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

“If it was the murderer, the one who…If it was him who killed Travis, then this started a long while ago,” Clay said, resting his head on Quint’s shoulder.


“I agree. But we are notgoing to talk about it now. Understood?”


“Yes,” Clay replied quietly. There was a long silence and Quint thought Clay had fallen asleep. Then his lover said, “I know it wasn’t my fault, but still I can’t help feeling guilty that Travis is dead.”


“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t,” Quint assured him, pulling him into a loose embrace. “You have to remember, though, that whoever did this is the guilty one, and we will find him and stop him.”


Clay nodded, curling up against Quint. “I hope…I hope before he kills again.”  6


Chapter 17