GENRE: Gay Mystery Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 35,809 words
RATING:

When Tony Watkins discovers a dead man in the elevator of his apartment building, he has no idea there will be more murders. When the second body is found, he and his friends at the club he goes to put their heads together to try to figure out what's happening and who the killer might be.

Kirk Logan is a man with problems. At twenty-nine, he still isn't out to his parents. On top of that, Tony thinks he's easy -- which is true -- and will have nothing to do with him, even though he wants to help Tony solve the murders. That is until he finally opens up to Tony about why he's the way he is.

What Tony learns about Kirk, in addition to a third murder, changes everything. Can Tony deal with his feelings for Kirk while trying, if possible, not to become the next murder victim?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

"So how was your day?" Dan asked as soon as Tony took a seat at the table in the club Monday evening.

"You do not want to know," Tony told him, flagging down a waiter to order a beer.

"Story not talking again?"

"It babbling, thank God." Tony nodded at Greg, who had just taken another chair at the table. "And I finished the article on upcoming events and attractions for the local tourist magazine, so that's out of my hair."

"Then what's wrong?" Dan asked.

"As soon as I get my drink I'll tell you." As if Tony had said the magic words, the waiter showed up seconds later to put the bottle on the table. Tony paid, then took a deep drink. "I needed that." He noticed his hand was shaking as he set the bottle back down.

Greg rested his elbows on the table, staring at Tony. "Problems?"

Tony nodded, lowering his voice as he said, "Someone was murdered in my apartment building and I found the body."

"The hell you say." Dan practically shouted, before clapping a hand over his mouth. "Tell all," he said, keeping his voice down.

"I thought I heard someone in need of help, so I went looking. I got as far as the third floor, walking up because the elevator was ... well, being the elevator."

"Meaning slower than molasses," Greg said, having ridden in it a time or two.

"Yeah. That's what I figured, anyway. I was going to knock on doors to see if anyone else had heard the same thing. Actually, I did knock on a couple of them but no one answered, so I decided everyone was probably at work because if they had heard what I did, they'd be out in the hall. Anyway, I tried the elevator again and while I was waiting a guy who lives on three appeared. Older man, maybe in his sixties. Not that that matters. So we talked until the elevator came. The door opened ..." He shuddered and took another drink.

"The body was in there?" Greg asked with macabre relish.

"Yeah. Damn. Thank God Alan, that's the old man, was there, too, or I'd probably have lost it. We called the cops. When they showed up I had to explain what I'd heard. I think they believed me."

"Or they think you killed the guy ... It was a guy, right?" When Tony nodded, Dan continued. "They don't, do they?"

"They didn't act like it, and I'm here, not in jail, so I sure hope not."

"Was there lots of blood?" Greg asked ghoulishly. "How was he killed?"

"I think ... stabbed. I sure didn't go in to check but that's what the wounds looked like," Tony replied, shooting him a look of disgust. "You're getting too much fun out of this."

"Blame it on my misspent youth, watching too many horror movies."

"Youth?" Dan eyed him. "You went to one just last week if I remember right."

Greg shrugged. "So I'm a fan of blood and gore. Shoot me."

Tony hissed in a breath, finishing his beer in one big gulp then holding the bottle up to let the waiter know he wanted another.

"Is your name going to be on the news as a witness?" Dan asked.

"I hope not. I'm not a witness. I just found the body. I snuck out the back door of the building to the parking lot, as soon as the detective said I was free to leave. When I say snuck, I mean it. I didn't want to be accosted if there were reporters hanging around. Got my car and beat it the hell away from there."

Dan smirked. "And came here to cry on our shoulders."

"No, I came to get a drink or ten so I can forget what I saw. It was horrible."

"What was horrible?" someone asked from behind Tony.

He turned to see who it was and wished he hadn't. The man who stood there was beyond handsome -- and a real prick, in Tony's estimation. "Nothing you need to know about, Kirk," he replied coldly.

"Sorry I asked," Kirk muttered, starting to walk away. Then he said, "You looked angry, or upset."

"So of course you had to find out why so you'd have a story to tell whoever you decided to take home tonight. Well, that's not happening."

"Fuck you, too," Kirk spat out as he turned on his heel, heading toward the bar.

"Also not happening," Tony said under his breath.

Dan eyed him, almost smiling. "Still got a thing for him?"

Tony snorted. "I've never had a thing for him, the conceited asshole. Thinks he can have any guy he wants just by snapping his fingers."