Evan had really done a number on me with his flirtations at the ice cream shop. Taking the time to slow things down and give ourselves some space to talk had completely ramped up my desire. Evan was so much more than a pretty face and hot body.

But the fact of the matter was he was a pretty face and a hot body, too.

As we both raced to my truck, I was glad that the bridge between the two states was so short. Back in Georgia, our excitement about returning to my house helped us hurry through the downtown. We paused at street corners long enough to kiss until the light changed, before dashing off again.

I knew nothing could ruin our perfect night.

I was wrong. So wrong.

Halfway down the block, we saw Trey talking to the guy from the ice cream shop. Trey had regained his familiar swagger and Doug was practically eating out of his hand.

Trey leaned over Doug, looking like a lion about to eat a rabbit. And the rabbit looked ready to die and go to heaven. When Evan said we should stop and say hi, I nodded. It would give me a chance to ask him a couple of questions. But the busy intersection stopped us from crossing the street right away to join them.

As we watched them, Trey said something that made Doug take a step back. Trey reached out to grab his hand and keep him from running away. Doug nodded at whatever bullshit Trey was whispering to him, but he didn’t look like he was buying whatever Trey was selling.

Wait. What is he selling?

Some things finally became clear. With Trey’s connections and prestige in the gay community, he would be a great drug dealer. He knew all the gay men in the city, and helped many of them out when they were struggling. Most of them would do anything for him.

Something didn’t quite make sense, though. If Trey was recruiting college kids to work for him, how was he the one that had ended up beaten in the alley? Was it just a bad drug deal?

I couldn’t shake the idea that Rick and O’Brian might actually be involved somehow. Just because I couldn’t see the connection right then didn’t mean that there wasn’t one.

I needed to get some answers out of Trey. Wherever I turned, he seemed to be involved in all the questions that arose. It was easy to believe that Rick was involved, but what was the connection with O’Brian?

It had to be a mistake. O’Brian was too goofy to have gotten himself mixed up in any crimes bigger than parking in a no-parking zone.

Evan darted through the red light when he saw a break in the traffic. I hurried after him.

“Trey, leave Doug alone,” Evan yelled, shoving his body into Trey.

Trey made a fist but thought better of it when he looked at me.

“That’s right,” I growled, stepping between Trey and Evan. “I just want to ask you a couple of questions. You touch anyone and I’ll arrest you.”

“You’re not arresting shit,” Trey said with a laugh. “You’re not even a rent-a-cop anymore. I saw them kick your ass out of the station this afternoon.”

“I just want to ask you some questions.” I repeated, trying to look friendly.

When I took a step toward Trey, he backed away. I didn’t pursue. He wasn’t going to talk anyway. I wasn’t looking for a fight, but I didn’t want him involving Doug in whatever shit he was shoveling.

Behind me, Evan told Doug, “You should be careful with Trey. He’ll use you and toss you aside.”

Trey snorted. “Look who’s talking. Isn’t that your M.O.?”

“Trey, I’ve done some stupid shit. Those days are behind me. What’s your excuse?” Evan said, sounding like twice the man that Trey would ever be. “Why don’t you just answer James’ questions? You’re just as likely to get hurt as anyone. Maybe more so.”

Trey didn’t answer. He looked up and down the block. Whether he was expecting more trouble or backup, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t particularly want to stick around to find out.

“Doug, we’ll give you a ride home,” Evan said. “Trey isn’t the kind of friend you need to be making.”

I felt Evan standing close to my side, ready to support me through whatever happened with Trey.

I wished Evan had taken Doug and left me alone with Trey. Trey almost certainly had a gun handy and I would have felt a million times better if Evan were nowhere around while that threat loomed, especially with the way Trey glared at us with all the hate in the world in his eyes.

Talking slowly and quietly to make sure I didn’t startle Trey, I said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re mixed up in, but it’s not going to get better until you come clean. And if you’re somehow mixed up with the beatings and killings around here…well, more of that is not going to help you at all.”

“What the fuck do you know, civilian?” Trey’s words cut me deep. He smirked at the damage they caused.

I didn’t like losing my badge, especially since I hadn’t done anything wrong. It had been Trey’s wine, after all.

Shit. What if O’Brian had really been there because of something with Trey rather than the phantoms he’d said he’d been chasing down the alley.

Realizing there was a connection there felt big, but I didn’t risk letting it distract me from Trey and the gun I worried he might pull at any minute. “Yeah, about that. You had something to do with me getting suspended, didn’t you? Did you take that damn picture? Did you get O’Brian mixed up in this shit?”

“As if O’Brian needed an invitation. I didn’t take your picture, cornflake,” Trey laughed. “That was all just a fortunate coincidence, but not my doing. If you cops want to take yourselves out, it ain’t nothing to me.”

O’Brian. But why? How is he involved in this?

Trey backed away as I lunged at him. One way or the other, I was going to make him talk.

Evan tugged at my shirt to stop me. “Trey,” he said. “If you know something, you need to talk to the cops. Maybe not James, but someone. Our friends are at risk. Shit, you almost died. This is too big to just bullshit your way through. It isn’t a game anymore.”

Trey flashed his middle fingers at us and headed back toward the intersection.

I made a decision to not pursue him. My only goal was to get Evan and Doug away from him safely. We’d drop Doug off at his dorm and Evan and I would hurry back to my house to finish his birthday.

No drama.

It wasn’t like I had any authority to arrest Trey or force him into some kind of confession. We just needed to get home safely. I’d pass along my suspicions to the Chief in the morning and let them take it from there until they gave my badge back to me.

And then we heard the gunshot.

A few blocks away.

In the direction of The Firehouse.

Instead of doing the smart thing and hurrying to the truck, Evan and I ran toward the club. Doug followed us.

I had no idea where Trey went. That felt like a problem.