Welcome to Hurricane Bay, Florida, where the act of arson isn’t uncommon. When a popular gay bar, the Flaming Flamingo, burns to the ground with bartender Rudy inside, fear rocks the Gulf-side community. Bar owner Peter Rotunda wants to learn who destroyed his business and committed murder. Soon after the incident, Rotunda hires adorable and sexy private investigator Axle Dupree to take the case.<br><br>Axle is a fresh private eye with exemplary charm. Not only can he woo the pants off his boyfriend Casey, but also just about every other guy in town. Soon a list of alleged suspects builds: wealthy Laura Monigal, who has a history of arson; mysterious faux-cowboy Clifton Monigal; a Daisy Dukes-wearing circus performer; and a “fluff” romance writer.<br><br>As June unfolds, conversations are sharp, road trips into the Everglades become overwhelming, and spying is necessary. But after applying heat to the suspects, Axle learns who the murderer is ... and so much more about his community.

Heat

Chief Dawe’s office looked immaculate and without a speck of dust. Some people believed that he had feared germs or suffered from OCD. Truth about the matter: Chief Dawe simply liked a clean and clutter-free office, the way he felt that every business office should be.


I sat down across from his desk, making myself at home.


“This is an unexpected visit, Axle,” he said, holding a green Sharpie Smear Guard highlighter between two fingers.


“I’m sorry to stop unannounced, but I was hoping you could help me.”


“Hope is illogical,” he said, staring at me with a raised eyebrow. “Many people fail to accomplish what they want to accomplish because they hope too much. I’m the type of man to put some ass behind something and have at it.” He tapped the end of the highlighter on his desk three times


Chapter 24