Garner working as a waiter at an upscale restaurant with a growing attraction to a man named Alonzo, who always asks to be put in his section for dinner. One night after work, the man is assaulted while trailing Garner. Garner goes to his aid, but is shot for his trouble.<br><br>Taking time off from work to recover, Garner is resting on a park bench when Alonzo suddenly appears at the other end of the bench. Garner never saw him approach. He asks why Alonzo is trailing him.<br><br>After some hesitation, Alonzo explains he wants to recruit Garner to help fight against others who systematically hunt people like himself. Garner isn’t inclined to get involved in anything dangerous, but he does finds Alonzo more and more attractive, so he agrees to consider the idea. As he learns more about Alonzo’s bizarre and dangerous subculture, what Garner really wants to know is whether Alonzo is romantically interested in him at all.

Call to Love

“Sorry about that,” said a voice behind him.


Garner jerked up and twisted around to see Alonzo standing, hardly visible, just beyond the end of the bench, in the shadow cast by a large tree. A wave of relief passed through him so intense that he gave a short laugh.


“What are you doing there?” he asked, unable to keep from smiling.


Alonzo said nothing and Garner patted the bench next to him. After an initial hesitation, to Garner’s pleasure and satisfaction Alonzo came and sat down only a little away from him. Neither said anything for a while, then Garner cautiously reached out and took gentle hold of Alonzo’s hand. And was overjoyed that he didn’t try to pull it away.


Chapter 52