Six years ago, Jarrett Kessel helped his best friend’s little brother deal with his family’s rejection when he came out. He saw potential in the tempestuous teenager. Talent. Then, they both moved on with their lives.<br><br>Now, the FBI needs Jarrett’s help. Sketch artist Eli Locke is their only lead in finding a killer, but he’s nowhere to be found. Though the Feds are convinced Jarrett is the best way to lure him out, he’s not so sure. Until they show him the web comic Eli has created, with a superhero who bears a striking resemblance to Jarrett.<br><br>When Eli gets an email out of the blue from the man who changed his life, he doesn’t even consider saying no to a meeting. Jarrett is even more amazing than he remembers, and the fact that he’s all right being the role model for the one thing that means the most to Eli is just icing on the cake. But the truth about the murder comes out, and even though he had nothing to do with it, Eli wants to run. It’s up to Jarrett to keep him from ruining his life for good, before the killer finds them both and does it first ...

Outlined in Ink

The train squealed to a stop, the passengers lurching sideways as their momentum continued for a couple seconds longer. A middle-aged woman in a Blackhawks windbreaker temporarily blocked his view of the strange guy, but that also meant she got in the other guy’s line of sight, too. Eli grabbed onto the opportunity without hesitation. As soon as the door whispered open, he shoved his way past the people congregating to get off and leapt onto the platform.


Shouts chased him as he ran for the turnstile. He barely got the U-Pass out in time to swipe it through. The strap of his backpack caught for precious seconds, until he twisted to the side to set it free. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girlfriend trying to elbow her way off the train, but too many people barred the path, too crowded for her to throw herself through.


The doors slid shut on her frustrated shout. With a relieved grin, Eli gave her a wave as the train pulled out of the station.


Chapter 6