Chapter 2

“Intelligent. Works hard. You should take him.”

He knew what she meant, but a ripple went through Karl’s groin anyway. There was no way Tanya could know her words had sparked images of Tomás naked and leaning against the lectern while Karl ground into his gorgeous ass.

“Okay,” said Karl, “since this fellow has done an excellent job explaining why I’m here, I’ll describe how this helps us fight human trafficking here in Houston.” He looked at Tanya. Her expression was tight-lipped. They’d lost her older sister’s daughter several years ago, possibly to El Sistema. It was the reason this was their life.

He began explaining how analyzing multiple locations of disappearances could eliminate suspects by reason of opportunity. As Alan began yelling about governmental spying, Tomás said, “It’s called Google Earth.” Tomás is damn smart. He would make an excellent cop, Karl thought. Then the idea hit him. He would be perfect for this operation

Or he wouldbe after three years’ experience, but this judge’s son needed someone by five o’clock. Shit. These were extreme circumstances, but how likely was it the department would accept assistance from someone with zero training?

The boy made a beeline for the door the second Tanya dismissed class. Karl barely waved goodbye to his cousin so he could catch up.

“Tomás! Wait!”

Tomás shot Karl a withering look but didn’t slow his pace. “Do I know you?”

Karl had reached Tomás so now he could speak in a low voice. “Oh, yeah, you know me. I would have thought you’d have many fond memories.”

“You told me you were a manager at Arby’s.”

Karl shrugged. “Okay, you caught me. But you told me you were a delivery boy for Pizza Rico.”

“I am.”

“And a stripper and the star employee of Just Jocks Cleaning Service.”

“I can’t afford rent plus tuition with one job.”

“You didn’t say you were a college student.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Well, my friend, you sure are full of surpr—Hey, stop! Why are you so angry?”

Tomás halted at the bus shelter next to the building’s side exit. He frowned with exasperation. “I’ve figured you tops out. I’m ‘Triple Tap Tomás.’ A guy fucks my ass once, comes back for seconds because it was fun, then fucks me a third time to prove he can have it anytime he wants. I’m an easy bottom. That’s what I get. But I guess I’m not the only one who didn’t know the code. See, a top never returns for a fourth time until months later because that’s his way of telling me I’m just for fucking.”

Oh.Karl owed Tomás an apology. “And I did come over a fourth and, uh, fifth time pretty quick, so you thought it meant more. I can explain. First, I’m sorry I hurt you, but—”

Tomás looked away. “‘I’m sorry’ is good enough, dude. If I understand the rules, I should say no after giving it up the second time, right? But I’m too horny, too dumb, or too nice to play games for the sake of figuring out who’s interested in me. Not just my ass.”

Karl discerned some “protesting too much” beneath legitimate disappointment. Tomás wanted to be fucked, but perhaps he’d felt the same connection Karl had felt but hadn’t let it show. “Tomás, I really wasinterested, but…when you told me online what you did, I didn’t think you’d meet me if I told you I’m a cop.” Tomás looked down and chewed his lip. “Stripping isn’t the cleanest gig, but once I learned it was nude housekeeping, too, it…wouldn’t work. The white shirts would smell prostitution, even if I know different.”

Tomás shrugged. “Yeah, your police world sucks. I wasn’t thinking of background checks when I decided on criminal justice. My jobs are worse than no job. If your work requires you to be naked and you want a career change, the only jobs you can get require you to be naked. Even so, I didn’t think a decent guy would be ashamed to be with me.”

Karl raised his hands to object. “It’s seriously my job. Not about shame.” He put his hands on Tomás’s shoulders. “If you’re interested, I want to talk more about us, but first, if you’re looking to get into law enforcement, there’s an outside chance the department might need you, like, immediately. We should talk someplace quiet.”

* * * *

“This doesn’t look like a coffee shop,” Karl said as he pulled into the parking lot of a small, weathered apartment complex. He had a vague recollection there’d been serious incidents at this location.

“You said you wanted to talk someplace private,” Tomás said. “My new apartment is here.”

I said “quiet,” not “private.”“Okay, but I don’t have much time.” Karl almost added, “And I need to spend it talking, not stuffing you full of dick,” but watching Tomás rub the tattoo on his neck stopped his tongue.