Terry felt a warm breeze through his hair and realized it was Red’s breath. Terry closed his eyes but didn’t reach out to Red. He wasn’t ready to forgive him quite yet, but he was close. It felt nice to be held by someone who truly cared about him, even if he had a “bull in a china shop” way of showing it. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Red, resting his head on Red’s chest.

“I shouldn’t have overreacted,” he whispered into the darkness. He lifted his gaze, and Red’s instantly met his. “Was this our first fight?”

Red smiled. “Probably, and it most likely won’t be our last if we spend a lot of time together.” He leaned forward. “There are compensations, though. Apparently, according to the movies, makeup sex is the best part.”

Terry laughed out loud. “I don’t think the sex part is a problem.”

“Let’s hope not. We have to be good at something.” Red’s laughter joined his, and then both were cut off by Red’s kiss. “We should probably go back to the truck before we start to draw a crowd.”

Terry nodded and stepped away from Red. He had to, because if he didn’t he was going to do things that should not be done in public. They walked back to the truck and got back in. This time they were quiet as Red drove out of Harrisburg and onto the freeway. They crossed the Susquehanna River and rode toward Carlisle. Red’s phone rang, and he answered it through the truck’s Bluetooth. “Hi, Aunt Margie, are you okay?”

“Yes, dear. I’m fine, but I ran out of ice cream, and I’m hungry for some. Are you home?”

“No. Terry and I are on our way back from one of the clubs in Harrisburg. We can stop on our way and get you some. What flavor would you like?”

“Rocky Road. And pick up whatever flavor you and Terry want. I have toppings and things here.” She sounded really pleased. Red smiled as he shook his head.

“Okay. We’ll stop and get some ice cream and see you in a few minutes.” Red hung up. “You don’t mind, do you? All that was a pretext to get us over there because she wants some company. Aunt Margie spends a lot of time by herself, and I’m usually over there every few days.”

“Of course not.” Terry could wait a little while before they got back to Red’s. They got off at High Street and pulled into the grocery store at the edge of town. Red picked out his aunt’s ice cream and Terry picked out a half gallon of mint chocolate chip. They paid and drove to Aunt Margie’s.

It took them a while to find a place to park and then walk to Aunt Margie’s. She was, of course, waiting for them with bowls and toppings on the counter. “You could have just asked us to come over,” Red said as he unpacked the ice cream and set it on the counter. “You didn’t need to come up with a pretext.”

She scoffed lightly. “Like you’d ever turn down ice cream.”

Terry placed his hand over his mouth to hide his smile. That was good to know. If he wanted to get Red to do something, he knew what he could try. Red filled bowls and put the ice cream away before they settled together on the sofa.

“So did you two go dancing?” Aunt Margie said. “Red is a complete terror. At a wedding once, he nearly took the bride’s eye out.”

“Aunt Margie, I did not!” Red cried indignantly. “It was one of the bridesmaids, and she insisted on dancing with me even after I told her how bad I was. So it was her own fault.”

Terry lost it. The image of Red flailing around on the dance floor with some girl in a pink bridesmaid’s dress was too much. He cackled at the top of his lungs. “Good God,” he breathed and laughed again. “We better keep you under control at the next policeman’s ball or you’ll take out some of the donors.”

“That’s why I don’t dance,” Red explained with remarkable good humor.

“You danced with me this evening.” Terry scooted closer to Red. “So how about we make a deal. You can only dance with me. You’re just too… enthusiastic for the general public.”

“Enthusiastic… spastic,” Aunt Margie chimed in.

“I stopped by because you wanted ice cream. I didn’t realize it came with a side helping of abuse.” Red tried to appear hurt, but Terry could tell he wasn’t. Terry lightly elbowed him in the side and winked.

“Actually, I thought it was nice that he asked me to dance. No one has done that in a long time, and I’m not going to forget it.” Not that he ever could, given the way Red moved, but he didn’t say that. Red had put himself out there. It hadn’t been pretty, but it had been genuine, and that counted for a lot.

“Apparently,” Red snarked, and then he turned to his bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream and took a bite.

“You’ll never win any awards for grace, and Dancing with the Stars is most definitely not in your future, but it was you for all to see. You asked me to dance knowing that people would be watching you,” Terry whispered.

“You looked like you wanted to dance,” Red whispered back.

“I did, and I’ll dance with you anytime.” Terry set his bowl on the coffee table and turned to Red, moving in very close. “Next time think of dancing like making love standing up and with your clothes on. If you do that, you’ll be the best dancer in the room each and every time.”

Red went still and blushed bright red. Margie was watching the television and didn’t seem to notice.

“Now, let’s finish the ice cream and say good night to your aunt so I can show you what I mean.”

Red ate fast, very fast, like, near cartoon-speed fast. Terry wasn’t finished by the time Red was. He took care of his dish and then excused himself to call Officer Cloud. By the time he returned, Margie had finished, and Terry had rinsed the dishes and left them in the sink. Terry was more than ready to leave whenever Red was. Margie was falling asleep in her chair, and Red helped her up and to her room. When he returned they left the house, locked up, and walked through the night to the truck.

“What did Aaron say when you told him what we found?”

“That we have a lot of work to do.” Red looked all around and picked up the pace toward the truck. Once they were inside with the doors closed, he continued. “That there was a possible connection between James and the bad drugs we’ve been seeing was a surprise to him, although he’d be delighted if it were true. He isn’t completely convinced, though. And we need proof to be able to tie him as a distributor.”

“Yeah. I guess it’s a lot easier for Bull to say what he believes is true than for you to be able to prove it so you can make an arrest.”

“And drug cases are hard as hell. The guys with the power hide behind a lot of people who are too scared to talk or just don’t know anything. We arrest one and get his supplier, but then another one just steps in, and we’re back at square one.” Red was obviously discouraged.

“But if James is the one supplying the area through his company….”

“Then maybe we could cut off the head of the dragon, at least for now. It’s the nature of police work and this kind of trafficking. We make progress, but they get smarter and figure out ways to get around us.” Red started the engine, pulled out of the parking spot, and drove back to his house.

When they arrived at Red’s house, Terry yawned as Red unlocked the back door and stepped inside. He listened at the door and then turned on the light. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes,” Red answered and continued into the house. “I think I’m just being overly cautious.” Red locked the doors behind them. “It’s hard not to be. James wasn’t what I was expecting to find, and now that looking into him to help keep you safe has turned into something a lot bigger and more dangerous, I….”

“You want to make sure we’re safe. I get that. But the best way to do that is to figure out what James is up to so we can put him out of commission.”

“That’s my job, along with the rest of the police force. Your job is to stay away from him. That’s all. Please don’t get involved or… anything. This investigation is going to move beyond my department. We’re going to have to get the department in Harrisburg involved, and it could pull in other departments too, depending how far the drugs are being distributed.”

“But I want to help,” Terry said.

“I know you do, and you can by staying safe, so I don’t worry about you all the time. If I know you’re okay, then I can do my job. If I think you’re in danger, then I’ll worry about you and won’t be able to do what I have to.”

Terry swallowed hard. “I’m not going to be a hero or do something stupid.” He shivered. “Did they find anything at my place?”

“Other than broken glass, no. There was no camera. They said the lock had been picked, and it looked like whoever was there didn’t stay long. Aaron thinks the same thing you do, that you were being left a message.”

Terry swallowed. “I don’t think I can go back there. When this is all over, I’ll find someplace else to live. I need to clean the place out and start over.” The thought of living in that apartment again chilled him to the bone. “I need to get rid of all the stuff James gave me, including the car. I need to get the hell out of that apartment, and maybe I need to move someplace else and just start over.”

“Is that what you really want to do?” Red asked.

Fuck. He’d been talking out of his ass and hadn’t been thinking about what he was saying. “No. I’m not talking like this because of you. I’m just talking.” He’d had a long day, and all this crap with James was draining away the last of his energy. He felt violated, scared, and confused as fucking hell. Right now the only thing that made any sense to him at all was Red. “Do you think we can go upstairs? I don’t want to think about all this anymore.” He was so tired. He’d thought he’d gotten away from James and was building a new life on his own. The damn man had to be psychotic or something.

Red took his hand and led him through the house and up the stairs. “Go on into the bathroom. There are some things I need to take care of.” Red let go of his hand, and Terry absently went into the bathroom and closed the door. He used the facilities and cleaned up. By the time he was done, Red was outside the door waiting his turn.

Terry went into the bedroom, got undressed, and slipped beneath the covers. There were times when he was really into the grand seduction. Not tonight. He just wanted to forget. When Red came into the room, Terry waited while he undressed and then turned out the light. He wanted darkness and quiet. Red climbed into bed and scooted close, tugging them together until Terry was tucked right against Red’s warmth.

“I’m here, and no one is going to hurt you,” Red said.

“He already has,” Terry whispered into the darkness.

“James can only take away from you what you allow him to take. I know that sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. He can only shake you if you dwell on what happened and worry about it. James isn’t going to get in here, and he isn’t going to come close to you anymore. I’m going to get him, and then no one will need to worry about him any longer.”

More than anything, Terry wanted that to be true.