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

“Stop ordering me around,” Clay retorted angrily, even though he sank down onto one of the chairs.


Quint didn’t bother to reply as he was on his phone, thankful Matty had been too lame-brained to take it—or the scarab cutter, when it came down to it. He paused for a moment while telling his lieutenant what had gone down, to ask Clay, “Do you have a clue where we are?”


“Probably no more than you do. That’s what the GPS thing on your phone is for.”


Quint shook his head, muttering “Duh”. Then he put the lieutenant on hold, checked, and gave him the address. As soon as he was finished, Quint got the ropes and hogtied Travis and Matty. Afterward, he pulled the other chair close enough to Clay that, when he sat, he could put his arm around his lover.


“It’s over, isn’t it?” Clay murmured.


“All but the shouting, and the trials and the appeals and—”


Clay put his hand over Quint’s mouth. “I did not need to hear that,” he grumbled.


Chapter 35