by Gerald Lopez
“Don’t even think of wearing that thing in the kitchen,” Bean said. “You’ll set the whole place on fire.”
“I’m not stupid,” Bella said. “Beautiful, but not stupid.” He looked at Alex and squealed. “Now you’re a real beauty. Oh my God, he’s gorge. Who does he belong to?”
Alex smiled then spoke. “God, myself, then these two, big studs next to me.” He chuckled.
“A threesome,” Bella said, “my, my, my, my, my… my. Be still my young sixty-year-old heart.”
“Sixty—not bad,” I said.
“If you only knew how good it all still is,” Bella said. “Would you like to know? Hell, there are enough of us to have a good, old-fashioned orgy.”
“I’ve got two years to go till I reach the ripe—ooold—and I do mean old age of sixty,” Bean said.
“Just how tall are you, Bean?” Forrest said. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t mind, you sexy beast, you,” Bean said. “I’m six-foot-five. And I’ll add that everything on me is in proportion. That’s except for a certain member which is longer and thicker than might be proportional but I’ve gotten no complaints. I was a contortionist in the circus—a good one.”
“No doubt,” Forrest said.
“Don’t let those two scare you,” a handsome man dressed in khaki shorts, a Polo shirt, and deck shoes said, as he entered from the side. His hair was a perfect salt and pepper color, that was neatly cut and slightly high in front. He was trim with a great tan and soulful brown eyes. “I’m Braedon Rexx. In my previous life I was an English Literature professor.”
“Nice to meet you, Braedon,” I said. “Do you live here too?”
“Indeed I do Mr….”
“I’m Layton Shayne and these handsome men with me are my partners Alex and Forrest.”
“Partners as in business or life?” Braeden said, then smiled.
“Business, life, love—you name it,” I said, admiring how his shirt hugged his perfect torso.
“More treasure hunters,” Braeden said. “How disappointing, I hoped you’d be more interesting. Well, am I early to eat or will there be an orgy preceding the meal?”
Everyone laughed.
“Is everyone that lives here family?” I said.
“Yeah, in every way,” Jorri said. “We’re all gay, and have lived here long enough to have formed a family of sorts.”
“Braeden, hun,” Bella said. “Please tell me that you will be gracing us with your sublime ambrosia.”
“It’s in my refrigerator,” Braeden said. “I’ve made plenty. Is there room for it in the fridge here?”
“Yeah, honey,” Nikki said. “Go get it.”
“Would anyone like to come along and get a tour of our compound?” Braeden said.
“I need to give Chipper a call while I have the chance,” Forrest said.
“And I have a call I’d like to make to follow up on a hunch,” Alex said. “But go ahead and have fun, Layton.”
“Alex and I will wait here,” Forrest said.
“Great,” I said, then held my hand out toward Bean for him to shake. “It was nice meeting you.”
Bean shook my hand then froze. He held my hand firmly and stared into my eyes.
“Uh-oh,” Bella said. “He’s having an experience.”
“What?” Forrest said, before being hushed by Bella and Nikki.
“You’ve met up with an old acquaintance in a highly unusual way,” Bean said, still holding my hand. “She needs your help but not yet—the time hasn’t come, but it will.”
He let go of my hand and smiled.
“That was right on the money,” I said.
“My old granny had the gift, and sometimes I can pick up on things here and there,” Bean said. “Especially when they’re strong things. That woman and you have a strong connection somehow. But things have changed—she may have been an enemy before but no longer.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I hope I didn’t freak you out too much.”
“I’m good,” I said. “You haven’t picked up on where that treasure might be, have you?”
“Sorry,” Bean said. “We heard about your mission, and have put our brains together to help all we can.”
“My apologies,” Braeden said, “I didn’t realize you were those three—from The Organization.”
I turned to Forrest and spoke. “I love how so many people know about the so-called secret organization we work for.”
“Oh honey, there’s no point in trying to keep a secret on the key,” Nikki said. “Besides, your group recruited all of us.”
“Layton, we’d better go get that ambrosia,” Braeden said. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time,” Alex said. “I may be on the phone a while.”
“I’m sure I can find a way to keep him busy,” Braeden said, then smiled.
Chapter 13
More Surprises
I FOLLOWED BRAEDEN down a stone path surrounded by tall banana trees on either side, as well as other plants and foliage.
“This is a beautiful property you folks have here,” I said.
“Thank you,” Braeden said. “We’ve managed to form a nice, small community here, thanks to Jorri and Nikki. There’s something you need to see right around the corner.”
We passed a grouping of large trees, then took a turn and found ourselves in front of a greenhouse.
“It’s in here,” Braeden said, then opened the door of the greenhouse so we could go inside.
The display in front of me dominated the space that also housed plants. On a large piece of plywood, set up on two bases was a model of Shiloh Key.
“That’s amazing,” I said as I walked up to it.
“Well, hello there,” a slender black man wearing a tropical print shirt and pink shorts said, as he emerged from behind some plants near the back of the room.
“You must be one of the men from The Organization,” the black man said.
“This is another of our residents Mr. Randall Reese,” Braden said.
“You make it sound like we’re living in a nursing home,” Randall said before turning to me. “What’s your name, baby?”
“Layton Shayne,” I said. “I’m impressed with this model, and with the people here.”
“Here as in Shiloh Key or as in our humble compound?” Randall said.
“The latter,” I said, then saw confusion in Randall’s eyes. “Your compound. It’s nice that you all have managed to create a home and family here.”
“Yes, it is,” Randall said.
“We were young at a time when being gay could get you killed, fired from your job if anyone found out—you name it,” Braeden said. “Now we seem to be on trend. My niece told me that some of the straight boys at her school even pretend to be gay because it’s cool.”
“And you don’t like that,” I said.
“It’s not real,” Braeden said. “Some people believe we’ve made strides but I don’t. They’ve almost turned our struggle into a joke. What do these kids know about reality, when they’re being taught that everything is cool without having a price to pay. Just do what you want without even thinking about it. It meant something when I came out of the closet. It wasn’t the cool or ‘in’ thing to do—it was, and is, my life, damn it! Not to be taken lightly. Damn movie stars and other idiots. The fact it’s so trendy now means that one day we might be back to having to hide in the shadows.”
“Preach it,” Randall said, then chuckled.
“Sorry,” Braeden said, “I didn’t mean to get off subject. Anyway, some of us here at the compound are too young to remember those days.”
“My partner Lionel is out of town visiting his mother,” Randall said, “he’s one of our young’uns.”
“I don’t keep up much with modern culture,” I said. “So being gay is trendy now, huh?”
“That and having a black boyfriend,” Randall said. “My God have I had white boys throwing themselves at me just because I�
�m black. Not to mention that every TV show and movie has an interracial couple. God forbid black people might just want to date other black people.”
“Your partner is white—did you forget?” Braeden said.
“No, I didn’t forget,” Randall said, and put his hand defiantly on his hip. “But that was my choice to date him, and it wasn’t because he was white or young. It’s because he’s hot, a fabulous lover, and more importantly, a kind and decent person. But I didn’t go out with him just to go with a white boy—I don’t need that shit.”
“So even if he were black you’d date him,” I said and laughed.
We all laughed heartily.
“You’re alright, Layton Shayne,” Randall said. “I like you.”
“What’re you bringing to the meal, Randall,” Braeden said.
“My kickin’, finger-lickin, spicy-hot mashed potatoes, and my green bean casserole,” Randall said. “They’re done, so you can go on and explain our latest findings to Layton. I may call you Layton.”
“You may,” I said, then looked over the detailed model, which showed the hills and beaches of Shiloh Key. “This wasn’t created overnight. You’ve been working on it for a while. How long has your group been working for The Organization?”
“Not long,” Braeden said. “We knew about your group because of Charity’s parents, who do work for them, but have only recently been directly contacted by your boss Leticia. They heard we were the local experts on the treasure.”
“First, it was just a hobby for all of us, really,” Randall said. “But when our club was destroyed by one of the last storms that came through here, it became a mission to find the treasure.”
“Club?” I said. “As in bathhouse or nightclub?”
“You have a naughty mind going directly to bathhouse, Layton Shayne,” Randall said and chuckled. “It was a nightclub where I was the emcee.”
“A very good one,” Braeden said.
“I don’t doubt it,” I said.
“We all worked there and had a blast,” Randall said. “We encouraged fresh new musical talent as well as drag acts and dancers.”
“Lionel was one of our go-go boys,” Braeden said. “Anyway, our goal now is to help you find the treasure, so you can get the staff and we can keep some of the gold to rebuild our club.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” I said. “Do we have any real idea of where it can be, or do we really have to wait for moonlight to shine through some tree branches?”
“If you take a look at the model, I’ll show you some interesting things,” Braeden said.
I looked, as Braeden pointed to the pier, shops, and hotels on the hill.
“Originally everyone thought the likely location for the treasure would be at the front point of the key—directly in front of the main pier,” Braeden said.
“But that wouldn’t seem like a very secretive spot to bury treasure,” I said.
“I’m in complete agreement with that statement,” Randall said. “Tell him about the latest news, Braeden.” He turned to me. “Its pretty wild.”
“A friend of ours was on his boat when he saw some ghost trees,” Braeden said. “And not just trees, but also pirates.” He pointed to a beach area to the far right of the pier. Then his finger moved to the water above the beach. “The ghost trees appeared in the water along with the pirates.”
“That must be where the original trees were located,” I said. “So the moon would shine through a tree at that point then, I assume through another tree on the current beach. Hopefully it won’t completely bypass the current trees on the beach.”
“There is that possibility, unfortunately,” Braeden said.
“I hate how there’s still so much we don’t know,” Randall said.
“If we shine a sharp light from that spot in the water can we get a clue as to where the moon’s ray will land,” I said.
Randall walked to the spot, and removed a key chain with attached flashlight from his pocket. He positioned it so that the light was shining on the model.
“Bo said that the tree was about seven-feet-tall, so raise your light another two inches,” Braeden said.
“Two inches like… let’s see now… what’s two inches in length?” Randall said, and smiled slyly.
“Nothing on me,” I said, then smiled.
“I’ve seen Braeden naked in the Jacuzzi, so I know he’s much bigger than two inches,” Randall said. “I’ll just think of a certain ex I knew.” He raised the flashlight two inches, and it shone onto two hills in the model.
“Shiloh Bluff,” Braeden said, “And Calvary Hill. The light shines on both hills, but Charity believes the treasure could be located on Calvary Hill in the cemetery there.”
“By the way congratulations on the incoming baby,” Randall said. “Be sure to come back and see us when the baby comes.”
“Or sooner,” Braeden said.
“The key has impressed not just me but my partners,” I said. “We’ll definitely be back with our kids.”
“Oh yeah, sorry,” Randall said. “I forgot about Chip. Charity is family to all of us, not just Jorri. And we love to hear updates on her life, which now includes you and your partners.”
“You’ll all have to come visit our house slash compound once we’re settled in,” I said. “And it’s highly likely Charity is carrying more than one child—probably triplets.”
“Wow—lucky there will be plenty of warm bodies around to help change diapers,” Braeden said. “That’s nice of you to offer the invitation to the court. We’ll be sure to visit.”
“We don’t have the great beach setting, but it’s home,” I said.
“I had better go get my food offerings,” Randall said.
“We’ll walk with you partway,” Braeden said.
We left the greenhouse and followed a trail that forked.
“I’m off to my humble abode,” Randall said, then turned to the left. While there were trees to the right, on the left side was a bit of pampas grass that butted against the beach sand.
“This compound must be on at least several acres,” I said.
“The way our trailers are positioned and being on this point of land just make it look big,” Randall said. “I’ll see y’all later. Don’t get in too much trouble without me.”
“Are we gonna get into trouble?” I said to Braeden when we were walking along the path to his home.
Braeden just laughed.
Chapter 14
Family
WE WALKED UNTIL we arrived at a trailer with a porch in front.
“The trailers were already here when Nikki and Jorri found the property,” Braeden said. “A family spent their winters here before they moved to Costa Rica permanently.”
I followed him into the trailer which was roomy inside. Rather than carpeting, there were wood floors. The ceilings were higher than I thought they would be.
“You have a very nice home, Braeden,” I said, while looking around the open living room and kitchen area.
“Also, a surprisingly empty one,” Braeden said, then raised his voice. “Is anyone here?”
“We’ll be out in a minute,” someone said.
“Have a seat, Layton,” Braeden said.
I sat down on a comfortable leather sofa and crossed my legs. “Braeden, what do you think our chances are of finding the treasure?”
“Our research does give us an advantage,” Braeden said. “But we can’t discount the crowds. Just yesterday, two busloads of senior citizens arrived at the key. I can’t tell you how many of them had metal detectors, but there were a lot.”
“Seasoned citizens to deal with on top of everything else,” I said. “It’s worrisome—at least to me.”
“You’re not alone in your worries, Layton.”
“Here we are dressed and ready for a party,” a handsome, young, blond man said, as he walked in next to an older but fit white-haired male.
“These are my partners,” Braeden said. “Don is the one with wh
ite hair and the handsome, surfer-boy turned nurse is Pete.”
“Nice to meet you both, I’m Layton Shayne, sent here by The Organization.”
“They didn’t say you’d be such a looker,” Don said. “Sexy as hell too.”
“Thanks,” I said. “You have a handsome family yourself.”
“Thank you,” Don said. “They look after me, even if I don’t always deserve it. I haven’t been very well lately.”
“But today’s one of his better days,” Pete said. “He’s taken all of his medicine without even fussing.”
“That’s great,” I said. “Well, you certainly look fit, Don.”
“I have a big dick too—nice and thick. How ‘bout you, Layton?”
Braeden was about to say something, but I spoke first. “No worries, Braedon. Don, I’m good. I can hold my own against most men.”
“Yeah, but why hold your own when someone else can hold it fer you,” Don said, then giggled like a child.
“Why don’t we get something to drink?” Pete said to Don, then helped him toward the kitchen.
“Where’s my damn cane?” Don said. “I can’t find my cane.”
“It’s by the door,” Braeden said.
“Just hold my arm for now,” Pete said.
“What about a drink for Layton?” Don said. “The man might want a drink. Get him a beer or something.”
“Layton, would you like something?” Pete said, peering at me from the kitchen.
“Water would be great,” I said, while admiring his tight, tan body that was mostly on display in the string tank and shorts he wore. Even his bare feet were evenly tan. “Once again I have to say you’ve got a nice looking family there, Braeden.”
“Thank you,” Braeden said, then stood and walked my way. “Pete’s been a real godsend. Although I’ll never understand what a handsome, young man sees in Don and me.”
“How long have you and Don been together?” I said.
“We’ve been together for forty years—since I was twenty-five and he was forty-one. And he’s still fantastic in bed.”
