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

“Stupid move,” the man told him. “Take it out, carefully, and toss it on the bed too.”


Quint stood, feeling like ten kinds of idiot for letting himself be caught like a rank amateur. Shouldn’t have told Clay I can take care of myself because obviously I can’t. He turned to see who had gotten the drop on him. “Vince Nelson, I presume,” Quint said dryly when he saw the man Clay had pointed out to him at Toppers. “Or is it Matty now?”


“Either one works,” Matty said, stepping back a few steps, his gun trained on Quint’s chest. Reaching into his pocket, he took out a double-cuff plastic restraint, tossing it to Quint. “Put one on your right wrist, then turn around.”


Quint caught it, knowing if he did as Matty said he would be at his mercy since it was obvious the man intended to cuff his hands behind him. Not that I’m not at his mercy now. He slipped one loop over his wrist, keeping his gaze locked on Matty, looking for any chance to disarm him.


Chapter 33