It Takes An Artist Read online

  The doctor in the ER determined there was no major damage to Quint's thigh from the gunshot wound. The bullet had gone in and out cleanly, missing bones and arteries. Once he'd cleaned and bandaged the wound, he'd sent Quint on his way, dosed up with antibiotics and a mild painkiller, telling him to change the dressings daily and report back if he saw any inflammation.

  Now, Quint was seated in Lieutenant Harber's office, along with Lou. Harber had debriefed them, after which he said, "We really don't have any proof Carter ordered John Pierce's murder. The man we arrested for trying to kill Doctor Kendall—the one Mr Eldridge says is one of Pierce's killers—managed to get himself a damned good lawyer. He's out on bail now, until his trial."

  "We need to show Trev photos of the men we arrested tonight. With luck, one of them will be the other killer," Quint said. "Then we can offer him a plea bargain if he'll admit Carter ordered the hit."

  Harber nodded. "That might work, if one of the men is him. Otherwise…"

  "We're up shit creek," Quint muttered. "Unless…"

  "Yes?" Harber said.

  "Unless we can put the screws on Alberts, once he's arrested, or better yet, Reed. Reed has to know what's going on, but he also seems to be low man on the totem pole. Connect him to Alberts, which shouldn't be too hard, and he might be willing to turn State's evidence to save his own hide."

  "Worth trying, if Eldridge can't identify any of the men as Pierce's killer. Give me a minute and I'll get their booking photos."

  Quint nodded. "Does anyone have any objection to my getting a few hours sleep before I take them to him?"

  Harber chuckled. "If by anyone, you mean me, I don't. They're all safely in custody, and we can hold them for seventy-two hours before charging them—including Carter."

  "Who will call in his big-gun lawyers and be out in seventy-three hours," Lou said sourly.

  "Not with your testimony against him," Harber replied. "Okay, the two of you are free to go, as soon as I get the photos for you, Quint."

  *****

  "Tell me you're all right," Clay said, the second Quint tiptoed into the bedroom.

  "It's late. You should be asleep," Quint replied.

  "That doesn't answer my question."

  "You didn't ask a question," Quint said, sitting on the edge of the bed before giving Clay a kiss.

  Clay kissed him back, then looked him over. "You're pale as a ghost, and those are not the pants you were wearing when you left the house."

  "I changed for the job?"

  "Bull. Where did you get hit this time?"

  Quint sighed. "You know me too well. It was a clean wound, in and out, in my thigh. Honest. The ER doc said I'll be just fine."

  "Did you at least take down Alberts? Or was it Carter?"

  "Carter. And we did. He's sitting in jail as we speak, along with several of his men." Quint proceeded to tell him what had happened.

  "There are times when I wonder why I hooked up with you," Clay said when Quint finished.

  Quint smiled. "Then you remember that you love me and I love you, and everything is good again."

  "So true." Clay carefully hugged him, kissing him once more.

  "It's my thigh that got shot, not the rest of me," Quint said, embracing Clay tightly while returning the kiss more forcefully than it was given.

  When it ended, Clay told him in no uncertain terms, "Get ready for bed before you fall on your face. Do you know what time it is?"

  "Last check, it was five in the morning. The sun was just starting to come up."

  "Exactly. So, go… Well, you can't shower I suspect, but wash up while I fix you a breakfast sandwich. Then you're sleeping until at least one. Later, if you turn off your phone so no one will bother you."

  "Bossy," Quint said with an affectionate smile. "And I have to be up by noon. I need to get with Trev to see if he recognizes any of the men we arrested."

  "One. He'll be at work, and lunch hour is not the time to be pestering him," Clay retorted, before heading out of the room.

  Quint did as ordered, stripping off his clothes then going into the bathroom to clean up then get ready for bed. When he came back into the bedroom, Clay was there with the promised sandwich, which Quint devoured in a few bites before going to brush his teeth, again and crawling into bed.

  Clay lay down next to him, holding him close. "If anything had happened to you…"

  "It didn't. Not anything worth worrying about."

  "Quint, you get a hangnail and I worry," Clay said, chuckling. "But that's just me."

  "I like that you care enough," Quint replied sleepily.

  "Always," Clay told him softly.

  The last thing Quint remembered before falling asleep was Clay brushing a kiss to his temple, whispering, "I love you."

  *****

  Trev quickly set his customers' meals on their table when he saw Quint come into the restaurant, and he hurried over to him. "Is something wrong? Did something happen? Is Zack all right?"

  "As far as I know, he is. Can you take a break?" Quint replied.

  "In ten."

  "Okay. I'll ask your boss if we can use his office." He smiled slightly. "Hopefully he won't think you were involved in the liquor store hold up. If he does, I'll set him straight."

  The manager gave his permission, only asking if Trev was the witness who'd said Bill had been at the restaurant before the robbery. Quint told him no that he wasn't able to answer that question, leaving the implication it could put Trev in danger if anyone knew. The manager nodded then went back to work.

  Ten minutes later, Quint and Trev were seated at the desk in the office. Quint took several photos from his jacket pocket, spreading them out on the desk. "Tell me if you recognize anyone," he said.

  Trev looked at them, saying, "They look like mug shots."

  "Because they are. Take your time."

  Trev studied each one then pointed. "This guy. He's the other man who broke into the apartment and killed John."

  "You're certain? You said you didn't get a good look at him."

  "Dead certain. I may not have remembered enough to describe him, when you talked to me at the hospital. Hell, even now I couldn't have. But seeing his picture"—he tapped it—"brings it all back. Yeah. He's the other man. The one who said 'The big man sends his regards'."

  "You're willing to testify to that in court, if it comes down to that?"

  "Damned straight." Trev frowned. "What do you mean if?"

  "Right now, we don't have enough evidence to charge Mr Carter with setting up John's murder. If Ross Wells, that's his name, can be convinced to turn State's evidence in exchange for a charge of accessory to murder, we'll have what we need to send Carter to jail for more than just drug dealing and art theft."

  "What about Mr Alberts and the other guy? Umm…"

  "Reed. Alberts has been picked up. We've got what we need to hold him. We're going to offer Reed the option of testifying against Alberts—and Carter, if Reed knows anything about the drugs or the murder that will help us—in exchange for being put in the Witness Protection program. If he's smart, he'll take it."

  "So it's finally over." Trev heaved a sigh of relief.

  "If Reed and Wells take the deals, it is."

  "Thank God."

  Quint patted Trev's shoulder then, gathering up the photos, said, "I'll let you get back to work."

  "Will you keep me…updated, I guess, on what happens?"

  "Of course."

  "Thank you."

  *****

  It was Zack's day off, so he wasn't terribly surprised when Trev called him at four thirty to say he'd just gotten home from work. He was a bit surprised when Trev said, "If you don't have anything planned, would you like to come over for dinner? I bought steak."

  "Sure," Zack replied. He chuckled. "Payday? Or you raked in the tips."

  "Both? Say, in an hour?"

  "You bet. I'll see you then." He'd just hung up when Quint called to tell him that Carter and Alberts were under arrest a
nd to fill him in on the details. "I take it you've already told Trev," he said when Quint finished.

  "Yes. In person. I showed him pictures of the men we arrested, and he fingered one of them as the second of Pierce's killers."

  "So it's all over but the shouting."

  Quint laughed. "And the trials, and appeals, and—"

  "The joys of law enforcement, I guess."

  "Yep. Okay, I'll let you go. I'm sure you and Trev will want to celebrate."

  "Oh, yeah."

  Which is why Trev bought steak. Zack smiled. He thinks he's going to surprise me. And I'll play dumb and let him.

  An hour later, Zack walked into Trev's apartment. Before he could even say hello, a very excited young man hugged and kissed him. "Happy to see me?" Zack asked, when Trev finally released him.

  "Yes! It's over! I mean… Not us, I hope. They got Carter and Alberts and a bunch of their men, including the guy who killed John. The other one. And Clay's painting. And…"

  Zack silenced him with a kiss before saying, "That's fantastic. So we're celebrating, which is why you bought steak?"

  "Yes. And wine. Not the best, but the guy said it was fairly…respectable?"

  "That works." Zack finally had a chance to look around the apartment. Trev had candles lit on the divider. The bottle of wine and two glasses sat on the coffee table in front of the sofa. "I hope you have a corkscrew," he said.

  "Believe it or not, I do." Trev got it, uncorked the wine then poured them each a glass. "To finally having our lives back," he toasted.

  Zack clicked his glass with Trev's then said, "To us and our future."

  "You mean that. Don't you?" Trev replied after they touched glasses again.

  "Absolutely. I thought you knew."

  "Well"—Trev took a sip of his wine—"we've been dancing around it and saying things about what might happen after… But, people do change their minds once the pressure is off."

  Zack frowned. "Meaning you have."

  "No!" Trev replied emphatically. "Not at all. But I was afraid you might have. I mean…"

  Setting down his glass, Zack took Trev in his arms. "I knew from the beginning I was attracted to you. Nothing's happened to change that. In fact, every time I see you, my affection grows deeper. True, it hasn't been that long since we met. Hell, maybe a bit less than a month." He kissed Trev softly. "Not long at all. However, I'm a firm believer that love at first sight can happen. My fathers are living proof it's possible."

  "Love," Trev whispered.

  "For lack of a better word. Does it bother you?"

  "Hell, no! I thought… I never dreamed it would happen for me—until now. It is possible to fall in love quickly, if it's with the right man."

  Zack nodded. "We are the right men for each other. I'm sure of it."

  Trev's reply was to kiss Zack deeply. Zack returned it just as passionately, manfully resisting the urge to pick Trev up, take him over to the bed, and make hot-blooded love with him. Later. And not here, in a bed hardly big enough for him, to say the least for both of us.

  "How about we cook those steaks," Zack said, planting one more quick kiss on Trev's lips. "I'm starving."

  "On it," Trev replied, dashing around the divider into the kitchen. "Do you like baked or mashed potatoes? Tossed salad or fruit?"

  Zack leaned over the divider when Trev opened the fridge, commenting, "You went on a buying binge. How did you get all this home?"

  "There's these things call cabs. A marvelous invention." Trev grinned. "Tossed or fruit?"

  "Tossed. Give me a bowl and the ingredients, and I'll put it together."

  Trev did, then put two potatoes into the microwave to cook and turned on the stove's broiler. When it was hot, he put the steaks under it, checked the potatoes then took them out.

  A few minutes later dinner was on plates on the divider, Trev poured them more wine, then they sat down to eat.

  "You're a good cook," Zack said after eating half his meal, earning him an eye roll from Trev, followed by, "How hard is it to make steak and baked potatoes?"

  "I forgot to get something for dessert," Trev said later, after he cleared the divider and did the dishes.

  Zack bit back a grin, saying seriously, "That's criminal, but…I happen to have two kinds of ice cream at home, if you're interested."

  "I think that's a great idea. Ice cream and a movie. You do have DVDs, don't you?"

  "What self-respecting bachelor doesn't, other than you?"

  "I would if I had a TV," Trev protested. "Though where I'd put it…" He shrugged.

  "On the dresser. You can see it from the sofa and your bed. Right now, though, grab your jacket and let's get out of here."

  Fifteen minutes later, give or take, they were walking into Zack's place.

  "Have a seat while I dig out the ice cream. Peanut Butter Fudge or Salted Caramel?"

  "Yes," Trev replied with a smirk.

  "Greedy much?"

  "Nope. Indecisive."

  "Not really," Zack replied seriously before going to get their desserts. When he got back to the living room, carrying a tray with bowls of ice cream and two cups of coffee, he found Trev checking out the DVD collection. "Anything there strike your fancy?"

  "Nothing I desperately want to watch tonight," Trev replied, sitting on the sofa when Zack set the tray down on the coffee table.

  "I've got Monopoly or Scrabble," Zack said, looking over the rim of his coffee cup.

  "Umm. No?" Trev took a bite of ice cream. "Cold."

  "It's supposed to be, dork," Zack replied fondly.

  Trev just nodded, then put the bowl back on the tray. "I really don't want this, or coffee, right now."

  "Oh?" If he says he wants to go home…

  "I want you. Here. In your bedroom. On the rug. I don't care where, as long as we're both naked and doing—" Suddenly Trev turned bright red. "I don't believe I just said that. It's not like me at all."

  "No, it's not," Zack agreed, his heart trip-hammering as he put down his coffee. Moving next to Trev, he cupped his face with both hands, smiling softly. "Not at all like you, but I'm not about to complain."

  "Kiss me. Make love to me," Trev whispered.

  "It will be my pleasure." How lame was that? What is it about him that makes me feel like Sir Galahad? No, not Galahad. He was the epitome of virtue. I'm far from that. Still… Zack stroked Trev's cheek then did as he asked and kissed him. It was about as far from virtuous as possible.

  Still kissing, Zach managed to get to his feet, bringing Trev up with him, and he walked them to the bedroom. "Don't move," he murmured when the kiss ended, stepping back. Button by button, he undid Trev's shirt. He felt Trev tremble as he eased it off. "You are quite the work of art," Zack told him, gently running his fingers over Trev's chest. "Stop blushing. You are."

  Trev swallowed, reaching for the buttons on Zack's shirt.

  "No. Not yet," Zack cautioned him. Slowly, he undid the fastening on Trev's jeans, pulling down the zipper then pushing them, and Trev's briefs, over his hips until they fell to the floor. Kneeling, he lifted Trev's foot to take off one shoe and sock.

  "Do you want me to fall?" Trev asked, grasping Zack's shoulder.

  Zack looked up, shaking his head in amusement. Trev lifted his other foot, Zack removed the shoe and sock, and Trev stepped out of the rest of his clothes.

  Staying where he was, Zack slowly ran his hand up Trev's already hard cock, teasing the leaking slit while rolling Trev's balls between his fingers.

  "My turn," Trev said, kneeling down in front of Zack to remove his shirt. "You're as fantastic as I remember. I've had dreams about you—and this."

  "Have you, now? Good ones, I hope."

  "You have no idea how good."

  Trev circled one of Zack's nipples with a fingertip, and seconds later with his tongue, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from Zack—and a desperate need to be inside Trev as soon as possible. He forced himself to relax. He wanted this to be slow and loving, not an exercise in hot
and heavy screwing.

  "This would be better if you weren't still half dressed," Trev said.

  "Easily remedied." Zack stood, kicking off his shoes then removing his jeans and shorts. Taking Trev's hands, he pulled him to his feet then tumbled both of them onto the bed. "Before we get started—"

  "I thought we already had," Trev said with a wicked grin.

  "Shush. Before we continue, I want to say, again, I love you. If I do anything, anything at all that you don't like, I want you to tell me."

  "The only thing you could do"—Trev kissed him—"that would upset me, is tell me"—he kissed him again—"you want me to leave."

  "That will never happen." Zack gazed at him, smiling tenderly. "Never in a million years. I promise."

  "I'll settle for the next…seventy years?" Trev replied.

  "Thinking in the long-term?" Zack asked, easing up so he could, once again, trail his fingers over the contours of Trev's chest and slowly down, following the fine line of hair leading the Trev's engorged cock. He gripped it in one hand, using the other to open the nightstand drawer and get a condom. Sheathing Trev's cock, he took it into his mouth, alternating between sucking and laving it with his tongue until he was certain Trev would explode.

  "Can I? May I?" Trev asked, reaching down to grasp Zack's hard member.

  "You can and may do anything you want," Zack told him, rolling onto his back, legs spread.

  Trev took a moment to get a condom and sheath Zack's cock. Then slowly, he kissed his way from Zack's lips down to his nipples, licking then lightly nipping each one, sending bolts of electricity straight to Zack's groin. Next, he eased down to take Zack's balls between his lips, rolling them gently before releasing them and getting to work driving Zack insane as he tormented his cock.

  "Enough," Zack gasped. "I'll come if you don't stop. Then…I won't be able to…"

  "Screw me mindless?"

  Zack laughed. "That's one way to put it. So, on your knees, if you please."

  "Jeez. Poetry?" Trev grinned, rolling onto his knees, gripping the headboard.

  "That's what you do to me," Zack replied, as he lubed two fingers and his cock. "Romance is supposed to be poetry and flowers and love songs and"—he bent to kiss the nape of Trev's neck—"loving someone more than you thought possible."