Nick was on board all right. He marched up the stairs, kid and cops trailing, and let himself into the Foster boy’s apartment for the second time that evening.
Perry followed him in, staring around the rooms like he’d never seen them before. The night was taking on a hallucinatory quality. Granted, he was somewhat sleep deprived. He stared at his suitcase in the middle of the floor. It seemed a lifetime ago that he had walked out of Marcel’s wood-framed Victorian and caught the plane back to Vermont.
He trailed Nick into the bathroom. Sure enough, the tub was empty—and sparkling clean.
Nick ran his fingers along the rim. “Damp,” he commented. Perry stared at him. The deputies crowding the doorway also stared at him.
Pushing through them, Nick headed toward the bedroom, zeroing in on the windowsill.
A shoe stood in plain sight on the ledge. It was black, small—maybe a size 9—in good shape.
A muscle clenched in Nick’s jaw as he examined the loafer. “This isn’t the shoe.”
“See for yourself, buddy. It’s the only shoe here.”
Nick tossed the shoe to Perry, who caught it and swallowed. “This is my shoe,” he said as though he feared his shoe was guilty of some misdemeanor.
“Yep, that’s what we figured.”
“I thought you didn’t notice any shoes?” Reno retorted.
“We didn’t notice any suspicious shoes.”
“Shut up, Abe,” the older deputy muttered.
Nick started to speak, then bit it back. This was a losing proposition. The cops had made up their minds about twenty minutes earlier; that was plain.
He glanced at the kid, and it was obvious that Foster knew it was all over, although he was gazing at Nick expectantly. Why? What did he imagine Nick could do about this? Even if Nick wanted to do something about it.
He stared back, and the kid looked away, gritting his jaw. His hands were shaking and he shoved them into his pockets.
The deputies took their leave.
“We’ll say good night, folks. Keep safe.” The senior officer, last out the door, tipped the brim of his rain-spattered hat.
Nick caught the door before it closed on their heels. He glanced back at Perry Foster. The kid was focused on the tub, framed in the bathroom doorway.
The underbreath comments of the deputies died away with the sound of their boots on the staircase.
Situation defused, Nick thought. Rack time at last. “I guess that’s it,” he said. “I guess I’ll say good night too.”
Foster’s head jerked his way. “You’re going?”
“Yeah.” Nick was elaborately casual in response to the note he didn’t want to hear in Foster’s voice. “It’s all clear here.”
Foster was a frail-looking kid. He lived on his own and presumably held a job, so he couldn’t be fourteen, though that’s how old he looked. His wrists were thin, and bony knees poked out of the holes of his fashionably ripped Levi’s. There were blue veins beneath the pale skin of his hands. Nick thought of the Froot Loops cereal and the asthma chart on the refrigerator.
Hell.
“Thanks,” Foster managed huskily. “I know you probably think I’m psycho too, so I appreciate your helping me.”
“I don’t think you’re psycho.” Actually he had no idea if the kid was psycho or not. “I think you saw something. But whatever it was, it’s gone now. It’s over.”
Nick thought of the shoe with the hole in it; he should have noticed right away it was too big for a pup the size of Foster. Someone had switched that shoe after Nick left. Someone had swabbed down the tub and the floor. Someone had balls of steel. But it was not Nick’s problem. It was not his job to save the world. Not anymore.
“Yeah, well…” The kid managed one unconvincing smile. “Maybe I can get a hotel room in town.” He picked up his suitcase. “I don’t want to stay here tonight.”
Nick’s nod was curt. Great idea. Best idea yet. Except… A gust of wind shook the house. The lights flickered. From across the room, Reno heard Foster give a soft gasp. His eyes looked enormous. Like Bambi after his mom bought it in the woods.
It was a dark and lousy night. Not a night to be out driving if you didn’t have to. The radio crackled with weather advisories. Anyway, what kind of bastard would send an asthmatic kid out in a rainstorm?
“Hell,” he growled. “You can stay with me tonight.”
There was that wash of color in the pointed face. “I don’t want to be any trouble,” Foster said hopefully.
Nick snorted.
About the Author
Author of over sixty titles of classic Male/Male fiction featuring twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance, JOSH LANYON’S work has been translated into eleven languages. Her FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Harlequin Mondadori, then the largest romance publisher in Italy. Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.
She is an Eppie Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), An Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram and Tumblr.
For extras and exclusives, join Josh on Patreon.
AUTHOR NOTES
Keen-eyed readers will note that the street Kit and J.X. live on is now named Cherry Lane. This was the original intended name for their home address; however, somehow, when finalizing The Boy with the Painful Tattoo, I ended up changing the name back to the street that served as my inspiration.
Readers may also view with skepticism the devious machinations of our primary villain; regular viewers of the Investigation Discovery channel will be aware the most outlandish details were inspired by real events.
Special thanks to my Patrons
Susan Sorrentino
Brian Dulaney
Sabine Biedenweg
Matthew DeHaan
Miki Prenevost
Alan Diego
Kaitlyn Abdou
Jayne Muir
Maite Suppes
Cheryll Athorp
Linda Eisel
Susan Rethoret
Steve Leonard
Scott McCluskey
Audra Rickman
Eyleen Weiß
Andrea Karg
Marilyn Blimes
Alexa Ebanks
Cassie Poe
Nancy Fields
David D Warner
catherine morden
Beatriz Vargas
Kristina Uvalle
Katarzyna Borkowska
Debra Guyette
Jillee Elizabeth Sexton
Christina Rodriguez
Alaska Black
Jennifer Taulbee
Reanna Fesler
Joan Walters
Natalia Locatelli
Dianne Thies
Carlita Costello
Susan Reinhart
Johanna Ollila
Catherine Lievens
Frances Burgess
wendy oshea
Esha Bhatia
Jennifer Vranek
Cynthia Hemme
Karin Wollina
Chrystalla Thoma
Jacqueline Tan
Dianalee Rode
Kendra Chambers
Peg McMahon
Alison Butler
Carole Lake
Debra Woods
J.H.
EL Kinnison
Mary Barzyk
Robin Allen
Karla Ruksys
Susan Wilson
Rachel C Owens
<
br /> Michelle Kidwell
Susan Lee
Janet Sidelinger
Stephanie Bogart
Amy Schaffer
Andrea Israel
Ikue Kawahara
Siobhan Maura Bidgood
Marge Cee
Savannah Barlow
Sarah Toney
Julie Geagan-Chevez
Denise Dernorsek
Diana Teaman
Richard Hanley
Mai Yamamoto
VW
James Kennington
Adell phillis
Sandy Athey
Gretchen Kessler
Paul Budrow
Leigh Ann Wallace
Laura C
Jocelyn Harner
Anne-Marie McRoberts
Katia
Anonymous
Catherine Dair
Bobbi Lyons
stacy
Nancy Schneider
Kelly
Michelle Ivey
captain_dh
Ha T Nguyen
Nicholas
Natasha Chesterbrook
Shelby P.
Juliet Beier
Tracy Goodin
Queenie J. Alexander
Elle P.
TRUE Ryndes
Ina Husemann
Christine Skolnick
Jackie Davey
Anne Ystenes
Rebecca Espinosa
Deborah Graham
Marilyn Abbott
Maureen Moss
Emilie
Ariel Morse
Alice Viviano
Billie G Ramey
ingrid titus
Christy Duckett
Karen Reck
Jamell Howell
Frauke Franz
Halcyone
Nancy Andrews
Kate Sobejko
Kat Kelley
Lucas A. O.
John Pollock
CHERYL A KELLER
Michelle Vuko
Ekaterina Suryeva
Marie-Claude
Abby Dain
Nicholas Tay
Theresa Harper
Katerina Petrova Black Stilinski
CJ K
Brigitte Wissner
Brittany MacDougall
L.J. Thomson
Susan Woolard
1000 Needles
Sekiei
Miwa Nakano
ËÉ°Ê°É
Beth W Geibe
Nikki
Anka Mauderer
barbara grossbaum
Susan Hoffman
Barbara Heath
Michelle Marquez
Phyllis Howell
Tina Good
KM McCormack
Connie Parrott
Sandra Fröschl
DANIEL J. COLL
Holly
Liza Shahin
Sophie Wittlinger
Masselyn
Robin Kemball
Colette
Karla
Anne Stark
Melody Crone
Jennifer Janke
Elizabeth Andrews
Helen McMahon
Ashi
Brenda Snyder
Andie Cooper
AC
Sue Zheng
Val Emerson
Ebony Cindric
R. Ruiter
Jennifer S. Swanson
Danielle Desjardins
Asako Saitou
Kay
Katelyn Sweigart
Heather Hill
Jojo
Sue Brown
JD Jones
P. W.
MV
Brigette Burton
Shay Rizon
Rio
Sara Stanton
Madeline menzer
Vicki Hood
Patricia Mason
Nancy Collins
Tracey Adams
Tamara Webb
DENISE KYAZZE
K Miller
Saule
Tara Raimondo
Stacie Stanley
RJS
Adrian Stuart
Kelsey
Anika
Heike Schindler
Liu Yunjia
P Camarri
Robert Anthony
Indy
Sheila wand
Maia Brown
Annery Marte-McNulty
BryroseA
Amandine Huntzinger
Tina Burgess
Deb R.
Ashley P
Cristie
Lisa Baker
Brian Howard
Joanne Perry
Molly Moody
Amanda Lagarde
Suong Doan
Brooke Hudson
Hanh nguyen
Glee
Daniela
Kelly Gibbons
Rizo Pilko
Patricia Mangahis
Tish Lopez
Liz Madrox
Anne Hoffman
Sherry Rivera (MtSnow)
Nicole Zeller
Rae S.
Wanderlust14
Mike Martinez
Lynne Clifford
Lisa
Nicole Gordon
Mandy
Emlyn Eisenach
Anke Lüpges
Jordan Sophia Lombard
Gillian
TJ Edwards
Kristin Tomic
wardy
sherrylynn
Natasha Snow
Don M
Eveline Lo
Cris Niccolini
Kate Ellis
Sue-Ellen Gower
K
Clary
Gnine
Monique Ford
EirinElli
Géraldine Zenhäusern
Jo Ann Cerula
Geraldine austin
Susan McCormick
Loretta J Sharp
Molly Basney
Jennifer Ronca
Jessica Riskedahl
Kaori Ueki
Sarah Wh
karen koijane
Pierre Houle
Tracy Timmons-Gray
Jessica L Avila
Jocelyn Bissett
Alice Brewer
Jennie Goloboy
leahjberg
A.R. Foitswagle
Hanna högberg
A Moncy
Natalia Levine
Ali Pearcy
Kenneth E Mierow
Sarah
Claire Serafin
Hamsaur
Clare McHale
Miriam NIghtengale
Susan McKenna
Michelle Thorla
Patricia Hurckes
Catherine Yuen
Susanne Birk
Andrea Whiteside
Anastasia Tsakiroglou
Nicole
Heather York
Liz Cowan
Bekah Andrews
A Coll
Eria
Sheena
L S Serna
kamineo
Stephan Patterson
Freja Kj√∏ng
Harshini
Diana Quilty
Jenna Vance
Amber Pippin
A. L. Lester
Kerrilee
Theresa L Daniels
TZ
Eileen O’Brien Kernan
Linda Mrowka
Jacqueline
elise ivey
Patricia Davisson
Whitney Wilkening
Rosa Nieto
AmePourtant
Brynne Lagaao
Philipp Schmidt
Martine DROUET
Jules Wildt
Sara Bond
Susan Cox
Monica Navidad
Sowmya B
Annie Tate
Maria MacSmith
Virginia Modugno
Penelope Oulton
Marina
Juli-Anna Dobson
Stephani Kuperschm
id
Carmen Carr
Rohini Karve
Julie Salverian
Cathy Weber
Amy Jarvis
Sarah Guest
Richelle McDaniel
Britta Ventura
Trio Seven
Jennifer Keirans
Vivianne Todd
Elizabeth Hayes
Laura E
Artemis Kaloudi
Marianne Ciaudo
Philippa Howe
Joan De Leon
Rebecca Barr
H.L. Holston
CAROLYN ZOE BROUTHERS
W DEC
Sarah
Teal
Kari Gregg
Annika Bührmann
Anu
Katherine Smith
Anne
Jessica DuLong
Mody Bossy
Vanessa
Malus
Dalia Cao
Adrian Bisson
Terzak
Stara Herron
Ami Savitri
Veroluc
JD Ruskin
Justene Adamec
Joanne Goh Ai Chin
Nadine Bretz
Rena Freefall
Clare London
Jacob Magnusson
Jennifer Collyer
Kevin Burton Smith
Nakul Krishna
Marina Gonchar
bambi white
Alienor Drasen
If you enjoyed this story, check the following titles by Josh Lanyon
Novels
The ADRIEN ENGLISH Mysteries
Fatal Shadows
A Dangerous Thing
The Hell You Say
Death of a Pirate King
The Dark Tide
Stranger Things Have Happened
So This is Christmas
The HOLMES & MORIARITY Mysteries
Somebody Killed His Editor
All She Wrote
The Boy with the Painful Tattoo
The ALL’S FAIR Trilogy
Fair Game
Fair Play
Fair Chance
The ART OF MURDER Trilogy
The Mermaid Murders
The Monet Murders
The Magician Murders
Other novels
This Rough Magic (A SHOT IN THE DARK Series)
The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks
Mexican Heat (with Laura Baumbach)
Strange Fortune
Come Unto These Yellow Sands
Stranger on the Shore
Winter Kill
Jefferson Blythe, Esquire
Murder in Pastel
The Curse of the Blue Scarab
The Ghost Had an Early Check-out
Murder Takes the High Road
Novellas
The DANGEROUS GROUND Series
Dangerous Ground
Old Poison
Blood Heat
Dead Run
Kick Start
The I SPY Series
I Spy Something Bloody
In Other Words...Murder Page 22
