Foxe Hunt (12 page)

It had been a stressful few days. He did need to unwind. It would be nice to go to Trixx but how weird would that be going with a…
date
?

He decided and typed an email to Keith.

A few of my friends have invited me tonight to our favorite bar. Want
to come?

He hit send and sat back, watching, waiting.
He’s not looking at
his computer. He’s probably doing footbally things or biology things or…shit!

The computer dinged with a new message from kfletcher.

Love to. What time?

Shit. Now he had to meet him there.
Okay. Calm down, Skyler.

It’s only at your favorite bar with your favorite people.
Should he also email Sidney? No, he was mad at her right now. She arrested his friend and then hung up on him. She could stew in her own juices at home. And then that thought grossed him out.

He typed:

90 Haley Walsh

Meet me at Trixx on Citrus and 6th at 8:30.

Send. There. It was done.

The air was thick at Trixx with the smell of sweat, beer, and layers of different colognes. Skyler went to the bar first and ordered a Grey Goose on the rocks. While he was waiting, he watched the video on the flat screen above the bar. A man, tanned, ripped and wearing a tiny white bathing suit, lay on a sandy beach with turquoise water behind him unfurling on the shore. He slathered himself with oil until his six-pack abs and pecs shined. He slipped his fingers down into his suit and showed a tantalizing bit of carefully shaved pubic hair. The whole time he smoldered into the camera with a come-fuck-me expression.

He was dark-haired and blue-eyed and sort of reminded him of Keith.

The bartender had to snap his fingers in front of Skyler’s face to finally get his attention. He glanced up to the monitor and gave Skyler a sly smile. The bartender was pretty cute, too. Was he new?

No!
Stop thinking of hooking-up!
Keith would be there any minute.

He gave the bartender a weak smile and grabbed his drink.

When he turned he spotted Jamie on the tiny dance floor. Arms high and shimmying up against a tall, buff African American man, he looked mighty busy to Skyler. It was seething with men and loud music thumping through the speakers. Lady Gaga’s “Boys, Boys, Boys” was currently keeping the dancers hopping.

He flagged down Jamie who cheered and leapt off of the dance floor, grabbing Skyler’s arm and making him spill his drink.

“Hey!”

“Sorry, Sky. It seems like it’s been forever since we’ve gotten together.” He dragged him over to a table where Philip was sitting uncomfortably next to Rodolfo. Sidney was leaning against Philip.

“Oh,” said Skyler stiffly to Sidney. “It’s you. Cop of the walk.”

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“What’s that supposed to mean? Oh for Chrissake. I was just doing my job.”

He slammed his drink down. “Just so you know, I’m not talking to you.”

“You’re talking to me now.”

“Only to tell you I’m not talking to you.”

“Children!” said Philip, standing and motioning to them.

“Both of you, settle down. You, Skyler, sit.” Skyler pulled out a chair and did. “Sidney, tell us why Skyler is pissed off at you.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “I…um…” She gnawed on her lip. “I may have arrested a…a friend of his. I guess. For murder.”

“What?” Jamie sank to a chair, grabbing Skyler’s other arm.

The drink spilled a second time.

“Dammit, Jamie, I never even got to drink this and it’s already half gone.”

“Who, Skyler? Who got arrested for murder?” He looked around the table as if thinking it was one of them.

“My friend Jeff. Remember him? You know, the one whose partner just got murdered?”

“I thought he committed suicide?” asked Philip.

“No, it was murder,” said Sidney and Skyler at the same time.

Skyler glared at her, crossed his arms, and turned away.

Philip faced Sidney. “And now you think this Jeff did it?”

“All evidence suggests he did.”

“He didn’t!” said Skyler. “It’s all a mistake.”

“He had opportunity, motive, not to mention those scratches on his arms.”

“That could have been from anything. From sex, maybe.”

“That’s what he claims, but his DNA was found under the victim’s fingernails.”

“Just his?”

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93

Sidney clamped her lips shut.

Skyler pointed at her across the table. “Aha!”

“I can’t talk about this.”

“But you just said—”

“I
didn’t
say anything.”

“Sidney!”

Philip threw a wet, balled-up napkin at Skyler and he jerked back, startled. “Skyler. Down boy. It’s out of your hands. Let the wheels of justice work it out.”

“The wheels of justice didn’t do such a bang up job last time.

Something’s up. I know it.”

Sidney’s eyes widened. “Oh no you don’t. You will not investigate this murder. Didn’t you learn your lesson the last time?”

“I learned that the investigation needed help.”

“Skyler, I’m warning you.”

“I’m still not talking to you.”

“Stop it!” Philip slammed his hand on the table. It wobbled and everyone’s drinks sloshed over. “We are all out tonight to relax and have fun. So fun we will have… And to hear about Skyler’s date.”

Skyler was bringing his drink to his lips when Jamie screeched, “Omigod!” and slapped his shoulder. The drink spilled again, this time into Skyler’s lap.

“Jamie!”

“Sorry.” He grabbed a napkin and dabbed Skyler’s trousers until Skyler snatched the napkin out of his hand. “I just want to hear about it.”

“Wait a minute,” said Rodolfo, looking at everyone in turn.

“Who is this man, this
date
?”

“Skyler works with him,” said Sidney, sipping her margarita.

“He’s a teacher.”

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Rodolfo bristled like a rooster. “A teacher! No, I don’t think so.”

Skyler blinked at Rodolfo. “Um…”

“Our little Skyler has lost his heart,” said Jamie, hand over his own heart.

“I haven’t lost my heart. It’s just…something different.”

“I had a boyfriend once,” said Philip. “In law school. We split because he didn’t want to move to Redlands.”

“I’ve had boyfriends,” said Jamie. “Lots. This has been a very long dry spell.”

“He’s
not
my boyfriend. We’re just going out.”

Jamie hip-bumped Skyler. “So, when do we meet him?”

“Well…”

“Yes,” said Rodolfo, pouting. “When do we meet this…
man
?”

Skyler cringed. “How about never?”

“Come on, Skyler,” said Sidney. “These guys would love Keith. He’s tall, dark, sexy, with light blue eyes, muscles to die for—”

Jamie fanned himself. “I’m feeling faint. When, when, WHEN?”

“Skyler?”

Everyone turned. Standing above his chair was the man in the flesh. The table fell silent.

Keith smiled at everyone and gave a little wave. “Hi.”

“Hi,
Keith
,” they chorused.

The smile fell slightly.

Skyler shot to his feet. “Keith. Hi! Uh…” He turned to everyone. “Everyone, this is Keith. Keith this is Jamie—”

Jamie stood and offered a hand. Keith took it. “
Enchanté
!”

Jamie giggled and sat again.

“And that’s Sidney, whom you’ve met.”

Foxe hunt
95

Sidney wiggled her fingers. Keith gave her a wary nod.

“And that’s Philip…whom you’ve also met.”

Philip leaned forward and offered his hand in a businesslike shake. “Good to see you again,” he said quickly.

“And this is Rodolfo.”

Rodolfo just sat and glared.

“These are my friends.”

“It’s nice to meet you all.” He beamed at Skyler and looked around. “This place is great. I’m going to get a beer. Anyone need anything?”

Everyone shook their heads.

He turned and left for the bar and there was a beat before Jamie squealed. “Oh my
God
! He
is
a hunk. Skyler!” He grabbed Skyler by the shoulders and shook him affectionately. “He’s gorgeous. You lucky dog.”

Skyler tried not to but he couldn’t help but smile. The truth of the matter was Keith
was
gorgeous. And he did feel lucky.

Keith returned shortly, drinking a Corona from the bottle. He set it down on the table

The music subdued a bit and they were able to talk. Philip, bless him, engaged Keith right away and they talked a bit so that when Sidney slipped out of the booth and tapped Skyler, he got up and went to the bar with her without anyone noticing. As soon as they reached the bar he pushed her back. “Hey, I’m not supposed to be talking to you.”

“What are you, twelve? Get over yourself.” She leaned on the sticky bar and motioned to the cute bartender, who was finishing with the other customers. With an eye roll Skyler turned to the bar and leaned, his shoulder pressed to her shoulder.

“Okay, but that was a lousy thing you did.”

“If he’s guilty, then it wasn’t. But we are not talking about it,”

she added quickly, cutting off any protests. “The case is what it is.”

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“Okaaay.” He toyed with a beer mat when another thought struck him. He turned to her with a predatory smile. “So…who’s Mike de Guzman?”

Sidney froze. “Oh…shit. He’s…a guy. My…uh…new partner.

I’m sort of…dating him?”

“And you never
told
me? Sid!”

“I know, I know.”

The bartender slid over with the drinks. “Margarita on the rocks for the lady and Grey Goose for the hot blond, right?”

Skyler smiled even as his cheeks reddened, but as soon as the bartender moved away he shook it off. Damn. It was hard getting into a new groove. “So you’re an item already?” he said to her.

“Mike seems to think so.”

“Mike?”

“He told me to call him that.”

“Oh. We are not an item. We just fuck.” As soon as the words left her mouth she screwed up her face, grabbed the margarita, and slammed it back, wiping the wet from her upper lip. She signaled to the bartender for another. “Shit. I didn’t mean to tell you that.”

“Why the hell not? How long has this been going on?” It suddenly occurred to him with a pang in his heart that Sidney was growing away from him. If she was carrying on with a secret affair without his knowing what else didn’t he know? “Jeez, Sid, you used to tell me everything. So what’s with making me tell you all
my
juicy details?” He imitated Sidney’s voice, “‘I’m living my sex life vicariously through you, Skyler.’ Bullshit! It’s all bullshit.”

“I just didn’t… God. He’s Filipino and I didn’t want any crap from my mother.”

“I’m not going to tell your mother. Not like you tell mine.”

“You know, she’s always ‘
schwartze
this’ and ‘
schwartze
that.’

Anybody with the least little skin tone is a
schwartze
to her.” She pushed her curls out of her face and heaved a sigh. “But it’s more than that. It’s…dating someone at work. My partner, for Foxe hunt
97

Chrissake.”

“Wait a minute. You egged
me
on to date Keith and he’s someone at work.”

“That’s different. It’s you. We’re talking about
me
. And he’s my partner. That’s a big no-no in the department.”

The bartender returned and set down the glass for Sidney. He winked at Skyler before moving to the next customer.

“Are you going to get in trouble?”

She shrugged. “It’s just complicated.”

“I guess. I mean with Keith and me, it seems to be all right.

The work part. The angry relationship part, not so much.”

She clutched her salt-edged glass. “Do you think he might get violent with you? Because if you do I’ll kick his ass.”

“No, I don’t think so. It’s just that jealous thing he does sometimes. But I appreciate your ass-kicking offer.”

“Anytime.” She saluted with her glass and drank.

“You should do more than fuck the guy, Sidney. He seems nice. Go out with him.”

“I work with him every day.”

“Oh horrors! God forbid you should have something in common with the man you’re dating.”

Her face fell. “I like him. He
is
a really nice guy. But what happens if it doesn’t work out? I mean we’re partners. It could get dicey.”

“Take your own advice, detective. You’ll never know until you try.”

“My mother’s going to have a fit.”

“What’s Yiddish for Filipino?”

§ § §

They returned to the table and Keith grinned, a dimple forming in his cheek. “Hey, Skyler. Want to dance?”

98 Haley Walsh

He’d never danced with Keith. Never thought to. But he was on the dance floor without thinking twice and he and Keith were quickly gyrating to “Blow.” For a big man, Keith moved gracefully. Skyler chalked it up to his football training. Keith’s eyes were on him the whole time and his grin was wide.

“You’re a good dancer,” Keith yelled over the music.

“So are you.”

“You seem surprised.”

He shrugged.

And then Keith surrounded him with his arms, tugged him into his chest, and slid his body up and down. Skyler got a good whiff of his cologne and closed his eyes, just feeling the sensations of both jean-clad cocks skating against each other. Fingers pulled his chin up and warm lips covered his. God, Keith was a fantastic kisser! He loved the soft touch of tongues, the warm slide of his mouth. Before it could get too heated, Keith pulled back, giving Skyler a wicked smile that made Skyler’s insides swoop.

Suddenly Jamie was dancing with them. “Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” Keith gave him an amused expression.

“I just have to say that you guys look great together. Tall and dark, short and light. Like salt and pepper shakers.”

Keith laughed. It was a great rumbling sound in Skyler’s chest.

“The Skyboy here’s done nothing but talk about you,” he went on.

Keith couldn’t keep the grin off. “Is that right?”

Skyler reddened. He plucked at Jamie’s sleeve but he didn’t get the hint. “Oh, yeah. It’s been ‘Keith this’ and ‘Keith that.’