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

Does he really mean it? Does he really want me in his life? Do I want him in mine? Am I willing to take a chance again? So far I’ve been batting zero for two in my choice of men. If I blow this one, it’ll be strike three and out.


But if I let him walk away…If I go back to my near-monastic existence…Will I spend the rest of my life regretting that I didn’t take one more chance? A chance with a man who will make my life exciting, I suspect—something it never has been. It’s not as if he’ll be here twenty-four seven. Hell, talk about making plans that neither of us have even broached. He might not want to livewith me. He might just want to bewith me when we both have the time. When he’s not working and I’m willing to stop painting for a few hours. He’s not Travis. He won’t hover or get pissed if I tell him I have to finish a commission or a canvas for the gallery.


Chapter 36