The Killing Jar_Book 1

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Title: The Killing Jar (Book 1)
Series: The Praetorians
Author: DocPaul
Email: [email protected]
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimers: I conten that these character are nothing like !os"ell#s so the$ are %ine& all %ine.
Warning: Dark 'ni(erse)angst& (iolence& *looletting& *loos+orts& *onage& %asochis%& slash)+rett$
%uch e(er$thing.
Summary: ,econ in the trilog$& Detecti(e -ichael .uerin an his %ate& Pro/essor -aria De0uca ha(e
*een together /or a $ear since the /irst case that *rought the% together. 1nce again %urer an (iolence
/ins a "a$ into their li(es& an nothing "ill e(er *e the sa%e.
Author’s notes: This stor$ is rile in angst an su//ering& *ut unerl$ing all that is the strength o/
sur(i(al. 2ll the characters in %$ uni(erse are sur(i(ors at i//erent le(els. This is the secon in a trilog$
*uiling a legen o/ a strong Praetorian .uar an the rising King that the$ ser(e& an the Kingo% the$
+rotect. This stor$ "as "ritten "ith the relationshi+s o/ the cast characters to the /oregroun& an the
%urer al%ost a "his+ering threat...I "rote it to +ro(e that a relationshi+ ri(en stor$ oesn#t ha(e to
estro$ characters& ignore the% /or others& an there still can *e action an sus+ense. I suggest the reaing
o/ The Praetorians /irst since all three *ooks are interlocking the o(erall %$ster$ has clues in the /irst
*ook on to the last.

THE KILLING JAR
For Margo and Julia
The Lunar Moth was magnificent in its size and beauty. It was hard to find a
erfect secimen! and reser"ation was imortant. #ery few eole too$ the time
to understand how things of beauty rarely lasted a long time and that beauty! being
a fleeting thing! re%uired secial attention to detail.
&fter carefully mounting the secimen! he too$ out his magnifying glass! and
searched its lo"ely body! en'oying the erfection that only nature could achie"e.
(uddenly he stoed.
It was marred.
1
&long a line of distincti"e color was a blemish sot! an imerfection. )iing
the imerfect one from the mounting and tossing it aside li$e so much garbage! he
sat sha$ing as the "iolence raged inside.
(tanding u from his wor$table he entered a secial room! a lace that held
his collection of insects and other secimens. *ach was erfectly reser"ed to show
the wonder of nature. Everything on this stin$ing lanet was olluted! destroyed.
+ature barely held on against the "irus! the disease...man. (ome things didn,t
deser"e to sur"i"e! and others deser"ed to be reser"ed for all times.
Pic$ing u his $illing 'ar! he went in search of erfection...
---
Day 1: Wednesday- 9:30 a.m.
Maria swet into the bullen of Ma'or .rimes with a cool confidence that was
created by effortless e/erience. & Professor of &nthroology at 0+M )oswell! Maria
DeLuca understood "ery well how imortant it was to remain firm and confident in
the face of great ad"ersity. Immediately sotting her biggest roblem she calmly
made her way to his side! smiling and resonding to the numerous greetings tossed
her way.
Detecti"e Michael 1uerin needed bac$ground music to li"e his life. 2Maybe the
theme to the mo"ie Jaws34 If he had had this music! he would ha"e been
forewarned that his lo"er and roommate of a year was bearing down on him.
Instead he was li$e a lamb to the $ill. 5y the time he turned and saw her! it was
already too late to flee the remises. 6uic$ly running through the e/cuses he had
racticed all day! he tried to decide on one. Loo$ing her o"er! Michael $new he was
in trouble. (he was wearing a short! tight sil$ dress that aeared almost re"ealing
3
at times. It was a tric$. The dress was a designer model made to draw the eye and
lure a man into the tra.
7(tay strong.8 Michael loo$ed o"er at his artner and best friend for o"er si/
years! Ma/ *"ans. 9eah! right. (trong. Michael felt his resol"e wea$ening as Maria
stoed at his des$ and hoed u on the corner! showing a great deal of her
incredible legs. :e lo"ed her legs.
7Detecti"e.8
7Professor3 To what do we owe this honor3 & new corse3 & missing armor3
Perhas a seeding tic$et or two38 Maria outed rettily at Michael! $nowing his
di"ersion tactics well. &fter a year of li"ing together! it wasn,t as if she hadn,t seen
e"ery tric$ in the boo$.
7(o unfair; I ha"en,t found a corse in months; &nd the armor was last
year...those seeding tic$ets were a gross miscarriage of 'ustice; (ince when did
the )oswell PD start hiring female atrolmen38
7+ormally Professor! you are a strong ad"ocate of *)&! but I guess it<s hard to
tal$ your way out of a seeding tic$et when the officer is female.8
7That,s so not true; (he could ha"e been gay. It might ha"e wor$ed.8
7I would,"e let you off! Maria.8 Ma/ said earning a beautiful friendly smile from
her.
79eah! $ee it in your ants! artner. (he,s ta$en.8 Michael frowned at Ma/.
:is artner was a great guy! but his attention to Maria o"er the last year bugged
him. &ctually it made him...unsettled.
7&nyway! honey...8 Michael winced at the tone of the endearment. (he was
mo"ing in for the $ill. 7I came by to remind you not to be late coming home
tonight.8
4
8Tonight38 Michael tried to retend to forget they had lans. 7I,m sorry!
Professor! but it loo$s li$e a long night for me and Ma/. =e 'ust ic$ed u another
lead on Pierce.8 Michael mo"ed into her ersonal sace and rubbed his head u
against her nec$ to whiser in her ear. 79ou $now how imortant the Pierce case
has been to me.8
Maria frowned and let her eyes narrow. .ruel calculating beast; :e was ulling
out the big guns. Pierce was Michael,s largest thorn in his side. >or o"er a year he
had been in endless bloody battles with this big crime name that surrisingly had
no face. +ow! it was coming down to a blood tally sheet between the two! and
Maria wished that Pierce would sli u 'ust once! so it could be o"er.
7?h; I understand! Detecti"e. I understand erfectly. I can go to the charity
auction myself. That,s o$ay. @onathan (tiller is going! so I,ll 'ust sit with him.8 Maria
waited for the cussing that Michael sewed under his breath to end. 75ut in 'ust in
case you can ma$e it! I,ll ic$ u your tu/ from the dry cleaners.8 Michael frowned
at that. & year ago! PMD 2PreAMaria DeLuca4! he didn<t e"en own a damn tu/.
7Maria...8 Michael hated going to formal e"ents. :e hated dressing in formal
wear! and more than that he hated @onathan (tiller. The man was always
ingratiating himself into Maria,s life and e"ents. The man was a chic$en shit! and
Michael went out of his way to get in the man,s face.
7It<s o$ay! honey. I understand.8 Maria mo"ed in for the $ill. 7I wish you could
ma$e it! because you $now how much I lo"e you in a tu/.8 Maria ulled him in
closer to her! oening her legs to ta$e him u close and ignored all the eole
around them as she ran a finger u his shirt! mo"ing her glistening red lis closer to
his! $nowing he was watching her mouth li$e he always did. Maria let her tongue
delicately come out to moisten her lis and then gently bit her bottom li! smiling
smugly at the moan from Michael! and tuning out the other ones near by. 7There
5
are so many intimate and comfortable alco"es in the auction hall. Places that are so
dar$ and %uiet..."ery much li$e that side room we found during the Museum,s
1rand ?ening! but if you can,t go...8
Michael leaned forward and $issed her hard. (he was so good at this. :e didn,t
$now what he li$ed more! her ulling him into semiAri"ate rooms for ublic se/! or
her trying to maniulate him when he was being stubborn. 5oth were so damn
good. 7I,ll try...8
Maria ga"e a laugh and $issed him hard before 'uming down. 7Than$ you!
Detecti"e; ?h! could you ic$ u some groceries on your way home38 Michael
nodded and smir$ed to himself. (he won! and she $new she had won. Michael
ne"er made romises he couldn,t $ee. Michael too$ the iece of aer she handed
him and watched her lea"e the room.
7=hied; 9ou are so whied.8 Ma/ said softly 'ust for Michael,s ears.
75ite me! Partner. I,m not resonsible for your 'ealousy.8 Ma/ laughed at
Michael,s resonse! but he still felt a tinge. Michael was right. :e was 'ealous. *"en
after a year! Ma/ still couldn,t find a way to get o"er his eternal fascination for
Maria DeLuca! the forbidden fruit. (omehow Michael was succeeding to $ee
himself in a long and lo"ing relationshi with little to no effort.
.atain @im #alenti watched as his soonAtoAbe stedaughter was ma$ing her
way out of the bullen. :e had been engaged to Maria,s mom for si/ years. &my
DeLuca decided a year ago to finally set the wedding date! ma$ing the ast year
the =edding Prearation from :ell. @im $new someday he would be marrying &my
DeLuca! 'ust from one moment to the ne/t! he wasn,t always sure of the date.
7Maria.8 Maria smiled and $issed her fa"orite soonAtoAbe father on the chee$.
8@im; If you,re going to comlain about Michael and me missing (unday dinner
again! I must defer to Michael and ha"e him ta$e the blame. :e 'oined a bas$etball
6
league! and he swears he can,t erform without me watching.8 Maria chuc$led to
herself o"er the double meaning in that statement.
7&ctually sweetie! I was going to as$ that you try not to gi"e my entire
deartment collecti"e orgasms e"ery time you come to "isit 1uerin. It,s shoc$ing
how little wor$ I can get out of them for the rest of the day.8 Maria laughed and
nodded as she too$ herself off to wor$.
Michael watched as Maria wal$ed out of the bullen with other eole
watching her go too. :e smiled at her laugh as she stoed to e/change words with
.a. Ma/ obser"ed his artner with a smir$ on his face. :e en'oying how bemused
Maria still made Michael e"en after a year. Michael finally shoo$ himself bac$ to
reality and absentmindedly loo$ed at the grocery list Maria left him. Eggs mil!
cheese bread cocoa "#ffs and...;
Michael %uic$ly folded the list in half. &fter all this time and all the things they
had done together! he was more assionately in"ol"ed with her today then he was
in the first days they had met. This seemed imossible! because in the beginning of
their relationshi they had been out of control and in heat. :owe"er Michael was
finally coming to susect that it wasn<t 'ust biological imerati"es or heromones
that $et them going at each other. It 'ust seemed that this was how they were
destined to be. :e still couldn<t belie"e how luc$y he was to ha"e found her.
Ma/ loo$ed u at Michael sharly at the raid inta$e of breath and noticed him
%uic$ly utting the list in a safe lace. ?nce Michael was busy elsewhere! Ma/!
sitting across the des$ from Michael! couldn<t sto turning his eyes bac$ to that one
iece of aer....finally when his resistance was worn downB he discreetly reached
across and luc$ed it from Michael<s des$. (canning down! his eyes lit on that one
last word! Eggs mil! cheese bread cocoa "#ffs... handc#ffs. ?h; Ma/ ulled at his
7
suddenly tight collar! and settled down to send the rest of the day in en"y of his
artner.
---
Maria rushed through the house tossing her stuff left and right as soon as she
entered the door. Twenty millions things could go wrong in a course of a day! and
today they had. Cic$ing off her shoes with a fling of her foot and rushing for the
stairs! Maria absently mindedly muttered a 7(orry8 to Mr. 5ooboo who barely
escaed death by shoeing.
The imromtu meeting with her Deartment .hair and dissertation
committee was une/ected. :a"ing Tess crying her eyes out in her office was 'ust
another thing. The heat control on the en"ironmental units at the Museum going
out was a nuisance. 5ut the dry cleaners mislacing her bac$less #ersace dress was
#nforgivable$
Maria entered her dressing room off the bathroom and searched for
something! anything to wear. 1reat. @ust great.
Leather3
+o.
(traless3 Maria loo$ed down at her lac$ of endowment and didn,t want to
ha"e to fuss with Michael brea$ing his nec$ loo$ing down the front of her dress.
.ra. .ra. .ra. :ello3 Maria ulled out a dress that had no real reason to
e/ist e/cet to dri"e her roommate insane. :alter to! mohair! and tight. Perfect.
(hoes3 Damn; Damn; Damn...oh hey; >ourAinch si$es from the :ouse of .hoo.
Perfect;
7
Maria rushed to run a bath. (he was already late! and if she didn,t hurry she
and Michael would ha"e to fight for the bathroom and the sin$. It was definitely
time to do some e/ansion and redecorating. Maria was utting on the finishing
touches when the front door oened. (miling she went to the banister to loo$
down.
7Dammit; (to ushing me into the damn door.8 Maria frowned at Michael,s
angry tone! and %uic$ly rushed down the stairs.
79ou weigh a ton! you o/. I told you not to eat that second burger;8 Ma/ said
swearing loudly.
7I was star"ing. 9ou $now my stomach was %ueasy this morning. I don,t $now
why :anson had to sit ne/t to me during briefing. :e smelt li$e greasy hot wings!
and cheese whiz.8 Maria watched as Ma/ and Cyle hauled Michael into the room!
with (ean following.
7=hat,s haening3 =hat,s going on38 Maria rushed downstairs to the 7boys8
to chec$ out her roerty! while noticing Cyle,s slit li! (ean with a blac$ eye! and
Ma/ fa"oring his right side along the way.
Ma/ finally loo$ed o"er at Maria and 'ust went silent. ?h! shit; (he
loo$ed...beautiful; Michael loo$ed at his artner and frowned! and then at his
girlfriend and frowned e"en more. =hat the hell was she wearing that dress for3
The last and only time she wore it was when... ?h no! she,s not wearing that dress
out of the house.
7=hatcha got on! Professor38 Maria came closer and noticed Michael was
fa"oring his left $nee.
8
7& dress.8 Maria loo$ed at Michael and frowned. :e loo$ed terrible. 7=hat did
you do to your $nee38
Michael let his tone become hard and sarcastic as he loo$ed o"er at Cyle and
(ean. 7I didn,t do a damn thing to my $nee; They did;8
Cyle actually a"oided loo$ing at Maria and had the grace to loo$ embarrassed.
7I sort of fell on him.8 Cyle reluctantly sighed when Maria,s brow went uward.
7>rom a third story building...8 Cyle %uic$ly er$ed u. 75ut (ean ushed me;8
7(nitch; It was only two stories.8
7=ell get his ants off! let,s loo$ at that $nee.8 Maria noticed the three men
suddenly were busy loo$ing elsewhere. 7?h for god,s sa$e! I,ll do it.8 Men...li$e they
ha"en,t chec$ed each other o"er a few times. Maria went o"er and loo$ed at her
oor mate. :e really did seem to be in ain. Cissing his lis gently! she %uic$ly
unbuc$led! unzied and ulled his 'eans off! swearing as his wrec$ed $nee came
into "iew. (he %uic$ly co"ered him with the throw from the bac$ of the sofa. 7=hy
the hell didn,t you ta$e him to the hosital38 Maria rounded on the other three.
They sheeishly tried to a"oid her eyes loo$ing down at their feet.
7I wouldn,t let them.8 Maria turned bac$ to Michael.
7=hy3 Dammit Michael! this loo$s really bad; 9ou might ha"e torn a ligament!
or dislocated a...8
7I,m not going to that damn hosital. I hate that lace. &ll the nurses $now
me! the doctors 'ust say...oh its Detecti"e 1uerin again; I,m not going;8 Michael
swore a blue strea$ when Maria tried to finish remo"ing his 'eans. 7Po$ing and
9
rodding me li$e some damn tur$ey to test if I,m done. ?h shit;8 Michael ut his
head bac$ on the sofa as blac$ sots mo"ed in front of his eyes from the ain!
lea"ing a wa$e of nausea in its ath.
Maria 'ust threw u her hands and left him sitting on the sofa. 1oing to the
$itchen she oened u the freezer and grabbed two bags of frozen eas! a fresh
orterhouse stea$! and the >irst &id $it under the counter. Ta$ing the hone off the
recei"er! she went bac$ into the li"ing room utting a bag of eas on Michael,s
$nee! ushing her cousin (ean into a chair and slaing a raw stea$ on his face!
and loo$ing at Ma/ she tossed him the other bag of frozen eas and ignored him as
he stried his shirt off and ut the bag on his dislocated shoulder.
1oing o"er to Cyle! Maria ushed him down in a chair and too$ out some
antisetic from the >irst &id $it and cleaned his slit li. 7Is this the worst of it for
you38
Cyle nodded. 79eah! 1uerin bro$e my fall.8 5oth Ma/ and (ean snic$ered as
Michael 'ust growled under his breath.
7I see. 0h huh.8 Maria calmly dialed a number on her hone as she wal$ed
bac$ into the $itchen to grab a si/ ac$ of beer and a glass. The men watched her
silently as she wal$ed around listening for someone to answer the hone. *ach of
them loo$ed at one another afraid Maria was calling &my to come ta$e care of
them.
Michael watched her! ta$ing in the fit of her dress! the way it clung to her lean
his! and showed a large e/anse of s$in on her bac$. The damn auction; (he
wasn,t wearing that to the e"ent! not without him! and definitely not alone. 7:i!
@onathan3 :i! it,s Maria DeLuca.8
Michael swore under his breath trying to not aear bothered that she was
tal$ing to that chic$enshit (tiller. Michael,s face grew dar$er as she laughed
1:
delightfully at something the man said as she oened a beer! assed one to (ean!
then Cyle! and then oured half of one into the glass for Ma/. (etting the other
halfAemty beer on the coffee table! Maria calmly oened another.
7@onathan! I ha"e a terribly imortant fa"or to beg of you! and I would
eternally be in your debt if you were to do it.8 Michael stayed %uiet and stony faced
as Maria turned and handed him his beer sitting across from him on the coffee table
ulling his foot into her la and reositioning the bag of frozen eas. 7I ha"e a
family emergency and can,t ma$e the auction tonight.8 Maria watched as surrise
mo"ed o"er Michael,s face. 7.ould you see to e"erything for me3 9es! the
>oundation has all the wor$ers in lace! 'ust find .arol and tell her I had an
emergency! and she will ta$e care of e"erything.8 Maria ran her hand u Michael,s
leg soothingly. 7Than$s; 9ou<re a lifesa"er; I,ll gi"e you a call tomorrow to see how
it went. Lunch3 &bsolutely; I,ll meet you at the Towers at ele"enAthirty tomorrow3
+oon would be e"en better; Than$s;8
Maria noticed the loo$ of gratitude in Michael,s eyes! and mo"ed his foot off
her la! to mo"e o"er and sit ne/t to him on the sofa. 7Than$s! Professor.8 Michael
said softly ne/t to her! as her mouth was mere inches from his. :e $new that the
auction was a charity fundraiser for the Museum! so Maria missing it was a big deal.
7&nytime! Detecti"e.8 Maria $issed him softly and then not so softly ignoring
the others. Mo"ing her hand under the throw she stro$ed his uer thigh. 7Did
anything else get damaged38
Michael coughed and laughed at the twin$le in her eyes. 7+o. +o! I thin$
e"erything else is fine.8
7(o someone want to tell me what haened38 Maria loo$ed o"er at Cyle who
was ushing Ma/,s dislocated shoulder bac$ into lace by leaning into it. Ma/ was
turning ale and swearing. Poor Ma/! he didn,t loo$ so good. Maria,s eyes suddenly
11
narrowed as the four men tried to a"oid her eyes and all started tal$ing at once
about anything but her %uestion. 7(ean38
(ean swore under his breath. =hy did she always ic$ on him first3 7It was
nothing! M. I swear. @ust an incident.8
7Incident38 Maria gestured at Michael,s $nee. 70h huh! I see. Cyle38
7It 'ust haened.8 Cyle tried to remain strong and undaunted by Maria,s
earnest glare.
They all groaned when she turned on Ma/! who was still sweating from the
e/ertion and ain from ha"ing his shoulder oed bac$ in lace. The three men
watched the otherwise strong Detecti"e melt under the charm of Maria,s smile and
the gentle soft sound of her "oice. 7Ma/38
7It wasn,t our fault. The bust was ours...8 Ma/ trailed off under the "iolent
rotest from both (ean and Cyle! and wilted under the dar$ stare of his artner.
Dammit! what the hell was wrong with him3 (he always did it to him.
Maria 'ust rolled her eyes. (he susected as much. )eaching o"er she turned
the frozen bag of eas on Michael,s $nee and reositioned it. >rozen eas only had
one use in her boo$! ice ac$. &nything else was unthin$able. This situation,s
resonsibility rested with one man and one man alone.
.atain @im #alenti.
&s much as Maria adored her future stefather and Cyle,s dad! the man was
ma$ing her life a li"ing nightmare. &bout a month re"iously he had announced to
the entire Deartment that the &nnual Law *nforcement .on"ention was being
hosted in :awaii! and the most roducti"e Detecti"e team would be the
reresentati"es of the )oswell PD for fi"e days and four nights.
Michael had been offended because his and Ma/,s record was the best in the
Deartment! but o"er the last year since (ean aired u with Cyle! the Detecti"e
13
team of DeLucaA#alenti was ma$ing ma'or wa"es and their arrest record was hot.
The cometition began and it was creating wa"es of ha"oc all through )oswell as
each team undermined and tried to steal the other<s collars. @im #alenti should ha"e
to answer to authorities for his sadistic beha"ior.
Maria tried to con"ince Michael that if he wanted to go to :awaii they could
'ust ta$e a "acation! but Michael remained stubborn and firm that it was the
rincile of the matter! and not the actual "acation. The cometition heated to an
intolerable le"el when (ean started wearing :awaiian shirts to wor$. (oon Cyle was
following his artner,s lead and wearing the cheesy colorful shirts too. Michael
retaliated by sol"ing three cases in two days with ma/imum amount of damage and
Ma/ trying to e/lain the incidents to the .atain.
Maria finally got rid of the destructi"e team of Cyle and (ean! and saw Ma/ off.
It too$ some time to get Michael u the stairs to the loft and she left him soa$ing in
a hot bath while she went to fi/ dinner. =atching a segment on the e"ening news!
Maria %uic$ly turned off the tele"ision and turned off the ringer on the hone. &my
would be calling. It was best not to e"en $now.
Maria made a dinner tray and too$ it ustairs to hel get Michael out of the
bath. :is $nee was still swollen and se"erely discolored. Ta$ing the oortunity! she
made a few calls while he was indisosed. Maria smiled as she heard him in the
other room slashing around.
Michael was a strange man. (ilent and somber! he aroached life with a
frown and a touch of s$eticism that bordered on a sychological arody. The
secial asects of his ersonality made him standoffish and hard to understand at
times! but at other times he was li$e an oen boo$. :ardwor$ing! honest! and
honorable with a touch of sarcastic humor! he was always who he aeared to be
and ne"er made romises or emty gestures.
14
(o it was times li$e these that made Maria smile. =hene"er he was hurt and
laid u in ain! he li$ed to be babied and so he re"erted to an almost childli$e
manner. (he would ne"er admit it! but his %uiet soulful eyes! almost leading for
attention always hit Maria in her maternal lace! that dusty lace that scared the
li"ing daylights out of her. .ho$ing bac$ a smile! she went to chec$ on him.
7:ey! you need hel getting out38
79ou could 'oin me in here.8 Maria smiled at his tone and the loo$ in his eyes.
7&w! detecti"e! I,m almost ositi"e you,re in no shae to handle me tonight.8
7=anna bet38 Michael reached out and nabbed Maria,s hand dragging her
closer to the bath until she was erched on the "ery edge.
75ig man. The bath is nice! but I,ll be too tired to drag your lazy carcass out
of there later.8 Maria reached ast him and ulled the drainlug. 7(o why don,t you
come out! eat some food! and in me to a lace where we both can ass out on
afterwards.8
7Is our relationshi getting stale38 Michael as$ed as Maria heled him out of
the tub! wincing at his colorful language as he ranted against Cyle,s timely birth and
the %uestionability of (ean,s humanity.
Maria couldn,t sto laughing. 7:ardly. 9ou! detecti"e! $ee life a laugh a
minute! and twice as intriguing.8
79ou,re not 'ust saying that because you want to abuse my body38
7&buse your body38 Maria aeared to be gi"ing that some thought. 7?h sure!
what,s left of it.8 Maria heled him into the bedroom and %uic$ly wied him down
before ushing him bac$ward onto the bed. Leaning o"er him! careful of his bum
$nee! Maria $issed him! and then mated her forehead to his. 7*/cuse me detecti"e!
but I need you to arrest someone.8
Michael,s eyes twin$led. 7=ho38
15
79ou. It aears you,"e borrowed something I consider my ersonal roerty
and trashed it. =hy do I lend things to you when this is the best you can do to
rotect it38
7Cyle...8
7Don,t want to hear it. 9ou $now this is about the contest! and sheer
obstinacy. =e can afford to ta$e the "acation without you $illing yourself! Ma/ and
the others! not to mention the entire town of )oswell.8 Maria leaned on her elbow
and loo$ed at him. 7I saw a reort on the news 'ust now. It said that the Palisades
restaurant was closed for reairs due to damage from a highAseed chase. It also
mentioned a man being ushed off the building and another 'uming after him.8
Michael loo$ed away %uic$ly a"oiding her eyes. 7@ust tell me that the wrec$ed car
wasn,t ushed into that restaurant by you! that you didn,t hel destroy the lace
my mom has scheduled her rehearsal dinner.8
Michael could feel the sweat gathering on his brow. 7I didn,t $now that the car
would go that out of control when I shot out the front tire. &nd lus! Cyle and (ean
were in hot ursuit ahead of us coming from another direction. If I didn,t bag him!
they might ha"e 'umed our collar.8 Michael tried to shift some of the blame. 7The
entire reort was s$ewed! I<m sure. I was under ressure. Ma/ was screeching in
my ear to ta$e it out because DDic$, and DDic$weed, were on the rowl.8
70h huh! I see.8
Michael loo$ed at her and frowned. 79our mom doesn,t $now does she38 Maria
a"oided his eyes and reached o"er to ic$ u the dinner tray. 7Maria3 0mmm! &my
doesn,t $now does she3 Maria38 Michael 'ust closed his eyes and sun$ bac$ in the
bed. :e was really feeling bad! but not as bad as he would be once &my DeLuca
found him. This was entirely #alenti and DeLuca,s fault.
16
---
:e sat loo$ing down at the refuse it. It was filling too fast. (oon it would be
time to find a new lace! a new it. Local talent had disco"ered this one! and his
re'ects were sharing time with their $ills. *"ery day the noises in his ears got louder
and the anger grew as he watched imerfect secimens among the ure. The rage
was contained beneath the smile! but his hand still trembled. It was all in the
handling! the show! and the standing silent. If you chase! it ran and then cature
might be imossible. 5ut if you stood still and aeared to be harmless fading into
the wallaer! sooner or later the moth would come to you.
*"ery year it got harder and harder to find that erfect secimen. The entire
world seemed to re'oice in imerfection and the marring of the flesh. The last one
aeared erfect from afar! but at closer insection all the flaws became aarent.
The 'arring inefficiency and the nasty sots made e"erything wrong! and this one
too$ too much time to hunt with too much effort.
It was time to mo"e the grounds! find a fresh $illing zone. Ten years into the
hobby! and e"erything was becoming harder and harder. Perfection seemed so far
away! and e"ery few years he had had to alter his location. 5ut now he was settled!
and this was where he was staying. (e"en years in one location! one life! wor$ing
hard and ma$ing erfection the hallmar$ of his wor$ ethic. (o much time! so much
wor$! and finally it was all aying off.
:e needed that new duming ground soon though. This was his home. This
was where he wanted to stay. Mo"ing to new cities! new states were no longer
aealing. :e li$ed his world and his life. :is only choice was to ta$e care not to
ollute the field. &nonymity left him free with his hobby for o"er ten years. It too$
him o"er se"en years before that to erfect his s$ills. (e"enteen years was a lot of
17
time to wor$ at something! and it was almost half his life. :e had started young
with insects and moths! but by twenty he mo"ed to larger rey. Men.
Today! he was loo$ing for the erfection in a wordsmith. #ocal sound! clarity of
enunciation! the cliing tone of honics erformed in erfection with the added
allure of a body of grace and e/cellence. (omething young and e/uberant! full of
life! something to be co"eted...reser"ed before this wrec$ of the world too$ away
nature,s most e/cellent wor$.
*"ery year! he had to hunt younger and younger rey. The chaos was catching
them! slowly drowning them into the great "oid of nothingness. (oon! no one would
e"en remember what true beauty was.
17
Day %: &h#rsday- ':30 a.m.
7Michael; :urry u it,s getting late.8 Maria cleared away the dishes and %uic$ly
oened u Mr. 5ooboo,s food. :e was distressed. Last night he had curled u in his
fa"orite lace on Michael,s legs and the bul$ of his weight had accidentally settled
on his wounded $nee. The resultant bellowing and cursing sent the oor cat flying
and he was only 'ust coa/ed out from behind the armoire by the romise of food
and catni. 7Michael; =hat are you doing38 Maria rushed u the stairs and stoed
beside the bed watching him struggling to get his 'eans on.
7These 'eans are too tight.8
7They loo$ li$e they fit to me.8
7They fit fine! e/cet when I sit or cross my leg. Then they<re too tight around
my $nee. This is $illing me.8
7=ear some looser fitting ants.8 Maria %uic$ly dug through his drawers and
went into his closet to find something! anything. 7(weats. 9ou can wear sweats.8
7I,m not wearing sweats to wor$. It,s either slac$s or 'eans.8
7.hinos38
7Maria...8
7.argo ants38
7Maria...8
Dammit! Detecti"e! 'ust wear the damn sweats; It,s not li$e you,ll be out of
the bullen all day! and they,ll be easier to get in and out of at the doctor,s office.8
The words Ddoctor,s office, had him loo$ing at her sharly. 7+o way. I already
told you I wasn,t going to the doctor.8
7Too bad. )ule number thirtyAse"en states! and I %uote! (any illness or in)#ry
that s#stains over a twenty-fo#r ho#r "ain factor es"ecially with an inflammatory
reaction m#st and will be attended to by a medically a""roved medical "hysician
18
with no e*ce"tions.( I chec$ed you out this morning. It,s still swollen! blac$ and
blue! and hot to the touch. 9ou can,t e"en bend the leg. That means doctor.8
7That rule was made for you! and you $now it. 9our whac$ed out hatred of
synthetic drugs! antibiotics! and modern cures for the common cold! ma$es e"ery
head cold! e"ery sniffle drag out too long.8
79ou thought you were rotected from this rule! but we added <in'ury< when
you refused to go to the doctor and wal$ed around for three days with bro$en ribs
and almost unctured a lung. This in'ury in"o$es the rule.8
Michael 'ust hated it when she used his own rules against him. &fter a year of
Maria,s newAage cures for e"erything! her fondness for home remedies! and her
belief that antibiotics were an e"il consiracy by harmaceutical comanies! Michael
finally had enacted the rule system. +either of them was the best at ta$ing care of
themsel"es! and sent large amount of time worrying about the other. 5etween
in'uries and Maria,s whac$ed out schedule of allAnighters! they were a li"ing
nightmare. It was a good thing they li"ed together! because no one else would ha"e
them.
7I already called Ma/. :e,s meeting us at the clinic! after your nine thirty
aointment to ta$e you on to wor$.8 Michael oened his mouth to rotest again!
but Maria 'ust %uic$ly $issed him! shutting him u. 7I hate to see you in so much
ain.8 Maria stro$ed his chee$. 7Please38
7?$ay.8 Michael leaned against her for a moment. (he was managing him
again! and when he thought about it later he would remember to mind. It was only
fair since two wee$s ago he dumed her in bed when she had sent three days
consecuti"ely grading aers! and he was tired of her lac$ of slee and the
emtiness of his bed.
19
---
7Dammit Ma/well! could you ma$e this hea go a little faster38 Michael tried to
rearrange his leg into a better osition in the cramed front of the Deartmental car
they were assigned. 7I,m dying here.8
7+ice $nee brace.8 Ma/ commented cutting off another dri"er. Michael,s cray
dri"ing s$ills o"er the years were eroding away Ma/,s more courteous ones. 5ut
Ma/ had to agreeB the PD car was a dog waiting for burial. 7Cnew Maria would get
you there.8
7(hut u. =hen the hell do we get your car bac$38 Michael had trashed his
truc$ four wee$s re"iously in a highAseed chase! and Ma/ was totaled out three
days ago.
7=e don,t. The insurance wrote it off! and get this! I still owe two large e"en
after they ayoff the blueboo$ "alue.8 Ma/ too$ the corner in a screeching hurry
letting his anger dri"e him.
75uy out the body and don,t let them total. (ee if Cyle can do something with
it.8
7+ot going to haen. =e screwed the struts and bro$e the front a/le. It was
a unaAbody so it,s totally crac$ed. &nd you $now that terrible clun$ing noise and the
droing sound following the (0# going dead38 Michael 'ust grunted as he tried to
fit something along the side of his brace to scratch his leg. 7It was the dri"e shaft.
1one.8
Ma/ loo$ed o"er at Michael o$ing at the #elcro stras on his $nee brace. :is
language was as colorful as before. ?"er the ast year Michael had tried to clean u
his language three different times! but was on a brea$ from the torture and
en'oying all the four letter words he could thin$ or find.
3:
79ou gotta lo"e those high seed chases;8 Michael actually smiled at Ma/.
Ma/ 'ust laughed in humor at his last car being gone. They were at an e"en
count now! two for him! and two for Michael. Insurance comanies were
threatening not to co"er them during wor$ hours! and the PD Insurance carrier
insisted they add e/tra insurance co"erage.
71otta lo"e the bums and bruises. I can,t belie"e you totaled my car.8
7&ctually it was multile lacerations and contusions! with a ossible
concussion.8 Michael said smugly. :is in'ury list was climbing.
7I thin$ some of the damn stitches the doc ut in my ass are still there.8 Ma/
ulled into the PD garage. 7I told you that it wouldn,t wor$.8 Ma/ comlained.
7:ey! I told you to flash your badge! not wa"e your gun. =ho $new a fleeing
embezzler would ta$e off in fright. I didn,t $now ublic accountants could dri"e.8
79ou didn,t say a damn thing about the gun! Michael. It was all! Dshow him
your stuff Ma/! let,s ta$e this bad boy down! and ma$e him cry<.8
75itch! bitch! bitch. &t least the (0# had some mileage on it. My truc$ only
had se"en thousand before we ran it off the cliff.8 Michael and Ma/ headed for the
ele"ators. 7I had to e/lain to Maria how the truc$ she bought me for my birthday
was lying in flames at the bottom of a coulee system. (he thin$s I need a tan$ or
some tye of armored "ehicle li$e a :ummer! but is afraid of the damage I could do
to )oswell.8
They steed into the ele"ator! and Ma/ was remembering the shoc$ on
Maria,s face when she learned of the demise of Michael,s threeAmonthAold truc$.
7There is that. Maybe after the Mustang is done! we can ta$e to dri"ing it38
7?"er my dead body. Maria and I sweated o"er that car for the ast year. It,s
almost done. Three more arts! some welding! utting the reconditioned engine
bac$ in! and a new aint 'ob! and that honey is ure cherry.8
31
Ma/ 'ust smir$ed at Michael<s "oice. The awe! the insiration and ure ride
were nothing if not contagious. (ince Michael mo"ed in with Maria o"er a year ago!
the two of them had been religiously refitting and conditioning Michael,s EFGH
(helby 1TI00 Mustang made by the >ord .ororation in >astbac$ style. Ma/
watched! and occasionally was ulled in to do some of the hea"y wor$! but the
ro'ect was their baby. Maria had started rebuilding cars some four to fi"e years
re"iously as a sort of theray for her grief and ain! and it had ulled the coule
through some hard emotional times left in the wa$e of the emotionally trying
murder that had introduced them.
Their new relationshi had gone through tough times at the beginning. Michael
was ha"ing nightmares and wa$ing in cold sweats! which dro"e him into
?"errotection Mode with Maria. Maria began to feel traed and suffocated under
Michael,s e"er watchful domineering care. 5efore the murders of a year ago! Maria
hadn<t cried for years. (he was reressed in her emotions! and gi"en to anic
attac$s and stress! resulting in shoc$ syndrome. =ith the sorrow and loss of the
murders she finally learned to cry again! and crying released more than tears. It
released anger.
The coule barely sur"i"ed the turbulent first four months with Michael
obsessing and Maria raging in anger. Their arguments and fights were almost as
notorious as their ma$eu sessions. The entire Deartment and family watched
hellessly as they struggled to find the e"en ground in their relationshi. It too$
Maria in"ol"ing herself in one of their high rofile cases! which was both bloody and
dangerous to awa$en both of them. Maria realized she was o"ercomensating! and
Michael was able to watch Maria wal$ through another murder in"estigation
unscathed. It lightened their relationshi! but also ga"e Maria a taste for meddling.
33
They still fought and bic$ered bac$ and forth! but it was different. It had a
touch of humor to it now! an intensity of assion! a fight between two eole still
too afraid to admit "erbally to emotions too strong to ignore. In the last year
neither had found a way or time to say the three magic words. *ach was too afraid
of the last ste! too afraid to be so "ulnerable. Instead they showed it in e"ery way
imaginable! short of the so$en words.
Michael had been the first to understand what was haening to them when
they met. :e easily ga"e u many of his intimacy issues to be with Maria! but he
couldn,t gi"e her the words. That last ste had to begin with Maria. (o! he silently
waited! swallowing the words e"ery time he felt them surfacing.
7=here do you thin$ yesterday,s bust ut us in the :awaii ool38 Ma/ as$ed as
they aroached their floor. 1etting out! he ignored the usual flurry of acti"ity in
the Ma'or .rimes bullen! and headed straight for coffee.
7=e,re in the butter zone! artner. That laces us u si/ busts for the wee$!
and it,s only three for Tweedle Dumb and Dumber.8 Michael smiled his largest!
cheesiest grin already mentally ordering drin$s with umbrellas. Ma/ 'ust nodded!
siing on his coffee as they circumna"igated the bullen to their des$! nodding at
ac$nowledgements along the way.
It was the snarl under Michael,s breath that alerted Ma/ to the fact that the
Detecti"e team of DeLuca and #alenti was in house.
7>uc$er.8 Ma/ said as he assed (ean! under his breath still feeling the
soreness left from his once dislocated shoulder.
7>ag.8 (ean countered easily not e"en loo$ing u from his wor$.
7Ta$es one to $now one! Pansy 5oy.8 Ma/ %uied bac$.
7Loser.8 Cyle growled at Ma/.
34
75ac$ off runt! and we might let you lay with the big boys today!8 said
Michael. :e balled u his fist as both Cyle and (ean stood u ready to get into it.
+one of them noticed the aearance of .atain @im #alenti coming to stand in his
doorway with a stac$ of aers clenched in his hands.
71entlemen; 9ou better be getting ready to dance together.8 The four men
turned towards .a and all assumed semiAinnocent loo$s on their faces rela/ing
their fists and facial features.
Ma/ started to ma$e a smart comment! when he suddenly noticed the
unnatural redness to .a,s face! the clutching of the aers in his hand! and that
"ery recognizable loo$ of his when he was going to $ic$ ass and ta$e no risoners.
+h oh...
7I would areciate it if anyone!8 @im loo$ed around the entire bullen at his
%uieting deartment! as all those wor$ing stoed to ay attention. 7...anyone at
all! could tell me if they ha"e not destroyed! terrorized or threaten to maim any
citizen of )oswell within this wee$. &nyone38
@im turned his flashing angry glaze on his two fighting teams! and Michael
actually felt a need to gul under the heat. This was loo$ing bad! real bad. Dammit!
&my must ha"e noticed the loss of her wedding rehearsal restaurant; Michael
stubbornly shrugged. +o loss. The Palisades had cray food anyway.
@im let his glance mo"e o"er the room until he noticed one hand u in the air.
7:anson3 =hat is it38
7I ha"en,t done any of those things! sir.8 Michael snic$ered under his breath
followed by the others. ?f course he hasn,t. That would re%uire :anson to lea"e the
Deartment and actually retend to be a Detecti"e. (ean was ma$ing rude noises
and Cyle was trying to swallow a smile.
35
71ood.8 #alenti tossed two lane tic$ets to :anson. 71et ac$ed. 9ou and
>letcher are going to :awaii for a wee$. :a"e fun.8
@im ignored the stunned silence! the outrage from (ean! Ma/ and Michael! and
the cries of foul from Cyle. =al$ing bac$ into his office! and lea"ing the door oen!
it was the angry bellow from that dar$ ca"e that silenced the rotesting men.
71uerinA*"ansADeLucaA#alenti! get your asses in here! now;8
The four men loo$ed at each other in silence! and then suddenly mo"ed
towards to door sho"ing and ushing the other. ?nce they got to the office! they
were surrisingly well mannered and roer while the entire Deartment tried to
discreetly find ositions and wor$ to do within earshot of the .atain,s office.
They all tried to loo$ contrite. Michael loed himself on the edge of the
conference table in @im,s office and ut his in'ured leg u on the table. (ymathy.
:e could use all the symathy he could get. The others tried to find laces to lean
or stand that didn,t betray their arehension.
@im continued to ignore them as he read through some reorts and the large
stac$ of aers he had been clutching earlier. (uddenly loo$ing u! he in"entoried
the bums and bruises on his two ma'or Detecti"e teams. This had gone on too
long! and too far. The o"erwhelming cometition between the two teams was $illing
the city<s budget in monetary damages! and utting all four men on the in'ury list
too often.
7*/lain to me how a simle embezzling case could result in three cars
totaled! one restaurant uninhabitable! a bro$en awning! two Detecti"es 'uming
from a two story building! a ublic accountant hositalized for bro$en ribs and a
concussion! thirteen city bloc$s terrorized by the "ery eole sworn to rotect
them! while in"ol"ing si/ bac$u units! thirtyAse"en auto accidents! the fire
deartment and the city lanners office! all resulting in o"er twentyAfi"e thousand
36
dollars in roerty damage! and that only after what was co"ered by insurance.8
@im wasn,t surrised when his men loo$ed e"erywhere but at him. 1uerin seemed
"ery intent on his shoelaces.
71uerin! you,re the senior officer. 9ou want to e/lain38
7The susect fled! and we ursued.8 Michael stuc$ with direct resonses! as
short as ossible. 7=e called for blac! and white bac!#" to %uic$ly contain the
situation.8 Michael emhasized the words Dblac$ and white, bac$u and ointedly
glared at (ean and Cyle. 7The eretrator eluded the units and went down a one
way street! the wrong way! causing all the oncoming traffic to crash! swer"e or alter
course. That,s where most of the accidents occurred! sir.8
7&nd how did DeLuca and #alenti get in"ol"ed38
7.an,t say! sir. I didn,t call them.8 Michael said smugly watching Cyle and
(ean s%uirm as @im turned his attentions to them.
71entlemen. 9ou want to e/lain what you were doing in"ol"ing yoursel"es in
another team<s bust38
Cyle scratched his nec$. 70mm! we were in the area and a"ailable to intercet
the susect38
7(o how did the susect,s car and the 1uerinA*"ans unit end u redecorating
the front end of the Palisades restaurant38
Ma/ cleared his throat. 7=ell! sir. The susect was roceeding down =aters
northbound towards the more oulated downtown area! and (ean and Cyle were
aroaching from the north heading fast in a headAon collision with the susect. To
sto the susect...we! um...Michael... shot out his front right tire.8
Michael swore under his breath. +o one really needed to mention that. Michael
loo$ed at his artner and whisered under his breath! JTraitor.J
37
#alenti,s eyes too$ on a dar$er! angrier glare. 79ou discharged a weaon
during a high seed chase! in an area of high edestrian traffic! while the fleeing
"ehicle was in"ol"ed in a game of chic$en with another unit38 #alenti stood u
leaned on his des$ with both hands coming down in a loud smac$. 7Tell me that this
is not correct38
7&ctually sir! it,s sort of correct...8 Michael began.
#alenti,s eyebrow rose and his "oice too$ on a sarcastic tone. 7,ort of- =hat is
this! li$e sort of regnant! sort of married! or sort of dead3 =hat is it Detecti"e38
7In hindsight! sir. It was a oor choice.8
7& oor choice3 9ou,re my senior detecti"e! and all you can say is it was a oor
choice38 @im too$ his chair again. 7&nd how did your car and the susect,s end u in
the restaurant38
Ma/ felt bad that Michael was ta$ing the heat for their 'oint decision. 7=hen
the tire blew! it sent the car out of control. It went into the restaurant front.8
7&nd your car 'ust thought it loo$ed fun! and decided to 'oin the it there38
7+o.8 Ma/ could feel the sweat beading on his brow and uer li.
7&ctually...our car was 'oined to the susects by the bumers. =hen we were in hot
ursuit! we had gotten close enough to...8
71uerin! did you ram that car with yours38
7+o sir;8 Michael made a face. 7I 'ust nudged him.8
7&nd that resulted in your cars being loc$ed together38
79es! sir. 5ut when I saw him heading for the restaurant! I alied the bra$es
to slow him down! otherwise he wouldn,t ha"e stoed at the store front.8
7=ell than$ 1od for small fa"ors; Then we would be loo$ing at hundred of
thousands of damages instead of 'ust twentyAfi"e.8 @im 'ust rubbed his face in
horror. These men before him! at least three of them! were family or almost family.
37
&nd they were blight on )oswell. 7I,"e heard enough. I read the reort! but tell me
in your own words how (ean and Cyle ended u on the roof chasing the susect!
'uming from the roof! and landing on Michael. (omeone clue me into to these
Ceystone .o tactics taught in the &cademy under the do and don,t of idiots. Ma$e
me a belie"er.8
(ean 'ust loo$ed at Michael and frowned. 7=ell! we saw that 1uerin and *"ans
were traed in their car! wedged in between the front des$ and the salad bar! so
we too$ off in ursuit of the susect. :e left his car and ran for the stairs. =e
ursued.8 (ean didn,t want to mention that he dragged his artner u the stairs and
then ushed him off the building. 7The susect made the roof with us hot on his
heels! and then he 'umed off the two story building into the front awning.8
7=hich somehow missed being destroyed by the cars when they hit the store
front38 #alenti as$ed.
79eah. =e followed him off the building.8 @im 'ust nodded loo$ing down at
eyewitness accounts that had (ean ushing his son off the building.
7=as that before or after 1uerin and *"ans had remo"ed themsel"es from
their car! saw the susect landing and arehended him38
70mm!8 (ean rubbed his nec$. 7(ort of after.8
7&gain with the <sort of< resonse.8 @im loo$ed at the men. :e got the icture
all right.
(ean and Cyle went to steal the bust from Michael and Ma/! but the susect
'umed from the roof right into their waiting arms. (ean! seeing their oortunity
fleeing fast! ushed his artner off the building and then 'umed himself. (ean hit
the awning! but Cyle only hit the side and his fall was bro$en by the force of his
body landing on Michael! who was in the rocess of handcuffing the susect. Ma/
38
had had to chase down the fleeing susect again! and came bac$ to an in'ured
Michael! who was issed off and beating the cra out of both (ean and Cyle.
Ma/ turned the susect o"er to a watching uniform officer and waded into the
fight to hel his in'ured artner. The results were a dislocated shoulder! blac$ eye!
and a slit li for his trouble! lus the in'ured $nee suffered by Michael from
brea$ing Cyle,s fall. They all got off luc$y! but the )oswell PD was suffering some
real damages including loo$ing li$e fools! with their four best Detecti"e engaged in
a brawl in front of a destroyed restaurant.
7I see.8 #alenti closed the folder front on the offensi"e reorts. 7I see "ery
clearly that this ast year has been a nightmare for this deartment. I felt that
some friendly cometition would be good! but I forgot who was going to be in"ol"ed
in the cometition. This has been a testosteroneAissing zone for the last year! and
I,m sic! of it; +ew rules! boys; Today starts a new regime.8
@im dug through a ile of folders loo$ing for the correct one. If it $illed the four
men! so be it! but they were going to wor$ as a team or find new 'obs. 7I am
utting the four of you on restricted duty.8 :e ignored the rotest. 7The mayor
wants your badges! but I,m con"inced if we could teach you to wor$ together
instead of against each other that we might actually ha"e a decent deartment.
9our records are clean and imressi"e! but so is your list of damages and in'uries. I
will fire the lot of you without a moment<s hesitation if you don,t fi/ this.8
7.a...8 Michael started.
7+o. +ot this time! Michael. I,"e had the four of you in here too often. More
than any green roo$ie! and there is no e/cuse for this outAofAcontrol mayhem. 9our
'ob is to rotect this city! not destroy it iece by iece! building by building.8 @im
called his secretary.
39
7)honda! ma$e me coies of these files. I need four coies.8 @im waited until
his secretary left the room. 79ou,re all confined to des$ duty until Michael,s $nee
clears with Medical. 9ou will clear away all the loose aer wor$! attend court days
in a timely! roer! and resectful manner! and you,ll wor$ this one case with #ice.
)honda will gi"e you the aer wor$ after she ma$es the coies.
Cyle loo$ed at the gleam in his father,s eye. :e $new that loo$. It was the loo$
his dad had gotten when he made him scrae and aint the house in unishment
for 'oyriding and getting drun$ in a Dborrowed, car when he was in :igh (chool.
7=hat,s the case3 I ne"er wor$ed #ice.8
7=ell since the four of you seem to dance so well together! I,m going to grant
.atain (tric$land,s re%uest for some hel on one of his cases. 9ou will wor$
together as a team! and continue to do so until I tell you otherwise.8 @im tried not
to smile from thin$ing of their reaction when they read their underco"er
assignments. It made his already gloomy day suddenly loo$ brighter.
7.a...8 Michael was starting to worry too. =hat hell did he mean by Ddancing,3
7+ow get out! and get that aerwor$ done. (tric$land wants you in debriefing
first thing this afternoon. This is a night gig! so cancel any lans. 9ou,re all on this
case until it,s sol"ed. The four men loo$ed uncertain! and finally #alenti $ic$ed them
out of his office. 71o;8
---
=hen Maria finally made it to school! she was "ery late. It was hard to get
e"erything done before her first class when she had an entire hour to reare! but
today after seeing Michael to the clinic she was left with only twenty minutes.
7Professor DeLuca.8
4:
Maria stoed at the calling of her name! and swore under her breath. 1reat!
'ust great; 7Professor Price. :ow are you this morning38
:e ignored her attemt at being cordial and friendly. 7I noticed that you
missed the auction last night.8
79es. I as$ed @onathan (tiller to o"ersee it. I had a family emergency.8
7I heard that as well.8 Cenneth Price was only about ten years older than
Maria! and the Deartment .hair. :e acted about thirty years older! with a rim and
roer disosition and a touch of disaro"al whene"er he had to deal with the
youngest member of the staff! Maria. :e was e%ually biting and disaro"ing of all
but a few graduate students and secretarial staff.
Maria loo$ed at her watch and grimaced. 7Cen! I,m sorry! but did you need
something3 I,m afraid I,"e got a class in fifteen minutes! and I had to sto at the
clinic this morning so my time is short.8 Maria watched his unattracti"ely thin lis
inch in a sour loo$ at her use of his first name.
7The fundraiser for the museum was your resonsibility. 9our first commitment
should be to it and it alone. I ha"e offered numerous times to relace you as the
acting curator to the Museum. &s I stated! if running the museum! your thesis! and
your class load are too much! changes can be made.8
7I than$ you again! Cen! for your offer. 5ut once again! I,m the curator of the
museum! and will not ste down from the osition. That museum cost me more
than you,ll e"er $now! and I won<t abandon it to someone who has no $nowledge of
the history of its creation! and the rices and sacrifices associated with it.8 Maria
hated this man with a assion. :e was a bureaucratic automaton with a :itler
comle/ only e/acerbated by his diminuti"e size and the o"erwhelming ego of his
own ride;
41
7I belie"e that the museum demands more dedication and time than you ha"e
to gi"e! Professor. If it,s not one thing! it,s another. 9ou are either embroiled in
some case with your boyfriend or you,re off on some ad"enture that has nothing to
do with this Deartment or this 0ni"ersity. 9our classes "ery often are missed or
rearranged! and your attendance is sotty at best.8
7That is not true. I ha"e not missed a single class this semester. My thesis
chaters are current! and the Dad"enture, as you call it was a threeAday tri to Peru
to ic$ u more information for my thesis. My in"ol"ement with the olice is hard to
a"oid since my boyfriend is a co! as is my cousin! my soon to be steAbrother and
steAfather.8 Maria loo$ed at her watch again and this time swore aloud ma$ing the
man wince in disgust. 7+ow if you want to continue this discussion at another time!
I suggest we set an aointment. If I don,t lea"e now I,ll be late for my class!
another iece of ammunition which will no doubt be used against me.8
Maria didn,t e"en bother saying goodbye in a olite manner! but 'ust too$ off.
)eaching her office she was relie"ed to see Tess already there with her class notes
in hand! a cu of the most beautifully crafted rotgut coffee e"er brewed in all its
"ileness. & Mecca of coffees.
7I saw you waylaid by Master Toady himself.8 Tess said.
79ou,re a goddess.8 Maria sied the coffee as she tossed off all her stuff and
grabbed the notes. 1i"ing Tess a good loo$! Maria frowned. (he was too ale!
almost thin and wasting! and Maria susected she had been crying again. Loo$ing
at the wall cloc$! Maria sighed. +o time. Later.
They left Maria,s office and Tess wal$ed her to her class. 7=as it about not
ma$ing the auction last night38
7In a word! yes. 5ut it was more too. :is )oyal Toady @er$iness seems e"en
more in a tear today. More than usual! I mean. =hat,s the story38
43
7+o clue. 5ut he already made two secretaries cry! a graduate student
contemlate droing out or transferring! and his student assistant %uit today! fi"e
minutes after getting here.8
7Damn! he,s a bigger bastard than usual. =ish I could find something on him
so Ma/ and Michael could interrogate him again. Last year they made him
ractically wet his ants and cry.8 Maria stoed at her class door! ac$nowledging
students as they entered the room around her and Tess. 7?$ay! see what you can
learn! and I,ll see you between classes. I,"e got a lunch date! so if anyone as$s! I,m
una"ailable during that time.8
Tess nodded and watched Maria enter the class with her usual grace and loud
style.
7Peole! you,ll be wanting to disconnect those cell hones! ut away those
alm ilots and ta$e your seats; This class is ending before it begins! because today
we are tal$ing about mythology as a metahor in societies with drastic changes.
Literally we are tal$ing about cultures in flu/ and under a glass! easily seen and
understood from the e"olution of e"erAchanging myths and legends. ?"ernight in
(ri Lan$a we ha"e social myths created as the eole slee. (o what naturally
e"ol"es slowing in most cultures o"er hundreds of years is haening o"ernight in
this lace3 =hy3 &nd what e/amle can we use to see this henomenon38
Tess smiled to herself as she heard a few answers from the class. (ome were
decent guesses. Maria<s classes were always loud and interacti"e.
7Did you say .a"italism38 Maria "oiced rose in an almost screech. 71et out of
my class;8 The room e/loded in laughter. 7.aitalism is not the sin of this culture
nor is it the causal agent of change. It is! howe"er! a rime e/amle of how one
word becomes a catch hrase for all social discord. In the sur"ey course that you
too$ as freshmen you might remember me as$ing what was wrong with caitalism!
44
and some student answered Dinflation.,8 Maria stoed and Tess laughed with the
rest of the class. 7?h 1od! that was yo#$ 1et out of my class; +o! what is wrong is
that more than F0 some ercent of all the nation,s wealth resides in the hands of
only the to KL of the society! and this to hea"y glut is a social roblem within
itself. 5ut bac$ to societies under glass... In (ri Lan$a a rime e/amle of the
suerstructure of the :arris modality is that their legends and myths are being
created daily. The firewal$ers are a rime e/amle. Did anyone finish reading the
assigned te/t! /ed#sa0s 1air38
Tess wal$ed away to finish her grading and brooding in silent. 5eing around
Maria always lifted her sirits! but life was starting to weigh her down. Tess sat at
Maria,s des$ and started organizing the iles. That des$ was a legend unto itself. +o
matter how hard they wor$ed! how many o"ernights they sent! the 2east ne"er
was clear of aerwor$! 'ournals! student blueboo$s! and essays. It was li$e a selfA
feeding entity that was eretuated by Maria,s disorganization. It was sad! but
Maria,s office at the museum was e%ually horrifying.
Pic$ing u the hone! Tess hesitated and then made the hone call. Lunch was
always a great time to get together with a friend.
---
Michael made his second run to the candy machine. It was hard to na"igate
with the bul$y! nonAbending $nee brace! but the cra"ing for something chocolate
and eanut butter was dri"ing him crazy; :e had to go down two floors before he
found what he was loo$ing for in the third floor brea$room. Ith &"enue 5ar. =hat
the hell was a Ith &"enue 5ar anyway3
45
7Michael! we,"e got the lab results for the Turner case! and Par$er says the
genetic stuff will be bac$ in the ne/t fortyAeight hours.8 Ma/ was filing through their
bac$log of aer wor$.
7(hit! fortyAeight hours3 I thought we got a new system for genetic testing.8
Michael ic$ed u the hone. 34ar!er$5
Ma/ cringed at Michael,s bar$ing "oice. Poor Liz. (omehow o"er the last year
Michael and Liz Par$er had forged a sort of friendshi. It had more to do with Maria
than anything did. &fter they were all released from the hosital! Maria had made
sure to $ee in touch with Liz. (he had as$ed (ean to stay with Liz in the hosital!
and somehow that led to (ean and Liz getting ersonally in"ol"ed for the last year.
Ma/ tried to ignore the twinges of 'ealousy he felt o"er their relationshi. It wasn,t
li$e he was willing to date Liz. &t this time! his life was too comlicated with Isabel
and other things! not to mention an undying fascination for Maria DeLuca. =hen he
finally thought he might want to loo$ into the mutual attraction that was once there
it was too late. (ean and Liz had started to date.
Liz had changed a little! but she was still li"ing with her arents and wor$ing
in the .rashDown when they needed hel. Maria worried about her! but remained
silent. The attac$ on her last year left her with a scar across her nec$ and a slightly
hus$ier "oice. 5ut otherwise! Liz seemed to ha"e reco"ered nicely. (he was still
incredibly brown in color! but under the influence of Maria! she added more color to
her wardrobe and the girls 'o$ed and had a good time together. It was strange to
see Liz! Maria and Tess laughing and gossiing. +ot so much Tess any longer.
&bout four months ago! Ma/ finally as$ed Tess out on a date. &t first he was
concerned that Cyle and Tess were an item! but both Tess and Cyle had assured him
that they were 'ust friends. &fter not contacting each other for so long after @ac$
:ardy died! it wasn,t surrising how reluctant both of them were to lose that
46
friendshi again. Cyle told Ma/ that he was surrised that Tess felt willing to date
again after @ac$,s death e"en though it was a few years later. Their relationshi
went on for two months until Tess finally bro$e it off. The brea$u bothered him
more than he could ha"e e/lained. :e hadn<t actually felt that attached to Tess
until she called it %uits. Then he found himself brooding at the most incon"enient
times.
Michael ulled Ma/ bac$ to the resent day by the slamming of his hone. 7I
still don,t see why they send so much money on a testing system that can,t be
used because it isn,t "alidated. =hy buy it if it,s not "alidated! and how the hell
does it become "alidated38 Ma/ stretched his arm trying to relie"e some of the
soreness from his mending shoulder as Michael ranted and ra"ed. Michael was
acting strange lately! and Ma/ couldn,t figure it out. +e/t time he tal$ed to Maria!
he was going to as$ her about it.
(uddenly Michael stoed tal$ing! and Ma/ stared at him! startled. 7=hat,s u
Michael38 :is artner suddenly loo$ed ale and tired.
7(orry! I thin$ this damn $nee is causing me some roblems. I need to ta$e a
%uic$ brea$. My cell hone is on so call me if you need me! o$ay3 I,ll be down in
:olding.8
Michael %uic$ly left his des$! or as %uic$ly as he could while wearing his $nee
brace. :olding was on first floor! and Michael chec$ed the holding cell board.
1rabbing the $ey for the last cell! he headed to the main chec$out des$. 7:ey! .arl!
I,m ta$ing holding cell eight. Is there anyone in it38
7:ey! 1uerin; Man! you loo$ li$e shit. 9ou o$ay38
71ot a little banged u yesterday. .ell eight38
79eah! ta$e it. It,s clear and clean. 9ou want me to rouse you38
47
7+o! Ma/ will call me if he needs me! otherwise gi"e me about a half an hour
to an hour.8
7Done.8 .arl watched the larger man lim his way to the bac$ holding bloc$.
(ometimes the Detecti"es and commanders used the cells for a na if they were on
an all night sta$eout and couldn,t go home after a shift. Michael 1uerin loo$ed li$e
he was on the "erge of collase. It was Thursday! so .arl hoed for Michael,s sa$e
that he had the wee$end off! because the man loo$ed li$e he could use a brea$.
Michael %uic$ly oened and the door of the cell and closed it behind him.
Droing on the first cot! he groaned his relief. :e didn,t want to admit to Ma/ that
suddenly a wa"e of fatigue had hit him. It was nothing. :e was 'ust wearing down
with all the stress of $eeing u with (ean and Cyle. Maybe now that they were
wor$ing as a team maybe he could ower it down and get some real rest. Too bad
about :awaii! Maria would ha"e loo$ed great in a grass s$irt... Michael closed his
eyes and went to slee.
---
7Maria... Maria wa$e u.8
Maria lifted her head from her des$ where she had laid it on only a few
moments re"iously. 7=hat3 Tess3 Is there something...8
7Maria! your ne/t class is in ten minutes. 9ou,"e been sleeing for almost the
last hour.8
Maria shoo$ her head. That was imossible. (he had 'ust rested her eyes for a
moment. Loo$ing at the cloc$ on her des$ she moaned. +oe. Tess was correct. It
was almost time for her ne/t class. Dammit! she had wanted to tal$ to Tess too;
&nother oortunity lost.
47
71od. =hat class is this again38
79our freshmen.8
Maria ut her head bac$ down. 7?h $ill me now...=here are my notes3 It has
to be the >orrest Peole. Maybe I should tal$ about the mating ritual of the igmies
and forgo tal$ing about ma$ing the 7ie8 sing until ne/t wee$.8
79ou loo$ tired. 9ou want me to ta$e your class38 Tess as$ed the sleey
woman.
7Than$s! but you don,t loo$ any more brightAeyed and bushyAtailed yourself.
9ou want to tell me what,s going on38
Tess was shoc$ed that Maria had noticed! but she tried to a"oid the issue. (he
wasn,t ready to share or tal$ about it. 7Maybe later.8
Maria stood u and stretched. (he felt better. 7?$ay! but I,ll hold you to that.
+ow I better get my worthless butt going or I,ll be late for class. I,m lea"ing for
lunch immediately following class. The Towers restaurant is where you can find me!
otherwise I,ll be bac$ in time for my one thirty.8
71otcha! Professor.8 Maria 'ust laughed at Tess,s resonse.
---
7Maria.8
Maria loo$ed u from her menu to see her dining comanion! @onathan (tiller.
:e loo$ed his usual wellAutAtogether self! olished and e/ensi"e. :e was wearing
the latest 5ergman,s serge cut! blac$ suit with slim breasted laels and a .ariA
nec$ed interlaced white sil$ shirt.
48
[email protected] Maria smiled as he reached down and $issed her chee$. It was
always <@onathan<! ne"er <@on< or <+athan<. It was always D@onathan,B much li$e it
was always <Michael<.
7I,m sorry I,m late. )ude beast.8
7+onsense. I 'ust got here myself.8 Maria watched as he ut his na$in neatly
in lace and ordered a drin$. *legant. The man was oetry in motion.
7(o what loo$s good38 @onathan loo$ed at Maria critically. (he loo$ed tired!
but otherwise she was her usual sar$ling! beautiful self. 7:a"e you ordered38
7I wouldn,t dare. +ot without you;8 Maria laughed softly as she chided him.
@onathan lo"ed restaurants! lo"ed food! and lo"ed to order for the table regardless
of how many eole were eating with him.
75rat. It,s true. I called the chef. :e recommends a saddle of beef with
rosemary stuffing! baby carrots coo$ed in saffron! and the sinach salad. 6oie gras
to start with toast oints38
7(ounds lo"ely! but only if you order me the shrim and mushroom tureen as
well.8
7Done.8 @onathan loo$ed at their ser"er. 7Dom! did you get that order3 Maria!
wine38
7I $now it,s customary with the foie gras! but really I refer a water with
lemon. Pellengrino with lemon would be nice.8 Maria decided she was already too
sleey to ris$ drin$ing anything alcoholic.
7(ounds good. I,ll do the same.8 @onathan handed o"er his menu and Maria,s
to the ser"er. 7&n old 0ni"ersity buddy of mine is in town for the ne/t few days on
business. :e,s trying to reco"er from a se"ere brea$u.8
7&re there any other $inds38
49
7Indeed.8 @onathan laughed at that. Maria was right. It didn,t matter how
agreeable a brea$u was! it was hardly e"er an easy e"ent. 7Don,t tell me that you
and the delectable! raging bull Detecti"e ha"e called it off.8
Maria smiled at @onathan,s descrition of Michael. 7+o. =e,re fine. &ctually he
was the emergency I had last night...which I meant to than$ you for co"ering for
me.8
@onathan 'ust wa"ed off the than$s. Maria was a sweetie. It was easy to do
things for her. +ow &my DeLuca was another story. 7+ot a roblem. I was there
anyway! and I guessed it had to do with the 1reat (ul$y ?ne. Does he $now you,re
lunching with me38
79es! he does.8
@onathan wa"ed o"er their ser"er. 7Dom! set u another seating and inform
the 1arMon that Detecti"e 1uerin may be arri"ing soon and to clear the front entry
way from any ossible e/losions.8
7(to it. Dom! ignore Mr. (tiller. :e is merely being humorous the only way he
$nows how.8 Maria watched Dom lea"e. 7That,s not nice. Michael doesn,t come
rushing after me all the time when I ha"e a meal with you.8
7:e does. The man is a raging 'ealous lo"er determined to rotect his
roerty. &nd don,t thin$ I,m o"erreacting. I saw the news reorts on the closing of
the Palisades. Michael38
Maria 'ust shrugged! but refused to gi"e @onathan the satisfaction by
confirming Michael caused the destruction in any way. 7It was a terrible accident.8
7It always is. I guess if you won,t satisfy my curiosity I will ha"e to wait until
the .ity 5oard meeting ne/t wee$.8 Maria winced. Poor Michael. :is name came u
a little too often at those meetings. :e and Ma/ were creating a reutation that
wasn<t necessarily good! and Cyle and (ean were 'oining them.
5:
7(o how was the auction3 Did it go off smoothly38 Maria as$ed innocently.
7+ice change of sub'ect! Maria. 9es! it was a success.8 @onathan admired
Maria,s loyalty to her mate. It was sweet the way she rotected his good name and
defended him to others.
7Did you ta$e that sweet boy you,re dating! umm..1abriel38
@onathan laughter drew the attentions of other diners. 77abriella is "ery much
a female! Maria.8
7&re you sure38 Maria frowned. If she was a woman then she was a "ery tall!
thin woman with a masculine! closeAcut hairstyle and no his.
8(he,s a model. +ot that I,m oosed to male comanionshi! but it,s been
years since I was in"ol"ed with a male. +ot since my 0ni"ersity days when my
friend who is "isiting and I had a three month thing.8 @onathan thought about it for
a second. 9eah! that was the last time. Interesting.
7Damn! are you sure38 @onathan nodded. 7=ell feed the oor thing a sandwich
or something. Is this "isiting friend gay38
79es! but he,s not here to hit on me. More than li$ely he needs some
connections for a new business deal he has going. &lbu%uer%ue is fast becoming
glutted in the software industry! so I hoe some dotAcom business isn,t the angle
he,s wor$ing. I,ll let you $now later. I romised to go out barhoing with him
tonight. It should ro"e to be a real crushing bore! but he only "isits e"ery few
years! and usually only when he wants something.8
Maria loo$ed her friend o"er with more than a little critical eye. :e was a tall
lean man! with strong shoulders! dar$ hair! and a wic$ed smile. =hat Maria noticed
the most about him was his dar$ eyes. They were sometimes almost bottomless!
and she was sure that they hid many secrets. The man was a fashion late steing
51
straight out of 16! and his business sa""y was worthy of a >ortune I00 comany.
&ll in all! the ac$aging was "ery nice.
7I,m sure he really wanted to see you too.8
7I,m sure.8 @onathan li$ed the eternal otimism of Maria DeLuca. Desite any
and all hardshis she had had to bear! she always found a way to climb abo"e them
and go on. It was that shining sirit refusing to die that attracted eole to her.
They ate their lunch and discussed the e"ent of the re"ious e"ening. &nd
desite @onathan,s teasing e/ectations! Michael did not crash their lunch date.
Maria was actually surrised and leased. >inally before they both needed to lea"e!
@onathan changed the sub'ect again.
7I had a runAin with your boss last night. I thin$ I outed you.8
Maria aused from ushing another bite of the threeAchocolate torte into her
mouth. 7My boss3 Cenneth Price3 I don,t understand.8
7:e,s been bidding for a osition on the 5oard of Trustees at the 0ni"ersity!
and on the >oundation. I,"e been bloc$ing his seat. The man lac$s any real s$ill or
warmth! and the 5oard needs eole who can thin$ outside the bo/! show
comassion! and ma$e hard decisions.8 @onathan ushed his uneaten dessert
towards Maria who! without e"en loo$ing! started de"ouring it. 7That! and I hate
the little weasel<s guts. :e is...an assAlic$ing brownAnoser loo$ing for the main
chance! and I hate the way he sidles u to me.8
7(o how did you <out< me e/actly38 Maria was shoc$ed at @onathan brea$ing
his refinement to actually show his disli$e of Cenneth Price.
@onathan had enough guilt to actually loo$ ashamed. 7I basically told him that
he would ne"er get a seat as long as I had a say! and that I was recommending you
for the 5oard.8
53
Maria remembered her .hair,s reaction earlier in the day. 7?h 1od! you didn,t;
:e hates me! and thin$ing I,m getting that co"eted seat must ha"e sent him off the
dee end.8
7=orse. :e started ranting o"er e"ery little thing he considered to be a
shortcoming of yours! and how he couldn,t understand why the >oundation and the
5oard were so lenient o"er your disciline roblems! and on and on. &nyway! I
mentioned that neither the >oundation nor the 5oard considered you inefficient or
lac$ing in disciline! and it would be hard for the >oundation to disli$e you since
yo# are the 6o#ndation.8
7?h 1od...;8 Maria could feel her life racing out of control and the lights of the
room receding fast as it became hard to breath. ?h no. (he wasn,t going to ha"e a
anic attac$. (he didn,t do that anymore. Instead! she was going to go find Michael
and ta$e her an/ieties out on him. Immediately.
@onathan watched what little color Maria had wash out of her face. 7Let me
ic$ u the chec$.8
---
?n her way to the )oswell PD after lunch! Maria called Tess and as$ed her to
co"er her (enior thesis class. They were all doing reading searches so lecturing
wasn,t necessary. Maria byAassed returning to the 0ni"ersity for the day and went
in search of an/iety relief.
7@im38
#alenti loo$ed u at Maria standing in his doorway. (miling! he motioned her
in and watched her ta$e a seat. The young woman loo$ed too thin and "ery tired.
54
Li"ing with Michael 1uerin had to be energy consuming! so he held his tongue
about as$ing her about how she felt.
7Maria! honey. To what do I owe this leasure3 This is twice this wee$.
9esterday! and now today.8
7I $now. I swear I,m not stic$ing my nose in the middle of a case again.8 Maria
reassured her soon to be stefather.
@im winced. :e actually still felt bad about the last time. Maria heled them
with a large case only si/ wee$s ago! and @im had been under ressure from &my!
who was concerned about Maria being in"ol"ed in another murder in"estigation. It
was the si/th in"estigation she had in"ol"ed herself in since the one that introduced
her to Michael o"er a year ago. &my was still o"errotecti"e and worried! and she
tended to wor$ @im u o"er the same things.
7That,s o$ay! honey. I didn,t thin$ you were. I $now all the cases assigned to
1uerin and *"ans! and they are on underco"er assignment tonight and des$ duty
otherwise! until Michael,s $nee mends.8
Maria went o"er and sat on @im,s des$ facing him. Leaning down she $issed his
chee$. 7Than$s! @im. 1etting him to ta$e a brea$ is ne/t to imossible.8
7I $now. I got the doctor,s reort about his $nee. It,s 'ust a strained ligament!
but it still needs to be tended to.8
7(o where is my grumier half3 I came to see him.8
@im 'ust smiled at her descrition of Michael. 7:e,s robably at the loft. :e!
Ma/! (ean! and Cyle are articiating in a #ice oeration. They,re no doubt getting
rested and dressed for tonight,s e"ents.8 @im smiled and told Maria what the
assignment was! en'oying her amusement o"er it all.
---
55
=hen Maria entered the loft she could hear her sortAof brother! Cyle whining.
7I,m not wearing this. It,s...it,s degrading;
7+o way! sweetea. 9ou loo$ a dream.8 (ean said in his gayest "oice.
Michael was lounging on the sofa drin$ing a beer and watching the others.
(mir$ing and ma$ing loud rude comments! the man was ob"iously en'oying
himself. It was the sna$ing of Maria,s arms around his nec$ from behind that
alerted him to the fact she was home.
7:a"ing fun! Detecti"e38
Michael loo$ed bac$ at her o"er his shoulder. 79ou,"e got no idea. This is
gonna be an oeration to tal$ about for years to come.8
7I went by the PD. @im told me about the assignment. 1uess this means I,m
eating alone tonight! huh38
7(orry! Professor. .a,s orders. =e can ha"e food with you before we ta$e off
if you li$e.8 Michael reached behind her and grabbed her body ulling her o"er the
sofa and into his arms! lanting her firmly to his side. Cissing her %uic$ly! and
smiling against her s$in! he rested for a moment and murmured! 7I,ll ma$e the rest
of it u to you later. I romise.8
79ou could ta$e me too! and let me sit at the bar and obser"e.8
7+oe. +ot gonna haen. 9ou<d be alone there since I,m assigned to the
command "an. The bum $nee uts me off the street.8
(ean came o"er and ga"e his cousin a $iss on the chee$. 7That,s not true.
They too$ one loo$ at him. (aw that shitty obstinate loo$ that screams both Dco,
and Dstraight, in one glance! and ut him on monitors.8
7(ean! you,re going to be gay3 :ow will you manage38 Maria teased.
56
7That,s my little bratty cousin.8 (ean tossed himself down on her other side
and blew rasberries on her nec$ while she s%uirmed in Michael,s arms.
75ac$ off! (ean.8 (ean loo$ed o"er and frowned. Michael,s "oice was dar$ and
forbidding. It had an edge in it that (ean recognized from o"er a year ago when
Michael was 'ealous of anyone touching Maria. :e had lost that ossessi"eness o"er
half a year ago! but suddenly it sounded li$e it was bac$.
Maria recognized the tone too! and loo$ed at Michael. 7=hat,s u! Detecti"e38
Michael 'aw clenched. 7+othing.8
7=ell! I came loo$ing for you for a reason today. (o if I can tear you away
from these male beauties! can we tal$ ustairs38
Michael 'ust nodded and aw$wardly stood u ulling Maria with him. =hat the
hell was wrong with him3 :e was feeling a dar$ raging 'ealousy in him again. :is
ossessi"e manner nearly caused him to lose her once. (he had almost ended their
relationshi shortly after it began because of the o"erwhelming 'ealousy he had
e/hibited! the o"errotecti"e and o"erbearing ossessi"eness. :e thought he was
o"er that! but in the last few wee$s the dar$ feeling would rise and cho$e him. :e
still retained some of the 'ealousy towards certain eole! but most days he was
able to calmly tal$ himself out of it.
Maria stoed suddenly on her way towards the stairs! forcing Michael to sto
also. Ma/ had emerged from the room under the stairs that (ean had once used
before he too$ o"er Michael,s old aartment a year before.
7?h; ?h my; Pretty;8 Ma/ actually blushed at Maria,s assessment. :e was
wearing tight blac$ leather antsB a colorful sil$ shirt tuc$ed into the ants with
most of the buttons undone. & large leather belt circled his waist! matching a
leather band around his wrist. Maria smiled at the eyeliner. Ma/ *"ans loo$ed too
57
retty to be considered Dstraight,. :e loo$ed the erfect gay man! if he would 'ust
loosen u his stance and osture.
Michael growled under his breath and dragged her u the stairs.
7:ey! I,m 'ust saying;8 Maria loo$ed bac$ and win$ed at Ma/. 79ou loo$ good!
Ma/ie;8
The last thing Maria heard from Ma/ as Michael ulled her into their bedroom
was! 7(omeone $ill me.8
Maria too$ the initiati"e and went into the bathroom $nowing Michael would
follow. Turning on the shower! Maria slowly started to undress.
79ou going to 'ust watch! or you going to 'oin me3 .an your leg ta$e the
ressure of standing u38
7=hoa! slow down Professor. >irst tell me why you came to find me today.8
Maria droed her blouse and s$irt lea"ing her in only s$imy underwear.
1oing o"er to Michael she unbuttoned his shirt.
7I had a cra"ing and need for you. My intentions weren0t honorable! nor are
they at this moment. I was going to 'um you in the PD stairway to get off and
relie"e myself of some stress.8 Maria smiled as Michael easily remo"ed her bra. 7It
was either the stairway or a blow'ob in the men,s bathroom.8
Michael swore out loud. :e hated missing out on being used. 7=ant to tell me
what caused all the stress38 :e leaned bac$ and watched her hands go for the
waistband of his sweats. (uddenly she reached down and released the #elcro stras
on his $nee brace! and his sweats were gone.
7Later...8 Maria was bac$ing them u to the running shower.
70h uh. )ule number se"enteen states that we,re allowed to use the other as a
relief "al"e! but only if we admit what it is that twea$ed us to begin with.8 Michael
almost rescinded rule se"enteen when her mouth found the side of his nec$ with
57
her teeth! and her hand mo"ed down his body to gri his enis in her incredibly
sensual hand.
79ou $now I was ha"ing lunch with @onathan today! right38 Maria continued
without noticing Michael<s resonse. :e $new there was something he had meant to
do for lunch. :e had had e"ery intention of crashing her lunch date! but the
une/ected na $noc$ed him off his schedule! and the lunch was lost in the shuffle.
7&nyway! he told me that he outed me to Toady Price.8
7?uted you how38 Michael groaned when the hot water hit his s$in. :e didn,t
realize how sore he was from the scuffle the other day.
7:e told Price that 80m the 6o#ndation.8 Maria oured some body wash on a
bath songe and began to wash his body. 7Thing is that Price stoed me this
morning on my way to my first class and comlained about my osition as curator
of the Museum again! among other things. I couldn,t figure out why he was so
uset until @onathan told me about outing me.8
7=hat are you going to do38
7>uc$ you into a early gra"e! or until I feel better.8 Maria said casually. Michael
smiled at the suggestion. 7I 'ust $now that he,s wor$ing u the ner"e to find out the
e/tent of my relationshi to the >oundation! and how he can maniulate it to his
ad"antage. I don,t want to ha"e to deal with telling him that I,"e got no "oting
ower on the >oundation board! and their decisions are final. It,s going to ma$e my
wor$ing relationshi with him e"en more difficult than it is already.8
7I thin$ I see what you,re saying.8 Michael moaned when she mo"ed the
songe o"er his body. The warm water felt good on his $nee. They should,"e done
this in the bath. :e wasn,t sure he could ta$e their combined weight on his bum
$nee. 7(ooner or later! he,s going to as$ you to hel him! and when he finds out
58
you can,t hel! he,s going to feel humiliated by as$ing in the first lace! and your
already terrible relationshi is going to go e"en further south.8
7*/actly...8 Maria said as her mouth mo"ed down his clean body. :e loo$ed so
"ery tasty. Michael nibblet.
7=e,"e got comany downstairs.8 Michael felt comelled to mention. Li$e he
ga"e two figs about the men downstairs! dolling u for their night hanging in a gay
bar and trying to sting some gaybashers.
JThen I<d better gi"e you a good fast one! hadn<t I3J Maria said. =ith a dee
breath ta$ing in the smell of his s$in! she loo$ed u at him and offered u her face
for a $iss.
1rowling! Michael let go of reason! and swooed down to cature the outing
lis waiting for him. (o many things about this woman touched him! and one of
them was her honest lac$ of inhibition. Thin$ing dimly that Maria $issed li$e she did
e"erything else in her life! wholeheartedly and with enthusiasm! he tried to ma$e it
a gentle one at first. 5ut when Maria oened her lis to tease Michael<s with her
tongue! need eruted. :e too$ that tongue into a dee! suc$ing $iss! matching the
attern of it to the roc$ing of his his. 1od! he lo"ed her hands on him; :is thrusts
into her erfect gras on him were wild! urgent! and he ried his mouth away to
try to warn her.

J1ood! good! Detecti"e! do it for me! do it...J Maria encouraged him before he
could. (he watched him as he leaned bac$ against the tile and tossed his head
bac$! then suddenly he bent to ta$e her tongue in his mouth again.
J?h no! oh no! too fast! ma$e it last! ma$e it last...J Michael<s "oice trailed off.
:e really didn,t ha"e much time! and there were three other men downstairs
59
waiting for him. +o wonder she didn,t chose the bath. If they had gotten in a large
bath of warm water! he wouldn,t ha"e come out for hours.
7(hhhh...8 Maria said as her mouth mo"ed down his body. It too$ a moment
before he realized where she was going as her mouth 'oined her hand! and the
other hand mo"ed sensually down his body to 'oin the other one. 75e "ery! "ery
%uiet...8 (he whisered against his coc$.
=ith both hands wraed around the base! mo"ing simultaneously with his
mouth! Maria deeAthroated the thic$ shaft! and then ulled bac$ to 'ust the head.
Mo"ing her mouth along the under side! and then bac$ to ta$e it bac$ in her hot
mouth as far to the hilt as ossible. (he wasn<t able to ta$e it all! but it was enough
for Michael. (he was so close and $et imro"ing with ractice.
JDamn! damn;J he shouted! then groaned o"er and o"er as he ulsed out and
into Maria<s throat. *ach groan was %uieter! and more drawn out! until Michael
wasn<t able to stay uright any longer. =ith a final sound more li$e a whimer than
anything! he collased down the tiles! as Maria mo"ed u and o"er his body.
:ot and ready! Maria cuddled the bigger body to her smaller one until
Michael,s head cleared. (rin$ling $isses o"er his body! and nibbling at his lis and
ears! she waited until Michael turned one of the nibbles into a serious $iss mo"ing
her body to straddle his his. :e lowered his hand down her stomach to the
'unction of her legs! and his fingers found their target with little to no effort.
79our turn!8 said Michael. :e yearned to send the others away and ta$e her to
bed! but he $new he couldn,t. 71od! Maria! what you start sometimes. I need
more.8
JTouch me! oh god! Michael! lease touch me;J Maria didn,t care. They could
continue it later when they had more time. This would be enough for now.
6:
)olling them until he was lying half on to of Maria and she was flat on the tile
floor of the shower! Michael resonded to her frantic leas by lacing his finger
against her lis. J:ang on...hang on...shh...shh...J he tried to reassure the writhing
woman under him. JI<ll ta$e care of you.J
JMichael!J Maria anted! grabbing at his shoulders! Jdon<t frea$! o$3 Please!
lease! lease...J Maria couldn,t belie"e how far gone she already was from 'ust a
touch. :er s$in was raw and on fire! and merely the abrasi"e brush of his s$in was
setting her ner"e endings into o"erload. :air trigger. =here the hell did that come
from3
=ondering at the comment! Michael mo"ed bac$ and loo$ed into her eyes.
=hat he saw there made his heart seed u into an almost brea$nec$ rate. :er
eyes were wild! and her li was bleeding were she had bitten it. 1roaning! he
suc$ed the bleeding li into his mouth! letting the salty iron taste of her blood ush
his body into that same o"erload zone she was already in.
:e eered down into Maria<s lustAfilled eyes! clearly seeing a mi/ture of both
anic and fear. (he was barely holding on the edge! and she didn,t want to go
alone. :olding that molten emerald gaze! he grinned "ery! "ery! slowly and "ery!
"ery widely. The anic in her eyes abated! cleared! and became delight! along with
something more. The something more made Michael<s grin stretch until he felt li$e
a fool! and he nuzzled the end of Maria<s nose with his own.
7:ard38 Michael as$ed with mischief! li$e he didn,t already $now.
Maria 'ust $issed the ti of his nose! and carefully rolled them. 7#ery hard. I
better ta$e the high road. 9ou,ll bang u that $nee. (o 'ust lie bac$! Detecti"e! and
ta$e it li$e a amered man. I romise it will be hard and fast.8 Michael smiled at
that. (he was right. It was going to be real fast. They were both already on the
edge. =hat the hell was going on with them and their bodies3 *"ery touch! e"ery
61
loo$! e"ery moment of e"ery day was li$e a trigger that heated them almost to the
brea$ing oint. @ust the sound of her "oice o"er the hone made him hard most
days.
Michael closed his eyes and ut his head bac$ as she lowered herself on him!
ta$ing his coc$ in one full mo"ement straight to the hilt. Through halfAclosed eyes
he watched her reach abo"e his head to lace her hand flat against the tiled wall
while his hands went to her his to hel mo"e her on him. Maria,s other hand was
ushing hard on his chest to $ee her body uright as she rode him.
:is heart felt li$e it was beating out of his chest. &nd 'ust before the world
e/loded around his center! he oened his eyes to see her staring down at him all
dar$ and silent! the assion and fire in her eyes were beyond this world! and the
blood on her li called to him. )aising his head he too$ her li bac$ into his mouth
and bit it hard! ma$ing the blood flow again as he felt himself e/lode in her. :er
nails embedded themsel"es in the s$in of his chest lea"ing trails of blood as her
body con"ulsed around his coc$.
Michael became aware of the ounding water from the shower as it slowly
became colder and colder. Maria was resting on him! careful of his $nee. &ll she
said before she collased on him was! 7)ide <em cowboy.8
7Maria! we need to mo"e before we freeze to death in here.8
7+o. (leey.8
Michael 'ust chuc$led at her boneless state. +ormally he would ha"e 'ust
turned off the water! ic$ed her u and ut her to bed to slee it off! but
unfortunately his $nee made that imossible this time.
(hutting off the water! he reached down and lifted her body u his! ta$ing a
few minutes to $iss her. :er hand mo"ed u his bac$ to tangle in his wet hair. :e
63
could feel his body and s$in heating u to her touch. =hat the hell was haening
to them lately3 :e didn,t care. It felt too good.
Ta$ing a towel off the towel bar for her! he wraed her in it after wiing the
moisture from her body. =raing a towel around his middle! he swatted her hands
away. :e didn,t ha"e enough control! and it was getting late. 0nless he wanted to
send the night nursing a hardAon! he needed to $ee her hands off him until he
came home and could do something about it.
7Maria! beha"e.8 Michael grabbed his brace on the way out of the bathroom
with Maria. 79ou still feeling stressed38
Maria turned to loo$ at him and smiled. 7I,m feeling no ain.8
---
=hen Maria was heading down the stairs after getting dressed! she was
concerned by the anger in Cyle,s "oice echoing from below.
7+o way. I,m not doing it;8
Maria slowly wal$ed down the stairs and saw Michael standing in the li"ing
room with (ean! Ma/ and Cyle. Michael motioned for her to hold bac$. (itting on
the stairs! Maria watched the grou.
Ma/ was all dec$ed out li$e some ultra gay rettyboy! but Cyle was a totally
different style. :e was in leather ants with the to button unfastened! a fishnet
cargo shirt showing his s$in and he had temorary tattoos and leather straing
around his uer arms. The chains and handcuffs hanging off his belt shone with a
startling sil"er brilliance. :e was a leather slut boytoy.
Michael was silently watching the artners fight as Cyle argued with (ean.
Tossing down some leather imlement at (ean,s feet! Cyle stal$ed off into the
64
$itchen to search the refrigerator. Maria slowly descended the stairs and went to
hel Cyle.
7I,m not going to hit him! Maria. I can,t.8
7It,s o$ay Cyle. (ean understands.8 Maria loo$ed o"er at the others. Ma/
loo$ed gray under his s$in! but Michael showed not an ounce of reaction.
5ending down! Michael ic$ed u the nineAtail whi and gestured towards the
bedroom under the stairs. (ean 'ust ac$nowledged it and headed that way.
Maria turned bac$ to Cyle and changed the sub'ect! not wanting Cyle to hear
what was going to haen in the other room. Michael would ta$e care of (ean. :e
would understand. 7Let<s ut out the fi/ings for sandwiches! Cyle. 9ou guys need to
eat before you go out. :ow about Pizza38
---
7:ow dee you want it38 Michael as$ed %uietly.
(ean too$ off his leather "est. :e wasn,t wearing a shirt underneath it. 7Dee.
&lternating deth. Lea"e some ob"ious ones on the front! but do the bac$ too!
because if only the front has welts it<ll be ob"ious.8 >or the first time since they
entered the room he loo$ed Michael in the eyes. 7Ma$e a few bleed.8
(ean turned and braced himself on the wall not e"en wincing when the leather
stra hit his flesh. It was harder to hold himself in chec$ when he turned to let
Michael do his front. Michael had a controlled hand. :e left small light welts! deeer
ones! and a few bleeding cuts. &fter he finished! Michael tossed the whi on the
bed.
7Than$s Michael. I shouldn,t ha"e as$ed Cyle.8
65
7+o! no you shouldn,t ha"e.8 Michael said %uietly. It was hard to miss the
rominent bulge in (ean,s tight leather ants. Michael watched as he carefully
threaded a nile ring and winced from the ain of a welt that had landed across
the areola.
7=e don,t $now what the susects goes for. It,s necessary.8 (ean e/lained.
8I $now.8 Michael understood why it would be harder for both Ma/ and Cyle to
beat (ean! but for Michael it wasn,t any worse than many other things he had done
while wor$ing #ice! and not as bad as some things (ean had also gotten into during
his stint. 7I also $now that you li$ed it.8
7+one of your business! 1uerin.8 (ean headed for the door! but Michael
stoed him cold with a hand to his uer arm griing him hard.
7:ow long (ean3 :ow long ha"e you had the taste38 (ean tried to ull away.
7I told you to lea"e it! Michael;8
7Liz Par$er doesn,t loo$ to be the tye who carries a touch of ain and
domination. Tell me I,m wrong. I would,"e classified her as missionary with doggie
anting and eyes closed.8 (ean finally ulled free.
7(he,s not into it! and the rest is none of your damn business.8
Michael lanted himself in front of (ean again. 7Maybe I,m ma$ing it my
business! after all I,m the whihand that ga"e you that hardAon. 9ou don,t ha"e to
call me Master! but you can gi"e me some truth! or 'ust gi"e it to yourself.8
7=hat do you wanna $now38 (ean as$ed recognizing his lace in this ower
struggle.
7Liz Par$er. I don,t ha"e much in common with her! but she,s become a sort of
friend. Does she $now about this38
(ean sat on the bed. 7+o. &nd I don,t want her to $now.8
66
7That,s unfair. =hat you gonna do (ean! sell your soul for a iece of "anilla
while dreaming and wanting the lash3 &re you hay! or you sliding out for a slice38
7I,m trying! o$ay. =e,re not e/clusi"e! but I,"e only tried out a few times.
+othing big.8
7+othing big to you3 ?r to her38 Michael as$ed directly and to the oint. It did
ma$e a difference.
7Michael...it,s my sic$ness! o$ay3 Mine.8 (ean stood u to lea"e.
Michael stoed him again. 7It,s not a sic$ness! (ean. It,s a choice! a lifestyle.
(ome need it! some lay with it! and some fear it. It,s a lifestyle! and choosing an
alternati"e one because it,s a Dnorm, or deemed Dhealthy, by society is a hard road
to wal$ when all you want is fire and a cutting edge.8
7:ow do you $now3 9ou into this too38 (ean reached forward and lifted the
front of Michael,s shirt from his body seeing the bloody scratches left there by
Maria. 79ou and Maria38 (ean almost bent o"er in ain from the en"y at the thought
of finding a life artner that was art of it and not ha"ing to li"e a lie.
7+o! we,re not into ain. This is another choice! another lifestyle.8 Michael
ended the discussion there. :e wasn,t going to tal$ about the intimate arts of his
life with Maria with anyone but her.
79ou understand then38 (ean as$ed %uietly.
7(ome of it! and more of other things.8 Michael sat down ne/t to (ean for a
few moments trying to find the words he should ha"e said a year ago. 7I
understood why you offered to $ill me when I met Maria! why you offered the bullet
to me.8 (ean loo$ed at him in astonishment and admiration.
7:ow3 Did Maria tell you38
7+o. I 'ust $new. 9ou,re a Mafia son. =hen Mafia sons are born they,re gi"en a
secial bullet! usually engra"ed with the family crest or symbol.8 (ean reached into
67
his oc$et and ulled out the bullet he carried with him e"erywhere. It was li$e his
badge and gun. :e ne"er left home without it. Michael loo$ed at the symbol on it
and handed it bac$ to (ean. Three times. (ean had offered to $ill him three times.
It was a code of honor! one warrior to another. The (artans understood the
symbolic code of men of arms. They brought their warriors home on their shields.
7=hen you,re born! there,s the code. It,s honor! duty! and family. It,s a timeA
honored code dating bac$ farther than anyone can remember. The bullet is your
final rest. 9ou rotect and honor your family! or eat the bullet as your last act of
contrition as you die trying. =hen I left my family! they disowned me and I became
dead to them! because I should,"e ta$en this bullet! ta$en my own life before
dishonoring my name! my blood! and my family.8
7I $now.8 Michael ne"er stoed feeling the honor (ean had offered him when
he offered him the bullet. It was a timeless understanding that only soldiers!
warriors! a Praetorian could understand. 7I ne"er than$ed you for standing for me
when I thought Maria was dying in my arms. It wasn,t about Maria! or not being
able to li"e without her.8 Though Michael doubted he would or could ha"e continued
on! because she had become so entangled in his life. 5ut that was something that
didn,t belong to this discussion. It was ri"ate.
7I $new that. It was about those that bleed to death in your rotection! in your
arms. & rotector can only ta$e so much failure until they become useless!
ineffecti"e.8
79eah. If I had sur"i"ed! and Maria didn<t! it would,"e been the final straw. I
would,"e wal$ed away. =hat is a soldier who can no longer ser"e or rotect3 Patton
said that old soldiers don,t dieB they 'ust fade away. :e was wrong. They don,t
fade. If the soldier were luc$y he would die in battle and not li"e to feel his own
67
imotence. They li"e on! endlessly reli"ing all their failures o"er and o"er again.
The blood of the innocents would,"e ne"er stoed flowing.8
79ou don,t ha"e to tell me that. I understood.8 (ean said as he turned to loo$
at Michael. Two identical sets of eyes stared at each other! silently understanding
more than could e"er be so$en. ?nly one warrior to another could areciate the
dri"e. ?ne warrior soul that li"ed a lifetime on alien soil! and the other from a long
line of ancient soldiers dating bac$ before )oman times. They were different!
gala/ies aart! and yet in a cosmic tric$ of continuity they were the same.
Michael headed for the door. 5ut before he could lea"e! (ean called after him.
7I still carry that bullet with your name! Michael.8 The word <5rother< was unso$en!
but understood.
7Than$ you!8 said Michael %uietly. 7I do the same for you.8 Michael ut his
hand on the door$nob! but hesitated one last time. 7(ean! the thing about ain is
that it can harm! but it can also heal. (ending your life afraid of the ain! and
using hysical abuse to hel desensitize you to imeding future ain and suffering
that will crile you is worthless.8 Michael turned bac$ to (ean. 7*secially if the
ain you,re trying to rotect yourself against is mental anguish. That ain cuts
deeer than any $nife! and the edges ne"er heal. They<re 'ust fore"er imrinted in
our brains. 0sing ain as unishment or retribution only hels if you find
forgi"eness! and that only comes from the soul.8
(ean sat on the bed after Michael left the room. )eaching beside him on the
bed! he held the whi and wondered when he had stoed feeling anything e/cet
the ain.
---
68
The ride to &rea IE! a local gay bar! was aw$ward. Michael could tell that Cyle
and Ma/ weren<t really comfortable with what they were about to do! but he
couldn<t find an easy way to con"ince them it would all wor$ out o$ay. They
robably didn,t want to hear that from someone who was only going to obser"e
from a "an. It didn<t hel any that e"ery time Cyle loo$ed at (ean he would get all
broody again.
Partners. There was so much they shared. It was more than a brotherhood. It
was almost a marriage. (ome olice officers trusted their artners more than their
souses. Cyle had lost @ac$ :ardy! his best friend for life! and (ean wasn,t an easy
relacement. There was too much about (ean that Cyle didn,t $now or understand.
Cyle er$ed right u once they got inside the bar. There was a goodAsized
dance floor and the music blaring from the sea$ers was a combination of Latin and
o. :e smiled and loo$ed around at all the coules dancing together! and at the
"arious men loo$ing to meet someone. It had been a long time since (ean had
been here. It felt li$e coming home. :e didn<t ha"e to hear Michael on the mi$e in
his ear to $now Michael was aying close attention. (ean turned and aimed his
blinding smile on his artner to ma$e u for earlier slights.
JIsn<t this great3J
J9eah! great!J Cyle said o"er the din of the club. It was ob"ious that (ean was
'ammin, to the scene and that no matter what he thought of the lace it wouldn<t
matter to him.
J.<mon; 1i"e it a chance. 9ou want a soda or something3 My treat.J
J(ince when do you treat3J Cyle as$ed thin$ing that there was no lace in his
leather ants for a teasoon of li%uid! and he was damned if he was going to ta$e a
iss in this lace. Ma/ bumed into Cyle from behind. 7:ey! what,s your damage
*"ans38
69
7(omeone 'ust grabbed my ass;8 Ma/ whisered hotly in Cyle,s ear. Ma/,s
anger too$ another hit when he heard his artner,s laughter in his ear come o"er
the mi$e. Michael 1uerin. :ate.
J&ll the more reason to accet when I offer! man.J (ean said to Cyle about the
drin$. Loo$ing at Ma/! (ean leaned in ta$ing a fist of Ma/,s shirt and ulling him
close so their lis almost touched. 79ou,re gay! so lighten the attitude. Men come
here to be groed not to dislay maiden "irginhead. 1et with the rogram and lim
the wrist.8
J?$ay! get me a 'uice then. 1et *"ans something alcoholic;J Cyle smiled as he
watched his artner s%ueezing through the throng around the bar. Cyle loo$ed at
Ma/,s dar$ face and teased him. 7Damn *"ans! we,re gonna ha"e to feed you si/
ac$s to get you loosened u and bending o"er.8
7(ee this!8 Ma/ as$ed as he wa"ed a finger at Cyle. 79ou $now where you can
ta$e this.8
=ithout a descrition of the susects! they didn<t ha"e much to go on. Ma/
loo$ed around the bar! trying to see if anyone was acting susiciously. :e<d ne"er
had a roblem with sameAse/ coules but it was still somewhat 'arring when he
saw a coule in the corner laying tonsil hoc$ey! ob"iously not worrying that they
were in a ublic lace. @arring! but arousing nonetheless. :e ran his fingers under
the nec$ of his shirt and turned to loo$ for (ean and his damn drin$. Cyle finally
sotted his artner at the bar! chatting away with the bartender. Cyle noticed three
other #ice cos and motioned their ositions to Ma/. The gaybashing outside this
club and others was reaching an incredible le"el! and the "ictims refused to ress
charges or hel the olice. It loo$ed to be a gang of bashers! but last wee$ it had
ta$en a deadly turn when a se"erely beaten man died from $idney failure.
7:
Cyle couldn<t focus! not with the sight of (ean flirting with a man right in front
of him. Ma/ 'ust stood there rooted to the sot! watching (ean too. It seemed li$e
an eternity until (ean wal$ed towards them carrying cola! an orange 'uice! and
imorted sar$ling water. (ean,s brow 'ust raised at the two out of lace Detecti"es
and he grabbed a table! lacing their drin$s on it. They needed to loosen u.
J=hat too$ you so long3J Ma/ growled.
J@ust seeing what I could find out from @immie.8
J&nd what did you learn from @immie3 The secret of ma$ing a really dry
martini3J Cyle as$ed bitterly. =hat was his roblem3
JI already $now that secret. Don,t bruise the gin and use good "ermouth!
sha$en not stirred. :owe"er! I did find out that the shift changes at nine thirty! and
the lace ic$s u in hardcore. It was after the nine thirty turnaround that the real
bashings haened. This is only one of three laces that ha"e been targeted. ?h!
and @immie said to let him $now if you need the head. :e,ll let you use the staff<s
ri"ate facilities so no one...you $now...chec$s out your head.J
JThat<s almost an hour away;J Ma/<s head was already hurting from the noise
and bright lights. =hat the hell was with all the neon cra3 Michael was in the "an
ha"ing a merry old time eating izza and drin$ing himself sic$ on cherry co$e. Ma/
loo$ed o"er at another table to see a large s$inhead stic$ing out his studded tongue
suggesti"ely while running his hand down his body to gri his erection hard. Michael
1uerin. :ate him.
JThat<s about the size of it. .<mon! man! lighten u. &t least retend you<re
en'oying yourself or they<ll ne"er belie"e you came here by choice. )ela/ a little.J
J=e<re on duty! (ean.J Ma/ said sourly.
71
JI<m not suggesting you forget that! I<m 'ust saying you<ll be more belie"able if
you at least retend to be ha"ing fun. I $now this isn<t e/actly your $ind of lace!
but it could be a lot worse.J
JI suose!J Ma/ muttered! chugging his co$e and wondered why Cyle got
'uice.
JTa$e it easy on that. That drin$ cost me 2 buc$s;J
JI<ll buy the ne/t round.J Cyle said suc$ing his ?@ through a straw. Cyle was
surrised when he loo$ed around and saw some men watching him. >rowning as he
loo$ed down at the straw he was suc$ing on! Cyle sit it out. ?h shit;
JPromises! romises. Partner; 9ou $ee wor$ing on that straw and all your
drin$s are going to be aid for! 'ust ma$e sure that the rice doesn,t include you.
9ou better stay close to me! my little cabbage. 9ou stin$ of fresh meat.J
Cyle couldn<t sto the mo"ement of red u his nec$. 7I thought I loo$ed real
seasoned in all the leather and tattoos.8 (ean 'ust laughed at his "anilla artner and
the e%ually uncomfortable Ma/.
7)ight. @ust don,t drin$ anything not gi"en to you by the bartender! @immie or
me. That includes you too! Ma/.8
Ma/ stoed sur"eying the room and dance floor. 7=hy38
(ean made eye contact with a man across the room and smiled. 7I,ll be right
bac$. 5eha"e.8
7(ean; =hy38
(ean stoed and loo$ed bac$ at Ma/. 79ou don,t thin$ date rae drugs are
used on women e/clusi"ely! do ya38 5oth Cyle and Ma/ loo$ed at each other! and
then at their drin$s. 1reat. @ust great.
Cyle studied (ean as they sat at the table drin$ing slowly! trying to ma$e their
drin$s last. :e could see that his artner was raring to go! all that ner"ous energy
73
busting to get loose. :e couldn<t hel but notice all the attention that he and Ma/
were getting from the unattached men by the bar. Ma/ was what eole used to call
Jeasy on the eyes!J esecially tonight. The eyeliner brought out the finer more
feminine lines of his face. Cyle,s frown increased as he watched (ean leaning o"er
the other man he had bac$ed u against a wall. (uddenly (ean leaned and $issed
the man assionately with lots of tongue! and the man,s hands were all o"er (ean.
7=hat the hell;8 & shoc$ed Cyle loo$ed at an e%ually intrigued Ma/. 7=as that
art of the assignment3 +o one told me I would ha"e to $iss a man.8 Ma/ 'ust
shoo$ his head. +o clue.
They watched as (ean ulled away and whisered in the man,s ear leading
him out on the crowded dance floor full of gyrating bodies. Ma/ was amazed that
(ean could mo"e at all! with ants that tight. =orried that someone might
aroach Cyle or him! Ma/ reached out and grabbed Cyle<s arm. The feel of the
sinfully soft s$in of Cyle,s forearm against his fingertis sent a 'olt through him. :e
ga"e Cyle a %uic$ at and ushed him away. This assignment suc$ed. >irst Tess!
who told him he was lac$ing an asserti"eness she wanted or e/ected whate"er the
hell that meant! dumed him. +ow watching men ma$ing out was arousing him.
&roused enough to find Cyle attracti"e and (ean se/y. Cill him now; The ne/t thing
he $new he would start ha"ing dreams about him 'oining his artner and Maria in a
threesome.
J=hat<s u3 (ee something3J Cyle as$ed when Ma/ grabbed him and then
ushed him away.
J@ust ma$ing sure I don<t ha"e to come to your rescue later tonight.J
J:uh3J
JDar$ brown hair! blac$ leather 'ac$et at 2 o<cloc$.J
74
J9ou<re $idding3 1e was chec$ing me out3 I must loo$ better than I thought.J
Cyle reened and smiled. This wasn,t so bad. It was 'ust acting.
JCyle;J Ma/ couldn,t belie"e he was the utight one. Cyle! )oswell rednec$ of
old! was chec$ing out the men around him with a outy red mouth.
J=hat3 Loo$ at that guy; :e could ha"e retty much whome"er he wanted
with loo$s li$e that. 9ou done with your drin$3J
J9eah.J
J1ood! let<s dance.J
JI told you I<m not going to dance with you.J
J.ome on; I<m bored! we ha"e the time! and it will ma$e us less consicuous!J
Cyle wheedled as he tried to drag Ma/ off his stool to the dance floor.
JThere is no way I can dance to this.J
7That,s o$ay! igeon. I can.8 Cyle loo$ed u to see his smiling artner. (ean.
7Thought you were busy!8 Cyle motioned with his head towards the boytoy
(ean had been dancing and $issing.
7I was! and now I,m not. That,s =illiams. :e was the early shift! but he needs
to get home. :is wife 'ust had a baby and she has some ma'or ostartum stuff
going down.8
Cyle leaned into the table with Ma/. 7:e,s #ice;8 Cyle whisered in a loud
stage "oice.
7(ay it louder! artner. 9eah! he,s #ice. :is brother owns the club! and is a
itcher to the clan. =illiams has a ersonal sta$e in this. If we don,t close down this
basherfest his brother might lose his business.8
79ou $issed him;8 Ma/ said. 9o way he would e"er $iss Michael. =ell besides
the fact that 1uerin would ri off his head and sit down his throat if he tried! not
to mention ha"ing to deal with a issed off Maria.
75
79eah! well it,s 'ust a $iss! not a marriage roosal. +o big. .ome on artner!
I,ll teach you a dirty bum and grind.8 (ean ulled Cyle with him! but loo$ed bac$
at Ma/. 7:ey! Ma/! he did say that you loo$ totally fuc$able though.8 (ean laughed
at the outraged loo$ on Ma/,s face as he made his way to the dance floor with Cyle
in tow.
J(ean...J Ma/ loo$ed around at the men chec$ing him out. Dammit! how could
they lea"e him alone; This was Michael,s fault for being in the "an.
7.an I buy you a drin$38 Ma/ loo$ed u to say no into the eyes of @onathan
(tiller.
7Mr. (tiller38 The man smir$ed and nodded. Ma/ had met him a few times
through Maria.
7Mind if I 'oin you38 Ma/ didn,t $now what to say so he nodded yes. Ma/ could
hear Michael suttering in the mi$e. :What the hell was he doing there- Jonathan
,tiller is gay-0
7I! um...8 Ma/ was seechless when @onathan ut a bottle of Pellengrino
sar$ling water in front of him.
7Don,t worry. The ca is still sealed. 9ou,re safe.8 @onathan too$ the ca off his
water. 7I noticed you from the bar. 9ou loo$...uncomfortable.8
Ma/ oened the bottle and too$ a drin$. Damn right he was uncomfortable; :e
was dressed li$e a buttboy! and eole were sizing him u for a %uic$ slam u
against a wall; Peeling the label from the bottle he loo$ed at @onathan (tiller
ner"ously.
79ou come here often38 (mooth *"ans! you,re a loser. Ma/ heard Michael,s
"oice in his ear echoing his own assessment. :;oser.0
7+o. +ot really.8 @onathan tied his bottle towards a stylish man busy
chanting u a young man across the room. 7That,s my roommate from college. :e,s
76
"isiting. It,s been a really bad time for him. :e 'ust bro$e u with his last lo"er! so
he tal$ed me into ta$ing him on a bar crawl.8 They watched as @onathan,s friend
lean into the younger man in a $iss with his hand going down the front of the other
man,s ants.
7:e loo$s crushed.8
79eah! brutalized.8 @onathan laughed at Ma/,s face. 7(o what are you doing
hanging in a gay bar! Detecti"e38 as$ed @onathan in a lower tone 'ust for Ma/.
7I,m! um...8
7+e"er mind. I can,t see the +eanderthal resence of 1uerin! but I swear I can
feel him. My balls shran$ u into my body in fear of a ounding as soon as I
entered the establishment. That usually either means my e/Awife or 1uerin.8 Ma/
laughed at that. Michael,s disli$e of @onathan was notorious! and somehow @onathan
too$ it in stride and 'o$ed about it. Michael,s resonse wasn,t that leasant.
:9eanderthal- 2ash the lim" dic! girlfriend-hogging bastard$ 2ring him o#tside and
80ll let yo# get a few in too.0
7It,s comlicated.8
7I understand. It can be. (o I,ll 'ust sit here and chat you u! stare longingly
in your eyes li$e a man on the ma$e! and you can scoe the room. Deal38
7Deal.8 Ma/ li$ed this man. :e reminded him of Maria in some ways. :e was
fast! intelligent! and intuiti"e. 7I owe you.8 :< beating "ansy ass...0 /a* tuned
Michael out.
7=e,ll call it e"en for now. I don,t really feel li$e fielding any offers myself! but
until D(ud, finds himself other amusement! I can,t ta$e a owder and go find
something more entertaining to do.8 Ma/ loo$ed o"er at @onathan,s friend and
noticed him chatting u yet another man. This could be a long rocess. (ean and
Cyle were ha"ing an outrageous time on the floor! but Ma/ noticed that they were
77
wor$ing all the edges! and (ean without loo$ing ob"ious! was scanning the scene
with deadly intent.
7=hat would be more interesting or entertaining than this38 Ma/ watched
@onathan lift his bottle in the air! and magically a bartender aeared with two fresh
ones. 7&nd how did you do that38
7*ntertaining would be tonight,s ballgame! and my cell hone. The bar thing is
a lesson in how money tal$s in all stratums of society.8 @onathan loo$ed around
sotting a few more out of lace eole. .os. It was a con"ention. 7(o tell me!
Detecti"e...8
7Ma/.8
@onathan smiled. 9es! Ma/. It suited him. 7Ma/. Do you thin$ you,re still in
lo"e with Maria DeLuca38 Ma/ coughed on his water! as the suttering of Michael,s
"oice sounded in his ear.
7*/cuse me38 Ma/ cursed under his breath. It was an unso$en fascination
roblem. Michael $new! and it had dri"en him crazy at first! but o"er time Michael
calmed down to realize that it was more Ma/,s roblem and didn,t really in"ol"e him
and Maria.
7=ell...8 @onathan concentrated on his drin$.
7Did Maria say something! or...Michael38 Ma/ had to as$ e"en with Michael
listening in on the con"ersation.
7:ardly. Maria would ne"er mention something li$e that to anyone! and 1uerin
and I don,t ha"e that tye of relationshi. ?ur interactions wor$ best with me being
a source of irritation for him.8
Ma/ nodded. 79ou,re definitely that. (o how...8
7Let,s 'ust say that the few times I met you in the comany of DeLuca and
1uerin! I noticed how you treat Maria and how you watch her.8 Ma/ swallowed. :e
77
could hear Michael,s reaction to that. Ma/ ne"er realized he was that ob"ious.
7There is a secial tone you use! and the loo$ing into her eyes. I realized that you
would die for her.8
7I would.8 Ma/ said %uietly.
7=ell! I would robably do the same. (o should we discuss our eternal
fascination with one Maria DeLuca or will that cause Detecti"e 1uerin to eat his
mi$e or rush in here to beat us to a bloody ul38 @onathan laughed! as Ma/
became aware that @onathan somehow $new Michael was ri"y to their
con"ersation.
7(orry! we,re wor$ing.8
7I $now. +o roblem. (hould I lea"e you to get on with it38
7+o. That,s o$ay. I would rather not be left alone in this...lace8
7I thin$ the term is meat factory.8 @onathan wa"ed for the bartender. 7Let,s
ste this u. I,m assuming alcohol is off the menu for you! so how about something
cola li$e38 @onathan ordered drin$s when the bartender showed u after Ma/
nodded an accetance of the drin$.
=atching his team while @onathan was busy. Ma/ noticed Cyle dancing with
three men at once. (lut. (et him on a dance floor and he was out of control. Ma/
was shoc$ed. :e hadn,t realized Cyle could dance anything but a twoAste. (ean
had disaeared! but suddenly Ma/ saw him circling the floor chec$ing out
con"ersations and eole along the way! stoing to tal$ to some erson! siing
their drin$! laughing and then mo"ing on. :e made it seem so natural and easy.
7Ma/.8 @onathan called his name to get his attention bac$. Ma/ was surrised
to see a touch of irritation mo"e across the man,s face. *"idently @onathan li$ed
ha"ing undi"ided attention. Ma/ loo$ed at the man in seculation. :e was wealthy!
meticulous! and controlling.
78
7(o when did you find yourself fascinated with our lo"ely Maria38 Ma/ turned
the tables on the man! and noticed that Michael was silent. :e ob"iously wanted to
$now how much he needed to worry about the man. It seemed li$e a golden
oortunity to grill him. The things he did for his artner...
7The moment I met her! of course. Most eole feel the charisma. It,s hard to
resist.8 Ma/ nodded and loo$ed o"er at (ean wor$ing the room. Those DeLuca,s had
a charm that was undeniable. 75ut it too$ me longer to realize what it was.8
Ma/ turned his attentions bac$ on @onathan. 7=hat38
7It was the fact that she is obli"ious to her effect on others. It is li$e needing
attention! which she doesn<t gi"e until suddenly...5am; 9ou are under her direct
regard. Maria is li$e a light! a beacon in the dar$! or a ro"erbial eternal flame. (he
e/udes life and li"ing! and for those of us lost in the dar$ she is an undeniable
attraction! almost a sal"ation.8
7It,s li$e bas$ing in the warmth after li"ing in the cold for so long.8 Ma/ said
%uietly. :e remembered what it was li$e. Michael! Isabel and he were wandering
without real urose! 'ust barely sur"i"ing! and suddenly she smiled and it 'ust felt
better. Then watching Michael,s entire life change by being with her! it was hard not
to wish for or want that same feeling of grace.
7There,s only been one man I,"e e"er seen her notice continuously! one that
does for her what she does for others. :er beacon.8
7Michael38 Ma/ as$ed. It was so ob"ious. Maria interacted with other eole!
but with Michael she suddenly changed! became e"en more animated if ossible!
and life and mischief filled her whole demeanor along with an incredible gentleness.
79eah. 1uerin.8 @onathan snic$ered under his breath. :e $new Michael was
listening. The luc$y bastard. 7=hat a waste.8 @onathan almost sit out his whis$ey
sour when he could actually hear 1uerin,s resonse! so loud that it made Ma/ wince
79
in ain. @onathan loo$ed around the room. 7I thin$ we should dance. Peole are
ta$ing too much notice of us. 1uess we aren,t e/uding enough lo"erAli$e "ibes.8
7I can,t dance to this stuff! and these damn ants are so tight I,ll slit them.8
J@ust try. 9ou might surrise yourself.J @onathan got u and offered Ma/ his
hand with a twin$le of a dare in his dar$ blac$ eyes.
Ma/ let himself be bac$ed u onto the dance floor. :e slowly mo"ed his feet
unsure about what he should do. @onathan could actually mo"e. :e mo"ed "ery
much li$e the men around him with a looseAlimbed rhythm. Ma/ stood and
obser"ed @onathan as he lost himself in the music. 1reat. =here did all these
eole learn to dance li$e this3 :e was shoc$ed when @onathan mo"ed closer to
him almost mating their fronts.
7Don,t be so stiff. It,s not that hard! 'ust watch the others and mimic their
mo"ements! or mimic mine. My e/Awife was a dancer. (he dragged me to e"ery
ossible tye of dancing during our short hellish marriage.8
Ma/ nodded and tried to rela/! feel the music and go with the flow. Cyle was
ob"iously ha"ing no real hangAus with this. :e and (ean were in a shoc$ing bum
and grind. Ma/ started slowly! his eyelids drifting down so that they were only
slightly oen and he mo"ed his head in time with the music. 1ood thing Michael
wasn,t anywhere close by to obser"e this or he would ne"er li"e it down. Then
Ma/<s body began to sway with the music! matching the mo"ement of @onathan,s
still "ery closely mated body. The man didn,t bac$ off.
@onathan inched in closer and closer to the oint where Ma/ didn,t thin$ there
could be any more sace. (uddenly all Ma/ could see was @onathan and his dar$
eyes and the feel of the mo"ement of his body. :e bloc$ed out the rest of the bar!
focusing all of his attention on Ma/ in front of him. :is his swayed in time to the
music while he ran a hand down Ma/<s chest.
7:
79ou can do it! Detecti"e.8 :e said softly in Ma/,s ear only.
Ma/ s%ueezed his eyes shut and too$ a dee breath! trying to disel his
reaction to the closeness of @onathan and the sensation of his hand on him. :e
hoed that what he was feeling wasn<t "isible on his face as @onathan %uir$ed an
eyebrow at him.
JI can<t mo"e li$e that.J
J(ure you can.J
J@onathan! you may ha"e ball bearings for his but I don<t.J
JTrust me! o$ay3 @ust do what I tell you.J
JI don<t ha"e time for this. I,m wor$ing.J That e/cuse sounded lame e"en in
Ma/,s ears. Michael "oice chiring in his ear didn,t hel. :Don0t let him !iss yo#
st#d. =esist !issing on the first date or he might thin! yo#0re a sl#t.0 5astard.
J9es! you do. +ow! close your eyes. I mean it! close your eyes.J Ma/ sighed
and did as he was told to do.
J>eel the music. Don<t listen to it. >eel it. >eel the beat. Let it start at the
bottoms of your feet and slowly wor$ it<s way u your legs. It,s not the words! or
the ounding regardless what eole in this meat mar$et would want to you to
thin$. It,s the rhythm. That<s it; Let the music mo"e you.J
Ma/ slowly oened his eyes and loo$ed at @onathan. :e was standing there
swaying! smiling u at him! as he mo"ed to the rhythms that roc$ed his body.
&lthough he wasn<t so stiff o"er this turn of e"ents! he $new he wasn<t e/actly in
control of his actions. :is usual controlAfrea$ tendencies were sliing and the
strangeness of the situation was lea"ing him adrift. The lace! the music! and the
man in front of him were in control and all these things together battered against
his carefully builtAu control.
71
& %uiet groan escaed him as @onathan ulled him u against his chest. It felt
so strange to be the smaller erson in a dance. @onathan (tiller was a good si/ feet
and two inches tall! and his frame was lighter than Michael,s but still large. (ongs
came and went but Ma/ had no idea how long they stayed li$e that! lost in the
music and each other. (ome art of his brain was trying to catalog sniets of
information! li$e he was on an assignment and shouldn,t be reacting this way to
another man! esecially one that was 'ust heling him out. :e reached a hand u
touch @onathan,s hair almost against his own will. It was dar$ and fine and loo$ed
li$e sil$! and felt that way too. Twining his hand in its softness! @onathan loo$ed at
him sharly with seculation in his eyes until a small smile tilted the corner of his
mouth.
@onathan mo"ed his body so that his leg was between Ma/,s and one of Ma/,s
legs was between his. They faced each other with their his straddled together so
close that it was hard to miss the other<s reaction. Ma/ loo$ed u into @onathan<s
face! stunned by the desire he saw in those eyes. (ha$en to the core! Ma/ thought
that it was the music. That<s all it was. @onathan was 'ust laying a game! thin$ing
that he needed a co"er. There was no way he<d let someone this close . . . but Ma/
was that close. .lose enough to feel the other man,s erection as it rubbed against
his leg! and hard to ignore his own erection doing the same against @onathan.
Ma/ moaned and droed his head against the other man,s shoulder. This
wasn,t haening. It couldn,t be! because he was straight; ?h man! he wanted this;
:e needed this. :e was gonna be issed tomorrow! disgusted at himself. 5ut that
was tomorrow.
Ma/ watched in fascination! almost outside his body as he reached a hand u
to cu the bac$ of @onathan<s head! re"eling in the soft! "el"ety feel of the sil$y
blac$ hair worn slightly long. It only too$ a minimum of ressure to con"ince
73
@onathan to bring his head down! to bring his lis into range. @onathan wasn,t doing
this! but he was. Ma/ lic$ed his lis in anticiation! then stretched u to bring them
together. :e felt @onathan<s gri on his body tighten as the $iss deeened. Their
bodies stoed mo"ing as all of their attention centered on the melding of their
mouths.
(ensations blasted their way into Ma/,s mind! mi/ing their indi"idual tastes
into on uni%ue one. .ola. (cotch. (omething that was 'ust @onathan! something
cool and eermint. & tongue scraing along teeth! tic$ling the sensiti"e art of
the roof of his mouth! right behind his teeth. :e could feel @onathan "ibrating
against him! a urring rumble sha$ing the long slim body. &nd it felt...he didn,t
$now. It was a flashing sensation of light! increasing in intensity by the mo"ement
of @onathan,s hand on his crotch. Ma/ moaned and ushed hard into that hand. 9es.
:e could ha"e stayed that way fore"er! if it weren<t for the hard hand on his
shoulder ulling him out of the $iss. :e forced himself away from @onathan!
groaning as he loo$ed at the man and watching confusion mo"e across his face.
Ma/ ulled his hand away from @onathan,s body and rubbed his face as both
(ean,s "oice and Michael,s echoed in his ear. ?h 1od; =hat am I doing;
7Ma/! we,"e got to 1?;8 (ean ga"e him another sha$e. Ma/ couldn,t focus on
the "oice in his ear as Michael called to him! demanding a resonse.
Those dar$ fathomless blac$ eyes stared bac$ at himB the lis were bruised
from their $isses. There had been more than one! oh 1od! actually so many they
melded into a huge mess that had no beginning or end; &nd with a sarcastic shrug!
@onathan motioned his head towards (ean as if to tell Ma/ he needed to go. The
softly so$en words hit him beyond the noise! music! (ean! and Michael screaming
in his ear.
7Than$ you for the...dance! Detecti"e.8
74
Ma/ turned to tal$ to (ean! to tell him he was coming as (ean lost atience
and was ulling him away. 5ut he turned bac$ suddenly! and @onathan was gone.
Loo$ing around! he couldn,t see the man anywhere. Ma/ let (ean drag him off the
floor into the masses.
7=hat the hell! *"ans; =a$e u; =e,"e got a hit in the side alley outside. Cyle
sotted them mo"ing and drugging their "ictim.8 (ean loo$ed at the dazed Ma/ and
'ust sighed. It was a $iss! 'ust a $iss. ?$ay maybe it was more. The two men had
seemed frozen for a long time! their mouths mated and mo"ing furiously while their
hands had mo"ed o"er each other,s bodies.
>/a*> Michael,s said gruffly in his ear.
(ean loo$ed o"er at Ma/ as Michael,s "oice sounded in his ear. 7I,"e got him
Michael. =hich way do we deloy38
3?#tside #nits are moving towards the alley @yle is already there tal!ing to
them. &a!e the right o#tside door and !ee" them from fleeing bac! into the cl#b.5
Michael,s "oice aused. 3Ao# both might want to h#rry to !ee" ;ittle 7rassho""er
from getting bashed along with the victim.5
71otcha. Pass to grasshoer! his Master is on his way! and to duc$.8 (ean and
Ma/ ushed their way through the crowd. Ma/ didn,t ma$e a comment! but
suddenly the club was busier and e"en more ac$ed than he remembered. :e
ignored the groing hands grabbing at him as he and (ean found the door.
They e/loded through it 'ust in time to see Cyle ta$e a cli to his 'aw while
two other men held him! and another two men held another man. (ean felt the
rush of rage li$e a redness co"er his sight as his artner too$ another one to the
gut! coughing and bent o"er.
75
Leading with his fist! he too$ out the man hitting his artner! as Ma/ 'umed
one of the men holding Cyle. (uddenly there was increase of noise and chaos as
more #ice cos and a hobbling Michael 'oined the fray.
Later the boys were sitting in their usual osition! that being the bac$ of an
*M( "ehicle! ha"ing scraes and bruises tended by a laughing aramedic. Michael
was standing aart! refusing to be art of the ritual.
7.ome on Detecti"e. *"en I can see that cut on your chee$ from here.8
8It,s fine.8 Michael refused and the aramedic finally ga"e u. Ma/ glanced at
his artner a few times! but didn,t say a word. Cyle was ma$ing u for all of them
in the tal$ing deartment. :e was telling of his ad"entures and misad"entures.
79ou ne"er lea"e an oeration without bac$u! Cyle.8 (ean said while he had
his 'ammed finger slinted. It hurt li$e a son of a bitch.
7I radioed Michael! but I wasn,t sure the guy was drugged until he staggered
and three guys 'oined the other two. >i"e against one didn,t seem li$e good odds.
The $id wasn<t going to ta$e long to ul"erize and dro.8
7(o you ut your own body in the way. :ow did you do that e/actly38
Cyle laughed. 7I came on to one of the guys.8 (ean,s brow went u as he
loo$ed o"er at the men being handled into atrol cars.
7=hich one3 The butch one with a mustache! or the one with arms full of
tattoos38
7+aw! the bald one with muscles. .an,t e/lain it! but the baldness must be
some ma'or turn on. +e"er thought it would haen! but I $ind of thought it was
se/y.8 (ean laughed. It was good to see his artner ta$ing the assignment better
than when he started. They might be able to actually ha"e fun together off duty
outside of o$er games and sorting e"ents. (ean saw one of his old #ice buddies
who was in on the bust gi"e him a sign.
76
75e right bac$. (hirley! stay out of trouble and no more ic$ing u guys.8 (ean
loo$ed at the aramedic. 7.areful of this one! he,s carrying a oc$et of s%uabs.8
7Than$s for the ti.8 The aramedic atted Cyle on the head. 7Down cowboy.
I,ll get you atched u and you can hit the hay trails again.8
J(ean! good to see ya in action mi amigo.8
7&ndy. =as that Taylor I saw you ma$ing u to in the bar3 Thought you two
hated each others guts38
7=e can hate each other<s guts as long as we,re willing to lic$ each other<s
balls.8 &ndy smiled. 7Miss you at the Deartment. (tric$land has been an ass since
you left. 9our success and arrest record at Ma'ors is issing him off.8
7&re you seeing tears in my eyes3 (to with the soa! and tell me why
(tric$Dic$ was willing to share a collar with Ma'ors. +e"er thought I would see the
day that tightwad shared anything! esecially with .a.8
7This situation 'ust went on too long! and one of the bashing "ictims was an
0er &lderman,s son. That got (tric$land,s balls in a twist for not crac$ing down
on it sooner. (on of a bitch would ha"e turned a cold eye fore"er! otherwise. It
came straight from the .ommissioner,s Den. (tric$Dic$ is feeling the sound of his
own drowning career.8 &ndy lit a smo$e and assed it to (ean. They shared the
clo"e cig for a moment. 7:e was so frantic that he had us wired thin! co"ering four
gay 'oints a night in two shifts each. It left us too oen and unable to mo"e fast
enough.8
7Thought as much when I saw =illiams earlier.8 (ean too$ another draw on
the cigarette. )emembering Michael,s tal$ with him earlier! (ean too$ a ste bac$
into the life. 7:ey! &ndy! how you feel about a wor$out at the Den this wee$end38
7I could sot you. Thought you were wal$in< the "anilla trail.8
77
7=as! but it,s not wor$ing out li$e I thought it would.8 (ean assed the
cigarette bac$ to his friend. 7I,ll call in the reser"ations if you can lea"e wor$ early
tomorrow for &lbu%uer%ue.8
7Done. 9ou can call it a night. They,"e been caught. Don<t worry about any
aerwor$. @ust go home and get some rest.J &ndy loo$ed bac$ at his friend. 7=hat
le"el of the Den you laying38
7)ed! and safety word is Dmore,.8
&ndy whistled under his breath. 7Then ta$e off for sure. 9ou,re gonna need
your rest.8
JThan$s! mi amigo!J (ean said turning bac$ to his artner and the others.
Loo$ed li$e he and Par$er were going to ha"e a one on one! and soon.
J=hat<s going on3J Cyle as$ed as (ean reached them.
JThey,re going to rocess the guys. =e can head home.J
J?h.J Cyle so$e %uietlyB deressed at the thought of losing the fun he<d had
for a fleeting amount of time.
JMa/3J (ean loo$ed at the %uiet man.
J9eah3J
79ou and Michael ready38 Michael 'ust nodded and led the way bac$ to their
car. (ean and Cyle had ridden o"er to the loft with them earlier! so they needed to
gi"e them a ride bac$ to the Deartment.
Cyle chatted all the way to the station with (ean tossing in comments! but the
other team remained silent.
7=hat a rush; I didn,t $now a lace could be so haening.8 Cyle laughed still
feeling the rush of adrenaline in his blood. 7:ey! (ean! I $now it,s a gay club! but
you thin$ they,d mind if I too$ Tess there to dance38
77
7They,ll 'ust stare at you and feel that you,re being wasted! but otherwise! it,s
a free state. Cnoc$ yourself out. 5ut if you,re 'ust loo$ing for music and fun! .lub
:ell is a hot and hoing lace for the straights.8
75een there! but this lace was different with all the lights and music. .lub
:ell is more li$e a banger,s club. This one had some retty danceable tunes.8 Cyle
smelt himself and mo"ed uneasily in his leather ants. 7:ow do you clean leather
ants anyway38
7=hy38 Michael as$ed absentmindedly.
7Man! I was in a horde of dancers! all too close to mo"e! and someone ga"e
me a hand 'ob! I $id you not. These ants are a mess and stic$y to boot.8
Michael loo$ed bac$ at Cyle and frowned. 79ou $now! you don,t need to feel
comelled to tell us e"ery detail.8
(ean 'ust laughed at Michael,s e/ression! but lost the smile when he noticed
Ma/,s silent brooding loo$ as he dro"e. 79ou should,"e tried the bathroom! Cyle. 9ou
might ha"e gotten more than a little tug and ull.8
7+o shit; Man! where was this lace when I was a horny teenager38 (ean
loo$ed at his artner and 'ust shoo$ his head. 9eah! li$e Cyle #alenti as a teenager
in rednec$ )oswell would,"e felt confident enough as a school 'oc$ to get a blow'ob
in a gay club. &nd igs fly.
Michael was as %uiet as Ma/ on the dri"e home after they lost the racy boys. It
was barely midnight so Michael doubted Maria was aslee yet. Loo$ing o"er at his
silent artner! Michael frowned.
7Ma/...8
7+ot tonight! o$ay artner38 Ma/ as$ed %uietly.
Michael 'ust shrugged and loo$ed out his window. :e didn,t $now what had
haened e/actly in the bar! but (ean,s concerned loo$s at Ma/ had Michael
78
worried. *"en the con"ersation with @onathan (tiller ga"e Michael some food for
thought. The smarmy bastard was right. Maria did ha"e an energy about her! a
source of life that was addicting. 5ut the man was stuid if he didn,t thin$ Michael
$new how luc$y he was.
---
:e sat in the dar$. It was late and the longer he sat the better. )ushing was
always a roblem for some. It created sloiness and roblems. :olding onto the
stirring wheel! he could feel the leather casing and he tightened his hands when he
noticed them sha$ing.
Letting the anger rage though him! he got out of the car and loo$ed o"er the
duming field. It was too tight! too many already dumed. :e had forgotten to find
a new lace. The latest re'ect had come too fast and was too marred to $ee! e"en
for a day. The bitch. The stuid! imerfect bitch$ =al$ing and breathing her
suosed erfection! con"incing others that she was the one. :er grating nasally
"oice and no/ious retentiousness issed him off before he too$ her. :e should
ha"e $nown immediately that the woman was marred. &n insult to the erfection of
nature. +o one... 9o one tries that hard to ma$e others resect their intelligence!
not unless there was some festering disease.
It was his mista$e. &nd he didn,t ma$e mista$es. Ta$ing the sho"el from the
trun$ and ignoring the wraed body! he wal$ed the field and tested the deth. Too
many here already. The mass gra"e was too shallow! and more would e/ose it.
Irritated! he returned to the car and tossed the sho"el on the mound and slammed
the trun$ shut.
79
Losing his control for a moment! he beat his closed fist against the closed
trun$ and let the rage and anger mo"e through him. It was a waste of time! all of
it; The hunting ground was loud and noisy. The bright lights and the shrill sounds of
eole lying about themsel"es! creating false imressions to tra a future mate in a
web of deceit with the romise of erfection. It was a lie! all lies. The imerfect
remained marred! and they reroduced with e%ually damaged secimens! creating
a race of garbage.
:e threw himself bac$ into the dri"er,s seat and gunned the engine. :is entire
body was %ua$ing with the rage. 1arbage; They were all garbage$$
8:
Day 3: 6riday- 1%:BC a.m.
Michael oened the door to the loft! and wasn<t surrised to see the lights still
on. Maria in bed before midnight without him would,"e been a shoc$er. .losing the
door! he tossed his 'ac$et on the sofa and reached down and too$ off the $nee
brace. :e had had enough of that.
79ou,re suosed to lea"e that on until the doctor says to ta$e it off! buddy.8
Michael loo$ed o"er at the $itchen bar and smiled. :is woman! eating her body
weight in food.
79eah! that,s what he said.8 Michael too$ the barstool ne/t to her and grabbed
a ic$le off her late and $issed her %uic$ly before ta$ing a bite.
7+ew wound on the chee$. =ant me to doctor it for you38 Maria as$ed as she
reached o"er and ate the rest of the ic$le out of his hand.
7Later. I need to clean u first.8
7:ow was the sting! the oeration! the whate"er you call it38 Maria ushed the
bread and coldcuts towards him. Ta$ing more >rench bread! she handed him a $nife
to slice her some. 7(lice my bread! lease. 5ut not too thin.8 Maria watched him
start to cut. 75ut not too thic$ either.8 Michael snorted and whac$ed her off two
ieces and $issed her hard. 7Perfect.8 (he urred after he released her and she
lic$ed her lis.
7It was a bust tonight. &ll finished. They caught the fi"e men and the world is
safe again.8 Michael aused in ma$ing himself a sandwich to go grab a beer out of
the refrigerator! e/tra cheese! more ic$les and oli"es! and a bottled water for
Maria. (itting down ne/t to her! he watched her construct another sandwich for
herself! while at the same time snea$ing bits of tur$ey to Mr. 5ooboo! who was
lur$ing under the counter. Mayo3 Maria only used mayo on certain meats. This was
81
5rie cheese! ro"olone! and three slices of corned beef! astrami! tur$ey! a sla of
sicy brown mustard! and then some un$nown beef loo$ing meat. =eird.
7=hat is that38
7Tongue.8
Michael loo$ed into the coldcut container. &ong#e- 79ou,re $idding! right38
7+oe. :ad a cra"ing.8 Maria continued to stac$ the sandwich with (wiss
cheese! lettuce! ic$les and tomatoes! adding "inegar and salt and eer! a
handful of otato chisB then she co"ered the last iece of bread in eanut butter.
.utting her sandwich! Maria too$ a large bite and was haily munching away!
almost humming under her breath.
7That,s disgusting;8
Maria 'ust shrugged and reached for a ic$le out of the 'ar. 7Don,t $noc$ it if
you,"e ne"er tried it.8
Michael reached o"er and too$ her other half o"er her rotest and too$ a bite.
Pausing! he suddenly realized that he was ra"enous! and somehow this crazy
sandwich hit the sot! e/cet it was missing something. Maria suddenly went to the
refrigerator and brought out a bottle of seafood coc$tail sauce and grabbed a bottle
of Tabasco. That,s what was missing; Michael smeared on some coc$tail sauce
followed by some Tabasco as Maria did the same.
(he loo$ed o"er as he de"oured the sandwich and then loo$ed down at her
emty late. 1uling down the bite she was chewing! she still tal$ed with her
mouth full of food. 7:ey! ma$e your own; I,m star"ing.8
They both made another sandwich and traded stories of their day while eating.
Michael oed the last bite in his mouth! and actually felt good for the first time
that day. :e had wo$en with a headache! slightly nauseated and his $nee $illing
him. The nausea only got worse after .a grilled the cra out of them and he had
83
had to sit ne/t to Cyle and his new aftersha"e during deartmental briefing. Then
he ate half a dozen donuts! and three Ith &"enue bars! too$ an hour na in
:olding! followed by a lunch in the ar$ from a $ios$. >or some reason he had had
a cra"ing for li"er NtO! but settled for a 5raunschweiger sandwich with mushrooms
and grilled shrim on a large Caiser roll. Ma/ watched horrified! as he dran$ four
cus of hot bad coffee laced with Tabasco. Michael wasn,t going to admit to the fi"e
other Ith &"enue candy bars he ate! and then he and Maria olished off an e/tra
large double ancho"y and eer izza from Maggianio,s that Maria ordered while
they finished getting dressed for the gay bar.
7(o! Maria...8 Michael didn,t $now how to as$ her! or why he felt the need! but
he did. 7Did you $now Ma/ is in lo"e with you38
Maria ignored him and continued utting away the sandwich stuff. Michael
grabbed a few oli"es for the road before that 'ar disaeared too. 79ou through with
the ic$les38
7Professor;8
Maria stoed and loo$ed at him across the counterto. 79eah I $new.8 (he
reached for the bread and ut it in its tin co"er.
7=hy didn,t you say anything38 Michael as$ed as he felt the dar$ 'ealousy rise!
trying to swallow it li$e a lum in his throat.
Maria climbed the stairs to the bedroom! not answering him. Turning off the
lights! he followed her and watched as she turned bac$ the bedding and started
getting ready for slee. Mo"ing into the bathroom! she sat in a robe on the tiled
edge of the bath and ran the water. Loo$ing o"er at him standing silent against the
door'amb! she sighed. 7It 'ust seemed $inder to ignore it. :e,s not in lo"e with me.
:e 'ust thin$s he is.8
84
Michael mo"ed into the room! shutting the door to $ee the warm moisture in!
and watched her remo"e her robe as she slid into the water. )emo"ing his clothes
he 'oined her while she lit the candles on the bac$ shelf.
75ut how do you $now he,s not in lo"e with you38
Maria smiled and went into his arms to rest against him in the bath. 7:e ne"er
isses me off or starts a fight with me. =hat $ind of lo"e is that38 Michael smiled to
himself. That was true. They ne"er wooed eacefullyB it was as if they en'oyed
wal$ing in the fire.
79ou want to wor$ on the Mustang this wee$end38 Michael as$ed while leaning
bac$ in the bath with his eyes closed. Maria had already washed his cut! and the
water felt so good. Maria giggled at the %uestion. They wor$ed on it almost e"ery
wee$end! and it usually ended u in a shouting match! flinging tools and greasy
se/.
7(ure! I could use a lube 'ob.8
---
They e/ited the club from the side door. .losing hour made the rush at the
front doors too much of a crush! so the grou of young students too$ the easy way
out. The girls were wal$ing in front of their boyfriends! when one of the young men
too$ off running! and grabbed a hat off the head of one the girls.
7(to it; 1i"e it bac$;8 (uddenly the grou of men was in a layful game of
$ee away with the girls. The screeching and noise was increased as the lay
continued. >inally one of the students tried bac$wards o"er something beside the
garbage s$i.
85
*mbarrassed by the laughter of his friends! he stood u laughing at himself. It
was the hand falling out of the lastic wra that sent him scrambling away.
---
(ean rolled o"er in bed and reached for the hone. 5lasted ringing was in his
ear; Too loud; 1roing for the hone and the light at the same time! he sat u in
bed! hesitant to turn on the light unless he needed to.
79eah! if this is an obscene call ma$e it good so I don,t ha"e to do too much
wor$ getting myself off.8
7Detecti"e DeLuca38 (ean swore at the "oice of the PD controller at disatch.
It was wor$. :is and Cyle,s name must ha"e cycled to the to of the call list for the
ne/t ma'or crime. Turning on the light! he grabbed a en and wrote down the
information before disconnecting.
1rabbing some clothes he too$ the hone with him unching in Cyle,s number.
:e was the senior officer. They always called the senior officer.
=hen the hone answered on the other end! he barely waited for Cyle,s sleey
"oice to answer. 71et a mo"e on! 1racie! we,"e got to ma$e the donuts. Ciss
whate"er you,"e got sleeing with you goodbye and meet me out front in fi"e.8
(ean hung u and tossed the hone on his $itchen counter before hitting the
streets.
7(ean38 Cyle loo$ed at the hone with its harsh dial tone and hung u. >alling
bac$ into his bed! he loo$ed o"er at the cloc$ at his bedside. >ric$in, three o,cloc$ in
the morning; :e should,"e gone to medical school and become a doctor! and then
maybe he could get a full night<s slee. Loo$ing at the emty bed ne/t to him! he
got u and tossed on clothes! any clothes he could find.
86
Ciss the erson he was sleeing with goodbye3 )ight. ?"er four months ago!
he decided he was finished with gratuitous se/! that he wanted something more. :e
was twentyAse"en years old and had ne"er had a longAterm meaningful relationshi
outside of his friendshi with @ac$ and Tess. (uddenly he wanted more! much more!
and the want was becoming an undeniable ache.
:eading outside! he stood outside his aartment in the dar$ under a
streetlam and listened to the %uiet world slee. *"erything was too %uiet. It had
been for a long time! since @ac$ :ardy died. :e was sic$ of no laughter and lo"e in
his life. Man wasn,t a creature meant to wal$ alone! but he didn,t want 'ust anyone.
:e wanted the only erson he could ne"er ha"e! so maybe it would stay silent for a
long time. Cyle loo$ed down the street as headlights turned onto his street and
were bearing down on him at a swift seed.
Patrol cars were the only units on scene when they arri"ed. 9ellow crime scene
tae mar$ed off the ends of the alley while atrolmen controlled the increasing
crowds rubbernec$ing for thrill and ad"enture.
(ean stoed at the tae and then went under! followed by Cyle. The
atrolman glanced at their credentials and nodded them through. (ean scanned the
scene and immediately identified the senior uniform on site.
7)alh! you ulling nights now38 The man turned at (ean,s "oice and smiled.
True! he was a tenAyear beat co with enough seniority to wor$ the cushy day shift!
but he li$ed a rotating shift that got him in the world at different times.
7Training a roo$ie. Isn,t that the story3 &nd since he<ll be wor$ing a lot of
nights! I decided it was best to ta$e some for e/erience.8 )alh didn,t mention the
roblems he was ha"ing at home! or any other factor that made the nightshift loo$
good.
87
7&ll these roo$ies. :e good38 (ean dug in his shirt for a cigarette e"en though
he $new they wouldn,t be there. :e didn,t smo$e. )alh handed the Detecti"e a few
from his ac$.
7:e,ll age. Tonight heled.8
7=hat,s with the eanut gallery38 (ean motioned to the crowd. Three in the
fric$in, morning! didn,t these eole ha"e homes3
7=e,re at the bac$ of .lub :ell. The crowds are the fringes left after bar time.
?ur eyewitnesses were lea"ing the club from the side door when they found the
body. I,"e got them inside the actual club right now.8
71ood. (ee what your men can do about thinning the herd and clearing away
the scene. 9ou call for .rime 0nit and suort teams38
7Done.8
71ood man. =hen they arri"e ha"e the hotoA'oc$ey ta$e some crowd hotos
nice! clear and clean. Than$s for the smo$e! )alh.8 (ean wal$ed away and
motioned for a %uiet Cyle to follow. They wal$ed the edges of the crime scene!
careful not to tramle or disturb any e"idence. Loo$ing bac$! he called o"er to
)alh again. 7:ey! )alh! see what the surrounding building can do about turning
on some building lights here! or get me some torches u.8 )alh ga"e him a wa"e
of ac$nowledgement and loo$ed at the building tos for hanging lights. Ta$ing his
s%uaw$ from his uniform! he called disatch for some mobile light units.
(ean aroached the wraed body with a hand flung to the side! and loo$ed
u and down the alley. *asy access both ways. It wasn,t a double blind alley with
only one oening. Loo$ing down the street he saw the steam co"ers on the ground!
and noted how close the body was to the dumster. It was rolled from the bac$ of a
car.
87
7Cyle! go ull the crime $it out of my trun$.8 (ean mo"ed his eyes u and
down the dumster loo$ing for blood! but he $new there wouldn,t be any. Cyle
returned %uic$ly and had their $it oen. (ean too$ the hea"y light and shone it
around the outline of the body. It loo$ed cleaned. Ta$ing the tae! he %uic$ly
outlined the body before he too$ a chance of mo"ing it! and laced a tae to the
toside of the clear lastic co"ering the stiff.
(tanding! he too$ the light from Cyle and beamed it out o"er the field as much
as ossible while Cyle loaded a camera and too$ ictures from all angles. They
needed to record the scene before disturbing or any information altered by the
disturbance. &ny information changed would be lost. Cyle sent the ac$ and ulled
the roll mar$ing it with the crime scene number.
(ean loo$ed u at his artner. 79ou ready38 :e waited for Cyle,s nod and
s%uatted down! utting on late/ glo"es. 0sing the edge of a en he carefully
oened the lastic wra. >rom the hand! he already $new it was female. Pulling
bac$ the co"er! he actually sat bac$ as Cyle gased when they saw the full body.
6uic$ly returning the co"er bac$ to its original osition! (ean stood u swearing as
he loo$ed u and down the alley. Cyle was silent! his eyes not lea"ing the body.
)ubbing his hand u his nec$! (ean loo$ed at his artner. 79ou all right38
Cyle 'ust nodded. It was...the body was...he didn,t $now. 7(ean! what was
that38
7Manufactured death. The body was rocessed.8 (ean called through to
disatch as the suort units arri"ed. (imon! the chief forensic officer headed
straight for the Detecti"es. :e aused ne/t to (ean listening to him argue with
disatch.
7I don,t care. .all him;8 (ean listened to their resonse. 7Loo$! I,ll ta$e full
resonsibility.8 (ean wal$ed away down the alley screaming in his recei"er. (imon
88
'ust calmly ut on late/ glo"es and loo$ed at the body. 6uic$ly standing and loo$ing
at a issed off (ean trying to con"ince disatch that it didn,t matter that 1uerin was
on the in'ury list and down for des$ duty only. :e wanted him on fric$in< scene;
(imon wal$ed o"er and too$ the hone from (ean. 7This is .atain (imon
Morley! call 1uerin now or loo$ for another 'ob;8 (imon disconnected on disatch
and made another call on (ean,s hone. & soft gentle "oice answered! and (imon
as$ed for @im #alenti! aologizing to &my DeLuca for wa$ing her.
7@im3 It,s (imon. I,"e got your team of DeLuca and #alenti on a crime scene!
but I need 1uerin. I 'ust ordered disatch to ull 1uerin from des$.8 (imon listened
to @im for a moment! and then down at the lastic mound of a once li"ing body.
7=orse! we need him.8
(ean loo$ed o"er at (imon. 7Than$s (imon.8
7+o roblem. This should be 1uerin,s anyway! and if it wasn,t for him being
ut on des$ duty! he would already be here.8
(ean $new that and drew on his smo$e. 7Cyle and I ha"e witnesses inside.
.all us when Michael gets here.8
7=ill do.8 (imon saw the mobile light unit arri"ing. 71o do your thing! and I<ll
sto Michael from starting without you.8
7Than$s.8 (ean and Cyle mo"ed towards the side door of the club to go tal$ to
their witnesses. (ean smiled at (imon tal$ing to his men.
7.lub :ell; Damn! guess I,ll finally get to see the inside. =e,re mo"ing u
boys! so try to loo$ hi. (et u those lights in cross transit and broadside. I need
this alley lit li$e .hristmas. (omeone shoot the crowd! and ma$e them clear nice
ictures that a mother would want to frame. .harley ull measurements and
someone find me some tire trac$s or rubber.8
89
---
& startled Mr. 5ooboo strea$ed off the bed and Maria moaned at the sudden
ring of the hone as she burrowed e"en deeer into Michael,s side! refusing to wa$e
u. Michael loo$ed down at her and $issed the to of her head as he reached across
to ic$ u the handset.
7(omeone better be dead.8 Michael suddenly sat u as he listened to disatch!
sliding his hand comfortingly down Maria,s na$ed bac$ to calm her from the loss of
his body. )eaching down he ulled the co"ers u o"er her! $nowing he was going to
lea"e and she would be cold. 7=a$e *"ans. Tell him to meet me onAsite. &ny other
units already deloyed38 Michael swore at Cyle and (ean,s name. :e was already
tired of them and this 'oint artnershi thing wasn,t e"en twentyAfour hours old;
Turning on a soft bedside light muted so not to wa$e Maria! Michael stood to
get dressed! and then sat bac$ down. 5ending at the waist! he rested his head in
his hands between his legs. Dizzy! nauseated! his stomach was doing flis. It had to
be the sandwich. Maria,s hand mo"ed u his bac$ and then around to his front as
her body came to rest on his bac$ hugging him.
79ou o$ay38 Michael closed his eyes and rested as she $issed him on his bac$
and stro$ed his stomach. 7Michael38
79eah! I,m fine. I 'ust sat u too fast.8 Michael was starting to worry. :e had
been sic$ e"ery day for the ast wee$! and he ne"er got sic$. 7It,ll ass after I,m u
for a while.8
7Thin$ you need some food or something38
7& big no.8 The thought of food right now was enough to ta$e him out. Loo$ing
bac$ at his bedmate! he noticed that she loo$ed ale and tired. 7+ow you go bac$
to bed! and I,ll call you later in the morning! o$ay38
9:
Maria lay bac$ in the bed and smiled at him. (he was tired! and though she
felt symathy for him at his loss of slee! she was still going bac$ to slee herself.
To ma$e it u to him! she would be sure to dream something erotic with him in it to
share with him later.
7?$ay! Detecti"e. 5ut you,ll call me if you need me38
7I always do.8 Maria watched him as he %uic$ly dressed! con"eniently ignoring
his $nee brace. (uddenly he stoed dead in his trac$s and started swearing.
7=hat is it38
7+o car. .an,t control the bi$e until my $nee is better. I ha"en,t relaced mine!
and that lea"es only your @etta. Dammit...8
7Ta$e the 1T?.8 Michael loo$ed at her in shoc$! startled! and actually turned
on.
7)eally38 Michael climbed bac$ on the bed and traed her between his two
hands laced on either side of her head. 7I,ll ha"e to ta$e it to wor$.8
7I $now! but no high seed chases. 5ecause! if you wrec$ my car! Detecti"e! I
will be "ery! "ery! very issed.8
71od! but I lo"e it when you get issed.8 Michael teased and bent to $iss her
goodbye. (he stoed him before their mouths could connect.
7+ot this issed.8 (he romised.
Michael $issed her at that! and what should,"e been a %uic$ goodbye! wasn,t.
=hat started as a %uic$ $iss turned hot and assionate in less than a second. :e
was suddenly stretched out on the bed along her body with the co"ers ushed off
so he could mo"e his hands down her s$in.
:er arm came u around his nec$ and was holding him tight as she made
those noises in her throat as he suc$ed her tongue into his mouth and feasted on it.
91
Maria,s hand came u to hold his face! to stro$e his chee$ as she ulled bac$ for a
breath.
Michael tried to regain some of his sanity. :e was suosed to be going to a
crime scene! but the smell of her! the taste! and the feel of her s$in beneath his
fingertis distracted him from his tas$.
7I need to lea"e.8
8I $now.8 (he $issed him again. &nd the $iss too$ off again. Michael ran his
hand down her leg to curl around to her inner thigh and ulled it u to drae across
his hi. Pulling her in close! his mouth mo"ed to the front of her nec$ and left
$isses and nis around the soft s$in feeling her throat wor$ under his tongue! as
she tried to ull air into her labored lungs.
7I,"e gotta go.8 Michael said standing u away from the temtation of her
body. 7&nd you need to go to slee! get some rest.8
Maria didn,t thin$ that would haen anytime soon. :er body was humming!
needing some relief. Lying bac$ against the illows in the messed u bedding! she
watched him watching her! and without thin$ing about it or losing eye contact! she
ran her hands down her front with one hand stoing at her breasts and the other
continuing downward. Michael groaned as the lids of her eyes became hea"y and a
glimse of tongue came out to lic$ her li.
1rabbing her u into his arms he $issed her again where she now was mated
to his front with him standing beside the bed and her lastered to him on her $nees
$neeling on the bed.
7Lunch! ha"e lunch with me...8
7I can,t. I ha"e my senior thesis class right after lunch so I shouldn,t lea"e the
0ni"ersity...8
93
7I,ll come to you and bring sandwiches...8 Michael said $issing her again! and
mo"ing his mouth to her nec$ $issing it hotly.
7?$ay! yes...8 Maria guled. 7?h 1od! yes;8 (uddenly she realized they were
going too far again! and she ushed him off her body. 71o; 9ou,"e gotta go.8
Michael 'ust nodded! and let her dro bac$ onto the bed in the co"ers. =ith a %uic$
loo$ at her na$ed body! her swollen lis and the dar$ sultry green of her eyes! he
%uic$ly tossed himself down the stairs ignoring his hurt $nee and was out the
garage door.
Michael couldn,t sha$e the image of her from his head as he sed down the
%uiet streets of )oswell in her 1T?! ignoring red lights and seed limits. (he was
too hyed u to 'ust go bac$ to slee! so he $new what she would need to do to get
off before she could find rest again. :e groaned. (he was going to do it alone.
=ithout him. =ithout him getting to watch. Michael almost turned around right
there! but a art of his sanity ersisted. :e needed to get to the crime scene so
that art of his brain could turn off the other art that was ooling in his groin.
=hat the hell was wrong with them3 &fter a year together weren,t they
suosed to ma$e aointments for se/! sit across from each other at the brea$fast
table! hiding behind their aers and grunting at each other for coffee refills!
tossing their toast edges at each other3 Instead he tended to ignore the aer! toss
all the dishes off the table and fuc$ her right there for brea$fast. *"erything about
her turned him on. They found themsel"es wraed around each other about three
times a day! e"ery day...sometimes more! but rarely less. That couldn,t be normal.
It wasn0t normal. 5ut he wasn,t comlaining! instead he was secretly lighting
candles at (t. Peter,s and stuffing the oor bo/ with his hardAearned cash in than$s.
:ell! it was a better use of his money than trying to %uit cussing. :e was a
trashmouth and he lo"ed it.
94
:e found the scene easily. Michael $new the address! but the lights! suort
units! and large gathering crowds were li$e a beacon. 1etting out of the 1T?! he
scanned the crowds. =hat the hell was going on3 It was after three a.m.! on a
>riday. Didn,t eole slee anymore3 This wasn,t fric$in, +ew 9or$ .ity or L&.
(eeing a grou of young men he recognized as art of a gang that li$ed to stri
cars and steal! Michael easily identified the leader. &roaching the young man! he
ut on his best Michael 1uerin! 5eastAnotAMan loo$! which wasn,t that hard since he
was hard and suffering se/ual frustration. It was always nice to ta$e it out on some
shady characters.
79ou see my ride38 Michael as$ed the young man who was already cringing
from his glare.
7+ice wheels! coer. 9ou on the ta$e38 The boy was the leader for a reason.
:e needed to aear fearless under the most daunting of circumstances.
75elongs to my lady! and she<s a fi"e foot fi"e fireball that nurses this car off
her mother,s mil$. :er mother is the scourge of )oswell! noted for toling
monsters with 'ust her fury. &nd I,m her boyfriend! who,ll find yo#...not anyone
else...'ust yo# if this car is touched! blown on! or in any way e"en stared at in lust.
I would rather send the rest of my life waiting for e/ecution for $illing you and
ic$ing my teeth clean with your bones than to li"e through her anger o"er the
striing and mutilation of this car.8
Michael smiled a humorless smile lac$ing in e"erything! but esecially warmth.
It was the smile of a $iller! one who suffered no remorse. The $id bac$ed u in
fright! all his bra"ado gone. The smile left his heart ounding! and the sweat on his
feet mo"e u his s$in as all his hair stood u in fright. This was the bogeyman! his
mom had warned him about if he didn,t change his ways; The bogeyman that would
ri out his heart and eat his soul.
95
7This car loo$s rotected to me! sir.8 :e ignored his gang and concentrated on
getting away.
7It is. It,s rotected by you. I $now that you wouldn,t want anything to haen
to it! so you,ll robably rotect it as if your life deended on it! because it does.8
Michael haily wal$ed away almost whistling under his breath. :e still felt %ueasy!
his $nee hurt! and his ants were too tight sorting an unrelie"ed erection! but the
rest of the day was loo$ing u.
7:ey! but I gotta go ee;8 Michael 'ust snic$ered to himself. 9eah right! li$e
that $id ne"er wet himself.
---
(ean and Cyle entered .lub :ell from the side door. It was %uiet! smelt of
silled beer! cigarette smo$e! some other $inds of smo$e! and "omit. They followed
the sounds of tal$ing into the main bar area. There was a tall man behind the bar
with out of control dar$ curly hair leaning on the bar and drin$ing a beer. :e didn<t
loo$ li$e a bartender! but more li$e a band member with leather and tattoos and a
few iercings. (i/ young students were sitting on the barstools in front of him
siing on coffee and colas and tal$ing e/citedly. :is witnesses no doubt.
7I,m Detecti"e DeLuca and this is my artner! Detecti"e #alenti.8 >lashing his
badge %uic$ly! (ean loo$ed down at the names in his notead noting the name of
the boy who actually found the body. 7I need to as$ all of you some %uestions! but
I,ll start with a :arry .osgro"e.8
& young man stood u at the calling of his name. 7That,s me. I,m :arry
.osgro"e. Man it was ran$. I tried o"er it and e"erything and this hand came
flinging out scaring the cra out of me. I almost issed my ants...8
96
79ou did iss your ants!8 said one of the other young men and the rest all
snic$ered.
7(hut u; I,ll bash in your...8
(ean rolled his eyes and interruted them with his coldest no nonsense "oice.
79ou through38 The grou of them went silent.
7?fficer.8 (ean loo$ed o"er at the bartender.
7Detecti"e.8
&le/ .harles =hitman 'ust nodded. &nother Detecti"e and this one reminded
him of 1uerin! but with a gleam in his eye that warned &le/ that ma$ing se/ual
innuendoes to this Detecti"e might result in some action other than a good
gaybashing. Pic$ing u the coffeeot he wa"ed it at the two Detecti"es.
7I can offer you coffee and a booth to do your inter"iews.8 &le/ gestured o"er
to the ri"acy booth lining the far wall.
7That would be areciated...um! Mr....8
7=hitman. &le/ =hitman. +o roblem. I wasn,t going to bed for hours
anyway.8
7&nd you are e/actly...who38
7The owner.8 &le/ came out from behind the bar and motioned to one of his
eole standing in the shadows. The man %uic$ly went to the booth and cleared it
of debris and wied down the table. 7(orry! the lace hasn,t been ic$ed u tonight.
If you don,t mind! I,ll let my eole start closing down.8
7Cee the coffee coming! and you can do whate"er you want.8 (ean stoed
and loo$ed at the man. :e seemed too young to own and run a lace li$e .lub :ell.
:e had that headbanger loo$ with a touch of the comuter gee$ added in! but his
eyes told a different story. They were silent! dee! and unwa"ering. This wasn,t a
student. This was a Master! a rotector.
97
7Done.8 &le/ started mo"ing off to get his eole in to clean so they could
finally go home.
7Mr. =hitman.8 &le/ turned bac$. 7These $ids don,t loo$ twentyAone to me.8
(ean ignored the students s%uirming in their seats. >a$e ID<s were the rage! but
good ones were hard to come by. (ean loo$ed li$e the tough ass that would
confiscate them.
&le/ 'ust shrugged and wal$ed away. 7They loo$ legal to me.8 &lways the
same. &nother Dic$ messing in his house. >uc$ing screws had to ha"e something
better to do then o$ing into his business. =hat the hell3 &nother Detecti"e that
loo$ed li$e 1uerin! not in hysical loo$s! but in attitude. =hat3 Did they ha"e an
asshole factory at the Police &cademy3
Cyle and (ean were almost finished with the inter"iews when one of (imon,s
men came to tell them that Michael and Ma/ were on scene. Telling a uniform that
was with them to $ee an eye on the witnesses! they went to wal$ the crime scene.
=hen they emerged they found Michael sur"eying the alley! loo$ing it u and
down! chec$ing out the ground. (ean went close enough to hear and watch! with
Cyle on his tail.
71round,s dry! no moisture. More than li$ely no residual tire trac$s will be
found. Traction is good. :a"e your men concentrate on the otholes. Tires gri the
a"ement there to regain ground and momentum.8 Michael mo"ed onward! not
e"en noticing the others. Ma/! who was a "eteran at watching Michael wor$! 'ust
stood bac$ and learned.
The crime boys were busy hotograhing the scene. Michael $nelt down and
ulled bac$ the lastic wra! reaching u as someone handed him a camera. :e
too$ ictures of the body! the hands! and feet. :anding bac$ the camera! he ut
97
glo"es on and touched the body! careful to $ee his contact to a minimum in case
of rints.
7)igor mortis is gone. ?"er eighteen hours! (imon38
7That would be my guess. I,ll nail it down in autosy.8 Michael ignored the
tightening of his body of o"er the word Dnail, and the idea of nailing a certain blonde
anywhere horizontally or "ertically. Damn. .oncentrate.
Michael loo$ed u and down the arms! chec$ed the feet! bac$ of the $nees!
and shoulder! and under the nails. 7(he,s clean. +o trac$s or needle mar$s! but I,ll
bet my aychec$ she was drugged. More than li$ely ut in a drin$ or ingested. Pull
a to/ screen and loo$ for owerful sedati"es.8
Michael frowned and loo$ed closer. Mo"ing the body to the side and loo$ing
behind the nec$. 7>orget it. It won,t hel. 5est bet! chec$ residual blood in the
sleen or li"er.8
(imon came closer. 7=hat you got! Michael38
79ou smell that3 Ta$e a real whiff.8 (imon ulled a dee breath in! which was
something he had trained himself against for his last twel"e years in the business.
7*mbalming. (he was embalmed.8
7+ot %uite the stuff used or the formaldehyde mi/! but close. There,s an
access ort into the subcla"ian from the bac$! and the e/it must be the femoral.8
Michael roc$ed bac$ on his heels. 7=hy access the subcla"ian from such an off
angle3 It would ha"e been better and easier to do it from the front under the
cla"icle.8
7=hat does that mean38 Cyle as$ed %uietly.
(ean loo$ed at his artner and calmly lit another bummed cigarette. 7They
can,t test her blood for drugs because she no longer has any blood. The $iller
drained her li$e they do in embalming and umed her full of reser"ati"es. The
98
only hoe is to find residual blood in either the li"er or sleen where blood is
se%uestered.8
Michael nodded without loo$ing u. Turning the body slightly! he felt
something in the ca"ity that didn,t seem right. 7Cidney is an otion too since it<s
highly "ascularized with so many drugs being cleared through that organ.8
Michael suddenly started cussing in a nonAsto flow of obscenities that
imressed (ean as he calmly drew on his cigarette. :e stood u! wal$ed a few feet
away! and then came bac$ to $ic$ at the garbage dumster with his bad leg! which
sent him off again.
7.alm down! Michael.8 (imon frowned. Michael ne"er lost this much control.
Michael 'ust nodded and s%uatted at the body again.
7>uc$ing! mother uss buc$ets.8 Cyle smiled at Michael,s attemt to clean u
his language. 7(crew the organs! you,re not getting anything. Pass me a body
camera.8 (imon handed him a secialized camera that sat on the s$in and too$
close magnified ictures of the s$in at great detail! digitally. Michael wor$ed %uic$ly
while ordering the hotograher to continue ta$ing more hotos abo"e him.
(imon,s curiosity too$ a turn! as did (ean,s. Ma/ 'ust stood away obser"ing. There
were too many heads in the mi/.
(imon stoed chewing his gun in awe and horror. 7Is that what I thin$...8
79eah. It,s a seam. :e sliced her oen. My guess is there,re no internal organs
to be had. (he was e"iscerated.8
(ean frowned. 7I don,t see the seam. :ow can anyone do that without lea"ing
a scar or incision line.8
7Laser. It has to be. &nd a secial laser because it didn,t burn the s$in li$e one
used in the surgical suites. This is a recision instrument! more li$e the high %uality
ones used in eye surgery.8 Michael too$ some forces from a technician and slowly
99
eeled away what loo$ed li$e s$in. The grou watched in disgust! as he smelt it
than actually tasted it.
7?h shit; That,s disgusting.8 Ma/ actually turned away. Michael ignored the
grou and thought on it. 7It,s a fi/ati"e! li$e a lac%uer or shellac. (he was
rocessed to be reser"ed.8 Michael carefully droed the iece of clear shell from
the body into a collection bag. (ean nodded. It,s what made him call 1uerin to the
scene. The entire body was co"ered in the clear shiny coating. Manufactured death.
7Michael! the seam is closed. :ow did they suture it without lea"ing traces or
e"en a stitch or stale38 (imon,s curiosity was ea$ed.
Michael ried off his glo"es. 7:e didn,t sew her u. :e glued her. =e,"e got a
human ta/idermist.8 Michael wal$ed away. (imon would call him when they were
ready to oen the body ca"ity! but Michael already $new what would be in there!
and it wouldn,t be what was laced there by 1od. More than li$ely some $ind of
filler. That was why the chest ca"ity loo$ed and felt wrong. It was l#m"y.
Ma/ watched his artner retrie"e Maria,s car and dri"e away without another
word. It wasn,t unusual for Michael to need time alone. Ma/ $new where to find his
artner. & donut sho that was oen at all hours! twentyAfour hours a day and
ser"ed Michael<s fa"orite glazed buttermil$ donuts.
Cyle and (ean came u to him. 7Ma/! we<re finished with the eyewitnesses.
9ou wanna tal$ to them38
Ma/ 'ust shoo$ his head no. (ean and Cyle $new what they were doing. 7+o.
=e,"e got what we need for now. Let,s go meet Michael at Celly,s Donut :a"en.8
(ean tal$ed to the uniform in charge and to (imon. They would clean the site
and the uniform was going to release the witnesses. It was starting to get light. Two
hours. They were there for two hours and it assed in minutes. Donuts and coffee
sounded good.
1::
&fter they were in the car on their way to the donut sho! Cyle had to as$.
7=hy did you call Michael in! (ean38
7The scene felt li$e more! and the body was rocessed. I see things! but
Michael sees more. I don,t understand it. It,s not li$e those ho$ey rofiler shows
where the heroine gets the s$inny from some flash or some sychic ability. It,s
more li$e lifetime intuition and a sense of $nowing. If I had to guess I would say
Michael li"ed a thousand lifetimes as some $ind of soldier or warrior! and what he
sees in a crime scene is 'ust a "ariation of thousands of deaths he<s seen before.
+ow those ast memories ha"e become art of his instincts.8
7(o you called Michael because of that3 5ecause he could see more than you38
7That! and because I,m determined to learn from him! and if you,re wise you,ll
do the same. (ee how Ma/ holds bac$ and watches3 There are teachers and there
are students in life! but in this field! Michael is the Professor. :e writes the boo$.8
(ean actually let himself feel bad for a few moments. Michael really did deser"e to
go to :awaii.
---
Maria searched the house for her shoe. It had to be somewhere! since her foot
was the only one that could ossibly fit into it. Maria chuc$led at the thought of
Michael in her high heeled straies. ?h god! Michael as a cross dresser wearing
female lingerie and high heels was too hard to imagine and too hilarious to ignore;
+ow /a* could ull it off. (he could see Ma/ laying the Tim .urry role in a blac$
leather bustier! fishnets and high heels.
7Damn! damn! and double damn.8 Maria loo$ed u from under the bed straight
into the unblin$ing eyes of Mr. 5ooboo! or Mr. 5oo! and sometimes Mr. 5. Michael
1:1
had renamed him to the shorter "ersions because he had a hard time referring to
the cat by the name <5ooboo<. 7:ey! 5oo! did you see mommy,s shoe3 =ho,s a
retty $itty38 Maria stood u and carried the cat downstairs to feed him! etting
and cooing to him the entire time. The cat,s urring increased in "olume at all the
attention lus the romise of food.
Maria was oening a secial treat when she noticed her shoe on the floor in
the $itchen. >inished feeding Mr. 5! she ic$ed it u and frowned. =hat loo$ed li$e
small teeth mar$s marred the leather. Maria loo$ed at the cat in seculation and
then 'ust shrugged it off. That was imossible.
Maria thought about eating! but decided not to. (he had awa$ened
disoriented! being without Michael combined with a headache and a %ueasy
stomach. )eaching for the coffee ot! she felt her stomach re"olt. ?h! this was not
good. (he couldn,t wor$ without coffee! or some tasty caffeinated treat. (earching
through the secial be"erage bo/! Maria ignored the hot cider mi/! gourmet hot
chocolate! teas! and e/otic coffees. Damn. ?$ay maybe tea. :er stomach didn,t
seem to mind tea. 1rabbing a bag of Dar'eeling! she searched for her tea ot as the
door to the loft oened.
Michael3
7Maria; :oney! I,m so glad you<re home;8 Maria loo$ed at the cloc$ and
groaned. ?h god! not today; (he had three classes and a lunch date with Michael.
7Morning! Mom. I,m ma$ing tea. =ould you li$e a cu38
&my beamed at Maria! and too$ a seat. 7Do you ha"e lemon38
79es.8
7.ream38
7:alf and half.8
7:oney38
1:3
7&bsolutely.8 Maria started assembling all the essentials of tea while &my
oened u a huge folder. Ta$ing a $nife! Maria sliced the lemon wedges while
listening to &my as she started in on her biggest most consuming ro'ect. This
ro'ect was si/ years in the ma$ing! and had ta$en a turn to omniotence o"er a
year agoP &he Wedding.
The magnitude of this ro'ect consumed all other ro'ects. &nd it slowed down
the usual madness associated with &my DeLuca! Moral .rusader! Ceeer of the
(acred .halice of +atural (ring =aters! *arth Mother to *n"ironmental .rusaders!
and :oly Terror of )oswell. (he was so entrenched in her wedding lans that the
law enforcement agencies around the world were celebrating a ceasefire...well
e/cet for that one small incident in the .ats$ills in"ol"ing some $ind of terrestrial
rodent and a mining oeration. +ot e"en worth mentioning.
7Lemon38
79es! mom.8 It was D=edding, with a caital =! not to be confused with
something ordinary li$e other eole,s weddings! li$e say! .harles and Di,s little
affair. This was the :Wedding0. &fter being engaged to @im #alenti for o"er fi"e
years! &my DeLuca had finally set the date! then reset the date! and then again. It
was last set o"er a year ago! but wedding lanning was consuming &my,s time. (he
wanted e"erything to be erfect! 'ust right. &fter the nightmare of her first
marriage to Maria,s father! &my had ta$en fi"e years to decide that @im was the
right man! and now she was determined to ma$e the wedding the most erfect
union between themAe"en if it $illed him first.
7The china arri"ed yesterday! and I,m hating the attern. =hy did I ic$ it3 (o
I used it last night at dinner and it was as I susected! the attern ga"e @im
indigestion.8
7=hat did you feed him38
1:4
&my %uic$ly loo$ed through her catalogues at different atterns for china. 7?h
the usual. Three enchiladas! two beef and bean burritos! tamales with (anish rice
and refried bean. &nd I made that secial Pico sauce with e/tra 'alaenos and a
side of homemade guacamole. :e also had three Me/ican beers! and one of my Cey
Lime ies.8
71osh! it must ha"e been the china attern that set his tummy all tosy
tur"y.8 Maria said sarcastically as &my $et tal$ing! ignoring her.
Maria started toasting some scones to go with the tea. The smell was ma$ing
her roc$ on her feet. This wasn,t good! and her mother made things worse by
mentioning the menu. ?h god! not ressed duc$ in 'unier berry sauce. It was an
imro"ement o"er the braised wood hens with an herbal foie gras and truffle
dressing.
79ou $now! Mom! $ee the china. 5ring it o"er here! and I,ll ser"e you! @im!
and Michael dinner on it! as a sort of control test. It,s imorted from Italy and you
secial ordered it. It too$ eight months to get! so another attern would ta$e at
least si/ months or so. 9ou really want to ut @im off again38
7I 'ust want this to be erfect.8 &my loo$ed at Maria and frowned. 7:oney! you
loo$ green! are you o$ay38
7I ate a monster sandwich last night at one. I thin$ the e/tra ic$les and
mi/ing tongue! mayo and eanut butter was a bad idea.8 Maria refrained from
mentioning the seafood coc$tail sauce. (he couldn,t ta$e it.
7:oney! that sounds out of harmony. +ow ta$e the arrangement of your li"ing
room. If you where to realign the sofa to face the northern e%uino/...8
7+o; 9ou,re not rearranging the furniture again. Last time Michael came home
and tried o"er it in the dar$. It,s fine.8
75ut honey! if you find the harmony in...8
1:5
7Mom.../om! I $now we<re misaligned! but I thin$ we,ll 'ust ha"e to li"e with
falling into the deths of desair at the ne/t harmonic con"ergence.8 Maria braced
her hands on the counter to steady her feet as her stomach itched again. 7It,s
Michael. :e doesn,t do change real well.8
7?h dear;8
Maria loo$ed at her mother sharly. 7=hat3 =hat,s going on3 +o! <oh dears<.
+o;8
7I changed the color scheme! and style. Michael needs a new tu/.8
7+ot gonna haen.8
7I,ll ta$e care of it dear. 9ou,ll see. Michael adores me.8
70h huh.8
&ctually Michael wasn,t afraid of anything. :e could stand u to the most
"iolent of criminals without flinching. :e could wal$ through a slaughter scene!
an$le dee in blood and gore! and then ic$ u a olish dog on his way to write u
his reort. 5ut there was one thing in the world that terrorized himA&my DeLuca.
7Mom! you ha"e no idea what it too$ out of me to get him into a tu/ sho and
ha"e it tailored; It was imossible;8 Maria did smile at the memory of the changing
room. +ow that was a tight sot.
7Lea"e it to me! dear.8 &my said offhandedly. Maria,s eyes narrowed. =as her
mom tal$ing about ha"ing se/ with Michael3 7+ow loo$ at the dress I chose for
you.8
Maria glanced at the dress 'ust as the sweat bro$e out on her brow! and she
rushed to the bathroom. &my followed concerned as she watched her daughter lose
her stomach.
7:oney! oh honey! we can change it;8 Maria 'ust rested her head on her arm
and moaned as &my was wetting a cloth.
1:6
---
Michael stood silently watching the autosy. Cyle was loo$ing a little green!
but Ma/ was busy fliing through the rocessed crime scene hotos.
7&ny determination of cause of death38 (ean as$ed. Cyle loo$ed at him
se"erely as did Ma/. Loo$ing at what was done to the woman! e/actly which one
thing actually had ta$en her life seemed to be a moot oint.
7(uffocation. (he died from lac$ of o/ygen.8 Michael said %uietly. Ma/ loo$ed
at Michael! concerned. The man loo$ed tired and had only eaten three donuts this
morning.
(imon loo$ed o"er at Michael. 7That,s correct.8 It too$ him and his lab boys
o"er two hours to figure that out. 79ou want to share with the rest of the class!
Michael38
7(he had no signs of blunt trauma or trac$s indicating drugging with needles.
&ll the rocessing was done ostmortem! and the blac$ening of her nail beds on her
hands and feet indicates o/ygen deficit.8
Ma/ flied through the crime hotos and found the ones Michael had ta$en of
the hands and feet. The nails had a blac$ness in the cuticles and nailbeds.
7=ant to guess how she was suffocated38 (imon as$ed out of in%uisiti"eness.
:e had his theory! but he wanted Michael to either confirm it or gi"e him another
otion.
7The fi/ati"e. :e stal$ed her! determining she was the one he wanted. The
careful scruulous rocessing is not only rofessional and timely! but it denotes
care. (o his choosing of the "ictim would ha"e had the same amount of
meticulousness. The "ictim would ha"e been drugged to submission! and while she
1:7
was liable or unconscious! he coated her in the fi/ati"e. It closed off all her ores
and she slowly suffocated to death. ?nce she was dead! he oened her femoral
artery and drained the blood while ushing in the embalming or reser"ing fluid
through her subcla"ian.8
Cyle loo$ed at the corse on the table! and then at Michael. (ean remained
silent and watchful. (omething about the corse and the murder was bothering
him! but he couldn,t %uite ut his finger on it. (earching for a cigarette which he
couldn,t smo$e in that room anyway! (ean con"eniently forgot that he didn,t
smo$e.
7*"en the rocessing of the body indicates a fussiness that is beyond normal.
The erson is a borderline ersonality. I wouldn,t be surrised if he has a
handwashing tendency that denotes it! and is unable to li"e with others because of
his obsessi"e comulsi"e disorder.8
(imon listened as he slowly oened the glued incision line. It was damn near
in"isible. =ith hel from his assistant they crac$ed oen the ca"ity and e"eryone
actually steed bac$! all e/cet Michael who already bac$ and halfAsitting on a
wor$ table.
7?h shit; =hat is that38 (imon,s assistant %uic$ly too$ ictures and recorded
the ca"ity filled with something resembling foam! a in$ foam. (imon too$ samles
as Michael came forward and too$ a forces to hold a iece to e/amine. :e had
been correct. &ll the internal organs were gone! and the ca"ity had been stuffed.
The "ictim had been e"iscerated.
7It loo$s li$e a olyurethane base. It reminds me of those tire $its that allows
you to fi/ your flat. It comes in a can! ressurized.8 Michael added his iece to
(imon,s. 71et Par$er wor$ing on it. If it<s unusual and e/otic we might be able to
narrow the field.8 Michael loo$ed at his watch. 79ou got anything else for us38
1:7
7+aw! this will ta$e a while. I,ll send you the reort later today.8
7?$ay. =e,ll chec$ bac$ later and see how it,s going.8 Michael searched
through a ile of stuff. 79ou,"e got the Jfingerrints and distinguishable mar$sJ list
on her38
79eah! it,s on my des$. 9our coies are on the small ile. =e,ll ha"e the dental
ready by this afternoon too.8 Michael nodded and wal$ed away. :e had too much to
do. +ot only find a $iller! but identify the woman so they could return her to her
family. If she was local! someone should reort her missing soon.
---
Maria finally made it to wor$! and she had had time to sto and ic$ u some
donuts and hot coffee. &fter she was sic$! her stomach felt better. Definitely no
more late night gorging on weird sandwiches. Maybe the tongue wasn,t fresh. Maria
thought about calling Michael to see if he was suffering too. The last time both of
them were hit with food oisoning it was courtesy of her mom and some (wedish
traditional foods re%uiring them to wear lighted candles on their heads. Michael
didn,t ta$e it "ery well. The food he tried! but wearing a wreath with driing wa/
was out of the %uestion. @im and Cyle loo$ed sweet! but (ean too$ one loo$ and ran
away with mumbled claims of a date.
=ith a donut in her mouth! and trying to balance a cu of doubleAcrQme latte!
Maria stood in her doorway staring at the offending des$! at least she susected
there was a des$ under the ile of aers and boo$s. +o one really $new. (i/
months ago she had ut in a re%uest of a larger office! ustairs with windows! but
the Deartment was still wor$ing on the re%uest.
7It,s still there.8 Tess said coming u behind her.
1:8
7I $now.8 Maria loo$ed at Tess and watched her ut away some files! and lace
a stac$ of graded e/ams on Maria,s des$. 7?h god; Don,t ut them on this chaos.
=e,ll ne"er find them again. &re those for my first class38
7&ll graded and recorded. 9ou 'ust need to turn them bac$.8
7That,s a small fa"or. It only too$ three days. Is that a record for us38 Tess
nodded. Maria frowned at her %uiet friend. Tess loo$ed tired and if she wasn,t
mista$en there was e"idence that the woman had been crying.
Maria sat down and tried to organize her iles. (he could do it. (he could wait
until Tess told her what was going on. There was no reason to butt her nose into it.
It was Tess,s business! and Maria was trying to decrease her meddling tendencies...
7(o what,s wrong38 Dammit! not e"en a full fi"e seconds;
7Maria.8
7.ome on. 9ou,"e been uset! emotional! and all the tears... =hat,s going on3
Is it the anni"ersary of @ac$,s death or something3 Did I miss your birthday38
7+o! none of those things.8
79our master<s thesis is suc$ing! you,re in a corner! and now you feel you,re on
the wrong trac$38
7+o.8
7(omeone was mean to you! stole something! or your fa"orite dress is too
tight and you susect you,re gaining weight38
Tess laughed. 7+o.8
7It,s a man.8 Maria,s obser"ant eyes too$ in a telltale sign as Tess tried to
a"oid her eyes. 7?f course it,s a man; It,s always a man. =e,re free! intelligent
women who are resonsible for our own orgasms! so it has to be a man.8 Maria
motioned to the chair across from her des$ iled in boo$s. 7Cic$ the boo$s and ta$e
a seat. Tell me all about it.8
1:9
7I can,t. It,s not what you thin$...it,s 'ust... I can,t tal$ about it right now.8
Maria thought about the unhay droo of Tess,s shoulders! almost li$e the
weight of her roblems was weighing her down. :er hair lac$ed its usual bounce!
her face was ale! and Maria noticed a slight tremble in the clenched hands.
7Is it Ma/3 Do you regret brea$ing u with him38 Maria as$ed. The brea$u
had been hard on Ma/. In the two months they had been together! Maria didn,t
really see many sar$s between the two! but both seemed comelled to be
together. +ews of the brea$u didn,t surrise her! but Ma/,s reaction afterwards did.
7+o; ?h no. It was the right thing to do. Ma/...Ma/ was a mista$e. & big
mista$e! belie"e me.8 Tess wanted to tell Maria! but she needed to thin$ things out!
get things clear in her head! and get o"er feeling guilty. 7I was loo$ing for
something! and I thought he was it! but I was wrong.8
7(o what was wrong with him38 Maria,s couldn,t hel but as$ the "ery %uestion
that was $eeing her u at night. .uriosity and gossi was the cornerstones of her
"ery e/istence.
Tess 'ust shrugged. (he didn,t e"en $now if she $new what it was. 7I thought
he was someone else! and he wasn,t.8
7Did you thin$ he was li$e @ac$38
Tess had a loo$ of horror cross her face. 7+o; +ot in the least. &ctually I thin$
I thought he was the oosite.8 Tess noticed how attenti"e Maria was on the
discussion! eating donuts and listening. (he had refrained from tal$ing to Maria
about him because of the friendshi between Michael and Ma/. It seemed unfair.
7?$ay! so was that the aeal3 :e wasn,t @ac$ or remotely resembling @ac$38
7That he was the antithesis of @ac$3 +o! not that either. It was something else.
9ou $now I was raised in the foster system! right38 Maria nodded. 7=ell my foster
family too$ me in when I was young! and I sent my whole childhood with them. I
11:
was luc$y. (o many $ids are mo"ed around! but the #aldez,s didn,t seem to mind
me at all! and it was fun being raised in a Latino family e"en though I was so
ob"iously not. I thin$ they didn,t adot me because of my whiteness! li$e they
didn,t want to steal my heritage! ma$e me Me/ican. &nd they cried at my wedding!
saw me to my new home! and I still consider them my family! but I was always
aart! different. It,s hard to e/lain. I felt their lo"e! but a art of me was always
something of a loner. I don,t $now.8
7Li$e there was a history for you out there! missing and lost38
7(omething li$e that! or maybe a feeling li$e I had eole! that I came from
eole I didn,t $now. I,"e always felt li$e trying to find them! to find out what $ind
of erson dums a child in the middle of the desert and wal$s away. 5ut I was
afraid to $now what they would be li$e! or who they would be.8 Tess ushed her
hair off her face. 7&ctually! I guess I was afraid of what it would ma$e me.8
7&nd Ma/38
Tess leaned bac$ and smiled at Maria. 79es! Ma/. I thought he was se/y and
handsome. :e was humorous and fun! much li$e Cyle! but there was more. >rom
the moment I met him! and I mean really met him! not 'ust droing off coffee! I
felt something. It felt li$e a tingle or maybe that feeling you get when you<re in the
house alone and it feels li$e someone is there watching you.8
Maria nodded. 7The hair stands u on your nec$.8
7Li$e that. That day Michael and Ma/ stoed in to see Cyle in the hosital
when he too$ the bullet in his shoulder! I felt something from both of them. & sense
of awareness li$e a haunting familiarity! li$e I should $now them! that we were the
same.8
7Michael! too38
111
79eah! but later when I was around Michael it was the same sense of $nowing!
but with Ma/ it became more! much more. I felt li$e I $new him! or of him! and the
feeling was electrical! more intense! sort of...8 Tess struggled with a term to e/ress
it! 7biblical.8
75iblical38 Maria frowned and then suddenly her faced cleared. 7?h; 5iblical;8
?h sure she $new that. (he felt it almost e"ery night with a issy Detecti"e. & roll
in the bedsheets...getting all sweaty...begetting and begetting...wrath of holy
thunder stuff. 7(o that means the se/ was great. (o what went wrong38
7I don,t $now. Maybe I went wrong! or maybe it was Ma/. It,s hard to say.
@ac$ was a great man! so gentle! lo"ing! and mischie"ous with a touch of
assionate horndog. I didn,t susect or need Ma/ to be those things. It was li$e I
had wal$ed into a relationshi with him e/ecting an entirely different erson. &nd I
don,t $now why I e/ected him to be any of those things.8
7I don,t understand.8
Tess 'ust laughed bitterly. 7That,s o$ay! because neither do I! and Ma/
definitely didn,t. I e/ected him to be harder! tougher! asserti"e to the oint of
demanding his orders be followed! and selfish.8
Maria loo$ed shoc$ed. 79ou wanted that38
7I don,t $now what I wanted! but it was what I was e/ecting. The se/
was...o$ay it was great! highly charged. 5ut there was too much gentleness! li$e I
e/ected to see this huge burning fire in his eyes! almost bordering on "iolence! but
that was missing. =hat bro$e the relationshi or wo$e me u was one night when
we went out to eat. The lace was full! and we stood in the doorway loo$ing in. Ma/
$et as$ing me what I wanted to do! was it o$ay to wait! or should we go
elsewhere... I didn,t care. :e was irritating me to the oint I wanted to scream;
:ellooo3 =hat do we do now! Ma/3 :e was so damn indecisi"e! and I wanted him
113
to...no I e*"ected him to be more asserti"e! go find us a seat! or demand a table
immediately. It was li$e I was with the boy! hoing and wanting the man he,ll
someday become. =hat if that ne"er haens! Maria3 =hat if I was loo$ing at a
dream and e/ecting to find it in him38
7Poor Ma/;8
7I $now. I had to brea$ it off. It was unfair. I was wanting him to be the
dream! or the illusion that was in my head! and I don,t thin$ I e"er saw him! not
really.8 Tess had more to tell! but that was all she could say! or wanted to say at
that time. (he needed to thin$! decide what to do.
7(o you weren,t in lo"e with him.8
Tess loo$ed at the cloc$ and got u to lea"e. (he had class soon. 7That,s the
strange thing. I thin$ I was! but I thin$ I was in lo"e with the man I e/ected him
to be. The real Ma/ is a stranger to me. I don,t e"en $now him.8
Maria watched Tess lea"e and began to gather her stuff for class. (he should
ha"e as$ed her about Cyle. It was so ob"ious that Cyle and Tess belonged together!
but they a"oided that tye of entanglement altogether. Instead they were friends.
The best of friends! much li$e they had been in :igh (chool. Maria wondered when
they were going to wa$e u to the fact that <'ust friends< or e"en <good friends<
didn,t get 'ealous o"er the other erson dating someone else.
---
Michael tossed the folder on the des$ in front of him! and settled bac$ in his
chair! leaning bac$ enough to ut his feet u on his des$. :is $nee was sore and the
colors were still nastyAloo$ing! but the swelling had gone down. Michael was tired!
bone tired. :e needed a na.
114
7Ma/! I,m gonna hit :olding for an hour! if you...8
79ou,re gonna ta$e another na38 Ma/ loo$ed o"er at his lounging artner with
his feet u and $ic$ed bac$. Ma/ was tired too! but Michael was naing more and
more. It was strange.
7=ell! thin$ about it! Partner. I got home after midnight! then Maria and I ate
sandwiches until about one! then I was called in at three thirty or so in the morning
for the murder. I,m beat.8 Michael didn,t mention the time in the bath or the bed!
and that after it was all sliced off! he only had had about an hour of slee.
Ma/ yawned himself. +o wonder he was mo"ing slow. :e had 'ust read the
same reort twice! and Cyle was at his des$ with his head down. (ean disaeared
a few minutes ago towards a conference room. Ma/ bet if they went to find him he
would be sac$ed out on a table or on a sofa somewhere.
Michael,s "oice brought him bac$. Ma/ hadn,t realized he had been drifting to
slee himself. 7Ma/! I thin$ my an$les are swelling.8
7Michael! it,s your imagination. 9ou need slee. Maybe you should mention it
to .a.8
7That my an$les are swelling38 Michael as$ed confused.
7+o! the slee thing. They,re not getting much wor$ out of any of us.8 Ma/
loo$ed at Michael,s an$les and frowned. Maybe they were swelling. Maybe it was
because of his $nee. That didn,t ma$e sense because then it should only be one
an$le. Ma/ groaned. The all needed slee. :e was letting Michael,s hallucinations
influence him. The an$les loo$ed fine! ugly but fine.
Michael got u %uic$ly. Cnoc$ing on #alenti,s door! Michael waited until the
"oice inside called him in.
7.a38
115
71uerin! you need something38 @im loo$ed from the reorts! and manower
charts.
7(lee. I thin$ I need to release my team. =e were off the #ice case late last
night! and then bac$ at the murder case at three thirty. Most of us are running on
less then two hours of slee.8
@im loo$ed through the door seeing his son aslee at his des$ and Ma/
nodding off in his chair. 7=here is (ean38
7.onference room.8
@im loo$ed at Michael and had to agree. Michael was $nown for staying u for
days on a case! but in this instance the man loo$ed worn. 7Is your team on call this
wee$end38
7+o. =e,re on standdown. (ean has lans in &lbu%uer%ue I belie"e! but
otherwise the rest of us are in town.8 Michael $new why the .atain wanted to
$now. 7They can call me at home. Maria and I are wor$ing on the car! and Cyle and
Ma/ romised to hel me finish the welding and ut the engine bac$ in.8 (o he
would be home if there were any more bodies. 5ut Michael didn,t say that aloudB it
was understood.
7&lmost done! huh38 @im smiled. *"en he had heled out a few times on the
Mustang. It was a long ongoing ro'ect! but e"eryone was e/cited to see the final
roduct.
7=e 'ust got confirmation on two of the final three arts. Cyle said they would
be in today. Maria thin$s she found the last one! but she hasn,t heard bac$ for
rice.8 @im nodded. Price was an issue. Michael had a small fortune sun$ in that car!
but luc$ily since he had mo"ed in with Maria his e/enses decreased. (he owned
the loft and he no longer aid rent! so his e/enses consisted of ooling his money
with hers for household bills! and buying resents for her.
116
7=ell! release your eole. Loo$s li$e they can ha"e lunch and the afternoon
off. I,ll tell (imon and Par$er to flash you if anything comes bac$ on your new
case<s I.D.8
7Than$s! .a.8 Michael was on his way out when @im stoed him.
7Don,t forget (unday dinner.8 @im decided to rub it in. 7&my is loo$ing for you.
I thin$ she has a few things to discuss with you.8
@im watched the color drain from Michael,s face. ?nly his sweet gentle &my
could ha"e that effect on this man. 7Does she $now about the Palisades3 I mean
does she $now about...me38 @im 'ust smiled wic$edly. 70m! you $now .a! I thin$
Maria and I might ha"e lans for (unday night.8 Michael %uic$ly fled.
7.hic$en.8 @im called after him! laughing. :e couldn,t wait until Michael saw
the new color scheme! and e/actly what color tu/ &my wanted him to wear.
---
Michael ar$ed the 1T? in the staff ar$ing lot! and headed for the doors. The
two sandwiches he had ic$ed u were mammoth. :e had his eye not only on his!
but also half of Maria,s. &fter lunch he was going to go home and ta$e a nice long
na. .rac$ing his nec$! he %uic$ly went down the stairs and stoed in Maria,s
office doorway.
Maria was resting her head on to of her arms! on to of a ile of aers. (he
loo$ed ready for a na herself. Michael watched as her hand came u to grab a
huge cu with a straw! and watched her drin$ from it! ma$ing sluring noises.
7I hoe that,s not all the cola you ha"e left.8 Maria loo$ed u to see Michael
wa"ing a large sandwich bag at her.
117
7>ood; 1imme! gimme;8 Maria stood u as Michael came into her office
shutting the door. (he sat bac$ down and mo"ed her office chair bac$.
71reedy.8
7(tar"ing; Detecti"e! feed me;8
Michael smiled. 7&gain38 Michael started to lant himself on the edge of her
des$! but she stoed him.
7Don,t do that. The aers.8 Michael loo$ed behind where he was going to sit!
and got her oint. If he sat down and scooted bac$! all the aers would ha"e
ta$en a sliding lea off the other side. Michael handed Maria the bag as he went to
find himself something that loo$ed li$e a chair.
7I got you the Italian sub with e/tra meat! e/tra cheese! and blac$ oli"es.
Dressing is on the side.8 Michael brought his chair ne/t to hers and sat in the chair
bac$wards facing her. Maria $issed his nose as she found her sandwich.
7+o onions38
7+o onions.8 Michael too$ his sandwich out of the bag and oened it on some
aers on her des$.
7=hat<s yours38 Michael guarded it from her. Maria sometimes went fla$y on
him and suddenly wanted his sandwich instead.
7The (ureme.8 Maria 'ust nodded. That meant meatAlots of meat.
Maria too$ a bite of her sandwich and loo$ed at him. :e needed slee. 79ou
loo$ tired! Detecti"e.8
7I am. I,"e got the rest of the day off to catch u on some slee. That hour
last night isn,t holding me.8
7:mm!8 Maria mo"ed his hair bac$ from his forehead. 7I<m through after my
(enior thesis class! around two thirty. I could come 'oin you.8
117
79ou $now where to find me! 'ust follow the snoring.8 Maria definitely $new
where he would be.
7I was sic$ this morning.8 Maria mentioned casually as she ushed in two bites
at once. Ta$ing the sandwich bag she loo$ed for na$ins and chis. ?h! "inegar and
salt. Two bottles of water were also in there.
7(ic$38 Michael loo$ed at her. (he loo$ed tired too! and he couldn,t belie"e it!
but she loo$ed thinner than usual! almost too delicate. 79ou o$ay38
79eah! mom came by this morning and showed me the dress she wants me to
wear to the =edding.8 Michael nodded and too$ another bite. That e/lained it. The
whole =edding thing was ma$ing him sic$ too.
75ad38 Michael as$ed with a twin$le in his eyes.
7?y;8 Michael laughed at her e/ression.
They tal$ed while eating! but Michael was careful not to mention his latest
case. Maria had a thing about stic$ing her nose into his cases! and he didn,t want
her near this one. (he was already sread too thin! and the dar$ness under her
eyes was bothering him.
79ou loo$ tired too! Professor.8
Maria leaned forward and $issed him gently while handing him the rest of her
sandwich. (he had managed to eat about threeAfourths of it. 7I am.8 )eeating his
resonse to her earlier. Droing her "oice to a hus$y whiser. 7I had a hard time
getting bac$ to slee after you left. The bed was big and lonely! and I was too
horny.8
Michael,s eyes dar$ened. 7(o how,d ya get bac$ to slee38 :is tongue came
out and 'ust touched her li before going bac$ into his own! she groaned and her
mouth followed it! but he ulled bac$ away from her. Placing the remainder of her
sandwich on the des$! he said! 7Tell me! and don,t lea"e out any details.8
118
7Per"ert.8
:e did it again. :is tongue came out and touched her lis! outlining them so
softly it was almost li$e a whisers touch! and then he retreated. =atching her eyes
he felt them dro to his mouth as his tongue left her and hid inside! and he listened
for the sound he $new well when his tongue reaeared to wet his li. It was the
gentle flushing rush of air out of her lungs! followed by a soft throaty groan! and
the soft anting noise she made as her heart sed u.
7Tell me...8 Michael let the words lea"e his mouth in a barely audible whiser
and watched her mo"e forward e"en more to catch them.
7I,ll show you.8 (he too$ his bottom li into her mouth and bit it gently! while
her hand too$ his and dragged him off his chair. Michael followed her lead letting
her osition him with his bac$ to her des$! sitting on the edge while she faced him
in her chair. (he didn,t say a word! but 'ust gazed at him as her hand wandered
down her front! unbuttoning one button at a time slowly! with her tongue
occasionally coming out to wet her lis. :e leaned forward to hel her! to 'oin his
mouth with hers! but he suddenly felt himself ushed bac$ on the des$ with a foot
to his chest. Maria 'ust shoo$ her head no.
7Professor.8 Michael said in that tone he didn,t realize he used only for her. It
turned Professor into all those other words li$e honey! sweetheart! and baby.
70h uh!8 Maria droed her blouse on the floor beside her chair with a small
scra of lace that could be considered a bra to some. (uddenly surging to her feet!
she leaned against him! her body along his. 7@ust watch! Detecti"e. 9ou li$e to
watch don,t you38 Michael guled hard as she wiggled against him and suddenly her
s$irt and anties droed. :is hands went to the soft s$in of her waist as their
mouths $issed! ulled aart and then returned to de"our each other.
119
?ne minute he was $issing her! and the ne/t minute she was sitting in her
chair minus her clothes! with one foot on the des$ ne/t to him and the other
mo"ing u his leg to rest on his crotch! stro$ing his erection through his 'eans. It
was her hands that had him fascinated as she mo"ed them down her body li$e she
did last night! a clic$ing noise coming from her throat as she tied her head bac$.
Michael,s eyes tore themsel"es away from the sight of her touching herself to find
her eyes. They were dar$ and dangerous! with a gleam of mischief that ne"er failed
to ma$e his heart race out of control.
7&re you gonna ma$e me do this all alone again! Detecti"e38 Michael couldn,t
tal$! but he could mo"e. :e droed to his $nees in front of her! his hands found
her waist again! and he ulled her out of the chair to fall bac$ on him. They ended
u on the floor with her on to of him! and halfway under her des$.
Maria,s arm was around his nec$ holding him tight while her other hand
%uic$ly remo"ed buttons and ushed at clothes and ziers. Michael had his eyes
closed as he wildly returned her $iss! suc$ing her tongue dee into his mouth
en'oying the occasional gash of teeth. :is hands mo"ed down her na$ed bac$
delighting in the sil$iness of her s$in! so different from the rougher te/ture of his
own! as his hands firmly grased her ass ulling her e"en harder into his groin.
Maria had his 'eans unbuttoned and unzied! but he had to lift his his so she
could ush them down. =ith a fishtailing motion of his legs he $ic$ed them off! but
not before banging his leg into her chair.
Maria giggled at his cusswords as she $issed the side of his nec$! and her
hand wandered down his body to lo"ingly stro$e the side of his leg. Michael,s hands
mo"ed o"er her re"erently as he continued to find her mouth again and again. :is
one hand found that familiar roughness at her side! the scar that ran from the side
13:
abo"e her hi to almost midway to her na"el. To the touch! it was merely a thin line
of rough s$in left by scar tissue! but to Michael! it was his life.
It was the scar left from a year ago when a $iller,s $nife almost too$ her from
him. They were almost o"er before they began. *"ery night since! he slet with his
hand o"er the scar! almost as if he could hide it from sight! remo"e the offense. :e
rolled o"er onto the floor to ta$e the bottom directly since it was cold! shifting her
comletely on to of him. Pulling one of her legs u high along his ribs she
straddled him. Michael bent his one leg that could still bend! lacing his foot flat on
the floor and gi"ing her something on which to lean bac$.
Maria sat u abo"e him and mo"ed both her hands down his chest to his
abdomen! lo"ing the mo"ement of the muscles resonding to her touch. :is one
hand remained at her waist o"er her scar! as if he were still holding her body
together! and Maria lic$ed her lis as she too$ his erect enis in hand.
7Maria;8 he hissed.
7(hh! it,s o$ay. I,"e got it.8 (he leaned o"er him one hand guiding him inside
her and the other mo"ing to gri the edge of her des$ abo"e his head. They both
groaned as their bodies 'oined! as she mo"ed down on him ta$ing in more of him
with each continual thrust. Maria ounced on Michael. :er mouth was e"erywhere
at once. :er hands couldn,t touch enough surfaces of his body. Michael<s body was
li$e a sice that Maria needed to rub o"er herself. (he ground herself against him!
ta$ing more and more of his body into her! groaning at the heat and the hotness.
(he bit her way down his nec$ with his coc$ embedded in her! all the while
whisering his name in low hus$y groans.
7Maria!8 said Michael in a low growl. 7Ma$e it harder...aw gawd! yeah! 'ust li$e
that.8 :e lo"ed watching her with her li caught between her teeth mo"ing on him
li$e nothing else mattered but him and them! and ha"ing himAall of him. &nd with
131
e"ery moment! her hands enthused o"er his body touching him with stro$es of
re"erence li$e she was touching something sacred.
Maria didn,t smile at him! but leaned into him to wra her hands under his
shoulders and ull him u into more of a sitting osition! wraing her leg around
his center to cross behind his bac$. They went bac$ to $issing assionately as her
hands gried the des$ behind his head and they both anted in each other<s
mouth! ractically sharing the same labored breath. (he lost trac$ of time as the
tension in her lower body magnified and e/loded around his buc$ing his. (he
could feel him ounding in her! swelling and then hardening to the oint of release!
and then they both clima/ed together.
Maria,s whole body went la/! and then 'er$ed as the continual e/losions
eruted along her sine! and Michael murmured dirty suggestions in her ear as she
s%uirmed in his la ma$ing his already o"erheated and o"ersensiti"e body feel the
remaining ric$les of leasure! ushed to the oint of ain.
=hen Michael finally calmed down enough from the orgasmic ride and
whirlwind ad"enture! he became aware of Maria draed o"er his shoulder hugging
him and ma$ing urring noises against his s$in. )oc$ing her lightly in his la he
smiled at the gasing noises she made as she mo"ed o"er him where he was still
embedded in her. Michael glanced u at her wall before lying bac$ down with her on
him! and then ushed her away as she rotested.
7Maria! shit! loo$ at the time; =hen was your class38
Maria glanced at her watch and suddenly mo"ed off him ma$ing him groan at
the feel of himself sliding out of her tight channel.
7Three minutes. That can,t be right; :ow do we $ee losing time li$e this38
Maria was $neeling ne/t to him! trying to untangle her bra from her blouse.
Michael laid bac$ down! crossing his legs with his arms illowing his head as he
133
watched her dress. :e had an unrestricted "iew of the wetness between her legs!
feeling un%uestionably leased that the moisture running down her lean thighs was
his. 0nable to resist! he reached out a hand and ran his fingers u her thigh
collecting the moisture and sin$ing his fingers in her. Maria moaned and tightened
her leg around his hand and started to mo"e with him when she remembered
where she was! and where she was suosed to be.
(laing his hand away and frantically loo$ing for her anties and s$irt! Maria
a"oided his eyes. ?ne loo$ and she would be lost.
7(to that; I,m gonna be late as it is! and I need to sto in the bathroom.8
Michael 'ust rela/ed! watching her and suc$ing their combined taste off his
fingers! en'oying the sight of her nude from the waist down.
7Michael; =here,re my s$irt and anties38 Maria said with a whining leading
sound to her "oice trying to ignore how hot she thought he loo$ed! all laid out
before her li$e a ban%uet suc$ing on his fingers. :e too$ ity on her and lifted his
his to ull out the rest of her clothes that were bunched u under the small of his
bac$.
7Than$ god;8
(uddenly there was a $noc$ at her door. Maria,s heart stoed in anic and
her eyes met Michael,s in alarm. The door oened and Maria %uic$ly ut her $nee
on Michael,s chest ushing him flat and $eeing him there! and one hand o"er his
mouth.
7Professor DeLuca38 Maria loo$ed at the door! %uic$ly resting her arm on her
des$ and tried to aear nonchalant blowing her messed u hair out of her eyes.
7@ennifer; :i;8
The girl loo$ed at her rofessor! all tumbled! in$! and breathless. 7&re you
o$ay3 The class was wondering if you were here today.8
134
79es! I am. 0m...I,m 'ust trying to find some notes.8 Michael,s hand stro$ed u
her thigh and she ressed her $nee harder to his chest. (he could feel his grunt
against her alm.
7=hat38 The girl as$ed confused at the grunting sound.
7+othing. (orry! indigestion. .ould you tell the others that I,ll be there shortly.
I 'ust need to get my notes and ma$e a %uic$ sto at the ladies. :a"e them ass
each other their rough drafts and read to criti%ue.8
Maria schooled her e/ression! trying to $ee from laughing out loud as
Michael tic$led her alm with his tongue. The girl loo$ed confused! but nodded and
shut the door behind her. &s soon as the door closed! Maria too$ her hand away
from his mouth and hit him on the shoulder while standing u trying to ut on her
s$irt. Michael couldn,t sto laughing.
7The door was unloc$ed the entire time38
7?"ersight. Michael is my hem straight38
79ou loo$ fine! better than fine.8 Michael loo$ed her o"er. (he loo$ed erfect!
'ust li$e she had either been tossed around in an industrial size dryer or had nearly
been fuc$ed to death on the floor of her office. Perfect.
Maria leaned down and $issed him hard. 7Don,t lea"e. I,ll be bac$ in less than
an hour than we can go home together.8 Maria rubbed her nose to his. 7=e can ic$
u the @etta later.8
7I was gonna go home and ta$e a na. 9ou,"e tired me out! Professor.8 (he
reached u and grabbed the remaining art of her sandwich and ushed it at him.
7(lee o"er there.8 Maria ointed to a low futon sat u against her far wall. It
was where she slet when she stayed all night grading aers or wor$ing on her
thesis! something she rarely did o"er the last year now that she li"ed with him.
135
7If we had that a"ailable! why am I freezing my bare ass off on this cold
floor38
Maria 'ust laughed and stood u grabbing her underwear and class notes
together. 75itch! bitch! bitch. I thought you would areciate the lunch brea$!
Detecti"e. @ust stay! finish your sandwich! and I,ll wa$e you when I get bac$.8
Maria wal$ed to the door and loo$ed outside u and down the hall before
turning bac$ to him. Michael had stood u and was wandering o"er to the ma$eshift
bed munching hungrily on the food! refueling.
7Psst! Michael; Put your clothes bac$ on.8 Maria whisered loudly! blowing him
a $iss and was gone.
=hen Maria finally made it to her class! the students were all tal$ing %uietly
and reading each other<s aers. 1oing in and droing her notes on the des$!
Maria wrote the ne/t reading assignments on the board and assed out their
current research toics. It too$ her a few moments to realize that they were all
staring at her and some were smiling.
(he had brushed her hair! washed u! ut on her anties and straightened her
s$irt in the woman,s bathroom. .atching the eye of one of the female students in
the front row! the girl,s eyes droed to her blouse suggesti"ely. Maria loo$ed down
and noticed her blouse was buttoned wrong. ?h damn.
Putting down the chal$ and aers! Maria went to the front of her des$ and
hoed u on it crossing her legs to the en'oyment of all the males in the room! or
at least all the straight ones and a few of the females. +onchalantly unbuttoning
her blouse she ulled it from her waistband! and slowly buttoned it u correctly.
7(o let<s tal$ about the mating rituals within closed societies.8 The class
laughed and the noise increased as the sub'ect and discussion hit higher le"els of
interest.
136
---
(ean areciated the afternoon off. It ga"e him time to do the things he
needed to do before lea"ing for &lbu%uer%ue. They would stay o"er >riday night! all
day (aturday! and head bac$ late (aturday night. &ndy was a good guy with an
understanding and shared interest for what (ean li$ed. They had been sot buddies
for o"er three years in #ice. It wasn,t until this last year that they had drifted aart
while (ean tried to reform.
Michael had already left saying something about a lunch date with Maria! but
(ean could still feel his resence. Michael was right. It was unfair to Liz not to be
honest! to hide so much of himself and only re"eal arts of himself to her! arts
that he felt she could li$e. Liz deser"ed better! much better than that.
Pic$ing u the hone! he held it in his hand for a moment! then hung it u.
(taring at it uncertain whether he could do it! finally he 'ust too$ the lunge.
=al$ing to the ele"ator with his leather 'ac$et in hand! he went down to the
criminal in"estigation laboratories to find Par$er.
Liz was listening to her assistant! (erena tal$ about her date last night for the
thousandth time! when suddenly she loo$ed u to see (ean standing in the
doorway watching her. (miling! she made all the right distracted sounds to (erena
and straightened.
7(ean3 &re you here for the lab reort on your @ane Doe38
79ou got anything ready for me! Liz38 (ean as$ed hay to ta$e any offered
distraction.
137
7+ot really. =e should ha"e full reorts by Monday. The wee$end crew will
continue to wor$ on the analysis.8 Liz frowned at his dar$ face! so distant from the
man she $new. 7Is something wrong38
(ean,s faced cleared as he seemed to "isually sha$e himself. 7+o. +o! I 'ust
wanted to $now what you,re doing for lunch.8
7(andwich! and listening to details of (erena,s date.8
7If you bag the sandwich! I,ll ta$e you out for a real meal.8 (ean offered!
hating himself already. :e winced when she smiled a leased! sunny smile at him.
:e was a bastard.
It too$ almost the entire meal before Liz realized that something was wrong!
that (ean was somewhere else. :e made all the roer comments and resonses!
but he wasn,t tal$ing.
7?$ay! so how about you tell me what,s going on38
(ean loo$ed at her! and then away. 7Liz...8
Liz loo$ed at him! and 'ust $new. 7This is a brea$u isn,t it38 she said %uietly.
)ubbing a hand o"er his face he nodded. 79es.8
Liz 'ust sat there loo$ing down at her hands! uncertain what to do or say.
7=hy3 Did I do something...8
71od; +o. +ot you.8 Liz 'ust rolled her eyes. )ight standard answer! but how
could it not be her. (ean grabbed her hand! but Liz shoo$ it off. 7Liz! it,s not you. I
swear.8
7I thin$ I need to go bac$ to wor$.8 (ean watched her start to stand u! but he
ulled her bac$ into her seat.
7+o. Liz! are we friends38 Liz 'ust shrugged. 7Don,t do that.8
7Do what-5 Liz as$ed bac$ angrily forgetting her mee$ self for a second and
releasing her anger.
137
7?$ay! be angry. That,s good. 5ut I,m as$ing you! beyond this! all of this... &re
we friends3 =ere we 'ust sort of boyfriend and girlfriend! dating! and sometimes
sleeing together! or were we more3 Is that all there was! or did we actually ma$e a
friendshi38
Liz stoed trying to ull away from him. It wasn,t about them datingAit ne"er
was! or least not at first. It was about him being there! holding her hand and
listening to her. (ean saw her! anchored her! and in some ways he made her feel
solid and less li$e a ghost. That had nothing to do with se/ or dating! and a art of
her that areciated how much he ga"e her! recognized and admitted that it was
about friendshi.
7=e were friends.8 (ean loo$ed at her solemnly. 7?$ay! we are friends.8
71ood! that,s a start.8 (ean didn,t $now how far to go. The waiter came and
refilled their be"erages and as$ed if they needed anything else. =hen (ean said no!
he left their bill. 7=hen I $new you! when I first $new you! I li$ed you.8
7&nd you don,t anymore38
7+o. I still li$e you! Liz. 5ut I thin$ I made a mista$e with you.8
7I don,t understand.8
(ean 'ust laughed at that! at the irony of it. 7:ow could you3 I don,t
understand. I 'ust $now that when I met you! I li$ed you. &nd after .assie!8 (ean
swore under his breath as her hand automatically went to her nec$ to touch the
scar she wore where .assie almost $illed her. .learing his throat! he started again.
7&fter .assie attac$ed you! and before Maria was too far gone! she begged me to
sit with you! to watch o"er you! so you wouldn,t become more of a ghost. (he said
that you must ne"er be alone.8
Liz sat listening to him in shoc$. :e had ne"er told her that. +ot in the entire
last year had he e"er once mentioned that the reason he was there when she wo$e
138
u was because of Maria! because Maria sent him in her lace. Their whole
relationshi was based on ity. (he was a ity date and a ity fuc$. Liz really
needed to go.
7(to that; Don,t beat u on yourself.8 (ean $new he was going to do this
wrong! and when that loo$ came in her eye! he $new he was right.
7(ean! I thin$ I need to lea"e.8
7@ust listen! that,s all I as$. .an you for one second 'ust listen and understand
that is my fuc$ u! not yours3 That all that,s wrong is comletely about me! and
nothing about you38
7:ow can it not be about me38 Liz whisered angrily. 7It was all about ity;8
79es! it was; 5ut you,"e got it wrong; It wasn,t ity for you. It was ity for me!
and I loo$ed at you! and I saw a way out! a light.8
Liz 'ust started at him confused and silent.
7I sat there watching you! watching o"er you while you slet. Maria sent me!
but I stayed beca#se of you! and for me.8 (ean had her attention again. 7Liz! my
life! my family! e"erything in my life re"ol"es around family. I lo"e Maria and my
&unt &my! because they,re more than 'ust relati"es. They,re my family! my soul!
the last art I ha"e that grounds me. I made myself Maria,s rotector so long ago!
it consumed me! but after last year she didn,t need me.8
71uerin! she met 1uerin.8 =hat he was saying was starting to sin$ in. 7(he
found a rotector! someone for life! and she didn,t need you anymore.8
79eah! he filled e"erything! too$ o"er e"erywhere! and it was all she needed.
They would li"e or die together! but that e%uation didn,t include me any longer. &nd
I sat there in that room watching o"er you! and it felt right. It felt good! because it
was what I $new how to do! and you loo$ed li$e a erson who could use someone
to rotect them.8
139
7(ean! I don,t need a rotector. I need to get rid of rotectors. *"eryone in my
life! all my life! has been o"errotecti"e to the oint of stifling me. I can,t mo"e or
li"e without them underfoot.8 Liz loo$ed at him with a new eye. 7It was more than
that! more than 'ust you transferring me into Maria,s lace wasn,t it38
(ean loo$ed away and nodded.
7=hat was it! (ean3 =as it because I was scarred and no one would e"er want
me38
7+o; It was because I was scarred! and I failed.8 (ean loo$ed at his clenched
hands. 7I slet with her! Liz. More than once! and I li$ed it. &nd she was $illing me
while I was with her! but I couldn,t see it. It couldn,t see ast what we were doing
to each other! to understand the coldness in her eyes. I thought she was li$e me!
and I made a mista$e.8
71uilt. It was guilt that made you stay with me3 1uilt o"er .assie38
7+o. It was a chance to be normal for once. 9ou were ic$et fences and a
ossible wal$ down the aisle.8 Liz was startled. (he didn,t $now he was loo$ing at
their relationshi as something ermanent and fore"er. 7It was a dream! Liz. &
dream I had. ?ne I created to get away from the feeling of disease and being dirty
that .assie left in me.8
7I don,t understand. =hat $illed the dream38 Liz held her breath afraid it was
her! something lac$ing in her.
(ean laughed bitterly. 7I did. I always do. There,s this dar$ness in me! a lace
that $nows no light! and nothing but ain. .assie saw it! $new what it was from the
minute she met me. (he $new all the buttons to ush to ma$e me close my eyes to
who she was. Michael saw her and $new from the second minute he met her! but all
of us con"inced him otherwise! against his better instincts. I wanted it gone. I
wanted that dream to cast a light so bright that all my hidden laces would be
14:
re"ealed. I wanted that lace gone! Liz. The lace where .assie reached me.8
Where she still reached him even now. Liz 'ust listened! understanding arts! but
unable to really understand the rest. 7I lied. I lied to you! Liz. &nd I lied to myself.8
7(ean...8
7+o. The lie was in denying who and what I am. Those laces in my soul! the
dar$ laces where no light can reach! they can,t go away 'ust because I will them to
lea"e. &nd there,re things I ha"e to do to feel better! to 'ust fuc$ing sur"i"e. Those
things can,t touch you! Liz. It,s not your world! and dragging you into it! forcing you
to become art of it! 'ust so I can feel better...8 (ean 'ust shoo$ his head. 7I won,t.
=hat $ind of a rotector would that ma$e me to drag you into my hell38
7(ean...8
7It,s not imortant for you to understand! Liz. &ll that matters is that I
understand! and that I do what,s right.8 :e stood u and waiting for her beside the
table. 79ou,re out of this! Liz. &s of today! you,re free to start li"ing your life! and
finding that secial erson who<s been waiting for you all his life.8
Liz watched him wal$ away! and slowly she got u and followed.
---
Michael lay on his stomach with his head cradled on his crossed arms!
groaning deely. Maria was sitting on his his wor$ing him o"er. :er soft! yet
surrisingly strong hands ushed the oil across his s$in as she massaged all the
tension and $notted muscles! rela/ing them into a mass of 'elly.
They bathed when they got home! and because it was only early afternoon!
the metal blinds in the uer loft were closed! encasing the room in a warm
dar$ness that was diselled with candle light. The smell of the burning scented
141
candles! the low laying music from the stereo! and the warmth of her hands on his
body was lulling him to slee. :e still hadn,t slet! but he was feeling better! less
tired as she rela/ed him and the tension fled.
7Tandoori.8 (he whisered in a soft hus$y "oice teasing his ear with her lis.
7.hinese! my turn to ic$.8 Michael said not letting her seduce him into gi"ing
u his rights.
7Thai38 she said hoefully. )emo"ing the weight of her body off him! she
slaed his ass lightly. 7Turn o"er so I can do the front.8
=ith a groan! he turned o"er and loo$ed at her. 1od! she was so damn
beautiful; :er shiny ca of blond hair framed her face! accentuating her outy red
lis and her erfect features with her green eyes "i"idly flashing and ali"e. Maria
was $neeling ne/t to his hi wearing his green sil$ dress shirt! held together by only
two buttons! and nothing else. Pic$ing u the massage oil she oured more into her
cued hand and let it warm! then rubbed it between her two hands she went for
his bad $nee! ignoring his growing erection.
7Maria! not the $nee.8
7(hush! trust me. I,m 'ust going to wor$ out some of the soreness. .an you
bend it yet38
7@ust barely! not without cussing! and it still hurts li$e a bitch. )ub something
else and I,ll agree to Thai.8
Maria 'ust laughed and ignored him. Placing her hands on his $nee! she slowly
added ressure trying not to 'ar the strained ligaments! mo"ing her hands and
fingers down and in! with a firm gri to soothe the sore muscles and ligaments that
were strained. :is $nee started to loosen. It still loo$ed bad with all the bruising! a
nice dislay of Technicolor! but the swelling was gone. Michael moaned at her touch
which didn,t actually hurt that much since the $nee was actually feeling better.
143
(uddenly she reached a hand under the $nee ca and bent his leg for the first time
in days and it bent without ain.
7Thai food! we can ha"e Thai food;8 Maria 'ust giggled! and ut his leg bac$
down. (he turned and straddled his his! still ignoring his erection that was ma$ing
itself $nown against her where she sat on him. &dding more oil she began wor$ing
on his shoulders and uer chest.
7Maria.8
7Lea"e it alone. It,ll be there. Let me finish you. If I go there it,ll be o"er.8
Michael 'ust shrugged. (he was right! one touch and they were going to finish
something else! and they both needed food before they did anything in that
direction. >irst the floor of her office! and then in the bath. Their food sulies were
running dangerously in the negati"e column. )efueling was a to concern and
riority.
7Thai! then. 9ou want me to call it in38 Michael as$ed not really showing that
much desire to mo"e out from under her hands.
Maria 'ust shoo$ her head and grabbed the hone hitting the seed dial for the
Thai restaurant! and holding it to her ear cradled on her shoulder.
7+o! you 'ust rela/ or you,ll wrec$ all my wor$.8 Michael leaned bac$ on the
bed with his arms under his head! watching her wor$ on him while lacing a food
order. (he ordered enough to feed a small army which was good! since lately they
were eating li$e one. The mo"ement of her body ushing her small breasts against
the loose fit of his shirt and occasionally gi"ing him snea$ ee$s! was intriguing
enough to occuy him to the oint that he missed the moment when she hung u
the hone and ambushed him.
7=ant to tell me about the new case38 Michael loo$ed at her sharly. +o! no
he did not.
144
7+othing to tell yet! it,s still reliminary.8 >lubbing her off was a good strategy.
7Michael.8 (he tilted her head to one side and ga"e him that loo$.
7Don,t do that.8 :e should ha"e $nown better. The flubbing strategy ne"er
wor$ed with Maria.
7Do what3 =ant to be an acti"e art of your life38
:e was tensing u again. 7Maria! we discussed this. I don,t want to bring my
wor$ home.8
7I bring mine home! and you deal.8
7It,s not the same.8
79es! it is. Maybe my wor$ isn,t as dangerous or gruesome at times! but it,s
still a stress in my life! and I share that with you to hel me carry art of the load.
Telling you ma$es my life easier and better.8
7Maria! I don,t want it to touch us here.8
7?$ay! then tell me that e"en when you,re with me! your head isn,t wor$ing
o"er the case! going o"er the details! the crime reorts! obsessing o"er when your
labs will come bac$! or what really haened. Tell me that when you wal$ in our
door at night! that it,s 'ust about you and me! and nothing is distracting you! that
the world isn,t distracting you.8
Michael couldn,t. :e didn,t lie. .lenching his 'aw! he loo$ed away from her and
tried to find words to e/lain it away. *"ery single time he had a hard case she
ressured him to let her in on it. :er meddling was endless! and it made him
aranoid that she would be caught u in the danger.
79ou<re right. Part of me can,t turn it off. I need to wor$ the details! let it
rocess! but it doesn,t mean I,m tuning you out. I,m here for you.8
Maria 'ust sighed! feeling his muscles tighten u. 7Michael! do you $now why
most co marriages and relationshis fail38 Michael 'ust went silent under her
145
hands. =as she lea"ing him! finishing it3 7They fail because the souse or
significant other is left out! searated from the biggest art of their artner,s life.
The co comes home and tries to bloc$ it out using drugs! alcohol! and other
outlets to ease the stress while his significant watches hellessly! or they 'ust don,t
come home at all.8
7It doesn,t always haen that way.8 Michael,s 'aw clenched again. (he was
right though. That was a common scenario. .os tried to rotect the ones they
lo"ed and tended to ush them away to $ee them safe! to $ee the stin$ of crime
and murder searate from them.
7It haens more than it doesn,t. *"eryone needs a time away from it. 5ut
cos build lasting strong bonds to their artners because they wal$ through the fire
together! and the end e%uation is that only their artner really! really understands.8
Maria loo$ed at soberly. 7I don,t want to lose you to a world you won,t let me
understand. I can,t. &nd I don<t want Ma/ to understand you better than I do.8
7Maria! I 'ust want to $ee you safe and out of it.8
Maria leaned down and $issed him gently. 7I,m already art of it. I always
ha"e been. If this is about your fear I,ll brea$ down! then sto worrying. I,m
stronger than that. I,"e healed.8
Michael,s hand wandered u under the shirt and touched the scar on her side.
9es! she had healed! but he wasn,t sure that he had. (ome scars you couldn,t
touch.
7=hat do you want to $now38 It came down to otions and reality. It wasn,t
gi"ing in! but becoming aware. :is otions were limited. :e could deny her and
ta$e a chance that his life would create wedges between them as time went on! or
he could unload and hoe she was right! that she was strong enough to handle it.
146
7@ust start with the outline! and slowly tell me what,s bothering you about the
case. I,ll be your sounding board. Might as well! seeing how flat my tits are.8
7I don,t $now. I thought they were loo$ing retty full and er$y lately.8 Maria
slaed his hands away as they came u to hold the soft weight of her breasts.
7Man,s fantasy. +ow start tal$ing.8
Maria listened as he told her about the case! %uietly as$ing %uestions that
drew out more detail than he originally wanted to gi"e. (he felt an o"erwhelming
sorrow coming from him! a sense of outrage that this un$nown woman was lying on
a cold slab! her life drained! and her eole didn,t e"en $now. It was the ringing of
their doorbell announcing dinner that interruted the con"ersation.
79ou stay. I,ll go.8 Maria ushed him bac$ down as he tried to get u.
7+o you don,t. 1i"ing the deli"ery boy a eeshow is a great ti! but then I,ll
ha"e to $ill him.8 Michael grabbed her in a full wrestling hold and turned her o"er!
slamming her onto the bed flat on her bac$ as she laughed. Cissing her nose he
was off the bed. 1rabbing a air of sweats! he ran down the stairs on his newly
bending $nee struggling to get them on as the bell ealed through the loft.
They sat lounging on their bed! feeding and eating Thai food as Michael
continued to outline his new case. Maria listened attenti"ely! ma$ing a few
comments along the way! but for the most art 'ust listening. &fter they stac$ed
and cleared away the containers in a ile ne/t to the bed! Maria draed herself
across him and stared at the carnage.
7I can,t belie"e we finished that. It was almost enough for si/ eole.8 Maria
turned to loo$ at him. 7&m I getting fat3 Is my ass sreading and I 'ust don,t $now
it38
147
7Let me chec$ it out.8 Michael grabbed her and they rolled around the bed
trying to get the uer hand. >inally they came to rest with Michael laying flat and
Maria resting on him loo$ing at him in a serious light.
7I had one %uestion! something I don,t understand.8
7=hat,s that3 :ow we could eat so much! and I,m still thin$ing about a
sandwich38
Maria hit him layfully. 79ou,re not; +o. I was wondering about your case. =hy
did Dhe, dum her3 1od! I,m assuming this has to be a Dhe,! but we don,t really
$now that. 5ut why did he dum her38
Michael entire body went still as the %uestion filtered through his mind! 'oined
with all the other asects of his case. =hy3 That was a %uestion to be answered.
79ou want dessert38 Maria got u from the bed and grabbed the garbage! and
Michael followed ta$ing it from her hands. =hile she dug around in the $itchen he
went outside and tossed out the remains of their early dinner. Loo$ing down at the
trash can! holding the lid in his hand! her %uestion taunted him. Why- Why did he
throw her away-
Michael came bac$ inside and too$ a seat at the bar and watched Maria our
two large glasses of cold mil$. Maria lo"ed mil$. (he dran$ it by the gallons. :e
smiled to himself as she searched through the bread container and uer cabinets!
his mind still rocessing the %uestion of why.
7Mil$! lo"ely mil$ needs...coo$ies! coo$ies! coo$ies. Michael! why are we out of
coo$ies3 Damn.8 Maria grabbed her mil$ and started drin$ing. 7.hocolate sauce! I
can ha"e chocolate sauce in my mil$ for brown moo.8
7=e,re out of chocolate sauce. 9ou used the last of it on me three nights ago.8
Michael said distractedly.
147
7&nd damn well worth e"ery wonderful lic$. :mm! where,s that disgusting
malted mil$ owder3 I $now! the almond owder would be good. 1raham crac$ers;
I can eat those.8 Michael tuned her out as he continued to thin$. 1arbage. 7Ice
cream! marshmallows! and graham crac$ers...yum! I could use some whied
cream.8
Michael,s attention was caught. 7Ice cream3 =hat $ind38
7Pistachio.8
71i"e me a soon.8
They sat in the li"ing room on the sofa with the tele"ision on! sharing a int of
istachio ice cream. Michael concentrated on getting more on his soon! because
for some reason Maria was able to consume it faster without the torturous brain
freeze. =hat the hell was with these int things3 =hat the hell was wrong with half
gallon containers3 It had to be the coldness of #ermont in the winter that made
these two guys! 5en and @erry inconsiderate of the warmer climates.
7I was 'ust thin$ing that with all the care and meticulous detail ta$en to
reser"e and rocess the body! wouldn,t you thin$ that shows some secial intent3
I mean other cultures ha"e set rules and rocedures for the rocessing of the dead!
and the burial techni%ues are about as intricate. Ta$e the *gytians! they rocessed
their dead for mummification! and the Peru"ians racticed bundle burials.8
7=hat are you thin$ing! Maria38 Michael as$ed. (he had that loo$ on her face!
her <Professor face<.
Maria 'ust shrugged and lic$ed the remains of the ice cream from her soon.
7The same thing you,re thin$ing! Detecti"e. That the duming was wrong.8
(he was right. The duming of the body was out of character! esecially after
all the care that had gone into the rocessing. &ll that wor$ had to ha"e a urose!
148
a means! and then something made him dum her. 0nderstanding the why could
lead them to a moti"e.
7Professor! tell me about different cultural ractices that remind you of this
case.8
7=ell the most ob"ious would be the *gytians.8 Michael sat bac$ to ay
attention to the lecture. 7They had a detailed method for rocessing the internal
organs. &s you may $now! the heyday of the *gytian culture was o"er fi"e
thousand years ago. )ising out of the (umerian influence and close association with
those cultures! asects ermeated outward from the >ertile .rescent region of the
Middle *ast. They were far remo"ed from their nomadic tribes or early agrarian
cultural ancestors who first settled the fertile regions along the +ile )i"er. This
culture had a rich suerstructure with inno"ations and a richness in architecture!
art! literature! and e"en religion. Their concets of an afterlife fueled their funerary
ractices! and dictated an understanding of the defining arameters between life
and death. If you loo$ at the first tombs...8
---
The $noc$ing at his door didn,t register at first! as Cyle mo"ed around in his
bed. (itting u and listening! the $noc$ came again. Tossing off the sleeing mas$!
he loo$ed at his bedside cloc$. (i/ in the e"ening. 1roaning he hurried to go
answer the door. It didn,t matter what &my said! that damn mas$ didn,t sto his
body from $nowing it was daytime.
7Tess38 Cyle scratched his stomach loo$ing at Tess :ardy standing on his
doorste. 70m! you want to come in38
149
Tess 'ust nodded and too$ in his aearance. +o shirt! bo/ers! and his hair all
wild and unruly. 7:oe I,m not interruting you at a bad time38 Tess loo$ed around
the aartment for a comanion that would e/lain Cyle,s bedhead loo$.
7+o! I,m alone. .ome on in.8 Cyle mo"ed aside to let her ass noting her ale
comle/ion.
Tess hoo$ed her finger in the waist band of his bo/ers as she assed snaing
them bac$ on him. 75o/ers. I li$e.8
(hutting the door and searching for a shirt! Cyle loo$ed at her critically. (he
loo$ed uset! ale! and somehow fragile. 7=hat,s going on! Tess3 &re you o$ay38
Tess 'ust loo$ed at him. 7.an we tal$38
---
Michael was laughing at a story that Maria was telling when the hone rang. It
was robably Cyle trying to get out of wor$ing on the car with him. Ma/ said he
would try! but he had things he had to do! and Michael had no idea e/actly what
that meant.
75eauty and the 5east! which one ya want38
7I,ll ta$e the ugly beast.8 Michael sat u straighter.
7(imon38
7(orry to call you at home when you actually ha"e down time! but I,"e got
something you need to see.8 Michael made arrangements and told (imon he was on
his way.
Loo$ing at Maria on her way ustairs to get dressed his eyebrow went u
when he followed her ustairs. 7(orry! Maria. I,"e got to go. It shouldn,t ta$e me
that long.8
15:
7I,m coming with you.8 Maria grabbed a air of blue 'eans and a to to relace
Michael,s shirt she was wearing! not e"en bothering with underwear.
7+o.8
Maria went down the stairs. 7Does your $nee feel good enough to ta$e the
bi$e38
Michael caught u with her on the way to the garage. 7I said no. &nd! I don,t
ha"e time to argue this out with you.8
71ood! lets get going.8
7Maria.8
7I,m going. I,ll stay out of the way! and if it gets to be too much! I,ll ta$e a
wal$.8 Maria went out into the garage hitting the automatic door oener. 7I
romise.8 Maria loo$ed at him. 7I don,t want you to be alone! and maybe I can hel.
(o...1T? or bi$e38 Maria $new when she saw Michael,s face as he was tal$ing to
(imon it was going to be bad. =hen things got real bad! Michael headed for the
dessert at to seed 'ust li$e she did! and when he hit the road she was going to be
with him.
75i$e.8 Michael stoed arguing. :e didn,t ha"e time. This was a bad idea! but
Maria wouldn,t understand until it hit her in the face. :is $nee was finally better! or
at least enough that he could control the machine again.
(imon was waiting for Michael! and he did an actual double ta$e when Maria
entered the autosy room as well. 70m! Michael! I don,t thin$...8
Michael ignored him as did Maria. They both aroached the table. 5ut
whereas Michael went forward and e/amined the body! grabbing late/ glo"es! Maria
turned her bac$ on it. It too$ a few moments for Michael to catch (imon,s eye and
turn bac$ to see Maria loo$ing away.
79ou o$ay! Professor38
151
Maria nodded and comosed herself. (he had seen bodies before! but not
oened u li$e this. & year ago it would,"e sent her into full body sha$es! freezing
chills! and ha"ing Michael dum gallons of sugared tea down her! but she didn,t
reress much of anything anymore. +ot anger! not sorrow! and she didn,t reress
li"ing. =hat she saw emtied her stomach with that dead dro feeling. =ho the hell
does that to someone3
7I,m fine. 1od! Detecti"e! that oor woman! and her family doesn,t $now yet38
7They will! Professor. I romise.8 Michael turned bac$ once he realized that
Maria was collecting herself! and it wasn,t sic$ness holding her bac$! but ity and
anger. :e ne"er noticed e/actly when Maria 'oined them! still holding bac$ from the
sight and smell! but finally obser"ing.
7=hat am I loo$ing for (imon38
7This.8 (imon ointed to a large artery running down the oened front ca"ity
along the sternum and ribs.
7The "ertebral artery38
79eah! that,s the tic$et! the real deal! but notice how round it is. It<s filled. The
body wasn,t 'ust reser"ed! rocessed with embalming fluid! but the fluid was
relaced with this stuff. &ll the ma'or arteries and "eins are filled with it.8
Michael frowned at it. 7=hat is it38 (imon 'ust shrugged. 0ntil an analysis
could be run! he could only hazard a guess.
7Late/.8 Michael turned to Maria %uic$ly when she so$e softly. 7I,"e seen this
before.8 (he had both (imon and Michael,s undi"ided attention.
7&n archeological site! some cultural ractice38
Maria 'ust shoo$ her head no. 75iology. I saw it when I was doing biology.8
(imon mo"ed them away from the body and leaned his hi on the side of his
des$. Michael stood obser"ing his smaller artner.
153
7In biology we did dissections. The secimens were ro"ided by secial
scientific comanies that secialized in reser"ed ones.8 5oth men too$ a sharer
interest in her obser"ation at the mentioning of reser"ing a secimen. 7The thing
with the dissection secimens is that their arteries and "eins were shot full of this
late/ material to hel them stay firm and ob"ious. 0sually red for the arteries! and
blue for the "eins.8
(imon swore under his breath and told them to wait. Lea"ing them there with
the body he went down the hall to his office and searching through his boo$s! found
what he needed. 1oing bac$! he found them loo$ing through the ictures and lab
reorts.
7This is an atlas of the human body used in gross anatomy dissection labs.
There is another that is used called &.D.&.M.! but this one is e/cellent because it<s
an actual body! cut u and dissected slice by slice. +otice the "eins and arteries on
some of these ages.8
Maria and Michael loo$ed at what (imon was showing them. The arteries and
"eins were filled with colored late/ to show the routes and oints of origin.
7=hat does this mean38 Michael as$ed.
(imon closed the boo$. 7It means that we ha"e a starting lace to locate the
materials used! and the ossible scientific comanies that are suliers.8 (imon
loo$ed o"er at the body. 79ou should also $now that not only were the internal
organs gone! but all ca"ities were scrubbed clean with what loo$s li$e an acid wash!
from the mouth ca"ity! the "agina! and e"en the residual colon and rectal tract. (he
was oened! gutted! and cleaned! and then filled with this foam medium! and glued
closed.8
Maria was loo$ing at the body! when she noticed a mar$ on the inner thigh.
7Michael! what,s that38
154
5oth (imon and Michael too$ a closer loo$. (imon loo$ed at his notes ma$ing
sure it was noted. 7It,s 'ust a birthmar$.8
Michael frowned. 7=ould it ha"e been ob"ious when she was ali"e38
7Probably not. It,s 'ust a atch of s$in that has a igmentation. =hen we,re
ali"e small caillaries fill our s$in with blood and that blood is what gi"es a lot of
the coloration! or what we call blush! added to s$in igmentation. In life! this
woman,s birthmar$ might ha"e blended in! almost matching her normal s$in color.
5ut in death those caillaries would ha"e emtied! lea"ing the s$in more ale and
blanched while the birthmar$,s igmentation would ha"e aeared e"en more
ob"ious.8
Maria bac$ed off and sat u on the corner table where the aerwor$ was
done! lea"ing Michael to wor$.
7(he didn,t ha"e any nail olish or ma$eu on.8 Michael said.
7That<s correct. *"en her nail beds were clean of residual dirt. (he was
scrubbed down to the s$in! and then srayed with a clean lac%uer or shellac.8
(imon watched Michael rocessing e"erything in his way! and loo$ed o"er at Maria
discreetly as she went through the case reorts on the table. Interesting coule! he
smiled to himself. The rumors about them were all o"er the lace. Damn! but they
were so much ali$e and at a glance! so different. ?f course 1uerin ne"er loo$ed
that good in 'eans.
7Michael! I wanted to as$! how did you $now she was embalmed from 'ust a
smell3 It,s not a common $nowledge smell! and it was discreet enough that I almost
missed it.8 &ctually he would,"e missed it if Michael hadn,t told him to ta$e a large
whiff.
Michael 'ust shrugged and went bac$ o"er to where Maria was reading and reA
e/amined the crime hotos. 7It smelt li$e a >ry.8
155
Maria loo$ed u and frowned. 7=hat,s a >ry3 Li$e MacD,s >ries38
7Mari'uana cigarette died in embalming fluid! usually laced with P.P or crac$
cocaine. ?nce you smelt it burned! its hard not to recognize. The smell stays with
you.8
---
Cyle sat frozen! the electrical connections between his brain and body were
fried for a sace in time! but it felt longer. Li$e an eternity. Loo$ing o"er at the
etite blonde sitting ne/t to him! he noticed her reaching for the coffee he had
made her. 1rabbing the cu before she could! Cyle went into his $itchen and
dumed it down the drain. Tess silently watched him as he reached into a shelf and
grabbed a glass! and then oured mil$ into it from a cartoon from the refrigerator.
Cyle handed the Tess the mil$. 7Drin$ this. .affeine isn,t good for the baby.8
Pregnant. Tess was regnant. Cyle $et saying it in his head! but it wasn,t
ma$ing any sense to him. &ll those years! all that time she was with @ac$! married
to himB Cyle had reared himself to hear those words. Practicing to be hay for
them! and suddenly he was unreared.
7Pregnant38
7Cyle! that,s what it,s usually called when you<re gonna ha"e a baby.8 Tess said
as she sied on her mil$ with a grimace. Disgusting stuff. (he searched in her bag
while Cyle sat in shoc$! still trying to rocess the news. 1i"ing u! she went into his
$itchen and searched for something to add to her mil$. Tess smiled at the bo/ with
a rabbit on the side. >igures. ?f course Cyle would still drin$ chocolate stuff in his
mil$. Tess then added some Tabasco! but it wasn,t enough! so she added more!
tasted it! and then added more again.
156
7*"ans38
Tess went bac$ to sit ne/t to Cyle. 79eah.8
7?$ay.8 Cyle said in his matterAofAfact "oice. 79ou tell him38
7+o. I can,t. I,"e been crying for days. 9ou,re the first erson I<"e told.8
7I,m flattered. I thin$.8 Cyle loo$ed at his life long friend. 79ou,"e got to tell
him! Tess.8
Tess 'ust groaned and sat bac$ with her head resting on the bac$ of the sofa.
Cyle 'oined her! and too$ her hand in his.
7I 'ust bro$e u with him. I can,t 'ust show u on his doorste and announce!
D:i! $now I dumed you! but guess what3 The condom failed three months ago., I
mean how,s he suosed to ta$e that38 Tess face became thoughtful. 7Maybe I
could 'ust not tell him! and see if he guesses38
7Tess.8
7?r I could let him assume its yours.8
That comment made Cyle sit u straighter! and away from her. 7+o;8
7I,m sorry. ?f course you wouldn,t want to be the father.8 Tess a"oided his
eyes.
7It,s not that...of course I would want to be the father! um...I mean! that,s
if...oh hell;8 Cyle had no idea what he felt. It was all confused inside. :ay! sad!
angry! confused! o$ay confused again! add in some curiosity! and a shit load
of...'ealousy! maybe e"en en"y. 5eating the shit out of Ma/ *"ans might ma$e him
feel better. 7=as this why you wanted to ha"e lunch with me yesterday38
79eah! that and to see your frea$edAout face.8 Cyle reached o"er a twea$ed
one of her curls.
7(orry I missed that. There I was! trying to figure out how I was going to
shimmy into slutAboy leather ants! and instead I could,"e let you ambush me at
157
some restaurant in )oswell.8 Tess loo$ed at him with curious seculation in her
eyes. (lut 5oy in leather. 9eah she could see that. 7=ait! did you say the condom
failed three months ago3 9ou,re three months along38
Tess tried to sha$e off the mental icture of Cyle in tight leather ants. 79eah!8
she said distractedly. +ot wor$ing. ?h! wow.
7&nd you 'ust figured it out38 Cyle as$ed as Tess nodded yes. 71reat sleuthing
abilities! +ancy Drew; Didn,t you get a clue when &unty >lo didn,t ay you a "isit38
Tess smac$ed him hard on his stomach. 7(hut u; I was ne"er regularB my
cycle was all o"er the lace from all those years of dancing. Three months was sort
of long! but I was in denial. I mean! I had 'ust bro$en u with Ma/ and suddenly
I,m finding myself tied to him for life through a baby3 .olor me wea$! delusional
and in denial! or 'ust insane! but I $et hoing I was wrong.8
7Dammit; I must be gay; =omen start tal$ing to you about their Dcycle, and
you get a hand'ob in a gay bar! that has to mean something.8
7=hat the hell are you tal$ing about38
(o Cyle told her about his misad"entures to distract her away from her own
roblems for a while. That,s what friends do! e"en friends who wish and want to be
more! but 'ust can<t bring themsel"es to try.
7I don,t thin$ you,re gay! or that little incident ma$es you gay.8 Tess said
laughing. 7=hat about Pamela Troy in the ninth grade38
7I thin$ we should start with .arly >rench in the eight grade.8 Cyle said. 7(he
was my first.8
7That doesn,t count if you do it in your ants.8 Tess said not noticing the
redness of Cyle,s face.
157
7=ait; :ow did you $now about that3 I ne"er told you! and I $now I ne"er told
@ac$;8 Tess,s face turned red and biting her li from laughing she 'ust shrugged.
7.arly told you;8
7+o. +ot technically.8 Cyle groaned. ?h! that bitch; (o glad she<s now a
chec$er at CAMart! married to a drun$ who slet with a bar waitress at the .ow
Patty! and has three children and about that many teeth.
7*/lain! not technically.8
7=ell there,s this wall in the girl,s restroom...8 Cyle groaned e"en more! li$e he
was in ain. :e ut his hands in his head. 1ay was loo$ing better and better.
7That,s the year you got the nic$name.8
7+ic$name...oh wait! I remember that; P@. +e"er could figure out why I was
called that.8 Cyle,s eyes narrowed susiciously as Tess a"oiding him. 7Tess3 Tess!
dammit tell me;8
7Premature e@ac$. [email protected] Tess said softly watching closely for Cyle,s reaction.
7?h! god. @ust $ill me;8 Cyle laid his head bac$ against the sofa with Tess,s.
7&nd my two best friends in the whole world! you and @ac$ didn,t e"en sot me a
clue.8
8=ell! we didn,t call you that either! if you remember. &nd...and..the ne/t year
your name changed after you and Pam did it! um...8 Tess made a slight helless
gesture to denote se/. 71etting caught ma$ing it with Pam for the third time under
the bleachers was a reutationAma$ing moment.8
7I was retty studly;8 Cyle said congratulating himself. 75ut why the hell did I
get the nic$name <(nuff<38 Cyle as$ed as Tess fell o"er to the side laughing
hysterically. 7Tess3 :ey! cut it out;8 Cyle grabbed at her and they fought around as
Cyle tic$led her.
7?:;8 (uddenly Tess stoed mo"ing.
158
7=hat3 &re you o$ay3 Did I hurt you...the baby38 Cyle %uic$ly sat u and
ulled Tess u with him. Tess 'ust shoo$ her head! but %uic$ly grabbed Cyle,s hand
and ut it on her 'ust barely bulging tummy. (uddenly Cyle,s concerned face
changed to wonder as a soft fluttery mo"ement under his fingers alerted him to 'ust
how real the situation was. 7?h 1od! that,s the baby; =ow;8
7I 'ust started feeling that recently. It,s all flutteryAli$e! but soon I should feel
$ic$s.8 Tess suddenly became %uiet! ushing the hair from her face that went out of
control from their tic$le fight. 7I,m ha"ing a hard time with myself! Cyle.8
79ou don,t want the baby38 Cyle left his hand on her stomach. :ow could she
not want this wonderful little thing mo"ing inside her3
Tess,s hand went o"er his. 7Don,t be an ass! of course I want it. I,"e carried
him for three months. I 'ust always thought it would be @ac$,s or e"en...8 Tess,s
"oice trailed off. (he whisered it so low that Cyle almost didn,t hear it. 79ours.8
That hurt. It hurt him more than when Tess and @ac$ got married. :e could,"e
handled her carrying @ac$,s baby! or e"en another man,s! but he couldn,t handle her
wishing it had been his. 5ut the gentle fluttery feeling under his fingers made it all
right! ga"e it some ersecti"e.
7It is mine. It,s yours and mine! because we,re friends. >or life. &nd whate"er
this baby is! it,s you! Tess. &ll you! and so it has to be all mine! too.8
Tess loo$ed u at him with tears in her eyes. 7Than$s! Cyle.8 :e hugged her
tight to his side $issing the to of her head.
Tess 'ust rested against him. Too long! she had waited too long. =hen she and
@ac$ were married they decided to wait to ha"e $ids until she finished her Masters.
Then she lost @ac$ before her Masters was comleted. &fter resuming her friendshi
with Cyle a year ago! she susected that someday when she was ready! she would
as$ Cyle to father her child. It didn,t ay to lan e"erything.
159
79ou ha"e to tell him! Tess. 9ou $now that! right38 Cyle swallowed as he felt
her head nod against him. &nd he said it! e"en though he $new it was going to
hurt. 7Maybe the baby will change things! and you and Ma/ will gi"e it a try.8
7+o. +o! Cyle. I bro$e u with him for secific reasons! and the baby doesn,t
change those.8 Tess left her hand on her stomach. 7It,s 'ust me and the baby.8
7&nd me.8
)eaching u! Tess $issed him gently on the lis. 7&nd you. The three of us
again. I,m naming him @ac$.8
---
(ean and &ndy arri"ed at The Den while it was still early e"ening! boo$ing
rooms in the ri"ate club. It was an e/clusi"e Player .lub with bondage and leather
games on the menu! and ain for dessert. It was a erfect lace to run away to for
a few hours of distraction. (ome used it as a release "al"e from their li"es! others
'ust got a thrill out of feeling on the edge! but some cra"ed it! needed it dee in
their soul.
The club was searated into different sections by a full size bar on all le"els
and dancefloors with entertainment. The .athedral on the to floor was a large
emorium of fun and debauchery! but only at a light le"el. The lower floors became
rogressi"ely more hardcore until one reached the final le"el $nown as The
Dungeon. *"en the Dungeon had colorAcoded zones! )ed being the ultimate in
ain. &ll le"els came with ri"ate session rooms where almost any combination
could be found and re%uested. &ll emloyees were sla"eAtrained. *"en the Doms
had to ass sla"eAtraining before rogressing to Master ran$ings. The Den was a
16:
"ery rofessional establishment with rules and regulations! and all guests were by
in"itation only or entered "ia sonsorshi by an e/isting member.
&ndy and (ean had often "isited The Den while friends and artners in #ice!
but the two "aried in temerament. &ndy was more into going for goodAnatured
fun! a little of the sla and tic$le! and an oortunity to get really ried with a safe
lace to slee it off. (ean was of a different caliber. :e "isited for a touch of
domination with increasing ain rewards. =hat started as an ad"enture with the
thrill of alternati"e se/ combined with a touch of "iolence! fast escalated into
something different! something that had nothing to do with se/ and e"erything to
do with control and ower.
The .athedral was too tame for (ean. :e could tolerate it for small eriods of
time! but it was li$e hanging with little girls who giggled at the mention of
underwear! and who felt ublic nudity was an outrage! but dreamt of the se/iness
of leather. The boys were worse. They still turned red at the idea of masturbating to
dirty magazines.
&ndy went down a few le"els! but mostly he stayed with the light stuff. :is
tris to the dar$side were through (ean alone. ?"er the last few years he acted as
(ean,s sotter! or safety. It was art of a system of chec$s and balances in all of
the games.
The Dom was the first control. & good Dom $new that their resonsibility was
to the subser"ient! to ensure they were ne"er in any real danger. The second
control was the subser"ient that had a safety word to end the games! and generally
a ball or ob'ect they held in their hand that they could dro! should the game
ad"ance beyond their endurance rendering them unable to sea$ their safety word.
The third control was the safety or sotter whose 'ob was to "iew the games as an
obser"er! watching their charge for signs of being too far gone to sto the game.
161
&nd the final control was the actual .ontroller! an o"erseer in the room whose first
and only resonsibility was to enforce all club rules and to rotect the interest of
The Master! the owner of The Den.
&ndy and (ean sat at the bar drin$ing and laughing! catching u on a year of
silence! e/cet for occasional assing in the corridors at wor$. &ndy loo$ed through
the scheduled entertainment and the shows oen to all articiants! while (ean
signed o"er a re%uest form for a secial session in The Dungeon.
7(ean! you want to go to the .athedral tonight38 &ndy already watched (ean
drin$ down two beers with chasers. The man loo$ed rough and worn.
7+ot in the mood for giggly girls and bashful boys feeling dirty. I thin$ I,ll see
if the session I want it ossible! otherwise! I,ll 'ust ta$e my misery as a nice
drowning.8 (ean grabbed some coc$tail eanuts and munched on them.
79ou don,t $now what you,re missing. It,s bitches and britches in swings;8
&ndy wiggled his brows at (ean.
7In a word! no. Than$s anyway! il mio amico.8 (ean taed his emty on the
bar! and it was immediately refreshed. 7I,ll wait to see what comes my way.8
7=hat tye of session did you re%uest38 &ndy frowned. This wasn,t good. (ean
was loo$ing too stressed and too out of it.
7@ust a secialty! but I want a secific Dom! and she might not be a"ailable. If
that,s the case then it,s me and a bottle of whis$ey.8
7Is this an all or nothing deal38 (ean 'ust nodded. 7=ell! guess I can wait until
you see if your e"ening is going to fly! or whether you,ll 'ust ha"e to find some
other entertainment.8
(ean loo$ed at &ndy. It was hard to miss the concern in his eyes! or the way
he $et chec$ing (ean out. 71o to the .athedral. I might not get my answer until
163
tomorrow. There,s no reason for both of us to ha"e no fun! issing and moaning in
our beers.8
7I can wait.8
7@ust go! &ndrew! don,t be a stoo. Dungeon )ed re%uires a sotter. If it
comes through I,ll wade through the "irgin twitters and find you.8 (ean loo$ed at
his friend and smiled. 7?therwise! you can find me here getting blotto! and when
you ha"e to ut me to bed I will no doubt ma$e a ass at you! offer and gi"e you
head! and ass out all dirty in my sheets.8
7(ound li$e hea"en on my side.8 &ndy laughed. Those bitches and britches on
swings sounded li$e too much fun to ass u. 7&re you sure3 I can sto bac$ in an
hour to chec$ on you.8
71o! or I,m going to schedule you for the @aanese torture of bac$ massage by
a sumo wrestler.8 &ndy still loo$ed uncon"inced. 71o;8
Ten minutes after &ndy finally left to go sit beer at fags on a wire! and offer
his tongue to strange women! the in"itation card to oen the Dungeon arri"ed.
>elicia was a"ailable. Tossing down a ti on the bar! (ean signed his membershi
number to his bar tab and too$ off to the "ery bowels of :ell for a session with an
&mazon blonde warrior that made &dolh :itler loo$ li$e a camfire girl. (ean
smiled when he noticed his re%uest for her to wear a wig of red curly hair was
granted.
&ndy came bac$ a little after the hour! laughing at the erformance he had
'ust seen. (earching the bar area for (ean! he was disaointed that his friend was
gone. >rowning! he too$ a bar seat ne/t to the ones they had before in case (ean
was in the 'ohn.
79our friend left!8 said the bartender as he laced a coc$tail na$in before
&ndy and waited for his order.
164
7Left3 >or the night or to catch a show38
7:e got a ri"ate session card.8 +o way. There was no fuc$ing way$ (ean could
not enter a session without a sotter. That was against the rules.
7:ow long ago38
The bartender 'ust shrugged. 7Maybe 'ust under an hour. I could chec$ the
time receit for his signed tab.
7+e"er mind. @ust gi"e me a sotter,s card to the Dungeon.8 The bartender
went to find the generic cards that were needed to oen the secial door. &ndy
loo$ed at the metallic stried card and headed off to find (ean! but he had to
$now. 7=ho was the secial with38
7>lic$er. (he,s a bitch. I wouldn,t ut my ass under her whi.8
&ndy $new her well! mostly by reutation. Mo"ing %uic$ly to the secial
ele"ator doors that needed the $ey card! &ndy rubbed his face. Dammit! how could
he fuc$ this u so badly; (teing into the ele"ator he started raying he wasn,t
too late. 75loody hell;8
It wasn,t hard to find (ean. &ndy heard the din as soon as he left the ele"ator.
Loud whisers of awe and horror echoed down the halls of the Dungeon. The
dar$ened room! decorated in gothic style and lit with candles created the mood.
&ndy winced as he fought his way through the growing crowd. :e could hear the
whi! but no sounds e/cet the angry grunting of frustration from a woman.
&ndy ushed his way through the crowd milling around that one room in the
Dungeon . :is heart was out of control searching for (ean! raying it wasn,t him!
but $nowing it was. & large man in blac$ leather stoed him. :e was the
.ontroller.
7+o one enters. There,s a session in rogress.8
165
7I,m his sotter.8 The man loo$ed at him! and then u and down! and then at
the scene behind him.
79ou should,"e entered at the beginning.8
7&nd you shouldn,t ha"e let him enter without a sotter! esecially not with
that bitch;8 &ndy tried to ush through the crowd co"ering the erihery of the
room. 71et the Master. +ow;8
&ndy stood shoc$ed on the edge of the crowd. The "oices around him were
whisering in awe at the scene! some horrified and fascinated at the same time!
and others aroused. (ean was chained with his arms sread abo"e his head! and
his feet in a sreader bar shac$led in iron. &ndy could see si/ floggers of different
weights tossed to the floor! all of them bloodied and used. (he must ha"e gone
through them all until the whi was the only instrument left. It was a hea"yA
handled whi! caable of tearing though the hide of a bull! and it was riing stris
of flesh off of (ean.
The woman was using a full lashing bullwhi. The cuts on his body were
bleeding into a large uddle below the bar. (ean,s head was bowed! and &ndy
almost gased when (ean raised his swollen face and sneered at the woman.
&ndy watched transfi/ed! as ure rage and hatred crossed the woman,s
features! and she raised her arm to hit (ean again. &ndy %uic$ly mo"ed and caught
her arm before she could deli"er the blow. :e turned in horror at the cac$ling dry
sound of (ean,s laughter. The woman tensed under his arms and tried to throw him
off.
J/89E until I say otherwise;;;;J The woman screamed at him.
7I,m his safety! and it,s over$5
&ndy was shoc$ed as the scream of D+o;8 came from both the woman and
(ean at the same time.
166
7Ta$e him down; +ow;8 &ndy ordered. The woman loo$ed at &ndy! who was
usuring her authority and her den! and raised her arm to him. &ndy reached to his
bac$ under his leather "est and ulled out his ser"ice re"ol"er coc$ing it in her
face. :is eyes telling her that he had no roblem shooting her.
7(to;8
& hard unyielding "oice rang abo"e the commotion of the crowds. &ndy
refused to remo"e his eyes from the woman until he saw her eyes mo"e through
the crowd at that "oice. (uddenly the woman,s hand droed! tossing the whi to
the ground and her eyes followed it down. ?nly then did &ndy loo$ at the tall man
wal$ing towards them as the crowds cleared a ath in front of him. :e was tallA"ery
tallAwith a sha"en head and a beard. :is eyes were as dar$ and cold as obsidian!
and his authority was unsha$eable. The Master! owner of the Den! had entered the
room.
The man sur"eyed the scene and noticed the red control ball still in (ean,s
hand. (ean lifted his face and loo$ed at The Master with one eye swollen shut
where he had ta$en a lash across it! his body co"ered in sweat and blood! and
there was defiance in his face. The man 'ust nodded and turned away.
Loo$ing at the woman who once held the whi! and then at the abandoned
floggers on the floor! he made eye contact with one of his .ontrollers.
7>elicia! you,re banned.8 :is "oice was hard and cold! broo$ing no mercy.
7+o; 9ou can,t do that; The slut didn,t use his safety word! he came without
his sotter! and he ne"er droed the ball. I was within my rights at his insolence;8
The man 'ust turned his bac$ on her as two of his men remo"ed her screaming in
rage. 7Ta$e him down. .all Medical and lace him in a cubicle.8 Two other men
came and started unchaining (ean who was still conscious! but not really aware. It
167
was his hiss of ain followed by bitter laughter that had the large man loo$ bac$ at
him. 7.arefully; Ta$e him down caref#lly.8
Turning to see the crowds gathered in the room! he turned his odious eyes on
them and the disgust of his "oice shoo$ the room. 7This is not a human coc$fight! a
blood sort. 9ou,ll not watch death in this lace for your leasure. &ny of those who
do not lea"e now! will be e/elled.8
&ndy stood in his lace loo$ing at the ground! but he $new the crowds
dissol"ed immediately. The Master wal$ing around him! saw the droed whi and
ic$ed it u.
7=here did this come from38 The Master as$ed the .ontroller of the room.
7The Dom brought it with her.8
7Ta$e it from my sight and destroy it. +o outside imlements are allowed! and
esecially not bullwhis. Those are the rules. 9our lace is in my room. I will deal
with you soon.8
79es! Master.8 (aid the .ontroller in a subser"ient "oice as he %uic$ly left.
The man finally returned to stand beside &ndy. 79our art in this3
&ndy loo$ed u when so$en to. 7I was the safety. :is sotter. I called the
game.8 &ndy sit out the word Dgame,. There was nothing gameli$e about it. (ean
and the sawn of hell! >elicia had a "engeance war between them bro$ered and
seeded by her need to brea$ (ean! and (ean,s resol"e to remain in control.
79ou waited too long to do your 'ob. 9our charge is damaged.8
7:e left without me. *ntered the session alone.8 The Master nodded at that
information. The .ontroller would ha"e to answer for that too. +o one entered the
Dungeon )ed le"el without a safety sotter! but either way the Dom was ultimately
resonsible to call the session. >elicia had bro$en her "ow as a Dom.
7The gun. 9ours38
167
&ndy nodded. 7I,m licensed to carry.8
The man leaned in and so$e directly in &ndy,s ear in a "oice so low and cold
it burned. 7+o one. +? ?+* brings a weaon into my establishment. I don,t care if
you<re licensed! a co! or 1od &lmighty :imself. +? ?+* carries here.8
&ndy nodded! but held his tongue. */cuses wouldn,t do any good and the use
of them would ma$e his offense worse.
7This is your only warning.8 &ndy bent his head in submission. 7My sla"e will
ta$e you to your charge. I,ll come chec$ bac$ later after I,"e re"iewed the security
"ideo of the session.8 :e held out his hand at waist le"el. &ndy droed to his
$nees before the man and $issed his ring.
7Than$ you! Master.8 &ndy remained head bent subser"ient until The Master
left the room! and then rose to follow a .ontroller who lead him to (ean.
&ndy stood against the far wall watching the doctor tend to (ean,s wounds. &
few! actually more than a few! re%uired stitches. The loss of blood dro"e his blood
ressure to almost nothing! so &ndy stood stonefaced watching the slow dri of
saline bac$ into (ean,s body.
The sounds (ean was ma$ing confused all the men in the room. It was li$e he
was laughing and humming at the same time. >inally &ndy mo"ed o"er to the bed
and too$ a seat on a low stool set on rollers. (ean loo$ed u at him! his eyes were
glassy and unfocused. :e seemed confused.
7I beat her. I beat the bitch. (he doesn,t own me. Doesn,t.8 (ean relaced his
head on the bed. 7Did I ass out38
7+o.8 &ndy frowned at the doctor. (ean was confused. 7I thin$ you hit ain
le"el E0. I hear that it short circuits the brain so nothing ma$es sense. 9ou<re
confused from the ain.8 &ndy loo$ed o"er at the doctor to confirm he was right.
The man nodded and continued to sew u (ean,s bac$.
168
7I,m not e"en using a local on him. :e has so much adrenaline and endorhins
in his blood right now! I doubt he could feel anything.8 &nother man handed &ndy a
glass of 'uice with a straw. 7>eed him the 'uice. :e,s going to need the sugars soon.
I thin$ in about ten minutes to half and hour he,s going to dro! and his blood sugar
should go with it. I,m relacing some "olume! but he needs to rest.8
7&ndy! &ndy! I beat the bitch. I won.8 (ean was still tal$ing slurred. &ndy ut
the straw between his lis and told him to drin$. 7+o you don,t understand. (he
tried to brea$ me....assie tried...but I wouldn,t brea$. I beat that murderous bitch.
I sat in her eye. I felt nothing. +othing. +o matter how hard she tried. I,ll ne"er
get hard for that bitch again.8
&ndy face aled and co"ered with sweat! as it became aarent what was
going on with (ean. 7(ean! you,re hallucinating. .assie =elsh died. (he,s dead!
buddy.8
(ean,s "oice came in whiser! slurred and hushed sounding li$e a child that
was afraid to sea$ too loudly or the monster would find him.
7+o! she,s ali"e. (he ne"er dies! but I $illed her. I $ill her e"ery night.8 (ean
body began to sin$ as he drifted to slee. 7I hate it when they refuse to die...8
(hoc$ mo"ed across &ndy,s face. :e $new! they all $new about the .assie
=elsh case a year ago. The murdering bitch was one of their own! and she almost
$illed four members of the )oswell PD including (ean and two ci"ilians! one of
which was (ean,s cousin. (he also $illed numerous other eole! including her own
family members before they caught her. It was a sla in the face of the law
enforcement community to house a "ier li$e her in their midst without noticing.
The only one who e"en started to ha"e a clue about her was Michael 1uerin! but his
disli$e of most eole made it hard for eole to really listen to him. &nd in the last
169
year since that sic$ murderess died! (ean was still trying to e/orcise her from his
mind.
&ndy loo$ed at the wounds (ean had ta$en without either a cry or a lea for
release. :ow long since what started as a simle lifestyle on the edge too$ off into
an ad"enture in nothing but ain3 &ndy doubted it was about se/ or arousal for a
long time! at least not the hea"y hardcore stuff.
7Don,t worry! he,ll slee. :is body needs to recharge and come bac$ to a
balance. =hen he wa$es! he,s going to be in ain.8 The doctor finished u on (ean,s
bac$ and ga"e &ndy rescritions for ain ills! antibiotic cream for wound care!
and secial antibiotics to rotect against infection. 7These you can fill later. I,ll gi"e
you some ain medication to co"er him until he gets home! but he,s going to need
to stay here for awhile so I can chec$ his blood ressure. That I# is the first of
many. I,ll start relacing and monitoring his sugar! but right now he needs rest.8
The doctor got u and ga"e &ndy his card with number. 7I,ll be bac$! but if he
needs me 'ust gi"e me a ring.8
&ndy nodded absentmindedly and barely noticed that the doctor stoed
outside the door to reort his findings and gi"e an udate on the atient. It too$ a
few minutes to register that someone was watching him from the door. The Master.
&ndy started to rise! but the man motioned him to remain seated. 7It,s o$ay.
In here there is no hierarchy. =e,re 'ust men.8 :e entered the room and too$ a seat
at the bedside with &ndy.
The two men regarded each other oenly. Two different lifestyles! but
somehow they had some commonalities.
7I watched the tae.8 The Master,s 'aw fle/ed and tightened. 7It went wrong
from the first moment. :e was defiant! refusing to gi"e her the ower and resect
that is her due as the Dom. >elicia was the hardest dominatri/ in my stables. (he
17:
lo"ed to dri"e strong men beneath her! and she wasn,t the most stable! but she<s
ne"er crossed the line before.8
7Do you $now what set her off3 5esides (ean,s attitude! I mean38
79es. I thin$ it was because she couldn,t get him to resond to her. The
session had lasted almost fortyAfi"e minutes before you interruted it! and not once
in that time did he get hard or aroused. It issed her off! and the more she beat
him! the more defiant he became! and without uttering a word he was dri"ing her
to $ill him. >or a control scenario! he controlled her! and that made her imotent!
enraged her.8
7=hy did your .ontroller let this go unhindered38
7That,s been ta$en care of. It will ne"er haen again. In o"er ten years in this
business! I,"e only had two deaths in my house. ?ne was a man with a wea$ heart!
and since then I ha"e re%uired hysical e/ams to $ee the lay clean and safe. &nd
the other was unforeseeable! the man had a wea$ "essel in his brain. The
aneurysm occurred while he was laying in the funhouse with his wife and friends.8
The man reached into his front lael oc$et and ulled out a slim cigarette case and
offered one to &ndy before ta$ing his own. 7The doctor is of an oinion that your
friend needs to go to the hosital! but I told him that you,re the sotter! the
decision is yours.8
7(ean wouldn,t want to go.8
7I don,t care about what he wants. Tonight he ro"ed himself unable to ma$e
sane rational decisions regarding his own health. There was too much that went
wrong in that room tonight! but your friend wal$ed in wanting it to go down that
way. :e ditched you on urose. :e was egging her on! and I can only thin$ that he
wanted to die.8 The man too$ another drag on his cigarette and regarded (ean with
interest. 7=hy didn,t he dro the ball3 It was the damnedest thing. That much ain!
171
that far gone! his muscles should ha"e loosened enough to ma$e the ball dro
whether he wanted it or not.8
&ndy too$ the red ball that he had earlier ried out of (ean,s hand and ga"e it
to The Master. 7:e couldn,t. The sic$ bastard suerglued it to his own hand.8 &ndy
'ust ran a hand o"er his face and sat forward in his chair droing his head into his
hands. That stuid sic$ fuc$. :e tried to commit suicide tonight in the only way he
$new how.
7This is not the lace for your friend. This business is all about leasure and
ain! and those who ta$e leasure in ain. 9our friend was somewhere beyond that.
:e is limited to the uer le"els for the ne/t year. If he wants! I will re"iew his
status in a year and maybe oen his otions! but what he,s searching for he can,t
find here.8 The Master stood and loo$ed at the ball again and then at (ean.
)eaching into his oc$et he ulled out a business card case and wrote some names
on the bac$ of a card. 7:ere are some trained rofessionals. They,re good eole!
and one is in )oswell. (omeone has to $now about this. :e didn,t succeed tonight!
but with his 'ob...it,s only a matter of time before he wal$s in front of that fatal
bullet. I,ll lea"e you to ma$e the decision! but if you need an ambulance let the
attendant $now and arrangements will be made.8
7Than$ you! Master.8 The man ac$nowledged &ndy,s resect and left.
>liing the card o"er and o"er in his hand! he watched the names of trained
sychologists mo"e through his hand. (ean DeLuca! old buddy! you sure ha"e a
way to suc$ the fun out of a fuc$ing ordinary day; If all he wanted was unishment!
&ndy could ha"e run him o"er a few times with his car. &ndy stoed watching and
leaned bac$ in the chair. :e needed to thin$.
---
173
:e mo"ed through the crowd of bodies! feeling the beat of the music and the
noise in his head li$e the ounding of "oices. The shrill highAitched laughter was
ma$ing him nauseated. .hanging his attitude and gentling his face into smile! he
blended.
The sound of the lead singer drew his eye. &s he tried to filter out the other
sounds! he bumed into a young woman who sent him a smile. )eturning it! he
listened to the "oice! but when the crowd cleared he could see the tall thin man
singing. :e was marred. :is body had iercing at his stomach and abo"e his eye.
(uddenly the singer,s body gyrated to the music and a nile ring flashed in the
bright lights. The tattoos co"ered different laces of his body and made the scarred
imerfections ob"ious.
This iece of wal$ing blemishes was forgi"en. :e $new he was marred and
dislayed it li$e a badge for the world to see as a warning. +othing hidden! nothing
bro$en then glued. The singer wasn,t offering lies of e/cellence hiding the most
ob"ious scars.
:e wal$ed among the young! and hunted. &fter hours of atience! he was 'ust
about to gi"e u for the night! when he heard her. & young girl! long shining red
hair to her waist! stood at the mi$e crooning a low hus$y song full of smo$y rich
tones and romises. (iing his drin$! he melted into the crowd and watched her!
analyzing the scene and creating the strategy for cature. It was only >riday night!
he had time to erfect it! wor$ the angles until it was 'ust right.
---
174
It was already dar$ when Ma/ finally wo$e u. :e had gotten home at two in
the afternoon! after running errands on his way. */hausted and unwilling to let his
brain thin$! he haily tossed away the world for a better one of slee. It was
almost ten! and unwilling to coo$! Ma/ called in an order for izza! e/tra eeroni!
eers! and ancho"ies.
Turning on the tele"ision to $ee him comany! he grabbed a late and na$in
and sat u to watch the night news and eat. :e should call Michael and chec$ in!
but he was a"oiding Michael. (urrisingly it wasn,t because of the con"ersation he
had with @onathan about his fascination with Maria. It was the other thing. That
thing he wasn,t going to tal$ about! dream about! or dammit! obsess o"er.
:e had $issed a man. +ot 'ust $issed! he had danced with him. .lose. .lose
enough to feel his body! smell his body! and hear his "oice in his ear. .lose enough
to rub u against an erection! and to use that body to rub his own erection against.
=hat the hell3 =hat the fric$in, hell was wrong with his head lately! both of them3
:e needed to tal$! but there was no one he could tal$ to about this. Michael3
:e needed to figure this out without his artner. Maria3 In a word no. @ealous
raging Michael riing his body aart wasn,t going to sol"e his roblems. &ctually it
would! but not in a leftAli"ing way. Cyle. :ell no! not with Mr. DI<m a gay dancing slut
and lo"ing it, 5oy. There was no way Cyle could understand his hangu. To Cyle it
was all a funAlo"ing game. (ean3 (ean was a ossibility. :e didn,t seem to mind the
wal$ on the other side! and (ean wouldn,t see being aroused or attracted to
another man as being anything wrong. (ean was in &lbu%uer%ue. >inally! Ma/
ic$ed u the hone and made a call.
7.an I sea$ to Isabel *"ans! lease.8 Ma/ waited while the erson who
answered the hone went to find Isabel.
175
Isabel had left )oswell a year ago to go into a secial rehab clinic for her
alcohol! drug! and se/ual roblems. &fter finishing the rogram! the only rogram
she had e"er finished! Isabel refused to return home. (he stayed in &rizona! and
li"ed in a secial halfway house wor$ing crisis lines for other eole li$e her. Ma/
wanted her to come home! but for once in her life! Isabel refused to be deendent
on Ma/ or Michael. (he loo$ed at them as a itfall bac$ into her coAdeendent
lifestyle.
7:ello38 said a male "oice on the other end of the hone.
79es! I was calling for Isabel *"ans.8
7.an I as$ who is calling38
7This is her brother.8
7Ma/ or Michael38
7Ma/.8 Ma/ frowned at the hone. 7Loo$! can I 'ust sea$ to my sister38
7I,m sorry. That,s imossible. Isabel has left the house.8
=hy didn,t the 'er$ 'ust say so from the getgo3 7?$ay! do you $now what time
she,s scheduled to come home! and can I lea"e a message for her38
7+o! I mean she has left the home. (he no longer li"es here.8
Ma/ was silent for a second! silenced and stunned. (he didn,t call. :ow could
she not call3 7=here did she go3 Did she say38
7+o. (orry. (he 'ust ac$ed u her stuff! %uit her 'ob! and left.8 The man
aused on the other line. 7(orry! man.8
79eah! right.8 Ma/ hung u the hone. =onder if Michael $nows3 Ma/ loo$ed
at his hone! but he didn,t want to tal$ to Michael at that moment. Isabel! where
the hell are you3
176
Ma/ got u and went into the $itchen. Ta$ing a beer out of the refrigerator! he
didn,t e"en bother with a glass. :alf a beer was his ersonal limit! but tonight! he
didn,t gi"e a fuc$. (itting down on his sofa! he started drin$ing his beer.

177
Day B: ,at#rday- 10:30 a.m.
Michael and Maria were fi/ing themsel"es a late brea$fast. They had both
awa$ened earlier that morning! and with a groan decided to slee in. The hone
continued to ring! and they both continued to ignore it. )ule number se"en held
that on wee$ends or days they had lans together! they didn,t answer their hone.
The world could go on without them. Instead they screened their calls! listening for
emergencies or a 'ob crisis! e"eryone else could wait.
7Maria! it,s Mom. &re you home3 Pic$ u.8 They shared a common loo$ and
ignored the hone. 7(weetie! lease ic$ u. I found the erfect dress for you. It,s
taffeta! and so beautiful. & nice brilliant tangerine color made in lotus oriental style.
The caboose shouldn,t be a roblem since you always wanted a larger...8
Maria gased in horror and reached for the hone. 7+o! don,t do it! Professor.
(he,s 'ust trying to draw you out;8 Michael interceted her hand! and held her
strong against him. 79ou,ll hate yourself.8
7Taffeta; Tangerine;8 Maria cried. 70ncalculated beast; ?h 1od! that I were
born not of man; (he,s doing this on urose.8 Maria buried her head in his chest as
the torture of her mother,s "oice continued.
7Don,t brea$. 9ou,re stronger than that.8
7I made all the arrangements for Michael,s new tu/.8 Michael groaned as he
came under fire. 7It<s owdered baby blue!8 both Maria and Michael moaned in ain!
7with tails;8
7Michael! +o;8 (he stoed him from grabbing the hone. :e didn,t brea$.
Michael ne"er bro$e. 5ut the damn hone would if he got his hands on it. 7(hush!
it,s all right. I,ll tal$ her out of it.8
7Tangerine and owdered baby blue; Maria;8 Michael<s whole body shuddered.
Damn! he remembered a time when his whole world e/isted as nothing but Mi$ey
177
and himself! and there was no awareness of &my DeLuca that wo$e him in the
middle of the night in a cold sweat of fear. 7=e,ll loo$ li$e a si/ties< sychedelic
nightmare.8
7:oney! I,m not sure! but did Michael ha"e anything to do with my rehearsal
dinner restaurant being destroyed3 I searched fore"er to decide on the Palisades. I
ha"e a few words to say to him. :oney3 ?$ay! call me bac$.8 The tension in both of
their bodies rela/ed.
Maria loo$ed at Michael. Damn. Poor man! he didn,t sign u for this. 7=e could
run away together.8 Maria let herself worry about the hoe and relief that offer
sar$ed in his eyes.
---
71uerin! you,"e got two seconds to answer! or I,m ta$ing a owder;8 Cyle rang
the doorbell for the fourth time! and added a "iolent $noc$ on the door.
7Maybe they,re not home!8 said Tess ne/t to him.
7:e said we wor$ on the car after one on (aturday. It,s after one.8 Cyle turned
to bang on the door again when it oened. Michael reached out and ulled both
Tess and Cyle in! loo$ing around susiciously.
79ou alone38
79eah! alone. @ust me and Tess. =hat the hell is wrong with you38
7&my is loo$ing for me.8 Cyle felt the brea$ing of moisture on his forehead! the
ric$ling of fear in his gut! and that o"erwhelming desire to flee in fright.
7(he,s coming here3 +ow3 Today38 5oth Cyle and Tess turned to flee! but
Michael bloc$ed their way.
7.hic$en;8
178
7That,s from the man who was afraid to answer his own door; (he has a $ey.8
Michael,s whole body went tense. ?h damn! she did ha"e a $ey.
Maria came down the stairs seeing the uncertain eole at the door. (he was
dressed to wor$ on the car in a small and snug white tan$ to and blue 'eans so old
and ried they loo$ed ready to be tossed. Michael was similarly dressed in a blac$
wifebeater and old 'eans so worn they were more flesh than 'eans. 7=hat,s going
on3 I thought we were wor$ing.8 Maria smiled at her friend and assistant! Tess.
7:ey! Tess. Didn,t $now you were interested in wor$ing on cars.8
7Cyle tal$ed me into tagging along. I hoe that,s o$ay.8
7>ine.8 Maria loo$ed at all of them and frowned. 7=hat,s going on38
The words were barely out of her mouth when a $noc$ came at the door. Tess
actually screamed in fright. Maria loo$ed at the small grou li$e they were insane.
Mo"ing ast them! she went to answer the door.
7+o;8 They all said at once. Maria loo$ed at them as if they were all caught in
a lunatic craze.
71et a gri;8 Maria oened the door and smiled at the man on the other side.
7Cyle! did you bring the arts38
7Maria. Michael.8 The man $issed her on the chee$ and nodded. The arts
were out in his truc$.
:e was a nice elderly man in his fifties with a leasant disosition! and a
curiosity o"er the eole all huddled around the door. 71ot the bid re%uest for the
last art. 9ou,re not going to be hay.8 =alter held out a iece of aer. Michael
%uic$ly interceted. It was the last relacement iece they needed to comlete the
Mustang! and then she was all ready e/cet for a new aint 'ob.
179
7(on of a bitch! no way. This is outrageous;8 Michael loo$ed at the money
re%uested by the erson who had the last art for sale. Maria loo$ed o"er his
shoulder! hugging him close from behind with her hands on his his.
7?h Lord. That,s...wow. &bout three times what it should be.8 Maria rubbed
her hand across her mouth. 1eez! some eole were greedy bastards.
7>orget it. I,m not aying it. Cee loo$ing =alter.8 Michael ractically flung the
in"oice information away from him.
7Michael! wait.8 Maria and =alter shared a loo$.
7+o way. This is too much for one small art. It,s not e"en the entire fuel
in'ection system.8
7I $now this erson is bil$ing! but Michael that means something.8
7It means the son of a bitch is a greedy whoring ric$.8
Maria actually laughed at that. 79eah! that,s true. 5ut! it also means this man
$nows he has gold. =e,"e been searching for this art for a year. & year! Michael;
&nd this is the first nibble. The man has roduct! and we,"e got demand! so he,s
setting his rice! although granted! it<s high.8
7+o. I,m not aying it.8
7?$ay! then there are other otions. >irst we can use what we ha"e! which
wor$s! but is worn and has a short life e/ectancy. =e can buy this o"erriced
art!8 Maria ignored Michael,s bellowing and resounding no. 7?r we can go with
ha"ing the art turned by a talented machinist. I thin$ there,s a guy in Madison!
=isconsin who is a good at this thing.8 Maria motioned for =alter to follow as she
headed for the garage to oen the doors for =alter to bring in the other two arts.
7?$ay! the machinist thing. =alter what does that run38 Michael could handle
ha"ing the iece made.
17:
=alter 'ust winced ma$ing Michael groan. 7It,ll be to %uality! almost assembly
line %uality! actually better. 5ut the machinist has to get the secs! which costs! set
the machine! build a rototye! and then he has to hand turn it. That,s e/ensi"e.
?nce it,s comleted! he has to send it to the >ord Motor .omany where their
e/erts e/amine the iece! chec$ it for authentic fit! and then gi"es it a rating and
release. If it doesn,t meet standards! he starts o"er.8 Michael already saw where
this was going. 7It would be li$e new! last the life of the car! but e/ense3 More
than this 'o$er wants. Much more.
Michael cussed a colorful bluestrea$. Maria ignored him and heled =alter
while Cyle and Tess sat on the sidelines en'oying the show. 7?$ay! what,s the
"iability and life on the art I,"e got with my car38
Maria calmly ic$ed u the art off the fuel assembly and tossed it to =alter.
Michael waited as =alter loo$ed it o"er and ran the iece around in his hand! too$
out a tool and e/amined it.
7Less than a year.8 Michael was off in another lethora of colorful metahors
deicting the end of the world! the nature of man and god! and the %uestionability
of a sainted mother. 7The mo"eable assembly is stic$ing. It,ll start freezing u! and
there are worn areas showing tear to the side. It,ll lea$ fuel! and you,ll lose seal
integrity in the motor house.8
75uy the art =alter.8 Maria said calmly.
7+o.8 Michael said lacing himself in front of Maria. 7I,m not aying. It,s
e/tortion.8
7I $now. 8 am.8 Maria ushed Michael aside and wal$ed off. 75uy it =alter.8
7Maria.8
7Loo$! you aid for e"ery art and iece on this restoration. I can ma$e this a
resent! o$ay38 Maria loo$ed at =alter. 7.ontact him today! tell him he needs to get
171
it to your sho no later than Monday. That I,ll meet his as$ing rice! but only on
bonded 'un$et. If and when we recei"e the art! and it,s e/amined by our
mechanic! meaning you! then a bonded receit for ayment will automatically be
transferred to his account.8
Cyle loo$ed confused. 7I don,t get it. =hy all the wor$38
7=ell! it could go two ways. :e,s as$ing a high rice so he $nows he holds an
imortant! hardAtoAfind art. +ow he might be an old 'un$er who has a car yard full
of Mustangs of this ma$e and year. If we buy without demanding he send it bonded
'un$et! which means he sends it to us unaid ..?.D.! we accet whate"er comes
and it falls under the mandate of J5uyer 5ewareJ. +ow if we ha"e it sent bonded
'un$et! that means that our mechanic! =alter loo$s the iece o"er! and decides if it
is both authentic and in great %uality. &t this rice! it better be brand san$ing new.
If it doesn,t ass =alter,s insection he returns the art to the courier and it,s
refused.8
7That,s a lot of wor$ for a small art.8
7It is! but it rotects us from fraud! and $ees this man from wal$ing out in his
'un$yard and ulling the art from any old Mustang and sending it. 5ecause he,s
as$ing a huge rice! and we,re essentially as$ing to see before urchase! he is
obligated to send us the best art he has a"ailable! because he $nows we,ll be
adding him to the Internet Darts sulier list, as a J+o5uyJ! which uts him at a
bad ris$ buy for future sales.8
7Cyle and I could get in a car! dri"e to...8 Michael loo$ed at the information on
the aer. 7Tennessee! see the man in erson! and haggle down his rice.8
Maria 'ust nodded. 79ou could. 5ut then I would ha"e to follow you to
Tennessee to ost bond for your assault charges.8 Cyle laughed at that. It wasn,t
173
li$e Maria didn,t ha"e e/erience getting eole out of 'ail. :er mother! &my was
the master of being loc$ed u. Maria and Michael stood! staring each other down.
75uy it! =alter.8 Michael finally said. 75ut the bill comes to me! not Maria.8
Maria oened her mouth to rotest! but the loo$ in Michael,s eyes forestalled her.
Michael wanted to finish the ro'ect himself! from start to end. Maria aying for it
would negate that rocess. It was a memorial to Mi$ey! and one he was determined
to finish desite the time and cost. :e was issed at the ob"ious bil$ing! but a art
of him felt a sense of e/citement o"er ha"ing the ro'ect nearly done! and another
art of him emty that it was almost finished.
Maria wor$ed on the two new arts! ulling them aart! cleaning! and lubing
them to be added to the engine. Tess heled as her trusty assistant! not $nowing
one end of a tor%ue wrench from a bolt dri"er. Michael and Cyle were both leaning
o"er into the front end of the Mustang gutted of its engine! welding additional
suort struts to the frame. They were at oosite sides! both arcAwelding at the
same time.
Maria occasionally watched Tess,s eyes wander o"er to the men. Cyle had
ta$en off his shirt and was wearing a tight slee"eless white tee! his 'eans as holey
as Michael,s and stretching o"er the car ulled those 'eans tight.
7+ice ass.8
7=hat38 Tess a"oided her eyes the color rising o"er her chee$s.
7I said Cyle has a totally ser"iceable ass! ractically droolworthy.8 Maria had a
sar$ of merry ad"enture enter her eyes. 7?f course! that was so ob"ious the other
night! loo$ing at him all dec$ed out in too tight leather ants and that cargo shirt.
My! my! my...those nice masculine niles ea$ing through 'ust begging for some
attention. =hat a stud.8
174
Maria giggled at the loo$ Tess ga"e her! and her sudden fascination with Cyle,s
ass again. @ust friends3 5ugger that.
7:is ac$age was framed 'ust right! all tight and hard...8
7Maria;8
7I,m 'ust saying...8 Maria feigned assing interest only. 7=hat the hec$ is
wrong with the women of )oswell letting that iece of 0(D& rime beef wal$
around unattached! unfettered...unfuc$ed.8
7Maria.8 The outrage in Tess,s "oice made her giggle.
7Loo$.8 Maria ut down her tool and stared at her friend. 7It doesn,t ta$e a
genius or a sychic to tell me that he,s in your thoughts all the time! and he does
something for you that Ma/ ne"er did. (o what,s stoing you! stoing the both of
you3 9ou,re adults! single! and both totally easy on the eyes.8
7It,s comlicated.8 Tess said as Maria started wor$ing again. (he loo$ed o"er
at Cyle to ma$e sure he wasn,t listening! but both he and Michael were still buried
in the car. 7It has always been. =e,"e got history. Lots of history.8
@ac$. They had @ac$. Maria loo$ed at Tess and then Cyle. 7I $now! but some
history can be o"ercome.8
Maria wal$ed o"er to the .o$e machine in the corner of the garage and loo$ed
though the selections. Dammit! Michael had drun$ all the cherry co$e again without
refilling. 1rabbing a regular .o$e for both herself and Tess! she sat down ne/t to
her friend.
79ou lo"ed @ac$! and Cyle lo"ed @ac$.8 Tess loo$ed at Maria iercingly. Maria
saw too much at times! but how much was she really seeing3 75ut more imortant!
@ac$ lo"ed you both. :e wouldn,t ha"e wanted you to sto li"ing because of him!
either of you.8
175
7It,s more comlicated than that! Maria.8 Tess hadn,t wanted to get into it until
she tal$ed to Ma/! but it seemed li$e the erfect time. Tess didn,t notice the men
finishing the welding. 7I,m regnant.8
7Cyle,s38 Maria as$ed before she could sto herself.
Tess was shoc$ed when Cyle,s "oice sounded with hers. (he hadn,t realized he
was listening. 7+o.8
Tess turned and loo$ed at Cyle holding the welding torch. :e lifted the "isor off
his head and stared at her. Tess,s heart was ounding in her chest. :e was co"ered
in sweat and grease! and in the dirty white tee! he loo$ed...he loo$ed...oh 1od!
Maria was right; =hat the hell were all the women of )oswell thin$ing3
Michael remo"ed his "isor and loo$ed at Tess and Cyle in interest. Ma/. It had
to be Ma/,s then. Michael closely e/amined Tess and noticed the slight swell at her
stomach that he had missed earlier. 7Does Ma/ $now38
Maria finally loo$ed at Michael when he so$e. (he droed her wrench. ?h
my "ery goodness; Michael reached u and wied the sweat off his face with his
arm! unaware of Maria,s intense regard. :e was aware of feeling...disorientated.
Ma/ was going to a father. @ealous3 :ell! yeah; @ealous! or maybe 'ust en"ious.
7+o! he doesn,t. +ot yet! and I,d areciate if you wouldn,t mention it until I
can. I was going to tell him tomorrow.8 Tess too$ in Michael,s small nod as
accetance and turned to loo$ at Maria.
Maria wasn,t aying attention. :er full attention was on Michael! on her
ersonal tract of real estate. Tess was shoc$ed at the dar$ened green color of
Maria,s eyes! the way her nostrils seemed to flare slightly! the hint of her tongue
between her teeth! and the slight labored sound to her breath.
Michael really did loo$ absolutely and totally fuc$able. Dressed only in the
tight tee that Maria could see the swell of his muscles as he mo"ed! Michael was
176
sweating from the heat of welding! the glistening traces calling attention to the
nearAerfect body and indecently wet shirt stic$ing to his abdomen.
0h huh! it didn,t ta$e much to $now that if she and Cyle didn,t scram %uic$ly!
they were going to see more than they wanted to. 7Cyle! we need to go.8 Tess
grabbed his shirt and coat! rushed o"er and hoo$ed an arm through his. 75ye;8
7=hat3 5ut...but Tess! Maria was going to feed us...8
Tess ushed Cyle out of the garage 'ust as she heard the sound of something
metal! and lots of scuffling noises followed by a groan. 7I thin$ Maria,s busy feeding
someone else.8
Cyle loo$ed at her confused! and then at the garage at the noise! and
suddenly his face cleared with understanding. 7?h! oh; They,re going
to...there...oh;8
7.ome on! you can buy me dinner.8 Tess loo$ed o"er at him struggling bac$
into his shirt. =aste. 7& nice long dinner. I,m star"ed.8
---
Michael was missing something. ?ne minute he was bowled o"er by the news
that his artner was going to be a father! and the ne/t he was watching Cyle and
Tess lea"e.
7:ey! Cyle; =e,re not done.8 =hat the hell was going on3 It was the rough
handling of his body! the droing of his torch and the crashing noise it made as it
hit the ground! and an armful of Maria ushing him bac$wards and u hard against
a wor$ table $noc$ing o"er e"en more arts and tools that answered his %uestion.
177
7Maria...8 Michael couldn,t tal$. It was hard to tal$ without a tongue! and his
was otherwise engaged. Moaning loud and dee in his throat! his hands fitted o"er
her his trying to slow down her fastAmo"ing body. 7Maria! sto...Maria;8
They had goals they wanted to achie"e on the car today! things that needed to
be done; Michael ushed her away far enough to ta$e in her aearance. (he was
breathing hard! so hard that he could feel the ounding of her heart through her
breastbone! and there was a thin film of moisture abo"e her now swollen lis! along
with a loo$ in her eyes that made his heart race. Loo$ing closely at her! he couldn,t
sto that itching need to touch her! and then touch her again.
Maria,s dar$ened green eyes were chec$ing him out the way she was being
chec$ed out now by his golden brown ones. &nd really! really li$ing what she saw!
li$ing it well enough that she was on the "erge of 'uming him again. Maria loo$ed
ready to fall to her $nees in front of that teasing! mouthwatering....
JMaria;J
Maria 'umed guiltily! then threw her arms wide and halfAlaughed! J:el;J This
wasn,t her fault! and they had made an agreement to finish what they started today
before letting anything else distract them. 5ut it was unfair. +o one told her that he
was going to loo$ li$e that.
(norting in a mi/ of amusement and irritation! Michael $ic$ed aside his tools
that had fallen at his feet! too$ off his glo"es! and stood! sha$ing his head. J=hat is
your roblem3J he as$ed! but he wal$ed into the embrace! wraing his own arms
tightly around Maria<s waist. =hat was their roblem3
JI don<t $now!J Maria murmured! nuzzling into the hot s$in! lo"ing the clean!
hardAwor$ing manAsmell of it. JIt<s li$e I<m on a caffeine buzz or something. +ot
able to concentrate on anything! and twitchy as hell.J (he laed at one of the
177
circles on Michael<s chest e"ident under the tight shirt! delighted to feel it ebble
into hardness almost instantly.
J&nd you thin$ getting laid will cure that3J Michael muttered under his breath
ne/t to the s$in of her nec$! hoing ersonally the answer was yes.
JIt can,t hurt. I,m game.J Maria lic$ed her way to the other nile! "aguely
disaointed to find it u already. 5ut she couldn,t taste him through the shirt! only
the saltiness of his sweat which she samled thoroughly before muttering! J5ut
ma$ing you feel good with all this e/cess beats ma$ing myself miserable with it.J
J1lad to be of ser"ice!J Michael said wryly! blotting his face dry on Maria<s shirt
at the shoulder.
JIsn<t that! li$e! the olice deartment motto or something3J Maria as$ed
distractedly! sliing her fingers under the ragged edge of a ri in Michael<s 'eans to
tease the s$in on the bac$ of legs barely co"ered by the 'eans.
J(o who<s going to rotect me from getting screwed into an early gra"e trying
to ser"e you3J Michael muttered into her nec$! mo"ing closer to her welcoming her
to continue the gentle e/loration of his flesh through the ris.
7I,ll ta$e really! really good care of you. I romise.8 Maria mo"ed her hands u
under his shirt. :e had on too many clothes.
:is breath was une/ectedly cool o"er Maria<s s$in! and she shi"ered!
suddenly losing interest in con"ersation. Pressing closer! she rubbed herself o"er
Michael<s growing roc$Ahard erection! sighing in anticiation of how good this was
going to be. The chest under her lis rumbled in a groan as Michael so$e! but she
didn<t ay attention to the words that caused it. There was another $ind of sound all
together that she was going for from Michael! and that meant getting a little further
under the worn denim and clothing rotecting her target.
178
Then Michael ushed her away! firmly holding her at arm<s length. J@esus!
Maria! can you hold on a second and let me get us into the loft3J
5lin$ing! she reined herself in! and managed to %ui! JDo I loo! li$e I ha"e no
control3J
Michael ga"e her a loo$ of e/aseration! tinged with both lust and lo"e! and
forcibly turned her around. =ith a gentle sho"e! he sent Maria toward the loft!
saying! JLet,s go! now;J If they didn,t mo"e %uic$ly! they were going to find
themsel"es rolling around on the garage floor again! and last time it too$ days to
get all the motor grease off them.
1rinning! Maria loo$ed o"er her shoulder and said imudently! JI thought you
wanted to wor$ in the garage today. Ma$e u your mind; =ant me to <go down<
here or there3J (he too$ off at to seed as soon as the last word left her lis!
ulling Michael close behind her with his hands on her bac$side trying to ull her
into his groin.
They raced inside the loft! Maria staying ahead of him 'ust barely! and he
crashed through the door after her! slamming it shut behind him. Maria hurried for
the stairs! but Michael interceted her! and ic$ing her u tossed her o"er the bac$
of the sofa! and 'umed o"er it to land on to of her.
J&ll right! you. &ssume the osition;J Maria dissol"ed in giggles at his best co
"oice.
J9es! yes! yes! yes! fris$ me;J Maria chanted to herself! hastily s$inning him
out of his clothes. Michael ried her tan$ to off and tossed it as he went for the
buttons of her 'eans.
7+a$ed fris$ing! I can do.8 ?nce she was undressed! he hesitated! trying to
decide how he wanted it! but couldn<t ma$e u his mind. *"erything they did
together was worth reeating. Maria wasn,t gi"ing him much time to decide as she
179
rid him of his clothes. 0nbidden one hand cret down to his hardAon! and she
stro$ed himself lightly! mind tumbling with erotic ossibilities and she leaned in and
whisered suggestions in his ear.
JIf you,re going to dri"e!J Michael said dryly! leaning on her and ulling her
bottom li into his mouth with a hard bite! Jyou,re going to ha"e to ta$e the to.J
Maria 'ust laughed and ulled him down harder on her.
Desite his tone! his face was lit u with de"ious intent! as if he were amazed
and delighted to find Maria under him. :is stern issy tone and dar$ serious
e/ression was ones he often wore when she taunted him! and he was struggling to
retain some ower and slow it down. :is stern loo$ always made Maria<s heart
lurched! too full of him to beat roerly! because she $new that no matter how hard
he tried! he was on the edge.
&nd it made him all that much more desirable to Maria.
=ith a laugh! she threw herself at Michael! mo"ing her thigh along the rougher
s$in of his. J:ey! I was 'ust ma$ing suggestions! but I,ll haily let you ta$e the to
if that,s what it ta$es to get laid around here.J +ot gi"ing her lo"er a chance to
retaliate to her sass! she fastened her mouth onto Michael<s! eagerly del"ing into
the heated deths of it.
&cceting the assault effortlessly! he returned the $iss with interest! reducing
them both to soft moans and demanding rutting bodies in a matter of moments.
Maria was all for ha"ing her way right where they were! unable to bear brea$ing
away long enough to na"igate the stairs to their bedroom! so the sofa loo$ed good.
+ot %uite that far gone! Michael lifted his head! murmuring! J:ang on! hang on a
sec.J :ardly hearing him! Maria blindly sought to reclaim his lis! frantically
grinding against him e"en as he sho"ed her %uesting hands aside to run his hands
down the trim his to set her na$ed flesh tightly to him.
18:
JMaria;J There was an edge of concern in Michael<s "oice now! though he
couldn<t understand for the life of him why.
& art of him $new that they were racing out of control again! for what felt li$e
the millionth time lately. It was li$e the "ery air smelt of them! of each other! and
the sight of the other,s s$in or sound was enough to send the situation cataulting
out of management. They both had mentioned it! how intense it was! how hungry
it made them! and Michael struggled to be reasonable to hold bac$ since Maria was
already gone from the moment her body heated u at the sight of him. (he mo"ed
hard against him wor$ing him with her hands and mouth! wiggling against him.
?$ay! he could wor$ with that! Michael decided in dazed confusion! la"ishly lic$ing
the column of her throat. =antonly Maria sread her legs wide and tried to ull
Michael down on her fully! using strength that belied her size and aearance of
frailty.
That did it. Michael was gone too! as he found his fa"orite lace cradled in her!
and chemicals from their bodies! those released while aroused! seemed to mi/ in
the air lea"ing him disoriented. :e would wor$ it out ne/t time! but this time he
was racing to 'oin her.
1roaning haily as she felt him melt into her! she reached down to direct that
hard length! wanting it inside her! now but Michael caught her by the wrist and
held it o"er Maria<s breastbone. =hen she tried to ry it loose with her free hand! it
was catured as well! lea"ing him lastered to her unmo"ing for a moment loo$ing
down at her! restraining her hands. Maria was about to rotest! but the fire in his
eyes stoed the words in her throat as her eyes narrowed and a moan left her
throat. Michael smiled wic$edly and mo"ed her catured wrist abo"e her head
inned down by owerful bices and no mo"ement was left to her at all from the
waist u.
181
It was a snug! cherished feeling! but not what she wanted at all! and she tried
angling her his to let her legs do a little caturing of their own. 5ut Michael was in
control! and he countered her mo"es to $ee her from ushing them o"er the edge
too soon. (ighing! Michael mo"ed a hea"y leg from between her legs to drae o"er
one of hers! effecti"ely rendering her immobile. (till Maria s%uirmed as best she
could! wailing in frustration! JMI.:&*L;J
J*asy! babe! easy!J Michael breathed into her ear! increasing the security of his
hold. JI<m not going anywhere! and you<ll get all you want! I romise. +ow calm
down a little. Tal$ to me.J
JI don<t want to tal$;J Michael $new he was being unfair. :e was 'ust as
tan$ed as she was! but he wasn,t letting his wayward body and hers ha"e their way.
:is head was in control for the moment! but if he didn,t hurry it wasn,t going to last
for long. 1od! her smell was ma$ing his head sin. (ha$ing it out! he guled for
fresh air and continued to tal$ with her.
J+ow that<s a first.J +uzzling at the soft hair at her temle! Michael whisered!
J9ou<re worrying me here! Maria. It<s almost li$e you have to ma$e lo"e instead of
'ust wanting it. I $now you<"e been a little hyed and wild lately!8 Maria loo$ed at
him sharly! and he groaned nodding. 7&s ha"e I. =e,"e both are ta$ing what has
been intense for a year and increasing it by tenfold! but 'ust going with it isn<t going
to hel us figure out what<s going on.J Michael was becoming concerned! really
concerned. :is breath was ragged and his body was screaming for action! but this
was imortant! too imortant to shel"e again.
&lmost against her will! Maria %uieted! seeing for herself the air of deseration
in her actions! li$e a 'un$ie in dire need of a fi/. JI don<t $now what<s going on!J she
admitted! ma$ing herself go lim under Michael<s hands. .ontrolling her breathing
as best she could! she fumbled for words to describe how she<d been feeling. JIt<s
183
li$e! li$e.... )emember that feeling you get when you were young! during
.hristmas3 )eally! really loo$ing forward to it because it meant that all the waiting
was nearing an end! and there were so many cool things waiting to be unwraed!
not that you had any clue what they were! but you $new that they belonged to you!
and soon you would unwra them and the fun would begin. &ll that anticiation and
energy and eagerness with maybe a little fear and worry mi/ed in because you
didn(t $now what it would be! some of it hoeful that you would get what you
wanted! some of it fear that you would not! wiring you u to the oint you couldn<t
slee that night before the big day.J
J&nd ma$ing lo"e hels you deal3J
J1od! yes;J Maria ulled a restrained hand away to stro$e his face. (ighing in
honesty. 7It doesn,t 'ust hel! it,s the resent! the unwraing. I see you across a
room! and that electrical feel I get with you! it,s there! always there. It doesn,t go
away. It,s li$e lying there dormant! and suddenly I see you and...8
J?$ay! then.J .autiously! as if e/ecting himself to brea$ because she was
describing what he had been feeling for a while! Michael loosened his gri that held
Maria<s wrist and mo"ed the other hand down her arm! then brushed away stray
loc$s from her face. J5ut let<s try to ta$e it slow and easy! ma$e it last. If nothing
else! it<ll burn off more than a %uic$ie would anyway.J
JI don<t $now if I can...J Maria began.
J@ust try! o$ay3J More strands of golden hair were mo"ed aside! re"ealing a
ale! "ulnerable nae! and Michael whisered against it! J>or me. Please3J Their
mating lately had ta$en on an air of "iolence that emowered him! but was scaring
him too. The lac$ of control! of reason was ma$ing him afraid that when he came
bac$ to himself that he would find that he abused her while out of his head.
184
(he nodded her ac%uiesce! trying to breath in guls of refreshing air to ower
down the raging feelings. & owerful charge of sensation arced from where soft lis
and warm air teased o"er her s$in! and Maria %ui"ered from it! stomach suddenly
diing. :e was doing it again. :e was as$ing for her to slow down! but e"erything
his body did to her made that imossible.
J1od;J (he bent her head forward a little in silent urging! and Michael instantly
obeyed with an almostAthere $iss that lifted e"ery hair on Maria<s nec$ and sine!
ma$ing her shudder. Michael,s eyes dar$ened. It haened again. :er resonse to
him was fueling his resonse! and what little control he had was sliing fast.
:e was worried! because between them all! him! Ma/ and Isabel! they all
showed se/ual abnormalities! almost addicti"e needs. Isabel was the most e/treme!
Ma/ following with his se/ual e/loits! and Michael! who had a"oided it until he met
Maria! was fast hurtling out of control and ulling her into the abyss with him. :e
wanted her all the time! li$e a dee ache! and in the last wee$ to ten days it had
become magnified by some reason he couldn,t e/lain. 5ut the dri"e had nothing
gentle to it! and it was the heat and "iolence! a blood lust that had him worried.
The orgasms were e/treme and out of this world! nothing he really e/erienced
with anyone else! but this new intensity $ic$ed it u to a higher le"el.
JLi$e that! do you3J Michael murmured as he felt her ulled to him without
him really touching her! mouth hauntingly close to the soft sot 'ust behind Maria<s
ear. It was the electricity. It was ali"e between them e"en though they weren,t
really touching e"erywhere. Dammit! he was losing it again! and all he $new was
that it felt good.
JMichael...J Maria said hus$ily her eyes half closed as she reached for him.
J(ounds li$e a lease to me.J
185
(ha$ing from the delicate! teasing contact of his mouth barely touching her
s$in as the breath mo"ed across! Maria closed her eyes to focus better on
sensation! and moaned! unable to do more than to surrender to Michael<s
attentions. To her surrise! the ne/t moment of torture was a $iss! a forceful!
suc$ing one! and she shouted wordlessly! ushing against his coc$ leaing in
readiness as if Michael<s lower body ressed harder into her $eeing her controlled
until he was ready. Damn! slow calculating beast. &nother biting $iss followed! and
Maria writhed under the imact from it! babbling her leasure in halfAformed leas
for more! harder. Ignoring the sound! Michael held her down until her lust cooled
down enough to let her lie still again! though Maria was anting from a combination
of need and fatigue by the time she did. & moment later Michael brushed a butterfly
light touch o"er the 'unction of Maria<s nec$ and shoulder! drawing a whimer from
the smaller body under his. The ne/t $iss was e%ually intense and made her
tremble! the ne/t built gently on that! as did the ne/t and the ne/t until Maria
screamed! J+ow! damn it; Michael! I swear;J
Doing as he was told! Michael fastened his teeth into the firm muscle at the
nae! inched one of Maria<s niles! and dro"e his coc$ into the heated ca"ern of
her body with a single! sure mo"e. The blast of ure leasure slammed all the air
out of Maria<s lungs! but she reared bac$ into that first thrust! oening to it more
than she e"er had before. =ithdrawing slowly! so slowly it made them both ache!
Michael tongued a feathery attern o"er Maria<s nec$! his thumb ti scoring the
tight bud on her hea"ing chest. This time when he rammed bac$ in! he bit e"en
harder! drawing the tiniest tric$le of blood.
*cstasy and the biting ain $noc$ed Maria out of herself! lea"ing the rational
art of her mind floating slightly abo"e the incredibly wonderful fuc$ing her body
was eagerly ta$ing. It seemed that e"en as she re"eled in carnal lu/ury! she could
186
see Michael and herself intertwined in the rimiti"e ballet for satisfaction! could see
the rat e/ression on Michael<s face as they lo"ed. .losing her eyes! she could feel
him in a flash! and that dar$ warrior was bac$! hard and "iolent! co"ered in blood!
her blood! his blood! and their blood! mi/ed. That image of him was coming more
and more in her head o"er the last few months! but clearer and clearer recently.
& silent gas of wonder flew from her! and that in"oluntary action weighed her
bac$ down toward her hysical self. Dri"en by an instinct she didn<t %uestion! Maria
used the momentum to lift her mouth to the shoulder abo"e her! and she bit it hard
on the to fleshy art of it! bringing u a bead of blood. Moaning! her tongue
gathered the li%uid! and let the taste e/lode in her mouth. Thirst! it was li$e her
body thirsted for his! wanted to ri away his s$in so she could mo"e inside.
=ith a hoarse cry! Michael ic$ed u the ace of his fuc$ing and buried his
teeth in Maria<s shoulder. The small wound bled freely! and he laed at it hungrily!
staining his lis with the fluid. There was no ain for Maria from it! only another
$ic$ into the stratoshere! and she would ha"e clima/ed instantly if she<d been
connected to her body. :er head was somewhere else! somewhere caught with him.
It should ha"e bothered her how intense they were becoming! but it was ta$ing
them further than anyone imagined.
(he could clearly see a thin! red line of li%uid at the corner of his mouth! and
she thought wonderingly! D5lood. There<s ower in blood. Mayans! &ztecs! 1od
$nows how many other tribes and cultures all belie"e that...belie"ed it! assed
ower onto me through his blood. Power<s assing through me and Michael now!
but what<s it for3, =hate"er it was for! the connection it made between them! it was
necessary! because the ull and hunger for it was too strong to deny.
5efore Maria could find an answer! Michael $eened high in his chest and began
to come! his his buc$ing wildly as he tried to get as dee as ossible into her
187
body. It was beautiful to watch! and when assion stried away all the mas$s a
ci"ilized man had to wear! Maria could see into him with breathta$ing clarity. There
wasn<t 'ust the sa"age satisfaction of se/ual comletion or heartfelt 'oy of union
with his mate shining within Michael! and her! all her. There was also the undiluted
honor and strength of the man along with his courage! loyalty! de"otion!
determination and all the other traits that made Michael who he was.
&nd o"erlying it all! literally the welded to the core of Michael<s character and
ersonality! was the lo"e he had for Maria. The unso$en words were there in
flashes of raw emotion and feeling! mo"ing between them! that Maria couldn,t
distinguish herself from him.
The incandescent wonder of it burnt through Maria! melding her bac$ to her
body as it con"ulsed through its own climatic release. >or a time she was lost in the
brilliant flare of leasure that seemed endless and timeless at the same time! but it
gradually faded! lea"ing ric$les of heated sensation! and the coer bright tang of
his blood to anchor her to him. =ith startling reluctance! she too$ her teeth out of
the meaty art of Michael<s shoulder not e"en realizing that she had held on! lic$ing
the wound in a assing aology! and anted! J(orry! sorry A don<t $now why I
suddenly became a "amire.J
JDon<t aologize until we<"e seen what I did to your nec$ and shoulder!J
Michael rumbled tiredly! sounding indecently sated. J9ou<re robably going to loo$
li$e you<"e been mauled by a beast.J
J1uess I<m going to ha"e to toss out all the "amireAslaying cra!J Maria halfA
laughed. J5ecause it felt great. 5lood! it does the body good.J (ighing tiredly and
sated for now! she snuggled down e"en farther into the sofa and him in her arms.
JAo# felt great... feel great.J
187
JIncredible is more li$e it!J Michael said. =ith an allAo"er stretch! he ulled
bac$ enough to actually loo$ at what he<d done. J@esus! Maria;J =ith tender!
tentati"e fingers he robed around one of the laces on Maria<s shoulder where
minor ain was 'ust beginning to ma$e itself $nown.
JDon<t frea$ out on me!J she ordered mildly. JI thin$ I started it a while bac$!
but lately...and oh 1od! what it does to me; I<"e ne"er had anything li$e that
haen to me before.J Maria smoothed her fingers o"er his s$in lo"ing the te/ture!
feeling the heat and the rush of his blood! wanting more. 7I hunger.8
JIs it really sustaining you! feeding whate"er this is3J Michael as$ed dubiously.
:e told (ean that he and Maria were choosing a different lifestyle! and whate"er
this was! it wasn,t about ain. It was about a bloodsort! and then it wasn,t. It was
more! li$e another le"el of 'oining between them through their blood. :e 'ust didn,t
$now anything other than that he needed it! he needed her! and it felt better than
'ust good.
(earching his face to get a real loo$ at what he was thin$ing! Maria realized
suddenly that! much as Michael had en'oyed their lo"ema$ing before it turned! it
had only been lo"ema$ing for him. More intense than normal relationshis! but it
was understandable. This new addition that slowly was added to their lo"e life was
something more! something beyond e/ressing feelings! lust! and assion. It was
something beyond what either of them $new or understood. The eyes studying the
in'uries on Maria<s nec$ and shoulder were filled not only with relete assion and
lo"eB an awe lingered there li$e she $new lingered in her. (he waited for it! the
conflict. & art of him would want her to wear his mar$! and haily wear hers! and
another art of him would be horrified at the "iolence marring her s$in.
>or a moment she was o"erwhelmed! but the trained anthroologist within her
so$e u before the immense assion still stirring in her blood could do more than
188
seed through her awareness. DPower in the blood!, she reminded herself. D& life of
blood has its own gifts! its own ower! different from a ordinary one., There had to
be something in the bloodsort that drew them! a reason her body was cra"ing
him! not 'ust his blood! but his "ery touch.
)emembering the restless energy that had earlier dri"en her to 'um him in
the garage! Maria ran a mental chec$ and found it still burning away on Low!
aarently waiting for the ne/t sense of him to fuel the o"erwhelming turnedAon
feeling she was e/eriencing lately that was dri"ing her to se/.
It felt right that she was using it that way! li$e a bonus or benefit from being
on the recei"ing end of a thousand different loo$s and touches from Michael. :e still
had that ossessi"e touch that crowded her! watching o"er her li$e she was
roerty! and at times she felt li$e he ushed her and tasted her 'ust to imrint her
body on his. &nd since he $new her in ways that Maria could only theorize! it
seemed fair that she should $now Michael in ways only she could. It was a balance
of ower! so to sea$! one with a "ery nice side benefit. (uddenly his o"erowering
ossessi"eness that almost bro$e them early in their relationshi was finding a
balance in their li"es as she learned and e/erienced her own ossessi"e nature for
him.
?f course! it was hard on him between being caught u in the act and the
afterwards! he didn,t see that new intensity as beneficial when he was staring at a
bleeding wound on her! and ignoring his own. &nything that wounded or hurt her
was an outrage to him! and afterwards he was aalled. *"en he $new he was
oerating under a double standard! because he lo"ed e"ery mar$ she ut on his
body. 5ut it was his rotector self inside! the art that dro"e him to $ee her safe
as his mate that suffered the insult! and had a hard time dealing with the "iolence.
189
&lready Michael was eeling himself away! reaching for a something to ress on the
wounds he<d made and bitching himself out! big time.
J:ey! I meant it!J Maria said in rotest! leaning u on an elbow. JI lo"e when
you bite me and when I taste your blood! it was fantastic! and I find myself wanting
more.J
JI don<t thin$ so!J Michael shot bac$ grimly. JDo you ha"e any idea how easy it
is for a human bite to get infected3 =e need to ta$e care of that immediately.J
J(o we<ll $ee a bottle of antisetic around from now on or let you ush me
into a hot bath and baby the wound later!J Maria said with fond e/aseration.
J.ome on! Michael! I $now we,re of the same mind about this. I can feel it. &nd it<s
not li$e you were grossed out or anything. ?r li$e you didn<t en'oy it when I bit you.
I felt the rush of e/hilaration! and the way you hold me against your flesh li$e your
feeding me or the way you feed on me.J
Loo$ing down at the ragged wound left by teeth mar$s on his right shoulder!
Michael fle/ed his fingers and made a fist. JDoesn<t hurt that bad! and it was a
turnAon when you latched onto me.J &brutly he searched her face seriously loo$ing
for hurt and ain. JIt,s not 'ust the blood Maria! your scratching me until I bleed! or
all the "iolent se/ u against walls! small closets! under des$s or where"er we are
at the time. It,s this need. It feels li$e addiction! li$e we<"e mo"ed beyond want and
ushed need in there! and I,m too wea$ to deny myself or you almost to the oint
of being obli"ious to the world around us.8
J?h! Detecti"e!J Maria rotested! going along with Michael<s change of sub'ect!
$nowing that they would ha"e to tal$ it out better! later. JI $now that things ha"e
changed in the last few wee$s. I can,t e/lain it e/cet to say I want and need youA
all of youAdamn near all the time! and I can,t find that bad. .an,t we 'ust shel"e
19:
this discussion until some other time because I,m feeling the need to crash for a
little while.J
J+o wayB we do ha"e to clean out those bites!J Michael said firmly. (he was
right. :e was feeling it too. That hea"y draw to rest! to let the energy le"els
reco"er! but they had things to do first. J5athroom! now.8
7+o! too sleey.8 Maria snuggled down on the sofa warmed by the feel of him
o"er her! too content to ut u with his e/cessi"e attention to detail.
Maria didn<t ut u much more of a fight! e"en when Michael ic$ed her u
and threw her o"er his shoulder to carry her ustairs to the bathroom. (he was
laughing too hard.
7?h! Detecti"e! did I e"er mention that this gi"es me a e/cellent "iew of your
ass3 Maybe after you lay doctor!8 Maria,s "oice too$ on a hus$y note! 7we could
lay doctor38 Michael,s only resonse was to reach u and san$ lightly her ass
where it rest across his shoulder! and then running his hand lo"ingly down her legs.
7?h 1od! do that again;8 Maria layfully slaed his bac$. 7Detecti"e! did you
bring home those e/tra handcuffs38
7Maria; 5eha"e;8 Michael groaned. (he was going to $ill them both! or
whate"er was dri"ing them was. It bothered him that he really didn,t mind.
It was later in the early e"ening! after they too$ a na and made food! that
Michael was rela/ing on the sofa reading a boo$ and Maria was lying down on the
sofa! her head in his la and Mr. 5oo on her legs! watching a documentary about
the &mazon on the Disco"ery .hannel. *"ery once in a while he would loo$ u and
watch the rogram! but he still had another hour or so before his hoc$ey game
started! so he continued to read and listen to her ma$e obser"ations and
comments.
191
The answering machine was still ic$ing u their messages. Ma/ had called!
but only left a small message that Isabel had left the home in &rizona. Michael
started to call him bac$! but since he hadn,t heard from Isabel! there was little he
could say. They both listened and laughed at &my,s latest message! but still refused
to brea$ into their wee$end. &my would catch u with them early in the wee$. (he
always did.
=hen the $noc$ came on the door! Maria sat u a little and loo$ed at Michael.
7Did we decide to e/tend rule number se"en of our time alone to include not
answering the door38
Michael 'ust sighed. 7+o! we were still in discussion and negotiation.8 Michael
brushed the hair off her forehead and left a %uic$ $iss there grabbing the throw off
the bac$ of the sofa to co"er her before getting u to answer the door. The
$noc$ing and ringing was becoming frantic and urgent.
7=hat the hell is your...8 Michael stoed tal$ing as he saw (ean being
suorted by another man. 7(ean38
Maria sat u and loo$ed at the door as Michael suddenly went through the
door to hel &ndy ta$e (ean into the loft. =hen she saw her cousin,s face! she
suddenly rushed to his side with a cry of alarm. 7(ean! oh 1od! who did this to
you38
Michael loo$ed o"er at the man he now recognized from #ice! and they shared
a silent understanding. 7Maria! get the downstairs bedroom lights on.8 Michael sent
her on ahead to distract her from (ean,s condition.
&ndy and Michael tried to easily lower (ean into the bed! but it was ob"ious he
was in ain! lots of ain. The ain medication was no longer heling after all the
hours! and the original endorhins had long gone.
193
7(ean3 (ean! il mio bambino "overo che cosa D stato fatto a voi-5 Michael
loo$ed at Maria and frowned. (he was crying and her hands were sha$ing. It was
o$ay! she was o$ay. It was 'ust normal fright and concern.
7Maria! go get him some water! lease38 Michael waited until Maria left the
room and loo$ed at &ndy. 7=hat haened38
7=e went to a lace in &lbu%uer%ue. Things went bad.8 &ndy said. :e reached
into his oc$et. 7This is his medicine! both ain ills and antibiotics. :e was under a
hysician<s care for almost twentyAfour hours before we came home. I tried to tal$
him into going to a hosital! but he refused. I couldn,t lea"e him alone at his lace!
so he said here was o$ay.8 &ndy let the guilt wash through him. 7I,m sorry! 1uerin.8
Michael 'ust nodded! and watched as Maria came bac$ with a large itcher of
ice water and a glass. (etting it down on the bedside table! she oured (ean a
glass while sitting ne/t to him on the bed. (uddenly standing u she left to fill a
basin with cool water and get a cloth.
7(ean is Maria,s cousin! we,ll ta$e care of him.8 &ndy 'ust nodded. :e ne"er
really thought of 1uerin ta$ing care of anyone! but he had heard about the
relationshi between (ean,s cousin and Michael. 7=hen does he need his ne/t dose
of meds38
&ndy loo$ed at his watch. 7&nytime would be good.8
=hen Maria came bac$! Michael handed her the rescrition bottles and! after
$issing her head! wal$ed &ndy out. They stood beside the door and tal$ed in low
"oices while Maria gently wied (ean,s face with a cool rag.
7=here38
7The Den.8
7That,s a clean lace! one of the cleanest ones around. =hat haened38
&ndy rubbed his hand o"er his face. 7(ean haened.8
194
79ou were his safety38 &ndy 'ust nodded. 7Then how could this go so far38
7:e ditched me!8 &ndy said. 7Things haened! things were done! and
e"erything was ta$en care of! but 1uerin...it was a ri. The scene was staged by
(ean. :e was angling for the dee slee! and he was hallucinating that the
whihand was .assie.8
&ndy aused to see if Michael was getting his meaning. 7:ow long did he hold
out38 Michael as$ed %uietly.
7>ortyAfi"e minutes! too long. (he used a hea"y weighted bullwhi.8 Michael
swore under his breath worried about what Maria was loo$ing at in the other room.
7(omething has to be done! and I,m telling you.8
Michael 'ust nodded. 9es! something would be done. &ndy felt relie"ed to
lea"e (ean with Michael. 1uerin was a strange and unusual man. The lace he li"ed
in was uscale! but &ndy would ha"e sworn the man li"ed out of a dumster most
of the time until a year ago.
7&ndy! than$s. (ean will be here for a few days! so if you want to chec$ u on
him 'ust call this number.8 Michael wrote down the hone number for the loft.
7Than$s.8 &ndy ulled a card from his front oc$et. 7This is a list of secialists.
The last name is a shrin$ here in )oswell that comes recommended. I don,t $now if
it,ll hel! but at this oint! it can,t hurt.8 &ndy turned to lea"e! but couldn,t yet.
71uerin! he was seeing .assie the whole time. :e was fighting a demon.8
Michael closed the door! and leaned against it closing his eyes. Loo$ing at the
room! he went to the hone and made the call.
7:ello38 Michael swore under his breath. It was &my that answered the hone.
7:i! &my. It,s Michael. .an I tal$ to...8
7Michael; I,"e been waiting for your hone call all day. Is Maria feeling better!
or still sic$3 I was thin$ing the taffeta is robably too stiff and hot. :ow about an
195
Italian lace! something beautiful and elegant. #alentino has a fascinating line of
mi/ed Italian sil$s with lace! and Maria would loo$ so beautiful that I would wee. I
$now you aren,t e/cited about a new tu/! but I really thin$ the men in full tails
would loo$ so nice since I,m arri"ing in a drawn carriage. +ot too .inderella is it! for
someone my age3 @im thin$s I would loo$ lo"ely! but he,s such a sweet man! and...8
7&my! I,m sorry! it,s 'ust I need to tal$ to .a! and its imortant. .ould I...8
7?h! of course! honey.8 Michael could hear &my calling to @im. &nd atiently
waiting.
7Michael38 :earing @im,s "oice was a blessing.
7.a! sorry to call at home. I 'ust want to let you $now that (ean needs a few
days of downtime.8
7(ean3 =hat haened38 Michael could hear &my,s "oice in the bac$ground
as$ing the same %uestion.
7+othing much. :e got into a bo/ing match with a friend! and too$ a few to
the head! and some cuts and abrasions. :e has a slight fe"er and the doctor ut
him on ain $illers and antibiotics. I thin$ he needs downtime to heal.8
@im was %uiet for a few moments. :is "oice was low and calm. 7Is he all
right38
79eah! I,ll see he ma$es it to a secial doctor.8 Michael $new that @im $new
from his tone. ?fficially! it was best for them to stay clear of the real situation.
7:ow close did he come38 Michael could almost hear the Dthis time, in the
%uestion.
7Too close for comfort.8 @im 'ust swore.
79ou need some hel! son38 Michael had been surrised at how easily he had
assimilated into the #alentiADeLuca clan! and after a year it still held him in awe.
196
7+o! I,ll ta$e care of it. I might be a little late on Monday! but otherwise it
should be ta$en care of.8
7:e,s off until =ednesday. If he needs more! call me.8
7)ight! .a.8 Michael went to hang u the hone and as he did! he could hear
&my,s "oice in the bac$ground as$ing @im to as$ him about the Palisades
restaurant. Michael %uic$ly hung u the hone.
(tanding at the doorway! he watched Maria croon to (ean in a soft foreign
"oice. :e forgot sometimes that they were Italian! ?ld =orld Italian. (ean was
resonding to her! and Michael watched as she fed (ean the medicine.
3<""ena "oco #n "iE dovete bere "iE.5 :er hand was under his nec$ heling
to hold him u as he dran$ slowly from the water. 3Dio dell( ?1 ritenete caldi. 8ete
br#ciandosi in s#.5
Michael was fascinated with the soft singsong %uality to her "oice as she
smoothed her cousin,s brow. Loo$ing u at him! Michael could see the concern on
her face and in her "oice. 7Michael! oh 1od! he,s hot. (o hot.8
7Let me see.8 Michael mo"ed bac$ into the room and felt (ean,s head. (he was
right. 7=hat did you gi"e him38 Maria handed him the rescrition bottles and
watched as he read them. 7I,ll be right bac$.8
Maria watched o"er (ean as Michael left the room and hurried ustairs.
3,h#sh D gi#sto. /ichael sarF indietro e sarete migliori. ;( ?1 dio bambino che
cosa voi ha fatto38
(ean was half aslee listening to the "oice! and feeling the hand. 3/amma
mamma non sono morto.5 Maria made a clic$ing! smoothing noise in her throat as
she tried to calm (ean. :e grabbed at her hand. 3,ono s"iacente cosG s"iacente.
;i ho mancati.5
7(ean! no! shush! it,s o$ayR8
197
Michael came bac$ to the bed. 7Lets gi"e him these. They,ll hel his bring his
fe"er down.8 Maria nodded and too$ the tablets! and heled Michael feed them to
(ean with water.
7(hould we ta$e him to the emergency room3 1od! Michael! he feels so hot.8
7Let<s 'ust gi"e him these! and chec$ his temerature later. If they don,t hel!
we,ll ta$e him in. The fe"er is robably a resonse to the ain. :is ain$illers aren<t
holding. =e,ll wait! o$ay38
Maria nodded. (ean was settling to slee! his "oice muttering o"er and o"er.
34erdonarlo. 8l dio lo "erdona.5
Michael watched (ean! and ic$ing Maria u! he settled in a chair beside the
bed with her sitting on his la and leaning bac$ on his chest. 7=hat,s he saying38
7That he,s sorry! so sorry.8 Maria rubbed her head in Michael,s chest and
watched her cousin! a slow tear running down her face. 7:e thin$s I,m his mother.8
Michael nodded until a thought occurred to him. 7:is mother3 (he,s not dead
or anything38 Maria 'ust shoo$ her head no! to which Michael was relie"ed. &t least
he wasn,t seeing the dead. That might mean a tri to the doctor immediately.
7+o! (ean is.8 Maria watched her cousin feeling him and his ain. 7:e has been
for a long time.8
7:ow long! Maria3 9ou $new38 (he $new about (ean and his thing for ain3
7:ard to miss! and since he left home about ten years ago. The ain stuff! it
was ne"er this bad! 'ust something he ic$ed u with other things. I thin$ it started
as fun and made him feel good! but now...I don,t $now.8
Michael could feel her distress. 7It,s o$ay. =e,ll fi/ it.8
7(ome things can,t be fi/ed! Michael. +ot by us. (ean needs to fi/ this himself!
and I thin$ he,s been hiding for so long from what bothers him that all he feels now
is the ain.8
197
7Don,t worry! we,ll figure it out.8
(ean wo$e a few hours later as his fe"er bro$e. :e was feeling the cuts on his
bac$ the worst! esecially where the stitches ulled when he mo"ed. Trying to find
a comfortable osition! he turned to loo$ at Michael and Maria sleeing in a chair
ne/t to the bed. Michael! feeling eyes watching him! wo$e so see (ean,s regard.
7=hat time is it38 Michael loo$ed at his watch.
7Too early to be awa$e! about midnight. 9ou should rest some more.8 Michael
mo"ed slowly so not to wa$e Maria! and reached for some more medication.
:anding the ills to (ean! he filled a glass of water and handed it o"er as well. 7Do
you want something to eat38
7+o.8 (ean loo$ed at Michael. 79ou don,t ha"e to stay here and ta$e care of
me. I,m fine.8
7I don,t do it for you. I do it for her! and so yes I do. I romised her that you
would be better! and so you will.8
(ean laughed. 7*"en I heard that Dor else, in your "oice. &lways the hero!
1uerin.8
7&nd always the "illain! (ean.8 Michael leaned bac$ and held Maria against
him. 79ou went too far! and I won,t and can,t understand you in this. @ust $now you
went too far.8
7I $now!8 (ean said %uietly as he went bac$ to slee.
---
:e wal$ed through the crowds! and melted into the bac$ground as the music
and sounds of the night crowd echoed around him. =aiting most of the e"ening! he
198
was finally rewarded with the "oice. (he was as lo"ely as he imagined! as he
remembered.
Last night after she sang! he made an effort to stand close to her for the rest
of the night. 0nobtrusi"ely being in her resence until she noticed him! at the same
time ta$ing no notice and dismissing him as a nonAthreat. 5efore the night ended!
he bumed into her! but made it loo$ li$e she bumed into him! silling his drin$ on
him.
>lustered! she ran to the bar! got a bar rag and returned to hand it to him!
aologizing the entire time. )ubbing down his clothes! he assured her that he was
fine! that it wasn,t a big deal. The girl returned to the bar to get him a refill of his
drin$ that she silled. :er "oice was lo"ely and ure! and her s$in flawless! with the
health and color of youth. (he was really %uite lo"ely.
=hen she returned he told her that he heard her sing! that she was "ery
talented. :e watched as her eyes became weary and reser"ed as if he was trying to
ut one o"er on her. (o he told her that he wished his wife could ha"e heard her!
that erhas some day she would ma$e a .D and then she could. The girl as$ed if
his wife wasn,t with him! and he sighed a big no. Pointing at a random erson in the
crowd! he e/lained that a friend of theirs was going through a real bad time! so he
was going out with him! but his wife couldn,t come.
The girl was intrigued enough to as$ why. :e 'ust laughed unthreateningly and
said that his wife was regnant! e/ecting their third child and all the smo$e and
noise wasn,t good for her. The girl nodded and said she understood. :e said the
nicest thing was hearing her sing! that it made it worth the torture of the lace that
wasn,t really his scene! at least not for the last few years since he married. Then he
as$ed her if he was dreaming it! but was e"ery erson in the room really on the
ma$e. The girl laughed and they tal$ed! and loo$ing at his watch he told her that
199
she loo$ed awfully young and to ta$e care because there were lots of 'er$s out
there cruising. (he 'ust laughed again and said she was rotected. :e e/cused
himself for the night and said that if he got ut uon again the ne/t night he hoed
that at the "ery least he,d get to hear her sing again.
That was last night! and tonight he set himself u in a ri"ate booth that could
be seen from the stages. Ma$ing himself consicuous! but not aearing so! he
waited for her to sing. 5efore that he sat! not aying attention to anyone! but
aeared to be listening on a cell hone to someone. 5ut when she sang! he turned
his total attention to her and then tal$ed on the hone! and then ut it down on the
table holding it oen! as if someone on the other end was listening to her sing.
&fter she finished her set! he loo$ed at his watch and timed how long it would ta$e
her to come tal$ to him.
7:i38 :e loo$ed u and smiled. Discreetly grabbing his glass and mo"ing it
away from him in a mo"e that aeared nonchalant! but was done to ma$e it
ob"ious to her. (he nodded a raised brow at his mo"ement! and he smiled slightly
embarrassed. 7I romised my wife I wouldn,t wear my drin$ home on me again.8
(he laughed that dee rich sound! and sat in the booth across from him. 7+ice
of you to obey the wife.8
7&lways. I figure she uts u with so much with me! that it,s the least I can
do.8 The hone rang on cue. Ma$ing a mo"e of as$ing her forgi"eness for the
interrution! he answered the hone. 7:i! honey. +o! no I lost him! but he,s in the
crowd. &re you sure3 ?h lease 1od! I hoe so. +o! I made a friend. 9es! the young
singer I let you listen to! she is romising not to redecorate my clothes with my
Tom .ollins. I will! absolutely. :mm! let me see!8 he loo$ed at the girl searchingly
and then so$e in the hone again! 7nineteen38 The girl shoo$ her head no!
amused. 79ounger38 (he nodded. 7I would say younger than nineteen! and
3::
drin$ing...8 Loo$ing at her drin$! he hazarded a guess! 7& cola.8 (he beamed at
him. :e tal$ed for a few more minutes and after telling his wife he lo"ed her and
hoed to get out of there before bartime! hung u.
79our wife calls you all the time while you,re hitting the bars.8
:e laughed. 7+ormally! no. Mostly she comes with me! but in her delicate
condition! I begged her to ta$e ity on me and at least $ee me comany o"er the
hone.8
7&w! that,s so sweet. (o what was it you were hoing she was sure of38
:is faced loo$ed confused as he recalled the con"ersation! and then it cleared.
7?h! my wife calls this the DI don,t need you to ha"e fun! and I,m still attracti"e to
other eole stage, of the big brea$u. (he was 'ust reassuring me that soon this
stage would be o"er! and the Dself ity! now I ha"e to date, stage would begin!
which usually in"ol"es %uieter bars and crying into beers. & light at the end of this
tunnel of loud music and sweating bodies.8
(he laughed. 7=ell since I doused you last night! and am sharing a booth with
you tonight! I should introduce myself. I,m Crystal.8
:e held out his hand and too$ hers in a friendly nonAthreatening sha$e.
7Ce"in! but actually!8 he leaned in as to tell her a secret. 7It,s really *rnest. Ce"in is
my second name! but I 'ust couldn,t abide...*rnest. It sounds so! so...8
7Trustworthy38
:e laughed. 7It,s a wonder I e"er got married. I remember seeing DThe
Imortance of 5eing *arnest, when I was younger and $new my name doomed me!
so I romtly switched to my middle name in self reser"ation.8
(he laughed. 7I lo"e that lay; ?scar =ilde is my fa"orite.8
3:1
7Mine! too; My wife adored DThe Ideal :usband,. Personally I thin$ all the cases
of mista$en identity are where the hoot is.8 (he laughed and they sat siing on
their drin$s tal$ing literature and lays and about her music.
The first rule of engagement of the rey is to always aear unassuming! and
harmless. Let the hunted come to you! so at no time the instinctual feelings of
being hunted engage and alert them. Tomorrow might be the night.
---
&le/ loo$ed u from his aer wor$ at the bar when she sat down on a
barstool. >rowning! he could hear the after closing arty still going strong in the
bac$ room. Loo$ing at the beautiful girl! he smiled.
79ou tired! (%uea$38
(he grimaced. 7I can,t belie"e you still call me that after all these years. .ome
on &le/! say it...Crystal.8
7Crystal.8
(he smiled at him. 7(ee3 That wasn,t so hard.8
:e reached o"er and twea$ed her nose layfully. 7(orry! (%uea$AaAMuffin!
you,ll always be D(%uea$, to me.8 (he laughed! delighted at her older cousin,s
childhood name for her. 79ou want another co$e38
7+o; I<m co$ed out.8 (he thought about it for a second ta$ing in &le/,s
sarcastic smile. 7=ow! that sounded 'ust wrong.8
7:ow about a bottled water or coffee38
7=ater.8 Crystal reached o"er and loo$ed at what he was doing. 7I thought you
hated the aerwor$ side of running .lub :ell.8
3:3
7I do! but e"en @immy has to go on "acation some times. This business
doesn,t close. I,m hating myself so much right now! that I thin$ I,ll gi"e him a raise
when he returns.8 &le/ leaned on the bar utting a bottle of water in front of her.
79ou don,t thin$ he does this on urose 'ust to get me to areciate him38
7I would.8 Crystal too$ a drin$! and then started eeling off the label. 7(o...8
7(o38 &le/ $new what she wanted to $now! but layed it out.
7:ow am I wor$ing out3 The singing38
7& few comlaints...8 :e laughed at her loo$ of outrage. 7That they had to
listen to me instead of you.8 Crystal smiled at the comliment. 7(o I guess you can
continue to sing a set a night! as long as you follow the rules! and don,t ma$e me
regret letting you sing in my club.8
7I romise. I,"e been real good. +o wandering off with strangers! no underage
drin$ing! and always chec$ in with e"eryone e"en when I,m using the head.8 Ta$ing
a drin$! she nodded. 7Don,t worry! &le/. &fter ta$ing si/ months of hard wor$ on
my side to con"ince you and my arents that I would be safe here! I,m not going to
mess this u. This has been the greatest time of my young life.8 Crystal mo"ed in!
leaning an arm on the bar. 7If you could find your way to contact some of those
Dsecial, eole you $now to come listen to me! I could be on my way to becoming
the ne/t 5ritney (ears.8
7+o way. More li$e &lanis.8 &le/ frowned at his cousin. 7Don,t be in such a
hurry! (%uea$. Life is for the young! but there,s so much out there! so much time to
become e"erything. Ta$e it slower and en'oy the time you,"e got while you,re
young. It,ll ne"er come again! and it will go faster than you realize.8
7:eard that before from...8 Crystal smiled! 7oh yeah! you; .hill big! big! bad
cousin! I,m li"ing in the moment! but I,m lo"ing e"ery minute of it. Too bad you,re
not.8
3:4
&le/ lit a smo$e! and oed her hand when she reached to ta$e a drag.
7=hat you mean38
7=ell! I remember a time when my cousin was the biggest horndog around
with his dirty hands u some s$irt! u against the wall with little to no regard of
who was watching. I,"e been singing same nights with you for o"er two wee$s! and
no one. +ada. &nd...8 (he held u her hand to sto him from interruting. 7+ot a
ermanent babe in sight. 9ou start itching for the other side38
7+o. I,m not gay if that,s what you,re as$ing. Though there was this retty guy
who had the mouth of an...8
7*www! sto it! 'ust sto. Too much info! cousin! and don,t thin$ I don,t $now
you,re trying to shine me on. 5ut Pete in the band said you,"e been off your oats for
almost a year. =hat,s with that3 Lo"esic$38
7+o.8 &le/ a"oided her eyes. 7Lifestyle sic$. &ll the fuc$ing and artying gets
to be too boring after a while when it 'ust become something you do. I,m trying to
gi"e myself something more! something righteous.8
7I understand! but geez! a celibate3 */treme much38
&le/ reached out and twea$ed his cousin,s long red hair. 7@ust because I,m not
stooing some 5etty in ublic! and hard u against a wall doesn,t mean I,m not
getting off. I 'ust want something solid in my life! some %uiet real time. I,m almost
thirty! and sooner or later I $new I was gonna ha"e to grow u! so I,m 'ust
assessing the situation.8
7Does that mean you,re hoing to find true lo"e here38
&le/ 'ust shoo$ his head no. 7+ot here. +e"er here. I want something outside
of this lace. It,s a good business! and I lo"e the band. 5ut I wasn,t lanning on
dying a wasted! washedAout drug addict with a .ourtney Lo"e woman on my arm.
(ome things are worth waiting and searching for. (o ta$e heart! (%uea$! and don,t
3:5
sell your heart short.8 )eaching o"er the bar! he $issed his cousin %uic$ly on the lis
and twea$ed her nose again. 7?ne heart! one life. It,s got to mean something.8
79ou,re so gay;8
7,>raid of that. 0. Let<s blow this 'oint. Loo$s li$e I need to toss the trenders
out or they,d arty all night.8
79ou could lea"e them.8 Crystal said as he hit the lights in the main bar and
they headed to the late night arty in the bac$ room.
79eah! right. &nd lea"e them to burn down my club3 +oe! time for them to
ta$e this to someone,s crib and light u the bathtub cran$.8
7(uch a cynic.8
79ou,"e got no idea.8

3:6
Day C: ,#nday- H:C3 a.m.
It was early morning when (ean wo$e to find Michael and Maria still sleeing
in the chair together. They had stayed with him all night. Loo$ing at the two of
them fast aslee! he was amazed at how young and unconcerned they slet. :e
doubted his face too$ on that loo$! e"en in a dee rest.
8Michael38 (ean reached o"er in a groan and ga"e the man a sho"e. 7It,s
almost se"en. Ta$e her ustairs and try to get a few more hours of slee in
comfort.8 Michael tried to sha$e the slee off! and 'ust nodded to (ean.
7Ta$e your medicine.8
71otcha. :ey! Michael.8 (ean waited for Michael to turn to him again from
where he stood in the doorway! holding a sleeing Maria. 7Than$s.8
7+o roblem. 5ut we,re far from through with this (ean.8 (ean 'ust shrugged
and san$ bac$ down into the co"ers! moaning from the ain. Li$e he didn,t $now
that.
---
The $noc$ on his door 'ust caught him finishing sha"ing for the morning. Last
night was another long night of thin$ing about things that bothered him. +umerous
times he almost ic$ed u the hone to call Michael or tal$ to Maria! but he
refrained. :e $new that they wouldn,t be answering their calls! not on a wee$end
which they both had off. +e/t wee$end was their Don call, wee$end! and Maria
usually wor$ed at the museum the same wee$ends they did.
7Tess38 Ma/ stoed wiing the sha"ing cream off his face at the sight of his
e/Agirlfriend on his doorste. (he loo$ed! well she loo$ed great.
3:7
7:i. Ma/...sorry to 'ust sto by without calling. I 'ust...well I need to tal$ to
you.8
Ma/ loo$ed at her noticing how her hands were ner"ously twisting the
shoulder stra of her urse! and how uncomfortable she aeared.
7(ure! come in.8 Ma/ stood aside and let Tess ass. :e really hadn,t seen her
much since she dumed him.
=hen they were together he barely seemed to notice her! but when she called
it %uits suddenly e"erything in his body re"olted! became angry and uset. It was
li$e owning something you ne"er use! but one day somebody steals it! and you
obsessi"ely brood o"er its loss. Their entire relationshi was founded on this
annoying feeling of instincti"ely $nowing each other! almost li$e if he could close his
eyes he could remember feeling her s$in against him. 5ut something was missing.
Li$e sar$s.
Tess stood in the middle of his aartment loo$ing confused as to what to do.
(tand or sit or 'ust lea"e.
7(it down! Tess. I,ll ma$e some coffee.8
7&ctually! if you ha"e herbal tea! that would be better. I,m off caffeine right
now.8
7:erbal tea3 I don,t thin$...8
7That,s o$ay. I,m not here to drin$ anyway.8
7Then why are you here3 I thought we said e"erything! or you said e"erything
there was to say o"er two months ago.8
7Ma/!8 Tess,s "oice held some irritation in it. 7Loo$! I $now that it was a shoc$
and e"erything! and I,m sorry about that! really I am. 9ou,re a great guy! and...8
71od! not the great guy seech again; .an we 'ust cut to the chase and you
tell me what brings you to my doorste on a (unday morning38
3:7
7?$ay! you,re right. There,s no easy way! so I,ll 'ust say it! and...and then you
can react.8 Ma/ nodded. 9eah there was a lan. 7?$ay! here it goes. I,m regnant!
and you,re the dad.8
---
7&re you sure he,s all right3 Maybe we should wa$e him u and see...8
7Professor! I don,t thin$ he,ll want to go out to eat brunch. Let,s 'ust let him
slee. :e has no fe"er! and he loo$s fine.8 Michael loo$ed around for his belt. 7:a"e
you seen my belt anywhere38
7=hich one3 The thin blac$ leather! or the tooled brown with the sil"er
buc$le38
7The blac$ one. I swear I left it ustairs on the bac$ of the lounger.8
Maria was snac$ing on a carrot stic$. (tar"ing. 7I don,t thin$ I used it to tie
you u lately or "ice "ersa! so it should still be there.8
7>orget it.8 Michael ignored her comment about tying each other u. :e was
star"ing! and she wasn,t distracting him until he ate a few thousand calories of
emty fats. 79our choice! where are we going38 Michael urosely dressed down to
$ee her from choosing somewhere uscale with cray food. 5ut Maria was
dressed similar to him in a tight mini! tAshirt! and a leather 'ac$et.
7The 1rease Pit.8 Maria said on her way out the door! almost so %uietly that he
didn,t hear her right.
7=hoa +elly; 5ac$ u Professor. Did you say DThe 1rease Pit,3 /y D1rease
Pit,38
7I,m not going to sit across from you if you sit and gloat.8 Maria saw the
amusement in his eyes.
3:8
The 1rease Pit was the most disgusting burger 'oint in town! and Michael was
singlehandedly suorting the lace with his atronage. +umerous times she
lectured him on the e"il fat relacing his blood from that lace! but this morning
she wo$e u with a cra"ing so strong! that she had to ha"e a sweaty burger! e/tra
fi/ins! and dee fried ic$le chis.
7?ne word! one sneer! and it,s the (tarlight )oom with itsy bitsy medallions of
meat co"ered in a snooty >rench reduced sauce! three ieces of o"er coo$ed
asaragus! and cra on your late that,s suose to be artistic.8
7I didn,t say a word.8 Maria loo$ed at him susiciously. Michael 'ust smir$ed
and ut his arm around her shoulder to ull her near as he headed for the bi$e.
This was reason to celebrate. & 1rease Pit trile burger with e/tra cheese was 'ust
what he wanted.
They laced their order and were eating aetizers of fresh fried otato chis
smelling of "inegar. Maria was diing them in $etchu while Michael doctored his
large cherry co$e with Tabasco. (omething was wrong when Maria didn,t ma$e a
rude comment o"er his order of three double cheeseburgers with e/tra eers!
two large orders of fries and an order of onion rings.
Michael almost too$ her to the clinic when she ordered an e/tra large double
chocolate malt e/tra thic$! two large cheeseburgers with e/tra ic$les wraed to
go! e"en though they were eating them there! two orders of dee fried ic$le chis!
an order of cheese tots! and she as$ed for a large late of ic$le sears.
7=hy wraed38
7=hat38
7=hy did you want the burgers wraed38 Michael swore as his cell hone
rang.
3:9
7(o they could get all sweaty.8 Maria $issed him %uic$ly as he answered the
hone. 7I lo"e them sweaty.8
71uerin.8 Michael smiled at her. Maria li$ed lots of things sweaty.
7Michael! it,s Ma/.8
7Ma/! hey it,s not a good time...8
7I really need to tal$ to you.8 Michael loo$ed at Maria loo$ing at him. &t the
mention of Ma/,s name they both had the same thought. Tess and the baby.
7(orry Ma/! we,re not home. Maria and I are out ha"ing lunch.8
7=here are you38
7The 1rease Pit. Ma/...8 Michael 'ust frowned at the hone when he heard the
disconnect clic$. 7Ma/ is 'oining us I guess.8
7.ool.8 Maria was using a $etchu bottle to coat her ic$le sears in a line of
$etchu before eating. 7Thin$ it,s about Tess38
7=hat else! unless it,s Isabel38 Michael frowned as a grou of men in the ne/t
table were hassling the waitress and duming garbage on the floor for her to ic$
u. 7=hat,s haening to me! Professor3 (ince I met you I,"e turned into some real
Dnice guy,! a literal mushyAheaded cream uff.8
Michael suddenly stood u and growled at the grou of men harassing the
waitress! flashing his badge hoo$ed in his 'eans waistband since he hadn<t found his
belt! letting them see his shoulder holster with the gun under his 'ac$et. Maria 'ust
listened and watched as Michael bar$ed at the grou of men in a threatening and
menacing manner ma$ing them scramble to clean u their mess and flee for their
li"es! but only after lea"ing a large ti.
Maria calmly oed another $etchu laced ic$le in her mouth munching! and
said with her mouth full. 79eah! it,s shoc$ing. & real ush o"er. & cream uff.8 Maria
31:
smiled at the rescued waitress. 7Thin$ I could get some more ic$les3 9ou don,t
ha"e any oli"es do you38
Michael sat bac$ down and watched his mate de"our the chis and ic$les!
and suc$ing down large %uantities of her malt. (he was the most erfect woman he
had e"er met. @ust when he thought he had her figured out! she surrised him.
*"ery day was an ad"enture! whether it was her lecturing him on some obscure
tribe in the rainforest or trying to con him out of his dessert. Leaning bac$! he
watched her hands as they died the ic$les! and she $et tal$ing about Ma/ and
Tess. (uddenly she stoed and loo$ed at him! and without another thought they
both leaned in for a $iss.
That was how Ma/ found them! obli"ious to the world around them! each
busily maing out the other<s mouth! li$e it was something they had ne"er done
before. ?h geez! get a damn room; Ma/ stood at the table mo"ing from one foot
the other trying to get their attention.
7Michael3 Maria3 :ellooo3 &ir! breathe! and maybe re'oin the world3 There are
eole here trying to eat.8 Ma/ ga"e u and slid into the booth across from them as
a waitress showed u with a huge order of food. 79ou,re going to ha"e to
disengage! because there,s no way you can eat your food and $iss.8
7>ood38 Maria said hus$ily as she ulled away from Michael. That word
registered. Ma/ watched horrified as late after late laden down with food was
laced on the table! and both Maria and Michael started eating without a care!
Maria smiling her than$s at the waitress.
The waitress loo$ed at Ma/ with her order ad oened. 7.an I get you
anything38
7& cherry co$e! e/tra cherry! cheeseburger and late of fries.8
311
7That all38 Ma/ loo$ed o"er at his artner de"ouring a burger! and reaching for
a second one. Maria was eating dee fried ic$le chis and ma$ing a humming
noise under her breath.
79eah! I,m on a diet.8
Ma/ watched them! and after Michael finished his second burger! as$ed for a
refill on his cherry co$e! and was decimating a late of fries he finally decided to
tal$ to Ma/. 7=hat,s u! Ma/well38
Maria stoed eating and was loo$ing Ma/ o"er "ery closely. Ta$ing another
bite of the burger! she munched away waiting for Ma/ to tell them what they
already $new. =hen she finished her burger! she lic$ed her fingertis! and the
action drew Michael,s attention. (uddenly he grabbed her hand and ulled one
finger after another into his mouth! suc$ing and then nibbling away the taste. Ma/
was astounded as he watched Maria,s eyes dro to Michael,s mouth! and before
they could...
7:ellooo; >ocus; Partner! your best friend is needing ad"ice.8
7(orry! artner. =hat did you want38 Michael released Maria,s hand and turned
his attention to Ma/ while ic$ing u his last burger.
7Tess. Tess came to see me this morning.8 Ma/ ushed his fingers through his
hair. 7(he told me that...that...8 Ma/ aused as the waitress deosited his order and
drin$ in front of him and as$ed them if they needed anything else. They all 'ust
shoo$ their heads no! and Ma/ %uic$ly got bac$ at it before the insatiable twins
too$ off again on another tour of each other<s body.
7Tess is regnant.8 Ma/ sit out in a hurry. 7I,m the father.8
Michael frowned at Ma/ calling himself a father! and felt that twinge again.
Maria leaned into him! and her hand went u his leg to rest high on his thigh.
7:ow do you feel about that! Ma/38 Maria as$ed %uietly.
313
70nsettled! frea$edAout! scared! and 'ust confused. I $now that it has to be
mine if she,s three months regnant! and Tess has no reason to lie! and once she
told me! I could feel it was true.8
7(o what are you going to do38 Michael as$ed! letting his artner thin$ about
it as he too$ a bite of his burger.
7=hat can I do38 Ma/ said as he washed down a bite with some co$e. 7(he,s
ha"ing it! so that means I,m going to be a father.8 Ma/ too$ another bite of his
burger. &ctually! he was feeling better now that he was tal$ing about it. 7I guess its
time. I,m twentyAeight! so its not li$e I,m too young or don,t ha"e a 'ob. It,s 'ust
that I always thought I,d ha"e children after I was married and settled down. This
was une/ected! and we were using rotection! so surrise is only the start of what
I,m feeling.8
7Did you as$ her to marry you38 Michael as$ed %uietly. Maria had told him of
Tess<s reasons for brea$ing u with Ma/. It didn,t loo$ li$e she would change her
mind because of a baby.
79eah! I suggested! but she refused.8 Ma/ sat bac$ and suc$ed on his drin$. 7I
don,t $now how this is going to wor$! but it,s my $id! and I won,t let her go through
it alone.8
7(he,s not alone! Ma/. (he has family! Cyle! and e"en me and Michael. I,m
sure Tess will be hay to include you in e"ery ste of the way! but if you,re 'ust
offering because it,s the right thing to do...don,t.8
Ma/ loo$ed at Maria and nodded. :e $new that. Tess was twenty si/! and it
wasn,t li$e she was alone in the world. 7It,s not 'ust that! Maria. I can,t e/lain it!
but I feel something. I feel the baby! and I don,t want to be an absentee father. I
don,t $now how it,ll wor$! but we,ll figure it out.8
314
Michael decided to change the sub'ect. 7(o what the hell is going on with
Isabel38
---
:e returned later that night! later than usual. If she followed attern! she
wouldn,t sing until the late set! around midnight. (itting where he $new she could
notice him! he waited. The hea"y sedati"e was ready. The music was loud and the
crowds were e"en noisier than usual! which seemed unusual for a (unday. =atching
her wea"e her way through the crowd! she laughingly came to rest at the table.
7:ey *rnest! your friend still in stage one38
7(o it would aear. 9ou were great tonight. =ant to sit! or are they going to
get smart and let you finally do more than one set38
7I wish.8 Crystal sat down across from her new friend. Last night after they
tal$ed about literature! lays! and e"erything under the sun! they turned their
interest to watching the crowd and ma$e fun of the strange eole.
7It,s crowded and hot in here tonight. I,m off the hooch. I thin$ I,m going for a
cola! you want anything38
Crystal smiled. 79ou,re right. It,s stifling hot tonight. & cola would be fine.8
They tal$ed for a short while when he noticed her eyes getting big and hea"y.
7:ey! Crystal. :ey; 9ou o$ay38
7I don,t $now. I,m 'ust so tired all the sudden.8
7?$ay! hang in there. Is there a room where you can go lie down38
7The bac$ brea$room where the band goes between sets! but no one will be
there until after the ne/t brea$.8
315
:e got u! and heled her stand. 7That,s o$ay. I,ll hel you bac$ there! and
you can rest while I go find your cousin. It,s got to be the heat.8
Crystal 'ust nodded as he heled her to the bac$ room. =hen they got there!
he was heling her to a sofa. 7=here,s that door lead38
Crystal was ha"ing a hard time $eeing her eyes oen. 7It,s a side door to the
alley.8
71ood! lets oen it. Maybe the fresh air will wa$e you u.8 Crystal let him hel
her to the door! and when it oened the rush of fresh air hit her. (he breathed it in!
the cool freshness cutting in the lungs! something to remember! and it was the last
thought she e"er had.
---
&le/ wal$ed through the club twice. It was finally afterAhours and the last of
the scragglers were gone! e/cet the usual afterAbarAarty hangerAons. Crystal was
missing. (he wasn,t in the club. &le/ loo$ed u at Pete when he came through the
door! but he 'ust shoo$ his head no. Dammit! Crystal where are you3 =hen he
found her! he was going to $ill her for brea$ing the rules and scaring the li"ing
daylights out of him.
7Pete round u the rest. &nyone that,s awa$e and able to loo$.8 &le/ sat at the
bar and searched through Crystal,s address boo$ left in her bag in the bac$ room.
Pic$ing u the hone he started ma$ing calls.
>reddie loo$ed at his friend and boss. 7&le/! what can I do38
Pray. &le/ 'ust lit a cigarette. 7.ould you ta$e a few of the guys and hit the
streets and some of the illegal afterAarties. (ee if you can find her38
316
7(ure man! it,s done. =e,ll call if we find her...when we find her.8 >reddie went
to sha$e the tree of sleeing band members and others.
They ne"er called! and Crystal ne"er came home.

317
Day H: /onday- I:10 a.m.
Maria ignored them. (nea$ing Mr. 5oo some bacon while reading the morning
aer! it was easier on her stomach than to loo$ at or e"en contemlate eating the
brea$fast (ean was coo$ing. (ean was definitely on the mend! but he still loo$ed
li$e cra.
:e had gotten u early that morning! determined to lea"e and go to wor$.
Michael informed him that he was on a temorary lea"e! and the two had been
arguing e"er since. Maria ee$ed around her aer and was nauseated 'ust
watching (ean slice large slabs of bread! stac$ing them with fresh mozzarella and
deeAfrying them after diing them in an egg wash.
Maria moaned causing Michael to loo$ at her sharly. (till arguing with (ean!
he went to Maria,s side! who 'ust leaned into him. +either of them was feeling that
great! and (ean was $illing them with his ey way of coo$ing of e"erything in
grease.
7Ma$e him sto!8 Maria begged from where her head against his chest. Michael
ran his hand u under Maria,s hair and was alarmed by the moisture he found
there. (he was sweating and he could hear her guling to $ee control of her
stomach.
=hat the hell were with these DeLucas and their coo$ing e"erything bizarre3
>irst they sat through (unday dinner with &my! the =edding Planner from :ell!
eating tray after tray of hors d,oeu"res &my had made so they could hel her
decide on the menu for the recetion.
Michael didn,t mind tasting e"erything! but it was Maria,s green loo$s and
sha$ing her head almost subtly that stoed him. It was too late! he had already
eaten some of the sweetmeats! and it too$ him oing a sautOed chic$en li"er
317
wraed in Italian cured ham rosciutto to start using the na$in method he
noticed @im emloying. =hen &my as$ed him what he thought about the
aetizers! he told the truth. It was the least he could do after she forga"e him the
loss of the Palisades restaurant and changed her mind on owdered baby blue for
his tu/. :e e/alted o"er his fondness for those tasty Pigs in a 5lan$et! and @im
ied u his lo"e of coc$tail weenies.
Maria 'ust shoo$ her head in horror at their clueless resonses! as &my
laughed! thin$ing they were 'o$ing. Michael stood behind the contention that igs
rolled in blan$ets were a real treat! as Maria delicately ate grilled shrim on a
s$ewer. :e finally escaed with Maria after her near fit o"er the latest run of
bridesmaid dresses resembling wood ims and fairies from something out of
(ha$eseare,s < /ids#mmer 9ight(s Dream. Maria refused to dress u li$e a
mustard seed! cobweb or anything else that made her loo$ li$e an earth mother
nightmare! such as the goddess of emathy.
The e"ening did gi"e him a chance to tal$ to his .atain about (ean. 5etween
the two of them! they decided on a strategy! and so far (ean was not ta$ing it "ery
well. The fact that he was on standdown until =ednesday was harsh! but the
conditions of his return sent him into a coo$ing frenzy that! on to of the &my
torture from the night before! was destined to toss both Michael and Maria,s
stomachs.
7I,m not going;8
79ou,ll go! or turn in your badge! (ean. 9our choice.8
79ou can,t do that. This is my ri"ate life. It has nothing to do with being a
co.8
Maria loo$ed at the two men snarling at each other! face to face. Tough call!
but her money was on Michael. :e held the cards! (ean,s 'ob.
318
7It does if you,re seeing .assie in your head! if you,re steing u for suicide
games! and if you choose to eat a bullet.8 Michael refused to relent. 7That,s a
commander,s call! and I,m calling it. 9ou won,t be dying on my watch.8
(ean turned gray. 79ou said you had my bac$! brother.8 Michael winced at the
sneer in the word Dbrother,.
7I do.8 Michael said %uietly. 75ut not li$e this. 9ou $now the code! (ean. >or
family! loyalty and honor! it,s the code to rotect. 9ou,re not standing for anyone
(ean! you,re ta$ing the easy way out.8
7*asy;8 (ean grabbed Michael,s front. 7This is easy to you38
7&s easy as it gets for those li$e us. I,ll wal$ with you! but my word and my
'ob is to rotect! and that includes a dumb fuc$ too wasted to as$ for it.8 Michael
ushed (ean off him. 71et your shit. =e,"e got an aointment.8
(ean loo$ed at Maria! at the tears in her eyes and how silently she sat letting
Michael do the wor$. :er tears bro$e the stalemate. Cissing her and wiing those
tears away! he went to get his 'ac$et.
(tanding in the doorway with his bac$ to Michael! 7Maybe it is you who are
mista$en! brother. =hat if what I am is not the same as you3 I might be something
you should let go.8
7(he almost beat us once! (ean. I won<t let her dead hand reach beyond the
gra"e to beat us again.8 Michael said using the one real hold he had. The thought of
.assie beating him! winning would always be more than (ean could stand.
(ean went into his room! shutting the door. Michael ulled Maria close and
$issed the to of her head while his hand cued her face.
?n the way to the aointment! (ean refused to tal$! but once in the office he
couldn,t sit still. :is bitching was reaching such a le"el that Michael actually too$
the safety off his re"ol"er and sat calmly thin$ing of how he could get out of trouble
319
after shooting (ean. The only thing that stoed him was $nowing (ean would
robably areciate it! and doing anything (ean wanted stan$ too much of
rewarding him for his bitching.
7(it down! and shut u! DeLuca. 9ou,re scaring the real atients.8
(ean loo$ed around at the room! and sat ne/t to Michael bitching under his
breath! but still bitching.
7This won,t wor$! you $now. I went to the mandatory session after we all were
ta$en down last year. It didn,t hel.8 (ean loo$ed at the room with its nauseating
colors! nauseating smells! and office furniture designed to stic$ him in e"ery stitch
and wound.
7I don<t want you to see a shrin$ because of .assie! (ean.8 Michael flied his
magazine chec$ing out car classifieds. :e really needed to relace his trashed
truc$. Maria had graciously let him use the 1T? today because of (ean! but he
needed real wheels. 7I,"e got to trust that you,re a stubborn son of a bitch that will
refuse to let her win! and you,ll li"e in hell itself before you lay down for that bitch
again. +o! I want you to see someone about your mother.8
(ean loo$ed at Michael sharly as his name was called. +ot loo$ing bac$! (ean
entered the office. Michael too$ out his cell hone as he heard (ean tal$ing before
the door shut.
7This is a waste of my time! so if you want me to tal$ it,ll ta$e some wor$ on
your art.8
7(it down! Detecti"e DeLuca. Don,t worry! I thin$ I,d li$e to wor$ you o"er! but
it loo$s li$e someone beat me to it. 1ood to $now you can ta$e a beating.8 The door
slammed shut. The sychologist was the name on the card &ndy had gi"en Michael.
79eah! I was loo$ing at your ad for the new twoAton truc$. +o the other model.
=hat color of green does that come in3 +o I want something dar$ and brilliant!
33:
ali"e. 9eah! I,"e got a secial color in mind.8 Michael listened for a moment. 7:ow
large is that front seat3 5ench3 Is it dee3 .ould say...two adults slee on it3 )oom
is always areciated.8
---
Michael hadn<t e"en made it to the coffee and donuts! before Ma/ found him.
It was already after ten. Time went fast waiting for (ean! and then ta$ing him
home! lea"ing the 1T? and ta$ing the bi$e. (ho"ing aers at him! Ma/ reached
o"er and grabbed three donuts and ushed his artner towards the ele"ator.
7.offee! grab some coffee dammit;8 Michael sho"ed an entire donut into his
mouth in one bite. 7Thin$ we,"e got time to hit a dri"eAthru38
7=e identified our @ane Doe. Cyle is waiting for family members to identify the
body! but the match is already made. I,"e got a list of friends and ac%uaintances.8
7=hen did the stuff come through38
7*arly this morning. :er roommate finally filed a Missings. The icture was
deadAon! and (imon is accessing her dental now.8
Michael downed another donut. .offee! he needed coffee. ?r mil$. Michael
cringed at that thought. Mil$3 =hat the hell was wrong with him3 .ow secretions...
7?$ay! we roll! but you,"e got to find me some coffee.8
7:ang on. =e,re heading to the 0ni"ersity. 9ou can get a cu of the Professor,s
industrial waste! coreAscrubber coffee. That should burn a hole through your gut.8
7(he better not be drin$ing that shit. Dammit! 'ust hit the first dri"eAthru!
referably somelace with more donuts! or a damn egg McMuffin.8
They went in search of a graduate student affiliated with the *nglish and
Language Deartments. :e was a crossAma'or secializing in linguistics and
331
language origins. @ustin 5artley. It would aear that their @ane Doe was actually a
@anet (eers.
7@ustin 5artley38 Ma/ as$ed in a room full of graduate students sitting at
tables and tal$ing. The room suddenly went %uiet loo$ing at the two cos!
esecially the larger more menacing one eyeing the coffee ot in the corner.
7I,m @ustin.8 & tall thin man in his midAtwenties stood u. :e loo$ed something
li$e a oet with his shaggy hair! goatee! and long sweater co"ering a tAshirt and
baggy 'eans. Michael loo$ed down and too$ in the worn loafers! and 'ust turned
away. =hate"er aealed to the masses.
7I,m Detecti"e *"ans! and this is my artner! Detecti"e 1uerin. =e,re
resonding to your missing erson,s reort filed this morning.8
79eah! damn that was fast; I filed it on my way into school this morning. @anet
was missing for a few days! so this wee$end the house had a meeting! and I ulled
the short straw to file.8 Michael hitched his hi to the side of a table within reaching
distance of the coffee ot.
7=hat do you mean you had a house meeting38 Michael as$ed confused.
7=ell a few of us graduate students share a large house! about eight of us.
)ent is di"ided by bedroom! so it $ees our e/enses down.8 Ma/ indicated for the
man to sit down at a table near Michael! and he too$ a seat as well. & bell rang!
and suddenly many of the students in the lounge too$ off. 7I,"e got a class.8 @ustin
started to rise. Michael ushed him bac$ down.
7Miss it.8 The man loo$ed at Michael! and nodded. 7(o @anet li"ed in the
house38
79eah! she was slightly older than the rest of us! about twentyAse"en. (he had
a 'ones for language! actually 'ust for correct usage of the *nglish language.8
333
7The reort says the last time anyone saw her was last Tuesday. That was
se"en days ago. =hy so long to reort her missing38
7=ell she really didn,t socialize much with the rest of us! actually most of us
a"oided her. (he was nice enough! if you didn,t ha"e to tal$ to her.8 @ustin refilled
his cu of coffee and dumed in half a cu of sugar. 7(o when she went missing! at
first we assumed she finally got luc$y! then that she might ha"e gone to "isit her
arents or something. 5ut on >riday! she missed a class she studentAteaches. That
wouldn,t haen. +ot e"er. @anet was a royal! anal! ersnic$ety ain in the ass with
the social graces of a ri"erbed slug! but she was too utight to lea"e a class
hanging.8
79ou mean she would,"e made arrangements if she couldn,t be there for the
class.8 Ma/ said frowning as his artner too$ more coffee. Damn! he was going to
ha"e a wired artner.
7)ight. (he would ha"e informed someone of a family emergency or whate"er.
(o by >riday we were concerned! and finally admitted that no one had seen her
since Tuesday.8
79ou could ha"e filed this last wee$end. =hy wait38 Ma/ discreetly mo"ed the
coffee ot away from Michael.
@ustin shrugged. 7:ouse meetings are on (unday afternoon with (unday
dinner. It,s the only time we all really eat together! and then we discuss roblems in
the house! ma$e rules! and ta$e care of business li$e utilities and stuff.8
7(tuff. (o @anet was stuff38 Michael as$ed with a coldness in his "oice. The
woman on the slab deser"ed a friendly regard! someone to care.
7Loo$! she wasn,t bad or e"il. :er ersonality clashed with others! that was
the long and short of it. @anet had a high regard for her own oinion. =e called it
Dthe world according to @anet,. If she saw things a certain way! e"en when she was
334
wrong and $new it! she would fight for her oinion regardless. It was li$e laying a
game of Tri"ial Pursuit with a erson who memorized all the answers! and then read
the %uestions to you all uffed u! saying things li$e D?h! don,t worry! this one is an
easy one! and only an idiot would miss it,. (he was insecure enough to demand
eole follow rules to the T! li"e u to her standards whether they $new them or
not! and was miserable enough to obsess o"er it when they didn,t. The only way
she felt good was when she could arade her own high oinion! and ull down
e"erything around her in a critical way to $ee her own esteem high.8
7(o basically no one cared that she was gone38 Ma/ as$ed.
7+o. 5asically! it was that no one went out of their way to socialize with her!
because her oinion usually was ut out there as something hard! "icious and
mean! and it suc$ed the life out of e"eryone ri"y to it. (o we a"oided her! thereby
a"oiding confrontation! and that,s why it too$ us a little time to realize that it wasn,t
so hard to a"oid her! because she wasn,t there.8
Michael sied on the coffee that tasted li$e it was on the same grounds ran
through a few times. 7In a nutshell! what was it about @anet that made her stand
out38
7Perfection. :er %uest for erfection.8 Michael sat u straighter and aid more
attention. 7(he was always correcting eole! critically re"iewing e"erything about
them whether they wanted her to or not. +othing was right or correct unless it
assed her own D@anet "iew,! and if not she bitched obsessi"ely! ointing out all
asects that she felt wasn,t u to her standards. (he was one of those miserable
eole who li"ed in the +orth with recise monotone seech! who would "isit the
(outh and hear a woman say the word <wash, ronounced Dwarsh<! and e"en though
she fully understood what the woman meant! she had to correct because it wasn,t
good *nglish. (he would find fault in a gift gi"en at some ersonal e/ense to the
335
erson doing the gi"ing. (he,d nitAic$ o"er e"ery detail until the erson gi"ing
wished they hadn,t bothered. *"er ha"e an old &unt (ally who $nitted you a
sweater! and it loo$ed terrible3 =ell most eole would smile! say than$ you! and
ut it away. +ot @anet. (he would crawl all o"er the wor$! not caring how &unt (ally
felt about it! and would tell anyone and e"eryone within hearing distance how
terribly it was! or how worthless! or how untalented &unt (ally was until the only
ones standing around her were those who showed the same miserable disosition.8
7(o you,re saying that her demand for erfection was a flaw.8 Ma/ frowned as
Michael searched in his nowAemty coffee cu and was slowly mo"ing towards the
ot again.
7+o! I,m saying it was a double standard. It,s easy to be critical of e"eryone
and e"erything when you ha"e nothing out there and you aren<t ris$ing your own
ride and wor$ to e/treme scrutiny. +othing "entured is nothing gained. (he
racticed retending to be erfect! but her "ery nature belied that.8 @ustin felt bad.
7)eally she wasn,t that bad! it,s 'ust hard to be around a erson who comes to eat
at your table! tastes your food! and then tells you that it suc$s! but don,t worry!
you,ll get better if you ta$e coo$ing lessons. Miserable! miserable erson. Miserable
to be around! and miserable to li"e with! so most of us a"oided her. That flaw in her
ersonality was why none of us missed her when she was gone.8
7(o why did you let her li"e with you38
7=ell when we started she seemed so nice! as do most eole when you meet
them. ?n the surface they ro'ect a certain ersonality! a faMade that often hides
their true nature. It too$ a little while for those ersonality traits to hit us in the
face! but at the end of this year! if she didn,t graduate and mo"e on! the house was
"oting her out.8
336
7=ell that should no longer be a concern.8 Michael said. 7=e need you to come
with us to the station and identify a body.8
7& body38 @ustin rubbed his face. 7?h! 1od; @anet3 8
79es. It would aear someone else found her ersonality traits a tad bit
flawed as well.8 Michael ignored Ma/,s shar loo$ his way. 7=hen was the last time
and lace anyone saw her3 */actly. If any of you could try to remember the last
time you were trying to a"oid her! it would hel our in"estigation.8
7Tuesday.8 @ustin said %uietly. 7It was Tuesday. ?ur entire house went out to
celebrate the comletion of first bloc$ testing and grading. It was the end of a long
wee$ of allAnighters and li"ing on coffee and sugar. The wee$end was worse
because all grading had to be done by no later than end of school day on Monday!
and the wee$end was when most of us sent all our time trying to catch u.
Monday night was <(ilent night< as the house crashed to catch u on needed slee!
and Tuesday was our <Let<s celebrate until the ne/t grading eriod in si/ wee$s<.8
7@anet was with the grou of you38
79eah. Most of us hit the dance floor! but @en was caught at the table with
@anet listening to her ri aart her students and their essays. >inally @en went to
get a drin$ and ditched her. =hen we came bac$ to the table she was gone! so we
assumed she was dancing or met someone to continue bitching to. (he still hadn,t
surfaced by bartime at two a.m. so we wal$ed home and we made 'o$es about how
she must ha"e met a creey *nglish rofessor tye who was u to her standards.
(omeone who would lecture about comma slices and get her all hot! while going
down on her in missionary! reciting all the roer ronouns and wearing blac$ nylon
soc$s.8 @ustin loo$ed at them. 7It was funny to us at the time.8
337
7I,m sure.8 Michael felt bad. @anet sounded li$e a erson he wouldn,t ha"e
en'oyed $nowing either! and with his language it was a gi"en that he would,"e
found a way to tic$et her 'ust in site. 7=here did you lose her e/actly38
7.lub :ell.8
---
5y the time Michael and Ma/ made it bac$ to the station! they had inter"iewed
se"eral eole who had been ac%uainted with @anet (eers. The icture was the
same with almost e"eryone! including her Professors and ad"isors. (he was a nice
woman! but wasn<t really "ery close to anyone! and was considered too critical for
the a"erage human! meaning retty much the rest of the oulation. The word that
$et hitting them was the word Derfection,. It was used in not only describing
@anet,s demeanor! but what she demanded of others.
7That was the most miserable time of my life. There has to be someone that
li$ed that girl outside of the few that she found no real fault with.8 Ma/ threw
himself down in his chair! deressed. 7&dd the fact that I ha"e court in an hour! my
day is 'ust suc$ing u the ass.8
7.ourt3 ?h! the Delaney case3 That,s what you get! artner! getting in on a
bust without me. I thin$ I,ll finish u these reorts! and loo$ at Cyle,s. :is day had
to be miserable too! heling eole identify the body! and collecting all the lab
reorts. Then I,m off early to chec$ on my car art...8 Michael stoed tal$ing as a
man came to stand at his and Ma/,s des$.
&le/ =hitman. The owner of .lub :ell! and someone they needed to tal$ to
e"entually. Loo$ed li$e that time was now.
337
7=hitman! I thought you had an allergy to .o .entral.8 Ma/ as$ed! and
Michael would,"e made a comment as well if it weren,t for stone coldness of &le/,s
eyes.
7+ormally I do. I 'ust sent the morning downstairs getting the runaround.8
&le/ loo$ed at Michael secifically. 7I thin$ some eole owe me.8 &le/ added Ma/
in his stare. 7I need hel! and I can,t wait for some fortyAeight hours to get it.8
7=hat is it! &le/38 Michael felt his stomach fli. If =hitman was loo$ing from
hel from them! it couldn,t be good.
7My cousin went missing out of my club last night. (he was only se"enteen!
and I loo$ed e"erywhere for her.8 Ma/ and Michael loo$ed at each other. &nother
girl missing from .lub :ell. There might ha"e been more! but the body of @anet
(eers added her missing status on an acti"e file. 79ou,"e got to hel me. The two of
you owe me from last year! and I,m calling in my mar$er. My cousin! she,s young! a
good $id who 'ust wanted to sing at my club.8 &le/ ran a sha$ing hand o"er his
nec$. 7I romised my family she<d be safe.8
Michael ushed a chair out for &le/ as Ma/ went to get the man a cu of
coffee. 7(it down! =hitman. I,ll ta$e the reort.8 Michael didn,t 'ust do it because of
@anet (eers! but because =hitman was right. :e and Ma/ owed &le/ for heling
Isabel! and heling them get to Maria and Liz before they were too late. 7=hen was
the last time anyone saw her! e/actly38
Ma/ was gone to ma$e his court date! and =hitman finally left after they
searched for any @ane Doe resembling his cousin in both the hositals and the
morgue. +othing so far! but Michael $et her file on to. Loo$ing at the icture &le/
ga"e them! the girl was young and beautiful. :er face was shining! full of life and
humor. .losing the reort folder he hoed that they could find the girl ali"e and
338
well! not only for =hitman,s sa$e! but because there was too much life in the girl to
be wasted at such an age.
71uerin.8 Michael bar$ed into his hone.
7&lways leasant! Michael.8 Michael smiled at the hone.
7=alter. =hat,s the news38
=alter 'ust laughed at the change in "oice. 7The art arri"ed! and it,s good.
+ot new! but it has almost no wear! and I chec$ed the art serials! and they<re an
authentic match. The money was transferred! so count yourself "ery! "ery oor.8
79eah! I,m feeling it in my ass. I too$ time off today for an early afternoon.
I,m done in about an hour! so $ee it safe and I,ll swing by on my way.8
7Done. Does the Professor coming too38 Michael loo$ed at his watch.
7Maria,s off in about fifteen minutes. I,ll gi"e her a call and let her $now it,s in.
=e got the rest done! so we 'ust ha"e to o this uy in! ut the engine into the
bloc$! and we can send it out to aint.8
7*/cellent. Michael! I $now it,s hard to see the ro'ect end! but 'ust float
through that feeling buddy! because the minute you ta$e her out it will all be worth
it.8
7>rom the &ngel,s mouth to you =alter! I $now it. (ee you in a coule of
hours.8 Michael hung u the hone! and wondered what Cyle was doing that
e"ening and if he would li$e to 'oin him and (ean to hel lower the engine bac$ into
the bloc$. Ma/ was coming o"er after he got home from court! but Michael wasn,t
sure Ma/ was going to get away from the D&,s grilling and coaching for the ne/t
day.
7Michael! here,re the reorts you wanted. I also thought you might want to
see this too.8 1ary! the records file cler$ %uic$ly made himself scarce. Michael
scanned the reorts and tossed them on his des$. Loo$ing at the other thing 1ary
339
ga"e him! Michael frowned and read it twice. =hat the hell3 (itting down in his seat
he reread it again! and again. Thin$ing for a moment! a lan formed in his mind.
9eah! he $new 'ust the right co to handle this situation. Pic$ing u the hone! he
set the wheels in motion.
---
Maria stoed twice to doublechec$ the instructions. +o mista$e! but dammit!
a dirt road outside of )oswell3 (he was suosed to meet Michael! but this had to
be wrong. >inally coming to a blac$to! she too$ a right as instructed and tra"eled
down the road. Pushing in her newest fa"orite .D! Maria maintained her usual
seeds. It was after four in the afternoon! and Michael had no doubt found another
out of the way lace that ser"ed his fa"orite meal outside of cheeseburgers and
donutsAIndian tacos. Maria wasn,t oosedB she could handle eating some fried
bread. It was strange that Michael wanted to detour away from their lans to wor$
on the car! but it was early afternoon! so there was still time for that.
It too$ awhile before she loo$ed in her rear"iew mirror and noticed a
motorcycle co with his lights flashing. 6uic$ly loo$ing down at the seedometer!
she swore under her breath. ?h! this was not good. &s she ulled o"er! ut the car
in ar$ and turned off the engine! Maria %uic$ly grabbed her license! registration!
and insurance form. (he was becoming a ro at being ulled o"er.
Loo$ing in the rear"iew mirror as she saw the officer dismount his motorbi$e!
Maria chec$ed her ma$eu and ut on her best smile of contrition. The taing on
her window with the officer,s nightstic$ actually startled her. )olling down the
window %uic$ly! she tried to calm her beating heart.
7?fficer...8
34:
7License! registration! and insurance! ma,am.8 :is "oice was serious and cold
broo$ing no discussion or o"ertures. Maria started to tal$ and ma$e gestures with
her hands. 7Please $ee you hands on the steering wheel at all times.8
Maria loo$ed outside her window! but all she could see was this shirt front! and
the firm stance in tight blac$ leather ants. That uniform was fitting real nice li$e!
all snugglyAwuggly. Michael needed one of those. Maria watched as he %uic$ly read
her aers! taing his stic$ against the outside of his leg. Maria couldn,t sto
staring at the fascinating sight of his utility belt and handcuffs. The whole uniform
really went together nicely.
7?fficer! I,m so sorry. I,m afraid I wasn,t aying attention to my seed! and...8
7)emain here.8 :e wal$ed off lea"ing her in midAsentence and mounted his
bi$e calling in her license and tags to disatch. ?h no; This wasn,t good. Maria tried
to remember what was on her record.
The officer came bac$. 7Ma,am! could you ste out of the "ehicle38
Maria reluctantly comlied. 7I $now I,"e got a few seeding tic$ets on my
record. I meant to ta$e care of those.8
79ou ha"e three! ma,am. In this state that ma$es you a habitual offender. This
seeding tic$et won,t be seen "ery fa"orably when you stand in front of the 'udge.8
7The 'udge3 .an,t I 'ust ay the tic$ets38 Maria tried to $ee the whining out
of her "oice.
7That is for the courts to decide ma,am! but I,m afraid I,m gonna ha"e to run
you in.8
Maria loo$ed u at his glasses! mirrored ones hiding his eyes! and his 'aw was
held firm and unyielding. This was a nightmare.
7Please! I,m so sorry! but my boyfriend wouldn,t be too understanding if I
were ta$en into custody and boo$ed. Isn,t there some way we could a"oid this3
341
&nything38 Maria tried to be her most aealing hoing her leading would brea$
his cold austere disosition.
7=hat are you suggesting! ma,am38 :is 'aw muscle fle/ed! otherwise there
was no sign of emotion.
Maria was unsure what to say! or how to say it. *ither way she was li$ely to
get herself in trouble! real trouble. Then again! Michael was going to hit the roof
o"er the seeding tic$ets. :e hated it when she bro$e the law! or used her
connections to ma$e things go away.
7?fficer! you don,t $now how deserate I am. I would do anything! ay
anything to a"oid this tic$et. Maybe you could hel me out! turn a blindAeye 'ust
this once.8 Maria ga"e a small hoeful smile. (he reached out and touched his
chest. ?h! nice and firm; 7Please38
7&re you offering me a bribe! ma,am38
7+o; +o! of course not. That would be bad! "ery bad. +o! I,m 'ust saying I
would be grateful! "ery grateful.8
:e ushed her hand off his chest where it was absentmindedly stro$ing the
lines of his tight shirt. 71rateful! how grateful3 &nd lease $ee your hands to
yourself. 5etter yet! I thin$ you should turn around and ut your hands on the hood
of the car.8
Maria %uic$ly comlied. :e didn,t loo$ too hay with her. 7It wasn,t a bribe!
not really.8
75ribing a sworn officer of the law is a serious charge! ma,am. Much more
serious than a few seeding tic$ets. I,m sure that your boyfriend would find this
e"en more ob'ectionable.8
343
7(orry ?fficer! I,"e tried to reform myself! but I fear being bad and unlawful is
in my genes. I,m 'ust trying to e/tricate myself from a otentially e/losi"e
situation.8
The ?fficer mo"ed in close behind Maria and tal$ed low and directly in her ear.
Maria was shoc$ed at how close he really was. 7&re you saying your boyfriend will
unish you38
7=ell sort of! in his own way.8 Maria loo$ed down at the hood and tried to $ee
her heart rate under control. 1od! he was good at menacing and terrorizing; &n
asset to his uniform! and what a great uniform it was.
Maria felt the coldness of the stic$ running u the inside of her bare leg! as he
mo"ed in e"en closer. 7Does he san$ your bare little bottom when you,re bad!
Maria3 Do you want him to38 Maria could feel the buttons of his shirt against her
bac$. J5etter chec$ for concealed weaons.J The ?fficer murmured from behind
her.
Melting on the to of her car! she wasn,t sure how to answer that. 5ut the
?fficer too$ that out of her hands. :e wasn,t finished torturing her yet. 7If you were
mine! I would be temted! 'ust for the leasure of feeling you s%uirm on my la.8
Maria was breathing hard! trying to $ee her lungs full of air! and her eyes closed as
he continued to whiser in her ear. 7:ow grateful would you be! Maria if I made
those seeding tic$ets disaear38
7#ery!8 she said hoarsely.
Maria almost lost it when she felt the mo"ement of his hands encased in
leather glo"es mo"ing u her legs under her s$irt. 7+o underwear38 Maria almost
snorted! but held bac$. In this tight s$irt! he had to be $idding. 79ou,re a "ery
naughty one! aren,t you Maria38 :is large hands held her his in a tight gri. Then
his tongue sna$ed out and lightly ran u the side of her nec$.
344
+o! not what she had e/ected. :e $new what he was doing! a full assault she
could ha"e handled! an absolute lac$ of touching she could ha"e also handled. 5ut
this delicate brushing touch was maddening. (he attemted to calm her breathing.
+o use! his gri was too strong. )ela/... rela/... this is not haening! not in the
middle of the day! not on a .ounty highway! and not in )oswell! +ew Me/ico.
7Tell me how naughty you are.8
:e slied his tongue into her ear! and she groaned desite her resol"e to not
ma$e a sound. J?h 1od!J she hissed as his hands encased in leather mo"ed u her
front to co"er her breast in a firm hold rubbing them. :is tongue continued to wor$
her ear! as his foot $noc$ed her legs further aart and hardness of his erection
ushed u against her ass. (o close! so close! going to come... and then he ulled
away.
7+o;8 Dammit! he won. 7It,s not my fault. I swear. I come from unlawful
genes.8 Maria moaned when she heard his zier go down. This was one of her
fantasies! a "ariation of the interrogation room fantasy! but with a twist. (he didn,t
$now that she would melt and lose control! becoming all subser"ient. In her fantasy
she always had more fire and bra"ado! sitting in the Pig<s eye. It was the damn
uniform,s fault. :ow could she ossibility resist the coolness of the nightstic$ on her
inner thigh! or be reared for the effect of ha"ing his leather glo"ed hands on her3
It already had her orgasmic from the getgo.
Maria leaned forward and rested her head on her arms across the hood of the
car! and his hands held her his firmly and he flied her s$irt uward. The erotic
feel of his hot flesh mo"ing between her thighs from behind made her clench her
fist and whiser a hot! Doh god;8 as he enetrated her from behind. Maria felt her
orgasm at the first full ush as he sheathed himself all the way to the hilt.
345
Michael reached down and $issed the side of her nec$! holding still as her body
rode the wa"e. 7Too much3 Too intense38
Maria 'ust laughed where she lay. 7+othing with you is e"er too much or too
intense! Detecti"e. I li$e it that way.8 Maria felt him ull away and made a sound of
rotest. Michael %uic$ly mo"ed her to face him! and lifted her u to sit artially on
the hood of the car crowding her by standing between her legs. 7I 'ust didn,t $now
that the uniform was gonna get me off! along with your issy attitude.8
Michael smir$ed at that and let her ull him to her by his shirtfront. 7=here
would the fun be in that! Maria38
7I,m a sic$ indi"idual! ?fficer )od.8 Maria said as her eyes tried to enetrate
the mirrors of his sunglasses. 7I thin$ you should in"estigate me! robe me to ma$e
sure I,m not a danger to the ublic.8
Michael growled as Maria nibbled on his lis! and he mo"ed himself bac$ into
her! his eyes closing to slits as he watched her ut bac$ her head in a hissing moan.
Leaning forward he $issed and then suc$ed on her e/osed throat mo"ing u to
ta$e her mouth in a full $iss. :e was $eeing the uniform. &s he mo"ed deeer and
harder into her! $issing her mouth with the same intensity he was uming into her!
behind his eyes he could imagine her in front of him on her $nees oening his
zier with her teeth. :ell yeah! the uniform stays.
7?h yes! yes! yes; ?h; ?fficer )od;8 Maria was holding tight to his shoulders as
he brought her closer and closer to another orgasm. 7Michael! 1od lease! more...8
Michael mo"ed her bac$ e"en harder on the hood and too$ his time really doing it
right. =ith her flat on her bac$! he hoo$ed his arm under one of her legs and lifted
it u so he could mo"e e"en more into the cradle of her legs and ush e"en deeer
and harder into her. Michael,s other hand was trying to unbutton the front of her
blouse! but the leather glo"es were too unwieldy. Maria grabbed his hand and ut a
346
glo"ed finger in her mouth and ulled it off his hand. :e %uic$ly unbuttoned the
blouse and mo"ed her bra out of the way to ta$e a firm bud in his hot mouth.
Mo"ing his hand down! he slid it under her and lifted her ass so he could find a
firmer urchase for his thrusts. Maria was ma$ing encouraging sounds in her throat
as Michael wor$ed her breasts nodding frantically. =hate"er she wanted! she could
ha"e. Maria ga"e in to the temtation to 'ust lean bac$ and lose herself in his
rhythm and the incredible heat of the body sread out o"er her own. Maria groaned
as Michael<s ne/t strong stro$e hit her walls stretching her e"en more. It made her
feel li$e she was full of him! that he was her world. :er hands slid frantically across
his chest and u under his arms to hold onto his shoulders ulling him harder to her
heling to gi"e his thrusts a urchase as she tried to brace herself.
Maria,s body con"ulsed "iolently as the head of Michael<s coc$ found that
erfect angle to rub against her clit time and again and the enetration and angle
was hitting that secial sot inside that made her eyes roll bac$ and the world
e/lode in a flash of color! and she bit at the smooth s$in on the inside of her
mouth as she clima/ed. &nd clima/ed again at Michael<s ne/t thrust! and again!
sobbing her leasure as the heightened intensity of feeling him dro"e her wild.
Maria reached u and ulled off his mirrored glasses and helmet. (he needed to see
her lo"er! not a stranger. (he wanted to see herself in Michael,s eyes.
Michael let his head tilt bac$ until he could feel the hea"y weight of his now
released hair brushing his shoulder blades through his shirt. Moaning dee in the
bac$ of his throat! he dug his fingers into Maria<s his and rode his mate<s hot!
shuddering body right o"er the edge. *lectricity crac$led u and down his sine as
his body tightened and 'er$ed forward! each in"oluntary thrust into the heat around
his coc$ sending tiny e/losions shooting through him. (lowly! he fell forward to
rest on Maria.
347
Michael laughed against her breasts when he heard her say in a shuttering
breath! 7?h ?fficer )od; I lo"e your hard nightstic$.8 (he really did need a
san$ing. 5rat.
They rested! trying to regain strength in their limbs! or enough so they could
suort their own weight and stand. 7Michael38
70h huh.8 Michael needed a na.
7I hoe this wasn,t your way of trying to reform me of the errors of my ways
with getting seeding tic$ets! because if ?fficer )od is gonna "isit me to unish me
for being bad! then I am so staying bad! damn near eA"il.8
7Three tic$ets! Maria;8
7I was gonna ay them...e"entually.8
Michael 'ust made a disbelie"ing sound in his throat. (ure she was. More than
li$ely she was going to get someone to fi/ them for her! and ay them only as a last
resort.
7Michael! I was thin$ing...8 Michael 'ust nestled deeer into her breast and
listened. This had to be good. 7=hat do you thin$ about me being a 'udge and you
can be the bad! out of order co who is ta$en to tas$ in my ri"ate chambers. I
could hold you in contemt of the court and unish you38
Michael loo$ed u at her with a sar$le in his eyes. 7I,m free for lunch
tomorrow.8
---
(ean rolled o"er in bed and loo$ed at the cloc$. +o way. :e still had two hours
before Michael or Maria came home to bug the cra out of him. The ringing at the
door was relentless! and for a second he was afraid it would be his &unt &my.
347
1etting u! he grabbed a shirt and went to get the door! triing o"er the cat. Mr.
5ooboo was unhay with the rudeness of the act and swied an unsheathed claw
at (ean,s an$le.
7Dammit! I said I was sorry;8 (ean ried oen the door to a tall blond
woman. & gorgeous! tall blond woman with a scowl on her face at his language.
70m! hi38
7)ight. I must ha"e the wrong lace.8 (he started to mo"e away! but (ean
stoed her.
7If you told me what lace you were loo$ing for! maybe I could hel38
Isabel *"ans loo$ed u and down at the underdressed man and his ob"iously
beaten body! with the bruises showing yellows and greens tinged in blac$. 7I doubt
it. Loo$s li$e you,re the one needing hel.8
7&earances can be decei"ing! but regardless! I $now e"eryone who li"es in
this area. =ho you loo$ing for38
7Michael 1uerin.8 (ean loo$ed the woman o"er not li$ing what he saw all of a
sudden.
7Cnow him! but you,re too late! tootsie. :e,s in"ol"ed! seriously in"ol"ed.8
7Cnow that too! with his Professor chic$.8 (ean bristled at her tone and ha"ing
his cousin referred to as a DProfessor chic$,.
79eah! but you,re mista$en if you thin$ she,s 'ust a Dchic$,.8 (ean bac$ed u to
let the cold maiden bitch from Dante,s hell enter. 7*ither way! you,"e got the right
lace! but neither of them are home. It,s 'ust me and the "icious cat! Mr. 5oo.8
Isabel entered gi"ing the lace a %uic$ loo$. =ow! Michael li"ed here- Isabel
couldn,t see it until she noticed his hoc$ey stic$ u against the corner of the li"ing
room wall! some of his stuff lying around! stac$s of his fa"orite reading material on
the end table. +o one really read automoti"e magazines.
348
7&nd you are38 Isabel continued to loo$ around. The outside atrium and
garden was beautiful! and the $itchen was huge and modern. Michael had really
mo"ed u in the world from his small emty aartment. The loft was large and
oen with an ustairs bedroom area! e%ually colossal.
7I,m the cousin of Professor chic$. (ean Deluca. Detecti"e (ean DeLuca.8 (ean
loo$ed at her as he did u his shirt. :er icy loo$s were ma$ing his balls shri"el u
into his body.
7Detecti"e3 +ot a "ery good one! huh3 Loo$s li$e someone ran you o"er a few
times. & girlfriend or wife38
(ean 'ust ignored her. 7&nd you are...3 The &"on lady38
7Isabel! Isabel *"ans.8 (he urosely $et her hands clased and away from
him. (he didn,t touch men anymore.
7*"ans3 &ny relationshi to Ma/ *"ans38
75rother. 9ou $now him38 Isabel wandered around the room noticing the
dOcor and furniture. This was a nice lace! a really nice lace. It was hard to miss
the Candins$y on the wall! and it didn,t loo$ li$e a reroduction.
79eah! you can say that. I,m artnered u with him! Cyle! and Michael. (o!
you,re the sister they tal$ about.8 (ean loo$ed her o"er. (trange! she didn,t loo$
much li$e Ma/! but she did ha"e some shared coloring and features with Michael.
7(trange! they ne"er mentioned yo#. >orgettable38 Isabel mo"ed closer to the
art on the walls. It all loo$ed real. 7Is this...8
70tterly! and yes! it,s real.8 (ean went into the $itchen to ma$e coffee and
some lunch. :e had slet through food since returning home from the aointment.
7Maria has %uite a collection. Most of it came from her family home! and after her
father died she inherited it. & lot of the more retentious ieces are in museums
collecting dust! but M has a lo"e for the abstracts. *secially Candins$y. There,s
349
something about the cleanness of the geometrical lines that aeals! and she says
that abstracts lead her to feel.8
7My arents left us some stuff! but nothing li$e this.8 Isabel $et loo$ing
around almost li$e she was casing the 'oint. (ean was ready to bust her or as$ for
some identification. 7There are some artifacts and art from MesoA&merica and
&frica.8
7Maria $nows what she li$es. 5ut I thin$ the large fresco you,re loo$ing at is
something Michael ic$ed out. :e saw it in an auction house si/ months ago! and
the &ztec imressions mi/ed with .atholic religious symbols fascinated him.
(ynergistic combinations ha"e something gratingly wrong! and yet sea$ to the
ubi%uitous nature of religion.8
Isabel loo$ed at the man with an eyebrow raised. ?$ay! so not 'ust a dumb
musclehead toting a gun. Isabel went into the $itchen and sat at the bar. Maria
DeLuca. =ondering if she was anything li$e her cousin! Isabel ut down her bag
and narrowed her eyes. (he had heard endless stories about this Maria erson! but
had ne"er met her. &ll their contact so far had been o"er the hone! and through
con"ersations with her brothers. Isabel was more than reared to disli$e the
woman! and loo$ing at her cousin! it was loo$ing to be more of a ossibility e"ery
moment.
7(o! (an$y. 9ou li"e here38 (ean 'ust snorted at the nasty woman. =ho
would ha"e thought this woman was related to Ma/ *"ans3 ?b"iously those
feminine genes had gotten switched in the mi/! and the &mazon bitch got the balls!
and Ma/ wore the dress.
7+o! 'ust being babysat by the two owners of the house. I actually li"e in
Michael,s old aartment.8
35:
7:oe you did a better 'ob furnishing it then he did.8 Isabel sied ictures on a
low i"ory toed credenza in the li"ing room and lea"ing (ean in the $itchen! she
went to loo$ at them. (hoc$ed and stunned at the same time! Isabel studied them.
The ictures were of a beautiful blond woman and Michael. (ome of Michael alone!
some of the woman! but most were of the two of them! other ictures of a lo"ely
older woman with short light brunette hair! the man in the aartment with her!
other eole! and her brother! Ma/. The most shoc$ing were of Michael. :e was
smiling in some of them! and he loo$ed hay! a art of something.
7This your cousin38
(ean loo$ed o"er at her holding a icture of Maria and Michael together. It was
ta$en during a icnic and Maria was doubled o"er holding a >risbee away from
Michael! who was wraed around her trying to get it. They were both laughing!
and the icture had caught them as Maria loo$ed u at him.
79eah! that,s Maria.8
7Michael loo$s li$e...8
7:e,s hay3 5elongs to a art of a family3 :e does.8 (ean was confused as to
why the woman seemed so uset. 7I thin$ he wandered a long time loo$ing for
what he lost when his dad died. Maria gi"es him bac$ something.8
7Ma/ and I were his family since Mi$ey died. :e was ours.8 (ean went o"er
and too$ the icture away from her and ut it bac$. 7=ell! guess your family 'ust
got bigger. 9ou,d ha"e been in these ictures too! if you were here.8
Isabel followed (ean bac$ and watched him slicing meat for a sandwich. 7I
guess I ne"er thought Michael would change. There was something so alone about
him! so hard in some ways! and it was almost li$e winter li"ed in him. The only
ones he let close enough were me and Ma/! and e"en then he $et us aart at
times.8
351
(ean loo$ed at her critically. 7It bothers you that he changed! that Maria got
inside.8 Isabel shrugged. 7Maybe you should reAe/amine what tye of erson you
are that thin$s lea"ing someone you lo"e or resect in ain! hurt! and alone is o$ay.
I can,t belie"e you would begrudge him some eace! a bit of hainess. (o he
smiles. (o he laughs. I can also tell you that he cusses li$e a longshoreman that
hasn,t seen land in years! he is both crass and crude! thin$s with his dic$ and
stomach! and the only erson he yields to is my cousin.8 (ean laced a sandwich
and cu of coffee in front of the woman. 7:e still ma$es roo$ies iss their ants!
sends secretaries running in tears! bad guys confess rather than deal with him! and
on a good day! terrorizes most of )oswell. The only difference is that he is no longer
in ain! and hainess is a word that means something to him.8
79ou seem to $now a lot about it.8 Isabel said ta$ing a bite of the sandwich.
79eah! well I,m in theray.8 (ean said with a touch of ride! almost li$e it
made him smarter than the a"erage bear! or )oswell co. :e wasn,t going to
mention that he had 'ust started that day! and bitched about it the whole time.
(omehow it 'ust added weight to his obser"ations.
7(o am I.8 (ean loo$ed at her. :mm! soulmate. (omeone that shared a bond.
:e could only hoe she was feeling as unattracti"e to him as he felt towards her.
:is balls couldn,t handle much more abuse! and that frosty iece would brea$ off
his dic$ inside.
7I li$e ain to mas$ the hurt I feel inside! or so my theraist says. I li$e to be
beaten to an inch of my life. It gets me off.8 To that one little girl. 5et she was
crushed at the thought someone didn,t li$e her.
7I fuc$ed e"erything with a ulse more than once! did drugs and dran$ away
my life so I wouldn,t feel anything.8 Isabel smir$ed at him. Pain. =hat a ansy.
353
&nyone could sur"i"e a whiB there were worse things. 7*"er been forced to watch
the Martha (tewart .hristmas (ecial38
7Damn. I,d rather be gang raed by bi$ers.8
79eah! me too. It was brutal.8 Isabel ushed her coffee cu o"er to him.
7&nyone that hay o"er astels really needs theray. &nd they call #s sic$.8
This woman was tough. (ean oured her some more coffee. 7(o how are you
on the Disney networ$38
7(atanist.8
---
Michael made it home first! e"en after stoing to ic$ u his art. &fter they
slit u! Maria said she would meet him at home! but the @etta was still missing.
(triing off most of the uniform! Michael went into the $itchen and stood in front
of the refrigerator in tight leather ants! a white undershirt! and bi$er boots!
searching for something! anything that would settle his cra"ing. :e couldn,t ut his
finger on what he needed! but the glass bottle of cold mil$ loo$ed good. Damn!
they were almost out; )eaching inside! he too$ out the bottle and was drin$ing
straight from it! forgetting about the glass. :e usually hated mil$ unless it came
with something...something li$e coo$ies.
Maria came banging through the door with a brown aer bag under her arm!
reaching down to toss off her shoes. )eaching into the bag! she turned to face
Michael in front of the refrigerator! standing frozen in her bare feet.
7+o; 1od! tell me that isn,t the last of the mil$;8 Maria could feel her heart
beating hard in her chest! her nostrils flaring at the sight and smell of him.
354
Michael,s eyes narrowed on the bag and her hand inside it. Putting the bottle
of mil$ behind his bac$ he smiled a redatory smile. 7=hat ya got! Professor3
=hat,s in the bag38
7+uthin<!8 she hid the bag behind her bac$.
7Professor! don,t lie. +o one buys a lain brown bag.8 Maria 'ust shoo$ her
head no. 7Don,t ma$e me get it out of you.8 Maria remained strong until Michael
too$ the bottle of mil$ out from behind him and ut it to his lis to down it in one
large swig.
7+o; ?h 1od! don,t lease...I,ll share. I,ll share.8 Maria ulled out a bag of
?reo Doublestuffs from the aer bag. Michael smiled and too$ out a bowl for the
mil$! ut some in it! and oured the rest into a small glass. The two of them leaned
across from each other on the counter with the bowl of mil$ and the glass between
them and the ?reo bag ried oen.
(ean and Isabel stood outside in the garden and watched the scene unfold
from the moment Michael rushed in closely followed by Maria. They were de"ouring
the coo$ies! diing them in the bowl of mil$! and then drin$ing sis of mil$ from
the glass. ?ccasionally they would $iss! and then go bac$ to the coo$ies.
Isabel watched almost horrified. Loo$ing at an e%ually fascinated (ean! she
'ust shrugged. 7&nd they thin$ we,re the ones needing theray38
---
7(o what,s the story! Isabel38 Michael as$ed as he flied through the ta$e out
menus. :e and Maria were ma$ing ta$e out a lifestyle lately! since between their
schedule and the car! time was too short to do real coo$ing.
355
7=hat story do you want! e/actly38 Isabel was loo$ing him o"er closely. :e
loo$ed great. (he had forgotten how great he loo$ed after a year of not seeing him!
but somehow he loo$ed e"en better. There had always been a tension about him!
almost li$e he was on alert and not willing to rest! but that seemed to ha"e
changed as he now sat looseAlimbed and casual ne/t to her.
7(tart at what brought you to the loft and not Ma/,s aartment.8 Michael
answered offhandedly. :e wrote down another item on the list as Maria called it out
to him. (he was rutting around in the cabinets! refrigerator and antry. They hadn,t
gone grocery shoing in fore"er and e"erything was low! to the oint of nonA
e/istence.
7Detecti"e! add mil$ to the listAlots of mil$. ?h! and chocolate sauce! three
cans.8 Isabel watched as the young woman in dirty greasy clothes searched the
$itchen. Michael,s clothes were 'ust as bad! if not worse.
They had 'ust finished installing the new art into the engine! and all that was
left to do was lower the engine bac$ into the car! bolt it down! and reconnect all the
hoses! belts and electrical wires. The aint sho was ic$ing u the car first thing in
the morning. Isabel sat in the garage watching Michael! (ean and 2surrisingly4
Maria wor$ on the engine for the last two hours. They had now stoed for food.
7I did go by Ma/,s first! or can I still call it my home too38 Isabel as$ed.
7?f course it,s still your home.8 Michael searched the list he was ma$ing!
frowning at the size. 7Maria! maybe we should go shoing oursel"es instead of
calling this in for deli"ery. It,s loo$ing huge.8
Maria came o"er and loo$ed at the list! and winced. 79ou willing to do that3
)emember last time38
Michael shuddered at the thought of them actually erusing the shoing
aisles in erson. Together. Maria! whose idea of shoing was home deli"ery!
356
actually went shoing with him once. (ince she hadn,t realized the enormous
"ariety that was a"ailable! she read ractically e"ery label! as$ed numerous
%uestions! and turned a simle shoing e/edition into a three hour nightmare.
=hen they called for food! usually the store sent to of the line and brand name
only! so there was ne"er any fuss or roblem. &fter that horrific e/erience! Maria
obtained a detailed list of their local grocery store<s in"entory and did research on
all the roducts! including rice "ersus %uality.
7=e,ll call it in. I,ll ay the ti!8 Michael said and watched her nod in
agreement! as she went bac$ to calling out items they were out of. 7Is there any
beef 'er$y left3 :ow about cheese doodles38
Maria,s head came out of the antry. 7+oe! last o$er game too$ out your
stash! so if you<re thin$ing of another game soon! you need e"erything including
frozen izza rolls.8 Maria had a thought! and %uic$ly oened u the wine rac$!
where they $et their suly of beer. 7&dd the bootlegger to the list of laces to
call! we,re down to a si/Aac$ and three bottles of wine! all red and no white.8
Maria loo$ed at Isabel and smiled. 7(o you went by your aartment before
coming o"er38
Isabel smiled uncertainly at the woman! still unsure how to ta$e Maria DeLuca.
(he was a strange woman! and nothing li$e Isabel was e/ecting. Michael<s last
relationshi before Maria was a cold! hardAeyed bitch with greed flowing in her
"eins. 5ut Maria seemed the e/treme oosite. (he was warm and in"iting!
ob"iously had her own money and didn,t need Michael,s! and as far as Isabel could
tell! the woman fed half of the )oswell PD.
79eah. I droed off my bag and called the PD. They said both Ma/ and
Michael were out of the station for the day! so I came o"er here since the two of
357
you weren,t at our lace. I figured you<d be here.8 Isabel loo$ed at Michael! who
was loo$ing through menus again. 71uess! I could,"e called first.8
Maria 'ust shrugged. 7=hy3 9ou,re family. Peole dro by all the time.8 Maria
loo$ed at Michael,s growing ile of menus as he tried to decide what to order.
Pic$ing them u! Maria dumed them in front of Isabel. 7:ere. 9ou decide. @ust
choose what loo$s good. =e usually li$e the ones with a red mar$ ne/t to them. If
it has an enthusiastic red mar$! order it. ?rder enough for about ten eole.
&nything you li$e. @ust gi"e them our address. ?ur credit card is on file and they<ll
ta$e care of it.8
7There,s going to be ten eole eating38 Isabel loo$ed at the two. :er count
only had herself! Maria! Michael and (ean so far.
79ou<re right! order for twel"e. Cyle and Ma/ are on their way! and I usually
count the Dboys, twice and Michael three times! so that should co"er it.8
7Lots of food;8 Isabel couldn,t gras the amount needed.
79ou,"e got no idea.8 Maria loo$ed at Michael and frowned. 79ou thin$ Cyle will
bring Tess again38 Maria loo$ed discreetly at Isabel! but decided that it was Ma/,s
lace to inform the woman that she was going to be an aunt.
7Doubt it. The tension today at wor$ was so hea"y! you could<"e sliced it with
a $nife.8 Michael said! but he clammed u too. Ma/,s news was his to tell. 7Iz! I,m
artial to Thai! .hinese! Italian! or that barbe%ue lace with a secial on beef ribs.8
7Ignore him! Iz. Pic$ what you feel li$e eating. Michael will eat anything as
long as there,s lots of meat a"ailable.8 Maria $issed Michael,s nose as she grabbed
the grocery list and went off into the li"ing room to %uietly call in the huge order.
7I,m choosing Te/AMe/.8 Isabel loo$ed at Maria tal$ing in the hone. 7I,ll ha"e
to wait until Maria is through to call it in.8 Michael ic$ed u his cell hone! and
assed it to Isabel! listening closely as she called in the order and added a few
357
e/tra items. Isabel bal$ed at the cost when they ga"e her the tally. =riting it down
she showed Michael and he 'ust nodded. 9eah! that was about right.
7:ow long38 Michael as$ed.
7They said about an hour for an order this size. (omething about ha"ing to
ma$e more tortillas and guacamole.8 Michael 'ust moaned and went into the $itchen
to scrounge for anything to eat. :e was star"ing again. 79ou eat li$e this all the
time38
7Mostly! but more so 'ust recently.8 Isabel watched as he found a artial bag of
otato chis and began eating them with a mi/ture of $etchu and Tabasco.
7& far cry from a man whose only real culinary talent was warming u
.ambell,s sou.8
7Things change. I can actually do eggs! ma$e a mean meatloaf and an Italian
sauce that would $noc$ you on your ass.8
Maria came bac$ to 'oin them! $issing Michael %uic$ly as she ut away the
hone. 7:e,s not lying. :e changed my family,s old recie into something new and
different! but damn awesome;8 Maria loo$ed around the loft frowning. 7Detecti"e!
ha"e you seen Mr. 5ooboo38 Michael 'ust shoo$ his head no. (trange. The cat was
always around him! and suddenly today he was missing. Michael watched as Maria
went to find him.
7(o38 Michael as$ed! sho"ing chis into his mouth! munching and oening a
beer! while assing Isabel a bottled water.
7(o38 said Isabel bac$.
79ou going to tell me why you didn,t call or let us $now you were coming home
after a year38
7Does it matter3 I thought home would always be home.8 Isabel dran$ the
water feeling a stranger here.
358
7It is! Isabel. It,ll always be home! regardless.8 Michael loo$ed at his surrogate
sister! ta$ing in her cleanedAu loo$. (he still had an edge to her! a wrin$le or two
around the eyes left o"er from too much abuse! but the rest of her loo$ed young
and ali"e! loo$ed twentyAnine again.
7It,s 'ust so strange! you $now. :ere you are in a home! a real home with
Candins$y on the walls! art that cost more than e"erything I own in my life; 9our
stuff is all o"er the lace mi/ed with hers! and my 1od! Michael...your carA it<s
finally being fi/ed;8 Isabel felt the need for a beer or something illegal for the first
time in almost si/ months. 7It,s li$e I,"e wal$ed into an alternate uni"erse! a
twilight zone! and I,m reeling from the almost grotes%ue caricature of something
that<s familiar! but foreign at the same time. 9ou,re suddenly a stranger to me! and
after se"en years I didn,t thin$ that could haen.8
7I,m the same! Iz. I,m still here for you. That,s not going to change. 5ut you<re
right! I,"e changed in some ways! some big ways! and this is a home to me.8
Michael didn,t li$e tal$ing about ersonal things! mostly because he lac$ed the
words that could really con"ey what he was feeling. 7=hen Mi$ey died. :e left me
e"erything! his home! his life! and his name. 5ut that house! it was nothing to me.
@ust an emty shell without him li"ing there. I lost that warm feeling he ga"e me! a
sense of being lo"ed and belonging. I sort of found that again with you and Ma/!
but not %uite. 9ou both had your own family! histories! asts! and I couldn,t really
belong to that. (o it was li$e belonging! but sort of from the outside fringe loo$ing
in. Then I found Maria.8
7(he seems nice. (trange! but nice.8 Isabel said uncertain if that was really
what she wanted to say.
Michael laughed at that. (trange! but nice. (uch a simle way to try to
describe something too comle/ for mere words. Maria DeLuca.
359
7I 'ust $now that this lace! this home I,"e got with her has the feeling of
warmth again! of belonging. :ere...here I don,t feel the need to be on alert! to be
watchful! and on guard e"ery moment from some un$nown enemy. :ere I find...8
7Peace38
7(omething li$e that.8 Michael leaned o"er and $issed her on the forehead and
hugged her tight. 71i"e it some time! Iz. Let whate"er it is that Maria does wash
o"er you! and I romise she,ll ma$e it better without you e"en $nowing she<s doing
it.8
Isabel started to ma$e a comment! but the doorbell interruted her. Michael
loo$ed at the time. It was too early to be either the grocery store or the restaurant.
?ening the door! he loo$ed at his washedAout and battered artner standing on
the doorste in his Jgo to courtJ suit.
7Didn,t e"en ma$e it home! huh artner38 Ma/ 'ust shoo$ his head and came
in. :e stoed in his trac$s at the sight of his sister sitting there holding her breath.
(uddenly her eyes filled with tears and he droed his 'ac$et rushing to her side to
ic$ her u in a full body hug.
7@esus; Iz! you scared the shit out of me;8 Ma/ hugged her tight to his body!
feeling the rac$ing tremors from both of their bodies. :e didn,t e"en admit until
that moment how uset and afraid he was when she had 'ust droed off the face
of the earth. Isabel laughed a full 'oyful sound when he sun her around in his arms
li$e he used to when they were $ids. 71od! you loo$ so good to me;8
7Ma/.8
7+o! 'ust let me loo$ at you. Isabel! is that really you3 &re you finally o$ay38
Ma/ didn,t notice the tear wander down his chee$. (he had been missing so long!
so many years! e"er since their arents died.
36:
79eah! it,s me. I,m home.8 Ma/ 'ust hugged her e"en tighter. Michael watched
the two of them silently! letting them be what they always were! a unit. Loo$ing u
the stairs! he saw Maria standing there holding their cat. (he was crying. Lea"ing
the brother and sister air! he went to her.
79ou o$ay! Professor38 Maria 'ust nodded.
7Damn emotions are all o"er the lace lately! but I swear! Detecti"e! I,"e ne"er
seen anything so beautiful. Ma/ loo$s so hay all of a sudden.8
Michael loo$ed o"er at his artner! and nodded. 79eah! he does. They were
always close! almost insearable. It,s been a hard year for him without her!
worrying about her and not ha"ing her near.8 Michael loo$ed at the fifteen ounds
of blac$ fur in her arms urring contently and he reached out and stro$ed the cat<s
shiny fur. 7=here was he38
7?h! he was in your soc$ drawer all curled u and sleeing.8 Maria rubbed her
head against the cat! li$ing his low urring sounds. 7:ow attached were you to
those secial cotton athletic soc$s you wear laying bas$etball38
7=hy38 Maria 'ust loo$ed at the cat! and so did Michael. 7?h no! what
haened3 =hat did he do38
---
Isabel watched from where she sat in the garage laughing at the tal$ between
her brothers! Cyle and (ean. They were sweating and swearing rofusely as they
tried to get the engine bac$ under the hood. Maria was instructing them! and finally
came to s%uat down ne/t to Isabel,s chair.
7(o how long ha"e you done this $ind of wor$38 Isabel as$ed. It was
interesting to see a female grease 'oc$ey.
361
7?"er fi"e years. It<s soothing for me! watching something bro$en being fi/ed.
I li$e the smell! the feel of the thread of a bolt as it turns. It,s hard to e/lain! but I
'ust $now that no matter how angry or uset I am that I can,t hurt two tons of iron
and steel! and that gi"es me some eace.8
7I should,"e found a hobby. 9ou $now! something other than men! drugs! and
booze.8
7Different resonses. That,s all! Iz.8 Maria laughed as Michael swore at Cyle.
Loo$ing at the other woman critically! and then away she as$ed almost casually!
7(o what are your lans38
Isabel stared at Maria for a moment. 7>or the future! or tonight38
7=ell! lets 'ust start with the future. I thin$ your brother has your night
lanned.8
79eah! we,"e got a lot of catching u to do.8 Isabel loo$ed at Maria with her
eyes narrowing. 79ou don,t mind if I come o"er from time to time to see Michael! do
you38
7+o. +ot at all. I was actually going to suggest that if you didn,t want to
necessarily mo"e bac$ in with Ma/! you could stay here with us. =e ha"e the
downstairs bedroom! which (ean is using! but will be "acating soon.8
Isabel loo$ed at Maria sharly. :ow could she $now that Isabel didn,t want to
mo"e bac$ in with Ma/ again3
7Than$s. I,ll thin$ about it.8 Isabel had to $now. 7:ow did you...38
7I thin$ that if I once had an o"errotecti"e brother! or brothers! and I sent a
year learning to deal with myself alone! that utting myself bac$ into a situation
where I was deendent on them would feel li$e steing bac$wards.8 Maria said
%uietly.
363
Isabel loo$ed o"er at Michael wor$ing and remembered his words from before
about letting Maria wor$ her magic. The woman was a witch with her insight.
79ou $now! I sent si/ months in a clinic! and si/ months outside. The theray
was actually eight months long. The first si/ were in the clinic! and the last two
were outside in the safehouse. The thing is! I really felt rotected and watched
there! almost li$e if I felt myself sliing someone would catch me.8 Isabel watched
the men for a second and loo$ed at Maria. 7It was a tra! much li$e the one I was
reco"ering from. *"erything was safe! and I was rotected. 5ut one night! I wo$e
u! and I was afraid. I realized that I was li"ing in a marginal society! a "oid. That
life was 'ust mo"ing on! and I wasn,t. 5eing around eole who $new me and $new
my roblems was a relief! but it also didn,t ma$e me stretch myself! try to
reintegrate myself bac$ into mainstream society.8
7It,s hard. )eal life is demanding. It comes with itfalls and temtations.8
7I $now. I $et wondering if I was going be strong enough to actually ma$e it
bac$. 5ut hiding in a halfway house in &rizona! that long road home 'ust $et
loo$ing longer and harder. &nd coming home to Michael and Ma/! $nowing they
would create that same $ind of safehouse for me! made it hard to come bac$.8
7I can imagine.8 Maria went o"er to her .o$e machine and too$ out two .o$es.
(itting bac$ down ne/t to Isabel! she offered her the drin$. 7(o what do you see3
=hat do you want38
7:ard %uestion. I really don,t ha"e any money. =or$ing si/ months on a crisis
line barely aid for my u$ee. The money thing still forces me to be deendent on
Ma/. &nd I $now Michael will hel if I need it.8
Maria nodded. 7True. They will. 5ut!8 Maria too$ a drin$ of her co$e! 7say
money wasn,t a roblem! or not a real one. =hat would you want to do38
7Money is always a roblem.8
364
7+o. @ust in a Dwhat if, scenario. Lets say! money is not the roblem! and the
only thing stoing you is your own ability to dream! and to ma$e those dreams
come true. &ny fool can dream! but it ta$e immense courage to ta$e a chance at
failure to ma$e those dreams a reality.8 Maria loo$ed at Isabel again! her eyes dar$
and serious! %uiet. 7=ould you3 .ould you3 Do you ha"e dreams3 &mbitions38
7(chool. I left school! and I wanted to be a sychologist. & sychologist that
too$ care of o"erweight! o"erAamered! and neglected trohy wi"es to highA
owered men. That dream changed and too$ on some real meat. +ow I want to be
a sychologist that secializes in heling "ictims! sur"i"ors...eole li$e me.8 Isabel
loo$ed off into some lace far from that garage. 7I want them to $now that there,s
someone out there! someone who will hel. (omeone heled me once! and that,s
the $ind of erson I want to be.8
7That,s a nice "ision.8
Isabel 'ust laughed. 79eah! it is. It is also damn near imossible. I,d need
funding because I issed away both mine and Ma/,s inheritance. :e,d ha"e to
suort me while I was in school! and that would be for years! lots of years. &nd no
matter how we loo$ at it! money will be a roblem.8
Michael called o"er to Maria. They had the engine bac$ in and they needed her
to hel them reconnect e"erything in its roer lace. Maria stood u and grabbed
her wrench.
7There,re always second chances! Isabel. Maybe I can hel. If you come by the
0ni"ersity! tomorrow! we can tal$ more about it! and see what otions are
a"ailable.8 Maria went o"er to hel ut the engine bac$ in.
(econd chances3 =hat about third and fourth ones3 It seemed li$e her entire
life was full of second chances she had wasted along the way. (he,d go see Maria!
365
because she was more afraid that all her second chances were running away! and
she had no more time to ignore them.
&fter e"eryone left! and e"en (ean decided to go home! Maria and Michael sat
in his Mustang listening to it run. Mr. 5ooboo was sitting between them!
ma'estically admiring his surroundings. The engine sounded sweet! strong! and
owerful.
7I wish...8
Maria leaned o"er and $issed him gently s%ueezing his arm. (he $new. Mi$ey
1uerin. :e wished that Mi$ey could hear the roar! see the end results. 7I $now.8
Michael loo$ed down at her head! and in a moment of ure wea$ness felt tears
in his chest! a need to 'ust rest against her. Maria was right. *motions were all o"er
the lace lately! and after seeing Isabel for the first time in a year! after only ha"ing
tal$ed to her on the hone! seeing her hug Ma/! and 'ust feeling better because she
was finally home! they were hitting him in laces he hadn<t realized had been sore.
Then! the car. It was done. & lifetime dream! one started with his father! and finally
it was realized.
7Maria! I lo...8 (he $issed him! stoing his words. +ot yet. (he couldn,t let
him say it. That was her lace! something she owed him! and it was almost time.
Pulling his tongue into her mouth! she tasted him dee. It was so right! so familiar!
and yet it always felt li$e the first time. .learing her throat! she smiled at him. 79ou
want to ta$e it out for a sin3 .ut oen the carburetor and let it roar38
Michael smiled at that. The fuc$ing carburetor was the first thing she had
tossed out of his car li$e so much 'un$. (he was right. :e had sweated o"er e"ery
art! e"ery decision! ha"ing a hard time seeing his belo"ed car in ieces around
him. 5ut e"ery ste was a good one. :ard! but good.
366
7+o. I want to wait until it,s done. .omletely done! and then I,m going to
ta$e you for a ride! Professor that you,ll ne"er forget.8
Maria $issed him again. 7?f that! I ha"e no doubt! Detecti"e. +o doubts at all.8
Michael was silent for a while! and then brought u the sub'ect that was
bothering him earlier. 7=hat did you and Isabel tal$ about38
7(he wants to go bac$ to school! but she doesn,t ha"e the funds.8
Michael sat silently thin$ing of all the money he had sun$ into his dream of
rebuilding the car. 7&nd38
7&nd I told her that there were ways.8
7=ays38 Michael nodded. 9eah! with Maria! there usually were. 7&nd you,re
going to show her the way38
7I,m going to oint her to the ath. =hat she does is u to her.8
---
Ma/ couldn,t sto loo$ing at her. (he had gone to ta$e a bath! and was now
sitting in the li"ing room all curled u on the sofa and drin$ing a hot chocolate.
Isabel. (he was home! and he felt unsure where to start.
7The alcohol in the house! do I need...8
7+o. I,m fine. (trange as it may seem! something haened to me after I
dried out. I can barely drin$ half a beer without being wasted off my ass. (ound li$e
anyone else you $now38
Ma/ smiled. :is tolerance was 'ust as low! and only Michael seemed able to
handle beer and alcohol in higher %uantities! but still way below most eole<s
minimums.
7&nd drugs38
367
7Lets 'ust say that I<d rather not $now how they affect me anymore.8
Ma/ too$ a drin$ of his coffee! and as$ed not loo$ing at her. 7Men38
7(e/. 9ou should 'ust say! se/! Ma/.8 Isabel loo$ed into her cu of hot
chocolate. 7I thin$ I,ll always be addicted to that! so for now! I,m staying away from
men. I want something more this time. I want...8 Isabel sat bac$ and concentrated
on finding the descrition! the words. 7I want what Michael has.8
Ma/ laughed. 9eah! she and the almost e"eryone else he $new. Maria DeLuca!
a home! a lace...lo"e. 79eah! I want that too.8 Ma/ loo$ed at Isabel and laughed
again. 7=ho,d ha"e thought that Michael 1uerin would find it first38
7:e was always different. More reser"ed! whereas you and I too$ the high
road swimming in it. Michael sat %uietly and waited. It was li$e he was waiting for
her and the dream she brought him! and when he saw it he didn,t $now if he
deser"ed it! but he wasn,t letting go.8
7Isabel! it,s worth waiting for. I watched them this last year! through some
hard times and touch and go. 5ut with e"ery hurdle! they came out stronger. I ha"e
to belie"e in the dream is ossible! because I watch it wor$ e"ery day with them.8
7I $now. It was hard to ignore.8 Isabel smir$ed. 7Michael 1uerin with a cat
named! Mr. 5ooboo;8
7.razy.8 Ma/ 'oined in with his sister,s laughter. 7(o! what did you thin$ of
Maria38
Isabel was silent for a moment. 7:onestly38
8:onestly.8
7I hated her.8 Isabel saw the shoc$ on Ma/,s face. ?b"iously hating Maria
DeLuca was inconcei"able and utterly unheard of. 7I hated that she,s got e"erything
I wish I could ha"e! and then some. & home! a man! confidence! a career! and 'ust
367
feeling so good in her own s$in. :er scars don<t rule her! they define her. &nd it,s
hard not to en"y that.8
7Maria is...8
7(ecial. I got that.8 Isabel dran$ her hot chocolate. 7I e/ected to hate her
from the moment Michael met her last year. 5ut! she<s a hard one to ignore. .ould
she really be a erson that wants nothing from anyone3 I didn,t $now eole li$e
that e/isted.8 Isabel aused and remembered one other erson she $new li$e that.
&ctually two. Michael and &le/ =hitman.
79ou really hate her38 Ma/ as$ed %uietly.
7I thin$ that Maria DeLuca might be the best friend! best female friend! I,ll
e"er ha"e in my life. I en"y her right now! but somehow sitting ne/t to her! it didn,t
ta$e anything away from me. It ga"e me confidence that I could do it too.8 Isabel
loo$ed at her brother. 7I want to go bac$ to school. I don,t $now how yet. 5ut I
want to go bac$.8
7=e can ma$e that haen.8 Ma/ said. :e couldn,t remember the last time
Isabel wanted a future.
7+o. I,ll ma$e it haen. I might need hel! but in the end! only I can ma$e it
haen.8 Ma/ 'ust nodded. (trong. (he felt so strong. :e could feel the ric$ of
tears behind his eyes again! and %uic$ly cleared his throat. Isabel was bac$. The
real Isabel. The one he hadn,t seen in so many years.
7It,ll wor$. 9ou,ll see.8
7Maria told me to come see her tomorrow at the 0ni"ersity.8 Ma/ was silent.
7(he says we could find out the otions. Do you thin$ she was serious38
71o see her! Iz. Maria has ways of oening doors that no one else can see.
(he oened u the door to Michael 1uerin with 'ust a loo$. Ta$e a chance. Michael
and I will always be here if you need us.8
368
Isabel nodded. 7I $now. Maybe someday I can find a way to reay that.8
Ma/ thought about it hard! and long. This was hard! but he had to tell her.
7Maybe sooner than you $now.8
7=hat do you mean38 Isabel loo$ed at her brother staring into his coffee cu.
7Ma/38
7I,m going to be a father.8

369
Day ': &#esday- 9:0C a.m.
Maria was late again. (he didn,t ha"e classes today! but she was scheduled to
wor$ at the museum. (toing there first! she made sure e"erything was oened
and ready to go before running o"er to her office in the &nthroology 5uilding to
ic$ u her mail! coffee! and lea"e a message with her secretary to send Isabel
*"ans to the museum if she showed u.
7Maria.8
Maria felt dread in her stomach. It was bound to haen sooner or later.
7Professor Price! good morning.8
7I didn,t thin$ I would run into you this morning.8
7+ormally! no. I usually wor$ the museum on Tuesday,s. 5ut it doesn,t seem
li$e I can get away from my office here! at least long enough to ic$ u my
messages and mail.8 Maria shuffled her mail and smiled at the man. 7&nything I can
hel you with! Cen38
7&ctually! yes.8 Indicating a chair in the lounge where Maria was filling u her
coffee cu! Maria reluctantly too$ a chair. 79our ac%uaintance! Mr. (tiller tell me that
you are in"ol"ed with the >oundation! and that he is recommending you for a seat
on the 5oard of )egents here at the 0ni"ersity.8
79es! he informed me of the same thing.8
7I see.8 Cen Price loo$ed away from her! as if loo$ing directly at her bothered
him. 7I should congratulate you then.8
7That would be...remature. I,"e refused all nominations.8 Maria too$ a si of
her coffee and wondered what was with this sad man.
7)efused3 5ut...8
37:
7@onathan $nows better! or he should.8 Maria said! ta$ing ity on the man. 7:e
$nows I,m sread far too thin already! but he was 'ust ma$ing a gesture.8
7(till it,s an honor.8
7&ctually! no it,s 'ust what is aroriate and e/ected.8
Cen Price frowned. 7I don,t understand.8
7I sure @onathan told you that I,m the >oundation. Technically! that is correct.
I,m the founder. I too$ my inheritance! or a large ortion of it! and started the
>oundation which is a nonArofit organization. &fter the first year! I was
o"erwhelmed and needed hel! real hel in the form of a erson or eole who
understood money. That,s when @onathan and his comanies 'oined the >oundation.
Later other comanies 'oined and it became a large entity! whose sole urose is to
channel and distribute money to needy causes. My original >oundation has grown
beyond my e/ectations! but it hardly belongs to me any longer.8
79ou,re the member of the board! correct38
7I am.8
7Then you must be aware that I was trying to recei"e a seat on the board.8
Cenneth Price felt ridiculous ha"ing to tal$ to her about something so ri"ate.
7&ctually! no. I didn,t $now.8 Maria hurried to e/lain before he could
comromise their wor$ing relationshi with a re%uest. 7I ha"e no real ower any
longer on the >oundation. I don,t e"en cast a "ote.8
7I don,t understand.8
7It,s simle. The >oundation "oting ro/y is slit u in bloc$s! and at a gi"en
time the 5oard could find itself in a deadloc$ on a decision. (hould that e"er occur
then I would ha"e the deciding "ote! the swing "ote. 5ut in o"er si/ years since its
incetion! this has ne"er haened. I ha"e ne"er "oted.8 Maria sighed and
shrugged. 7I find it best to let the 5oard handle the business of the >oundation! and
371
e"en for funds for the museum I,"e had to write u a roosal and submit it 'ust
li$e any other alicant.8
7(o you didn,t $now.8 Cen stared at her confused. :e was certain that she was
bloc$ing his osition out of site.
7+o. I,m afraid that @onathan (tiller holds full ro/y to most of my "otes! and
a bloc$ of his own. I maintain control of my "otes and sign them o"er at each
%uarterly 5oard meeting. If your re%uest to hold a seat is being bloc$ed then you
should contact @onathan! and re%uest a hearing or rite of understanding as to why
he is bloc$ing your osition.8
79ou,re saying that he holds the ower.8
79es! he does! but not e/clusi"ely. If you can find out why he is bloc$ing you!
and etition the other 5oard members! you might be able to ush a stalemate or
get him to relin%uish the hold on your re%uest. It might be simly that he doesn,t
feel you honor or understand the mission statement of the >oundation. Its agenda
is designed to suort and maintain rograms that will aid indi"iduals and
organizations in second chance endea"ors! or in education e/loration. =e don,t
suort first time businesses since there are many agencies and otions a"ailable
for first time setus.8
7I 'ust thin$ the >oundation wields an awesome amount of ower and money!
and that it could be used for other things as well.8 Cen said.
7Perhas! but it is "ested uon the current 5oard to understand and maintain
the mission of the original >oundation as it was concei"ed! and to interret that
mission to the best of its ability. That includes acceting new 5oard members who
can wor$ within those arameters.8 Maria stood u and loo$ed at Professor Price.
7Tal$ to @onathan! and if no comromise can be found! etition the other members.
373
&t most it could come down to a deciding "ote! which would be me. Personally! I
thin$ a little wor$ and a show of good intent is all you need to con"ince @onathan.8
7Than$ you for saying that.8 Maria refilled her cu. 7Maria! can I as$ you one
other %uestion38
Maria sighed! but turned and smiled! ac%uiescing. 75y all means.8
7If I can get the rest of the 5oard to bac$ me! would you suort me38
Cenneth Price desised ha"ing to as$! but he needed to $now.
7It would deend. I,"e trusted @onathan imlicitly for years. 5ut! if you
managed to get a slit "ote and half the holding ro/y suorts your aointment!
then I would listen to your arguments and ma$e the best and the fairest decision
ossible.8
7=e ha"en,t always gotten along.8 Cen reminded her.
7True! and if for any reason I felt that our ast differences biased me against
you! I would turn o"er my ro/y to another! to "ote in my osition.8 Maria smiled at
him. :e was a ain! issed her off to no end! but he was highly intelligent and
ambitious. Those weren<t always bad traits. 7It is the best I could do.8
7I areciate that.8
Maria loo$ed at her watch. 7If you,ll e/cuse me! Professor. I,m afraid I need to
get bac$ to the museum.8
Maria hurried out of the building to go hide in her museum office. The
confrontation with her boss wasn,t as bad as she had feared it would be! but it still
was uncomfortable. It changed the dynamics of their wor$ing relationshi! ma$ing
him wary of her. Life was so much easier when she was 'ust an underling that he
had to deal with. @onathan (tiller had a lot to answer for! and right now at that
moment! she was far from hay with him.
374
---
Ma/ loo$ed around for Michael again. The man was eternally disaearing
lately. Ma/ had two guesses! he was either torturing a "ending man to restoc$ the
Ith &"enue bars on Srd floor! or he was naing in :olding. =rong on both counts.
Ma/ saw his artner emerging from the brea$room across the hall with a cu of hot
coffee. ?b"iously the ot in Ma'or .rimes was emty and Michael! not wanting to
ma$e the ne/t ot! went across the hall to mooch.
Ma/ didn,t e"en bother to watch the commotion. :is artner was bac$ on the
floor and in an ugly mood. +o other erson could wal$ through a room causing so
much unhainess from those around him. =aters, collar chose that moment to
ma$e a brea$ while =aters< artner! Philis was mo"ing him to Interrogation.
0nfortunately for the unhay felon he ran out of Ma'or .rimes and straight into
Michael 1uerin.
7=here ya going3 =hatcha thin$ we,re gonna do! 'ust let you wal$38 Michael
literally ic$ed the man u li$e a wet uy by the scruff of his nec$ and wal$ed
him bac$ into the room. 7(it down you "icious felon! or I,ll ut you in :olding with
the big boys and antyraiders.8
The man started tal$ing and blubbering to an unreceti"e Michael! who loo$ed
to be ha"ing another JoffJ morning. 7=aters! get this sni"eling snot under control;
=hat $ind of loser felons are you busting now3 (illed my coffee all o"er the
lace...dammit! loo$ at this mess;8 Michael was using a Cleene/ trying to mo u
the silled coffee down his front.
7(orry! 1uerin. 9ou want a towel or something38 =aters tried to %uic$ly diffuse
the situation before his artner! Philis came under fire. 1uerin without his morning
coffee was a nightmare.
375
7Pic$ u your shit! =aters. I almost got tramled by your collar.8 Michael
stoed to ic$ u the stuff on the floor. 7=hat is this38
7.andy bars. My older daughter,s raising money for band cam.8 Michael
rutted around in the bo/.
7:ow many you sold so far38 Michael was reading the labels and ingredients.
7+ot that many. (ee! e"eryone I as$ed is mysteriously on a diet or has an
a"ersion to chocolate.8 The whole new health awareness was crushing for candy
sales! and it usually too$ lots of coffee! tiredness! and end of the day lull before the
early morning crowd forgot all the romises they made themsel"es while sha"ing
that morning to clean u their acts.
7+ow that,s a fuc$ing shame when your own comadres can,t buy a little
chocolate to hel out a few band cam goers. :ow much a bar38 =aters< brow went
u. )aging 5ull 1uerin 'ust went from a issy bastard to a nice socializing! albeit
foulmouthed bastard in mere seconds.
7Two buc$s a bar.8 That didn,t last long! as =aters and those around him
winced at the colorful language sewing forth.
7*"ery fric$in, time I turn around lately I see rice bil$ing! greedy! greedy
bastards! the whole lot of them.8 Michael seemed to realize what he was saying.
70m! not your daughter of course! =aters. (he,s 'ust another cog in the flywheel of
fric$in, caitalism! and the search for the allAowerful buc$.8 Michael loo$ed in and
saw candy bars with chocolate and eanuts. 7:ow much for the bo/38
7There are se"enteen bars left in that bo/.8 Michael reached into his oc$et
and assed o"er a fifty.
7Cee the change as a donation! but if you feel bad you can sot me another
eight chocolate with eanut ones later.8 Michael wal$ed off with his bo/ under his
arm already oening u a bar and reaching for his Tabasco.
376
Ma/ watched Michael ut the chocolate bars away in his lower drawer. 79ou
going to share...8
Michael ga"e him a dar$ stare and loo$ed o"er at Cyle. 7=hat do we got on
the (eers and =hitman cases38
7(eers was retty much a loner. (he had some ma'or time cloc$ed for Internet
usage! and didn,t really socialize much! mostly with a few friends none of whom
considered them really close. ?ther than academic and rofessional gatherings!
most nights she was on her comuter tal$ing to electronic friends. (he had a lot to
say against 'un$ food and greasy fast food 'oints! but a search of her rooms showed
that desite her tal$ and disli$e of it! she was a closet fastAfood 'un$ie.8
7&ny hits on her ast38 Michael finally reached into his drawer and assed both
Ma/ and Cyle a candy bar! 'ust not the eanut ones.
7Married young! di"orced less than two years later.8 Ma/ read through his
notes. 7:er husband! 1us3 :e too$ off with one of her Dbest friends,. (he was left
with some bills! so she consolidated their home mortgage with the bills and
returned to school.8
Michael nodded. 7=hitman,s cousin! Crystal was a good $id literally. (he
wasn,t into school sirit! cheerleader stuff! but was retty and oular enough to be
one. :er school records showed an intelligent enough young lady! mostly a 5
a"erage student with a consistent attendance record! articiation in the arts!
esecially music! drama and dance. (he was on the school<s tennis and swim
teams! a strong layer but no ma'or $udos. (he was well li$ed! and not a runaway
ris$. 5oyfriend of three years! who was still carrying her icture in his wallet! and
had called her the day before.8
Ma/ read the co"er. 7(he only sang in =hitman,s bar on nights he was there!
one set! and she dran$ either bottled water or cola. +o one really noticed if she was
377
socializing with anyone! but she ne"er hoo$ed u with friends and left. Instead she
waited for her cousin e"ery night! heling him close down. (he sang mostly
Thursday thru (unday! nothing earlier in the wee$ because she was already out late
on two school nights. (enior in high school! she was acceted into the 0ni"ersity in
(anta >e for the fall semester. (he was a strong debate team leader! and was
loo$ing at a career in communications or the arts! more than li$ely music.8
7+eed some hel38 The three men loo$ed u at (ean,s "oice.
7DeLuca! you loo$ li$e shit! flushed shit that $ees rising to the to. Thought
you were off until tomorrow.8 (ean too$ a seat! ignoring Michael and his hay
descriti"e obser"ations.
7.a said I could come in and ma$e myself useful. :e was afraid what untold
mental damage I would suffer from watching daytime soas. Though I thought Lu$e
and Laura were dead! and all this DPrince, shit sounds so stuid and lame. *"ery
time someone calls this dude! DThe Prince, I felt this o"erwhelming desire to giggle.
*nough of that! so I called in.8
Cyle loo$ed u in interest. 79ou taing38 +o one tells him anything. (o were
Lu$e and Laura bac$ together! or not3
7&re you limited to des$! or can you do legwor$38 Ma/ as$ed.
7Des$ only for the wee$! unless we get a late night caller. ?therwise >riday
I,"e got a court thing to slee through all day.8
Michael tossed (ean a candy bar! one of the disgusting $risy ones. 7?$ay!
that ma$es you Phone 5oy.8 (ean cussed as Cyle laughed. 79ou can start by calling
Par$er and see if Lab has anything resembling any leads on our materials.8 Michael
ignored (ean,s moan. 7If they don,t harass them to get the lead out! we,"e got
another <Missing<! and it feels too close not to be connected. Pray that it,s not.8
377
---
7Maria38 Isabel stood in the doorway! uncertain whether she was in the right
lace. Maria,s secretary at the Deartment had gi"en her directions.
7Isabel! come in.8 Maria stood u and smiled as the woman entered the room.
Isabel loo$ed around! imressed by the mess. 79eah! it ta$es getting used to! but
surrisingly! I $now where e"erything is.8
The hone rang! and Maria wa"ed Isabel to ta$e a seat across from her! which
was actually clear of debris. 7I don,t care! Dic$ie. I can,t ha"e eole acceting
large deli"eries on wee$ends. I $now. I $now; The deli"eries here e/ceed the entire
camus combined! but that is the nature of the business. ?$ay! find a new system!
and call me bac$. I ha"e a staff of wor$ers! students! and "olunteers. I can,t start
housing fullAtime staff on to of that. I don,t ha"e the funds. (o you ha"e to either
catch me or the assistant curator! and that means wee$days.8
Isabel watched the woman do her thingAwor$. 7I swear! if you send it to my
other office I will find you and sho"e your 0( Postal stams down your throat; I
don,t care. The deli"eries ha"e correct routing numbers! so they better show u
here and not all around camus. If you and your deartment can,t control the mail!
a federal resonsibility! then maybe you need to reassess your 'ob descrition;8
Maria slammed the hone down and en'oyed a few moments, tirade! on the nature
of olyester eating away brain cells! and the ossibility that Dic$ie was a crossA
dressing Polynesian whore with beriberi.
Isabel 'ust listened! imressed. 7Did you learn that from Michael! or could you
always tal$ for so many minutes flat without breathing38
378
7I,"e been culti"ating the fine art of holding my breath! and it<s amazing how
good the air feels when you finally get some.8 Maria loo$ed at the young woman
meticulously dressed. 7I,m glad you came! and you<re 'ust in time.8
7>or38
Maria loo$ed at her watch. 7It,s almost lunch! and today there is a secial
lunch mi/er with Deartments and the 5oard of Trustees. &nd! the erson I want
you to meet is going to be there. :e better be there! because I ha"e some not so
sweet! choice words to scream in his ears.8
7?$ay!8 Isabel was at a lost for words! 7is this what they mean by
networ$ing38
7.ould be. &ctually @onathan can hel you aly for hel through a secial
rogram that will not only ro"ide you with li"ing e/enses! but ay your school
cost. &nd...and if you,re in earnest about wor$ing with "ictims and sur"i"ors! the
contract can be negotiated as a ay later contract where they suort you through
school! and after you comlete your training you wor$ at some of the rograms
they ha"e running that needs your secial talents.8
79ou,re serious3 9ou mean I could be totally indeendent of Ma/,s suort38
7>inancially! yes.8 Maria got u and grabbed her 'ac$et to co"er her slee"eless
sil$ blouse. 7*motionally3 I would $ee his suort! both his and Michael,s. :umans
li"e e"ery day alone in their own s$ins! their own heads! and e/cet for se/ and
childbirth! or unless they host some damn arasite! they remain that way. It,s a
lonely e/istence if you thin$ about it! so $eeing those connections to others is so
imortant. Don,t be too %uic$ to cut the string.8
7I 'ust want to do this on my own.8
Maria smiled at the woman. 7I $now. That<s admirable! but emotional suort
doesn,t ta$e away from the e/erience! the goal. It 'ust ma$es it less lonely getting
379
there.8 Maria loc$ed her door and wa"ed at the Museum secretary that she was
ta$ing off. 7(o any ideas where you would li$e to li"e! if the >oundation suorts
you38
7I ha"en,t thought about it. I 'ust assumed staying with Ma/ was going to be
my only real otion. &nd last night! it occurred to me that Ma/ was going to ha"e
laces his money needs to go to suort...8 Isabel aused mentioning Ma/,s unborn
child.
7The baby38 Maria nodded her head. That would be an e/ense! a costly one.
Those small little bundles were surrisingly e/ensi"e.
79eah! the baby.8 Isabel was once again disoriented at how much Maria $new
about her brother,s ersonal life. 75ut! if I could li"e anywhere! I thin$ I would li$e
to li"e at your loft.8
79ou want to mo"e in38 Maria was startled. Isabel hadn,t seemed willing to
ta$e her u on her offer last night.
7+o;8 Isabel laughed. &fter sending most of last night watching Michael and
Maria barely $eeing their hands off each other! being a third wheel in their
household wasn<t aealing to her "ery much! although she did areciate the
gesture. 7@ust some lace li!e your loft. I lo"e the oenness! the light! and it feels
clean.8
7=ell! I ha"e a maid ser"ice that comes in three times a wee$! otherwise
Michael and I would be waist dee in our own filth and dust.8 Maria watched Isabel
oening her mouth to correct her. 7I $now. @ust 'o$ing. I understand. &nd you
$now...8 Maria ulled her arm through Isabel,s! 7I might be able to hel you find
something li$e that. 5ut you,ll robably need a roommate to afford it.8
37:
Maria searched the crowd of eole eating aetizers before the formal dining
room oened to ser"e. Ceeing an o"erwhelmed and %uiet Isabel ne/t to her! she
sotted him.
7@onathan;8
7Maria; &nd a guest38 @onathan e/tended his hand out to Isabel.
79es! this is Isabel *"ans. Isabel! @onathan (tiller! .*? to some comanies!
and a true scumbag.8
8(cumbag3 Maria! my heart can,t ta$e your discord. =hat,d I do38 @onathan
wiggled his brows at Isabel. 7I once had her mother! &my in my office trying to
realign my disharmonious chi. I,m still not sure what that meant! but it was ainful!
real ainful. +ot to mention the large contribution she e/torted!8 @onathan noticed
Maria,s increased glare! 7...$indly re%uested of me.8
7Cenneth Price ambushed me this morning.8 Maria ut her hands on her his!
taed her foot! and dislayed the most e/licit issedAoff e/ression she could
muster. 7I sent him bac$ on you. (o he,s going to be coming and loo$ing for you for
an inter"iew.8
7I thought we were friends.8 Maria 'ust snorted! as @onathan hoo$ed his arm
through both ladies< and led them towards the buffet table of aetizers. 7They
ha"e shrim on the buffet.8 @onathan said nicely to distract Maria from her tas$ of
torturing him.
@onathan watched as Maria too$ off without them! searching the long table for
edibles. Isabel bac$ed off from the man untangling her arm from his. @onathan
noticed! but didn,t mention it! 'ust ac$nowledged the mo"e with a lifting of his
brow.
7(o! Miss Isabel! how is it you $now our resident firecrac$er! Maria DeLuca38
371
Isabel felt uncomfortable around the man. :e seemed nice enough! but his
dar$ eyes were iercing. 7(he li"es with my brother.8
71uerin3 9ou,re 1uerin,s sister38 @onathan wied his mouth in amusement.
7That shoots my theory that the man was born from the deths of hell! e/elled by
Lucifer himself. 1uerin! born of man...who would ha"e thought it38
7I ta$e it that you don,t get along38
7(ure! if you can call being threatened by a 'ealous raging co who sees only
red <getting along<! we do fine.8
7=ell! technically he,s not my brother! more of a surrogate one. My brother
is...8
7=ait; *"ans3 9ou,re Ma/ *"ans, sister38 @onathan,s whole demeanor changed.
:e became more attenti"e. 7(trange! I could see a resemblance to Michael! the
coloring and such! but you and Ma/ don,t loo$ anything ali$e.8
79ou $now Ma/38
79eah! we,"e...bumed into each other a few times.8 @onathan led Isabel to the
table and started filling a small late with aetizers. 79ou,ll ha"e to trust me
imlicitly o"er these morsels. (tay away from anything that resembles cheese.8
Isabel loo$ed down the table to see Maria tal$ing to a few other eole while
haily de"ouring her food. 7(o how is Ma/38
7Professor DeLuca3 :ow is our youngest rofessor in the &nthroology
Deartment doing38 Maria aused in stuffing her mouth with another crab uff.
7Professor Tiny...8
71erald.8
7)ight. 1erald. I,m fine! than$ you. &nd how is life in the Deartment of
Modern Linguistics. &re you still fighting o"er the correct enunciation and honic
shifts for the word Dhorse,38
373
7That was a sol"ed roblem long ago. &s I was telling you at the .hristmas
5an%uet! you can say Dhorse,! you can say Dhoss,! Dhauss,! e"en Dhurse,! but you can,t
say...8
7:earse. I remember.8 Maria smiled olitely.
7)ight! because a hearse is a totally different word.8
7>ascinating.8 Maria loo$ed around deserately for @onathan and Isabel to
come sa"e her.
7(o I had a nice discussion with your Detecti"e.8 That got Maria,s attention.
7Michael3 9ou tal$ed to Michael38
7Indeed. It aears one of our graduate students was murdered.8 The man
leaned in and so$e into Maria,s ear. 7It was ghastly. @ust ghastly.8
7*secially for her! I,m sure.8 Maria loo$ed at him closely. 7(he wasn,t the
student that you had...+o. +e"ermind. (o you $new the young lady...@anet38
7@anet (eers. (he was an e/cellent student. #ery meticulous and roer!
maybe a tad hard on her students! but a real erfectionist. I $et counseling her on
how to teach and train these students in the roer ath in their education. 9ou,"e
got to be strong in your gri and recise in your re%uirements.8
7&bsolutely. I,m sure Professor! you were a shining e/amle of studentA
rofessor relationshis for her.8 Maria tried not to roll her eyes. Pomous bastard.
+o doubt his idea of a firm gri of control was holding a coed<s head in the roer
osition while she blew him. :e hadn,t been caught since last year! but Maria had
heard rumors from other students that the nic$name imlied that a good amount of
head could fi/ the worst of grades. :is indiscretions finally cost him his lay for the
Deartment .hair 'ust recently.
374
7(o!8 Maria tried to control the wa"e of disgust as 1erald Tiny grabbed her arm
and led her away from the buffet with his lecherous eyes gleaming! 7what can you
tell me about the in"estigation3 &ny leads38
@onathan made sure that he got to dine with Isabel and Maria. It too$ a little
time! but Isabel began tal$ing to other eole at the table and en'oying herself.
7(o! my little friend! what is it you want from me38 @onathan as$ed as Maria
stoed stabbing at her chic$en.
7>ood would be nice. =hy do they always bring out these refabricated birds!
breaded and stuffed with butter3 They don,t taste li$e anything.8 Maria moaned.
7I,d gi"e my life for something chocolate and with eanuts! or anything resembling
food right now.8
7Maria.8 @onathan gestured his head towards Isabel. 7:ow can I hel38
7(econd chance! @onathan. =hy don,t you let her tell you her story! and see
what you can do38
@onathan thought about it for a moment. Ta$ing out his cell hone he called
his secretary and had her rearrange his afternoon schedule! and boo$ him a seating
at the )oswell &rms Tea )oom for two.
7This will cost you! Professor.8
7)eally3 +ame the rice.8 Maria thought he was 'o$ing.
7Ma/ *"ans, hone number.8
---
Maria left Isabel in @onathan,s caable hands! but refused him Ma/,s hone
number. (he informed him that if he heled Isabel! he,d ha"e the number without
coercing it from her. @onathan and Ma/3 Maria,s curiosity was ha"ing a field day.
375
7*ddie38 Maria stoed on the way bac$ to her office when she heard her
museum assistant and friend! *ddie! ha"ing a minor bitch fest. *ddie was in his last
year of graduate wor$. :is master thesis was acceted! and he was already
acceted into the PhD rogram starting in the >all.
7Maria.8 *ddie 'ust continued to wor$ on the dislay.
7=hat "e/es thee3 =ant to go off on me for stress relief38 It couldn,t hurt
after ha"ing 1erald Tiny,s grubby hands already all o"er her. (he was feeling
mangled and soiled anyway.
7+e"er you! Maria.8 *ddie loo$ed at his friend and ad"isor sha$ing his head no.
5lowing out the air in his lungs he wied his eyes with the side of his arm! li$e he
could feel sweat there. 7I got refused for the Peterson site.8
Maria felt for him. It was the largest archaeological site running in the state
this coming summer! and it was in close association with *ddie,s own tribe and
heritage. 7I,m sorry! *ddie.8
7It doesn,t matter! not really. It was 'ust an oortunity to stay close to home!
instead of tra"eling out of state. I,m sic$ of being away from home.8 *ddie unished
the dislay he was wor$ing on a little more. 7They ga"e it to 5rian Laets$y.8
75rian! from Las .ruces38
79eah. 5rian.8 *ddie tore away some more felt bac$ing "iciously. 7(o if I 'oin
the e/ca"ation it,ll be as a wor$er! and not the ro'ect assistant! and I,ll be under
5rian.8
7That,s not ossible. I read his literature re"iew on anel for the last
conference. It...well it suc$ed. :is entire aer was nothing but fluff and filler!
rehashing old theories. It was more of a sur"ey of the history of local archaeological
sites.8 Maria sighed and too$ the battered material from *ddie,s hands and sat ne/t
to him. 7=hat haened38
376
7My research is better! my aer is better! but 5rian,s loo$s better on the
surface. :e comes off calm! collected and $nowing his stuff.8 *ddie 'ust shoo$ his
head. 7I,m 'ust a boy from the reser"ation. My eole...we don,t usually lea"e the
reser"ation! not because we lo"e it so much! but because our nature ma$es us
isolationist! untrusting of strangers. There is us! the real eole! and then there is
e"eryone else.8
79ou,re "ery ersonable! *ddie. I,"e ne"er seen you be standAoffish.8
7=ell! you,re different. It,s easier with you and eole I $now. 5ut in front of
the selection committee! I had to sell myself! and I couldn,t! not li$e 5rian could.8
*ddie stood u and started rolling out the fabric he was using as the relacement
bac$ground for the dislay. 7I guess I should feel good that after they ha"e him on
site for a while his lac$ of $nowledge will become aarent. 5ut it,s an emty
feeling losing to that fa$e.8
7=ell! I $now it haens. The world of academics is far from erfect. Let me
chec$ out some eole I $now locally! and see if we can,t find you a osition closer
to home this summer.8 Maria loo$ed u at the dislay he was wor$ing on! frowning
she tied her head to the side. 7=hat is this e/actly38
7It,s a bug! moth and butterfly collection that the 5iology and *ntomology
Deartment created. They,"e got their sace ready for lants and local fauna! and a
huge dislay for their Toology collection. =e should ha"e all the secimens labeled
and ready for them to use in their >all classes.8 *ddie 'ust shoo$ his head. 7Poor
students will ha"e to come and identify all the secimens< scientific names as a test.
I thin$ I,d change my ma'or to drama. I understand their classes don,t e"en start
until after noon e"ery day.8
7=hy don,t the butterflies and moths disintegrate3 They loo$ delicate and well
reser"ed.8
377
7They are. There,s a secial reser"ati"e and fi/er alied to them that $ees
them loo$ing ali"e and fresh. It,s not hard. I,"e been collecting since I was a $id.
=hat the else is there to do when you,re a $id on a reser"ation in the middle of the
dessert38 *ddie laughed to himself. 75ugs. Lots of bugs.8
7:ow do you catch them without damaging them38 Maria loo$ed closely at the
barely noticeable shine from the fi/ati"e on the secimen. It was erfect! with all
the colors and "ibrant lines reser"ed in time.
7(ome eole use nets! but the best way is a $illing 'ar. ?nce you lure in the
moth or bug! you close it with a secial to! usually filtered! and you dri ether or
some other agent that uts them to slee. Too much and they die. *asy. Then you
'ust lay them out! fi/ them! chec$ them for flaws! and in them to a secial
dislay.8
79ou do that38
7(ure. It,s a great hobby. *asy to learn! but o"er the years you can really
become an e/ert if you ta$e the time to really get into it.8
7=ho did theses collections38
75ug guys in the 5iology Deartment.8
7The 5ug guys3 &re they as reulsi"e as that sounds38 Maria as$ed imagining
large beetles tal$ing to each other while rubbing their antennae.
7+o. They,re fine. 9ou $now them. 1eorge and @eremy.8 Maria 'ust nodded and
loo$ed at the dislay. (he ne"er heard them referred to as the 5ug 1uys before!
but somehow now that she thought about it. It made erfect sense. :er %uiet
regard made him smile. 79ou,"e changed.8 *ddie obser"ed softly.
Maria loo$ed at her friend and frowned. 7:ow so38
377
79ou used to be all o"er the lace! Doh my gosh,! Doh my gosh,! $ind of
highstrung! reressed! and dramatic at the same time. 9ou,re %uieter now! gentler!
almost...8
7& touch of inner serenity38
79eah! definitely that.8 *ddie breathed dee. 7Lots of se/! huh38
70h huh.8
---
7Liz.8
Liz loo$ed u from her microscoe! and gased when she saw (ean,s face.
7(ean! someone beat you u38
7+aw! 'ust me.8 (ean came to stand ne/t to her wor$ table ignoring the rest of
the wor$ers in the room. 79ou o$ay38
7(houldn,t I be as$ing you that3 I didn,t use my face to sto someone,s fist.8
Liz went bac$ to what she was doing. 7Did you need something38
(ean $new it was going to be hard! but her monotone %uestion and lac$ of
emotion was bothering him. 7&nything on the (eers case38
7&ctually! I was 'ust going to coy you a reort. It was a good call on the late/
in the blood "essels. The stuff is used in scientific comanies to rocess and
reser"e biological secimens! esecially for Toology. 0nfortunately there are o"er
one hundred and thirty se"en comanies that suly it! and they co"er most of the
continental 0nited (tates! including some o"erseas.8
7.an you narrow the field38 (ean tried to remain rofessional and
unassuming! following Liz,s lead.
378
7:ard to do. =e,"e got the comuter gee$s running cross inde/es! and
chec$ing all suliers catering to +ew Me/ico and surrounding regions. The list is
huge! more than hugeAmonumental.8
7:ow long3 &ny clue38
79eah.8 Liz stoed wor$ing and loo$ed at him. 7+e"er. This late/ isn,t going to
an out. 9ou,re loo$ing at a secial tye of late/ that is li%uid! can be shot into the
"eins and then stiffens into the final roduct. Do you ha"e any idea how di"erse the
uses of this late/ are38
7Tell me.8 (ean rested his hi u against her table.
7=ell! it,s a clear coater. &ll the 0ni"ersities! industrial areas! anyone that
wants to coat with late/ could use this stuff. I,"e got a list of roduction comanies
who use it for secial effects. The 1eology museums are using it to ma$e mold
castings. It a hot roduct. Li%uid late/! I should,"e in"ested in it.8
(ean nodded and crac$ed his nec$. 7&nything else38
7The filler is harder to narrow the field. I don,t $now how he does it! but
Michael was right. It,s a olyurethane "ery much li$e that used in those tire $its.
+ot an e/act match! but damn close. *"en the clear shellac isn,t a lac%uer. I can,t
narrow the field. =e,re testing all $nown mar$et lac%uers and reser"ati"es.8 Liz
'ust shrugged. 7It,s going to ta$e some time.8
79ou coied us all this information38
Liz 'ust nodded. 79eah! it should be hitting your mail bo/es as we sea$.8 Liz
tried to go bac$ to wor$! but (ean didn,t mo"e. 7=as there something else38
79ou going to e"er really tal$ to me again38 (ean as$ed softly.
7(ean.8 Liz loo$ed around and lowered her "oice. 7I can,t tal$ about this here!
and for now...can,t we 'ust gi"e it some sace38
7?$ay.8 (ean started to lea"e! but he stoed. 79ou could tal$ to Maria.8
379
Liz 'ust rolled her eyes and shoo$ her head no. 7(he,s your cousin! (ean.
Don,t you thin$ that uts her in a difficult osition38
7+o. (he,ll be on your side.8 (ean loo$ed around the room! and then grabbed
Liz,s arm bringing her closer to him! close enough so they couldn,t be o"erheard.
7Tal$ to her! Liz. (he,s been your friend for o"er a year. Maria isn,t going to sto
li$ing and caring about you 'ust because we,"e called it %uits.8 (ean smiled
sarcastically. 75elie"e me! Maria is brimming with good gossi right now! and she<s
lac$ing in female friends that she can share it with. Do her and yourself a fa"or and
gi"e her a call.8
Liz rubbed her arm where he had held it watching him lea"e the labs. .all
Maria. Liz turned and loo$ed at her hone beside her wor$sace. (he really could
use a night out! and desite what (ean said! Liz was sure that she needed Maria
more than Maria needed her.
---
Maria was negotiating her way through the traffic across town! swearing at the
cars and trying to will them to seed u so she could ma$e the ne/t light. :er cell
hone ringing increased her an/iety. It had to be her mom. +o one else would
interrut her in the middle of otential road rage.
7Mom! I can,t tal$ right now! I,m about ready to it the @etta against a Dodge
)am truc$ in a fight to the death.8
7Don,t do it! Maria. (tatistically the Dodge )am is e%uied with reinforced
side by side anels of steel designed to ta$e imact! whereas the #ol$swagen @etta
is seriously faulty in rotecti"e carriage! and those imact airbags can do some
serious damage to you ersonally.8
38:
7Liz38 Maria sighed her relief. 7?h than$ goodness! it,s you. I thought it was
my mom.8
7I thin$ &my<s charming. I can,t see why e"eryone finds her so hard to deal
with.8
7Did I mention she wanted you to 'oin the Wedding arty3 Mom feels li$e she
needs yet another bridesmaid and attendant.8 Maria smiled at the gas from Liz.
5ig words! easy to tal$ when you,re only watching the chaos. It,s another thing to
be drawn into the suc$ing "orte/! into that it of desair where no light has e"er
shown! $nown as the Wedding.
7I might be busy! um...when is the date e/actly38 Liz s%uea$ed in a high
itched "oice.
7+ice try! Par$er! but it,s not going to wor$. Mom is fliing the dates around
so fast 'ust to $ee e"eryone offAbalance. My ad"ice is to lea"e the state or ne"er
answer your hone.8
7I,ll note that.8 Liz smiled at Maria,s "oice. (he missed her good humor. 7Loo$ I
was calling to see if you,d li$e to go out tomorrow night! li$e a girl,s night. There,s a
mo"ie I want to see! and it falls under the domain of <chic$ flic$<.8
Maria listened as she dro"e and made comments along the way. & night out
sounded 'ust what the boys ordered. That would gi"e Michael an oortunity to
ha"e his o$er game without ha"ing to worry about bothering her.
7(acey. I lo"e Ce"in (acey. Michael thin$s he,s too gay! but he really li$ed
him in all the co mo"ies! though I,m sure he won,t li$e this latest one with the
alien sych atient. 9ou,re on. I,m on my way to the (tation right now to see
Michael. I,ll chec$ with him! and sto and see you on my way out.8
71uerin; (omeone from downstairs wanted me to inform you that your rettier
half is in the house! and abusing a machine on the third floor.8 Michael loo$ed o"er
381
at Philis and then stared at Ma/ across from him. ?$ay! not Ma/! so that could
only mean Maria.
7I,ll be right bac$! artner.8 Michael went to find her before someone was
forced to arrest her for damage to city roerty. Maria and "ending machines had a
merry war going between them. (he aid them what she thought the candy should
cost! and actually e/ected the machine to cough it u.
Michael increased his seed when he came around the corner and found her
trying to ic$ u a trash can to smash the machine.
7=hoa there Professor; #iolence is ne"er the solution.8
Maria 'ust snorted. 7(ince when3 1et away from me you imoster! and get me
my boyfriend. :e,d ma$e short wor$ of this thie"ing machine.8
7:ow much did you ut in! Professor38
7.oins. Lots of coins. &ll of them really! really shiny! and it won,t cough u my
candy bar.8 Michael hoo$ed an arm around her middle and ulled her away from the
machine. )eaching into his oc$et! he fished out some more coins and started
lugging the machine.
7Don,t do it; Don,t encourage its theft;8 Maria watched him as he ushed in
the coins one by one.
7=hat number38
75H.8 Michael loo$ed at her sharly! and then bac$ at the Ith &"enue bar she
was trying to ac%uire. :e ushed the buttons! but nothing haened. =hat the hell3
7I warned you. (hould I get the trash can! or you 'ust want to shoot it38
.harley from re%uisitions stoed ne/t to them. 7:ey! 1uerin! if the light isn,t
on in the machine! that means it<s off.8
5oth Maria and Michael loo$ed at the man li$e he was the bearer of "ery bad
news. The man 'ust shrugged and wal$ed off lea"ing Maria chanting under her
383
breath about eanutty goodness co"ered in chocolate. Michael loo$ed u and down
the hallway.
7Ta$e oint and watch both sides! Maria. 9ou $now the sign.8 Maria steed
bac$ against the wall and watched both ways as Michael reached u and tied the
entire machine forward. :e did it four times before a Ith &"enue bar droed! and
then another. Michael reached in and grabbed two candy bars.
Maria was bouncing. 7Than$ you! than$ you! than$ you;8 Cissing Michael
enthusiastically. Lunch was for cra. 79ou got me two;8
79eah! well you aid for one! and so did I.8 Michael loo$ed at her susiciously.
79ou did ay! right38
70h huh.8 Maria made a gesture of lugging a machine with chaAchin$ing
noises included. Loo$ing down at all the other things that droed still in the
bottom of the machine Maria as$ed Michael! 7what about that stuff38
7Didn,t ay for it. .ome on.8 :e led her away before anyone came by. If
someone else decided to eat a free candy bar that was their own $arma! not his.
In the ele"ator! Maria was still than$ing him enthusiastically for the candy bar.
Loo$ing u at the security camera! Michael swore! and mo"ed her forward so he
could reach a hand u to co"er it. )eaching around her! he flied off the run
switch and let her finish showing her areciation until a "oice on the sea$er
as$ed them to lease turn the ele"ator bac$ on.
7This lace has too many rules.8 Maria said as Michael dragged her off the
ele"ator finally.
7Tell me about it. +e/t time we,ll ta$e the stairs.8 Michael loo$ed at her as they
wor$ed their way towards his des$. 79ou going to tell me what you,re doing here38
7Maybe! if you let me sit on your la.8 Maria loo$ed at Ma/ and smiled. 7:i!
Ma/;8
384
7Maria! good to see that the "ending machine didn,t ta$e you risoner.8 Maria
'ust laughed. 7=hat did you buy38 Maria showed him her last remaining Ith &"enue
bar! but didn,t notice Ma/,s frown as he loo$ed at it.
7Maria! what,s u38 Michael as$ed! then his eyes fell uon the candy bar. 7&re
you going to share that38
7+oe. Mine. Two things! but the most imortant one first.8 Maria reached into
her bag and too$ out a small "ial of clear li%uid. 7This is a secial coating used in
entomology to coat insects in bug collections. This stuff is secial. It,s not a lac%uer!
but it,s li$e one. It was originally used in .entral &merica and Me/ico. They use
secial beetles! boil them! and the e/tract is this thic$ syruy residue that has
%ualities "ery much li$e lac%uer! but it doesn,t yellow o"er time! and it lea"es the
secimen clear with no decrease in the color.8
Cyle and (ean came o"er to 'oin them. Michael too$ the "ial! and oened it!
smelling it. That was the smell. 7=here,d you get this! Professor38
7The 5ug guys in the *ntomology Deartment at the 0ni"ersity. :ere,s their
card. I told them you would robably be in contact! and I brought you a samle to
test.8
Michael too$ the samle followed by both (ean and Cyle. 7=ait here! I,ll be
right bac$! Professor. 9ou coming! Ma/well38
Ma/<s hone rang at the same time! and he gestured Michael to ta$e off
without him. Maria 'ust sat down in Michael,s chair and oened u her candy bar!
and was eating it when Ma/ hung u the hone.
7(o! Ma/. I saw Isabel today.8 Ma/ loo$ed o"er at Maria. (he had that loo$ in
her eye! the loo$ full of mischief and seculation.
7)eally3 :ow,d it go38
385
7Pretty good. I introduced her to @onathan (tiller.8 Maria watched him closely!
and Ma/ felt his heart seed u at the mention of the other man,s name.
7)eally3 =hat does @onathan...(tiller ha"e to do with Isabel38 Maria noted the
ause in @onathan,s name and Ma/ a"oiding her eyes.
7:e,s going to hel her aly for funding to go to school.8 Maria tossed her
wraer in the garbage! smiled at a icture of her on Michael,s des$! and casually
oened the bottom drawer of his des$ slightly. @ac$ot; Mother load of chocolate
goodness; Maria heled herself to a chocolate and eanut candy bar. 7=hen did my
Detecti"e start hoarding candy bars in his des$38
7:e bought them today from =aters. I thin$ =aters< oldest daughter is selling
them for band cam or something.8 Maria too$ a bite of the candy.
7&dmirable.8 Maria loo$ed for something to drin$ and sied Michael<s halfA
finished coffee. =incing at it because it was teid! she dran$ it anyway. 7@onathan
as$ed about you.8
Ma/ went still. 7:e did3 =hat did he as$38
7>or your hone number.8 Ma/ leaned bac$ in his chair and rubbed a hand o"er
his face. :e didn,t $now what to do about that! what to say. Part of him was
leased that @onathan was see$ing him out! but a big art of him was aalled! still
beating himself u o"er the uncharacteristic e"ent in his life. &nd if it weren,t for
the $iss! he might ha"e con"inced himself it was nothing.
7Did you gi"e it to him38 Ma/ as$ed trying to aear casual.
7+o.8
7+o38 Ma/ tried to calm down.
7(hould I ha"e38 Ma/ 'ust shrugged. 7=hat,s going on Ma/38
386
7+othing. +othing is going on.8 Ma/ tried to a"oid her eyes! because she was
always able to get things out of him with 'ust her "oice or a loo$. 7I don,t want to
tal$ about it! and esecially not to you.8
7=hy3 =e,re friends.8 Maria,s eyes became thoughtful at the hrase Desecially
not to you,! and leaning forward she ut her arms on the des$. 7Is it because you
thought you were in lo"e with me38
7?h sweet @esus; Does e"eryone is the entire state $now this38 Ma/ shoo$ his
head and loo$ed at her. (he didn,t seem too concerned. 7=hy didn,t you say
anything38 he as$ed %uietly loo$ing around.
7It seemed $inder not to! and I $new sooner or later you would figure it out.
>igure out that you weren,t.8
7I,m that ob"ious! huh38 Thin$ing of @onathan (tiller! and his attraction to him!
Ma/ ut his head down on his des$ and moaned. :e was doomed. >atherhood!
Isabel! and lifestyle reAe"aluations were too much at once.
7+ot really. I 'ust $new that you were loo$ing for something! and you saw the
hoe of that in me.8 Ma/ loo$ed u confused. 7=hen eole are around the same
age! esecially family li$e you and Michael! and one starts settling down! it<s
ine"itable that the other one would follow. ?r want to follow. Michael found me! and
you were loo$ing for the same thing. Trying to find that sense of family that you
really hadn,t had since your arents died. It was 'ust time! Ma/. &nd it was
flattering that I was the ideal you were fashioning your search on.8
7I thought I was close with Tess.8
7I $now. (he has a sense of ower about her. It,s hard to e/lain.8
7I saw that! but it wasn,t what I wanted. It was strong! 'ust not...warm.8 Ma/
loo$ed down at his hands watching them clench and then unclench. 7I e/ected to
feel her in my stomach! that butterfly feeling and the ache in my heart! but I didn,t.
387
5ut there was a art of me that did feel that! but it wasn,t strong as I thought it
should be! more li$e a memory of a feeling and not the feeling itself. Then I
$issed...8 Ma/ 'ust went silent. 7Maybe I,m ha"ing an identity crisis38
7(o are you going to tell me about @onathan38
Ma/ shoo$ his head. 7+o! no. +o. +o.8 &nd then lying his head down on his
arms again! he told her anyway. 7I $issed him.8
Maria leaned forward. 7Did you say you $issed him38 ?h my! so that was how
the mil$ got in the coconut; 7Did he $iss you bac$38
7Maria;8 Ma/ loo$ed around and mo"ed forward closer to her leaning on his
des$. 7It was during the gay bar bust. :e was there. =e tal$ed. =e danced.8
Maria,s eyebrows went u at that. 7&nd then we $issed. It started out as mutual
rotection! and...and...8
7It became something else all together38 Ma/ 'ust nodded. 7=ell; I mean! I
thin$ @onathan had a relationshi with a male before! in college. +ot sure about
since! but I didn,t thin$ that you were really...8
7I,m not; ?$ay. ?r I wasn,t...or not...or maybe I am... I don,t $now.8 Ma/
loo$ed at her and then around the room. 79ou,"e got to hel me! Maria. =hat
should I do38
7I can,t answer that.8
7=hat would you do38 That was an unfair %uestion! and Ma/ $new it.
Maria 'ust wrote something on a iece of aer and seeing Michael and the
others coming bac$! stood u and handed it to Ma/! %uic$ly and gently $issing him
on the lis. 7@onathan,s number. :e as$ed for yours! so I,m gi"ing you his. =hat
you do with it is u to you.8
7Maria...8
387
7@ust as$ yourself about whether you would always want to $now! or if it was
'ust the moment. The decision is yours! Ma/.8
7Professor! are you rifling my des$38 Michael as$ed as Ma/ %uic$ly ushed the
aer in his to oc$et! and mouthed a than$ you to Maria.
79es I was! and I found your stash of chocolate bars.8
7Maria; 9ou didn,t ta$e...8
7I too$ one.8 Cissing him %uic$ly in a than$ you.
Michael loo$ed at her and shrugged. 7?h! well that,s o$ay.8 :e really did owe
her for bringing down the bug 'uice. It was the first real brea$ they had so far in
the case. 79ou said there were two reasons you came down. =hat was the other
one38
Ma/ loo$ed at Maria sharly. (he 'ust shoo$ her head no! and turned and
smiled at Michael. 7I 'ust wanted to tell you that I,m going out tomorrow night on a
sort of date.8 Michael,s eyes narrowed. :e should ha"e $nown better to listen before
reacting. 7=ith Liz. =e,re going to see a Dchic$ flic$, with the delectable Ce"in
(acey. (o it loo$s to be a golden oortunity for you!8 Maria hoo$ed her finger in
his shirt and leaned u and $issed him! 7to ha"e your famous o$er game without
me ustairs ha"ing to ignore the rude comments! and you ha"ing to shadow me all
o"er town.8
(ome time later! Maria realized she had tolerated the tal$ing and laughter
from the men for as long as she could! but a glance at her watch told her time was
a<wasting. 7I,m heading out. I,"e got to hit a dry cleaners! order some beer for
tomorrow! and numerous other things.8 Maria $issed Michael goodbye! and wa"ed
at the others on her way out. (toing at =aters< des$! she had a short
con"ersation with him! and left him her card! then went to find Liz Par$er. If she
hurried! she could get a na in before Michael made it home.
388
---
Michael and Ma/ finally got a lead on another one of their cases! and after an
une"entful interlude! they arehended the susect. >inally a successful end to a
case that didn,t include in'ury or mayhem;
7>eels li$e a letdown! doesn,t it38 Ma/ as$ed as they finished rocessing their
collar.
Michael laughed. 9eah. 9eah! it did. 7It,s li$e that feeling you get when you
loo$ at this awesome dessert! your mouth waters and the anticiation is high! and
then you ta$e the first bite! and it<s 'ust soAso.8
7*/actly. Li$e wor$ing u to an orgasm! and then ha"ing it fall flat.8
7I wouldn,t $now about that! artner.8 Michael snic$ered as Ma/ ushed him to
the side. 7(o what does this ma$e us3 &drenaline 'un$ies38
7+ot sure! but whate"er it is! the bug has (ean and Cyle! too.8 They laughed
on their way out to tie u loose ends! which included Ma/ ha"ing to return to court
for the arraignment.
Ma/ finally trac$ed Michael down a few hours later in the brea$room refilling
his coffee cu. 7:ey! artner. It,s late in the day to be still hitting the 'uice.8
7Tell me about it. If I don,t suc$ down more caffeine! I,m down for the count. I
need a na or something.8 Michael oured a generous amount of sugar in his coffee
as well. 79ou all finished with court now38
79eah! the arraignment was fast and easy. They didn,t e"en need me! but I got
to meet the new &ssistant D&. (he,s really easy on the eyes. (he,s from Te/as! and
has this real nice soft Te/an accent.8
7=ould that be a lilt or a twang38 Michael as$ed while yawning and stretching.
389
7Definite lilt! and that soft singsong "oice is bac$ed u with some incredible
legs.8
71reat! what haened to our last &D&38 Michael sat down in a chair and
leaned bac$ resting his eyes.
7That would now be the D&.8 Ma/ too$ the chair across from his artner.
7=hat,s u3 =hat,s got you fried38
7=hitman.8
7=hitman3 =e got anything on the cousin! yet38
7+o. That,s the roblem. I chec$ed the wire. +othing. &ll Points is catching
nothing but flyAbys! and all suort ser"ices! hosital! and morgues ha"en,t seen
any @ane,s matching. The community has ulled ran$! and not e"en the snitches are
coming through.8 Michael dran$ his coffee. 7I called &le/ and told him that we still
don<t ha"e any word.8
7:ow,d he ta$e it38
7(ilent. :e was silent.8 Michael rubbed his eyes. :e $new how (ean would,"e
ta$en it if it was Maria! how he would ta$e it. (ilent! hard! cold! and dee anger.
79ou want to tal$38 Ma/ went and oured himself a cu of coffee.
7&bout38
7=hy you,re so weird lately. =hy you need a na38 Ma/ said %uietly.
7=eird3 I,m not weird. &nd the na thing3 I,m 'ust sac$ed.8
7+o. It,s something else.8 Ma/ reached into his oc$et and too$ out a ten
dollar bill. 7*asy money artner. Ten buc$s says that if you dial right now! call
Maria! she<s naing! or needing one.8
Michael,s eyes narrowed! and he loo$ed at Ma/ thoughtfully. 7Don,t be an ass.
9ou can,t $now that.8
39:
7I can. I,"e got a theory. Ten buc$s. Ma$e the call.8 Ma/ watched as Michael
called Maria,s hone! and the enetrating loo$ his artner ga"e him as he wo$e u
a sleeing Maria. &fter hanging u! he loo$ed at the hone! and then at his artner.
7Ma/3 =hat gi"es3 :ow did you $now38
7It,s been weird! that,s all I,m saying. 9ou na recently. 9ou comlain about
your stomach! and in the mornings you,re off your usual eating habits or 'ust lain
sic$. &nd you ne"er get sic$. 5y midAmorning you,re eating the most incredible
cra! esecially sugar! meat! and rotein li$e eanuts. The other day you told me
that your feet loo$ed li$e they were swelling! and tell me when did you e"er eat a
Ith &"enue bar or e"en $now what one was3 9ou searched the entire PD until you
found the only machine stoc$ing them! and today your lady wal$s into this station!
goes to the third floor! and almost ta$es out a machine to get to a Ith &"enue
candy bar.8
Michael could add a few more things to the list li$e his o"eracti"e libido! a
raging dar$ ossessi"eness! and his thirst for Maria and her blood! but he refrained.
79our oint being38
7My oint is that if you were a woman I,d thin$ you were regnant.8
Michael stoed drin$ing his coffee. 7Pregnant. That,s not ossible.8
7?f course not! men can,t get regnant.8
5ut women can. Michael too$ his chec$boo$ out of the bac$ of his oc$et and
flied to the calendar. 6uic$ly counting the days and wee$s since the last circles
he ignored Ma/. Two! three! four...how could she ignore this3 >i"e...si/. (i/ wee$s!
almost se"en.
7(he,s late.8
7=hat38 Ma/ leaned to loo$ at what Michael was doing.
391
7Maria is late by o"er two wee$s.8 Michael sat bac$ ta$ing in the concet. Two
wee$s ago Maria was in the middle of test bloc$! and so busy that she barely had
time to eat or slee. 5ut how could she miss that3
79ou $ee trac$ of her cycle38 Ma/ loo$ed at Michael in shoc$.
7(ure. 9ou<"e ob"iously ne"er li"ed with a woman that gets grumy! achy! and
totally bitchy around that time of the month. I try to $ee trac$ so I $now what,s
coming! and I usually do something nice for her.8
7+ice38 The concet was comletely foreign to Ma/. +ot the doing something
nice thing! but the idea that Michael would do it.
7(ure. >or three days a month I don,t toss my dirty soc$s on the floor and
clean the sha"ing scum out of the sin$ when I finish! close all the cabinet doors!
don,t lea"e the seat u! tell her she loo$s beautiful! rotate the tires on her car! and
under no circumstances schedule a o$er game. It too$ me three months to catch a
clue! but once I did it<s been smooth sailing e"er since.8 Michael loo$ed at the
calendar. (i/ wee$s! almost se"en since her last eriod. .ounting the days! that ut
her about fi"e to si/ wee$s regnant. 75eing aware sa"es me from ha"ing to duc$
when glass ob'ects come flying at my head! or saying something that hurts her
feelings. 9ou $now! li$e <Is that icture hung croo$ed3<8
Ma/ couldn,t belie"e it. :e couldn,t wait to tell Isabel. (he wouldn,t belie"e
Michael could ay that much attention to any thing e/cet a crime scene. 7*ither
way! it doesn,t mean she,s regnant. That whole stuid idea that men ta$e on the
symtoms of regnancy is a nothing more than an old wi"es< tale. Loo$ at me and
Tess. I had to be told! and she,s three months along.8
71et with it! Ma/. ?ne minute you tell me I act regnant! and the ne/t you,re
reassuring me that Maria isn,t.8 Michael eyes dar$ened. 7=hat is it38
393
7I,m 'ust obser"ing! o$ay. 5ut before you go off all emotional and such! maybe
you should confirm it. They,"e got tests for that! you $now38
7*motional3 I don,t get emotional;8 Ma/ raised his hands in surrender as
Michael,s "oice rose in "olume. 7=ithin reason.8 Michael sat bac$ and really thought
about it. (he was regnant. (he was; That had to e/lain the rising ossessi"eness
he had been e/eriencing lately. They had gotten ast that months ago! and
suddenly he was feeling it again in sades. 7& father. I,m going to be a father.8
7Michael! before you get yourself all wor$ed u! maybe you should consider
ha"ing it confirmed.8
7I don,t need it confirmed. I $now. +ow...how to tell Maria. (he,s going to
frea$ and blame me.8 Michael said not 'ust a little smugly. It was hard to forget
Maria,s reaction when they had first met and become intimate! her bag of sulies
and her belief that he was able to imregnate her from across the street.
.onsidering they had beaten the ill! it loo$ed li$e the Professor was right once
again.
7Michael! maybe you shouldn,t get your hoes u.8 Ma/ ause at that thought.
That was it. That was what Michael was doing. :e was counting on Maria being
regnant! because he wanted it to be true. Ma/ frowned! wondering what the
statistics were on hysterical regnancies for men. Probably none/istent! but this
was Michael they were tal$ing about.
7I 'ust !now! o$ay38 .hloe was a nice girl name! and if it was a boy it had to
be Michael! called Mi$ey after Michael,s dad.
7Michael...8
7Loo$ Ma/! I $now! o$ay3 I 'ust $now.8 Michael loo$ed at his artner,s
concerned face and sighed. 7There,re things...things between me and Maria that
I<"e ne"er mentioned to you or anyone. Things that I can,t e/lain.8
394
7Things3 =hat $ind of things38
7=eird things! o$ay38 Michael blew air out of his mouth! and wet his lis!
loo$ing around the room to ma$e sure no one was around. 7Maria and me! we,"e
got this connection! a real connection that,s more than hysical.8 Ma/ 'ust frowned
in confusion. 7Loo$! she $nows things about me! things I<"e ne"er told anyone!
things that she couldn,t $now about my life! and we share common dreams! and...8
Michael aused! uncomfortable tal$ing about something ersonal to him and Maria.
7I see her! too. I get these flashes! or maybe they,re 'ust insights. 5ut I see things
about her! in her! and I feel her all o"er! inside.8
7I don,t understand.8
7Ma/!8 Michael loo$ed around %uic$ly before continuing! 7/aria is "sychic.8
---
>reddie stood in the door loo$ing o"er at his friend and boss. &le/ was sitting
in a booth with a bottle of scotch and a glass in front of him. The bottle was half
emty! and &le/ loo$ed intent on finishing the rest.
7&le/3 That,s not gonna hel.8 >reddie too$ the seat across from &le/.
&le/ 'ust shrugged. >ortyAeight hours. It was almost fortyAeight hours since
Crystal had disaeared. +o word. +othing. &le/ rubbed both his hands across his
face.
7The boys38 he as$ed %uietly.
7They<re still loo$ing. They,re hitting the streets! but word is nothing. Pete has
friends belling and deli"ering in local ra"es! e"en 'umers from dar$ side are
searching! but word is no one has seen 5eauty. .ran$ town is closed down and they
395
send their symathies.8 &le/ 'ust nodded. &ll the local underground clubs and
arties were closely loo$ing for Crystal! but no one had words or news.
7Tell Ceeley and *d to find (ly. :e doesn,t run this side any longer! but word is
he,s running utown in 5ric$s for yuies. (treet snitch sni"eler has to be holed u
somewhere. (omeone find 5ennie! 'ust clean him u before bringing him in. I want
to see them both.8
7&le/! maybe we should let the cos do the clean swee.8 >reddie frowned at
the slowly lowering le"el of booze left in the bottle. 79our cos! 1uerin and *"ans
are sha$ing trees! rousting $nown mouths! and we,re crossing their wires.8
7.os aren,t going to catch the floaters. Their #ice teams were stretched thin
last few wee$s to ta$e out the +azi high steers trolling and bagging fags. The
drifting arties are under their wire! and it,ll ta$e some legwor$ for them to get
bac$ into the life.8 &le/ downed another shot. 7Time is short! too short. I need
answers now.8
>reddie nodded and too$ off to ic$ u the scum that &le/ wanted to tal$ to.
They heard things! it was hard not to. 5ut suddenly the entire community was in
shoc$. Ta$ing a family member from a rotected club was unheard of! and her
disaearance had other 'oints reassessing their eole. Doors were closing fast
and undesirables were banned as the clubs did what they did best. Protect their
own.
>ortyAeight hours too long. &le/ 'ust sat there smo$ing and drin$ing! waiting
for news and answers. There was only silence as the music was stoed! and time
stood still. The nights were getting longer.
---
396
Michael banged into the loft! tossing his stuff across the sofa and headed for
the uer bedroom.
7In a hurry! Detecti"e38 Maria as$ed casually from where she stood in the
$itchen coo$ing. Mr. 5ooboo was $eeing her comany as she slied him a few
choice morsels.
7Thought you,d still be aslee.8 Michael loo$ed her o"er critically! from head to
toe noting her attire of his shirt again! barefoot! and loo$ing rested.
7I was until someone wo$e me u. Then I decided I was getting hungry. (o me
and Mr. 5 are coo$ing u an old fa"orite family recie. If you want to get cleaned
u! you,"e got time. It won,t be ready for at least an hour. I 'ust tossed it in the
o"en.8 Maria continued cleaning u the $itchen! tossing more scras of ham to the
cat.
7I need you to do something for me.8
Maria loo$ed at him curiously! then shrugged. Mo"ing out of the $itchen she
ga"e the cat one last scra of food! and sat the timer on the o"en. 79ou beha"e. +o
getting on the counters. Don,t thin$ I won,t $now.8
The cat 'ust loo$ed at her and blin$ed.
Michael too$ her hand and ractically dragged her ustairs with him. Maria
sied the aer bag he was clutching. 7=hat,s in the bag38 Maria as$ed and
suddenly her face became brighter. 7.oo$ies38
7+o! not coo$ies. .ome on.8
=hen they headed for their bathroom Maria became e"en more curious.
7=hat,s going on38
7I need you to do this for me.8 Michael shut the bathroom door! and ulled out
a regnancy test. Maria loo$ed at the test and shoo$ her head.
397
7Don,t need that.8 (he ushed it bac$ along the bathroom basin counter
towards Michael.
7Professor! 'ust ta$e the test.8 Maria stubbornly refused sha$ing her head.
7Listen to me. I,"e been sic$ in the mornings! and sometimes in the e"enings. I,"e
been ha"ing strange cra"ings! but they,re not strange! they,re yo#r cra"ings. &nd I
ta$e nas in the middle of the day.8
7(ounds li$e you,re regnant! Detecti"e. (o fine.8 Maria ushed the bo/ at
him. 79ou ta$e the test! I,m going to go finish coo$ing.8
:e hoo$ed an arm around her waist! and stoed her from fleeing. 7Maria!
you,re late. Loo$ at your schedule.8
7That,s imossible! the ill not only rotects me! but it ma$es my cycle run li$e
cloc$wor$.8 Maria tried to ull away again. 7I,m not regnant.8
7@ust loo$! Maria. 9ou s$ied two wee$s ago.8
7+o! I didn,t. I would ha"e noticed.8 Maria ushed him away and went to the
drawer where she $et her birth control ills. 7I ha"en,t missed a single ill. Loo$.
&nd my eriod comes at the end of one ac$! and the beginning of the other.8 Maria
too$ out the ill counter and loo$ed at it confused! almost counting the days.
*/cet last cycle. (he was late. (he remembered starting the new ac$ and
wondering why she was late. 5ut then there was testing bloc$! students, aers! a
chater of her Thesis due! the museum,s en"ironmental controls and heating went
haywire! and all the wor$ getting ready for the charity auction. &ll those things hit
at once! but one thing didn,t. :er eriod. Maria sat on the closed toilet seat 'ust
staring at her counter. That was imossible. (he was on the ill! and she ne"er
missed or s$ied a day.
7Maria38 Michael lifted her head and forced her to loo$ at him. 7Maria! you,"e
got to ta$e the test! honey. =e,"e got to $now.8
397
Maria 'ust nodded as Michael oened u the bo/ and too$ out instructions and
the testing $it. )eading it! he started e/laining it to Maria when she suddenly
stood u ta$ing the stuff from him and ushing him out of the bathroom.
7?ut. I can handle it.8
7=hat3 Loo$ all you,"e got to do is ee...8
7?ut;8
Michael suddenly found himself on the other side of a shut door. )esting his
head on the door! he $noc$ed. 7Maria. .ome on! let me in.8
7+o;8 Michael could hear her "oice brea$ing through the door.
7Maria38 :e 'ust waited as she didn,t sea$. (he was ta$ing it better than he
e/ected.
Maria sat on the toilet seat reading the directions! trying to %uell the rising
anic in her stomach. Ignoring Michael,s $noc$ing on the door! she tried to
concentrate. It seemed stuid esecially after being intimate with him for a year!
but she couldn,t ee if he was in there watching. It was 'ust different.
.hocolate. (he needed chocolate. Loo$ing around the room! she cursed
whate"er foolish gene in her body that didn,t force her to $ee a stash in this room
handy. )ushing to the door! she oened it suddenly! almost ma$ing Michael fall
forward on his face.
7.hocolate! for the lo"e of 7od find me some chocolate...8 Michael searched
her face! she was ale. Meltdown! she was on her way to a full scale anic attac$
li$e the one she had had when a bat found its way into the house last fall. (he shut
the door in his face again! but this time didn,t loc$ it.
)ushing downstairs! he searched high and low until he found a large chocolate
bar. )ushing ustairs! he $noc$ed on the door trying to resect her ri"acy! but
398
when there was no answer he entered anyway. Maria was sitting in the bathtub! the
emty bathtub! staring at the test on the tiled shelf.
7Did you38
7(hush!8 Maria held u her hand. ?oo$ay. :e steed into the bathtub with
her! and ulled her into his arms while she stared at the test.
7:ow long38
8Three minutes. (hhh.8 Michael loo$ed at his watch wondering how long it
already had been. Passing her the chocolate! he watched as she nibbled on it! ne"er
once remo"ing her eyes from the test. =hen fi"e minutes assed he sighed. (he
wasn,t going to loo$ at it! but 'ust stare at it li$e it was the enemy.
)eaching o"er! he too$ it from the shelf! ignoring her %uic$ inta$e of breath.
Loo$ing at the small window in the test! he frowned. 7=hat do the colors mean3
Maria38 1i"ing u he sied the information sheet! and %uic$ly read the result
readout. Positi"e. It was ositi"e. Michael leaned bac$ resting his head and ulling
her close to him. :e felt li$e he had run a marathon.
7Michael38
7Positi"e.8 Maria 'ust nodded against him and he watched as she started eating
her chocolate faster. 79ou want a aer bag with that38
7+?; I,m not anic$ing! not really. I,m ad'usting.8 Maria got u and out of the
bathtub suddenly and began acing while Michael watched her from where he sat.
Mr. 5ooboo came to sit in the doorway and followed her acing with a mo"e of his
head bac$ and forth! li$e he was watching a tennis match.
7If you calm down 'ust a second...8
7I,m calm; This is me calm. ?$3 This can,t be haening. It can,t.8 Maria
stoed and loo$ed at him. 7It has to be illegal.8
7=hat38
399
70h huh! I sure there,s a law! or statute or some mandate that states lainly
that Maria DeLuca should at no time be resonsible for small helless creatures;8
Maria loo$ed at the cat! and shrugged. 7That doesn,t include you! Mr. 5oo.8 Maria
stoed ne/t to the bath and ointed a finger at Michael. 79ou,re in so much
trouble! buster.8
780m in trouble3 =hy me38
7:ellooo3 Cnoc$ed u!8 Maria gestured to herself. 7&nd $noc$er uer.8 (he
ointed to Michael. 71reat! 'ust great. Cnoc$s me u! and then he,ll be languishing
in rison! getting three s%uare meals a day and watching tele"ision while I ha"e to
raise the $id alone.8
7Maria...8 (he stoed acing at the word D$id,. )eaching down she laced both
her hands o"er her flat stomach. & $id. & small child. (omeone defenseless and
helless deending on her to remember things! be there! and not fla$e out. &
mother. (he was going to be a mother. Maria %uic$ly sat down on the side of the
bath and ut her head between her legs.
7I can,t.8 Maria 'ust shoo$ her head. 7I didn,t reare. I didn,t read any boo$s
yet! or...or watch "ideos. They ma$e you watch "ideos don,t they3 I always figured
when I got the urge to...to...um...to rocreate I would read e"erything! inter"iew
breathing mothers! or watch "ideos! and then ut it all away as a bad idea for me. I
can,t find my shoes most mornings. I ne"er remember to ut myself to bed. I...8
7Maria.8
7It snuc$ u on me. ?h 1od; ?h course it did. It,s yo#r child! and you,re
always so damn snea$y! 'ust sliding in there without e"en announcing your
intentions.8 Maria was off on a rant and acing again. 7I !new it; I 'ust $new it. The
moment I laid eyes on you I $new you were a babyAma$ing machine! 'ust lying in
4::
wait to imregnate. I let my guard down after a year.8 Maria ut her hands on her
his. 7(oooo de"ious;8
7De"ious38 Michael,s "oice rising in e/aseration. 7Maria.8
7=ell! you,re going to ha"e to set a better e/amle than that; I won,t be
ambushed in my own home. I can already see it! the two of you and the cat
ganging u on me! getting your way.8 Maria shuddered as cold harsh reality was
settling on her. 7?h god! I,m a "ictim of a snea$ attac$.8
Michael finally got out of the bathtub and ulled her against him as he leaned
bac$ against the sin$. 7+o you,re not. =hat are you saying! Maria3 9ou don,t want
this baby38
Maria sho"ed his hands off her. 7?h course I want it; :ellooo3 .atholic. The
worse $ind. Italian .atholic. #ery! very .atholic. )osary beads! school uniforms!
catechism classes and communion.8 Maria closed her eyes and sighed resting
against him. 7@ust gi"e me a few moments to ad'ust o$ay38
Michael nodded and ulled her head to his chest as his hand went under her
hair to hold her close. :is other slowly mo"ed down her body to come to rest on
her stomach o"er her womb. .losing his eyes he 'ust felt! 'ust felt...comlete.
7I,m not ready for this!8 she whisered ne/t to him. 7I need to catch u! do
some reading! or ta$e a class. I can,t ta$e a chance on failing at this.8
7(hush! it,s o$ay! we,ll both do some reading! o$ay38
Maria 'ust nodded when a thought occurred to her. 7Michael! do they come
with instructions38
Michael 'ust laughed under his breath. =hy wasn,t he more uset or anic$ed
li$e Maria was3 It was hard to come to terms with what he felt! but the closest
descrition would be wonder. &we. :e had ne"er had family! 'ust Mi$ey. &nd when
Mi$ey died! Ma/ and Isabel. 5ut they were more a self contained unit! so until he
4:1
met Maria he ne"er really had anyone that belonged to him e/clusi"ely! not since
Mi$ey. This was hisAall his and Maria,s. This tied them together fore"er in a way too
hysical to deny.
Michael finally calmed her down enough to tal$ her into heling him finish
coo$ing. That basically in"ol"ed him doing all the wor$ while as$ing her for
instructions while she sat on the sofa ma$ing Duh huh, noises. :e 'ust finished
dinner as best he could! ma$ing a salad! and setting the table. )eaching for a bottle
of wine! he %uic$ly ut it away and oured them both a glass of mil$.
Michael tal$ed her into eating something! but for the rest of the early e"ening
she remained %uiet and ensi"e. &t one oint! Michael was rac$ing his brain trying
to thin$ of someone to call who could ma$e it better.
7?h 1od;8 Michael loo$ed at her sharly thin$ing she was in ain. 75irth
control! I was ta$ing my birth control;8 Maria sat u and grabbed Michael ainfully.
7The baby,s going to ha"e birth defects or...or...I dran$ alcohol. I,m ositi"e I dran$
alcohol. & beer last wee$! wine for dinner...oh 1od! hand me something to write on.
I should record all the bad things I did to war our baby.8 Michael frowned as Maria
started to wor$ herself u into another anic. 7Do you thin$ it will be abnormal
because of me38
7Maria...8
7It,s not e"en born! and I,m already a terrible mother.8 Michael watched as
tears started to fall. ?h shit.
7Maria! you,"e got to calm down! o$ay38 Michael wished he could our her
some whis$ey! or anything with caffeine! but both would 'ust increase her an/iety.
7Maria! it,s o$ay. Peole get regnant e"eryday! and don,t realize it for wee$s. Tess
is 'ust figuring it out after three months.8
4:3
Maria thought about it! and nodded. That was true! but then again Tess was
crying for o"er a wee$. Maybe she,s afraid the baby is wrong. Maybe...
Michael frowned. :e e/ected her to be frea$ed! and a little arehensi"e! but
her real fear was touching him. 7Maria! let,s not let this get out of control.
Tomorrow we,ll call and get an aointment. 0ntil then! how about a mo"ie3 I,ll let
you ic$.8
Maria loo$ed at him and smiled slightly. :e was right! and she was 'ust feeding
her own an/iety. 7.an I ha"e e/tra butter and a large mil$ dud38
79eah! but no cola! bottled water or 'uice.8 Maria 'ust shri"eled u her nose! as
they went to change and grabbed their coats. ?n the way out the door! Michael had
to $now. 7(o that .atholic schoolgirl,s uniform! um...you don,t still ha"e it do you38
---
=hen Ma/ made it home! he was shoc$ed to see the scene that waited for
him. Isabel was in the $itchen haily coo$ing and singing to music. (he was
drin$ing a tomato 'uice with Tabasco minus the "od$a. It was so good to see her
hay and smiling.
7Ma/; @ust in time for dinner.8 Isabel finished stirring a ot! and returned the
lid. 7It,ll be done in another ten minutes or so! which is lenty of time for you to get
changed and ready for dinner.8
7=hat is it38 The creature inhabiting his usually %uiet and lonely aartment
was one e"en he didn,t $now.
7& surrise. 1o clean u! and we,ll eat.8 Ma/ hesitated! but finally went.
=hate"er it was it smelt good. =hen Ma/ came bac$! Isabel was setting the table
and ouring them both bottled water.
4:4
7(o you want to tell me what,s ma$ing you so hay38 Ma/ as$ed sitting down
after $issing her on the chee$.
7I met someone today.8 Ma/ held his breath waiting for Isabel to tell him that
she met @onathan (tiller. 7Maria introduced me to a friend of hers! a @onathan
(tiller. I had lunch with him and Maria! and then he too$ me out to The Tea )oom.8
7(o it was a good date.8 Ma/ as$ed %uietly.
7+ot really a date! but a meeting. :e,s going to ush my alication for
educational funding through this >oundation thing he,s .*? for.8 Isabel leaned
forward e/citedly. 7Ma/! he said that since I too$ a lea"e of absence from the
0ni"ersity in &lbu%uer%ue! and all my grades were in good standing! that I should
be able to get admitted to the 0ni"ersity here as a transfer student; The session
has already started! but there are some night classes and half semester classes I
can ta$e while I wait for the >all semester! and...there is this summer.8
Ma/ watched his sister,s e/citement rising. 7(o he,s going to hel you with the
aer wor$38
7+o. I mean yes! but technically! no. :e told me to come by his offices
tomorrow and one of his assistants will hel me to fill e"erything out.8 Isabel leaned
forward and giggled. 7&nd...and; :e ga"e me a contact number! which I called for
this clinic downtown. I got a 'ob;8
7& 'ob3 Today! you did all this in one day38 Ma/ sat bac$ amazed.
7I did. ?$ay! the 'ob sort of suc$s. The ay is lousy! but the hours are fle/ible.
It is a sort of crisis clinic li$e the one I wor$ed in when I was in &rizona! but it,s
suorted by this >oundation! and it is staffed by students from the 0ni"ersity with
a few trained sychologists.8 Isabel too$ u the lates and started ser"ing. 7The
best thing is that they<ll wor$ with my class schedule.8
4:5
Ma/ too$ the late that Isabel offered him. 7That sounds great! Iz. (o did you
call Michael and tell him! yet38
7+o chance! but I wanted to call Maria and than$ her for the hel. I guess
she,ll tell Mi$ey at the same time.8 Isabel ser"ed salad in the bowls and assed one
to Ma/. 7I don,t $now how to than$ her. (he 'ust introduced me to someone! and
then suddenly it was li$e doors oened.8
Ma/ 'ust nodded tasting the food. 7Things haen that way around Maria.8
>rowning at his late! Ma/ loo$ed u at Isabel. 7=hat is this38
7.o% au #in. Mom,s recie.8 Ma/ loo$ed at his sister closely.
79ou o$ay38 he as$ed %uietly. Isabel nodded cho$ing bac$ tears. Ma/ too$
another bite! and loo$ed at Isabel again as a tear ran down her chee$. 7I don,t
remember Mom,s .o% au #in tasting li$e this. This is good.8
7It didn,t.8 Isabel wied the tear off and smiled. 7)emember the frittata38
Ma/ laughed with Isabel. 71od! that was awful; Don,t tell me that you,"e got
that recie! too38
8I do. >rittata di ,"inaci e .acio.8
7=hat the hec$ does that mean38
75asically! sinach and cheese omelet! but whate"er Mom did to it made it
inedible. I couldn,t figure out how e"erything she coo$ed tasted li$e dirt or ashes.8
They laughed and reminisced o"er other coo$ing disasters. 7I miss her. I miss her
bad coo$ing! and the way she was always there when I needed her.8
7I $now.8 Ma/ said %uietly. 7I miss her! too. &nd dad.8 Isabel 'ust nodded. Ma/
loo$ed at his sad sister! and for once she seemed sad! but serene in it! acceting.
79ou want to go "isit them38
Isabel loo$ed at him! and in silence they shared a world of ain. 79eah! I
would. I thin$ it,s about time.8 They were great arents. &nd not for the first time!
4:6
both of them wished their arents had been small time family ractice lawyers in a
smaller town li$e )oswell instead of criminal lawyers in &lbu%uer%ue! but life was
full of <what ifs< and wishes that would ne"er come true! and it was time to face
reality and go on.
7(o what are you going to do about this whole baby thing38 Isabel as$ed later
as they were drin$ing an after dinner coffee.
75aby thing38 Ma/ was confused for a moment thin$ing Isabel $new about
Michael and Maria! until suddenly he realized she was tal$ing about Tess and his
baby. 7:a"e a baby! I guess. It,s retty much a done deal.8
Isabel loo$ed at him. 79ou seem calm about it. =hat,s going on in that head38
7Truthfully38 Isabel nodded. 7I don,t $now. It,s ossible that the full imlication
of what it means hasn,t hit me yet. I as$ed Tess to marry me.8
7Marry3 5ut...8
7(he said no. Part of me was disaointed! and another relie"ed.8 Ma/ dran$
his coffee and leaned bac$ on the sofa. 7The only thing I really $now is that I,m a
mass of contradictions! and confusion seems to be ruling my ersonal life. The only
thing I,m sure about is my wor$.8
7(o you,re not frea$ing38
7(urrisingly! no. I thin$ I,m o$ay with it. Tess is a nice woman! and she<s
smart and gentle! a erfect mom tye. I 'ust guess I ne"er really saw her! or $new
her. There was something though...8
Isabel 'ust sat bac$ and listened as Ma/ tried to e/lain and tal$ about his
relationshi with Tess. :er interest i%ued when he mentioned feeling a sense of
familiarity in the same way that he felt with Michael when they first met! but how
that sense had something more intense to it.
4:7
7(ounds li$e I need to meet this Tess. &fter all! I am going to be an aunt.8 Ma/
nodded! but refrained from mentioning to her that she might actually be an aunt
twice. That was Michael,s news to tell.
79ou are.8 Ma/ closed his eyes and rested for a moment. Thin$ing of that iece
of aer Maria ga"e him! he let uncertainty wash o"er his body. Life was too hard
sometimes.
7(o what,s causing all the grimacing on your face now38 Isabel as$ed. Ma/
oened an eye and loo$ed at his sister. (he loo$ed so beautiful! so ali"e! and for
the first time in fore"er! ready for tomorrow.
7@ust thin$ing.8
7Thin$ing3 &bout what3 @ust things38
79eah! things.8 Ma/ mo"ed around and lounged full length on the sofa so he
could loo$ at his sister in the large comfy chair. 7I once thought I found someone
that was secial to me! that might ha"e made a difference in my life. (he...I don,t
$now. (he touched me.8
7Tess38
7+o. Tess did touch me in some way! almost li$e a clouded memory. This
woman was different. I felt...8 Ma/ shrugged as he searched for words! descritors!
anything that could cature a feeling into simle words. :ow does a erson
describe a uni%ue feeling that they ne"er felt with anyone else.
7Ma/38
7I don,t $now. I felt ali"e! li$e I was hotwired. :ard to e/lain. There was
something about her! something so ure and honest.8
7=hat haened38 Isabel as$ed. (he sort of felt that once! or felt a glimse of
it.
4:7
7)ight girl! wrong time. Maria e/lained this concet to me once! a sort of
selecti"e seciation.8
7Do I want to hear this38 Isabel as$ed after ha"ing sent lunch with Maria! she
was beginning to belie"e that Maria had a lecture for e"ery sub'ect.
7Maybe not! but you as$ed what went wrong! and I thin$ this is it.8 Ma/ smiled
as Isabel %uic$ly went to refill their coffees. 7Maria said that secies didn,t mate
across secies lines often for many reasons. (ometimes it was a chemical
imbalance! li$e the chromosomes didn,t match. There could also be hysical
barriers li$e Dtab &, didn,t fit into Dslot 5,! so breeding was imossible. ?r the
hormones of attraction didn,t aeal! or their mating season were off.8
7(o you and this woman,s tabs and your slots didn,t match38
7+o more li$e our mating seasons were off. =e met the right erson! but at
the wrong time. I was busy with e"erything in my life! a high rofile murder!8 Ma/
refrained from mentioning Isabel and her roblems. 7&nd then I met a glimse of
what I was searching for in Maria and Michael! and it felt out of reach. This
woman,s life was too comlicated! as was mine. :er needs too great! as were mine.
*"erything at the time was wrong! and when I thought it might be right! she mo"ed
on.8 Ma/ occasionally still regretted not e"en once $issing Liz Par$er.
7I,m sorry.8 Isabel wondered if it was a curse of theirs to 'ust brush ne/t to
that something secial! but let their li"es re"ent them from really touching it. &le/
=hitman.
7Me! too.8 Ma/ couldn,t begin to say how sorry he was. It was li$e he missed a
big clue in his life! and had been floundering e"er since.
7+o chance3 *"er38 Isabel hadn,t realized until that moment that she was
hoing for &le/ =hitman still.
4:8
7I don,t $now. It 'ust seems that my life is for cra right now! all o"er the
lace and u in the air. =ho would want to wal$ into the life of a man who has a
child on the way with another woman! and then there,s my confusion o"er who I
am.8
7I can relate. *"en if I found something real! it wouldn,t be right. +ot until I
straighten out this mess I made of my life.8 Isabel finished her coffee and sat it on
the coffee table. 7I want to meet the lo"e of my life! whole! and free to lo"e him
without conditions. I want what Michael has found.8
7(ame here. I don,t want to meet someone and hand them all my baggage
and tell them to deal. I want to be free to lo"e unconditionally and be lo"ed the
same way.8 Ma/ sighed. :e wasn<t there yet. 79ou $now Michael had roblems! but
so did Maria. The difference was their roblems weren,t fuc$ing them u. They were
both reressing emotions! but at the same time! they were fully aware of it. They
both recognized what was wrong! and they were coing and fi/ing thing for
themsel"es. =hen they got together it 'ust made it easier for them! but they
weren,t e/ecting the other to fi/ it! or li"e with it. 5eing with each other made
them want to be more oen and honest! and find ways to o"ercome their asts. I
saw it wor$! and I wanted that strength! that freedom.8
7:e,s changed. Michael,s changed.8
7+o he hasn,t. +ot really. I $ee seeing the Michael I always $new! that erson
dee inside that was there before his dad died. Maria 'ust hels him mo"e ast the
ain! and lets him come out again.8 Ma/ laughed remembering Michael,s runAins
with "arious eole o"er the last year. 7*ssentially he is still the same bad haired!
bad temered son of a bitch that mows o"er e"eryone in his way.8 Ma/ laughed in
good humor. 7+ow he 'ust smiles when he does it! and really! really en'oys it.8
4:9
71reat. Lo"e to see his sycho crazed smile dri"ing u behind me.8 Isabel
shuddered delicately for show. Loo$ing at her brother! she let a %uestion she had
assed o"er come bac$ around. 7(o what do you mean you,re confused o"er who
you are38
7It,s nothing.8 Isabel refused to budge. 7)eally. It,s 'ust a slight identity crisis I
thin$.8 Isabel,s eyes became narrow in seculation. 7I $issed a man in a gay bar.8
7I go away for a year and the world turns around in a crazy alternati"e
uni"erse.8 Isabel gets u! and %uic$ly ushes Ma/,s legs off the sofa so she can sit
beside him. 7?$ay! start at the beginning! don,t lea"e out any details...actually feel
free to embellish a little. (o this $iss was it hot! not so hot! or nuclear38
7Isabel...8 Ma/ begins to whine.
7=ait;8 Isabel 'ums u with her hand out halting him. 7I,m going to ma$e us
some microwa"e ocorn.8 Isabel rushed into the $itchen to %uic$ly ma$e the corn
and our them both a cola when a scary thought hit her hard. 7?h 1od! it wasn,t
Michael was it38
7+?;8 Ma/ horrified "oice came from the li"ing room. Isabel sighed a dee
relief. It was one thing to ha"e the entire world turned around! but ta$ing a wic$ed
twist into the twilight zone would,"e been more than she could,"e handled.
41:
Day I: Wednesday- %:00 a.m.

Michael groaned as the ringing of the hone wo$e him. 1athering Maria tight
to his side and slightly under him! he %uic$ly answered the hone before it wo$e
her. It had ta$en fore"er for her to fall aslee! e"en after calming down during the
mo"ie. :e sat through a total mushfest watching her cry her eyes out! and couldn,t
belie"e he had missed the clue of her recent more emotional mood swings.
+ormally Maria was a erson who turned the channel when the damn :allmar$
commercials came on.
79eah38 Michael blin$ed his eyes trying to focus his eyes on the bedside cloc$.
Dammit! two in the morning. Michael became more alert as the disatcher ga"e
him information. 7Tell units I,m rolling in ten. .ode *ight *"ans to meet on site.
&lso! sha$e u DeLuca and #alenti to scene.8
Michael went to get dress. 5efore he left the loft he %uic$ly wrote Maria a note
and ut it where she would find it when she wo$e u. Cissing her %uic$ly and
resting his hand on her body! he left the loft.
It was chilly in the early morning air. =hen Michael made the scene! the
surrounding area was clean and dar$. It was one of )oswell,s largest ar$s.
(earching the dar$ tree lined areas! he %uic$ly went under the olice tae and
flashed his badge. :is belt was still missing! so he had hoo$ed his badge to the
chain around his nec$ holding Mi$ey,s dogtags.
(eeing only two units on site! and no suort teams! he %uic$ly radioed in for
*T& for suort teams. They were still ten minutes out. >inding a uniform officer!
Michael as$ed who was the first on site.
7Peterson! who,s my )P38 The man ointed at another officer tal$ing into
s%uaw$.
411
7:arris. :e was atrolling this section of the Par$ when he found the body.8
Michael nodded and mo"ed off towards the officer that called in the scene.
7:arris38 The man nodded. Michael recognized him as a generation co with
ten years e/erience. 79ou were first on scene38
79es! sir.8 Michael loo$ed at the area. It was a small restroom area with
garbage recetacles.
7:ow long ago38
7Less than half an hour. I had atrolled through this section only an hour
re"ious! but didn,t notice anything. The last time through I noticed dogs! about
three of them! messing around the area.8 :arris shined his light along the ath to
the ar$ing area where his atrol car was ar$ed. 7I roceeded u the ath! and
the dogs ran when I aroached. &s soon as I saw the wraed body I called into
disatch.8
+odded! ma$ing notes in his boo$. 7Then (e"en Da"id .harley resonded38
7&bout fi"e minutes after I called. I re%uested a .ode ?ne bac$u to atrol the
ar$ and mo"e in from the entrance.8 Michael nodded.
7They ic$ u any mo"ement when they resonded and atrolled through38
:arris shoo$ his head no. 7The ar$ was emty! no entering or lea"ing
"ehicles. (e"en Da"id .harley chec$ed all standing "ehicles and too$ information
on ar$ lur$ers! mostly young coules ar$ing. Peterson,s artner has the
information and list.8
Michael loo$ed o"er at the ar$ing area when Ma/,s car dro"e u. :e could
see other "ehicles mo"ing through the dar$ ar$ as their lights lit u the night s$y.
7&nyone mess with the body38
7+o! sir.8 Michael nodded. :arris was a rofessional. :e would,"e $et the
scene ristine once he $new what he was loo$ing at.
413
7.oy me your reort! and see if someone can call down to Power to turn on
this grid.8 Michael ointed to the baseball diamond that the bathrooms ser"iced.
The restroom area had e/tra lights that where lit during night games. :arris
nodded! understanding that Michael was assigning him to the team as first on the
scene. Michael loo$ed out at the dar$ woods and frowned. 7:arris! also call in e/tra
units. I want them to sread out into the woods and wal$ in. Loo$ for watchers.
They find anyone! ha"e them bring them in. .an you co"er38
:arris nodded. :e was officially in charge of the foot uniforms. ?n his way
bac$ to his unit! he started calling it in.
Ma/ came u to Michael as :arris wal$ed away. 7=hat we got38 Michael
inclined his head to the lastic wraed body by the garbage. (wearing under his
breath! Ma/ loo$ed around the area. It was too dar$.
7Cee e"eryone off the scene until the lights come u. The body was robably
rolled from a car again! but this time they would,"e dri"en on the dirt access that
the disosal truc$s use. =e might get some clear trac$s! and tire tread.8 Michael
loo$ed at the closest ar$ing sace. 7:a"e the boys start combing the ar$ing area
with lights.8
Ma/ nodded as (ean and Cyle arri"ed. (imon and his men were close behind
as the baseball diamond<s lights suddenly came on. 1ood man! :arris.
They found where the car had bac$ed in and rolled the body. Then it was
dragged for about two feet to be set u ne/t to the dumster. Michael and the rest
mo"ed off the tae to mar$ the crime scene to include the trac$s.
7(imon.8 Michael said ointing to an area.
7I see them.8 (imon called to one of his men to start recording a air of
footrints with clear edges and boot treads.
414
Michael finally mo"ed towards the body! while ictures were shot and the body
outline taed. 0sing an edge of a encil! he lifted the lastic away. The dogs had
been chewing though the lastic and had unco"ered a foot. Michael stared for a
moment! and then rubbed his hands o"er his face as he crouched beside the body.
7:a"e someone call =hitman in.8 Michael said %uietly. Ma/ 'ust hung his head
and closed his eyes. Too late! they were too late.
Michael %uietly watched the autosy. :e and (imon e/changed silent loo$s!
much li$e they had done at the scene. This body was rocessed too! but not to the
same e/tent @anet (eers had been. Crystal =hitman,s body was coated in the clear
shellac! but her blood and internal organs still remained in her body! untouched.
8=hat is it! Michael38 Ma/ as$ed later as they hit the coffee! again. It was
almost fi"e a.m.! and they were all feeling the tiredness. Cyle and (ean were both
doctoring their coffee with mil$ and sugar! when (imon came in to 'oin them.
7Maria was right. The duming is wrong. *"en though this body isn<t as
rocessed as the other one! all this wor$ imlies that he<s $eeing them or has a
urose! but for some reason he dums them.8 Michael ran his coffee cu o"er his
forehead en'oying the warm feeling. :e could feel an early morning headache
coming on and a slight rising nausea. Morning sic$ness. :ow long does this last3
7Michael.8 (imon handed Michael a list and some other aers. 7:ere,s the
initial reort. =e,re running blood analysis! but she,s been dead about twentyAfour
hours.8
Michael nodded! and read down the initial reort. Tattoo on right hi. 7(imon!
the tattoo! what was it38
7It was a tiny butterfly! "ery small. Technically it was on her right asschee$!
but u high! more on the hi. I almost didn,t notice it at first! and then I thought it
415
was a temorary.8 (imon watched that dar$ faraway loo$ come into Michael,s eyes.
7=hat is it38
7@anet (eers had a barely noticeable birthmar$ on her inner thigh.8
7That,s correct.8 (imon shifted on his feet. 79ou said to let you $now when
&le/ =hitman arri"ed to identify the body.8
7:e,s here38
79eah! about fi"e minutes ago.8 (imon loo$ed at 1uerin and then away. :e
$new what Michael was going to do! and he didn,t en"y him. 79ou want me to...8
7I,ll ta$e care of it.8 Michael ut down his coffee cu on the table and headed
for the door.
7Michael! you want me to come too38 Ma/ as$ed %uietly. Michael 'ust shoo$ his
head no.
7I,ll be bac$.8
Michael found &le/ sitting in a chair in the hall outside (imon,s office. :e was
unsha"en and loo$ed to not ha"e slet in days. Mentally steeling himself against it
Michael did what he always did! his duty.
7&le/.8 Michael felt the coldness in the eyes! the $nowledge that was too far
seeded inside not to be aware. &le/ $new why he was there! and nothing would
e"er change that. &le/ 'ust stood u and with a slight gesture in Michael,s direction
waiting for the man to ta$e him to his cousin.
&le/ followed as Michael led the way. :e stoed to tal$ to a technician and
ta$e a cliboard. (imon had mo"ed the body bac$ into cold storage! and Michael
went to oen the door to ull out the cold slab.
5efore he could ull bac$ the sheet! &le/ beat him to it. (tanding tall abo"e
his cousin! &le/,s eyes sur"eyed e"ery inch of her face. :e nodded slightly. Michael
silently handed him the aers and watched as &le/ %uic$ly signed his name.
416
7.an I ha"e a moment38 &le/ as$ed after he handed bac$ the aers. Michael
'ust mo"ed away to stand against the wall and wait for &le/ to be through. (ean
was standing 'ust inside the door. Michael hadn,t e"en realized that he had come in.
5oth men remained %uiet and ga"e &le/ some ri"acy with his cousin.
&le/ loo$ed at her! searched her face for a hint of life. The only thing about her
that still loo$ed ali"e was her red hair which was obscene against the aleness of
death. )eaching o"er! he oened her eyes and stared into their emty orbs. Then
leaning down he whisered into her ear and then $issed her lifeless mouth before
straightening and co"ering the emty wasted shell of his cousin. (he! who once was
Crystal and (%uea$ to him! had already gone.
&le/ left the room! hardly nodding to Michael! but did ause long enough to
than$ him for finding her. Michael rested his head bac$ against the wall and closed
his eyes. :e didn,t bother to watch &le/ wal$ away! and (ean 'ust stood silently!
staring at the bac$ wall of stainless steel morgue drawers.
7=hy did he oen her eyes and loo$ at them38 (ean finally as$ed.
Michael sighed and mo"ed out of the room with (ean following him. :anding
the aers o"er to (imon,s assistant! Michael went to the ele"ators.
7:e had to loo$. =hen my father died in my arms! I watched the light of life
disaear from sight! be snuffed out. I $new he was dead. &le/ would,"e ne"er
wal$ed away if he hadn,t chec$ed to ma$e sure that not an ounce of life wasn,t still
there. :e had to $now.8
7It was ob"ious! Michael.8
7The mind $nows! but the heart refuses to accet until the eyes can see. +ow
he $nows! and now he $nows what he has to do.8
Michael went bac$ into the brea$room to retrie"e his coffee. &le/ was going to
be a roblem. :e was closer to the streets! to the hunting ground than the cos. :e
417
would use all his resources to hunt and $ill the erson who drew blood from his
"eins! and from his club.
7I,ll call us in to .a. &ll of you! go ta$e some ersonal downtime until this
afternoon. I,m calling off o$er! so lan to wor$ into the e"ening.8 (ean and Cyle
left together. It would be hours before their labs and results started tric$ling in. &ll
the initial legwor$ had already been done while Crystal =hitman was 'ust a
Jmissing ersonJ.
7&le/...is he o$ay38
7+o! would you be38 Ma/ 'ust shoo$ his head. They had all stood there before.
Michael with Mi$ey! and he with his arents. :e had identified their remains and
sometimes years later! he still wo$e u to the memory of them laid out on a cold
slab. 71o home and slee! Ma/well. It,s brea$ing dawn! and we,ll ha"e hours of
time to wor$ the facts.8
7=as Maria still aslee when you left38 Michael nodded and loo$ed at the time.
That was o"er three hours ago! almost half a wor$day and a lifetime ago. :e
needed to go home. :e needed Maria.
7Did you tal$ to her38
79eah.8
Ma/ waited but Michael seemed distracted. 7&nd38
7Positi"e. I,m going with her to the doctor,s office this morning. (o if I,m late
'ust age me! otherwise I,ll be in after that.8 Ma/ loo$ed down into his emty cu.
7:ow,d she ta$e it38
7>rea$ed. Pretty much as I e/ected.8 Michael swallowed the last of his coffee.
7&ctually! that,s not true! or not comletely. I e/ected her to frea$! since that,s
usually Maria,s initial reaction to most things. 5ut then she calms down and lets
417
reason and reality wor$ its magic on her. Last night she totally lost it. It was beyond
frea$ing! it was cold icy fear.8
Ma/ didn,t understand that. 7>ear38
7(he,s seeing this huge resonsibility and she<s afraid she,s not going to be
e%ual to the tas$! that she,s going to be a terrible mother. Maria is afraid that she,ll
fail and the baby will suffer for it.8 Michael didn,t $now how else to describe Maria,s
reaction.
Ma/ couldn,t e"en wra his mind around the idea of Maria not being the
greatest of arents. The woman fi/ed e"eryone,s life around her! but the roblem
was she seemed unaware that she did that! that she was a nurturer.
7(o why don,t you tell her that she,s not alone! that you,re there to hel too38
That was a thought! a concet that had slied under his radar. :e 'ust
assumed she would $now that! but remembering her fear o"er raising the baby
alone! and forgetting e"erything essential! Michael frowned. :ow could she not
$now he would be there too3
7I didn,t thin$ about that.8
7=ell it,s not li$e you two are married! or that you e"en said the DI lo"e you,
words yet.8 Michael scowled at Ma/. That was ri"ileged information! information he
told Ma/ about months ago. Ma/ couldn,t understand why the coule remained
silent after a year when e"ery touch and loo$ literally shouted the words.
Michael thought about it for a second. ?f course she was feeling uncertain. It
was an earth shattering e"ent! a life altering one. :ow can she $now that this will
last since they had only made a commitment to li"e together3 Poor Maria! who had
sent years chasing after her fla$y mother! bailing her out of 'ail or being arrested
with her. (he was afraid that she,ll be the same $ind of mother! and all the baby will
ha"e to deend on.
418
Maria needed to be married! married to him so she could feel better about the
baby.
7Ma/well! I need to go.8 Ma/ watched a loo$ of ure determination cross
Michael,s face! and he felt a rush of treidation run u his body in the form of a cold
sweat.
7Michael what are you u to3 Maybe you should...8
Michael headed out. 7Don,t worry! I,"e got it co"ered.8
Ma/ stood in the room after he left and shoo$ his head. 7That,s what I,m afraid
of.8
---
Maria was still aslee when he got home. It wasn,t %uite si/ in the morning!
and she had called Tess the re"ious e"ening to co"er her morning classes so she
could go to the doctor,s office. It was hours before she needed to be u.
Michael stood o"er her watching her slee. :er hand was resting on his side of
the bed! almost li$e she was loo$ing for him. Too many nights he got called out!
and she had to slee without him. Too many nights he wor$ed late or was on
sta$eout and his side of the bed remained emty. +o wonder she was worried and
afraid.
(taring at her! his eyes too$ in e"ery detail. &fter seeing &le/ identify his
cousin,s body! he felt a need to find her. To loo$ at her and search e"ery inch of her
to ma$e sure she was o$ay! still safe. (tanding in that room! the three of them
shared a common understanding! a dee brotherhood of ain $nowing the cost of
losing someone under their rotection. (ean and Michael could see and feel it in
419
&le/! and there were no words! no gesture that could gi"e bac$ or fill that emty
lace.
Michael $new that there would be no slee for &le/! only a bottle of burning
li%uid to match the burning inside his soul. >or (ean there would be another night
slaying and $illing .assie as she moc$ed him with her resence in his mind. Michael
rushed home to stand o"er Maria and his child li$e some hellbeast determined not
to let anything touch them. They all were the same.
Michael went into the bathroom! and stood under the shower to let the hot
water ound on his s$in! to wash away the smell death left there. Maria made a soft
rotesting sound as he lifted the co"ers to slid into their bed as the cooler air hit
her s$in. 5ut she %uic$ly settled as the warmth of his body! still slightly moist from
the shower! mo"ed u against her.
In her slee! she could sense him! smell his scent that was e/clusi"ely his! feel
the radiating heat of his blood as it coursed through his body! and she mo"ed into
his arms. (lowly wa$ing to his need! her mouth was drawn to his nec$ and along
his shoulder as dros of moisture still clung to his s$in. (he suc$ed on him while his
hands and body mo"ed o"er her! surrounding her as e"ery inch of her body was
touched.
Michael areciated her soft calling of his name as he wraed himself around
her. The sensation of her hit his stomach! emtying it out as his need for her
increased. &fter all this time! she still $noc$ed him flat! mo"ed him. It made him
afraid. It was easier before when he had nothing to loseB e"erything was already
gone. Mi$ey was dead! and he li"ed sheltered from the world because e"erything he
truly "alued was already ried away. 5ut then she mo"ed into the emtiness
mending the wounds! gi"ing him a reason to care! and a reason to be "ulnerable
again.
43:
7Maria! I need...8
7I $now.8 (he said softly! and she ulled him into her.
---
Michael sat in the doctor,s office loo$ing out of the corners of his eyes at all
the women occasionally watching him. Maria was reading a magazine she brought
with her! and occasionally ma$ing a cluc$ing noise under her breath. Michael tried
to find something to read but all the magazines were about women,s health! with
not a single one about cars or sorts.
7(to fidgeting.8 Maria whisered to him. Michael frowned at two women
giggled to each other as they $et staring at him.
7I,m not.8 :e whisered hotly bac$ at her. 7They,re staring at me;8
8It,s your imagination.8
7+o it,s not.8 Maria glanced u %uic$ly and noticed that some of the women
were watching Michael.
(miling to herself! she went bac$ to reading her 'ournal. It was to be
e/ected. :e was the im"regnator! able to beat birth control ills in a single bound!
on to of being so "ery masculine in a dominatingly feminine office with his issy
demeanor. =hat woman could resist being utterly fascinated3 Maria out of the
corner of her eye watched him reach for his gun! and unsna the safety as he
started to ull out his arrest boo$.
7Put it away.8 she said casually. :e loo$ed at her! and shrugged. :e was only
going sha$e down a few of the more ob"ious offenders and maybe tic$et them!
e/cet for that one in the corner who $et trying to catch his eye with weird
gestures. (he was ob"iously deely disturbed.
431
7I thought your doctor was a baby doctor! not a shrin$.8
7:e,s an ?5U19+! not a baby doctor. That,s a Pediatrician. &nd ?5U19+ docs
are not shrin$s. They are women,s doctors.8 Maria said %uietly and offhandedly.
71e-5 Michael whisered hotly. The women around them giggled %uietly! as
Maria sighed! sha$ing her head. Michael scowled at a few women near him. :e.
Maria ne"er mentioned her doctor was a he. That means he loo$ed at her...chec$ed
her o"er...saw her without...Michael reached for his gun again.
Maria slaed at his hand. 75eha"e.8
7Maria38 Maria turned her attention bac$ to the nurse calling her name and
smiled. .losing her magazine she started to follow her in the bac$ room.
7=ait! where are you going38 Michael as$ed ner"ously.
7It,s my turn.8
Michael %uic$ly got u and crowded into her. 79ou,re not lea"ing me alone in
here.8 Maria loo$ed at the room and had to agree. 1od only $new what $ind of
trouble he would get into out here alone. Ta$ing his hand! she too$ him with her.
Michael watched as the nurse too$ down all of Maria,s "ital statistics. :is eyes
narrowed at her weight. :e hadn,t realized she was that small! ma$ing a note to
feed her more when the absurdity of the thought hit him. (he ate li$e an army.
=hen they too$ her blood he bit bac$ a resonse! his 'aw muscles clenching as he
sho"ed his fist in his oc$ets. Maria 'ust calmly too$ her other hand and reached u
to touch his arm to calm him down.
79ou o$ay38 Maria as$ed %uietly loo$ing u at him. :e 'ust nodded. 7.ome
down here.8 Michael s%uatted ne/t to her chair and she mo"ed her hand o"er his
chee$ as he closed his eyes and rested against her. :e $new they needed her
blood! but watching the needle...he loo$ed away.8
433
The nurse! .arolyn! watched them for a second. 7&ll done.8 (he ut a colorful
5and&id o"er Maria,s arm holding a cotton swab in lace! and bent her arm u.
7@ust $ee ressure on that for a few minutes until it stos bleeding.8 )eaching into
a drawer! she too$ out a lollyo and handed it to Michael. 79ou did really well.8
Michael stayed in the lab room with the nurse when Maria went to the
bathroom. (he refused to let him go with her while she got a urine samle. .arolyn
watched him and smiled. :e seemed to ta$e u the whole room 'ust standing there!
unsure whether to $ee standing or to sit.
7Is it your first38 she as$ed him.
Michael loo$ed at her for a moment until the words sun$ in. >irst. 79eah! our
first.8 >irst! that imlied one in the long line of many! and that meant they needed
to be married before they started begetting more. 7=e 'ust realized that she was
two wee$s late so we did a home regnancy test. It was ositi"e.8
.arolyn smiled at the sound of his "oice. :e sounded li$e he created the test
himself! cle"er little soul. (he heard the secial secimen window close! and went
and retrie"ed Maria,s urine samle.8 Ta$ing a small amount she added it to a secial
small "ial and noted the reaction. (howing Michael. 7=ell congratulations. It,s
official. Definitely regnant.8
Michael loosened u enough to go o"er and watch her wor$. 7=hat is that38
7It,s a test that chec$s for :.1! a secial lacental hormone that stos the
body from menstruating. It,s only resent if a baby is onboard! or ta$en as a
fertility drug. 5asically the same $ind of test you did at home! but more accurate.8
.arolyn smiled as he continued to watch her label Maria,s blood. 7(o did this cause
you to frea$! when you did co"ered your girlfriend was regnant38
434
Michael shoo$ his head no. 7>iancOe! and no I was fine. Maria was the one that
frea$ed. (he doesn,t do change well.8 Michael loo$ed o"er as Maria came out of the
bathroom.
They waited in the e/am room for the doctor after Michael said goodbye to
.arolyn. Maria watched in amazement as Michael struc$ u a con"ersation as$ing
%uestions! and .arolyn romised to find him literature. 1etting undressed! Maria
sat on the e/am table while Michael was reading a brochure.
Pulling off the tae on her arm! Maria loo$ed at her uncture wound to see if it
had stoed bleeding. The taed ulled at her s$in! and Michael was beside her
immediately at the sound of her reaction to the ain. Ta$ing her arm in his! he
gently remo"ed the tae and loo$ed at the wound. Maria watched his face! when
suddenly his body shuddered and he bent his head to co"er the wound with his
mouth.
7?h damn;8 Maria moaned closing her eyes. :e couldn,t start that here. +ot
now. 7Michael.8 :e loo$ed u and they shared a loo$ before both of their eyes
droed to the other,s mouth as Michael mo"ed forward resting his hands on the
table on either side of her and his mouth mo"ing closer to hers! as the door
suddenly oened and the doctor entered. Michael mo"ed away %uic$ly!
straightening and rubbing the bac$ of his nec$ as Maria cleared her throat.
7Maria.8 The man loo$ed o"er at Michael in surrise. 7&nd Michael. This is a
surrise! Detecti"e. I would ha"e bet my entire life sa"ings that you,d be the last
erson I,d e"er see in my offices.8 Michael 'ust scowled at the gray haired
gentleman he had met a few times o"er the last year at arties he and Maria
attended. :e ne"er realized that the man was Maria,s doctor.
7@im. :ow are you38 Maria cleared her throat again to ta$e out that hus$y
sound.
435
7I,m the doctor. I thin$ that,s my %uestion.8 @im loo$ed o"er at Michael.
7Michael! do you thin$ you,ll be more comfortable in the waiting room while I
e/amine Maria38 (eeing the larger man,s deeening scowl! @im smiled. Perhas not
the waiting room. 7:ow about my office38 Michael 'ust shoo$ his head no.
7I,m fine here.8
@im leaned forward and as$ed Maria in a %uiet whiser. 7Is he going to shoot
me38
79ou,ll be fine. I,ll rotect you.8 @im nodded! but uncertainly. :e wasn,t too
comfortable under the dar$ scrutiny of those eyes. 5ut he got to wor$ as$ing Maria
%uestions and e/amining her. *"erything was fine until Maria winced once at the
coldness of the instruments and Michael started to stand u.
7It,s 'ust cold. (to worrying.8 Michael sat down again. Maria turned her
attention bac$ to the doctor. 7(o! do you hear from :arry38
The man smiled. 7Too often for my li$ing. *"ery time he calls! he needs more
money. (enior year in .ollege! and he seems to send more and more.8
7That,s not going to change! @im. :e,s starting medical school this fall! right38
79eah! I,m already seeing the bills.8 @im loo$ed o"er at Michael. 7I might ha"e
to increase my fees to co"er them all.8 :e watched Michael,s eyes narrow! and 'ust
shrugged. ?$ay! 'o$ing was out.
(tanding u! he co"ered Maria u and went to the counter to mar$ in her
chart and fi/ the slides for lab. 7That,s it for now. =hy don,t you get dressed! Maria!
and you and Michael can come into my office and we,ll set you a deli"ery date.8
&fterward! Michael lightened u! and as$ed lots of %uestions. &s they were
lea"ing the office @im and Michael were actually con"ersing freely! much to Maria,s
amazement. :ello; =ho was the regnant erson here3
436
7(o she doesn,t need another aointment in a few wee$s38 @im atted
Michael on the bac$ as they wal$ed down the hall towards the recetion,s des$.
7+o. +ot this early in the regnancy. The recetionist will set you u for the
ne/t aointment. @ust follow the diet! e/ercise! and ta$e the renatal "itamins. +o
more caffeine! and alcohol abstinence is a gi"en. If morning sic$ness gets to be a
roblem call me and I,ll gi"e her something.8 They stoed as .arolyn came u and
ga"e Michael a small ile of literature. Maria rolled her eyes in disgust. 7(o Michael
it loo$s li$e you and your girlfriend are going to ha"e your li"es retty full in about
se"en and a half months.8 Maria frowned at that. 7irlfriend- :ellooo! the name is
Maria; The $noc$ed u oneAthe fric$in, atient;
Michael flied through the literature and smiled his than$s at .arolyn! then
answered @im,s %uestion. 7>iancOe! and yes I suose we are.8 Michael missed
Maria,s startled loo$ at him.
7>iancOe3 I didn,t realize; .ongratulations you two;8 Maria loo$ed at the two
men in utter shoc$. +either did she.
5ut Michael aeared to be en'oying himself. Pig. =hat the hell was wrong
with him3 5y the time they left the office he had the doctor,s ri"ate number and
emergency number! a craload of literature! $new half the office wor$ers< names!
and carried a balloon! two stic$ers and a lollyo. Maria growled when she heard
"oices wishing Michael a good day on their way out. Maria was surrised they didn,t
lose her in a closet or something with all the attention anyone aid her.
?n the way to the PD! she $et loo$ing o"er at him in the assenger seat
reading through a brochure. ?ccasionally he would read her a fullfledged assage
about the changes soon to befall her tortured body. >inally Maria couldn,t ta$e any
437
more. .utting off another car! she ulled into a ar$ing lot. Michael loo$ed u at the
Dun$in, Donuts sho. 1reat idea. :e could eat! but Maria better ha"e herbal tea!
and...Michael searched his boo$ %uic$ly...too much sugar was bad. Maybe an egg
and ham croissant for Maria. Protein was essential.
7=hat the hell is wrong with you38
7Me3 +othing. I,m 'ust reading.8
7I,m not tal$ing about that. =hat is with telling e"eryone I,m your fiancOe38
7=hat about it3 It,s what they call the erson you,re going to marry before you
actually get married.8
7That usually imlies that you as! the erson! you intend to marry. ?h! let me
see...8 Maria aused dramatically. 7+oe! don,t remember a roosal of any sort.
*rgo! not a fiancOe.8
Michael frowned. :e was suosed to as$3 :adn<t he3 Dammit it shouldn,t be
this hard. ?f course they were getting married. It was a gi"en. 7Maria! o$ay! maybe
I forgot to as$!8 Michael continued ignoring her snort of derision! 7but you should
ha"e realized that with the baby coming and...8
Michael winced in ain at the loud high screech of indignation that emanated
from her. Maybe he said the wrong thing3 75aby3 This is about the baby3 &w!
oh...I3 ?h...8 Maria actually turned red and Michael loo$ed at her in concern. (he
didn,t loo$ li$e she was breathing. This could be "ery good for the ba... 71et out;8
7=hat38
71et out of my car.8 Michael was confused by her reaction! but comlied before
she burst a blood "essel.
7Maria...8 Michael 'umed bac$ %uic$ly to sa"e his feet! as she gunned the car
into gear and too$ off! stranding him in the ar$ing lot of a Dun$in, Donuts.
7Maria;8 Michael floed his arms at his sides in agitation. =hat the hell did he say3
437
Ta$ing out his cell hone he called her number. &t the answer! 7Maria38 which
was followed swiftly by a disconnecting dial tone. Michael dialed againR
7Ma/3 Loo$! can you ic$ me u at the Dun$in, Donuts sho on the corner of
>illmore and SHth38
Michael headed into the sho to get himself some brea$fast and coffee. )ing.
:e couldn,t belie"e he forgot the ring. This was Ma/,s fault. :e could ha"e
mentioned a ring last night. Maria,s reaction was startling! but Michael comforted
himself with the $nowledge that she was more than li$ely highly emotional and
hormonal. :e had 'ust read about it in that one brochure.
7.ould I ha"e another half a dozen glazed buttermil$s o"er here38
7(o you going to tell me what haened38 Ma/ as$ed as he retrie"ed his donut
laden artner.
7Maria. It was Maria. (he stranded me in the ar$ing lot.8
70h huh.8
7=e were tal$ing! and suddenly she went all issy and angry! ordered me out
of her car! and then she almost ran o"er my feet.8 Michael was starting to feel really
ut uon.
7=hat did you do38 Ma/ as$ed in a resigned sigh.
7Me! I didn,t do a thing. I went to the doctor,s office with her! was all
suorti"e...you $now! showing her she wasn,t alone in this.8 Michael said! "ery
roud of his actions. 7I thin$ she too$ offense at me telling eole we,re getting
married.8
7=hy3 (he must ha"e $nown that eole would find out once she said yes.8
Ma/ frowned leaning closer to a mumbling Michael trying to catch what he was
saying as they dro"e into the PD garage. 7Did you 'ust say that you forgot to as$
her38
438
7Technically! yeah. 5ut! it,s not my fault. I got home early this morning! and
we sort of were busy...=ell anyway! between that and going to the doctor,s office! it
might ha"e slied my mind.8 Michael wasn,t going to let Ma/ ut all the blame on
his doorste. 7Did you ha"e a ring ready when you as$ed Tess38
7+o. I 'ust figured if she said yes! we,d choose it together.8 Michael nodded.
*/actly. (o not ha"ing a ring wasn,t that big deal. 7?f course! I did as! her and not
'ust inform her by announcing it to the world at large.8
79ou might ha"e mentioned that last night;8 Michael growled. =hat3 Did they
ha"e fuc$ing boo$s on this shit3
7:ey! don,t ut this on me;8
7I don,t see what the big deal is.8 Michael said as they headed for the
ele"ators. 7It,s a gi"en that we,d get married with the baby on the way! and all.8
Ma/ turned and loo$ed at Michael in horror. 79ou didn,t say that to Maria did
you38
7(ort of! but hey! she didn,t let me e/lain. +e/t thing I $new she was $ic$ing
me out of the car and then she almost ran o"er my damn feet.8 Ma/ 'ust groaned.
9eah! li$e Michael trying to e/lain was going to ma$e it better and not worse.
7Then she hung u on me when I tried to call her. I can understand it though!8 said
Michael as he got in the ele"ator with Ma/. 7(he,s all hormonal and e"erything!
highly unreasonable.8
Ma/ couldn,t ta$e anymore. :e 'ust buried his head in his hands and groaned.
7=hat3 =hat the hell did I do38
---
439
5y the time Maria made the 0ni"ersity she was slightly calmer! but not by
much. The hone rang the moment she entered her office. &nswering it! she %uic$ly
hung u on Michael. &fter the third call she called .heryl and re%uested that all her
calls go through the switchboard! and that she wasn,t ta$ing any calls from
Detecti"e 1uerin today.
Maria tried to calm down enough to go through some of her wor$load when
her cell hone started ringing. 7Maria38 (he 'ust shoo$ her head and disconnected.
5ut that didn,t sto him. :e $et ringing and finally in a fit of anger! she threw the
hone against the wall.
Tess wal$ed in 'ust as the hone hit the wall. Duc$ing in alarm! Tess loo$ed at
the hone and the angry Maria.
79eah! I hate it when they fly li$e that.8 Maria 'ust sat down and gried her
chair trying to %uell the rising tremors. 79ou o$ay38
7+o. +o. I,m not.8 Maria too$ large calming breaths! and tried to settle her
stomach. There was no use abusing Tess in Michael,s lace. 1od that man got under
her s$in at times. 7Loo$! I,"e got an hour before my ne/t class right3 I thin$ I,ll go
o"er to the staff dining room and ha"e a little brea$fast.8
Tess watched her go! curious o"er what was going on. Maria,s mood was so
blac$ and unusual for her! that e"en Cenneth Price who seeing her had started in
her direction! %uic$ly changed his mind and went the other way. Maria was on her
second brea$fast! and a nice hot cu of tea when her day too$ yet another turn for
the worse. 1erald Tiny came through the door! and seeing her! was ma$ing his way
to 'oin her li$e the Titanic heading full steam into an iceberg.
---
44:
Ma/ watched as Michael tried Maria again. 7=ould you sto it3 1i"e her some
time to calm down! and tal$ to her later tonight.8
7I should call her and let her $now I,m wor$ing late tonight.8
7Michael! focus; =or$; Murders; (he,ll be fine.8 Michael finally settled down to
do some wor$. &ll the reliminary reorts were bac$ on the two women. They had
nothing in common e/cet that the last lace they were seen was in .lub :ell.
(ean was running missing reorts for the last few years. Maria had been right!
the duming was wrong. >or some reason these women where dumed beside
garbage s$is! but that didn,t negate the ossibility of other "ictims that weren,t
out there hiding under the guise of being runaways or missing ersons! much li$e
Crystal =hitman<s case began. =ithout a body or e"idence of foul lay! missing
ersons would remain categorized as JMissing PersonsJ indefinitely.
Ma/ ic$ed u the hone on the second ring before Michael could grab it. It
wasn,t Maria. It was Liz. &fter tal$ing to her for a few moments! Ma/ hung u and
accessed his interdeartmental mail for the reort Liz 'ust sent them. Maria,s bug
'uice was a dead match for the shellac co"ering the two women. 7Par$er matched
the Professor,s bug 'uice to the coating.8
Michael stood u suddenly. 7Let,s go "isit the 5ug guys she ga"e us a card for
at the 0ni"ersity.8
Ma/ frowned at the word D0ni"ersity, and began to susect an ulterior moti"e.
7Michael...8 Ma/ said to the receding bac$ of his artner. 7.ome on! Cyle. This
should ro"e interesting. :ey! Phone 5oy! gi"e us a 'ingle if anything comes u.8
Cyle wa"ed goodbye to his artner. Poor (ean! e"eryone felt for him. +o one li$ed
to be on des$ duty only.
The 5ug guys were two entomologists wor$ing in the 5iology Deartment at
0+M! )oswell. @eremy and 1eorge were nothing if not enthusiastic. They showed
441
the three detecti"es around their labs and e/lained the rocessing of samles.
Michael noticed a white buc$et under the lab table.
7=hat<s that38
1eorge loo$ed down at the buc$et while ushing his glasses u his nose.
71arbage! it,s for the tossers.8
7Tossers38 Cyle as$ed loo$ing at the inned samles. They were incredibly
reser"ed and so colorful. :e hadn<t realized that butterflies were so di"erse.
@eremy nodded as he assed e"eryone a cu of coffee. 7Those are the $ills
that ha"e blemishes. =e usually rocess the samle! and then carefully mount and
e/amine it. =e sometimes hotograh too if it<s utterly uni%ue and rare. )eal
collectors will loo$ for the most erfect samle! and a blemish or scar can really
throw off the "alue of a collection.8
@eremy sat on the side of the table. :e was a smaller man than 1eorge with a
hint of :isanic ancestry! :isanic and 1erman. :e also had glasses! but his were a
secial air hanging from his nec$. Michael could tell that the glasses were used for
a secific urose since the lenses were thic$ and unusual.
71eorge! remember that *cuadorian dung beetle we trac$ed for three days!
and finally caught to find it had lost an antenna sometime before3 =hat a
disaointment.8
7.rushing.8 Michael said loo$ing the men o"er with interest. 5oth men were
meticulous in handling all materials. 1eorge was showing Cyle and Ma/ how
samles were inned and Michael noticed that his tools and e%uiment were not
only used! but laced carefully bac$ almost in the same sot they had originally
been.
7=hat would determine when a samle isn,t worth $eeing38 Michael as$ed
%uietly.
443
7The collector would.8 @eremy said. 7*ach collector has his own agenda! or set
arameters of what they<re loo$ing for. I $now some who only collect e/otic
butterflies and moths! and others who ha"e a total lo"e of roaches.8
7Do you rocess the internal organs38 Ma/ as$ed 1eorge.
7+ormally! no. Though there are some larger secimens that might need it.
The thing with insects is that they will desiccate. 9ou ha"e to worry about ca"ing in
the larger secimens as they age! so ta$ing out the internals and using foam filler is
the best route. I thin$ the ta/idermists do it more often! stuffing large meaty
secimens.8
Michael mo"ed in closer. 7Do you ha"e any of the foam filler38
1eorge 'ust shoo$ his head no. 7+ot really. =e don,t rocess anything that big
to warrant the e/ense! but I thin$ Toology might. Let me go chec$.8 Michael
gestured to Cyle to follow the man as he went out.
Ma/ and Michael watched as @eremy ac$ed u them some samles of other
materials used in the rocessing techni%ue. :e also included a list of their fa"orite
suliers.
7(o Detecti"e!8 @eremy said to Michael as Ma/ ac$ed u the secimens to be
deli"ered to Liz,s lab. 7I don,t $now if you remember me! but I recall meeting you at
the staff :oliday Party this ast year. 9ou were Professor DeLuca,s date.8
Michael,s eyes narrowed. 79eah! we li"e together! getting married.8
7)eally; I hadn,t realized that. =ell congratulations are in order than. =e lo"e
Maria. (he a wonderful educator! and a great erson 'ust to $now. 1eorge and I
also see$ her out in the staff dining room.8
7I,m sure she areciates that.8 Michael made a note to himself to ractice
coming to the 0ni"ersity more often for lunch. This staff dining room sounded sort
of shady.
444
7Michael.8 Cyle stood in the doorway with a samle of foam filler. It was in$!
and filled u the entire area of the secimen 'ar.
They stayed with the 5ug guys for a few more hours! and then went to tal$ to
members of the Toology Deartment. Michael was fascinated by the meticulous
wor$ and time it too$ to rocess the secimens.
7It,s more than time! Detecti"e!8 said 1eorge. 7It also ta$es a lot of wor$ to
find the correct samle or secimen. =e use $illing 'ars in oulated areas! but
e"en after a few nights or e"en longer! you might only find a few ossibilities. ?ut
of those few! if you,re luc$y! one will be a $eeer.8
7=hat do you mean by <oulated areas<3 @ust anywhere there are lots of
bugs38 Michael couldn,t gras the concet of utting all that time into something
that wouldn,t an out.
7+o! 'ust anywhere. There are $nown areas! hunting or $illing zones. These
zones for bugs and insects are usually under wellAlit areas at night! li$e street
lights. 5ut the best tye of zone is the one you create yourself.8 @eremy too$ out a
secial light and turned it on. 7=e,ll go out to wooded areas or the desert! hoo$ this
to a battery! turn on the light! and ut a secial attractant in a $illing 'ar and sit out
there for hours. *nd of the e"ening or early morning! we co"er the 'ar and go
home.8
7(o you $now what,s out there! what you can catch38 Cyle as$ed sitting down
on the edge of the table. That seemed li$e a random samling method.
7=ell you,"e got an idea what,s in the area. ?b"ious secimens from Me/ico
are rarely found in $illing 'ars in +ew Me/ico. The ne/t day is the $ic$er! the ay off.
It,s li$e a general grab bag. 9ou don,t $now what you<"e caught! so you anesthetize
the 'ar by droing in a secial agent. I li$e the stuff we used on Drosohilae
because it<s fast and you can control the amount to either ut to slee or $ill.8
445
Ma/ was writing notes! but stoed at @eremy,s lecture. 7Drosohilae38
7.ommon fruit fly! but in truth there is nothing common about it. The number
of secies within the genus alone is...8
7Professor.8 Michael warned! interruting the man. :e was "ery familiar with
the beginnings of a lecture that could wind out of control and last for hours.
7(orry. &s I was saying! you can control the drug. I use the $illing 'ar with a
secial songe where dros of the drug can be dribbled into the 'ar. The real fun is
afterwards. 9ou loo$ at your catch.8
1eorge smiled. 7It really is li$e .hristmasAoening a resent and finding a
whole world of ossibilities.8
Michael frowned. 7&nd if a secimen isn,t u to snuff38
79ou toss it out!8 said 1eorge ointing to the white buc$et under the table.
Michael! Ma/ and Cyle shared silent loo$s.
5y the time they returned to the PD! (ean had amassed great %uantities of
information and reorts for them. Michael tried to con"ince Ma/ and Cyle to sto
and see Maria! but they tal$ed him out of it. They turned o"er the new samles to
the lab! and too$ (ean on an early dinner brea$. It was going to be a long night.
---
Maria wal$ed into the .rashDown and loo$ed for Liz. +ot seeing her! she too$
a seat and began loo$ing through the menu. (trange! but she hadn,t been to this
diner since that first time with Dianne and )oger. &fter Dianne was murdered last
year! it was hard to remember the last lace they dined together. The menu loo$ed
the same. Michael lo"ed it. Maria %uic$ly ushed thoughts of Michael to the side.
446
:er anger at him was slowly bleeding away! but it was hard to deal with his
bulldozer tactics for e"erything.
7Maria.8
7:i! Liz.8 Maria smiled at her friend.
7Did I $ee you long38
7+ot long enough! I,m still loo$ing at the menu. 9ou,"e got the inside scoo.
9ou want to recommend anything to me38
Liz laughed and sat down at the front counter with Maria. 7&ll the ies are
great! but otherwise stay away from the (aturn rings because they<re dee fried in
grease! and too addicting.8
7@ust when I,m in need of some good totally worthless calories from fats and
sugar! but I,d hate to become a sla"e to a fascination for (aturn )ings.8
Maria couldn,t decide. :er lunch of a sandwich wasn,t holding her. (he had
been so uset that she couldn,t really eat. +ow she was star"ing! and the notion of
eating for two hit her.
7Maria! let<s mo"e to a booth. That way we can ha"e more ri"acy.8 The two
women mo"ed! and Maria loo$ed at Liz critically. In the last year! the woman had
imro"ed! become more outso$en. 5ut e"en with those changes! she was still a
mee$ and unassuming erson.
&s Maria was suc$ing down a chocolate malt! eating ic$les with $etchu and
Tabasco! and consuming two large cheeseburgers! she noticed Liz fidgeting.
7=hat,s wrong! Liz38
Liz didn,t want to tell Maria because Maria hadn<t mentioned it. Liz assumed
she didn,t $now. 7(ean and I bro$e u.8
7I $now! or maybe I should say! I assumed.8 Maria said %uietly worried that
her friend was ha"ing a hard time with things. 79ou want to tal$ about it38
447
79es.8 Liz aused and then said! 7+o. ?$ay maybe.8 Liz groaned. 7I don,t $now.
It,s 'ust that I see him at wor$! and half the time I,m not sure what I should do.
(hould I be his friend only! or...damn! I shouldn<t as$ you! because it,s unfair.
9ou,re his family. &nd if we don,t lea"e soon! we,ll miss the mo"ie.8
7Liz! you,re family too. True! (ean is blood! but friends are the family that you
choose. &nd for the mo"ie3 (crew it. Mo"ies come and go. There,s always "ideos.8
Maria loo$ed at the young woman that in some ways had relaced her best
friend! Dianne. &nd yet! didn<t. Dianne had been "ibrant and ali"e! full of li"ing! and
Liz Par$er was still a wal$ing ghost! waiting for something or someone to sa"e her.
5ut e"ery once in a while Maria saw the glimse of the woman that Liz could be!
shining out from inside! traed.
7Liz! don,t tell me what you thin$ I need to hear! or what you thin$ you should
do to be roer and olite. Tell me what,s in your heart.8
7I don,t understand.8 Liz was confused. =hat did Maria want her to do3
7Tal$ to me from the heart! Liz. Put away erfect Liz Par$er! that erson that
does what e"eryone wants her to do! who<s afraid to be flawed and human! and
sea$ to me from your heart.8
Liz said softly! 7I,m far from erfect.8 (he unconsciously was stro$ing the scar
across her throat that almost $illed her a year ago! and left her the legacy of a
hus$ier "oice.
Maria reached across and remo"ed Liz hand! holding it in her own. 7?ur scars!
they define us Liz! teach us that we can sur"i"e. Don,t let it be the flaw that
wounds! but the one that strengthens. It,s 'ust a scar! and in time it will fade! or
you could ha"e it remo"ed with laser.8
7I $now. It,s 'ust...I don,t $now. I can,t hel but feel ugly.8
447
79ou,re far from ugly! Liz. 9ou,re (leeing 5eauty! and you,"e been sleeing
since you were si/teen! waiting for a Prince .harming to wa$e you.8 Maria loo$ed at
Liz and frowned. 7Does 5eauty wait fore"er in slumber! while the Prince is fighting
demons to get to her3 =hat if the dragons are too many! the fight too long38
7I<"e hated him almost my whole life.8 Liz said! her "oice hus$y with unshed
emotions tethered in her soul.
7=ho38 Maria shoo$ her head. =ho hurt her so deely that she remained
hating him for so long3
7My Prince .harming. I<"e hated him for not coming sooner! for not being
there when I was si/teen to sa"e me.8 Liz wied a tear off her chee$. 7It felt wrong.
8 felt wrong! li$e my life too$ a turn at that 'unction and the turn it too$ was
because he wasn,t there to sa"e me.8
Maria loo$ed at her friend sadly. 7Maybe Liz! he needed to find you too. &nd he
didn,t! and his life has been lost and confused e"er since. Did Prince .harming
really sa"e (leeing 5eauty or did she sa"e him38
7I don,t $now. It,s 'ust a fairytale.8
7+o it,s not. It,s not the story! Liz. &ny erson can write or build a story! but
the %uality and meaning behind the story is what<s imortant. It,s not the words
and how they<re written that matters! but the heart and soul of the message. Prince
.harming was fighting dragons! cutting through twisted "ines of steel! and
defeating an e"il witch! but in truth he was freeing himself! not 5eauty. :e was
freeing himself from the rigors of his brain! his mind! the art of him that tied him
to resonsibility and duty to his eole. =ith life there are resonsibilities and
burdens laced on each of us! demands from eole we lo"e! and e"en from those
we hardly $now. 5ut in it all! hidden dee inside! are our hearts. ?ur hearts rule our
heads at time! but mostly it,s the urest art of us! the seat of our sirit.8 Maria
448
stoed to stac$ her garbage and ush it aside. 7Prince .harming would one day be
the Cing he was born to be! but without his heart! without 5eauty! would it e"er
matter3 & Cing that can lo"e with a full heart finds that his heart isn<t confined to
one erson! but it,s oen enough to sread to all eole. ?ur heart gi"es us wings
to e/tend beyond the toil of e"eryday! to see a brightness in li"ing.8
7The brightness of li"ing! that,s it! Maria. That,s what I want. That sar$ of life
that ma$es li"ing e"ery day through the good and bad worth it.8
7Then do what 5eauty should,"e done! if the story hadn,t been written in a
se/ist society eretuated by smallAminded se/ist indi"iduals.8
7=hat is that38
7=a$e u! 5eauty; Pic$ u your sword! and fight that weighty drug that $ees
you sleeing! battle the "ines that hold you cati"e and meet Prince .harming half
way.8 Maria motioned for the waitress and as$ed her for a large clear cola! no
caffeine. Liz as$ed for a cherry co$e. 7Peole who loo$ at the hardwor$ing! tragic
Prince! and feel only for him! want 5eauty to be nothing more than his rize! his
reward. They reduce 5eauty to nothing but a se/ist uet. If 5eauty fights for
herself! defines her life! and fights her way towards her Prince .harming! then when
they find each other! really find each other! 5eauty will be more than a erson
re"ered for her charm and grace! her ability to be Dthe little woman who catured a
Cing,s heart and soul,! but she<ll be a strong e%ual artner worthy of a Cing. (he<ll
stand before him! a strong warrior of her own heart! showing the toughness of her
metal! and her blood and sweat is an e/amle that not only was he worth the fight!
but he was her rize as well. & strong Cing needs a strong 6ueen! not some
mindless uet waiting for scras of attention from an o"erta/ed hero! waiting to
be sa"ed when he gets there.8
449
Liz suc$ed on the straw in her drin$ as Maria rewrote and redefined a classic
fairytale to fit in a more modern age. :ad 5eauty been sleeing all those hundreds
of years to wa$e to a Cing that needed a more modern 6ueen3
7(ean was li$e an attendant standing beside my bed! holding my hand! and
rotecting me while I slet.8 Liz loo$ed at her friend and smiled an ironic smile. 7:e
couldn,t be my Prince .harming because he ne"er felt me in his heart! li$e I ne"er
felt him. :e didn,t ma$e me want to wa$e u and li"e. =e 'ust $et time together.8
7That time might ha"e been necessary to regrou! to mend enough! so both of
you could go on and fight. +o one e"er said it would be easy! or that there would
ne"er be times that you would need to ta$e a breather.8 Maria continued to hold
Liz,s hand s%ueezing it hard! to gi"e Liz a sense that she was real! ali"e. 7(ean
didn,t lea"e because of you! Liz. :e left because of him. *"ery hero has to fight his
own demons! and struggle down his own ath. 9our ath and his crossed and you
'ourneyed together for awhile! but there was always going to come a time when
both of you would need to continue alone! because you weren,t destined to go to
the same lace.8
Liz grabbed Maria,s other hand and held on tight. 7=hat should I do38
7=a$e u! 5eauty. =a$e u! ic$ u your sword! and fight to find your life!
your Prince .harming. 9ou didn,t really thin$ you could slee fore"er38
7I don,t $now how!8 said Liz as a wa"e of hellessness o"ercame her.
7I,ll show you.8 Maria told her distraught friend. 7The ath is there! and all you
ha"e to do is chose to follow it.8
---
45:
=hen Michael finally made it home it was after nine at night. The loft was dar$
and %uiet! and Mr. 5ooboo met him at the door whining about being left unattended
so long. Michael %uic$ly went ustairs to change out of his day clothes and find
something more comfortable to wear as the cat meowed after him! telling him of
his day. Maria wasn,t home! and he e/erienced a moment of ure terror until he
remembered that she was out with Liz.
7=hat do you thin$! 5oo3 Is she going to actually tal$ to me38 The cat calmly
sat at his feet and lic$ed his aw with refinement and an ironical lac$ of concern as
Michael searched for food for both of them! 7I was afraid of that.8
Michael ulled out the coldcuts to ma$e himself a sandwich! but memories of
lunch made him ut it bac$. :e had had an Italian sub! tuna and eanut butter with
mayo. Ma/ almost lost it! watching Michael eat that concoction! and thin$ing about
it now! Michael had to admit he wasn,t feeling all that great either.
7Pizza. It,s time to order a izza.8 Michael loo$ed down at the cat. 7I,ll order
some of that secial sha"ed ham they use on the subs that you li$e so well if...if
you tell me what to do.8 Mr. 5ooboo suddenly was u and winding around his feet
urring loudly until he crouched down to stro$e the cat<s soft coat.
7*/cellent idea. :am it is.8 The cat meow lainti"ely! and Michael frowned.
7(mo$ed salmon! too3 Dammit! you,re getting soiled and fat.8 The cat mewed his
rotest as Michael too$ a beer into the li"ing room! and called in the izza order
with a generous side of sha"en ham and smo$ed salmon.
=hen Maria arri"ed home she found Michael sitting on the sofa with his feet
u! reading a boo$ with the cat lying across his legs that bridged the area between
the sofa and coffee table. Michael loo$ed u from his reading and the two of them
stared at each other searchingly.
Michael cleared his throat. 7Did I mess this all u38
451
7+o.8
7I 'ust wanted you to feel better about the baby! $now that it wasn,t going to
be you alone! but the two of us.8
7I $now.8 Maria came to sit at the oosite end of the sofa and turned to loo$
at him. Michael turned his boo$ o"er on the arm of the sofa! and careful not to
$noc$ Mr. 5oo off his erch! reached down and grabbed Maria,s feet dragging them
u on the sofa! forcing her to lie bac$. Ta$ing her feet in his la! he remo"ed her
shoes.
7If we get married...8
7+o.8 Michael loo$ed at her sharly. =hat did that mean3 =here they o"er! or
what3 :is heart shuddered in his chest! and Maria watched a dar$ loo$ of ain
mo"e o"er his face. 7I 'ust mean no to marriage.8
79ou don,t want to marry me38
79es! maybe...no. +ot for this reason. I don,t want to be married because I,m
regnant. It,s stuid! archaic and the worst reason any two eole could ha"e to
get married.8 Maria moaned as he rubbed her feet. 7I won,t do it.8
7Maria! I don,t want to marry you 'ust because of the baby.8 Michael hadn,t
realized how true that was. Marriage. It was a word that had ne"er oed into his
head! ne"er e"en occurred to him. 5ut once he said it! thought it! it was all he
could thin$ about. If they hadn,t been heading that way naturally! then where were
they heading3 The concet of her not being in his life was too imossible to e"en
entertain.
79es it is! Michael. &dmit it! if I wasn,t regnant you,d ha"e ne"er as$ed. =aitA
you didn,t as$! so what I mean is you ne"er had the idea in your head.8
That was true! and he hated that it was. It wasn,t that he didn,t see Maria as
fore"er! but until the baby it seemed li$e they had all the time in the world. Things
453
had been going so well that he was caught u in it. The baby wo$e him u to the
concet that maybe they had stayed in one sot too long.
Michael sighed! wondering how bad this was going to go for him. 7True. I
guess that I was so comfortable in what we ha"e that I didn,t feel a ush to change
it. 5ut things change Maria. +ow that the baby...8
7It doesn,t change a thing. The baby doesn,t change anything.8
79es! it does.8 Maria 'ust $et sha$ing her head. 7Maria! I want the baby to be
mine.8
7It is yours. 9ou $now that.8 Maria $new what he was saying! but he wasn,t
listening to her. 7+othing will change that. +ot a marriage certificate or lac$ of one.
=e don,t ha"e to be married to concei"e a baby ob"iously! and by the same to$en!
we don,t ha"e to be married to deli"er one either.8
7I $now that! but I thin$ we should get married anyway! to create a stable
home.8
7=e already ha"e a stable home! and this baby will be lo"ed whether we say DI
do, or not. 9ou<re right! our li"es together ha"e been comfortable so why mess with
it38
Michael cursed under his breath. =hat the hell was he thin$ing referring to
their li"es together as Dcomfortable, li$e some worn old shoe3 7Maria.8
7=hy didn,t you as$ me a few days ago3 ?r last wee$! or e"en last month38
Maria loo$ed at him and shrugged. 7?"er the last year3 =hy didn,t you as$ me to
marry you then38
Michael wished he had! but it was too late now. 79ou,re going to hold it against
me that I didn,t as$ before38
7+o! of course not. 5ut you only as$ed now because of the baby. If I wasn,t
regnant! would you,"e as$ed me38
454
+o. +o he wouldn,t ha"e! and she $new that. :e $new it too. There was no
ressure in their li"es to ma$e it an immediate need! so they were sailing through
their li"es waiting for that magical moment when they both would want it.
7I would,"e as$ed e"entually.8 Michael said %uietly.
7I $now! but you didn,t. 9ou didn,t because you weren,t ready! and maybe I
wasn,t ready either. The baby changed that! and I refuse to ha"e you by default. I
want to marry you when it,s time! time for us. &nd I won,t marry you until then.8
7Maria.8
7+o.8 Michael rubbed the bac$ of his nec$.
7?$ay! I heard you! but now you can hear me. =e,re getting married.8 Maria
'ust stubbornly shoo$ her head no. 79es! we are. Maybe not immediately! maybe
not until after the baby is born! but we,re going to do this. I need it. I didn,t $now I
needed it until this moment. I need to see my ring on your finger! andR8 he held u
his hand to sto her from interruting him! 7and not because I don,t thin$ we
already belong together. I need it for me! something in me. It,s another form of
mar$ing! Maria.8
(he went %uiet. (uddenly it became ossible to almost say yes. It was li$e the
bites! the blood! and that constant irritating need to be inside his s$in! to touch it.
The need was too strong to ignore! and if it e/tended to the whole idea of being
married! she was in trouble. :e was going to ma$e a est of himself until she finally
said yes.
7I,ll thin$ about it.8 Michael nodded. That was something. There were many
things about Maria! and one of the most imortant ones was she was fair! and if she
romised to thin$ about it! she would.
455
7I had a rotten day. Ciss me and ma$e it better.8 Michael said ulling her into
his arms. Mr. 5ooboo! seeing where this was going! "acated his erch with a cat<s
"ersion of a sigh.
Michael<s fa"orite art of fighting with Maria was ma$ing u. (he smiled and
mo"ed her hands o"er his body! $issing his mouth gently! and then again and
again! each time increasing in intensity and assion. 7I hated that you wouldn,t tal$
to me!8 he whisered in her mouth.
7I hated it too. &nd you caused me to destroy my cell hone.8 Michael,s head
tied in confusion. 7I tossed it against the wall because it wouldn,t sto ringing.
=ho $new you could be such a bug38
79ou ha"en,t seen anything yet Professor.8 Michael romised. Maria 'ust
groaned. (he $new it. :e was going to ma$e a est of himself. 70m! you $now
those hones come with off switches! right38 Michael 'ust laughed as Maria attac$ed
him.
---
:e wal$ed through the club en'oying the noise and sounds! but mostly
re"eling at the "ibes of anic and horror. They $new. The hunting ground was aware
that it was being stal$ed! and somehow he hadn<t e/ected that it would sing in his
blood! this almost intolerable edge of anic! li$e a bird caught under glass.
(itting u at the bar! he offered the bowl of retzels to the woman sitting ne/t
to him unassumingly. (he smiled her than$s and he smiled bac$ slowly! letting the
warmth of it reach his eyes. The first rule was to disarm and distract. (o he
atiently turned to loo$ at the man drin$ing ne/t to him and casually struc$ u a
con"ersation.
456
Tonight he had something secial in mind! a new desired secimen. The
search for the wordsmith was tiring. The last one was erfect! or so she seemed!
but then the marring of the s$in hit him. They were all so imerfect! destroying
what nature created. The "ery s$in of the earth was showing the same ollutants.
The need to reser"e erfection! those that were still unmarred! was e"en more
ressing. :e was going to ha"e to seed u his efforts.
(miling at the man ne/t to him! he ordered a new drin$. 7(o you,re ?riental.
=ould that be Corean or .hinese3 @aanese; =hat a great culture. &re both your
arents @aanese38

457
Day 9: &h#rsday- 9:30 a.m.
Maria sat on the counter drin$ing tea in the bathroom! watching Michael
sha"e. It was one of her fa"orite things to do. The whole concet of a man still
sha"ing with a straight razor was 'ust too se/y to ignore.
7I was thin$ing.8 Michael 'ust grunted in resonse. 7I was thin$ing we need to
e/and the loft.8 Michael aused and loo$ed at Maria.
7It,s lenty big! Maria. It,s bigger than most eole,s homes.8
7I thin$ we need a larger bathroom. The bathtub is fine! and I lo"e the corner
shower! but if we e/and we can mo"e in two dressing rooms! one on your side
with lots of closet sace! and one on my side with the same.8
79ou already ha"e a wal$Ain closet.8 Maria sighed. =hy did he always ha"e to
be so difficult3 7I already ha"e a closet too. & damn nice closet with builtAin shel"es!
drawers! and enough sace...if someone would sto buying me new clothes all the
time.8
Maria 'ust shrugged. Li$e he didn,t need them. =hen he had mo"ed in with
her! his clothes were shoc$ingly itiful! holey! and loo$ed li$e he had bought them
from either a second hand store or 'ust got them from a dumster. Maria didn,t let
his comlaints bother her because he wore the sweaters she bought him! dressed
u when he had to in his new suits! and e"en though she hadn<t tossed his old stuff!
on most days he wore the new stuff.
7The sin$ sace in here is awful. =e run into each other all the time! and...8
Maria went in for the $ill. 7If we e/and the loft and bathroom we could ut in a
whirlool hot tub and sauna. &nd downstairs ha"e room to ut in a weight room for
your weights and stuff.8
457
Michael stoed sha"ing and loo$ed at her. 7=hat,s going on3 &re you trying
to tell me that I,m ma$ing you claustrohobic38
7+o; 1od! no. I 'ust thin$ with the baby coming! and we only ha"e se"en and
a half months! that we should thin$ about it.8
Michael loo$ed at her closely! watching her wad the edge of her dressing gown
in her hands. +esting. :e got it. (he was nesting. &nd before it was through she
would totally rearrange the entire loft a hundred times! dri"ing him and the cat
insane. Technically! the loft was hers to do with as she leased! but they had ne"er
found that an issue. In the ast all decisions affecting their home were made as a
coule! esecially after the fiasco of &my rearranging their furniture that one time.
:e had tried o"er it in the dar$! landing on his head with a huge gash and it too$
two days to tal$ Mr. 5oo out of hiding.
7The loft is lenty big! Maria. If you want to change something! we can emty
out your office! turn it into a nursery! and mo"e the office downstairs.8 Michael
thought that was a generous offer. The room that was off their bedroom had been a
mystery to him for first three months of li"ing together until one day he loo$ed
inside. The horror was too much. The room was officially her at home office! but to
his eyes it was wall to wall cra. 5oo$s! artifacts! and trin$ets from tra"eling! and
e"en large monoliths from un$nown regions. The first time he entered the room she
warned him not to ste bac$. :e almost steed into a bundle burial in the corner
with burial darts included. It seemed he was on the "erge of imaling himself on a
dart and Maria warned him that desite being hundreds of years old! the curare on
the darts was still acti"e.
Maria shuddered at the tas$ he was roosing. 7I thin$ it would be easier to
'ust e/and. =e,re going to need an e/tra suite of rooms anyway off the nursery to
accommodate the li"eAin nanny.8
458
Michael stoed wiing the sha"ing cream from his face. 7+anny3 =e,re not
getting a nanny. &nd sure as hell not a li"eAin one.8 Michael scowled at her. :e
could li"e with her! the baby and the cat! but anyone else was out of the %uestion.
7?$ay! then maybe a real nice gay guy needing a good home38
7Maria; +o. =e,ll worry about ma$ing childcare arrangements later. If we need
to find more sace we ha"e the entire area o"er the li"ing room where another
uer loft area can be built. There,s no reason to e/and outward. &nd if you really
want to worry about something! then thin$ about how we,re going to tell your
mother about the baby! and the fact you<re refusing to marry me.8 Michael left her
sitting there to chew on that thought as he went to find something to wear.
7I ossibly hate you;8 Maria screamed after his bac$ as he wal$ed away. 7That
was cruel and "icious! and a damn low blow;8
Michael 'ust smir$ed. 9eah! it was. +ow Maria would send the rest of the day
worrying about &my. &nd maybe! 'ust maybe he could forestall her from riing
their home into a huge construction zone with dust and wor$ers e"erywhere. The
blow was low and dirty. 5ut no one really fought clean! esecially not with the ones
they lo"ed. >ighting a good fight meant ulling no unches! and only an idiot would
try to fight a nice fight with Maria DeLuca. (he won too often anyway. If he wanted
to fight a clean! nice fight he would ha"e the blood remo"ed from his "eins! ice
water installed and become retentious.
Maria sat in the bathroom fuming o"er his underhanded blow. &my was going
to be a roblem! a real roblem. (he,d be on Michael,s side demanding Maria marry
him immediately to the oint of ostoning her own wedding lans again. Mean!
mean! mean$ Mean man. 1od! she hated the bathroom tile; Maybe something more
in the color each3 The bedroom color scheme was all wrong too! and those shades
459
needed a cleaning! maybe some new aint or coating. Maria rushed off into the
bedroom to find a encil and ad to start ma$ing a list.
---
7(ean! you,re in"ited to dinner tonight!8 Michael told (ean on his way to his
des$. Maria had decided that they needed to ractice before telling &my! so she
chose (ean! her cousin! and Isabel! Michael,s sister. It was best to start with family!
and since Ma/ already $new...
79ou telling me! or as$ing38 Michael 'ust rolled his eyes. These damn DeLucas
and their ersnic$ety attention to detail.
7It,s free food! do you accet or what38 Michael as$ed nastily. Li$e he really
wanted to deal with another DeLuca at this 'uncture in his life.
7I could eat.8 Michael told him the time! and hoed Maria remembered to call
Isabel.
7DeLuca;8 .a,s "oice called out abo"e the usual morning bustle of the
bullen. 71et in here.8
Michael made a rude comment! and Ma/ smir$ed and Cyle told his artner
that he was going to get it now. (ean 'ust wa"ed a finger at the grou and went to
face the music.
7.a38
7(hut the door.8 @im loo$ed u from his wor$ on his des$ at (ean. 7Do you
remember the )ubio case38
(ean nodded. 7(ure! it was one of my last #ice cases. @ason )ubio was a
bottom feeder for Pierce,s larger cor. =e busted his illegal firearms sales. :e was
toting .o Cillers. =e couldn,t catch him! but an informant! the small time
46:
boo$ma$er fingered him for us! and in a large sting we too$ him down. :e e"en
confessed during interrogation.8
7=ell being the land of the free and the home of the e/edient of the law! it,s
finally coming to trial. Tomorrow is the first real day after months of lengthy
reliminaries! delay tactics! re%uests for change of "enue! and 'ury selection. The
accused leaded not guilty desite the confession. They need you. 5ut today! the
D&,s office has re%uested you to meet with the new &sst. D& @ulia...8 @im loo$ed
down to find the name. 7MacLeod. I told them you would meet her for lunch at the
courthouse.8
(ean started to rotest. :e hated the courthouse! and the food there suc$ed.
(ean,s forehead wrin$led. :e already did some testifying in some reliminary cra!
but that was months ago. 7.a! I,"e got this murder case I,m wor$ing! and...8
7+oon. I told them you would be on the courthouse stairs at noon.8 @im made
a gesture for him to scram. 7&nd (ean! you might want to dig u your old case files
about this case. The new &D& was a big time lawyer in Te/as! smart and young
and! I hear! ambitious. (he transferred here to be close to her mom! so she isn,t
hay gi"ing u her fastAtrac$ 'ob. Don,t ma$e her thin$ we,re not rofessionals
too.8
75est foot forward! .a. I romise.8 (ean left the office cussing in his mind all
the words best left unso$en in #alenti,s resence. =hat the hell was his best foot
anyway3 :e better as$ Michael. >or some reason that thought hit him as really!
really funny.
7Michael!8 Cyle loo$ed u from chec$ing their monitoring reort. 7=e,"e got
another missing ersons reort. 9oung @aanese male! early twenties! went missing
last night.8
(ean 'oined them as he came bac$ to the des$. 7=here did he go missing38
461
7.lub :ell.8
Michael swore. .lub :ell again. It had to be the hunting ground. 7(omeone
find and rouse =hitman. &s$ him to come in.8 Ma/ nodded and grabbed the hone.
7(ean! you still ha"e all the missing ersons reorts from the last few years
floating around38 (ean nodded. 71ood bring them into the conference room...8
Michael loo$ed o"er and called to a woman. 7)honda what room can we ha"e38
Michael nodded his ac$nowledgment. 7.onference SA5.8
Michael wal$ed away to $noc$ on #alenti,s door. :e entered at the "oice.
7.a38
7=hat is it! 1uerin38 @im was ready to watch Michael try to weasel (ean out of
court! but he was wrong.
7I,"e got a hunchAa real strong oneAthat our $iller isn,t new! isn,t an amateur!
and we,"e got more "ictims! 'ust no bodies.8
#alenti rubbed his face. 1reat. &nother high rofile serial $iller. 7=hat you
thin$ing38
7:e,s duming! but lots of wor$ went into the rocess. :e rocesses them to
$ee. (omething changed! something big! so he,s getting sloy and duming at
random. I thin$ some of the unsol"ed missing reorts might be undisco"ered
bodies.8
7=hy is he duming them38
Michael loo$ed at @im with dar$ angry eyes. 7They were blemished! not
erfect. >irst reco"ery! @anet (eers had a small birthmar$ on her inner thigh that
was more than li$ely not noticeable until much later. Crystal =hitman had a tiny
butterfly tattoo. :e coated her body! and while rearing to rocess! he noticed it.
:e didn,t e"en bother to rocess her. :e 'ust waited until he could dum her.8
463
7I want this erson found before the ress gets ahold of it. They slime into this
Deartment and wal$ away with too much information.8
75igger roblem. I thin$ he too$ another one last night. This time he too$ a
male! @aanese! and a student at the 0ni"ersity.8
79ou! and your team need to mo"e on this! I don,t care what it ta$es.8
7That,s what I need you to do! .a. I need downstairs to rocess any and all
missing erson,s claims without the fortyAeight hour wait. &ll missing ersons need
to be routed to uniforms! and us. :e,s hunting! and the duming of two bodies
within a wee$ is a lot. There,ll be more.8
71et on it. .lean my house.8 Michael nodded and was on his way out. 7&nd!
Michael!8 he turned bac$. 7Ma$e sure DeLuca ma$es the noon meeting with the
&D&. Defense mo"ed the trial to late doc$et today. &fter dragging their feet for
almost a year! suddenly they<re comlaining about the lac$ of a seedy trial.8
7:e,ll be there. :e li$es ain. It should be a fun day for him.8
They wor$ed the rest of the morning on searating out the stac$ of missing
ersons o"er the last two years. *"en an interacti"e comuter rogram running the
$nown cases couldn,t find any common traits. The three missing ersons from .lub
:ell were all from different social! economic! and religious bac$grounds. There was
nothing to tie them together e/cet that they were all ta$en from .lub :ell.
7(ean! lets reorganize the cases.8 (ean sighed and loo$ed at his watch. Ten
more minutes! and he,d be out of there. +e"er thought he would see the day that
he wanted to go to court rather than wor$ a case.
71i"e us a brea$! 1uerin. =e mo"ed them into so many iles! now there,s no
corresonding commonality. This case is an enigma.8 (ean hit his artner on the
bac$ of the shoulders. 79ou,"e got Cyle folding aer cranes. In another nine
hundred and thirtyAse"en he gets his wish. &nd you don,t want to $now what it is.8
464
7(ort them by last $nown location. If he,s hunting! that means he has a
hunting ground. )ight now it,s .lub :ell! three months ago it might ha"e been
somewhere else. .ases with the erson lea"ing home! dum out of the mi/. Cee
only night clubs! ra"es! and undergrounds.8
(ean loo$ed at Michael and nodded. That was smart. :e had to hunt! a lace
to find them! watch them! a lace that they wouldn,t be too utight to let their
guard down. & club or bar was erfect. Most of the eole there were out loo$ing
for something! someone! and so if someone found them! it wouldn,t be too
alarming.
---
(ean finally left to ma$e his noon meeting. It was irritating to ha"e to lea"e.
+ot only were they ordering food! but the iles were ta$ing shae. & gruesome
icture of numerous "ictims! all which had been ignored to date! because their
bodies had ne"er been reco"ered.
(tanding on the stes was both a "ision of beauty and a nightmare at the
same time. It had to be the new &D& MacLeod. (he was tall and thin! with legs that
made a statement. :er features were small! delicate and well roortioned! with
fine light brunette hair blowing in the breeze and shar hazel green eyes inning
him to the wall from a distance. It was hard to miss the ob"ious lawyer stance! the
barely controlled atience! and the &rmani grey instrie with a short s$irt showing
the legs to their best ad"antage. ?h! it had to be &rmani red label with sil$ inner
lining rubbing u against that s$in. =hen she wal$ed down the stes towards him!
his "ery obser"ant Detecti"e,s eye caught a tattoo on the inner thigh! high on the
inner thigh.
465
(ean groaned under his breath. & nightmare! a total nightmare. :e,d gi"e u
an entire year<s wages for a moment under her hand. ?r so he thought! until she
so$e. The soft lilt of her "oice with an almost hus$y Te/an sound had him
entranced! but the words were what $noc$ed him o"er. Two year<s wages! definitely
two year<s; :er "oice was full of anger and irritation! so arousing. :e was one "ery
sic$ man. :is theraist should,"e warned him there would be days li$e these.
79ou,re late;8 The "ision loo$ed at her watch. 7It was agreed on for noon! and
it,s %uarter ast. 9ou might ha"e all day to whittle away! but I do not.8
(he stoed to loo$ at he man and then rolled her eyes. 1reat. &n idiot. :e
was too stuid to e"en babble. 7:ello3 &re you in there! or does *nglish not
comute3 D+o ah sea$a *nglish3, Damn! they didn,t tell me you were
de"elomentally disabled.8 Loo$ing at the cut across his eye and the bruises on his
face she almost stomed her foot. :e must ha"e fallen off his tricycle. (he loo$ed
around for his guardian or $eeer. >inally she grabbed him and ga"e him a good
sha$e. 7=a$e u! 5arney. I,"e got no time for you.8
The 5arney comment wo$e him out of his daze. =hat the hell3 1e wasn,t the
resident 5arney! that was :anson. Loo$ing at her critically! (ean decided she didn,t
loo$ that great. =ell! e/cet for the legs.
;(orry! I was thin$ing o"er my last case. &re you &D& MacLeod38 (he nodded.
71ood. =hat can I do for you! and!8 (ean loo$ed at his watch. 7...can we ma$e it
fast3 I,"e got a murder case that loo$s serial! so I need to get bac$.8
7=ell ma$e time. >ollow me.8 (ean 'ust shrugged and hung bac$ a few stes
to en'oy the "iew. =onder if she $nows the s$irt rides u a bit in the bac$3
(ean was amazed when she led them to a local Centuc$y >ried .hic$en. 7I
hoe you don,t mind CenAtuc$Ay >ried .hic$en3 I hate the food in the courthouse.8
(ean 'ust shoo$ his head! dumbfounded again. +ot his fault. :ow was he to $now
466
her ronouncing the establishment<s name as DCenAtuc$Aee, was going to be
so...stimulating3 Liz used to be real slow at her seech too! but this was different.
The syllables 'ust rolled off her tongue li$e a caress.
7If I can,t get your attention! this is going to ta$e longer than I,"e got time for.
Detecti"e! I as$ed you a %uestion.8
7=hat38
(he 'ust sighed and dug out another iece of the ocorn chic$en from the
large buc$et! tossing a iece of @alaeno on it before oing it in her mouth. 7I
as$ed you to tell me the circumstances that led u to your arrest of Mr. )ubio. I
need all details. &fter a year of stalling! the Defense has finally demanded a seedy
trial! and I,m on doc$et today! late afternoon. In addition to that! Mr. )ubio has
suddenly decided to lead <+ot 1uilty<! after confessing to the crime. Doesn<t ta$e a
genius to wor$ out that something is u! and I need to $now what.8 (he leaned
forward on her arms and loo$ed (ean deely in the eyes. 7I don,t deal well with
surrises.8
;No sur+rises. Prett$ stanar case reall$. <e ha a "itness co%e /or"ar "ith (ital
in/or%ation& +lanne a sting& an caught hi% on +re%ises. 0ater he con/esse to his unla"/ul
actions. No *ig.= ,ean "ent into greater etail as the$ ate. <hen he /inall$ /inishe his chicken
an the stor$& he "onere i/ she "oul share the rest o/ her chicken "ith hi%. >er *ucket o/
+o+corn chicken looke *igger than she i. But al%ost like she coul sense his thoughts& she
+ulle her chicken closer. ;Do $ou nee %e /or court?=
;No& $our testi%on$ in +reli%inaries shoul *e enough an stan. Toa$& "ith the late
start& I think "e#ll *e luck$ to get through 1+ening ,tate%ents. I o "ant $ou a(aila*le
to%orro" though. I/ there are no real sur+rises& I %ight *e a*le to cut $ou loose *$ %i-
%orning.=
467
7I,ll be here.8 (ean too$ the sli of information she assed him with the
courtroom number! time and meeting sace. 7=ell if there,s nothing else! Mrs.
MacLeod...8
7Ms. MacLeod3 Mrs. MacLeod is my mother.8
(ean smiled his best DeLuca smile! 'ust driing in charm. 71ood to $now. (ee
you tomorrow! Mac.8 (ean wal$ed off whistling under his breath. 9e! a total
nightmare. Last thing he needed was another looseAcannon female wal$ing into his
life! but the woman did ha"e a thing for chic$en! so she was more than li$ely worth
a second loo$.
---
(ean made it bac$ in time to 'oin the others in the dar$ room loo$ing in on
Interrogation )oom Three. 5ehind the oneAway glass was &le/ =hitman. The man
loo$ed trashed and totally out of it. Michael loo$ed at Ma/ and nodded for him to
follow. (ean and Cyle stayed ut and turned on the sea$er.
&le/ loo$ed u when they wal$ed in. :is eyes were bloodshot and tired! and
Michael watched as he lit another cigarette. +ot e"en bothering to tell the man that
there was no smo$ing in the rooms! Michael too$ a chair across from him.
The two men stared at each other unmo"ing! and it was Ma/ mo"ing and
clearing his throat that finally bro$e the silence.
7I don,t li$e being called in! Detecti"es.8 &le/ drew hea"ily on his cigarette.
7It was necessary! &le/.8 Michael didn,t offer &le/ any condolences o"er his
loss. There was no need. +othing could bring Crystal bac$! and there was nothing
left but 'ustice.
79ou find the erson who did my cousin38
467
7+o. =e,"e found a monster.8 Michael motioned for Ma/ who came forward and
droed a ile of folder in front of the two men. 79our cousin wasn,t the first! not
e"en the second. (o far we,"e got thirtyAse"en missing eole all o"er the last two
years. There might be e"en more if we dig bac$ far enough. (e"en were ta$en from
your club. Three recently! and four other ones some se"en months ago.8
&le/ loo$ed at Michael intently and nodded to the ile. 7(how me.8
Michael assed him only the folders of the ones ta$en from his lace. &le/
%uic$ly loo$ed through the ile. ?ne icture caught his eyes. @ennifer 6uilter.
7This girl I $new. (he was one of my eole! a ser"er in the club.8 Michael 'ust
waited for &le/ to tell him what he $new. It wasn,t really necessary since Michael
already $new &le/ was the one who filed that MP reort as well. 7(he was a good
$id! clean. =or$ing my lace at nights to ma$e money for school. :er father threw
her out when she was si/teen! but she li"ed with friends! finished :igh (chool! and
was wor$ing on an &ssociates in Design. (he was "ery talented.8
7&nother was ta$en last night. & young @aanese man! early twenties! also a
student. @ac$ Tso. :e was a first generation @aanese. :is family relocated to
&merica with his father,s comany! and he too$ a osition in +ew Me/ico because
he wanted to see the great &merican =est.8
&le/ grounded out his smo$e on the floor. &nother! ta$en in his club! under his
rotection. 7I,m closing my club.8
&le/ stood to lea"e. 7Don,t.8 Michael said. :e e/ected that reaction! it was
the one he would ha"e had. 7=e need it oen.8
7I can,t. &bo"e my doors are words! in >rench. DEntreJ l(enfer lF Ktes ici n#lle
"art d(a#tre.0 It is a welcome to :ell! and the freedom to $now that in :ell there is
no other lace to go. )oc$ bottom. It is a symbol of rotection and a tye of
freedom.8 &le/ sat bac$ down. 7My lace is tainted! soiled.8
468
7It,s his hunting ground.8
&le/ was silent. 7:is attern38
7Two months! and then he mo"es. :e rotates. (e"en months ago he hunted in
your lace. :e too$ four in two months. Today! he<s ta$en three in less than two
wee$s. :e<s accelerated his attern and came bac$ to your lace. It<s rime to him!
good ic$ings. I need that lace oen! so we can hunt the hunter.8
7=ho rotects my eole! my innocents38
7=e do. I do.8 Michael understood what &le/ was as$ing! the commitment.
7The blood! it can stain.8
7It,ll be on my hands.8
&le/ shoo$ his head. Michael $new better. If &le/ left the club oen! let the
cos come in and another child was lost! the blood would co"er them allAesecially
&le/.
7My doors are oen. =e hunt the hunter! but no more die.8
7Than$ you.8 Michael said %uietly. It was hard for a man li$e &le/ to oen the
doors of his community to outsiders! cos.
7I don,t do it for you.8 &le/ loo$ed down at all the files! his cousin,s included.
7I do it for them.8 &le/ headed for the door of the room. =ithout loo$ing bac$ at
either of them! 7I do it for Crystal! and I do it for Isabel. &t one time she could,"e
been one of them.8
+either Ma/ nor Michael so$e a word as he left. :e was right. Isabel li"ed in
the hunting ground for years. It was stuid blind luc$ that sent her away a year
ago! because the woman &le/ reorted missing se"en months ago! @ennifer 6uilter!
resembled Isabel enough to be a sister.
---
469
@ulia could feel her sine tic$ling. The smarmy Defense attorney was loo$ing a
tad too smug. (omething was wrong. #ery wrong. &s the @udge entered the
.ourtroom from his chambers with all the J:ear ye; :ear ye; The :onorable @udge
blah! blah! blahAheard it all beforeJ she $new that it was o"er.
There it was. 5efore the trial was e"en begun and the doc$et read! the
Defense re%uested to aroach the bench. */ressionless! @ulia waited along with
her two assistants! hands folded on her aers. It was imortant to aear
unaffected by the mo"e! as the @ury would be watching all arties< reactions!
curious at this sudden turn of e"ents.
7=ould the .ounsel for the Peole lease aroach the bench.8 +ot losing
contact with the @udge,s eyes! @ulia felt the sin$ing in her stomach.
They @udge loo$ed at her. 7The Defense has entered a motion to suress the
confession entered in this case.8
7?n what grounds38 +o way. There was no way that the "alid confession
logged into the case during reliminaries could be turned.
7Defense maintains that the defendant was coerced to ma$e the confession!
and he was denied his right to ha"e counsel resent during his interrogation.8
7The confession was signed and "alidated by the arresting officer and
numerous witnesses resent. &ll affida"its and "alidations were disclosed months
ago! as er Defense .ounsel<s re%uest. +o ob'ection to them was made at any oint
during the reliminary hearings.8
7My client made the confession under duress and in fear of his life.8
(he turned and nearly sneered at him. 7That being the case! this information
should ha"e been brought to the Prosecution<s attention rior to trial;;8
47:
7=hat do you not understand about the words Dduress, and Dafraid for his life,!
Miss MacLeod3 &nd gi"en the nature of the coercion...J
&s their "oices rose! the @udge stood u and banged his ga"el. 7.ounsel will
continue this in my chambers.8 The @udge loo$ed at the Panel of @urors. 7The @ury is
instructed to disregard this matter! and not discuss it with anyone. .ourt will be
ad'ourned until further notice.8
---
(he found him in the PD ar$ing garage on his way home for the e"ening.
(ean stoed and en'oyed the "iew of the lady &D& stal$ing towards him. :e might
ha"e to cancel his dinner with Michael and Maria! if the chic$enAeating &D& was
free.
7&lready finished with court! .ounselor3 9ou must be good.8 (ean smiled.
7I should sho"e that lastic hony smile down your gullet! you chic$enshit!
two bit! scruffy nerferder.8 (he stoed barely an inch from his nose! and she was
hot. :ot to loo$ at! hot under the collar and 'ust hot. :e could feel the heat ealing
off her.
7(cruffy3 :ey! it,s been a long day;8
7The Defense entered a motion to ha"e the confession suressed;8
7The confession was good. I was there. The little weasel sang his heart out!
sweating bullets the whole time. :e not only droed a dime on Pierce! but he
rolled in it.8 (ean frowned at her rising color.
7&ccording to the accused he was coerced. 5y yo#; :e named names; 9ours
secifically! and being the arresting officer...J
7That little is%uea$! I ha"e a mind...8
471
7+o you do not$5 :er "oice rose e"en louder as assing officers and ersonnel
watched the sectacle. 7Did you do it3 @ust tell me truthfully! did you lean on the
susect38
(ean went %uiet. 7Define Dlean,.8
79ou $now what I mean! Detecti"e. The accused said he re%uested counsel!
and before he could lawyer u! you and he had a con"ersation. &nd the longer it
too$! the more threatened he felt. :is lawyer said that he was detained downstairs
in boo$ing while the front des$ tried to locate his client. :e was $et waiting for
fortyAfi"e minutes; Does any of this stin$ of coercion or <leaning< to you3 (earch
your eaAsize brain! and string me together some words that ma$e sense. Tell me
what I want to hear.8
7=e didn<t...I didn,t wor$ outside the law. I followed rocedure to the letter. To
the letter. I didn,t do what isn,t done e"ery day. I brought in the bad guy.8
7I,"e seen standard oerating rocedures for a co sho before! Detecti"e.
:ow close to the en"eloe did you wal$38
(ean lost it. 7Didn,t you e"en read the case file3 This was an ammo suly
hub! a turnstile sho. They were eddling D.o Cillers,! armor iercing rounds. +ot
'ust for here! but to the boarders. +ot 'ust a few cases of li"e ammo! but hundreds.
*"ery snitch! cran$! e"ery im! usher! runner and gang banger was going to be
co"ered to the hilt. It was loaded full metal 'ac$ets in smooth case with armor head
iercing to the load. :a"e you seen the damage that does to e"eryday Ce"lar3 Do
you $now the magnitude of damage it could do! the ri"er of blood to our own3 (o I
leaned$ I stayed within the legal. I made the bust! and I closed the sho. Pierce
didn,t go down! but he felt it u his ass;8
473
@ulia groaned and co"ered her ears. 79ou stuid! stuid fuc$. Didn,t I tell you I
don,t li$e surrises3 &nd you $new; 9ou $new this was going down s$ewed. I told
you. 9ou loo$ed me in the eye! and told me that it was clean. .lean;8
(ean rubbed his brow. 7=hat haened38 he as$ed %uietly.
7The case is ad'ourned! ending the outcome of a hearing tomorrow to
determine whether or not the confession stands. If the court decides it was
coerced! that confession is gone and so are all the materials and information gained
from it and in any way connected to it.8
7=hat do you want from me38
@ulia snorted. 75esides what I can,t ha"e3 I want you in court! in your (unday
best! all olite and roer! and I want you to sell the @udge on your honesty and
integrity. I want my case bac$; &nd you! Detecti"e! are going to stand and deli"er
it. 9ou will be there first thing in the morning! on time! and alert.8
7I can do that.8
7?:; 5elie"e me! you will. If I lose this confession! my case is standing by a
thread! and all the time! wor$! and the endless amount of manower hours sent
on this case alone! stands in 'eoardy.8 (he stood shouting in his face in a cold hard
"oice. 79ou ta$e yourself off! and you ray to 1od! your mother! and whate"er deity
you can find that my case isn,t going south because of your stretching of the roer
rocedures. ?therwise I will find you! and I will twist your balls off until you scream
for mercy.8 (he stomed her foot in an act of ure fury. 7I told you! I don,t li$e
surrises;8
(ean watched as she turned on her heel and stal$ed off! the only real sounds
being the angry beating of her stiletto heels on the concrete.
7That could ta$e a lot of twisting! .ounselor!8 he said softly as he rubbed his
hand o"er his face and down his body. The dar$ anger shuddered through his body
474
as he tried to rela/ the tight fist he had lastered to his side. It too$ all his control
not to reach out and ta$e her down. ?h 1od! he really needed theray because he
was so aroused at this moment it was almost imossible to breathe.
~~~
(ean oened the loft door to Isabel. (ighing in great regret! he stood aside
and let her enter. Maria could ha"e warned him that she was the other dinner
guest. =hat was it3 DialAaA5itch day3
7Princess 5itch.8
7*lehant Man.8 Isabel wiz ast him! to ta$e a seat at the $itchen bar. Loo$ing
o"er she noticed Michael and Maria ha"ing what could only be termed a fight.
Turning to loo$ at (ean again! her eyes narrowed. 79ou,re healing. =ho $new that
you would be uglier in your nati"e form3 Must be your age.8
79ou should be so luc$y to loo$ as good when you,re my age.8 (ean dug
through the $itchen for food! and loo$ing u at Isabel he smiled nastily. 7=ait! you
do loo$ my age.8
7I don,t belie"e you,re twentyAnine.8 Isabel loo$ed him o"er critically.
7ThirtyAfour! and if you want me to belie"e you,re twentyAnine I,ll need to see
some I.D.8 Isabel 'ust ignored him and nabbed the bag of chis out of his hand.
Munching on a few she turned to watch the residents of the house still ha"ing it
out.
7(o what are they arguing o"er38
7It doesn,t matter. Maria will win.8 (ean said. The argument o"er rearranging
and e/anding the loft was an ongoing one. Michael hated change and thought the
loft was lenty big! but Maria with her added nesting instincts was ushing for more
sace.
475
7I doubt it. That would re%uire Michael bac$ing down! and Michael ne"er bac$s
down. +ot to no one! no how.8 (ean sneered at the Ice 6ueen.
7Money38
Isabel reached into her bag and ulled out a twenty. 7I,ll go twenty.8
7.o"ered. *asiest money I e"er made.8
7?h! now you,re trying to con"ince me that bending o"er and ta$ing it li$e a
man is hard wor$.8
(ean 'ust shrugged as he co"ered her twenty with his own. 7Deends who I,m
ta$ing it from. +ow if it was you...that amount of wor$ is unimaginable! trying to
come u with a con"incing fa$e orgasm.8
Isabel 'ust rolled her eyes at him. 7Men can,t fa$e orgasms.8
7(ure they can. @ust close your eyes and thin$ of something else! anything
else to get off. 1od! .ountry! the 6ueen! or e"en white cotton soc$s.8 (ean loo$ed
o"er at Michael and Maria and reassessed the situation. 70h oh! Michael is showing
signs of ca"ing. =e might want to scram for a while.8
7Michael doesn,t ca"e.8 Isabel insisted as she turned to loo$ at the arguing
coule. >rowning! and almost needing to rub her eyes! it did loo$ li$e Michael was
wa"ering. =hat the hell3 Twenty buc$s dammit; The man should try to show a little
more selfAresect. 7I don,t belie"e it.8
(ean ic$ed u the money and oc$eted. It was a matter of time before the
clothes started flying! maybe three minutes on the outside. 79ou would if you,d
ha"e been around the last year. Maria always wins.8
7:ow38 Isabel refused to belie"e Michael 1uerin had changed that much.
7?ldest woman,s tric$ in the boo$.8
Isabel loo$ed at (ean. 7(e/.8
476
79eah! and no man! no matter how strong! asses u heated se/ on to of a
real assionate fight.8 Isabel 'ust rolled her eyes. (he didn,t really lose. (he 'ust
forgot to factor in the male <thin$ing with their dic$< syndrome.
7=e better scram or we,re going to get an eyefull.8 Isabel turned to find the
coule lastered to each other $issing wildly and ushing at each other<s clothes.
7+ormally they would be more conscious of comany! but recently...3 5est to get
out while the going is good.8
Isabel agreed and %uic$ly followed (ean out of the loft trying to songe the
sounds of moaning and $issing from her oor brain. 71uess dinner is a wash! and
dammit! I,m hungry.8
7Me! too. Let,s go find some food.8 Isabel loo$ed at him and shrugged. =hy
the hell not.
7?$ay! but you ay.8 Isabel said remembering her lost twenty.
7Dutch. =hen I ay for dinner for a woman! I e/ect something out of her.8
7Pro'ectile "omiting38
---
7Maria! I don,t thin$ this is such a good idea.8 Michael said rubbing his brow
abo"e his right eye. They missed their dinner date with Isabel and (ean for other
things! but after dinner Maria insisted they go to the gym.
7=e,"e been doing it for months. I didn,t want to do it! but you made me.
)emember the long winded list of reasons why I should let you teach me self
defense38 Maria ulled her leg u behind her and stretched the hamstring tight. 7(o
suddenly it,s different3 =hat I,"e got a rotecti"e shield around me3 ?r do I no
longer loo$ tasty enough to abuse38
477
7It,s not that. It 'ust now that you,re...8
7(o hel me 1od! if you say regnant! I,m so going to ta$e down your ass.8
Maria grabbed him by his tAshirt front. 7Pregnant doesn,t mean fragile! and it
doesn,t mean I,m helless! coer. (o be a good Pig! and teach me what you said
you would teach me. I swear! if I $new letting you get me in a family way would
turn you to mush! I,d...8 Maria stoed herself. (he,d still ha"e done it.
7?$ay! but nothing too rough! Maria3 ?$ay38
7)ight. 1otcha. Don,t hurt the coer.8 They finally got on the mats and
started racticing the different holds that Michael had taught Maria to get out of.
JThat<s right Maria... right there.J Michael urged her.
J&re you sure3J Maria<s "oice was uncertain but growing in confidence! Jli$e
this3J Times li$e these! she suddenly realized how large he was comared to her.
J@ust li$e that! yeah!J Michael said encouragingly! J+ow harder.J Maria
groaned. (ure! she heard that before.
J&re you sure you<re ready for this3J Maria needed to be sure.
J@ust do it! Maria! and %uit stalling.J There was a note of imatience in his
"oice. Maria 'ust shrugged.
J&lright! but remember! this was your idea.J Maria too$ a firm gri on him!
following the techni%ue that they had racticed for the ast few months. (he didn,t
want to hurt him! and yet she needed to imress on him at the same time that she
was o$ay! that he didn,t need to guard her all the time.
>oot forward and weight bac$. +o! that was weight forward and foot bac$! and
i"ot and turn on the inside ulling with follow through. +oe! noe it was foot
forward and the weight to the bac$. (he grunted and strained! e"ery muscle in her
body tense as the mo"ement reached its comletion! and the smac$ing Dumf, sound
as Michael hit the mat hard.
477
Maria stood staring down at her lo"er! who was now on his bac$ on the gym
mat. J:ey! you o$ay baby3J
Michael oened his eyes gi"ing Maria a satisfied smile. J+ot bad... for a
beginner.J :e actually li$ed it when she called him Dbaby, at times. It only slied
out when she was really concerned! otherwise it was <Detecti"e<.
Maria flushed slightly! brushing her hair off of her sweaty face. J=ell! I don<t
ha"e your old age years of ractice to fall bac$ on! or your muscled frame. 5ut my
family didn,t belie"e in lea"ing anyone defenseless.J
Michael ignored the dig at his age! she was only a year younger than he was.
7I $now they taught you some things! Maria. 5ut using a stiletto on someone! and a
few holds isn,t going to cut it.8
7=ell! it,s heled me a few times in my ast.8 Maria watched his face dar$en!
and sighed. That was the roblem wasn,t it3 This was all about the ast! and his
obsessi"e need to $now she was safe when he wasn,t around. 7?$ay! we better go
again! because I need the ractice.8
JThis time I don<t want you to hesitate.J :e said as he ic$ed himself u off
the floor. J=hen you feel me grab you I 'ust want you to do it.J :e was going to be
sorry one night! coming home! snea$ing u on her! grabbing her from behind! and
Dbam, his ass was going to go down. )efle/es li$e a cat.
J9ou want to do that again3J Maria as$ed incredulously.
JPractice ma$es refect! Maria. 5esides I<d feel better $nowing that you can
hold your own against a larger oonent.J
Maria sighed. Michael had finally decided that she needed to $now more than
basics in self defense! and Maria had caitulated! only to hel alle"iate some of his
tension. (o they started going to the PD gym late at night! at least twice a wee$.
They didn<t ha"e time to do it otherwise. The gym was oen twentyAfourUse"en!
478
but rarely used at night. The two of them had been at it for about twenty minutes
and they were both co"ered in sweat.
Michael set himself behind her again! he was teaching Maria how to get away
from an attac$er. :is eyes wandered o"er the tight ass in front of him. It was! li$e
the rest of Maria! beautiful e"en through the baggy sweats. :is lusty feelings were
causing him another roblem at the moment! but utting them aside for the sa$e of
more imortant things! li$e attac$ing her from behind. Michael groaned. :e could
feel the heat of her body! smell the sweat mi/ed with the smell of atchouli and
'asmine. :is arms and hands could feel the mo"ement of her muscles! finer and
more delicate than his! as she immediately too$ to finishing the mo"e. :er body
ushed bac$ deeer into his body! as her foot steed into the inside to redistribute
her weight and use his against him. (he flied him o"er.
Michael landed with a grunt onto his bac$. :e $new he had startled her! he felt
it in her body when he grabbed her! and reasoned that Maria had let her mind
wander a bit. :e was doing the same thing. =ith a grin he reached u and grabbed
Maria<s arm and ulled her down on him.
J:ey;J Maria groused as she landed on to of him.
J9ou weren<t aying attention! Maria.J Michael said trying to be serious! which
was hard when he was chuc$ling. J9ou ha"e to watch out for that you $now! cause
if someone ulls you down...J =ith lightening seed he rolled o"er and inned her
more sule body beneath his. J9our oonent can use his weight against you.J
J9ou,re 'ust uset because e"ery time I smac$ you down on the mat I scream
Dta$e that! ya Pig,.J Maria said! not struggling against the hold. Though her arms
were free! Michael<s larger body had her effecti"ely inned. Parts of her brain and
body were en'oying the e/erience! esecially the arts that could feel his fully
erect enis rubbing against her. +ailed to the mat! she could totally handle that.
479
J9eah! what,s with that3J (uddenly Maria,s breath hitched and a redness
mo"ed u her nec$. Michael<s e/ression dar$ened with concern. 79ou o$ay3 Did I
hurt you38
JI,m fine! feeling real fine. I 'ust wonder how I $ee finding myself in this
osition.J Maria<s face showed arousal and interest in the body abo"e her! then her
face brightened suddenly! became full of mischief. JI did thin$ of a way to get you
off of me though! to ta$e the to.J
J)eally3J Michael as$ed! ulling his head u to loo$ in her face. :e had mo"ed
his head into her nec$ and shoulder and was rubbing his face there. :e tried to
ignore how leasant their bodies felt rubbing together. & warning in the bac$ of his
mind told him that mo"ing might be a good idea! if he wanted to stay in control.
JI,m sure it will always wor$. ?f course! I ha"e to want to be on to! mind
you.J
J*"ery time3 9ou thin$ it,ll wor$ e"ery time3 That,s imossible! because once
your oonent can anticiate your mo"e then it becomes worthless.J Michael said
still not mo"ing off her! and willing his body not to start something. (eeing the
gleam in her eye! he rolled his! and snorted. 7?$ay! what is it38
J@ust this...J Maria reached u clasing her hands around the bac$ of Michael<s
head! ulling him down for a hard closedAmouth $iss! that %uic$ly oened into a
hard! dee suc$ing $iss with all of him crowding into her. =hat she got was totally
e/ected and a whole lot more leasant than smac$ing him around on the mat!
though that had a lot to recommend it.
Michael realized Maria was going to $iss him a slit second before she did it.
:is mind told him to sto it before it started! but his body had wanted to feel those
lis! and taste that mouth since they started that he 'ust couldn<t. (he was
47:
distracting him away from what they were suosed to be doing again! and he
didn,t care.
&s Maria<s lis met his! Michael oened his mouth slightly and closed his eyes
and let her ha"e the lead. ?r that was his intention! but with them it ne"er always
haened as intended. Pressing into the $iss Michael<s tongue darted out to taste
Maria<s lis! her mouth oened under his! and Michael didn<t hesitate in e/loring
the hot moist ca"ern. Tongues dueled briefly as the $iss increased in intensity.
Michael wondered if it was ossible to lose all sense of self in the taste of a erson.
&fter what seemed li$e an eternity Maria bro$e the $iss! gasing for air. :er
head falling bac$ onto the mat. J?h Michael.J (he whisered! seeing the assion
unleashed in Michael<s eyes. (uddenly all those casual touches turned to more! and
she couldn,t sto her hands from mo"ing o"er him! touching him gently and then
not so gently. :e made her hunger! and the warmth she always felt from them
suddenly eruted into a fire that threatened to consume them. 5ut they were in a
ublic lace; They had to ull bac$;
Michael saw the confusion and fierce determination on her face that was
warring with a burning assion! and felt his raging hardAon that their brief wrestling
and $iss had caused. =hate"er it was about her! she $new how to sto$e his fires.
=ith a redatory gleam he swooed down and claimed those full lis for his own!
suc$ing on Maria<s tongue. :is hands were busy as well! one was buried dee into
the shiny golden hair feeling the sil$y strands mo"e o"er his fingers! while the other
sna$ed under Maria<s shirt. :e mo"ed his thumb o"er her nile as he e/lored the
weight and fullness of her breasts. It had to be his imagination! but they already
felt fuller desite it only being a good si/ wee$s into the regnancy. :is sensiti"e
fingers inched and rolled Maria<s niles into oints! causing her to writhe under
him.
471
)emembering that breathing was a re%uired function of life! Michael ulled
away from the wonderful taste of Maria<s mouth. Mo"ing down to the 'aw line he
lic$ed and scraed the flesh under his lis in a trail to the delicate earlobe suc$ing it
lightly.
Maria was moaning softly! her hands running down Michael<s bac$. (he
wraed her legs around him ulling them e"en closer together. Michael growled
into her nec$! Maria shi"ered at the sensation! turning her head to gi"e better
access. (he was rewarded by the feel of teeth on her nec$ as Michael bit down
lightly! then suc$ed hard. J&h... Michael. Don<t sto.J :e could almost feel the rush
of warm blood under the s$in where his tongue lic$ed! as the blood ooled in the
suc$ing mar$. Maria felt her body s%uirm from the multile sensations assaulting
her at once. (he arched into the body abo"e him! their lower bodies rubbing
together through the layers of sweaty clothing. They $et being so aroused so
%uic$ly! and she wondered how things had escalated to this oint.
Michael ulled bac$ to loo$ at her before going bac$ to her nec$ and biting
hard until he drew blood. :er whole body buc$ed and her moan ulled him bac$ to
loo$ at her again. +e"er had he seen anyone loo$ so beautiful as Maria did at that
moment. :er eyes dar$ and wild! with a small smile ulling u the edge of her
mouth. =ithin a few seconds he managed to di"est Maria and himself of their
sweats! ushing her shirt u o"er her head as his hands ran down her arms and to
her sides. To his delight Maria was more than cooerati"e in the maneu"er!
whimering with need when Michael<s hand brushed against her breasts! and then
continued downward to wra around a long lean thigh! ulling her deeer into the
cradle of his groin.
Maria<s eyes widened and smiled at the fire she saw in Michael<s eyes. There
he was! that was who she was waiting for. (he felt the well muscled body all o"er
473
her! and lic$ing her lis unconsciously in anticiation. Michael leaned bac$ down!
sliding their bodies together! needing to feel e"ery inch of her on him. &s their
bodies aligned Maria too$ a firm hold of Michael<s ass! bringing their groins into
closer contact as she felt him thrust inside with one strong stro$e.
J?h fuc$... Michael don<t sto! lease...oh yes oh yes.8
They mo"ed together in steady rhythm of hard "iolent thrusts! gasing as they
rode the tide of assion that had so suddenly swet them away. Michael slid a hand
to Maria<s ass holding her tight to him as he made a lace dee inside her! rearing
bac$! he ulled her off the mat to ractically sit in his la. Pushing her face to his
chest! he gazed at her! hot and hard.
75ite me.8
Maria latched onto the s$in of his chest! ulling the hardened masculine nile
into her mouth suc$ing it hard u against her to alate. :earing his moans! and a
demand for more! she felt the warmth of the blood rushing to the bruised flesh.
Mo"ing her hands around to his bac$ to hold him close she bit down on his flesh
feeling the s$in tear and gi"e away as the salty taste of rusty nails flooded her
mouth! and Michael<s whole body 'er$ed into a frenzy as he fuc$ed her harder and
harder! moaning her name.
>or a moment! he held her mouth against his body loo$ing down at her
feeding from his flesh! then mo"ing his hand behind her nec$ he held her firmly in
lace as he felt the first rushes of an orgasm rushing down his sine. Pulling bac$!
and wanting it to last longer! he ushed her mouth off him and loo$ed at her!
feeling his body 'um again as he anted! his breath rushing in large gass. :er
eyes were dar$ened to that hard emerald green! hard as the recious stone! and
bordering on blac$ with a li"ing green fire burning inside. Michael ulled her u into
474
a $iss! tasting himself in her mouth as he suc$ed her tongue dee into his mouth
and biting it.
:er nails scratched groo"es on his bac$! as he mo"ed away and suddenly in a
rush! he slammed her hard! flat on the mat. :is one hand raised her left arm high
abo"e her threading his fingers through his! inning the arm and their hands to the
mat. )emaining in her! ne"er stoing the ace! he mo"ed his right leg to the
outside of hers! and mo"ing high u on her body to let his $nee dig into the mat
beside her left hi. :is other hand came down to ta$e her right leg under the $nee!
high on his shoulder as his other leg mo"ed u higher and tighter into her
ractically lifting her off the mat with each succeeding thrust. >eeling him
e"erywhere at once! the thought of Michael ta$ing her li$e that was too much.
.rying out his name Maria came hard as she felt him thic$en e"en more and the
se/ual ounding became li$e a rimiti"e beat in her blood.
The scent and feel of Maria<s orgasm! combined with the sound of his name on
Maria<s lis was more than he could stand. =ith a growl torn from dee within his
soul! he thrust into her con"ulsing body! and san$ his teeth into the 'uncture
between Maria<s nec$ and shoulder. Mar$ing her again! as he too came.
Maria returned to her body to find Michael laying on his side ne/t to her. :is
fingers were carding through her long sil$y hair slowly as though memorizing its
te/ture. There was a soft unfamiliar e/ression on Michael<s face that she couldn<t
%uite identify. Maria watched him through hea"y lids! too sated and tired to mo"e.
:is mouth mo"ed to lo"ingly suc$ and lic$ the wounds he left on her! as one of his
hands mo"ed lower to stro$e the flatness of her stomach. Maria eyes closed in a
moan as he lowered his head to $iss her abdomen low where his child rested.
475
JI guess you ne"er e/ected this to haen to you3J Michael as$ed softly!
stro$ing his face lightly into her as she mo"ed her hand down to stro$e the long
soft curls of his hair! laying with it! watching it wind around her fingers.
JTrust me! that was the last thing I e"er e/ected to haen.J Maria relied!
leaning into the caress as he laid $isses on her flesh.
7I thin$ I,m too rough.8
7I thin$ you,re erfect. 9ou,re you! I,m me! and!8 lifting his head to force him
to loo$ at her! 7this is us. Don,t ma$e it more than it is! and don,t ma$e it less
either. &nd don<t ma$e it wrong.8
7Maria. I need...8 Michael aused and shoo$ his head against her. 7I need...8
5ending down and $issing his head! she laid bac$ and continued to soothe
him. 7I $now.8 .losing her eyes she sighed. (he couldn,t gi"e them to him! not yet.
The words were in e"ery touch! and in e"ery $iss! but he needed the so$en words!
and she couldn,t gi"e them u! not yet! not until it was time. +ot until he was ready
and comlete...free. :e wasn,t finished yet! but soon. 7I $now. (oon. I romise!
real soon.8
They lay together for a long moment! then as though they had 'ust
remembered 'ust where they were! both %uic$ly mo"ed as Michael stood u and
ulled her u with him. 1rabbing their discarded clothes! he too$ her into the men,s
loc$er room! and they both stood under the hot ounding shower letting some of
the soreness from before wash away.
7(o do I,"e got the mo"es! Detecti"e38 Maria as$ed as he washed her bac$.
Pulling her tight against his front! he wraed his hands around her front and
mo"ed his hands o"er her s$in! ushing the soa across the sil$y wetness. 7&ll the
right mo"es! Professor. &ll the right mo"es.8 :e whisered in her ear as he $issed
her nec$.
476
Day 10: 6riday- ':C1 a.m.
(ean made it to the .ourthouse early. Determined to beat the &D& to court!
he was disaointed to already find her there tal$ing to two other <(uits<. The
courtroom was %uiet as the hearing was in closed chambers. @ulia barely loo$ed his
way! but she did note his cleanedAu loo$. (mall fa"ors.
9awning! he tried to $ee an attenti"e loo$ on his face! but it was hard. :e
stayed u late reading through the old case file to reare for his testimony. It was
strange to see his writing from a year ago. It felt li$e a lifetime had assed since
then. &nd it almost had.
The hearing began! and he sat behind the Prosecutor,s des$ trying to follow
the legal mumbo 'umbo. +o wonder no one in his family e"er became lawyers. Tal$!
tal$! and more tal$. It was better to 'ust $ill them.
(ean listened as @ulia began her argument by firmly asserting that any
allegations in the matter of coercion should ha"e been addressed during
&rraignment! as it was an e"identiary matter. That to allow it to be admitted at this
late stage in the roceedings would establish a dangerous recedent.
:e heard the @udge dryly inform .ounsel that! as she well $new! fundamental
constitutional rights could ne"er be entirely "oided! irresecti"e of what stage of
the criminal trial had been reached! and that the <lady &D&<s< argument was
o"erruled. (ean watched a stain of red run u the bac$ of her nec$. (he was
fuming. (ean stifled a groan of areciation. The woman loo$ed good in red.
(ean was so busy watching her! that he almost missed his name being called.
9eah! he was still under oath. :e was to tell the .ourt e"erything he $new in a
truthful manner! so hel him 1od.
The story he told was the same that he told during reliminaries! absolutely
unchanged. +o! he wasn,t aware that the defendant<s counsel was detained on the
477
remises that day. +o! that was outside his area of oerations. :e was ustairs with
the defendant when it occurred! but had he $nown he would ha"e made sure the
two hoo$ed u. (ean ignored @ulia,s warning glare.
+o! he did not feel that he had coerced the witness. If he had! the witness
would,"e had bruises and a doctor,s statement to ro"e it. @ulia loo$ed at him in
shoc$ and cleared her throat. +o (ir! it is not the ractice of the )oswell PD to beat
confessions out of susects! and that is why he could testify that allegations of
coercion were false.
(ean was e/cused from the witness bo/! but was reminded that he was still
under oath! should either side choose to recall him.
The susect too$ the stand and told a sad tale of how (ean threatened to
ma$e his life a li"ing hell! threatened to hound him relentlessly! and actually ma$e
him ay if the Detecti"e found out he was lying. The man stressed how irritated
(ean said he would be if he found the man was holding out on him! and that it was
best that he 'ust confess immediately and gi"e e"idence against his emloyer. (ean
tried to $ee awa$e during the sad story! but it was too much for him.
The &D&! continued to argue fiercely! stating that the factual scenario in the
resent case was almost identical to one that had been brought before the (ureme
.ourt recently! where the .ourt had found that e/treme actions ta$en to e/tract the
confession to be both necessary and within reason! meaning the susect<s
statement was admissible.
The Defense .ounsel! loo$ing smug and if ossible! e"en more smarmy!
smoothly countered! e/laining in condescending tones that! as the (ureme .ourt
ruling concerned a >ederal matter! it was of no rele"ance to a case concerning a
state offence. Thus it was well within the rights of the residing @udge to determine
what was admissible and what was not.
477
The arguing went on too long for (ean! and he stoed aying attention until
the @udge ordered a short recess to re"iew the arguments made. =hile he was
gone! (ean sleeily watched @ulia confer with her colleagues. (oon the @udge
returned. :a"ing re"iewed the case! all testimony and the olice record of the
arresting officer o"er the ast year...(ean became alert at that. ?h shit; They were
toast;
It was not outside the realm of ossibility to belie"e that the arresting officer
was caable of dislaying the sort of e/treme "iolence and ressure that would
ma$e a reasonable man in the osition of the susect arehensi"e enough to
confess to a crime against his will. (ean closed his eyes and cursed the damn tri
to :awaii and 1uerin in all one breath. Dammit! he lo"ed these ants! and when
the hellion &D& finished tramling his body! $ic$ing him u and down Main (treet
and s%ueezing his balls out of his throat! these ants were going to be a mess.
:e listened as the @udge outlined e"ents of the case! and the use of the words
De/treme force, $et coming u time and time again. .ome on baby! ob'ect; Ma$e
him define what e/actly De/treme force, means. :e drifted as he heard the Defense
see$ a motion to dismiss due to the lac$ of credible e"idence. @ulia &D& oosed
this through gritted teeth! ma$ing mention of confiscated hysical e"idence found
on the defendant,s remises. This led Defense .ounsel to %uestion the legality of
the warrant and the subse%uent search and seizure. Points were made about a
witness who had ro"ided information that allowed olice to obtain the warrant in
the first lace. Mouthieces! tal$! tal$ and tal$...(ean drifted off to slee.
@ulie listened as her solid case slowly dissol"ed. The final ruling of the @udge
being that! since a witness e/isted there was still a ossible case. 5ut e"en that was
loo$ing doubtful. The motion to suress the confession was granted! resulting in a
large ortion of the e"idence automatically becoming inadmissibleAfruits of the
478
oisonous tree. & short e"identiary hearing was scheduled for Monday morning to
determine whether the remaining e"idence was enough to allow the case to
continue.
@ulia stood calmly in front of her table with hands clenched. (he briefly nodded
goodbye to her assistants and watched as the Defense and all others filtered out of
the courtroom. &ll e/cet (ean. (he could still feel him behind her. Trying to gather
some control! she turned and stood! shoc$ed to see him sleeing. :er whole case!
her life and her career stood in the balance! and he slet.
(ean came awa$e "iolently as a shoe hit him in the head. 7:ey;8 :e %uic$ly
stood u facing the angry hea"ing woman! all flushed and red! e/citedR 79ou made
me bleed;8 :e said gathering u her flung shoe.
79ou were aslee; Did you hear any of this3 Do you ha"e any idea of what
haened today38
7I heard. It,s not my fault. There was this cometition thing haening! and...8
(ean wied the small amount of blood off his forehead where the si$e of her heel
had nic$ed him. Ceeing the shoe in his hand! he watched her letting his rage build
inside.
7(a"e it; I don,t care; @ust be here on Monday! bright! early! and &=&C*; Do
not beat u! harass! or coerce any more susects until then. .an you ossibly do
that38
79es.8 (ean said %uietly trying to $ee his own anger down.
7I swear! if you...8 That did it. (ean mo"ed so fast she barely noticed him
mo"ing at all until it was too late. 1rabbing her retty blouse in the front! he ulled
her close! "ery close.
7>irst! you should $now! I,m not a man you should ma$e emty threats to. I
ta$e them all "ery seriously! and I li$e the heat. (econd! if you want to get me off!
479
'ust $ee it u. I,"e no roblem ta$ing anything you can throw at me. I,ll be here.
I,ll beha"e! but not if you $ee temting me.8
(ean let her go! grabbed his 'ac$et and headed out of the courtroom. The
touch of bra"ado in her eyes! the anger! the flash of heat...he ga"e his entire body
a full sha$e. :e e"en li$ed that touch of arehension when he crowded her. 1ood!
it,s not right that she not learn to see him! see that art of him that was scary. :e
didn,t want to mislead another woman.
7Dammit; 1i"e me bac$ my shoe;8 (he stood there on one foot almost too
angry to mo"e.
70h uh. +oe. 9ou threw it at me! so now it,s mine.8
75astard;8 (ean 'ust laughed to himself. :e could hear her mo"ing behind him.
7I wouldn,t do that if I were you. If you hit me with the other one! I,ll ha"e the
matched air! and I might not ta$e it $indly. My mother said I,m not allowed to
san$ a woman until she,s my wife! and then only with her consent! so don,t ma$e
me brea$ a romise to my sainted mother.8 (ean $et wal$ing as she ut her arm
down and screamed in irritation.
Letting the door swing behind him! (ean ulled out his cell hone and called
disatch. :e arranged for the .ounselor,s car to be watched and tic$eted! if she
dro"e! for imroer footwear while oerating a motor "ehicle. (ean smiled as he
hung u. This damn theray shit was really wor$ing. :e felt better all ready.
---
Maria entered the bullen and sur"eyed the utter chaos. &ll the hones were
ringing and Detecti"es were ta$ing statements left and right. (he watched
Detecti"e =aters listening to a man confessing to a crime.
48:
7I swear! I $illed them.8
The Detecti"e sighed! 7?$ay why did you $ill them38
75ecause they wouldn,t dance with me! and they danced bad.8 The man
sniffed loo$ing really contrite.
&nother detecti"e was ta$ing to a man who loo$ed li$e he crawled out of a
storm drain. 7?$ay! maybe if you told me what you did e/actly...8
7=hy don,t you tell me! and I,ll tell you if it was what I did.8 The Detecti"e
ga"e the man a loo$ of irritation.
7:ow about I ut you in general holding with the rison oulation! and you
call me when you remember3 This is your confession;8
Maria wor$ed her way to Michael,s des$. :andcuffed to a chair! but by the
an$le was a young girl who was stubbornly silent! only occasionally rattling the
handcuffs on her an$le as her hands gried the arms of the chair. Maria,s eyebrow
raised as her head tied to the side. Michael was ignoring his susect! and haily
wor$ing in obli"ion.
7Detecti"e38 Michael loo$ed u and saw his mate. & nice change from the
hellacious morning he was ha"ing. 7=hat,s going on38 Maria gestured to the room
in general.
Michael handed Maria the morning aer. In headlines was the front story
about the murders and the ossibility of a serial $iller on the loose.
7That hit this morning!8 Michael winced as more hone rang in the bullen.
7*"ery lunatic! crazy and goon from here to the eastern seaboard is calling u to
confess. &nd if they don,t want to confess! then they want to gi"e information about
who they thin$ it is. I,m ositi"e that *l"is isn,t a contender! but I,"e got three
confirmed sightings.8
7&nd the wee one,s story38 Maria as$ed inclining her head to his risoner.
481
7:ardened criminal! and this one refuses to brea$.8
7Tragic. Plain tragic. (o hard...so young.8 Maria said as Michael loo$ed at the
girl and smiled a large "icious smile that e"en made Maria,s stomach %ueasy. :e
calmly ic$ed u a raised donut! frosted and co"ered in srin$les. Maria stood on
her titoes to see what her chances were of getting one. ?h! his bo/ was full; :e
noisily too$ a bite! one after another! and as he reached for the ne/t donut the little
songbird bro$e.
(he rattled her handcuffs! shoc$ing Maria. 7I confess; I want to confess; I
$illed them; I $illed them all;8 The young face screwed u on contrition and
remorse. 7I 'ust wanted to gi"e them a bath;8 The entire room bro$e into alauded
and whistles as Michael undid the handcuffs! and with a small san$ to her
bac$side! ushed the girl towards =aters< des$.
Maria glared at the room in disgust. 79ou,re sic$! all of you; 9ou should be
ashamed.8
7=aters! your felon bro$e. (he confessed to the murder of thirteen
unsusecting goldfish.8 Michael called the girl bac$ and handed her a donut which
she too$ with a big smile and a sloy $iss on his chee$ before running o"er to her
daddy. 5ig man! no hardened criminal stood a chance against him! not e"en a four
year old girl with a i/ie smile.
Maria winced as #alenti,s "oice boomed through the bullen. 7I don,t care! find
the scumbag who lea$ed the information. I want them and I want them now$ Did
you see this nightmare38
Michael %uic$ly stood u and dragged Maria out of the room the other way and
led her into the brea$room. :e noticed that she had nabbed two of his donuts and
was hurriedly de"ouring them.
7:ungry38 Maria 'ust nodded as she headed straight for the coffee.
483
7+o. +o caffeine.8
Maria guled down her donuts. 75ut! Michael...8
:e went to the refrigerator in the corner and chec$ed the mil$ in it. It smelt
fresh! so he oured her a glass. :anding it to her! he sied a bag in her hand.
7=hat,s in the bag38
79our lunch.8 Maria finished her mil$ and loo$ed at him. 7(o what,s the $id,s
story! Lydia isn,t it38
Michael nodded. 9eah! =aters< youngest! Lydia =aters. 7(he emtied an entire
bottle of Mr. 5ubble 5ath into her fish tan$.8
7?h my;8 Maria tried not to laugh. 7=ere they all...38
75elly u. Plus the room was co"ered in bubbles because the tan$,s oscillator
sent bubbles sewing e"erywhere. :er distraught 1randmother ran her in.8 Maria
couldn,t hel but laugh at the image. 7To what do I owe the leasure of your
comany! Professor38
75esides your lunch38 Maria as$ed as Michael nodded. 7=ell I 'ust wanted you
to $now that (am called after you left this morning. The Mustang is ready to be
ic$ed u.8 Maria smiled at the loo$ of surrise crossing Michael,s face. It was done.
>inally.
7Let<s go now.8
7+oe! can,t. This detour is all I can afford today! and you loo$ to be
o"erwhelmed in your own roblems.8 Maria motioned to the bullen. 7I,ll ic$ you
u after wor$! we can ta$e the @etta home! and catch a cab to (am,s.8
Michael ulled her close to him where he leaned bac$ against the table. 7That
sounds li$e a lan.8 Michael mo"ed in $issing her nec$! and rubbing her against
him. 79ou,"e got enough time to go find a bathroom or suly closet38
484
Maria hoo$ed her arm around his nec$ and $issed him assionately. 1od! he
tasted so good; (weet! and 'ust li$e Michael. It was the sound of someone entering
the room! and then %uic$ly lea"ing that made her ull bac$.
7I ha"e to go! so sa"e it! and I,ll ta$e care of you later! Detecti"e.8
Michael 'ust groaned as she wa"ed a %uic$ goodbye! and left. Loo$ing into the
bag she left him! he smiled. Philly beefstea$ sandwich with e/tra grilled onions. :e
was definitely going to marry her. Philis mo"ed ast the brea$room and tossed a
can into the garbage. =hat the hell3
7Philis; =hat the hell is wrong with you3 Does this garbage loo$ li$e the
recycling bin3 Doesn,t our children ha"e enough garbage to wade through without
you adding more38 The man %uic$ly retrie"ed his emty can and tossed it in the
roer recycling bin. Michael watched his with a dar$ gleam in his eye as he too$
out his sandwich and too$ a large bite. :is car was done! the Professor brought him
lunch! a hardened criminal snaed under his intense scrutiny! and he 'ust struc$ a
blow for the en"ironment! all in all! not a bad day.
---
Michael made the final turn into (am,s Paint (ho. They had the cab dro
them off u the access alley. &fter all the wor$ and labor! it was done. The Mustang
was finished. The third coating of aint was finally heatAdried and rimed. :is calm
e/terior belied the ner"ous %ua$ing of his stomach and the anticiation. :is
Mustang was finally comleted! rebuilt. &fter all those years ago when Mi$ey first
bought it for him! the dream of rebuilding the classic was realized. Michael loo$ed
o"er at the small golden woman ne/t to him! ractically bouncing in enthusiasm.
(he had changed his life! but how the hell did she learn to bounce li$e that3
485
7:ey! guys! I e/ected you hours ago.8 (am said coming out of the aint
sotting room. The Mustang was ar$ed in the lot with a dry cloth co"ering it. 7I
already wor$ed u the bill and receit.8 (am handed Michael the aerwor$ as he
smiled at the e/cited Maria.
7Does it need any more layers or touchus38
7+o! this last coating should do her. I did include that two year warranty on
the aint 'ob! so if you notice any buc$ling or chiing 'ust bring her bac$ and I,ll
fi/ it.8 (am led them to /ichael(s car. 79ou e"er get tired of this 5etty! 'ust gi"e me
a call. I,ll meet any rice.8
7Than$s! but it,s not going to haen.8 Michael clenched his fist and sho"ed it
in his oc$et. :is emotions were all o"er the lace! and seeing his car restored for
the first time was ro"ing to be more emotional than he realized. It felt li$e Mi$ey
was standing ne/t to him waiting too! with his arm across his shoulder.
7Didn,t thin$ so.8 (am ulled the cloth and left them alone to ta$e their rize
home.
The coule stood there in shoc$! frozen in lace. It was beautifulAAutterly
beautiful; Michael hadn,t chosen any of the standard colors for the car. Instead he
had ic$ed out a dar$ green that bordered on blac$ with a gold trim. The color
reminded him of Maria,s eyes when she was e/cited and caught u in assion. The
aint shone with a brilliance li$e her ersonality. Maria stood beside him! still with
her hand o"er her mouth. :e had finally found a way to stri$e her seechless.
7?h 1od;8 Maria "oice so$e of re"erence. 7I lo"e you;8
Michael loo$ed at her sharly! staring at his car with a strange e/ression on
her face. 1reat. (he finally says those words! and it,s to his damn car. Too bad. The
car was his. 7(orry Professor! lo"e it all you want! but it belongs to me.8
486
7I wasn,t tal$ing to the car! Detecti"e.8 Maria turned and loo$ed at Michael in
great earnest. 7I said that I lo"ed yo#! Michael.8
:e couldn<t breathe. :is heart stoed dead in his chest and then too$ off at
brea$nec$ seed. Trying to tal$! but unable to find the words as they stuc$ in his
throat! he finally cleared it. 7Dammit! Professor; I waited a year to hear you say
that! and you wait until I ha"e a decent car38
7& man with a great ride gets me hot! what can I say38 Maria s%uea$ed when
he grabbed her in a hug and then $issed the life out of her.
:e leaned his hot forehead against hers and whisered! 7=hy now3 =hy not
last night38
Maria stro$ed his face and then $issed him again softly lic$ing his lis before
'oining her mouth to his and greedily suc$ing on his tongue. Why now- 7It was
time.8 The comleting of the car was the final ste for him in healing! and for the
first time it was 'ust them! no baggage. >or the first time! they were both free.
7Then marry me.8 Michael stoed her before she could sea$ or gi"e reasons
to rotest. 7Marry me! not because you,re carrying my baby! or because you thin$ I
only want to marry you because of that reason! and don,t marry me 'ust because I
lo"e you. 5ecause I do lo"e you! Maria.8 Michael framed her face with his hands.
7Marry me because it,s time.8
Maria oened her mouth to tal$! then shut it again. >inally she simly said!
7?$ay.8
They<d barely settled in the car before Maria launched herself at Michael. (he<d
waited too long for this and didn<t want to lose any more time. Pausing to tug
Michael<s shirt out of his 'eans! she started stro$ing him through the denim. The
moan her actions elicited from Michael were li$e manna from hea"en! assuring him
that e"erything was right with the world. :ell! e"erything was erfect;
487
7Maria! if you don<t sto that we<re ne"er going to get home.J
J@ust dri"e! and $ee your eyes on the road!J Maria answered as she
unfastened his ants! smiling at the fact that there was no underwear to hinder her.
JI,m in lo"e with a man that goes commando. Mother ne"er warned me how
attracti"e that could be.J
JMentioning your mother at this time can be classified as a buzz$ill! baby.
&nyway! these ants are too tight!J Michael groaned. JMaria; (to it; =e<re in
ublic.J
J=e<re in a car with tinted windows. ?nly buses and big rigs can see what I<m
u to down here. 9ou 'ust get us home.J
J:ow am I suosed to do that with you distracting me3J
JIf you really want me to start distracting you! you<d better start dri"ing!
because soon you<ll ha"e to ull o"er and finish this.J Maria unctuated her
meaning with a series of lic$s along Michael<s now freed coc$.
J?h 1?D;J Michael moaned as he swer"ed to miss a truc$ that ulled out into
traffic. 7Maria! I,m going to $ill us both and destroy my car.8
:e tried not to thin$ about the sensations that Maria was causing in him with
that delicious mouth of hers. :e tried to focus on his "ision and on getting them
home in one iece! but she had him s%uirming in his seat. :is eyes nearly rolled
bac$ into his head as she draed across his la and too$ his coc$ in her mouth so
dee he felt it had to be half way down her throat. &s he came to a stolight!
Michael droed a hand onto Maria,s head. The sil$y hair wound around his fingers!
and all he could see or hear was her as he held her tight against his groin.
(omeone behind him had to hon$ to let him $now that the light had turned green.
?nce he<d crossed the intersection! Michael hit the gas and sed home! ignoring all
seed limits and raying that they didn,t ic$ u a atrol car. :e didn,t want to
487
e/lain he was seeding because his regnant fiancOe was blowing and feeding on
him while he was dri"ing. They would be luc$y to ma$e it home.
&s he ulled into the loft ar$ing area! he hit the garage door oener to ar$
his car in its regular sot and turned off the engine as the door closed behind them.
Michael slumed bac$ in the seat. :e couldn<t belie"e he<d been able to hold off
during the ride home. =hen Maria ulled away! Michael gased at the loss of
sensation. (he 'ust smiled u at him and $issed him assionately while trying to
hel him bac$ into his ants so they could go inside.
JThose are ne"er gonna close around that.J Maria chuc$led.
J9ou are ure e"il. 9ou $now that! don<t you3J
J=ho me3 (o am not.J Maria said trying on her most innocent angelic loo$.
Michael 'ust grimaced. >allen angel. 79ou lo"e me e"il.8
J:ow am I suosed to wal$ li$e this3J Michael gried.
J=ho said anything about wal$ing3 Let,s finish this here. (ort of a christening
of the Mustang.J Maria hoed u on her $nees and remo"ed her to and unzied
her s$irt. Michael reached down and ushed the seat bac$ while she mo"ed in front
of him between his chest and the steering wheel straddling his his.
71od! I lo"e you.8 Michael $issed her nec$ and ulled the s$in between his
teeth niing it. It felt good to finally say it.
In deference to his swollen coc$ already ushed to the edge! Michael too$ it
slower. 5ut not by much. :e caught Maria u to his chest in a crushing hold!
en'oying her anting breath in his ear. Pushing her legs aside and farther aart! he
slid inside! gently at first remembering her delicate condition. 5ut Maria ne"er
settled for things that easily! she ushed him with 'ust a loo$! a hot loo$ all fire and
"iolence. Michael grabbed her his and slammed into her hard! ma$ing the ne/t
thrust deeer and longer. :e dragged Maria<s head from his shoulder while grinding
488
his his into her and she rode him as he ran his tongue along the contour of her
ear. Laughter oured out of Michael as he felt Maria buc$ing against him and
shi"ering in reaction.
JLi$e that huh! Professor3J
J?h! yeah.J Maria moaned aloud. 7I lo"e the way you fuc$! Detecti"e.8
Michael swung Maria,s head to loo$ at him! to see into his eyes. 7&nd 'ust
when does fuc$ing become lo"ema$ing! Professor38
7It always has been! Detecti"e.8 Maria said seriously. 7*"ery touch! e"ery $iss
is me ma$ing lo"e to you! and when I ta$e you inside my body! that,s me lo"ing
you in a "ery intense f#c!ing manner. Don,t confuse the two! Detecti"e. They seem
different! but not to me. (ometimes it,s all hysical li$e an ache that I need now!
but e"ery time it<s always about lo"e.8
7Maria! I...8 (he $issed him and started remo"ing his shirt while Michael
flied his shoes off on the floorboard. :e reached ast her and ushed his 'eans
down the rest of the way and $ic$ed them off his legs without unseating her.
7I li$e it gentle and soft! sometimes. 5ut most of the time! I need you hot and
hard! with a touch of blood and "iolence. I need you to be 'ust yo#.8 Michael was
shoc$ed at her descrition of him. It was almost the image he saw of himself in his
dreams! the warrior ainted in blood! not %uite human. & rimiti"e sirit.
7(omething in you sea$s to something in me! something ure. (o when I<m
fuc$ing your brains out! either gently or with the touch of fire! it,s always been
about lo"ing you. (ince the first moment I saw you. It 'ust too$ me a while to
untangle the two! and filter out the immediate lust.8
7:ow long38 Michael as$ed as he started mo"ing in her again! lo"ing the moan
in her throat that seemed to echo in the car.
489
7&bout three days after the first time we made lo"e! but definitely the
interrogation room.8 Michael $new he wasn,t going to forget that encounter anytime
in his life. It was another time when she 'ust seemed to $now 'ust what he needed!
and how gi"e it to him without him losing himself.
:e stoed tal$ing and too$ on the tas$ of ma$ing lo"e to her in earnest. It
too$ almost no time at all before their na$ed bodies were clinging to one another in
the confines of the sace between the seat and the steering wheel. Michael!
deciding turn about was fair lay! began to tease his mate! his wife. (tarting with
small lo"e bites on Maria<s nec$! Michael slowly mo"ed lower and lower. :e suc$ed
the flesh o"er her collarbone into his mouth tonguing the hollow created by the
bones. :is hands twea$ed niles and rolled them between his fingers feeling her
entire body buc$ing to the sensation as her internal muscles gried him hard and
she sed u her mo"ement on him! ta$ing more and more of his coc$ inside her
almost frantically. Maria,s regnant breasts were already sensiti"e! and they were
becoming his fa"orite lace to linger. 5y the time Michael too$ the swollen red
nile into his mouth! Maria was 'ust one massi"e undulating ile of soft tissue
mo"ing o"er him.
JMichael; Please;J :er hand mo"ed into his hair and held him hard against her
flesh.
JPlease what3J
J>uc$ me; Ma$e lo"e to me;J
Michael blin$ed as what Maria said registered. (he was using both hrases! to
emhasize that it was all the same to her. &fter a year of li"ing with her! and still
he was learning about her! learning to understand her.
49:
Michael seemed to realize how tight the sace was! and groaning! how tight
Maria was. :e $et forgetting about the small life she carried inside. JMaria! I don<t
want to hurt you.J
J+?=! Michael. I need you now. Please; I,m fineB we,re fine.J (he bit his
shoulder hard drawing blood! and almost cried when the rusty nail taste hit her
mouth. The taste of his life source was too much! reaching for himB she too$ his
head and 'oined their mouths sharing the taste.
&s always! Maria had found the one way to send him out of control to the
oint that he couldn<t refuse her anything. :e ushed! feeling the walls griing
him and then gi"ing away to ma$e room! as Maria ad'usted to the feeling of being
so full. (o tight. :e wanted to sa"or the moment! ta$e things slow! but Maria $et
wiggling li$e a li"ewire! surring him on. :e nearly lost it comletely when she
ulled her legs e"en farther aart to sin$ e"en deeer onto him.
J?h 1od! Maria;J
JLet<s hear it for yoga!J Maria murmured. J9*(; ?h yes; Michael; . . . Deeer .
. . oh god . . . oh god! yeah.J
Michael $new he couldn<t last long! not after all the stimulation he<d gotten
since sunrise that day 0sing one hand! he reached between them and began to
stro$e that nub of ner"e endings that he always found so effortlessly. The last thing
he wanted to do was lea"e Maria behind on this one. =hen Maria finally came! and
her muscles in"oluntarily tightened around him! Michael couldn<t hold bac$ any
longer. :e slammed into her! o"er and o"er! until he came with a shout. The orgasm
hit him in wa"es! and he was somewhere else with her! neither of them noticing the
sounds of the horn that Maria was resting on.
JI "ote we mo"e this into the loft and u to our bed.J Maria said some time
later.
491
J=hy is that3J Michael felt retty comfortable where he was.
J+o wet sots.J
It too$ a few moments before the words registered. 7?h shit! my uholstery;8
~~~
7&re you sure about this38 Tess as$ed! loo$ing o"er at Cyle.
7=hat38 Cyle stoed loo$ing at the woman across the room and turned to
listen to Tess.
7I said! are you sure you want to be here38 Tess loo$ed o"er at the woman still
trying to catch Cyle,s eye.
7?f course I do. Didn,t I say I would be here for ya38 Cyle leaned in closer to
Tess. 7(o do you thin$ that woman is regnant3 (he $ees trying to get me to
come o"er and sit with her.8
7(he might 'ust be here for a chec$Au! Cyle. +ot all women in the room are
regnant.8 Cyle glanced around the room and 'ust shrugged. (ure they,re not. In
that room! regnancy loo$ed li$e an eidemic.
7Tess38 Tess,s name was called from the door. (he got u and gathered her
stuff. &s she was wal$ing into the doctor,s office she loo$ed bac$ to see Cyle still
ma$ing eyes at the strange woman.
7Cyle;8 :e loo$ed o"er at her and %uic$ly scrambled after her.
7Did you want me to come in with you3 I was 'ust going to...8 Tess grabbed his
hand and dragged him with her gi"ing the woman in the corner a hefty glare.
=hen Tess came out of the bathroom! she stood the doorway to the Lab room
in shoc$. Cyle had three nurses around him! and .arolyn the Lab Tech was ta$ing
his blood.
493
7Cyle38
:e loo$ed u and smiled at Tess. 7:ey! Tess; .arolyn is ta$ing my blood and is
going to chec$ it for me. Isn,t that great38
.arolyn beamed! 7:e,s a real good atient. &re you all through38 Tess 'ust
nodded. .arolyn gestured to another nurse who led a %uiet Tess to an e/am room!
as Cyle stayed tal$ing to the women. 7=e,ll $ee an eye on Cyle for you.8
---
7Tess! you can get dressed. I,m going to ha"e Lisa gi"e you an ultrasound.
+ormally we don,t do them until the fourth month! but you,re shy of it by about
three wee$s.8 @im heled Tess struggle to sit u. 7I 'ust want to see the lacenta
and uterine walls. =ith the lateness of disco"ering the regnancy and missing the
first trimester almost comletely! we,ll $ee a real close eye on this one.8
Tess swallowed hard. 79ou don,t thin$ there,s anything...8
7+o.8 @im 'ust atted her hand. 75ut! we,ll loo$ at e"erything.8 :e loo$ed at
her chart and counted u the days. 79our blood is uni%ue! so adding that to the late
disco"ery issue! we 'ust need to $ee a close eye on you.8 @im got u and %uic$ly
filled out a form. 7Lisa will come get me and ta$e ictures when she has the
ultrasound all set u.8
7Doctor! do you...8
:e too$ Tess,s hand and held it firmly. 7It,s going to be fine. 9ou,ll see. I do
want you to come in for more fre%uent aointments than is normally warranted!
but it,s nothing to worry about.8 Tess 'ust nodded her head! but for the first time
since she susected she was regnant she actually felt worried. @im saw the frown
and tried to distract her. 7(o how is the Masters coming38
494
7?h! it,s coming along nicely. I already submitted most of it to the committee!
but I,"e got a small rewrite re%uired. It loo$s comleted and I was acceted to the
PhD rogram ending the rewrites.8 Tess 'ust shrugged. 7The rewrites will $ee me
busy. There was some last minute information that came in after I finished my
thesis! so there are few otions. I can,t 'ust o"erloo$ information.8
7I,m sure you,ll get it done. +ow that you,re ast the morning sic$ness hase!
most women find being regnant gi"es them a nice burst of energy and
enthusiasm.8
7I ne"er had morning sic$ness! maybe that was why I didn,t clue in on being
regnant right away! with that and my sotty menstrual record.8 Tess smiled and
breathed deely. 7&ctually I feel great! almost li$e my whole body is humming.8
@im laughed. 7I thin$ Maria wished she could say the same thing. :er gory
tales of eating and feeling tired were long and winding. Is she feeling a little
better38 Tess 'ust nodded! uncertain what else to do. 7I tried to call her this
afternoon! but her secretary said she had left for the day and there is no answer at
her house.8
7I thin$ I,m seeing her tonight. :er mother was going to come o"er to coo$!
and that usually means an imromtu call to e"eryone to come eat. &my is big on
large family meals.8
7(he does ha"e that whole big family thing going. The entire office still has a
ool going as to when the Wedding will actually occur.8 Tess 'ust laughed when she
noticed e"en the Doctor stress D=edding, as something big. 7I wonder if you could
deli"er something to Maria for me. I need her to call me! and I ha"e a rescrition
for her. I called it in! but the information sheet and instructions are included in the
message.8
495
7+o roblem. I can do that.8 @im handed Tess her ultrasound sheet to gi"e to
Lisa.
7Than$ you! Tess. +ow gi"e that to Lisa! and I,ll be in to see you in the
imaging room. Do you need any hel in finding it38
7+o. I $now where it is.8 @im nodded and left Tess to finish getting dressed.
Tess went to find Cyle on her way to the ultrasound. 7Cyle;8 :e was telling a
small grou of women and a few atients included! the story of how he and his
artners had destroyed the Palisades.
7Tess! hey are you o$ay3 &re we ready to lea"e38 Tess,s eyes narrowed at the
numerous stic$ers co"ering Cyle,s erson! the two lollyos he was holding and the
hay smilie bandAaid co"ering his needle stic$. (he only got a lain old neon one.
7+o. I,"e got to ha"e an ultrasound! can you come with me38 Cyle 'ust nodded
and wished the women goodbye! and Tess,s eyes became hard when she noticed
one of the nurses sliing her hone number in Cyle,s oc$et.
7(o is e"erything o$ay38 Cyle as$ed when they were in the dar$er room! and
Lisa! the ultrasound tech was setting u the e%uiment. Tess 'ust nodded and
waited until Lisa left the room.
7Cyle! did Michael mention anything to you about Maria being sic$38
Cyle,s brows came together in confusion. 7Maria3 +o. 1uerin has been! but I,m
thin$ing he was born that way.8 Cyle loo$ed around the room to ma$e sure Lisa
hadn,t returned. 7=hy3 Did the doctor say something38
79es! and no. =e were tal$ing about morning sic$ness! and he brought u
Maria and how she,s been sic$ and tired lately.8 Tess said in a loud whiser. 7(he
might ha"e been in for 'ust an annual hysical! but him saying that after we were
'ust tal$ing about morning sic$ness ma$es me susicious! and... and...Maria<s been
acting strange lately.8 Cyle 'ust snorted. 7?$ay! stranger than usual.8
496
7(o Maria and Michael could be...8 Cyle,s face lightened and became full of
mischief. 7?h wait until &my finds out;8 Tess shushed Cyle to be %uiet when Lisa
entered the room.
---
(ean loo$ed o"er the lacement of the monitors one more time before going
to the bac$ room to the control anels that were recording all incoming dislays.
&le/ 'ust stood u against the wall watching. This was wrong! so wrong. :is laceA
his clubA wired. :ere the eole came to be free. To listen to music and feel the
wonder of their youth! away from the rying eyes of @ohnny Law. Then &le/,s
stomach hollowed out as he realized that some youth! such as Crystal,s! would
ne"er be allowed to lay out.
7Is this all you lan to do3 Put in security cameras38 &le/ as$ed (ean as he
came o"er and bummed a smo$e.
7+o! we ha"e rotating shifts going. (ome of #ice will be here! but Ma'ors is
trying to $ee it inAhouse. ?ur interest isn,t to sha$e down your eole! 'ust rotect
them.8 (ean watched the monitors as different arts of the club became aarent.
7&nd 1uerin38 &le/ as$ed! lighting another smo$e off his lit one. .hain
smo$ing! a nasty habit! but he had been doing it almost nonAsto since losing
Crystal.
7:e,s a roblem. =e,re still trying to figure out how to get him in the door of
this lace without all your customers fleeing in terror.8 &le/ laughed at that. 9eah!
Detecti"e 1uerin loo$ed li$e a $ill'oy! a real buzz$ill with his issy co attitude
disaro"ing of the little eole. &nd yet! it was those little eole! those little
flawed eole who he stro"e to rotect.
497
7(end him in with a date. *"en the most issy of eole or the most hardcore
of men are ussAyAwhied! and can find themsel"es led around by their dic$.8 &le/
laughed at the image of 1uerin bending to a woman! or e"en a man.
(ean 'ust shrugged. That was a thought! but the only erson who could ma$e
it come off was Maria. Michael wasn,t a good enough actor to be able to ortray
utter fascination and de"otion to another woman. &nd to a man3 (ean had to laugh
out loud. The first time a man e"en touched Michael suggesti"ely! Michael would
bellow li$e a demented cow and then brea$ the man,s arm. &nother woman3
Michael would stom around the .lub sneering and scaring the locals while
absentmindedly ulling the Dlittle woman, behind him. +ow Maria would be different.
(he would coa/ him on the floor! get him all hot and bothered! and the two of them
would forget the entire oeration while fuc$ing each other hard u against the club
wall.
Michael was a roblem.
71etting 1uerin a belie"able date3 I don,t thin$ it can be done.8 (ean said
reaching o"er to bum another smo$e. >ilthy habit! he was glad he ne"er started.
7I offered to date him once. ?r twice.8 &le/ said batting his incredibly long
eyelashes at (ean.
7)eally38 (ean loo$ed imressed! and loo$ed &le/ u and down. The boy was
still whole and breathing. Imressi"e. 7&nd yet you ne"er hit on me3 =hat is
1uerin! 'ust se/ier38
&le/ laughed! nodding an ac$nowledgment to one of his men o"er at the door
who held u a deli"ery sli. 1ood! the bootleggers had come to restoc$ the bar.
Their sulies had been dangerously low! and with his manager on "acation &le/
had forgotten to do the ordering.
497
7?h he is se/y! e"en I ha"e to gi"e him credit for that. ?ne of my female band
members saw him o"er a year ago when he first came in my club! and she withered
around on the floor for three days in orgasmic ecstasy without the man doing
anything but scowl at her.8 &le/ too$ a long draw on the smo$e and went from the
monitoring room to the main bar. 1oing behind the counter! he chec$ed out the
restoc$ed bar. 1ood! it loo$ed good.
7I,m crushed.8
7Don,t be!8 said &le/ distractedly as he chec$ed his sritzer lines. The number
three button that held club soda was still stic$ing! and the cola line was still too
syruy. :e %uic$ly told his wor$er! .harley to chec$ the stoc$ lines and reset the
cola mi/ of cola syru to carbonation. 79ou,"e got it in sades too! but you ha"e the
touch of the edge! the un$nown! that 1uerin doesn,t ha"e. =ith him! it<s ob"ious
where he stands! what he,ll do! but youR8 &le/ 'ust shrugged. 7Ma$e you an offer!
and there,s a chance a erson could find them fuc$ed u the ass real fast. The
un$nown factor.8 &le/ adds derision and sarcasm to his laugh. 7(cary;8
(ean,s eyes narrowed. This man saw too much! wal$ed the wal$ and $new the
count. :is confidence in his own understanding was his control. :e $new. &nd
because he $new! much li$e Michael understood death with a gut feeling! &le/
understood the human sirit that dro"e men to action.
+eeding to teach &le/ the meaning of the word <scary<! (ean grabbed him hard
by his shirt and literally dragged his tall lean body across the bar. Ta$ing his mouth
in a long hard $iss! literally e/loring &le/,s mouth and staying longer than he
normally would! he refused to relin%uish &le/ until the man submitted control.
Pushing &le/ away from him! (ean too$ another draw on his smo$e and watched
carefully for &le/,s reaction.
498
&le/ stood there loo$ing at DeLuca. 9eah! 'ust as he susected! the soul of
dar$ness. &le/ $et his hands at his waist holding tight! refusing to gi"e in and wie
his mouth. :is eyes searched (ean,s and in silence they stood! staring each other
down until &le/ too$ bac$ what he could. :e said the one thing he $new would iss
(ean off. 7I $new you would do that! Detecti"e.8 &nd before (ean could react! &le/
grabbed him and $issed him bac$ hard! with "iolent intent and no emotion e/cet
the ower of control.
Pulling away! he halfAsmiled at (ean as he oured them both a whis$ey. 7I
$now you well! Detecti"e. 5ut ma$e no mista$e! se/ means nothing to me. It<s 'ust
bodies against bodies. I,m not e"en into smut. =hen I see stories or watch shows
where the main characters are all o"er each other! all slutty! I don,t see it as
owerful or brea$ing edge. I see it for what it is. (e/. +othing more! nothing less.
It,s 'ust another control tactic. 0sing my body isn,t a roblem! but touching my soul
and heart is another thing.8
(ean almost tried another tactic. & beating. &le/ =hitman needed a beating.
(ean 'ust nodded at the irony of it. :e couldn,t intimidate 1uerin either. They all
$new the mar$! understood the meaning of owerlay.
7Don,t ush me! =hitman. 9ou don,t $now where I li"e.8
&le/ dran$ the burning li%uid and let winter rise from his soul to brim out of
his eyes. 7Don,t I38 That was &le/,s curse. :e $new it too well! saw it all too easily.
7I $now that this lace is now under the rotection of more than 'ust me! and I also
$now that 1uerin will stand here! his body in the way to sa"e all my innocents! as
will you and all your little minions.8 &le/ oured another finger of whis$ey and
added more to (ean,s glass. 7&nd e"en with all that! we will fail. =e will fail
because more will die before we find this monster and ta$e him down.8
7:ow do you $now3 =e,ll find him.8
499
7I,ll find him.8 &le/ $new that was true. :e $new that he would loo$ into the
eyes of the monster! and no amount of chameleon ability would mas$ the disease.
:e would see it! $now it. The tric$ was to see it before the hunter reyed uon
another innocent soul! and in the balance of things they were running behind.
7&le/...8
7:ow the fuc$ could this hunter go so long undetected3 Don,t you eole ha"e
databases for this cra38 &le/ was issed at his loss. :e couldn,t feel it! couldn,t
taste or touch it. The raw anger and need for 'ustice was fueling his body and
di"erting him from thoughts of Crystal! but once he found his ound of flesh he
would drown in the ain. 5ut only after he found retribution. :is hand shoo$ as he
lit u another cigarette. :e needed a release! to ta off the ressure before he
e/loded. :e didn,t ha"e time for this shit.
7:e,s not a real serial $iller. :e,s a socioath. & cold calculating one. Peole
thin$ that serials are 'ust about multile $ills! but it,s more than that. It,s
methodology as well. (erials hunt in their own social grous and races. 0sually they
hunt a secific tye of target! a certain asect. It,s li$e the man who hunts "irgins
in order to drug! sodomize and rae. :e,s not loo$ing for e/erienced eole! and
not necessarily women. :e ta$es men too. They 'ust ha"e to be innocent. #irgins.
?r the erson who targets women who loo$ li$e his mother. *"ery day he $ills his
mother. ?r e"en @ac$ the )ier targeted rostitutes! white rostitutes.8
7(o why the hell is this sic$ fuc$ wal$ing around undetected3 :asn,t he $illed
enough! or are we waiting for some magic number38
(ean 'ust shoo$ his head. :e could understand the anger he was getting from
&le/! because it was the same anger fueling him. It was the imotence of letting
the bastard wal$ around unhindered.
5::
7:e,s not a classical serial. :e,s $illed many! or so we belie"e. :is rotection
was to hide his bodies. =e,"e got missing eole! but so does the world. The
human race is full of eole who are missing! e"en as they sit in their own homes
buttering their toast. =hen eole ta$e a wal$ and disaear into the edge! there is
a art of us that wishes we could so easily 'ust wal$ too. &ll these things that tie us
to our worldAbills! 'obs! obligations! friends and e"en family at times become
o"erwhelming. :e uses this against us. 0ses the e"erAincreasing incidence of
missing eole against us.8
7=hat,s he loo$ing for3 =ho38
7That,s the roblem. It changes. The "ictims ha"e nothing in common. +othing
that would ha"e tried the +ational databases or 6uantico crime labs.8 (ean dran$
down his whis$ey and nodded for another. 7:e,s not a serial because he doesn,t
match the rofile of a serial. :e,s a socioath because he feels no remorse or
nagging morality. This hunter has a urose! a design. &nd the design changes to
whate"er his re%uirements are for the latest "ictim. Maybe it<s their "oice! loo$s or
heritage. Maybe he<s loo$ing for something e/otic! li$e talent. It ne"er stays the
same so it $ees his "ictims di"erse and hidden.8
7(o he,s collecting secifics...8
79eah.8
7(o what was Crystal38
(ean 'ust sighed and shoo$ his head. 7Don,t really $now what made her a
target! but whate"er the attribute was...he thought she was erfect.8
7(o he rocesses them and then dums them3 =hat is the urose in that38
7:e dumed them because they were blemished.8 (ean didn,t want to go into
it! but... 79our cousin had a tattoo on her hi! a small butterfly. It marred her s$in
5:1
and made him dum her. If she hadn,t had that mar$ing we robably would ha"e
ne"er found her.8
7The tattoo3 It was the tattoo that made him toss her out li$e garbage38 &le/,s
"oice rose in anger. +ot that the other ossibility was better! but the insult of his
cousin tossed out li$e someone<s 'un$ hurt. 7I want this fuc$er. I want to eat his
heart; That tattoo! it was me; (he had wanted it fore"er! but her arents said no. I
didn,t see the harm or the roblem. I signed the aers and went with her when
she had it done.8 &le/ ic$ed u the halfAemty bottle of whis$ey and suddenly
threw it "iolently against the wall! watching it shatter into thousands of shards of
bro$en glass. :is hands closed in fists on the bar as he let the rage roc$ his gut.
(ean $new there was nothing to say! no words.
75ring your eole. This club remains oen until we catch this "irus.8 &le/
turned to lea"e! to find another bottle to $ill or someone to fuc$. 75ut $now this!
when it comes to the end! I,ll stand o"er his dying body and I,ll reach into his chest!
and I will ri out his heart. The last thing he will see is me eating his soul and
sending it to hell.8
7&le/...8 (uddenly (ean wanted to 'oin the man! to stand there with him and
smear his face with the blood as well. =hat could he say3 =hat were the roer
words3 (trange to wonder if 1uerin had them.
7The thing with men li$e us...is we were born angels! you $now38 &le/ headed
for the door! but aused there with his eyes seeing farther than those who saw
nothing but the ob"ious. 70nli$e Lucifer we didn,t fall from :ea"en and grace! we
were sent out. :e sent us! ga"e us to them...the lost ones. =hen Lucifer fell he
found that his angel,s body was encrusted in ice! his soul lost and cold. &nd he too$
u the sword! ried a hole in his body and cut off his wings to oen u the ure
energy and light of the angel,s heart. It,s a brightness li$e the "ery light of creation!
5:3
:ea"en. 5ut he was e"il and that brightness was the blac$ness of fire. It was from
there that :ell was born! the energy from his blac$ soul. =hen we were sent we felt
the same cold! but our hearts are the beacons that sa"e the lost ones! the
innocents. It,s all about second chances. =e are the rotectors and we wal$ a hard
long road because we lost our grace! so here is where we send eternity. 0nli$e
Lucifer we still ha"e our bright souls! but what haens! Detecti"e! when creatures
such as we become so weighed down in the mire38 &le/ rubbed the bac$ of his
nec$. 7I,m afraid to cut oen my body! to let the light of creation out to warm my
icedAo"er bones. =hat if its light is as dar$ as the Dar$ ?ne,s3 Do we bleed3 Do we
sin$ to Lucifer,s realm3 =as grace 'ust a dream3 =ho rotects the Protectors38
(ean 'ust sat there as &le/ left the room. :e felt the dar$ness again! and
wondered if they were all really damned. &ll (ean $new was he was no &ngel. =ho
rotected the rotectors3 (ean $new. That was why 1od ga"e them Maria.
---
7:oney3 Do you ha"e more than tortiglioni3 I was loo$ing for something with
more weight.8
7There,s angel hair! saghetti! fettuccini! linguini! tortellini...what are you
loo$ing for e/actly3 I thin$ I also ha"e some fusilli! ca"atelli! stascinati! and
orecchiette.8 Maria frowned at all the ots on her sto"e. (o far it loo$ed li$e a esto
sauce! roasted garlic alfredo! and clam sauce. 7Mom! what are you ma$ing! and
could you not ut in eighty clo"es of garlic3 It does terrible things to Michael,s
digestion. I ha"e to li"e with him! you $now.8
7Perciatelli3 That,s what I want.8
5:4
7+oe! don,t ha"e any.8 Maria was searching through her dry goods antry.
7Michael hates it. They,re long and hollow! too firm! and it $ees slaing him in the
face when he tries to roll it u on his for$ lea"ing sauce e"erywhere.8 Maria loo$ed
o"er at the oen garage door when she heard Michael,s laughter. :e and @im were
loo$ing at the Mustang! leaning into the engine. They had mo"ed the Mustang into
the main garage ne/t to the 1T?! and now the wor$ing garage was oen and
waiting for their ne/t ro'ect.
7Maria! sto messing around in there and come stuff the mushroom cas. I
was telling @ennifer at the bridal sho that e"eryone would need material that could
be easily cleaned from silt tomato sauces.8
79our menu didn,t ha"e a tomato sauce in it! mom.8
7?h! I changed the menu.8 Maria 'ust groaned as she stuffed the mushrooms!
snac$ing on food and cheeses while coo$ing. &my went off on the full menu she
selected which was a nightmare of Italian! >rench and 1ree$. +e/t wee$ it would be
sitdown Moroccan or Tur$ish followed by the whole sushi bar dilemma.
7:a"e you considered letting @im select the menu38
&my stoed and loo$ed at her daughter as she smeared herbal cheese on a
crac$er and stuffed it in her mouth! and then another one with added seafood
coc$tail sauce. &my also noticed that Maria was wor$ing her way through four
ounds of cold eeled shrim with coc$tail and Tabasco sauces combined.
79ou loo$ uny. 9ou,"e been eating enough38 &my yelled for Michael through
the garage door. 7&nd don,t be ridiculous! @im can,t ic$ the menu. :e,ll want
barbe%ue or coc$tail weenies.
That sounded better to Maria than some of the stuff her mom was thin$ing of.
&ctually a good barbe%ue and a nice ot of coc$tail weenies sounded li$e hea"en! if
they added grilled shrim to the menu! or lamb $abobs with mint sauce.
5:5
7I,m 'ust saying that @im is more of a hearty manAtye eater. 9ou might do
better with or$ chos and alesauce! or ha"e someone do a ig in a it or a side
of beef o"er the fire! with some Te/AMe/ secialties from this region. 5ecause
honestly! Mom! not e"eryone is into the whole <reduced sauces and elegant food
that loo$s good! tastes good! costs a fortune! but is hardly filling thing<. Let<s feed
some eole.8 Maria gestured to all the coo$ing ots on her sto"e! all the food on
the counters. Italians $new how to feed family! and &my was losing sight of the fact
that she was feeding family at the Wedding.
7=hat would Michael want38
Maria thought about it for a second! and then without hesitation. 7Pigs in a
blan$et! lots of beef or any tye of meat! not made all fussyA'ust lots of it. Potatoes.
:e li$es the roasted ones died in butter and Parmesan cheese! and desserts with
lots of whied cream.8
Michael came into the loft followed closely by @im. Leaning o"er he $issed &my
on the chee$ as he oened the refrigerator door and grabbed @im and himself a
beer. 7That sounds great. Is that the new menu38 Michael stoed and tasted the
clam sauce off &my,s wooden coo$ing soon. 7Mmm! that,s e/cellent! but does it
ha"e enough garlic38 Maria 'ust groaned.
(miling at him and "ery leased! &my reached for more garlic. 7(o why aren,t
you ta$ing care of my daughter3 Loo$ at her.8 &my added the garlic to the ress as
Michael turned his attention to Maria who was stuffing her face. 1oing u behind
her! his arms reached around her as he heled her cho u things! eating morsels
she fed him behind her bac$. 7(he<s wasting away.8
7(he eats constantly! &my. :er metabolism is running high lately! that,s all.8
:is metabolism was running high too. Mo"ing his face into her nec$! he smelt the
5:6
scent of her s$in! and his tongue came out to taste its salt. Mo"ing e"en closer into
her he let her feel his arousal.
7(he3 :elloo; ,he haens to be in the room! so cut out the tal$ing about her
in the third erson.8 Maria closed her eyes as her breath came in ants. Mo"ing her
hands down and behind her! she found his his to ull him closer to her. It was
&my,s mean soonhand that ulled them aart and $et them from losing control
right there.
7:ey;8 Michael said when the wooden soon hit him.
71et your hands off my daughter and go stand o"er there; =hat is wrong with
the two of you3 This is the fourth time I,"e had to brea$ you u since @im and I got
here.8 @im reached o"er and too$ a hot mushroom ca off an o"en tray and oed
it in his mouth. &ctually the fifth time! but who was counting3
Michael grudgingly released Maria as the doorbell rang. Lea"ing her
reluctantly! he went to answer it. Tess and Cyle were on the doorste with a few
bags of groceries. &my had called them and gi"en them a list of things she needed.
7Cyle;8 &my saw her fa"orite son and when Tess entered! her smile got larger.
7Tess; ?h honey! Cyle didn,t tell me he was bringing you; I hoe I made enough
food. Maria! ut on another ot.8
Maria didn,t hear because Michael was distracting her again. :e had ulled her
out of the $itchen and had her bac$ed u against the dining room table.
7Michael...8 Maria moaned as his mouth left her nec$ and found her mouth! as
she moaned deely inside his.
Michael rubbed his head against her. 7:ow about the bathroom 'ust for a %uic$
one38
Maria moaned again. :e was insane. +ot only had they increased their amount
of se/ in geometric roortions! but the "olume was becoming too loud e"en for
5:7
utility closets. 7My mom will hear and you don<t want to ha"e her standing o"er you
swinging a newsaer or a broom! do you38
Michael had to agree. Maria was becoming %uite the screamer. :e con"eniently
ignored the fact that he was retty "ocal himself. 5ut then again! he ne"er really
listened to himself.
7Maria; 9ou two better be setting that table.8 &my ic$ed u the hone and
dialed the missing (ean. :e was suosed to ic$ u bread from a secial ba$ery.
=here was he3 7@im! sweetie! hose them down.8
@im loo$ed at the coule and 'ust shoo$ his head. There was no way! no how
he was coming between that coule. =etting them down would 'ust mean they
would rut around wet. The only thing he could thin$ of to get them aart was the
lure of food.
7Maria38 Tess too$ care of it. (he interruted the two with Cyle at her side.
@im too$ the oortunity to go 'oin &my in the $itchen hugging her from
behind as she tal$ed on the hone at (ean. ?ccasionally she would reach bac$ and
feed @im samle tastes.
7?h! Tess. :i.8 Maria straightened u! trying to get herself under control. Tess
handed an en"eloe to her. 5oth Maria and Michael came to attention when they
noticed the office letterhead of Maria,s doctor.
7I had an aointment today.8 Tess e/lained as she watched the two read.
79ou,re anemic.8 Michael said as he read Doc@im,s e/lanation. It seemed
Maria,s bloodwor$ had come bac$ a little wrong. :e changed her renatal
multi"itamin to one with a little more umh! and wrote her a rescrition for an
iron sulement.
5:7
7:e called it in to the harmacy.8 Maria frowned. (he hated medicine and ills.
This suc$ed! but maybe it could e/lain her tiredness and her desire for the taste of
rusty nails! which translated into suc$ing on Michael,s blood.
Tess and Cyle shared a %uic$ loo$ and Tess too$ the lunge. 7(o when is your
due date38 (he almost screamed at how %uic$ly Michael,s hand co"ered her mouth!
and the way both Michael and Maria hustled her outside into the garden.
7:ey;8 said Cyle angrily. 7Ta$e your damn hands off of her;8
5oth Michael and Maria loo$ed ale! as they %uic$ly searched for and located
&my. 7(orry! Tess!8 said Maria. 7It,s 'ust we,re not announcing it 'ust yet! and with
Mom in the house...8
7=hat,s wrong3 &my would lo"e to $now she,s going to be a grandma.8 Cyle
said calming down now that Michael,s hands were off Tess! as he unconsciously
gathered her u closer to him and was soothing her with long stro$es down her
body.
7>igure it out! Cyle.8 Michael loo$ed bac$ through the glass to ma$e sure &my
was still far enough away. 7=hat will &my do when she finds out we<re e/ecting3
I,ll tell you. >irst! she,ll ha"e a new ro'ect. @ust li$e when she finds out about Tess.
(he,ll ut her wedding lans on hold! and turn it around to getting the unwed
mothers under control.8 Michael added emhasis to the word <mothers< 'ust to share
this horror. +asty strategy! but misery lo"ed comany. 7+ow Maria and I lan to get
married. 5ut I thin$ .a has waited and suffered enough. :e doesn,t deser"e to
ha"e his wedding ostoned because of us.8
Michael didn,t mention that both he and Maria realized that &my would turn all
her efforts and lans to getting them married. It wouldn,t be by shotgun! but with
&my behind it! it sure the hell would feel li$e it. Plus! Michael was horrified at the
nightmare affair &my was lanning. :e had as$ed Maria if she was going to do that
5:8
to him! ma$e him such a ublic dislay. Maria! being his one and only true mate!
romtly lost her stomach at the suggestion. (o it was loo$ing more and more li$e
a @ustice of the Peace! )eno or &tlantic .ity for them! than$ god. They might ha"e
considered a small intimate family wedding with 'ust friends! but with &my
anywhere within nuclear blasting range! that would turn into something more
almost instantly.
7?h god! you,re right.8 Cyle now loo$ed bac$ at &my too. =hat first loo$ed to
be a huge oortunity to get Michael,s goat had now become something horrible
and terrifying. Cyle couldn,t see his dad,s disaointment o"er ha"ing &my ut him
on hold again! and he $new that &my would meddle. (he would see the unwed!
regnant Tess! and want to fi/ it. Cyle was damned if he was going to watch his
Dmother, toss Tess at Ma/,s head. >uc$ that. :e had stood in that room and listened
to the swishing noise of the fetal heartbeat! and had seen its motion beating on the
monitor. This baby already had a father.
(ean entered the loft with all the bags he brought! bitching loudly. This
effecti"ely distracted &my from noticing the two coules huddled in consiracy.
7=hat the hell do we need all this bread for3 I couldn,t belie"e it when they
$et rocessing the order.8
&my went o"er and slaed him across the face! and then gently $issed him
on the lis. 7=atch your mouth.8 :anding the bags o"er to @im! &my critically
loo$ed o"er (ean,s face. :e groaned under his breath. :e had forgotten his face.
7=hat haened to you! (ean38 &my too$ his face and gently mo"ed it around
to sur"ey the bruising! the healing cut across his eye and the fresh nic$ on his
forehead.
(ean wasn,t abo"e blaming the new &D&. 7I met a new woman. (he threw her
shoe at me and it nic$ed me on the head.8 &my 'ust cluc$ed her tongue when (ean
5:9
ulled @ulia,s shoe out of his oc$et. 7I had her tic$eted for oerating a motor
"ehicle in imroer footwear.8
7)eally38 &my,s eyes became brighter ta$ing on a note of seculation. This
woman had ob"iously made an imact.
79eah. I wouldn,t want the new &D& to thin$ she<s abo"e the roer rules and
regulations. *"eryone $nows that roer rocedures and following the letter of the
law is so imortant.8 @im 'ust rubbed his face and groaned. Dammit! that meant a
call to his office from the D&,s tomorrow.
Michael came bac$ into the room followed by the others. 7(ean! are we all set
u with =hitman38
79eah! I sent the rest of the day there after court let out.8 (ean didn,t want
to tal$ about the fiasco of court so he changed the sub'ect. 7:e,s going to be a
roblem.8
7I $now.8 Michael nodded towards Cyle! who grabbed his father. 7=e,ll tal$
about it when I get bac$. :el your aunt coo$.8
&my frowned as she noticed Cyle! @im! and Michael ta$ing off. 7=here are you
going3 It,s almost time to eat.8
Michael %uic$ly $issed his Dsort of, motherAinAlaw and headed for the door.
7=e,re all out of .a,s fa"orite beer. @ust a %uic$ li%uor run and we,ll be bac$.8
7?h! honey.8 &my understood erfectly. It was terrible that @im shouldn,t ha"e
his fa"orite beer. It was so sweet the way the boys loo$ed after him. (he watched
them hustle him out of the loft! and turned her attentions bac$ on (ean.
7(o tell me all about this &D& erson! and what is &D&3 Is that her name! not
that it,s not erfectly lo"ely because eole do go by initials all the time.8 (ean
made eye contact with Maria! his lo"ely hazel eyes begging her for hel. 7Is she
married38
51:
---
@im shoo$ off their hands and shrugged into his 'ac$et that Cyle handed him.
>a"orite beer indeed. :e was a ta man. =hate"er was a"ailable made him hay!
e/cet for 5lac$ Label which ga"e him gas. :e hated ha"ing &my chase him around
the house with a lit candle and air freshener.
7?$ay! what,s going on38
They too$ Cyle,s car! and as Cyle headed to the harmacy to ic$ u Maria,s
new rescritions! both he and Michael blurted out their resecti"e ladies< state of
grace at the same time. 7Tess is regnant.J JMaria is regnant.8 They loo$ed at
each other and then at @im.
7&t the same time38 @im,s eyes narrowed. The boys had been busy. Then it hit
him. :e was going to be a grandfather; &nd then cold hard reality shot him right
between his eyes. &my.
7+o! Tess is three months! but it,s not Cyle,s.8 Michael ignored Cyle,s scowl.
7Maria is 'ust o"er si/ wee$s. The roblem is...8
7&my.8 @im rubbed his 'aw. 7I ha"en,t been engaged to that woman for si/
years to $now what this means. +ow why the hell couldn<t you wait until I finally
got her down the damn aisle before you ran off to rocreate3 This is a roblem.8
7?nly if we tell her.8 Michael loo$ed at Cyle. They had already tal$ed about
this. 7I thin$ someone needs to ta$e &my in hand. (he,s been running amo$ for too
long! and Maria needs her mom right now. If you don,t get her under control soon!
we,ll be forced to tell her. =e can hold out only so long. (he,s already noticing that
Maria,s been sic$! suffering from morning sic$ness. It,s 'ust a matter of time before
511
she starts utting it together. &my,s not stuid! 'ust distracted.8
@im nodded. 7I,ll ta$e care of it.8
---
&le/ wal$ed slowly to his door! triing o"er the discarded clothes he had
tossed about. :e hadn,t had anyone come in to clean or ic$ u since Crystal. (till
carrying a bottle in one hand! he loo$ed at the grandfather cloc$ in the front
entryway. Damn! he needed to lea"e for the .lub! but he didn,t feel li$e it.
?ening the door! he stood rooted to the sot at the clean lines of Isabel
*"an,s bac$. Turning to the sound of the door oening! she had 'ust been about to
lea"e! ha"ing gi"en u thin$ing he wasn<t there. Isabel had hoed &le/ would be
home! because .lub :ell was on her list of laces to a"oid.
7&le/38 Isabel was shoc$ed at the dar$! un$emt! dangerous man standing in
front of her. Ma/ had told her about his losing his cousin! and after struggling o"er
it for a day! she finally went to find him.
7Isabel38 &le/ rubbed his face. ?$ay! he was officially trashed out of his mind.
:is dreams of Isabel *"ans had 'ust ta$en solid form.
79ou loo$...8 Isabel stoed herself. :e loo$ed terrible. =orn and cold. 5ut he
also loo$ed...wonderful. Telling herself to be strong and not to gi"e in to
temtation! she entered his lace. The building was a nice modern one! and she
thought it was an aartment building with many new modern uscale units. 5ut
while ar$ing the car! she realized it was one "ery nice ri"ate residence built on a
small hill in )oswell<s land of higher riced realty and eole who wanted ri"acy.
The many different angled roofs and the white stucco with red tiled roofing and trim
513
in blac$ wrought iron somehow fit with the landscaing of southwestern shrubs!
bushes and cacti.
79eah! li$e I,"e been swimming in a bottle. 1ood! because I ha"e.8 &le/ ut
the bottle on Dre/el :eritage (ignature I"ory .oast .redenza. Isabel gased and
%uic$ly ic$ed the almost emty bottle off the stone to! and followed &le/ into his
home.
79our lace! it surrises me. & year ago! I,d sworn you li"ed in...8
7& ratty old aartment! run down! and s$ee"y38 &le/ loo$ed for more smo$es.
7I did. I still do. I $ee an aartment close to the .lub for late nights and when I
ic$ u women. This is my home. I don,t in"ite 'ust anyone through my doors. &nd
don,t be too imressed with the dOcor. My mom did it. (he<s $eeing *than &llen
and IC*& in to sales. It seems e"ery time I ma$e it home she<s changed the lace
again. My stuff tends to be her discards from whene"er she redoes her and Dad,s
lace. (ome stuff I li$e. There,s a nineteenth century hea"y shrun$ from the 5lac$
>orest! and a table from Ireland made of moss wood. (he can change anything
else! but those things stay. Those and my bed.8
7=hat $ind is it38 Isabel as$ed as she loo$ed at the dOcor closely. It was
interesting to see the dar$er woods of the more traditional styles mi/ed with more
modern stuff from IC*&. *clectic. &le/,s mom was a trend setter.
7My bed3 ?ld world stuff. &n estate sale in >rance a few years bac$ got me a
hea"y old fashioned bed right out of the Palace. It has all the loo$s of begetting and
fuc$ing into old age! and I li$e the thought of the babies born in it! who more than
li$ely died in it too. It has a feel of li"ing and history. Plus! I relaced the mattress
not too long ago so now it has some mighty fine bounce.8 &le/ tossed himself down
into a chair and loo$ed at Isabel.
514
(he loo$ed good. )eal good. & far cry from woman he had ut in a ta/icab
o"er a year ago. :e followed her rogress! but stayed out of it. It was her time.
&nd though she came a long way! he $new that she was 'ust beginning. Part of him
was curious to $now how strong she had become.
7=hy you here! Isabel38
Isabel hated how he stayed away from her. 7I heard about you from Ma/! and
I needed to $now you were o$ay.8
7=ell I,m not o$ay! but I,m here.8 &le/ could feel the anger rising again! the
need for "iolence and release. 7This is not a lace you need to be! Isabel. I,m in a
dar$ lace! and belie"e me you don,t want to go there.8
7I li"e in the dar$! buddy. Don,t lecture me on it. I want to see &le/! the &le/ I
$now. &nd I can,t see you for all the dirt and filth. 9ou stin$! and when is the last
time you ate38 &le/ thought about it for a second! and was actually shoc$ed when
Isabel came forward and ulled him out of his chair and dragged him ustairs.
75ooze doesn,t count! nor do any of those coc$tail onions or oli"es. )eal food! &le/.
=hen did you last eat38
7I don,t remember. =here are we going3 5ed38 &le/ could handle ounding
some e/cess energy into Isabel *"ans. (e/. It would be 'ust se/. :e $et chanting
that in his head.
75ath.8 Isabel loo$ed at him and the gleam that came into his eyes. 7&lone.
(eriously! you really smell.8 &le/ watched her as she found his bedroom and then
his master bath. (tanding there curious! he watched her run the bath! and
stubbornly refused to comly in remo"ing his clothes. (he wanted him na$ed! then
she was going to ha"e to get him there.
Isabel saw the challenge and ignored his eyes. 9eah! li$e she was afraid of a
little male flesh. (lowly ulling his clothes off! she wasn,t reared for her resonse
515
to his flesh. The long lean lines of his body with hard muscles under the s$in!
refusing to mo"e to her hands. The ierced nile was taunting her! ma$ing her
remember that se/ was her addiction. 5ut &le/ was more than that...he was her
fantasy! her goal for an entire year.
7&re you getting me ne$id! Isabel3
7It,s ronounced <na$ed<! &le/. +ot <ne$id<.8
&le/ didn,t care. (he was smelling his s$in! smelling the scent of him under
the smell of booze and stale sweat. )unning his hands u under her hair and
holding her head firm! he too$ her mouth in a $iss. It wasn,t 'ust a mating of
mouths! but of bodies. It started in his groin and wor$ed li$e fire u his sine as
her hands gried him tightly! holding onto his forearms. =ithout her noticing! he
remo"ed her clothes and ran his hands down her body to ull her into him as his
hands gried her ass hard! running his fingers between her asschee$s. Isabel
*"ans was no s$inny girl. (he had some meat! some cur"es! and a totally fuc$able
luscious ass. :e needed that right now. :e needed a bed artner that could ta$e
what he had! and not brea$ under the ressure.
&le/ wal$ed them bac$wards and ulled her into the bath with him. (he was
right. :e smelt and was dirty. &nd he wanted her clean! too. 5ecause what he
lanned to do to her was going to ma$e her filthy! and he wanted no mista$es or
misunderstanding that all of it came from him. Isabel hardly noticed the water!
because &le/ was hotter as his hands and mouth ne"er stoed touching her.
7It,s <ne$id<! Isabel. <+a$ed< is the oh so correct northern ronunciation. It
means ta$ing off your clothes. +ow <ne$id< is the southern ronunciation! and it
means ta$ing off your clothes and getting all sweaty! hot and ready to cause
trouble.8
516
Isabel laughed at that. 5ut a art of her that fought for so long held bac$!
ushed him bac$ a ways. 7I don,t touch men any more.8
&le/ aused and loo$ed at her critically. 79ou telling me you,re a lesbian38 :e
'ust shrugged. 7I,"e got no roblem with that. In"ite her along. I,"e done it with
two women before. I can easily fuc$ and eat at the same time. &nd watching3 +ot a
roblem.8
Isabel rolled her eyes and dun$ed him under the water. Men. Did they all ha"e
the same fantasy or what3 (he let him come u for air. 7&re all men igs3 *"en the
Dnice, ones38
&le/ gried her hard! lea"ing bruises on her arms. 7Don,t confuse the facts!
Isabel. I,m not nice. If that,s what you,re e/ecting I suggest you wal$ out of here
now! because by tomorrow your body,s going to understand 'ust how mean I am. I
don,t do innocents or "irgins! and I,m not loo$ing for some foolish tittering girl who
wants to cowAeye me. I<m loo$ing for an image I had! a dream.8
Isabel was breathing hard. (he wasn,t any of those things. &nd after coming
out of theray! she was worried that no man could want her! not with all the
damage she had done to her body! all the ollution and waste.
7=hat is the image38
7It<s 'ust a dream I get. (he stands high on a lain! abo"e a battlefield bathed
in blood! as the ashes of war are blac$ening her s$in! not a human s$in! but her
s$in. &nd she stin$s of blood and death! but her eyes are endless and dar$ with a
dee fire burning inside. I want to touch that fire! feel that warrior sirit o"er me!
ta$ing me inside.8
Isabel loo$ed at him in shoc$. 7The rain was red! and the ground was warm to
touch...warmed by the dead. :ow long...8
517
7&lmost a year. I could see the trees! they were burned to the ground! and
strea$s of lightning rushed the sound as the swells of the dying echoed...she is
what I,m loo$ing for. & soul dar$er than mine! one that burns in hea"en but li"es in
:ell.8 &le/ too$ Isabel firmly by the head and loo$ed in her eyes seeing that fire!
that ower! hidden there. 7I can,t return to :ea"en! my lace is here in :ell. I want
someone who can li"e in the cold and the fire of ice.8
7&le/...8 Isabel mo"ed o"er his body and reached an arm around his nec$
'oining her mouth to his in a dee suc$ing $iss. (he couldn,t lea"e him! not now.
Tomorrow she would hate herself for bac$sliding! but now there was only him. It
was li$e coming home.
---
&fter dinner they sat around the table and tal$ed. &my and Tess were cleaning
the $itchen while Maria was leaning on Michael. &my almost as$ed her to hel! but
she was aslee against him. (o beautiful. :er daughter was so beautiful! and
Michael<s large hand mo"ing gently across her face! cradling her! almost made &my
want to wee. It was wonderful to see her child so lo"ed.
5ringing coffee and tea! &my and Tess re'oined the rest and silently listened as
the men tal$ed about their case. Ma/ had shown u 'ust before dinner. :e was still
eating! trying to get some moments alone to tal$ to Tess! but Cyle was guardA
dogging her. :e $new she had had an aointment earlier! and he decided that in
the future he wanted to go with her.
7Tal$ing to &le/ earlier made me thin$ of something! Michael.8 (ean was so
full! he could hardly stand himself. It was too clichOd for him to reach down and
517
unbutton his 'eans! so he 'ust suffered. The fourth heling of olenta had been a
mista$e.
Michael was busy loo$ing down at his mate. (he loo$ed so eaceful! so
beautiful! so se/y all regnant and...
7Michael38
7=hat38 Michael tried to get bac$ into the con"ersation.
7I said there is something about the body that,s been bothering me.8 (ean was
on the "erge of gi"ing u on Michael and 'ust tal$ing to .a.
7(orry! tell me.8
7It,s 'ust that the way the body was rocessed reminded me of something I<"e
heard or seen before.8 (ean frowned.
7& memory38
7+o training.8 &my loo$ed at (ean sharly. (he understood that term!
understood what it meant. :er own son >ran$ie @r.! now dead! had been <trained<
too. 5ut unli$e her son! (ean had made a choice and wal$ed away from the >amily
business.
7(ean.8 &my said in warning.
7It,s o$ay! &unt &my.8 (ean turned to Michael who had that loo$ of interest in
his eyes. 7It,s not a member of the >amily! but an outsider! a secial. Michael! I
$now you already rocessed this! but this man stays hidden for so long because he
gi"es no one cause to $now of his e/istence. :e,s not building a name.8
7I don,t understand!8 said .a. *"en Cyle and Ma/ were suddenly %uiet.
7=hat (ean means is that the $iller is too good! too efficient at what he does.
:e,s been doing it for a long time! longer than we susect. 5ut e"en the best and
most careful of $illers ma$es mista$es! or ma$es themsel"es $nown.8
518
(ean loo$ed at &my and shrugged. In for a enny! in for a ound. It would do
no good not to be honest. 7There is one entity or organization I $now of that has
made ma$ing eole disaear into an art.8
Michael and .a both loo$ed at (ean and then &my! who suddenly was
suddenly "ery %uiet and staring at her hands clenched in her la. 7(ean! you don,t
ha"e to say anything. I $now that you<re bound by...8 &my loo$ed u at @im with
lo"e and gratitude.
7It,s o$ay. This is not something connected! 'ust an anomaly.8 (ean wished he
had a smo$e. 7=hen I was young! among my eole or my family there was tal$
about the $illing zone! the Dum as we called it. There were outsiders that found
and used the best Dums. I don,t really remember much since I ne"er fully became
in"ol"ed in the business! but I ha"e some memories of discussions about the
secial rocessing of the bodies.8
7=ho would $now secifics! (ean38 Michael $new that (ean was wal$ing a
shar line of distinction. 1oing against The >amily! his eole! was a crime not
forgi"en.
7My father would $now. :e is now head of our >amily.8 (ean said %uietly.
.a loo$ed at (ean. 7.an you as$! get us details38
5oth &my and (ean loo$ed at each other! and then both shoo$ their heads.
&my,s eyes filled with symathy for (ean. They were both dead to The >amily. &my
when she di"orced >ranco! (r.! and (ean when he heled his best friend escae and
then wal$ed from the business. (ean had comounded his sins by becoming a .o!
ta$ing a side against his own.
7:ow about someone local38 Michael as$ed.
7+o one will tal$. It is a matter for the heads of the >amilies. There are fi"e
ma'or >amilies! with some smaller ones slowly emerging. The Laegastini >amily
519
holds territory from #egas through the southwest and to >lorida. >lorida! of course
is in faction with the @ewish >amilies< holdings that ha"e dominated for decades! the
Latino >amilies are ta$ing hold! and e"en the @aanese 9a$uza are "ying for it.
=hen the Triad wal$ed in it became a blood bath. The Laegastini too$ control about
forty years ago! but it,s been a ower struggle to hold ground. My family is affiliated
with The Laegastini >amily. The unrest in >lorida has $et my >amily in business
and strong for generations.8
7=hy >lorida38 Cyle as$ed %uietly. &ll those eole fighting for one iece of
land.
7It is a gateway for the drug cartel. There are no boundary chec$s from the
Ceys! and .uba and other Mediterranean countries are 'ust a sit away. It<s a
gateway into the country for all illegal fare! such as guns! drugs! and e"en .uban
cigars. Money laundering will always be a huge business. The .artels are e/anding
across the globe! and the reaching arm is immense.8 (ean searched for a cigarette.
7It started in (icily! the ?ld =orld! and has e/anded. It is its nightmare
image! cast in the recise mold of the .astellammare hills...the heartland of the
.osa +ostra! the cradle of the Dons. The nightmare has its own logic! its own
bones. (icilians call it the >sistema del "otere.J The system of ower.8 Maria said
softly. Michael hadn,t realized that she was awa$e.
Michael loo$ed down at Maria. 7:ow much do you $now38
Maria 'ust shrugged. 7Most of it I learned on my own! but in the >amily wi"es
and children are outsiders to the 5usiness. It was $eeing it among Dthe men, that
$et them strong.8
7(o!8 Michael loo$s at (ean! 7how do we get this information without a >amily
connection38
53:
(ean and &my shared a loo$! and then both turned to Maria. 7=e ha"e a
>amily connection.8
---
@im and &my had left! but Tess! Cyle! Ma/ and (ean remained. They watched
as Michael and Maria ran around the loft ac$ing and ma$ing lans. They were
catching the redAeye to Miami! and Maria was busy ma$ing lists while Michael was
as$ing her about the ac$ing.
7+o! ta$e the sergeAcut! the other needs to be tailored.8 Michael rolled his eyes
and went bac$ into his closet. =hat the hell was the serge cut3 7Cyle! are you sure
you and Tess can babysit Mr. 5ooboo3 :e,s delicate.8
7+ot a roblem. I,ll sac$ out here with Tess. (he can ta$e the downstairs
room! and I,ll ta$e the sofa.8 Cyle was loo$ing under the sofa for the cat.
7(omeone could slee in our bed. I,ll ha"e Michael change the sheets.8 Maria
called u the stairs to a cussing Michael. 7Michael...8
:is head came o"er the banister. 7=hat3 Is this the fric$in, serge cut38 :e
wa"ed a 'ac$et at her.
79es! and ta$e the ressed white shirts! no turtlenec$s or sweaters. ?h and
don,t forget the ties.8 Michael nodded and started to go bac$ to ac$ing. 7Michael!8
:e came bac$. 7.hange the sheets on the bed! Cyle might slee u there.8 Michael
narrowed his eyes at Cyle and Cyle actually guled. ?$aaay! maybe not. ?b"iously
Michael had a thing about other men sleeing in his bed.
7:ow did you get ac$ed so fast38 Michael as$ed e/aserated.
7It,s not that hard! Detecti"e. 9ou 'ust ull the clothes you want and then grab
the accessories and bath items.8 Maria finished her list and %uic$ly read it.
531
75athroom items3 ?h shit;8 Michael disaeared again.
7?$ay! here,s the list for Mr. 5ooboo! the security cutAoff code! the security
assword in case you ma$e a mista$e and set off the alarm. &ll outside doors
automatically acti"ate when closed. & secial $ey that oens the door automatically
turns off the alarm when you come in! but it will reAacti"ate once the door is closed.
9ou can oen it from the inside without setting off the alarm! but if you lea"e a door
a'ar for more than a few minutes! the security comany will be alerted. (o if you
e"er enter the house and feel someone is inside! 'ust lea"e the door a'ar and a call
will go through.8 Maria loo$ed ustairs at the sounds of cussing and things falling.
7?$ay! read that o"er and I,ll be bac$. I better go ac$ for Michael or we,re going to
miss our flight.8
Cyle loo$ed at Maria,s list and felt sweat brea$ out on his forehead. Tess read
it o"er his shoulder! and she started feeling nauseated. That much for a cat3 ?h
god! what does it ta$e with a baby3 7?h! I don,t $now! Cyle.8 Cyle 'ust nodded.
Maria hit the to of the stairs and saw the chaos. 7=hat are you doing!
Detecti"e38 (he sur"eyed the damage with a clic$ing of her tongue.
5y the time Michael and Maria finally came downstairs with their bags! Cyle
had found the cat. (ean studied the large! blac$! fluffy cat with a frown.
7M! wasn,t Mr. 5oo a stried calico3 I swear he was a stried calico and $ind of
scrawny.8
Michael loo$ed at the cat they had had o"er a year and then at Maria. :e did
used to be $ind of stried! sort of blac$ with some white atches! and red3 +ow he
was a long haired blac$ cat with white atches on his aws! belly and red highlights
in his coat. 7(ean is right.8
533
Maria too$ the cat from Cyle! hugging and etting him. 7=hat are you
suggesting3 That this cat is an imoster3 :e wasn,t calico or stried. :e was...8
Maria "oice trailed off.
7=hat38 Michael as$ed.
7:e was blotchy. Mr. 5ooboo is "ery sensiti"e. =hen he<s uset he sort of loses
his hair! ma$ing his coat atchy and then he 'ust loo$s calico.8 Maria $issed the cat
who was urring ridiculously loud. 75ut loo$ at how hay he is;8
Cyle 'ust loo$ed at the huge fluffy cat. 7+eurotic. 9ou,re saying you ha"e a
neurotic cat3 &nd you want me to babysit it38
7:e,s not neurotic; :e 'ust li$es attention! that,s all. That,s why you,re
babysitting him! so he,s not lonely.8 Maria wal$ed off tal$ing to the cat! ma$ing
soothing noises to him as she made him a treat.
Cyle loo$ed at Michael. 7Tell me that she,s this way because of the regnancy.8
Michael 'ust shrugged. Mr. 5 was a "ery in"ol"ing cat. :e should $now. The cat li$ed
to slee on his legs at night.
7Pregnant3 =ho,s regnant38 (ean loo$ed at the rest in confusion.
---
:e loo$ed down at the young @aanese man and smiled. It wouldn,t ta$e much
longer. This time he had ta$en e/tra care to search the entire body. Perfect. +ot one
blemish or scar. The s$in was clear and sule! and there was a chance that this
was a urebred. =hile chatting u the young man the other night! he was told that
the man was a first generation immigrant! and his arents were from ?ld =orld
@aan.
534
The clear lac%uer had dried! and the beginning telltale signs of death were
slowly creeing o"er the secimen. (oon it would be time to rocess the body!
reare it for dislay! study its urity! and then mount it. (uddenly it was a good
day.
---
Ma/ saw Michael and Maria off at the airort. :e couldn,t enter the security
area! so he droed them off at the dearture des$. Michael wasn,t too e/cited
about meeting Maria,s family. 5ut Maria still was treated as one of the >amily! and
desite the "iciousness of e"ents that led to her brother,s death! they still $et in
contact. &my and (ean were both on the outside! but Maria could still wal$ in the
door. They were staying with (ean,s family. :is father! Marco DeLuca! the new head
of the family was the man with the answers.
(ean! Cyle and Ma/ had a running ool going. They were betting on whether
Michael and Maria would become members of the MileA:igh .lub! and whether it
would be on the outgoing flight! incoming! or both. They also had bets on whether
Michael would be targeted for assassination by the DeLuca family! or would cause
an uroar as a .o entering a rotected household.
5efore she left! Maria as$ed (ean if he had a message for his mother. (ean
'ust shoo$ his head. Maria %uic$ly hugged him and $issed him goodbye before
lea"ing. &s soon as they left! the cat started meowing and racing around the room!
$noc$ing o"er things. Then he simly disaeared. It too$ them two hours to find
him sleeing in Michael,s soc$ drawer! curled u in a mass of shredded cotton.
535
---
Ma/ entered the aartment to dar$ness. :e called for Isabel! but there was no
answer. Letting himself worry for a moment! Ma/ almost ic$ed u the hone. &
hunter on the loose and his sister was out there. & reco"ering alcoholic! drug
addict! and nymhomaniac shouldn,t be out at night. Ma/ tried to calm down! and
con"inced himself that Isabel was more than li$ely manning a crisis line.
1rabbing a beer and a glass! Ma/ laid bac$ on his sofa and stared at the
hone. Ta$ing a iece of aer out of his oc$et! he loo$ed at the number that
Maria had written down. =hat to do3 =hat to do3
+ormally he would ha"e tossed it! con"incing himself that $issing @onathan
(tiller was an aberration caused by being in an un$nown en"ironment. 5ut he
couldn,t deny the dreams that $et wa$ing him! the fascination that one sli of
aer had! and the need to disco"er what was drawing him. &fter all these years!
all that time! it was strange to thin$ that he could be attracted to men.
+o guts! no glory. Ma/ ic$ed u the hone and dialed. The sound of a man,s
"oice surrised him. :e e/ected @onathan to answer! but a art of him wanted the
man to not be home so he could toss the number away as an D?h well! I tried,
e"ent.
7:ello38 The "oice aused waiting when Ma/ realized that he was waiting for
him to sea$. (o he %uic$ly rushed hating how it made him almost stuttered.
79esRum! hello.8 Ma/ cursed under breath acceting loser status as his curse.
7I was!Rum! I mean am loo$ing for...8 Ma/ rolled his eyes at himself again and
cussed under his breath. +ot Dloo$ing for, you idiot. =hat is this! Dloo$ing for Mr.
)ight3,. Ma/ too$ a calming breath and began again. 79es! this is Ma/ *"ans! I was
calling to tal$ to...8
536
7Ma/38 The "oiced sounded surrised! almost leased. 7This is @onathan. :i.8
7:i.8 Ma/ wasn,t sure what else to say! so the ause lengthened. 7I was...8
7Did you want...8 The both so$e at the same time! and then both aused so
the silence was deafening.
Ma/ 'ust sighed. 7Loo$ I,m sorry. Maria ga"e me your number. (he said you
as$ed her for my number! and so I thought that...8
7=e should tal$38 @onathan as$ed %uietly.
7Tal$. Tal$ing would be good.8 Ma/ actually rubbed the bac$ of his nec$. 7Do
you want to meet3 @ust to tal$.8 Ma/ added %uic$ly. :e couldn,t! didn,t want to
ma$e it seem li$e a date.
7=hen38 @onathan,s "oiced sounded guarded.
7Tomorrow night38 ?nce Ma/ said it! he regretted it. :e should ha"e said
lunch. Lunch is 'ust a meeting! but nighttime is more li$e a date.
7&rea IE38 @onathan as$ed.
7+o;8 Ma/ was horrified. :e couldn,t go bac$ there. It was too much li$e he
really belonged there if he wasn,t on assignment. 7+o. :ow about (enior .hows38
@onathan 'ust laughed. 7(ure. I,ll sot you a game of ool and we can drin$
beer and throw eanut shells at each other. (ounds li$e fun.8
Ma/ thought about the other man. @onathan was definitely uer society.
(enior .hows was not. Damn. 7Maybe you would li$e to meet somewhere else38
7(enior .hows! se"enAthirty! and I<ll buy the first itcher of beer! Detecti"e.8
Ma/ stared at his hone when he heard the dial tone. ?h god! he 'ust made a date
with @onathan (tiller.

537
Day 11: ,at#rday- 9:30 a.m.
Isabel wo$e to the sun shining in her eyes! and ains all o"er her body!
esecially her bac$ and ass. &le/ was sleeing wraed around her! holding her
tight into his body.
?h god; Isabel struggled out of his arms and sat on the edge of the bed!
wincing in ain. :er ass hurt and the rest of her felt almost tortured. :er thighs
ached so much! she wasn,t sure she could stand. :e wasn,t $idding about se/! and
her body was feeling it. :er head was thic$ with the lac$ of slee! and she was still
wet.
(he felt his hand mo"ing o"er her s$in! and %uic$ly 'umed out of the bed.
7Don,t;8 Isabel could still feel him inside. Dammit! no condoms; (he was on the ill!
but she $new better. .ondoms were rotection against other things besides
regnancy. 79ou better be clean! because if I get anything from you I,m going to
find you and $ill you;8
7:ey! I,m the one that should worry. I use condoms all the time. Last night
was an aberration. 9ou,re the one that ne"er too$ much care o"er your health.8
7(hut u; That was o"er a year ago. It,s been a long time for me! and I,m
clean.8
7=ell so am I.8 &le/ watched her searching for her clothes. =hat the hell was
wrong with her3 7Isabel...Isabel! come bac$ to bed and we,ll tal$! o$ay3 It was a
long time for me too. I waited for you.8
79ou said you wouldn,t!8 she reminded him.
7I $now. I ne"er meant to! but I did.8 &le/ reached out an arm to her. 7.ome
bac$ to bed.8
537
7I don,t trust you. 9ou,"e got unholy designs on my ass! don,t thin$ I didn,t
notice. &nd than$s to you! I can,t sit.8
&le/ actually smiled at that. (he was right. :e definitely had a total thing for
her ass. It was damn near erfect. 5ut her anger didn,t ma$e any sense. 7=hat,s
with getting all indignant on me3 Treating me li$e I too$ something away from
you38
79ou don,t understand;8
7Then ma$e me;8 &le/ watched her go into the bathroom to find the rest of
her clothes. (he wasn,t going to find that sil$ scarf. It was still tied to his bed.
(he was right. :is intentions toward her weren,t all that honorable! and some
of them bordered on the edge of dar$ and dirty. :e could still feel her sil$y hair
under his hands as he fed himself into her mouth! but he could also feel her fingers
robing him! fuc$ing him. &nd from her reactions last night! he susected she had
more e/erience with that tye of se/ than he did. (o why was she acting li$e he
too$ her without consent3 :e could still hear her hus$y "oice begging him! crying
his name! and not once did she as$ him to sto.
:is fa"orite art was sin$ing his mouth into her! lic$ing broad swies o"er her
body! and suc$ing her down until she came all o"er him. :e lubed u his fingers
and oened her ass while he wor$ed her with his mouth! suc$ing her clit to the to
of his mouth. :er $eening and cries increased as she ushed bac$ on his fingers
oening u her tightest channel. &nd finally when she was riding the wa"e of an
orgasm! he flied her on her stomach and slammed into her ass watching her bite
the illow! and her hands griing the mattress hard! and as they got into it! he
ulled her u on her $nees and she $et begging him for more! leading with him
not to sto. (o he didn,t! not once or e"en twice. :e 'ust $et wor$ing her under
538
him! until finally he had to ta$e them into the bathroom to shower as the sweat
made their bodies slic$.
In the shower! they had both rested under the hot ounding water. J+ow.J The
one word was all she could manage as her eyes homed in on his beautiful coc$. (he
made a mo"e to reach for him again! suddenly deserate to ha"e him in her mouth!
to feel that hard flesh against her lis.
&le/ stoed her! his hands caturing hers and ushed them bac$ against the
glass wall as his thigh slid in between her own. JI can,t wait.J
Isabel could feel the wetness seeing onto the hairAroughened flesh of his
thigh as he mo"ed it u! grinding it against her. Then his hands released her and
grased her thighs! sreading them aart and lifted her u off her feet as he
insinuated himself between her legs. :e crowded her u against the glass of the
shower.
(he cried out at the first touch of his coc$ against her! the slic$ head barely
nudging the clit before sliding between the swollen lis in a teasing motion. (he
moaned at the tenderness since he already fuc$ed her once that way. >inally! Isabel
felt it at her oening! the heat of his coc$ branding her as he began to inch inside.
(he grased his shoulders! bracing herself as he slid home until the entire
throbbing length of him was inside her. :e rested there for a moment! his breath
ragged as he struggled to maintain control.
0nable to resist! she roc$ed against him! moaning as the motion forced him
e"en deeer inside. :is hands grew rough at her wild mo"ements! ulling her legs
u to wra around his waist until only his body was holding her u! ushed hard
against the glass. Then he began to lunge in hard! at first his long dee stro$es
were almost leisurely but grew faster as the sensations made them both cry out.
539
:is head was nestled on her shoulder! his arms ulling at her his and his
hands holding her ass as he thrust u into her body! burying himself inside her as
far as he could go. Isabel was barely aware of the cool glass wall against her bac$
as he buc$ed into her! filling her with his coc$ until it was all she could feel. :is hot
mouth fastened on the s$in of her nec$! latching onto the sensiti"e s$in there and
biting down as he slammed his body into his mate.
Isabel,s fingernails dug dee into his shoulders as she began to sasm around
his coc$! each tremor causing her flesh to tighten around him as another clima/
tore through her. This was it! the culmination of e"ery se/ual thought she,d e"er
had for this man was bound u in the dee stro$es of his coc$ inside her. :er own
cry of comletion mingled with his as she felt the hot stream of his come shoot u
inside her. :is his continued to iston against her! his coc$ ramming itself into her
as his orgasm shoo$ them.
>inally! he collased against her and the glass! his hands loosening their
bruising gri on her ass. 5ut he continued to use the weight of his body to $ee her
nailed in lace. Isabel didn<t $now how long they stayed li$e that! with her legs
wraed around his waist as he leaned against her! both of them anting as they
tried to catch their breath! both of them still reeling from the afterAeffects of what
had been the most intense se/ of their life.
&le/ allowed himself the leasure of remembering e"ery dirty searing moment
of it! of her. (he was e"erything he imagined and more! and no matter what he
tossed at her! she too$ it and ga"e it bac$ tenAfold. (eeing her frantic mo"ements!
he let the irritation ta$e o"er again.
7Isabel *"ans! get your ass bac$ in bed.8 &le/ said as he watched her
struggling with her clothes again. :e smiled at the bruises and mar$s he saw on
her bac$! feeling his body heating u again.
54:
7+o; +?; I,"e got to thin$. 9ou,re confusing me! ma$ing me...8 Isabel swore.
There was no way she could get her nylons bac$ on. 7I wanted more. I need more.
+ot 'ust fuc$ing! not 'ust hysical. I want more.8
&le/ rushed to bottom of the bed! and ulled her bac$ onto the bed. 79ou
thin$ that what we did was hysical3 @ust fuc$ing38
7+o. I don,t $now. :ow do I $now3 Is it 'ust Isabel being Isabel again3 >uc$ing
for the addiction of feeling good38
&le/ tossed her off his bed in disgust! and returned bac$ to the head lying
bac$ against the illows! not bothering to co"er himself. 7That,s all you felt3
Physical3 +othing else38 :is eyes narrowed in anger. If she lied to him! he was
going to ut her across his $nees and san$ her. Dammit! his body was still
humming! still feeling the effects! and she was calling it hysical3
7+o. +o. I don,t $now what it was. I feel you. I feel you inside li$e a tingling!
and I still taste you in my mouth! and smell you on my body. Dammit! &le/ I ne"er
e/erienced this before...and what we did! it wasn,t anything new to me. 5ut the
feelings were! the end results.8 Isabel stoed with standing in her s$irt and bra
with her blouse in hand. 7I need it again! and again! and again. &nd if that isn,t
addiction I don,t $now what is. I,m not some outraged "irgin wanting romises and
<I Do<s<. 5ut I romised myself not to fall into the addiction again! that this time I
wanted more.8
7I can gi"e you that.8 &le/ said %uietly. :e didn,t $now what that meant! but
he $new he meant it. =hate"er it too$! no matter how long! Isabel *"ans was his!
and damn his worthless soul! he feared he was hers.
7I $now. I $now you can! but its not enough. I need to be able to gi"e you
bac$ the same! meet you there.8 Isabel grabbed her shoes and bag! and not e"en
bothering to button u her shirt! she fled. 7Don,t call...oh god;8 (he 'ust left.
541
7Isabel;8 &le/ sat u calling after her. .ussing and tossing a few illows from
his bed! &le/ laid bac$ and listened to the slamming of his front door. (he,d be
bac$.
---
Tess was toasting bagels in the $itchen when Cyle came out of the downstairs
bedroom. :e had searched ustairs! downstairs! and e"erywhere for the Demon
.at. &fter Michael and Maria left! the cat went insane searching the house for them.
*"ery time they tried to aroach him he would scurry away. >inally he went out his
cat door! and didn,t bother to return until about three in the morning when he
'umed on Cyle! who was sleeing on the sofa. The noise and commotion wo$e Tess
and she found Cyle nursing a bleeding scratch across his arm while loo$ing under
the sofa.
7Did you find him38 Tess as$ed.
7+o. I found this though.8 Cyle showed her some clums of blac$ hair.
7?h no; Maria isn,t going to be hay if she comes home to a bald Mr. 5ooboo.
=e can,t ha"e Mr. 5ooboo as a calico again.8 Tess came to 'oin him in the li"ing
room. 7I need to get to the museum to co"er Maria,s shift. &re you o$ay alone38
Cyle loo$ed at Tess in terror. (he was going to lea"e him alone with that
monster3 7Tess! I,m begging you; I $now! maybe if I 'ust come with...8
7=e can,t lea"e him alone. 9ou heard Maria. :e gets lonely.8 Tess gathered her
stuff. 7Loo$! I made you brea$fast! so don,t worry. @ust watch some tele"ision or
something! and sooner or later he,ll come out. :e,s got to be hungry. &nd when I
come home! we,ll ma$e some dinner! and see if the cat will come 'oin us.8
75ut...8
543
Tess $issed Cyle gently on his lis and atted his face. 7It,ll be fine. 1ood
ractice for the baby.8 Cyle watched her lea"e. This was what babies acted li$e3 ?h
lord. &nd they loo$ed so innocent.
---
(ean went to answer his door driing all o"er his floor. =ith soa still in his
hair! he was deserately wiing away the stuff before it hit his eyes. Isabel *"ans!
on his door ste. 9eah! that had to be right. :ell on *arth.
(he entered ast him! chec$ing out his e/osed body. 71od! your body loo$s
worse than your face.8
7It,s not my fault. Master did the best he could with all the miscellaneous
arts. 5ut I,m 'ust a atchwor$ of ma$eshift engineering.8
Isabel 'ust snorted and head for the $itchen. 7>ran$enstein did better on his
first monster.8
79ou should $now! being the 5ride and all.8 (ean ignored her! refused to
demand what the hell she was doing in his aartment on a (aturday morning
loo$ing li$e! well li$e she was rode hard and ut away wet. :e returned to finish his
shower. :e was scheduled to wor$ today! but most of it was to co"er .lub :ell at
night.
=hen he returned! Isabel had made coffee! and was digging through his
refrigerator. 7?h god! nothing should e"er be ut in here. Don,t you e"en buy
food38
7I order out a lot! not that it,s any of your business.8
7I thought Italians could coo$! or li$ed to eat. Maria seems to $ee lots of food
in her house.8
544
(ean oured himself a cu of coffee. 7(he does! and we do. 5ut it,s hard li"ing
alone and coo$ing enough food for an army. Maria feeds an army so it,s o$ay for
her. &nd why should I buy food when my &unt &my and Maria both feed me38
7(o you,re 'ust lazy.8
7(to with the small tal$! 1risella! and tell me why you,re here. (houldn,t you
be wandering the streets of )oswell turning eole into stone and con"erting men
to the 'oys of homose/uality38
7Didn,t get laid last night! huh38 Isabel said ouring herself some coffee.
7+o! I was at Michael and Maria,s watching them ac$ for a tri to >lorida.8
7>lorida3 =hy,d they go to >lorida38 (ean smiled nastily and decided that
goading her was more fun than ic$ing at a scab.
7To see the DeLuca >amily! seeing as how Maria is in a family way.8 (ean was
reared for shoc$! but not screeching. =iggling a finger in his ear he tried to
regain the use of his hearing. 7Tone it down; 1eez! so what if the two lo"ebirds
ha"e a chier in the ma$ing38
Isabel collected herself. Michael! too3 7They didn,t...Michael didn,t tell me38
Isabel was de"astated. (he really was outside the family loo. It seemed the entire
world $new about Ma/ e/ecting! and now e"en DotAtoADot 5oy $new about
Michael before she did.
7Don,t get in a snit. They only confirmed it two or three days ago! and they
ain,t tal$ing until &my is romtly married off. (o if you rat them out it will ma$e
them "ery unhay. &nd before you turn on that siren "oice again! I should oint
out that they were going to tell us first the other night! but they got distracted. (o
your not $nowing is 'ust by default.8
545
Isabel went into the li"ing room and threw herself down on the sofa. 7Is the
entire world going on without me3 I mean is e"eryone getting a life and I,m 'ust
standing still38
7+ice selfAity. I li$e. Is this getting you in the mood to run out and do
something strange and self destructi"e38 (ean as$ed ta$ing a seat across from her.
79ou still didn,t tell me why you,re here.8
7=ell! as strange as it may seem! I needed someone to tal$ to. (omehow you
seemed li$e the one.8
7I don,t rescue maidens anymore.8 (ean said seriously.
7I,m not a maiden.8
7?$ay! I don,t reform wic$ed witches either.8 Isabel 'ust smiled.
7>air enough. Loo$ing at you! I,m not surrised.8
(ean 'ust nodded. &s long as she was aware that he wasn,t nice! they could
wor$ together. &s strange as it was! he felt the same as she did. Isabel was a
stranger to him! someone with 'ust as many hangAus! and because he felt no
attraction to her! he could be honest and biting. +o need to be nice.
7I slet with a man last night.8
(ean 'ust shrugged. 7Thought you used to do that a lot.8
7I did. That,s the roblem. &s art of my theray! I<"e been staying away from
men! and last night...8
75ac$slide38 Isabel 'ust nodded. (ean loo$ed at her critically. 7:ow ma'or was
this bac$slide38
7Ma'or. I can,t belie"e it. @ust away from the grou home for a wee$! and
already I,m sending hours engaged in mindAnumbing dirty se/.8
(ean,s interest i%ued. 7:ow dirty are we tal$ing38 Isabel 'ust ut her head in
her hands and moaned. 7?$ay! don,t melt down! on me. Let me get us some more
546
coffee! and then you can unload on Dr. (ean. 0m...you better tell me all the
details.8 (ean smiled. 7The more details the better.8
7Pig.8
---
Maria found him outside in the gardens. Last night they had arri"ed real late!
and one of her uncle,s men ic$ed them u at the airort. 5ecause it was late!
Maria and Michael went straight to bed in the rooms Maria had used in her uncle,s
house since she was a child. The family was already u! and Maria stoed in the
$itchen to see her &unt Teresa.
(ean,s mother was half Italian and half Irish. (he had the fair coloring and
fawn hair of her Irish mother! but the dar$ eyes of her father. (he named (ean! her
first born! after her own maternal grandfather and he loo$ed surrisingly li$e his
namesa$e. (ean<s name was a long line of Italian and Irish names strung together!
but he used his middle name! (ean.
7:ey! I was loo$ing for you.8 Maria said as Michael turned to loo$ at her. (he
loo$ed well rested. 8&unt Teresa says that brea$fast is in half an hour! so you better
be hungry.8
7Maria...8 Michael loo$ed out o"er the grounds! and noticed the men around
the lace! and the amount of rotection. (mall children were laying in the oen
ar$! and women in blac$ watched o"er them. 7This is where you come from.8
7&ctually! bigger. This is Marco,s home. My father,s home was the main family
house for the DeLuca family.8 Maria ointed to a larger house further u the hill
nestled in trees. Maria ulled him down to sit with her on a low stone wall. 7=hat,s
wrong38
547
Michael 'ust loo$ed at the house! the gardens! and e"erything. It was too
much. 7This is money! Maria. (erious money.8
7I $now. I thought you understood that. I,"e ne"er hidden my money from
you.8
7I $new about the >oundation! I $new you owned the loft and money was
ne"er a concern! but this...8 Michael wa"ed his arms around the area. 7I didn,t
imagine this.8
7It,s 'ust family stuff. My family! they ha"e a business! a secial business. >or
generations in (icily and then later here in &merica. They were secial rotectors!
men who where soldiers for the >amilies. They made a good life off it.8
7Cilling38
79es. It is their business. My brother! our father! and his father,s father.
.ontracts Michael! they aren,t a few buc$s here and there. They<re in si/ figures or
more! and with them comes reutation and ower.8
7(he is right! you $now.8 Michael loo$ed u at the older man! Maria,s 0ncle
Marco. :e had met them last night before they went to bed. Maria was named for
him. 7This is our business and we do not tal$ about it with outsiders. Maria has
as$ed that I tal$ to you! and so I will. 5ut you tell me! why should I tal$ to you3 To
a man that li"es with my belo"ed niece in sin38
70ncle...8
7I do not li"e with her in sin. I li"e with her until she names the day. (he is my
business.8 Michael said with a touch of hardness in his "oice. :e refused to be
intimidated.
The man loo$ed at Maria. 7Is this true3 Does this man as$ you! and you do not
name a date38
547
7Technically yes! but only recently after we found out about the baby.8 Maria,s
uncle stood u with his hands flaing! and called to some other man.
71et the riest...8
7Tio; +o;8 Maria grabbed her uncle,s arm. 7(to it. I said yes. I already said
yes. Don,t mess u all the fine wor$ Michael has done con"incing me to marry him.8
7:e had to con"ince you3 :ow38
7Li$e the ig he is. :e announced to the world I was his fiancOe and ignored
me when I refused.8
7*h38 :e sized Michael u. 7Maria! go hel the women in the $itchen.8
7=hat are you...8
71o;8 :e $issed her! and ushed her towards the house. 7(o! Michael! do you
smo$e3 +o3 9ou should. I ha"e these secial cigars! handArolled! and when you
smo$e them and drin$ a good whis$ey e"en women almost ma$e sense.8 Marco ut
his arm around Michael,s shoulder and too$ him for a stroll around the house.
---
(ean was listening attenti"ely as Isabel went on and on about last night and
this morning. Damn! when she bac$slid! she did it in style; :e too$ in her tumbled
aearance and too$ ity on her.
7?$ay! you $now it,s ob"ious that you 'ust got u and left. 9ou<"e hardly slet
and ha"en,t eaten. (o go into the bathroom and ta$e a shower. I,ll lea"e you some
clean clothes outside the door! and then I,ll ma$e you brea$fast.8
Isabel loo$ed at him susiciously. (he really didn,t $now him. 7I don,t $now...8
548
(ean mo"ed closer and leaned into her where she sat in the chair. 79ou afraid3
?f me3 9ou thin$ this is you falling bac$ into the life of gratuitous se/38 Isabel 'ust
nodded and guled. :e was crowding her! ma$ing her ner"ous. 7Then fuc$ me.8
7=hat38 Isabel tried to ush him to the side. 5ut (ean stayed firm.
79ou heard me. .ome into the bedroom with me! and I,ll continue where
lo"erboy from last night left off. =e can roll around until you can,t tell whose dried
sun$ is on you! his or mine.8
Isabel screamed in rage and ushed him aside! getting u. 79ou<re desicable;
I...I come to you because I figure you<ll understand. 5ut instead you ma$e
suggestions; )ude! nasty! disgusting suggestions; +o wonder you li$e being beaten.
9ou deser"e it; 9ou slimmy! wormy twoAfaced maggot...8
(ean ignored her outrage and grabbed her close! real close! sea$ing to her in
a dar$ cold "oice! 79ou don,t want to go down on me! Izzy3 Don,t want to olish my
head3 &nd why the hell not3 =ould the Isabel *"ans of last year ta$en the
oortunity! or would she ha"e wal$ed away3 ?r maybe gi"en me her number and
said! D(orry too tired right now to ball you! but gi"e me a 'ingle later and I,ll let you
lug my ass,38 Isabel<s face became e"en redder! and she reached out trying to sla
his cold! mean! hard face. (ean easily stoed her. 7&nswer me; =hat would you
ha"e done last year38
:ea"ing and angry! Isabel sneered at him. 7I,d ha"e fuc$ed you hard! ta$en
you down! gi"en you something you couldn,t find anywhere else and then after I
drained you and used you all u! I,d ha"e wal$ed away.8 Isabel o$ed a hard angry
finger into his chest ushing him bac$wards. 7.ount yourself luc$y! whiing boy!
that your worthless! scrawny! maggotA infested ass means nothing to me. It doesn,t
e"en get me wet enough for e"eryday lubrication. 9ou are (iberian winter to me.8
549
(ean wished he had a cigarette. &ngry Isabel was actually fun to watch.
7=ould I ha"e gotten you all wet and slic$ a year ago! Princess3 =ould that channel
of yours 'ust be begging for it38
7+ot anymore;8 (ean 'ust laughed and wal$ed away lea"ing her still ta$ing
dee breaths to calm her anger.
7=ell then! welcome to reco"ery.8 (ean said! going to find his hone. :e
needed groceries and if he hurried! he might e"en get them deli"ered before Isabel
got out of the shower.
Isabel aused in her tirade! 7=hat do you mean38
(ean 'ust ut u his hand as he ga"e his order and romised a large ti for
seedy deli"ery. 79ou,re beating yourself u o"er last night! thin$ing it,s the
nymhomaniac in you coming home to roost. 5ut you don,t want me! and I would
hazard a guess that you don,t want anyone else right now either. 5ut do you still
want him3 The guy with the wic$ed dic$3 )ight now! right here. If he was standing
in front of you with his fly oen! would you willingly dro to your $nees38
Isabel closed her eyes and imagined &le/ =hitman in front of her! all ierced
and tattooed with his long curling dar$ hair! unsha"en face and dar$ aloof attitude.
:er body tensed u at the thought. :is long thin body! surrisingly muscular and
lean! owerful...
7(a"e it;8 (ean stood there watching her and the emotions rushing across her
face. The change in her body language told him what he needed to $now. 7=hoe"er
this guy is! he gets you hot. (o instead of thin$ing the e"il Isabel is bac$! maybe
you should as$ yourself what ma$es him secial and why.8
Isabel sat down on the corner of the sofa. 7I wanted him for o"er a year. :e
was all I dreamt about. *"en though I thought he would go on without me! last
55:
night he said he waited.8 Isabel actually smiled at that! and ic$ed at her clothes.
(he really! really smelt bad.
7=ell! that,s 'ust sweet.8 (ean said sarcastically. Damn! if Isabel *"ans turned
all giddily schoolgirlish and mushy on him! then who was he going to sar with3
Interestingly enough! (ean,s thought turned towards a certain Te/as chic$enAlo"ing
firecrac$er who would lo"e to ut his balls in a "ice and crush them. +ow how was
he suosed to reco"er! with all these erfect women coming out of the woodwor$
offering him a bac$hand3 &t least Isabel was good for his theray.
7(o what would you ha"e done if I did ta$e you u on your offer38 Isabel
as$ed curiously.
7It could,"e been a roblem. 9ou might<"e had your wor$ cut out for you.8
(ean said. Isabel didn,t e"en 'uice him to tingly.
71uess I could ha"e offered to beat you.8
7It would,"e ta$en a two by four to get a rise.8 (ean started assembling what
he did ha"e a"ailable for brea$fast. 7(o you going to go ta$e a shower and get the
stin$ off you3 I am sure that what,s his name would be flattered! but still...8
7>lattered3 I<m not sure about that. &le/ loo$s a little wild and loose on the
outside! but he doesn,t li"e down. I,m 'ust glad that I didn,t ha"e to find him at
.lub :ell.8 Isabel ic$ed her dirty clothes off her body in disgust. 7It,s one thing to
loo$ li$e one of the great unwashed! and another to actually be one.8
7=hitman38 (ean aused in his coo$ing sitting out the coffee he had 'ust
drun$ in a full laugh. 79ou did =hitman3 &le/ =hitman! owner of .lub :ell3 :e,s
your dream guy38
7=hat,s so funny38 Isabel could feel her anger rising again.
7=e are;8 (ean leaned closer and oured Isabel some coffee. 7Tell me! did you
$iss &le/ yesterday38
551
79eah! of course. I find $issing $ind of goes with fuc$ing.8 Isabel too$ a drin$
of the coffee.
(ean couldn<t contain his mirth and laughed his ass off. Isabel 'ust stared at
him li$e he was a loon. 7=ell then! Mizzy Izzy! it loo$s li$e we ha"e e"en more in
common than we thought! gi"en that we both $issed &le/ =hitman yesterday.8
Isabel,s eyes narrowed. 7*/cuse me38
---
@im came out of the bedroom smelling brea$fast in the air. =ee$ends were his
fa"orite time. :e and &my usually sent a long late morning eating brea$fast!
reading the newsaer and lanning their day. &my finally sold her old house si/
months ago! and they were officially li"ing together.
7=hat are you doing38 @im as$ed as he grabbed his coffee and sat down at the
brea$fast noo$.
7@ust going o"er the wedding rearations. 9ou $now! honey! I thin$ I,"e got
the whole scheme wrong. Maybe instead of a Dfairytale, motif! I should ha"e gone
for the <sring time in the heather<! or maybe...8
@im calmly reached o"er and too$ the wedding 'ournal and boo$s away from
her! tossing them on the floor ne/t to the table.
7*nough;8
&my loo$ed at him confused. 7@im38
7*nough! &my. I want you hay. It,s all I want. 5ut after si/ years! it,s
enough. The wedding is imortant to you! but this obsession o"er it being erfect is
getting out of hand. I $now you want this to be the erfect harmonious union! but
it,s 'ust you and me. That,s all it ta$es to ma$e it erfect.8
553
[email protected]
7I,m tired. This wedding is ta$ing all the 'oy out of our li"es. &ll I need is a
lace! a riest! our children and it,s erfect. I don,t care about the color! the
clothes! the theme...I 'ust want to marry the woman I lo"e.8 @im rubbed his face.
75ut it doesn,t loo$ li$e I,m getting that! so here,s the deal. +e/t (aturday at four in
the afternoon! I,m going to be at the church! our church. I<m going to be in a blac$
tu/ <n tails! with my son! your daughter and whoe"er else in attendance. The
children will be there! the choir will be singing and the organist will be laying the
wedding march. &ll you ha"e to do is wal$ down the aisle at the aroriate
moment on (ean,s arm. .an you do that38
[email protected] &my guled. 7=hat are you saying3 That if...8
7I,m saying that the woman I,m going to ma$e lo"e to ne/t (aturday night will
be my wife! or it,s o"er.8
@im too$ his coffee with him and grabbed a few slices of bacon on his way to
the door. 7=ait; @im! you can,t 'ust lea"e; 9ou can,t 'ust gi"e me this ultimatum and
wal$ away;8 &my felt tears in her throat. 79ou don,t want to marry me38
@im sighed and turned around. Traing &my between his hands! he ulled her
into a dee $iss! lastering his body along hers! as he mo"ed them bac$ u against
the wall. &my,s hands were buried in his hair! and she was ma$ing those noises in
her throat he lo"ed so much. That clearing sound.
7?h! &my... I want to marry you so much! it,s not fair. I,"e been atient and
waited...waited si/ years. 9ou,"e been the light of my life and the most infuriating
erson at the same time. &nd all I want is to ma$e you hay. I want to marry you.
It,s you who doesn,t want to marry me.8 @im sighed and loo$ed her in the eyes! and
then ulled away.
554
&my clutched him bac$ to her. 7That,s not true; I do want to marry you. &ll of
this is about me wanting to marry you.8
7+o it,s not. It,s a delay tactic! because you,re unsure. *"ery time we choose
the date! you change something and the delays continue. If all you want from me!
&my DeLuca! is someone to warm your bed! then 'ust be honest.8 @im too$ her
hands off him. 7I,m loo$ing for a life artner! someone to lo"e into my old age! not
'ust a bed warmer.8
7?h @im! honey...8
@im stoed and loo$ed down at the floor. 7(i/ years ago we were still young
enough to ha"e a baby and ma$e a new family for all of us. 5ut all this time...all
the wasted years...and now those ossibilities are gone. +ow all we ha"e to loo$
forward to is grandchildren. 5ut how the hell are we going to get them3 Loo$ at our
children; Maria shac$ing u with Michael! and they seem in no hurry to tie a $not.
Cyle and Tess laying best friends when any idiot can see they,re in lo"e. (ean
running from intimacy and finding release with strange women in leather bars.
=hat can we say to them when we,re basically doing the same! 'ust biding time
together38
79ou wanted a baby3 9ou ne"er told me.8 &my felt a tremor in her hand. :e
had ne"er said a word. +ot once.
7I want grandchildren! but none of our $ids are going to marry until we do!
and I,m tired of waiting.8
[email protected]
7*nough! &my. +e/t (aturday or ne"er. I,ll be there! and if you,ll do me the
honor! I,ll romise to lo"e and rotect you <til my dying day.8
&my felt unsure and lost for a second. 5ut @im was right. They were wasting
time and her oor children were also stalling! waiting for her to finally ma$e u her
555
mind. :er oor @im was so de"astated that he was unsure she e"en lo"ed him
enough to marry him.
&my threw herself in his arms and $issed him. =iing a tear from her chee$
she smiled at him bra"ely. 7?$ay! o$ay! I,ll be there. +e/t (aturday. I romise.8
7Promise38 @im as$ed with a twin$le in his eyes.
7&bsolutely.8 &my laughed when he ic$ed her u in a big bear hug. 7?h I lo"e
it when you get all DThe Man, on me.8 &my reached down and whisered in his ear.
79ou should wear mirrored glasses and a tight uniform.8 @im laughed at that.
Loo$ed li$e he had the $ids to than$ for getting him out of the Wedding rearation
nightmare. &my loo$ed u at the cloc$ on the wall and ga"e a small scream of
fright.
7?h god; I,"e got to go; I,"e got so many things to do and only se"en days to
do them in;8 @im ut her down and she rushed to gather her things. (he ran bac$
and $noc$ed him hard u against the wall! running her hand down his front and
ma$ing him groan. 7I,m getting married you $now.8
@im laughed at her mischie"ous smile and thought of Michael. Man didn,t $now
how luc$y he was to find a DeLuca woman. These creatures didn,t seem to $now
how to age. 5efore she could ste too far away from him! he ulled her bac$ to him
tightly. 7&nd &my...get me my damn coc$tail weenies;8
79es! @im.8 &nd with a %uic$ smile and a $iss! she was out the door to terrorize
)oswell. (e"en days. 1od created the *arth in se"en days! and he had no doubt
that &my DeLuca could destroy it in less.
7It,s going to be a hell of a ride.8
---
556
Michael watched the chaos of the DeLuca >amily household in sheer terror.
There were hoards of them. The more that came! the more there were. Maria,s
0ncle was sitting at the head of the table and (ean,s mother at the other end.
Michael watched the woman in interest. (he loo$ed li$e (ean! or maybe it was that
(ean loo$ed li$e her. 5ut she had the dar$ Italian brown eyes of her father! and
(ean had a lighter hazel of his maternal grandmother,s. &nd e"en though Marco
ruled the family! it was easy to see that Theresa >iona DeLuca was the real seat of
ower.
:er "oice was soft and firm with a hint of laughter. 7.aro! I told you to ut
that away. @ulian! hel your brother ser"e himself and ta$e off your hat. =hat are
you a :ginJa(-5 :er orders and organization went on and on until e"eryone was
sitting and eating.
Michael 'ust watched it all in wonder and ate one of the most incredible
brea$fasts of his life. It was more li$e a brunch with mounds of food! more than
e"en Maria could eat and she was wor$ing hard on it. ?ccasionally he would see her
hand wander into his late to steal something.
7(tuffing your face again38 Michael teased Maria as she had a disute with one
of her cousins o"er the last of the eggs. :er aunt $issed her brow and went into the
$itchen to get her some more. 7=hat is this3 Michael as$ed o$ing at a dish that
tasted incredible! but one he didn,t $now.
7(hut u! and ass me some more bread.8 Maria loo$ed at him! and ulled
him close! $issing him hard. 7:ungry. *ating for two.8 Michael loo$ed u in time to
see the leased loo$ in Maria,s aunt,s eyes as she ut fresh eggs down for Maria.
7That<s a secial Italian flatbread! usually made in Palermo. It<s made with sunA
dried tomatoes and fresh rosemary! ba$ed in oli"e oil and then a secial egg batter
557
is oured on to with ham! sausage! garlic and cheese. It,s sort of an omelet on
bread! li$e a mi/ture of the (cottish ba$er,s egg! and a frittata.8
7.an you ma$e this38 Maria nodded. ?f course. Michael leaned down and
whisered in Maria,s ear. 7=ho are all these eole38
Maria stoed eating and loo$ed around. 7>amily. (ean has two brothers and
three sisters. These are their children and souses! lus a few cousins...oh and a
few ne/t door neighbors, $ids.8
&fter the table was cleared! Maria was ointing out laces from the terrace
when her 0ncle found them. 7Maria! did (id send the aers to you for the house38
Maria 'ust nodded. 71ood! and we can close on that while you are here38 :er uncle
smiled big. 7Then instruct your husband and send him into the library.
Michael watched Marco wal$ off and turned to Maria. 7=hat38
7The house!8 Maria ointed to the house across the way where she had been
born and raised. 70ncle Marco wishes to urchase it for his son as a wedding
resent. (ean,s middle brother will inherit after my 0ncle dies! so Marco thin$s it is
a good time to ut the larger house bac$ in the family. :e made a generous offer to
buy it.8
79ou own that house38 Michael 'ust sat down. They needed to get their asses
bac$ to )oswell because he was totally out of his element here. Maria 'ust nodded.
7It was my father,s! and when he died! it went to >ran$ie @r. 0nfortunately
>ran$ie ne"er made a will and! as the only sur"i"ing immediate family! I inherited
e"erything. Most of the li%uid assets I san$ into the >oundation! and I 'ust let the
in"estments run. ?"er the years I<"e settled some of the hysical roerty! but the
house has remained a roblem.8 Maria loo$ed o"er at the house she was raised in.
7I ha"en,t set foot in there since I was si/teen! and I ne"er want to again. I<d gi"e it
to 0ncle Marco for a dollar.8
557
Michael could understand that. *"en though his childhood memories weren,t
as ainful as Maria,s! he still had had a hard time wal$ing through Mi$ey 1uerin,s
house after he died. It was silent as though it was haunted! and that made
e"erything else somehow worse.
7(o what am I suosed to do38
7=ell! when I was Dsingle,! 0ncle Marco would deal with me in the 5usiness!
but now that I ha"e you...,my husband,! he will e/ect you to see to my affairs.8
Michael loo$ed at her in horror.
79ou,re $idding! right38 Michael loo$ed at the large house and bac$ at Maria!
seeing she was serious. 7The <old ways<! huh3 I can,t...I don,t ha"e a clue.8
7Don,t worry. @ust listen to the offer! increase it a little! and let him haggle it
bac$ down to a rice close to what he originally offered.8 Maria grabbed Michael.
75ut you have to haggle! ma$e him wor$ for it and get all huffy and angry.
?therwise it<s a matter of losing face. +o relati"e li$es to thin$ he<s cheating
another! and e"en though you<ll get more than he offered! after you lea"e he<ll tell
himself what a good deal he made because he would ha"e gi"en you a few hundred
thousand more.8
7Pride38
79eah! and now that you<re art of the family! they,ll e/ect you to understand
the games.8 Maria loo$ed u when her cousin! (ofia came to the door. 7That,s your
cue. :e,s ready. +ow after you do the family thing! he<ll be all hay to answer your
%uestions about the case. My cousin! Luis will be in there. =atch his face. :e<s a
soft sell and he can,t hide his reactions. (o if you<re going too high or too low he<ll
let you $now.8
7MariaR8
558
71o. 9ou,ll do fine.8 Maria watched him trudge off with a set of doom about his
shoulders.
7:ow do you thin$ he will do! )ia38 Maria turned to loo$ at her aunt and
smiled.
7:e,s tough. :e,ll sur"i"e. :e always does.8
7I li$e him. I notice he watches you and $ees his hands near! li$e he is afraid
you will fall. :e has beautiful hands.8 Theresa loo$ed out o"er the green and beauty
of the gardens. 7&nd you watch him too.8
7I do. This is hard for him. (o much family! so many eole. :e ne"er had that
before.8 Maria loo$ed at her aunt and smiled. 7:e hasn,t learned that we are more
ali$e than not! but he will. Then he will understand e"ery thing about (ean.8 Maria
said her cousin,s name to test the waters.
7(ean! my child. :ow is he3 =ell38
7+ot so good all the time. :e sur"i"es. :e sur"i"es to bleed.8 Maria too$
Theresa,s hands in hers. 7:e li"es to rotect. >irst me and my mom! and now so
many others. 1od made him a good man! but <Man< is $illing his soul.8
7I light a candle in rayer e"ery day for his continued hainess.8 Theresa
loo$ed at the children laying. 7:e was always different. =hen he was small! he
thought with his heart and not his head. In the 5usiness! it is imortant to detach a
little to sur"i"e and to do what honor re%uires. 9our co. Michael. :e loo$s to me
li$e (ean.8
7They are the same in many ways. 5ut (ean is traed in desair.8 Maria
searched for words that would not come. 7:e needs to come home.8
Theresa 'ust shoo$ her head no. 7There is no lace for him here anymore.8
Maria loo$ed at her aunt in ity and frustration. 7The <old ways<. They steal
your children to crime and drugs. &nd (ean rotects in the only way he can! the
559
way that is his nature. The only lace he needs is in your heart and if there is no
lace for him there! then erhas it is better that he is dead to you.8
Maria got u %uic$ly and angrily wal$ed away. 7Maria; )ia...8 Theresa loo$ed
out at the grounds! but saw nothing. &fter a time! she went to gather her things to
go to ray.
---
(ean was finishing u the final touches to brea$fast brunch when a $noc$
came to his front door. The grocery store had already deli"ered so he frowned on
his way to the door. It couldn,t be his aunt3 (urely .a could $ee her busy for at
least a (aturday. ?ening the door! he was shoc$ed to see Liz Par$er standing on
his doorste.
7Liz...hi;8
7.an I come in38 (ean 'ust nodded and mo"ed aside to let her enter.
Liz too$ in the aartment and immediately noticed the coo$ing and the smells.
(ean only coo$ed a large brea$fast when he...?h; Liz loo$ed around hurriedly and
felt a blush mo"ing u her face.
7I,m sorry!8 she s%uea$ed. 7I,m interruting something...8
(ean caught her before she could flee. 7+o. +o; 1od! no; Liz! calm down.
9eah! I,"e got comany! but not that tye of comany. ;a ,t. /aria lo "rotegge. 8
7=hat38
7(orry. I said! D(t. Maria! rotect me.8 (ean went bac$ into the $itchen to
chec$ on his food while Liz ut down her bag and 'ac$et and too$ a stool at the
counter.
7This guest must be some real interesting indi"idual.8
56:
7:ardly! 'ust a wal$ on the icy side in one of the numerous dimensions of :ell!
roagated by Demons of the 1ate who offer you the choice of instant death rather
than ha"ing to face her.8 (ean oured Liz a cu of coffee! and smiled. 7?ther than
that! she seems really nice.8
Liz 'ust laughed and tossed her head! rolling her eyes! 7and she would be...8
Isabel too$ that moment to come bac$ from her shower wearing one of (ean,s
PD tAshirts and a air of baggy sweats with her hair u in a onytail. 7That
bathroom should be bombed. :ey! 5attery 5oy! .omet and a little scrubbing action
and you too can enter the world of the real humans.8 Isabel stoed when she saw
Liz! and she %uic$ly loo$ed at (ean. 7(orry! (ean! I didn,t $now you had a brea$fast
date.8
The women sized each other u as (ean oured Isabel another cu of coffee.
7I didn,t. It,s my morning to be in"aded by women. The only thing that would ma$e
it comlete would be a certain chic$enAeating &D& coming by to fling her chic$en
bones at me! while offering me a san$ing with her shoe.8 (ean aused for a
moment. 7&ctually that last one wor$s for me.8
79ou are bent.8 Isabel too$ a stool ne/t to Liz. 7(o...8 Isabel loo$ed at (ean
and tied her head towards Liz.
7?h! sorry. .aught u in a tortuous fantasy. Liz Par$erAAIsabel *"ans! and "ice
"ersa. Liz is a friend of the highest caliber! and once held the unfortunate honor of
being my girlfriend. &las she has since aid her dues to society and been released
for good beha"ior.8
Isabel loo$ed at Liz with interest and some amazement. */Agirlfriend3
Interesting. (he didn,t loo$ li$e the blac$ leather! razor blade tye! holding a whi
in one hand and a man,s balls in the other. (ilent waters do run dee.
561
7&nd Lizzie! you are seated in the esteemed comany of one Isabel *"ans!
sister to the dynamic duo of 1uerin and *"ans! but destructi"e in her own
indi"idualistic way. :ell froze o"er! so they released her bac$ on us! the
unsusecting humans.8 (ean too$ out lates and set them in front of the girls. 79ou
two ready to eat3 &nd!8 (ean said loo$ing at Isabel! 7my bathroom is fine. .leaning
ser"ice doesn,t come until Monday.8
7200K38 Isabel loo$ed at the bread concoction tossed in her late with some
tye of otato to the side. 7=hat is this38 Liz 'ust loo$ed o"er at the woman and
shrugged. It was good.
7I didn,t $now grae CoolAaid stained. It,s *rbazzone...a sort of herb sandwich
from Parma. It,s eggs in a crust.8 Isabel o$ed at it. 7@ust try it. The ancetta was
fresh and I added e/tra 4armigiano-=eggiano.8 (ean searched until he found some
hot sauce. :e li$ed his eggs with a little sice. Isabel reached o"er and too$ the hot
sauce and added a generous amount to her late.
7=hat,s the green stuff added in with the eggs38 Isabel as$ed as she tasted it. +ot
bad.
7(inach. 9ou could 'ust forgo the *rbazzone! and 'ust drin$ the damn hot
sauce straight. 9ou might ha"e tasted it before you doused it.8
7I li$e things hot and sicy.8 Isabel loo$ed o"er and noticed that Par$er was
almost through with hers! and %uic$ly loo$ing to see how much (ean had made!
Isabel sed u her consumtion. Par$er was tiny! she didn,t need that much food.
(ean 'ust shrugged. Icy cold eole robably needed all the heat they could find.
Isabel reached for the an to get some more when (ean snatched it away. 70h
uh.8 Pic$ing u his satula! he threatened her. )eaching o"er he ser"ed Liz another
slice! then Isabel and finally himself. Isabel snea$ed a glance o"er at Par$er,s late
and noticed the ser"ing was larger than hers. Pig.
563
7(o Liz! was there something you needed3 ?ther than 'ust some good
comany38 (ean ignored the snorting Isabel and tossed another iece of food in her
late to distract her.
7+o! I 'ust wanted to tell you that I called Maria and we went out.8 Liz loo$ed
o"er at the other woman still eating and using lots of Tabasco.
7&nd...8 (ean as$ed e/ectantly.
7&nd! it heled. Maria heled.8 Liz mo"ed her emty late aside and assed
her emty cu o"er for a refill. 7I thin$ I want to mo"e out of my arents< house.8
7)eally3 =hen38
7&s soon as ossible! I thin$.8
(ean shifted on his feet. 79ou $now you could stay here until you found
yourself a lace...I mean...8
Liz 'ust smiled at the offer. 7+o than$s! (ean. I thin$ I,ll stay where I,m at
until I find a lace. I need a roommate or a cat. I can,t remember the last time I
li"ed alone! and it might ta$e me ma$ing theses changes in degrees.8 (ean 'ust
nodded. That made sense. 7I wish you made beignets for brea$fast. I lo"e those.8
(ean smiled at her. 7I could ma$e those for you! Lizzy.8
7=hat are they38 Isabel as$ed. :is smile was so fa$e. 9uc$.
They,re a +ew ?rleans secialty that Maria ic$ed u in her life in the
cathouse. >ried batter co"ered in confectioners, sugar. It,s li$e a deeAfried donut!
but it melts in your mouth and is best eaten hot.8
7=ell get to frying. Liz and I don,t ha"e all day.8 Isabel turned to Liz and tried
a friendly smile. 79ou $now! I<m loo$ing for a lace to li"e as well. Do you ha"e any
idea how to start loo$ing38
564
7+o. &ctually! I was going to as$ Maria. (he sort of 'ust $nows things.8 Liz
loo$ed o"er at (ean. 7Do you $now if Maria is wor$ing the museum this morning3 I
might sto there.8
7(he,s out of town. (he and Michael too$ a short tri to >lorida! but they,ll be
bac$ tomorrow.8 (ean assembled all the stuff he needed and searched for his dee
fryer. 7=hat $ind of beignets you want3 Peach or lain38 Liz said lain as Isabel said
each. They loo$ed at each other.
7I,ll ma$e both.8 (ean hal"ed the batter and $et coo$ing. It was his fa"orite
astime! something he used to do with his mother.
7&ctually! I told Maria I would lo"e to li"e in a loft li$e hers.8 Isabel told Liz.
7(he said she might $now of a lace! but I would more than li$ely need a
roommate to share the e/enses.8
7?h! I lo"e Maria,s loft. &nd the location and the stores! and...8
79eah! same here. I could li"e there.8 (ean loo$ed at the two women as they
$et tal$ing about the u and coming 5ric$town 9uie land.
7I thin$ I $now what Maria is tal$ing about.8 (ean felt their attention mo"e to
him. 7The reno"ated warehouse where Maria,s loft is has fi"e uncomleted loft units
'ust waiting to be finished! I thin$. :er loft is at one end with the otential for
another loft ne/t door! but I thin$ Maria is holding on to it in case she wants to
e/and! which she does. :er section is li$e a smaller anne/ to the larger
warehouse! with that small oening between the buildings were the atrium and
gardens are. The small section leading to the larger building is where her garages
are. (o that still lea"es the whole larger warehouse oen. It currently has room for
eight loft units! but only three are occuied.8
565
Liz was getting e/cited. 7Do you thin$ she can hel us get in touch with the
landlord3 Do you thin$ they,ll be willing to reno"ate one of the remaining lofts for
us38
7I thin$ Maria can arrange it. If you lay your cards right! you might get the
one unit that also butts u against the atrium and gardens! and if they ut in a
sliding glass door! you could share Maria,s garden.8 (ean refrained from mentioning
that Maria was the owner! and more than li$ely would do it for these two.
(ean $et coo$ing while the two tal$ed e/citedly o"er the rosects. Maria
was going to ha"e them on her doorste almost before she landed bac$ in )oswell.
This was good. & new ro'ect for Maria! a reno"ation ro'ect that might sa"e
Michael from ha"ing to deal with the loft being torn to ieces for a few months.
(ean ser"ed them both some hot beignets! and watched Isabel ractically melt
on her stool. That good. 7(o the two of you are lanning to be roommates! huh38
Liz 'ust smiled and nodded. Things were loo$ing u. 7Izzy! we should ut u a
large board or something! seeing how we,re both single! and label it! DThings =e
don,t =ant in a Man, 'ust to $ee a running tally. It,s so hard to find DMr. )ight, in
this day and age.8
71ood idea. 1od! do I ha"e a bunch of stuff to add to that list already.8 Isabel
loo$ed at (ean and then suddenly taed Liz on the arm lightly. 7Let,s ut (ean,s
name on the to of the list;8
79eah;8
7:ey;8 (ean too$ the brunt of their teasing well! and to their chagrin added a
few asects to their list as well.
Liz 'ust laughed at his additions. 7=ait! you do all those things! (ean.8
79eah! I $now. 5ut I hate them in other men.8
---
566
Michael sat bac$! e/hausted after the negotiations. Maria was right. :er
cousin! Luis was a dead gi"eaway! and for a few times he and Marco had stood nose
to nose in a deadloc$. 5ut finally the deal was sealed and Marco was ser"ing them
li%uor! something Italian and sweet! designed to $noc$ him on his ass.
7?$ay! enough of this business. Michael! you come with me and I,ll show you
my lemon trees.8 Marco wa"ed the others gone! and too$ Michael out of the room
onto the terrace. They wal$ed down ast the gardens and along a small gro"e of
trees.
7These aren,t all lemon38 Michael as$ed as they wal$ed through. The smell
was incredible 'ust from the lea"es.
7+o! some orange and oli"e! but the lemon has ta$en to bloom early this year!
and as long as we don,t get a late freeze it should be a nice har"est.8 Michael 'ust
nodded as the older man stoed and lit his cigar offering Michael one! who
refused. 7(o now we tend to your %uestions! .o.8
Michael loo$ed at the man and suddenly saw his son in him. It was the eyes.
They weren,t the same color! but they had the same intensity. This man was a
member of the 5rotherhood! and he understood much.
7This case I ha"e. It has a $iller! one who ma$es eole disaear. (ean
said...8
Marco made a gesture to dismiss his son,s name. 7That our 5usiness is one
that secializes in that "ery tas$38 Michael nodded. 7That is true. There is ower in
fear and control. To see someone you lo"e 'ust "anish! ne"er to be heard from
again. It lea"es an imression. (o this D$iller,! is he in the 5usiness38
Michael frowned at Marco,s low soft tone. :e wouldn,t turn in a name of
someone connected! but then neither would (ean. 7+o. (ean...said it was a
<secial<! a erson who shared the Dum and rocessed the bodies.8
567
Marco 'ust nodded. :e reached u in a tree and too$ a leaf and crushed it
between his fingers! offering it to Michael. Michael too$ and smelt it. Lemon. 7I
$now this man. :e ma$es them shiny with a coating3 9es38
79es.8
79ou,re luc$y. This erson has only been around for about a decade! and (ean
was only 'ust around when he started. 5ut e"en then! he was imressi"e. =e didn,t
find the Dum. This indi"idual! the secialistAhe did. It is li$e he understood where
the best lace is to throw away the trash in a local area! and we followed his
instincts. :e used to mo"e around a lot! "ery seasonal! but o"er the last few years
he has remained stationary with a few runs to surrounding states.8
7:e,s in my area38 Michael watched at Marco chec$ed a tree for a mar$ on its
trun$.
7The (outhwest mostly! but your region! yes. :e is a $iller among $illers! a
real master. =e don,t rotect him! but we don,t turn him o"er either. :e doesn,t
interfere with us! and we don,t touch him. +ow if he turned rofessional! then
maybe we would notice.8 Marco too$ a draw of his cigar and loo$ed o"er the gro"e.
7This one! he has made murder an art.8
Michael had to as$. 7Do you $now who he is38
7+o. =e call him &he .ollector.8 Marco too$ Michael down another row of trees
and around the bac$ gardens.
7:is duming grounds! can you gi"e me that38 Marco stoed and loo$ed at
Michael with a frown.
7That is not so easy. Many others follow this .ollector to dum with him!
because he finds the best locations.8 Marco loo$ed at Michael closely. 7=hy do you
want to $now38
567
7I want to return the lost children to their own. They were ta$en and their
eole wait.8 Marco 'ust nodded. (o many lost children! so many families that wait.
It was hard.
8I will contact you when I $now.8
7Than$ you.8 Marco 'ust nodded.
7=e are not so different! coer. I see you. I feel you. 9ou are #na "roteJione
#n soldato. 8 They sat down on the stone benches in the garden. 7=hen the world
was younger! we rose. & class of soldiers! #n soldato rotectors sworn to defend
our >amilies in a romise of fiefdom. &ll the large families had eole such as we!
and we rotected with our "ery blood. That...that is the large trun$ from which you
stem! .o. =e ractice the old way of rotecting our >amily! and you ractice the
new way of defending all innocents. (ometimes those lines! they aren,t so clear!
no38
7(ometimes!8 Michael admitted! 7I dream of thingsAof laces and battles. (o
many battles! so many camaigns and so much blood.8
Marco loo$ed at Michael with interest. 7Tell me! do these dreams ma$e you
bleed38
7They ma$e me feel foreign to myself.8 Michael stood and wal$ed a few aces
away to loo$ ast the hills! ast the green! into a world of seas of blood. 7The
battlement rose to the left!8 said Michael gesturing to some unseen land! 7and the
roars of war were in my ears! and it felt...good. The ground shoo$ with the
mo"ement of warriors in the fields! and thirteen battalions were laid to waste. I
wal$ed the field in the crush of dawn before the beginning of the ne/t wa"e. The
ground was soa$ed in blood! the armor coated and green with the bodies iled uon
each other so that you had no choice but to wal$ uon them. I could feel the metal
across my bac$ burning into my s$in as I climbed the emban$ment before they
568
came. In a hollowing rush of silence the ground stood still! then a crash of "iolence
and they came! and came! and came. I calmly sent si/teen more battalions to their
death and watched the s$ies rain blood! all for my honor romised to a Cing.8
Marco stood u and atted Michael on his bac$! returning him to the resent
and leading him towards the house. 7=as it a good fight38 Michael nodded. 7&nd did
you ser"e and rotect38
7=hat else is there38
7>or men li$e us3 ?nly our honor! our families and our duty.8 Marco and
Michael climbed the stairs to the terrace. 7My son is one of these warriors. :e was
the one. I could feel it in his eyes! that touch of oldness! of $nowing. :e wal$ed
away from it! turned his bac$.8
7:e did not.8 Michael said %uietly. 7The ath you ha"e chosen is of your
ma$ing! not his. :e chose the only one he could...his destiny. :e still rotects. :e
still ser"es. &nd the choices he ma$es lea"e him "ulnerable to ain.8
7There is a code.8
7I $now. I second him.8 Michael loo$ed at the older man. 7I will $ill him for his
honor if he brea$s the code or fails! but he hasn<t. :e wal$s it e"ery day! e"en
though it hurts him! ta$es from him. It was your mista$e to thin$ he was born to
your life and not his own. :e made his romise or his fief to the innocent! and he
has ne"er bro$en it.8 Michael noticed Maria coming out the side door with some of
her cousins. 7Most men would be so luc$y to ha"e such a man to call son.8 Michael
loo$ed at his future.
---
569
=hen Tess made it bac$ to the loft! she struggled to get the door oen with
her $ey. +ormally she would ha"e e/ected Cyle to rush to hel her! but there was
no Cyle. ?nce she saw the loft she $new why. The lace was in shambles.
7?h god! Cyle;8 Tess loo$ed around frantically. Thie"es! assassins! burglars! or
maybe +in'a warriors...Tess,s mind was racing with all the ossibilities of where or
what could,"e haened to Cyle. 7Cyle; Cyle;8 Tess left the door oen as she
entered the room cautiously but frantic to find him.
:is bro$en body would be lying there! all co"ered in blood...Cyle suddenly
wal$ed out of the downstairs bedroom. :e did ha"e blood on him from scratches!
but otherwise he was erfectly healthy. :is sudden aearance startled her so
much that she screamed. :er hand went to her breast as she felt her own heart
beating so strong it was threatening to brea$ through her chest.
79ou bastard;8 Tess balled u her fist and slugged him one. (he swore as she
hurt her hand.
Cyle too$ it on the chin! hard. 7Dammit! Tess; =hat the hell did I do38 Cyle
reached u and wied a tiny dro of blood from his mouth. 1reat! more blood.
79ou,"e still got that good right 'ab! Tessie. 5ut how many times ha"e I told you not
to lea"e your thumb hanging3 Did you 'am it38 Cyle went to ta$e her hand! but she
tossed it off.
7I can,t belie"e I was frantically screaming your name! thin$ing of your oor!
bloodied! bro$en body tossed somewhere as marauders mauled the lace! and you
calmly wal$ out... wal! o#t without calling out to reassure me! or letting me $now
you were ali"e;8
Cyle frowned. 7Marauders3 =hat the hell! Tess3 =hat is this! a rema$e of the
?ld =est38 Tess ic$ed u a hea"y "ase that somehow missed being $noc$ed o"er
or destroyed! and was raising it to heft it at Cyle.
57:
7+ow honey...8
7>reeze; Put your hands u where I can see them;8 5oth Cyle and Tess froze at
the loud man,s "oice coming from the door. They both loo$ed o"er at the 0niform
?fficer with his gun trained on them.
79ou didn,t lea"e the door oen! did you! Tess38 Cyle as$ed her calmly! already
$nowing she did. (he had triggered the security alarm.
7=hat! now this is my fault3 I was scared! o$ay38 :e was so fuc$ing irritating
at times.
Cyle turned to the ?fficer. 7There,s been a mista$e. I can e/lain.8 Tess 'ust
snorted in derision as Cyle shot her an irritated loo$. 7I,"e got my badge in my bac$
oc$et. I,m Detecti"e Cyle #alenti of Ma'or .rimes.8
Cyle $et eye contact with the ?fficer ointing a gun at him! and slowly
remo"ed his wallet to flash his badge. It loo$ed bad! real bad. The lace loo$ed li$e
it had been tossed or that the ?fficer had wal$ed into a really bad domestic disute.
Tess holding a hea"y "ase o"er her head wasn,t heling the image.
It too$ a little while for them to con"ince the ?fficers that it wasn,t a brea$Ain
or a domestic "iolence scene! and to find the security assword code. ?nce they
had the ?fficers gone! Cyle turned to watch Tess sur"eying the damage.
7It was that damn cat. I swear;8 Tess 'ust loo$ed at the lace and shoo$ her
head. (he noticed a dar$ clum and leaned forward to see it clearer. Mr. 5ooboo,s
hair. ?h damn.
7=hat did you do to him38 Tess got on her $nees and loo$ed under the sofa.
7+othing; +ot a damn thing. :e 'ust went insane running all o"er the house!
with this loud caterwauling and $noc$ing shit o"er...8 Cyle flaed his arms about
wildly. 7I tried to catch him! and this is the results.8
571
7I thin$ he,s loo$ing for them.8 Tess said. (he went o"er and %uic$ly ic$ed u
the food she had brought in and droed at the front door. Ta$ing it into the $itchen
she ut away the erishables. 7Did you at least feed him38
7I tried. :e wouldn,t come out.8 Cyle ran his hands o"er his head in a helless
gesture. 7I feel li$e an idiot mo"ing around the house on my hands and $nees
calling D:ere Mr. 5ooboo! here Mr. 5ooboo,. It,s undignified. If my name was
5ooboo! I,d be neurotic too.8 Cyle reached down and began to collect clums of
blac$ fur.
7=hat are you doing38 Tess as$ed as she noticed the ile of blac$ fur in Cyle,s
hand increasing.
7Maybe we could...suerglue it bac$ on38 Tess 'ust groaned in disbelief. )ight.
(uerglue.
7=ell! we,re going to ha"e to clean u this mess;8 Tess went around and
started ic$ing u things and straightening aintings on the walls. (he bent down
to ic$ u the "ase she had lanned to crash o"er Cyle,s head! when he rushed to
hel her.
7Let me ta$e that; 9ou shouldn,t be lifting hea"y things.8 Cyle too$ it out of her
hands and returned it to its normal lace.
7&fraid I was still going to chuc$ it at you! huh38 Tess as$ed %uietly.
7There was that.8 Cyle loo$ed at Tess directly and in the eyes. :e a"oided that
most of the time. &ctually he trained himself to a"oid it as much as ossible! but
some days he was 'ust wea$.
79ou scared me! Cyle.8 Tess said simly willing him to loo$ at her and see her!
really see her.
7I,m sorry.8 Cyle said! $neeling down to ic$ u some things. Tess $nelt ne/t to
him and lifted his face to loo$ her in the eyes.
573
7I was afraid I lost you! too. I can,t ta$e that! Cyle. &nything but that.8 Tess
watched his eyes! watched for that something secial he $et hidden. It was there.
The sar$ she recognized from so long ago when they were young! when they were
in lo"e! and the moment in time when they were comlete.
&s fast as that! he damened it. &nd the flic$er was gone.
7Damn you;8 Tess stood u angrily. 79ou $ee doing that to me.8
7Doing what38
7Don,t lay with me! Cyle #alenti. 9ou $now what. Damn you;8 Tess tried to
stom away.
7Tess wait...8
7=ait38 Tess let her "oice rise in anger! her eyes flash as she loo$ed at him.
7I,"e waited for you for years. 9ears! Cyle.8 Cyle grabbed her arm! not wanting to
tal$ about it! but Tess ulled her arm away. 7:ow could you3 :ow could you 'ust
wal$ away and lea"e us and retend it ne"er haened! that we ne"er haened38
Tess mo"ed in closer to him! her mouth mere inches away. 7=e waited. =e waited
as long as we could for you to come bac$ to us! but you didn,t. :ow could you 'ust
wal$ away and retend it was nothing38
7Tess...8 Cyle swore at the ain in her eyes! and the feel of her warm breath
on his mouth. It was so long ago! o"er ten years! and he could still feel it.
7@ac$! and I! we followed your lead. =e let you ma$e the decision for us! and
you 'ust wal$ed away.8
79ou were my best friends;8 Cyle almost stoed breathing. The cutting rush
of air in his lungs hurt. 7It was )oswell. This small conser"ati"e town.8
7That doesn,t matter. It ne"er did. ;ove matters! Cyle. =e let you ut us on
the trac$ of only being friends! but don,t lie to me. Don,t lie to yourself. 9ou were in
lo"e with @ac$.8 Tess mo"ed away from him.
574
Cyle yan$ed her bac$. 7I was in lo"e with you. 5oth of you.8
They both stood loo$ing at each other! breathing hard. Tess 'ust tossed her
head. 7Then why did you wa$e u that morning! wal$ out the door and retend it
ne"er haened3 =hy were you suddenly <Cyle! 'ust our best friend<! and not a art
of us38
79ou don,t understand.8
7I don,t. =e were better when there were three. &nd then you left and we
waited! until finally we $new you were ne"er coming bac$. Then @ac$ and I got
married.8 Tess let an angry tear sli from her eye. 7&nd after @ac$ died! you stayed
away.
7I had to. 9ou chose him. It was you and him! and I was the reason he died!
Tess; :e ushed me out of the way and sa"ed my life. =hat was I suosed to tell
you3 That he died for me38 Cyle "oice was dar$ and hus$y.
7:e died because he ne"er stoed lo"ing you! Cyle. *"en though you wanted
nothing of a real life with us! he still lo"ed you.8 Tess wied away the tears from her
face still angry. 7I still lo"ed you. I was all alone in my ain! and you were the only
erson who could feel it too! and you 'ust left me out there.8
7I said I was sorry.8
7I $now. &nd I forga"e you last year. 5ut I don,t thin$ I can ta$e a chance on
you again! Cyle. I $ee waiting for you! and you $ee wal$ing away.8 Tess cleared
her throat. 79ou made it so easy for me to go with Ma/ because I stoed waiting
and decided to go with my life. Loo$ what a mista$e that was; The only good that
came out of it was the baby.8 Tess ran u the stairs to loo$ for the damn cat and to
get away from him. (he should ha"e left it alone.
575
Cyle stomed u the stairs after her. JThere isn<t an <us< because I really don<t
thin$ you would want anything li$e that. It<s inaroriate! and I $now how you
areRJ
(he loo$ed a but angry then. J9ou don<t $now cra" about how I am; ?r how
@ac$ and I were. =e were incomlete. It was good! but with you it would ha"e been
better. =hy do you thin$ we too$ you into our bed that night3 I could see you
loo$ing at me! and e"ery time I turned around you were watching @ac$. Pam bro$e
your heart and we heard you tossing and turning in that bedroom ne/t to ours. =e
wanted to be there for you and we wereAall night until the early morning. =hen we
wo$e u you were gone. Then you retended nothing haened! and you should,"e
had the guts to say something ifRJ
(he ne"er got to finish her sentence! Cyle simly leaned in and grabbed her by
the bac$ of the head! entwining his fingers in her sil$y blond hair with the curls
wraing around his fingers! and ulled her face to his. :e was about done with this
wanting and waiting stuffB he was a grown man! and it was about time he acted li$e
one. (he was right. :e had run away because he ne"er felt he could be more than a
third wheel in their relationshi! and after being with them! he didn,t $now how he
could e"er sur"i"e that. (o he distanced himself from them.
The $iss caught her by surrise! not because she ne"er thought he<d $iss her!
but because it had been so long that she had gi"en u on it e"er haening again.
Tess remembered what she had seen in his eyes that night! and it made his lea"ing
that much harder. (he remembered e"ery word he had said to her! said to @ac$! to
the both of them. :e had tried to $ee them awa$e for as long as ossible. If they
had $nown he would wal$ away! they would ha"e stayed awa$e fore"er. &nd
somewhere in her fogged mind! she remembered he had $issed her face and the
side of her nec$ before he left.
576
(he wasn<t in the ast at the moment though! and she returned his $iss with
more assion than he e/ected. :er hands went u around his shoulders and ulled
him closer to her! crushing herself against him! body to body.
:er breath was ragged here as it was earlier! but for an entirely different
reason. The incredible heat of him was dri"ing her crazy! and she ulled her face
away from him for 'ust a second. (he wanted to loo$ into his eyes again! to see the
fear disaear and find her lost lo"er.
JLo"e me!J she whisered to him! and the words sent him out of control! made
his head sin! made his hard coc$ strain forcefully against his clothes.
The clothes had to go. :e started ulling hers off! $issing her again and not
relin%uishing her lis for e"en a second! while they struggled to be free of anything
that could come between them. :is hands ran o"er her body touching her sil$y s$in
as she made noises against him. :er mouth...she had the most incredible mouth;
They were on the bed by the time they got all the clothes out of the way! and he
released her lis reluctantly! relacing them with the rest of her! nuzzling hungrily
at her breasts! tasting e"ery art of her.
Tess thought she was insane herself. :ere she was! almost in the middle of
Maria and Michael,s bed with Cyle; They were all alone! na$ed and fuc$ing li$e they
were star"ed. (he was gasing! and if his coc$ was as good as it had been all those
years ago! they were going to be there for a while.
(he reached down! wanting to touch the "el"et steel of him! and groaned
inwardly at the size of it. (he ulled him u on to of her! yearning for him to dri"e
her relentlessly into the mattress beneath her. The wa"es of energy she felt around
him came u and caressed them! hot and startling! and still they wouldn<t gi"e u
to it in an instant! wouldn<t mo"e an inch until they had enough.
577
J9ou really want this3J Cyle as$ed her %uietly! $issing her face softly! letting
some of his weight rest on her! 'ust so she would $now he was there. (he definitely
$new he was there. :is hand was mo"ing down her body to stro$e the gentle swell
of her stomach! his face ta$ing on a hungry loo$ of need.
JI really want this!J she told him. JI really want you. I really want us.J
:e ut his mouth on hers and $issed her again! deely! while he ushed his
coc$ inside slowly. :e wanted to toss her down hard and rage inside her! ounding
away all those years of loss and lust. 5ut he couldn,t. +ot with the baby inside. +ot
with their child resting.
(he thought he would ha"e her e/loding with want any minute! he was going
slowly and she wanted him in. Tess $new what he was doing! but they were fine.
(he reached down as low as she could and grabbed his his! ulling insistently. :e
needed no further urging. :e ushed the rest of the way in! grinding against her!
still $issing her! his hands roaming e"erywhere they could reach.
(he gased from the sheer size! lo"ing it! delighting in being filled so
comletely. (he was almost o"er the edge! and he teased a nile with his fingers!
ounding his coc$ into her! she came moaning into his mouth! dri"ing him into
intense sasming with her. Cyle remembered that! remembered the intense orgasm
from ten years ago! and how it ended u shaing his life and becoming the thirst he
could ne"er %uench. The ower of it mo"ed o"er his body li$e a light and he closed
his eyes and rode it with her. Last time it had been centered around Tess and @ac$!
but not this time. It was all Tess! and yet more. Cyle,s heart stoed as he felt the
baby almost li$e a flushing! a $nowing...his son. :is and Ma/,s. :e felt the
connection and genetics didn,t matterB this baby was his! too.
:e droed his head on her chest trying to catch his breath! and listened to
her heart ound and then gradually slowed down to a normal beat against his
577
chee$. :e finally raised his head to $iss her softly! a small wa"e washing o"er them!
reminding them where they were.
Tess closed her eyes! en'oying the feel of the bed beneath her! the man abo"e
her and the sounds and smell of them together. It felt comlete! and yet they were
still missing @ac$. That hit her for a second! but in a rush it also felt li$e he was still
there. >or the first time in two years she felt better! and the first time in almost ten
years! comlete.
JIs Michael going to $ill us for doing this here3J she as$ed curiously.
Cyle ic$ed his head u once more! amused. J9es!J he relied! J5ut I<ll see
what Maria can do to calm him down.J Tess laughed and stretched against him.
79ou done38 she as$ed mischie"ously.
Cyle 'oin his hand to hers! intertwining their fingers! and inning it abo"e her
head! as he loo$ed down their nude sweaty bodies still 'oined. :er leg came u to
run her white sil$y thigh along the outside of his his as her foot found the bac$ of
his thigh and ran down it.
7+ot for a long! long time. I was 'ust letting you get your breath bac$. If
1uerin,s going to $ill us! lets ma$e sure our offense is a big one.8
Tess giggled at Cyle,s goofy smile and the light of the de"il in his eyes. 7In for
a enny! in for a ound3J
Cyle %uic$ly scrambled to his $nees between her legs and ushed her harder
bac$ into the tumbled illows with her golden curls sread across them. :e loo$ed
at her swollen mouth and the way her tongue came out to touch her lis as her
eyes narrowed! sending his heart racing out of control.
:e ulled her his u higher to him! burying his renewing erection in deeer
as she groaned his name. Leaning down! he outlined her mouth with his tongue
578
before sin$ing it inside. :e lo"ed the way she mo"ed her whole body sensually
around his! almost li$e a cat! her nails biting into his s$in.
7Definitely! Tessie. Definitely a ound...lots of ounds.8
=hile they were otherwise engaged! Mr. 5ooboo had slowly crawled out from
behind the armoire! after hearing the heated argument and the sounds of hea"y
breathing and lo"ema$ing. :e finally felt safe enough to come out. ?$ay! so they
weren,t his own ets! but they were curiously similar and familiar. :e 'umed u in
his fa"orite cushioned lounger and went about the business of ersonal care. =hile
lic$ing his aw and washing behind his ears! his eyes caught the gleam of a set of
$eys on the floor.
---
Ma/ ar$ed his car in the lot of (enor .hows. The lot was almost full. It was
busy for a (aturday night and loo$ing at his watch! he $new he was already ten
minutes late. *ntering the restaurant! he stood in line to get to the hostess when he
felt eyes on him. Turning! he stared into the eyes of @onathan (tiller. Ta$ing a
calming breath! he wal$ed o"er to 'oin him at a table in the bar.
7(orry! I,m late.8 Ma/ said. :e wasn,t going to admit to being confused as to
what to wear on a Ddate, with a man! so he oted for 'eans and a sweater.
7+o roblem. The wait is long! but we should be u soon.8 @onathan discreetly
nodded at the bartender who then went to tal$ to the hostess. (oon she came o"er
to tell them their table was ready. 79ou want something from the bar38
7@ust a mineral water. I don,t really drin$ much. :alf a beer is my limit.8 Ma/
said! distractedly loo$ing at the other diners! selfAconscious of being with a man.
579
7.hea date.8 @onathan commented watching Ma/,s startled reaction to the
word Ddate,.
70m...8
7Loo$! Ma/! this is 'ust a social meeting! a getAtogether. I swear I won,t e"en
try to ma$e a mo"e on you.8 @onathan smiled at Ma/ to reassure him. 7@ust loosen
u. =ould you be so worried or concerned if it was 1uerin sitting across from you
eating dinner38
Ma/ 'ust shoo$ his head. @onathan had a oint. If it was he and Michael
catching a meal! he wouldn,t e"en loo$ to see how other eole were ta$ing two
men dining together. :e wasn,t worried about @onathan trying to $iss him as much
as he was worried about him trying to $iss @onathan.
79ou,re right. I,m sorry.8
7?$ay! so if this isn,t too resumtuous of me! can I order for us3 It,s 'ust a
habit of mine! and most eole let me ha"e my way.8 Ma/ 'ust shrugged. (ure!
whate"er. It wasn,t li$e he was going to taste anything anyway.
5y the time the food arri"ed! Ma/ had calmed down a little! and was leaning
bac$ listening to @onathan tal$. The man was entertaining! that was certain. &nd
when Ma/ saw the large amount of food that hit the table he was astounded.
79ou,re not related to Maria by some strange chance3 & lost brother or
something38 @onathan 'ust laughed.
7+o! I assure you! Maria and I ha"e no common stoc$ among us. Though she
is my fa"orite friend. =e could tal$ and eat for hours! and it,s ne"er a dull moment.
I thin$ that,s why I was so fascinated with her when we first met.8 @onathan oed
another bite in his mouth and motioned to the waitress as$ing for more guacamole
and sweet and sour sauce. 7(he was so familiar to me! and later I realized that I
was seeing some of me in her. +othing li$e an affair with yourself. ?scar =ilde
57:
wrote in one of his lays! Dthat a lo"e of oneself is the beginning of a lifeAlong lo"e
affair,.J
Ma/ 'ust laughed. :e could see some common traits between @onathan and
Maria! but some ma'or differences too. 7=ell I ha"e to admit! my life changed since
I met her! and not 'ust because of how it affected Michael! but other ways too. (o
far! all the changes ha"e been to the good.8
7(o this $iss thing. It threw you for a loo38 @onathan as$ed! curious how the
usually unflaable Ma/ *"ans was ta$ing a change in lifestyle.
79eah.8 Ma/ rubbed his nec$. 7I,m 'ust not sure...8
7=ell let me hel you out.8 @onathan said! and he mo"ed in closer on the table.
7I,m not gay. I,m not oosed to sameAse/ relationshis! but when I go loo$ing for
comanionshi of a se/ual nature! it,s usually female.8
7(orry! I didn,t mean to imly that you...8 Ma/ felt the heat running u his
face! feeling that he had made a mista$e and insulted @onathan.
7(to it. I as$ed for your number first. I won,t lie. That $iss! it i%ued my
interest.8 @onathan watched Ma/ s%uirm a little in his seat. 7&nd I would be a fool to
wal$ away from all ossibilities. I don,t thin$ the heart sees se/ or race li$e our
heads do. (o I don,t want to shut the door without loo$ing inside first! if you $now
what I mean.8
7I do.8 Ma/ said %uietly. That was e/actly what Maria saidAAshe,d always want
to $now. 7I 'ust don,t thin$ I<m ready for anything real earthAshattering right now.
My ri"ate life! it,s retty messed u lately. &dd in the fact that I,m e/ecting a
child in about si/ months! and you can see my dilemma.8
7.ongrats on the $id. I didn,t $now you were in"ol"ed.8
7I,m not! or at least not any longer. My e/Agirlfriend 'ust sort of hit me o"er
the head with it a few days ago. Part of me is still waiting for the reality to sin$ in!
571
and the other art of me...8 Ma/ loo$ed around and leaned on the table closer to
@onathan! 7the other art of me has been stoing in baby shos all wee$ loo$ing
at clothes! toys and stuff.8
@onathan laughed at that. 7I can imagine. It,s li$e an alien world.8
79eah! and those shos...they smell li$e babies already.8 Ma/ sat bac$ and
rela/ed and en'oyed the con"ersation with @onathan. It wasn,t %uite the same as
tal$ing to Michael! but close. :e ne"er noticed how Michael loo$ed in his clothes! or
watched Michael<s hands! or watched Michael eat. Ma/ could find himself drowning
in the fascination of this owerful man! and he didn,t $now what to do about it.
They layed four games of ool and @onathan won all four of them! lea"ing
Ma/ much lighter in his wallet. 5ut since @onathan had ic$ed u the dinner tab!
Ma/ didn,t comlain too much. They sat on the side of the room resting on their
ool cues and arguing o"er the last game they both watched! disagreeing on the
outcome. @onathan ointed out a woman dining with a grou and mentioned he
once dated her. Ma/ laughed and said he had dated her too. They started swaing
dating stories.
=hen they said goodnight! Ma/ wal$ed to his car and smiled to himself. That
wasn,t so ainful. &ctually it was fun. :e 'ust oened his car and was about to get
in when a ta came on his shoulder. Turning he saw @onathan standing there.
7I,m sorry. I forgot. I owed you this.8
:e touched his tongue to the side of Ma/,s mouth and lic$ed the rough! salty
s$in. &s Ma/ tried to catch his shuddering breath @onathan ut both his hands on
Ma/,s face! framing it. :e tilted his head to meet his lis fully. @onathan 'oined his
mouth to Ma/,s and tasted him again. :is lis and his teeth and his %uesting
tongue! desire growing until it was a hum to match the roiling of the blood in his
"eins! Ma/ 'ust stood there susended in @onathan<s hands! moaning dee in his
573
throat! with a throbbing ulse li$e a bass drum. Ma/ ushed him bac$! shoulders
gried in his hands. Trailing his fingers across the clean cris ea$s of his starched
shirt.
71oodnight! Detecti"e.8 @onathan smiled and casually wal$ed away as Ma/
stood there shoc$ed! as he touched his mouth with his fingertis. =ell hell! that
'ust comlicated things again;
~~~Continued in Book 2 o !he "illing #ar~~~
574

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