Clay Richardson is a well-known artist who owns his own gallery. Quint Hawk, a police detective, makes contact with Clay when he sees a portrait Clay has painted in the window of the gallery -- a portrait of a homeless young man who was murdered just days before. Unfortunately, Clay has no idea who the subject was. Several months later, Quint contacts Clay to again ask about one of Clay's paintings. The subject has been murdered, as has a third man in another of his paintings. The reclusive artist and the handsome detective are drawn to each other as they try to determine what is happening and why. They come up with a plan to catch the killer -- a plan that could end up in their deaths before they can decide if there is more to their feelings than a couple of very good nights in Clay's bed.

The Element Case

“As far as you know, are these men still present and accounted for?”


“Hell.” Clay began pacing, trying to remember if he’d seen any of them after the nights they’d been at the loft. “Since I broke up with Travis, there have only been three of them.”


“Three in three years?” Quint shook his head. “You have more willpower than I do.”


Clay shrugged. “Sex is nice, but hardly a necessity.”


“Let’s say that I’m not interested in having anyone in my life on a permanent basis again. Being with Travis taught me that’s not what I really need.”


“That was one man, Clay, and he was obviously the wrong one for you since you’re the one who broke it off. That doesn’t mean someone else might not be the right one.”


Clay cocked an eyebrow. “Says the man who is still single. I mean you are, aren’t you? It sure sounds like it.”


“I am. This isn’t answering my original question though. Have you seen the men since they spent the night here?”


Chapter 10