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

“Now I get the hell out of the rope, free you, then we take care of Travis and Matty. Luckily the idiot was stupid enough to tie it where I can get to the knot.”


“Hurry,” Clay whispered when he heard footsteps pacing back and forth above them.


“Trying,” Quint replied tightly. “Fucking rope’s too thick, fucking knot’s…” He let out a whoosh of relieved breath and Clay saw the rope fall away. Quint was on his feet seconds later.


When Quint turned to come over to him, Clay saw his sleeve was soaked with blood. “He shot you?”


Chapter 34