The Colors of Hate – 11

“So what do we know?” Reid said as he and Kirby left the theater.

“Ms Westcott was a predator as far as men go, a good actress, and quite frankly not too well liked by the majority of the people we talked to. Not hated, but not someone they particularly wanted to hang out with, even though they did.”

“No one seems to have a motive for killing her, and certainly not that viciously.”

“Agreed. Leads might have been upset if he thought she was going to go off with the man she was dancing with, but I’d presume he’s seen her with a lot of other men and done nothing, so why would he suddenly blow up now.”

“Carrie Travers had a bit of a set-to with her, but it certainly doesn’t sound like anything major. More of a flash of worry that Mr Eckert might have responded to Ms Westcott’s come-on due to their past history, would be my guess.”

“Yep. And I think we can pretty well eliminate Mr Travers.”

Reid cocked an eyebrow. “He did have that fight with her, or her with him.”

“He wasn’t the least bit interested in her so why kill her? I’m surprised he didn’t just tell her and be done with it.”

“From what he said, he did.”

Kirby shook his head, smiling with amusement. “Sometimes Reid you are so dense. Mr Travers’s is gay. I don’t think he’s out to the people he works with. In fact, I’d be willing to bet he isn’t, which considering they’re theater people is surprising, but he is gay.”

“You’re gaydar at work again?”

“That and the fact I saw him at a club a couple of months ago. Luckily he didn’t recognize or remember me.”

“Which devastates you,” Reid said with a laugh.

“Not in the least and you know it. The fewer civilians who know I’m gay the better. I do not want to be the poster boy for ‘Gay Cop’ of the year.”

“Yeah, I know. Come on, poster boy; let’s go see what John dug up, if anything.”

The Colors of Hate – 10

By mid-afternoon Reid and Kirby had interviewed everyone who had gone to Red Moon the previous evening. They learned nothing more than they already knew. Everyone agreed Angela was her usual self, flirting with men, occasionally getting one or another of them to dance with her then moving on. Most of them had, however, been surprised when she seemed to have hooked up with someone not in the company. Four different people said she had left with the man; two others weren’t quite as certain but thought she had.

“Now the question is, who was this mysterious man? I hope John’s come up with someone from the club who might have noticed and know.” Reid stretched then said, “One more to go and we can call it a day, at least here.”

“Mr Nester. I’ll go get him.”

Kirby returned minutes later with Frank Nester, who was not a happy camper.

“I don’t know why you feel you need to talk to me. I know nothing about last night. I was at home with my wife soon after we finished up here.”

“We just have a few questions. I understand you’ve hired Ms Westcott.”

“Of course. I’ve hired the majority of the people who work here—the crew heads and all the actors. It is my company after all.”

Reid nodded. “Was she hard to work with?”

“No more than any actress. She was as good as she could be when she put her mind to it.”

“In other words there were times when she didn’t?”

Frank sighed. “She could be very… volatile, moody, at times. All right, since you have probably been told this by everyone you’ve talked to, she was man-hungry. When she had one she was happy and easy to work with. When she was between men she could be a real bitch. That sounds bad, but it’s the truth.”

“Apparently she was between men last night.”

“She was. I don’t know if you talked to Dean, since he didn’t go out with the others to the club, but she seemed to be after him and he wasn’t in the least bit interested.”

“So he said. This had been going on for a while?”

Frank frowned before saying, “About two weeks I think. She’d broken up with one of the crew members she’d been going out with.” He snorted. “I think she was running out of men to try to get her hooks into, so she went after Dean.”

“He’s a good looking man. I’m surprised she waited so long.”

“He’s also fairly reclusive compared to most of the rest of them. He does his job, and very well I might add, but when the day’s over he leaves and goes home. Okay, I presume he goes home, I’ve never really asked. All I know is he doesn’t hang out with anyone but his sister and Jim, her boyfriend.”

“What about Mr Leads?” Kirby asked.

“I’ve never seen the two of them together.”

Kirby shook his head. “I meant what about Leads and Ms Westcott. Were they ever a couple?”

“No. For some reason she never seemed the least bit interested in him. They worked well together on stage, but off stage…” Frank shrugged.

“Some of the people said he seemed more than interested in her, at least from his reaction to her dancing with man at the club.”

“You couldn’t prove it by me. Sorry.” Frank looked between the two detectives. “If you don’t have any more questions for me I have to get back to work. We’re going to be here all night as it is, thanks to this and the fact that I have to get Angela’s understudy up to speed now.”

“Go ahead, and thank you for your help.”

Frank was already half way out the door as he replied, “You’re welcome.”

Release day for 'It Takes an Artist'

It Takes an Artist

Quint and Clay Art Crimes #2

http://firebornpublishing.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_bookx_info&cPath=5&products_id=213

 

What do you do when someone attempts to frame you for the murder of your roommate? That's the problem facing kinetic artist Trev Eldridge. Although Detective Quint Hawk determines Trev is innocent, it does nothing to assuage Trev's fears.

While Quint sets out to discover who's responsible for the murder, Trev is befriended by Dr Zack Kendall. As Zack helps Trev deal with what happened, the two men begin to bond. At the same time, artist Clay Richardson takes Trev under his wing, after learning Trev is a talented artist.

Evidence leads Quint to a theory about the murder and who is involved. With the help of Trev, Zack, Clay, and Officer Lou Hernandez, they come up with a plan to catch the villains.

With all that is happening, can the growing attraction between Trev and Zack survive before the criminals take them out of the picture...permanently?

EXCERPT:

Quint walked quietly into the bedroom, undressed, then went into the bathroom, closing the door so as not to wake Clay. He took a fast shower, brushed his teeth then turned out the light before returning to very carefully slide into bed next to Clay. He knew his lover had been up late, attending the opening of his latest show at the gallery. Quint would have been there with him if he hadn't been called in on a new case.

He'd barely closed his eyes when Quint felt Clay turn over and brush a kiss to his temple.

"How bad?" Clay asked.

"Bad." Quint rolled onto his side, resting his hand on Clay's chest. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"What time is it?"

"After three. How was the opening?"

 

"Same as always. A lot of people telling me how great I am and how much they love my work," Clay grumbled in reply.

"Hopefully you didn't bite anyone's head off."

Clay chuckled. "I was tempted, but I'm getting better about that. Several people were interested in my Element painting of you. Of course, I told them it wasn't for sale. As a matter of fact, I brought it back home with me."

"Clay. Damn. It's just a painting. You have the real thing. If someone wants to buy it, let them."

"I suppose," Clay replied, sounding hurt.

"You do realize..." Quint yawned. "Since you're not selling it, we'll have to hang it in the living room, and I'm not sure I can stand looking at myself day after day."

"Or in here," Clay said, amusement tingeing his words now. "It will fuel my fantasies when you have to work late."

"Now that could make our sex life very interesting, if you act on them later."

Clay huffed. "It's already--"

"Very interesting. I agree." Quint unsuccessfully tried to stifle another yawn. "If I wasn't so tired..."

"I know." Clay stroked Quint's beard then tugged it, kissing the detective when he moved within reach. "Go to sleep. What time do you want me to get you up?"

"Depends how you mean that," Quint replied, returning the kiss.

"When do you need to be at work?"

Quint sighed. "Too soon." Pulling Clay into a tight embrace against his chest, Quint muttered, "Way too soon."

*****

Trev Eldridge opened his eyes then looked around, trying to figure out where he was. Not at the apartment. Not at my folks'. Not... In the dim light he could make out a window along one pale beige wall and a closed door a few feet from the end of the bed. Whose bed? And why am I in it?

He got an answer seconds later when the door opened and a woman in a nurse's uniform came into the room.

"You're awake. How are we feeling this morning, Mr Eldridge?"

"Confused," Trev replied groggily. "Where am I? Okay, I guess since you're a nurse, this must be a hospital. Why am I here? What's wrong with me?"

Before the woman could reply, a man entered the room. He was tall, with dark hair, a trim beard, and a mustache. Coming over to the bed, he studied Trev while asking, obviously having overheard Trev's question, "You don't remember being brought here?"

Trev frowned. "No. The last thing I remember is..." His eyes widened. "There were two men. They...they broke through the door. They had guns and--" Trev tried to touch his shoulder. Something tugged and stung when he moved his hand. The nurse gripped his wrist, telling him he'd pull out the IVs. Focusing his attention on the man, Trev said, "They shot me?"

"Yes. You sustained a shoulder wound."

"Are you a doctor?"

"No. I'm Detective Quinton Hawk." He touched the badge pinned to his jacket pocket. "If you don't mind, I have to ask you some questions."

Trev attempted to shrug then realized that his shoulder was heavily bandaged. "I guess it's okay." Then it hit him. "John. Is he...?"

"I'm sorry. He's dead." Detective Hawk pulled up a chair and sat, looking hard at Trev. "The gun that killed him was on the floor between the two of you."

Trev tried to process what the detective had said, as a wave of sadness washed over him. "He's... They killed him? God damn it. Why?" He gulped, trying to will back tears, because he had to know. "Why would they leave the gun?"

"That's what I'd like to know, Mr Eldridge, especially since the only prints on it belonged to you and John Pierce."

"That's impossible! I don't own a gun and neither did John. He hated them."

The door to the room opened again before Quint could respond, and a man in a white jacket came over to the bed. "I doubt that you remember me," the man said. "I'm Doctor Kendall."

As the doctor stopped beside the bed, Detective Hawk asked Trev, "What was your relationship with Mr Pierce, Mr Eldridge?"

"We were roommates."

"That's it?"

"Yes, that's it. What else would it have been?" Then Trev understood the implication behind the question. "Damn. John was totally straight, if that's what you're trying to find out. Why the hell do people presume because two guys are rooming together that they automatically have to be gay?"

After a pause, during which the detective studied Trev, he said, "But you are."

"Yeah. So? John knew, and it didn't bother him. We've been friends since we were kids. When I moved out here, he offered to let me share the apartment until I found one of my own."

"That was how long ago?"

"Maybe three months."

"What do you do for a living, Mr Eldridge?"

"At the moment, I'm a waiter, if you can call that a living."

"Detective Hawk," the doctor broke in. "I'm going to have to ask you to wait outside while I examine Mr Eldridge."

 

The Colors of Hate – 9

“You need to talk with me?” Dean asked. “I wasn’t at the club last night.”

“We’d still like your input about Ms Westcott if you don’t mind.”

“Sure.” Dean hesitated before taking a seat. “What do you want to know?”

“To begin with, your sister said Ms Westcott came on to you and you rejected her advances.”

“What’s that got to do with anything? It’s true, but I hardly think it’s relevant to her murder.”

Unconsciously Dean touched the bruise on his cheek, which didn’t escape Reid’s notice. “Just a guess, but did she hit you, or slap you, when you turned her down?”

Dean winced, dropping his hand quickly into his lap. “I suppose I should be truthful.”

“It would be a good idea, especially if she told anyone else about it.”

“Then yes, she did. She packs a punch.” He laughed ruefully. “I’m afraid I asked for it though. I told her I didn’t like her. I said that my having her come in to try on her costumes so often was because she couldn’t lay off the food and drink, not because I had a ‘thing’ for her.”

Reid snorted. “Oh that was tactful.”

“I know, but I was tired of her throwing herself at me. She definitely was not my type.”

Reid was tempted to ask what his type was but knew it wasn’t germane to the conversation or the investigation. So he switched topics. “Why weren’t you at the Red Moon last night? It seems as if almost everyone else in the company was.”

“Partly because I knew she would be there. But more because I had things to do. Job related things, since our first dress rehearsal was today. Or is today actually, once you finish with us.”

“Do you know if there was anyone here who might have been interested in her and been rejected?”

Dean chuckled. “I honestly doubt she’d turn down anyone who might have wanted to date her. As to who might have turned her down, other than me, I really have no idea. She was dating my sister’s boyfriend when we first joined the company, but he broke it off once he realized he was much more interested in Carrie.”

“How did Ms Westcott take that?”

“As far as I know she must have been okay with it. She certainly moved on quickly enough. There was a cute guy on the scenery crew that she went after. I think they went out for a while and then she was looking—again.”

“She doesn’t seem to have been too lucky with men,” Kirby put in.

“She was…pushy I guess. Controlling might be a better word, and clingy. That would get tiresome after a while, I’d think.”

“It does,” Reid agreed. “So, what else can you tell us about her?”

“Me? Nothing more than I have already. Other than having to design costumes for her for whatever show she was in, and doing fittings, I rarely if ever had any contact with her. I’m not big on the ‘let’s hit up a bar after work’ thing, which she was. Well as half the company is at times, to tell the truth.”

“All right. If you do think of anything else, please let us know. For now, you’re free to go.”

The Colors of Hate – 8

“Have a seat please, Ms Travers.” Carrie hesitated for a moment before doing as Reid asked. “I understand that you were at the club last night at the same time Ms Westcott was,” he said after introducing himself and Kirby.

“Yes. I’m sure Jim told you all about it.”

“He did, including about the small scene between you and her.”

Carrie smiled slightly. “It was hardly a scene. I let her know Jim was my boyfriend and she accepted it. With ill grace, I will admit.”

“From what he said, he and Ms Westcott were dating before he met you.”

“They were, but that’s past history and has been for, oh about two years now.”

“That’s when you joined the company?”

“Yes. My brother and I were late-comers. Almost everyone else has been with it since it was formed five years ago.”

Reid nodded. “Your brother? Is he an actor too?”

“Oh no. He’s the costume designer, although in a company this small he also makes some of them, along with his crew.”

“I see. Did Ms Westcott go after him the way she apparently has most of the other men in the company at one point or another?”

“She did, and he ignored it, just like several of the others have.”

“Including Mr Leads?”

Carrie leaned back in the chair. “Now that’s the funny thing. Ange never tried to get her claws into him that I’ve heard about. Sorry for the description but it’s the way I think of it.”

“From what Mr Eckert said, it seems Mr Leads might have been interested in her however.”

“Oh I’m sure he was, because sometimes it seemed as if he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. And last night… Jim probably told you about her dancing with some man and Mal’s reaction. Once we got him away from the club he did seem to relax though, so who knows. Maybe it was just a bit too much to drink on his part.”

“So, as far as you know, she had no specific man in her life?”

“Not as far as I know. I mean come on, if she did, would she be going after every man who lived and breathed?”

Reid chuckled. “I suppose not. Is there anything else you can think of that we should know at this point?”

“No. Look, I wasn’t her biggest fan but she wasn’t a bad person. She didn’t deserve to die like that.”

“No one does,” Reid replied before he dismissed her.

“Her brother next?” Kirby asked.

“I think so. Since he’s not an actor we might be more able to trust that his reactions are real.”

Kirby frowned. “You think the others were lying?”

“Honestly, so far I’m not willing to make a judgment on that. Their stories all seem to agree, other than Mr Leads implying he wasn’t upset when he saw her dancing with that man. We need to get someone over to the Red Moon to question the people there. You go get Mr Travers while I set it up.” Reid took out his phone as Kirby left, finishing his call just as Kirby returned with Dean.