Naked Dragon (4 page)
"Is she still down there?" the little agent asked.
"Yeah. I told her not to go anywhere."
He and the second agent hustled down the stairs quickly.
"Well done, Dave. Well done!" Sgt. Wilson patted his shoulder enthusiastically.
"No big deal. Anyone would have done the same. It's not rocket science to ask her the info, sarge." When he looked back, Robbie was staring at him, smiling endearingly.
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Naked Dragon
by G.A. Hauser
"Put what you've got down on the report. We'll try and get a composite sketch from her as well. Go, get started on it.
You don't have to baby-sit the detectives."
"Right. Did they find any ID on the kid?"
"Nothing."
Dave nodded and looked back at Robbie before he left. He was still smiling adoringly at him. Dave gave him a quick grin back, then jogged down the stairs. Through the thin walls he could hear the agents questioning the landlady. Maybe it was a break in the case. It had to be worth something.
Once he had typed the information onto the computer, he noticed Agent Taylor making his way over to him. He leaned into the window and looked over at the monitor curiously, as if reading the report. "He wants you to think you've got him.
He's beginning to play."
"What if she can ID him?"
"She can't. He's never been handled before. He knows the police don't know him. He's new to the area. He has no ties here or few."
"What about the word 'dragon'?" Dave asked.
"It's all about his attraction to Asians. But, don't be surprised if he signs the murders with that moniker all the time now. Every villain needs a name."
"Why is he doing this?" Dave tried not to get lost in his blue eyes.
"Guilt. He's madly attracted to underage boys. Maybe he just intended on having sex with them at first, but he became afraid someone would find out. So he began killing them."
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"Right. Kill them, not this!" He gestured to the apartment behind them.
"It's his self-hatred. He defaces their bodies to rid his own conscience."
"I don't get that psychiatric crap. All I know is he's satanic."
"I agree. He's evil to the core ... so, in answer to your question ... yes."
Pausing to think, Dave said, "Which question was that?
I've asked too many today."
"How about a drink somewhere?" Robbie whispered, then looked around the area carefully to make sure they weren't being spied.
Instantly Dave lit on fire. He remembered thinking of that question and couldn't believe Robbie knew. "I ... I..."
"Not comfortable out in the open, that's right. Come to my place? I'll come to yours?"
"Shit!" Dave laughed uneasily.
"Oh? Sorry. I was under the impression you were interested."
"No! I am!" Dave shifted in his seat and looked around in paranoia in case a passing patrol car spotted him.
"If I'm moving too fast it's only because you don't want a public appearance."
Shivering in delight, Dave whispered seductively, "You like black men?"
"I like men in general. I like you in particular. How about you?"
"I ... I haven't really..."
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"Don't worry. I'll be very gentle with you. Tell me where you live."
"You mean you can't read my mind?" Dave laughed.
"So skeptical. Haven't I told you enough of what you're thinking?"
"Give me yours. I'll come to your place."
"I'm renting a place temporarily. They flew me in from Virginia. I'm near Westlake. Give me something to write with."
Dave took a pen out of his pocket and handed it to him.
"You mean you have to leave? You're not staying around?"
"I'll be around. This case isn't going to be solved for a very long time."
"No. It will be now. We've got a breakthrough. It'll be solved as soon as she identifies him."
Smiling ironically, Robbie handed him a business card with his apartment information on it, then said, "No. No, babe ...
not for a long, long time ... when's your next free night?"
Taking the card, digesting the fact that the killer will keep going despite a witness, Dave said, "Ah, days off, let me think
... Tuesday, Wednesday are my next two. So? Tell me when."
"Come after work Monday and stay overnight."
"Shit. The sarge is coming ... I'll call you." Dave wondered if it looked odd, them talking that way.
Taking the hint instantly, Robbie left, not looking back. He stopped to confer with the sergeant and then headed back into the building.
Stuffing the card into his shirt pocket, Dave waited as Sgt.
Wilson came over to him. "You get the report written?"
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"Yeah. You want me to do the same as last night?"
"Yes. Then go home."
Dave checked his watch. "It's too early. I've got another hour."
"I said go home. You were working the hydros early this morning, right? See you tomorrow. Get some sleep."
"Thanks, sarge!"
"Don't think about this crap. We'll catch him now."
About to tell him what Robbie said, he reconsidered and nodded, putting the car into gear and merging into traffic.
The reports photocopied and in their appropriate places, his uniform hanging in his locker, and his civilian clothing on his back, Dave left the precinct and drove home with his mind spinning. During one of the worst serial killer crime sprees in the city's history, he finds his first gay lover. Could life get any stranger?
* * * *
"Hello, Davy."
"Hi, Mom."
"I didn't expect to get you home. You usually get in late. I was going to leave a message on your machine."
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"Sarge let me go a little early."
"Oh? You feel okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just because I worked off duty all morning at the hydroplane races. What's up? You and Dad okay?"
"We're fine. I just called to see how you are."
"Other than tired, I'm okay."
"When are you coming over? What days do you have off this week?"
Thinking of Robbie, he said, "I was going to work on my days off. Sorry, Mom."
"You work too much! Take some time off, Davy! For pity's sake, don't burn yourself out."
"Just for the summer while Seafair is on. Then when fall comes, it peters out."
"You need a nice woman in your life. That's what you need. Someone to help you cook and clean. A companion."
"Soon. Not yet." He shook his head sadly at this conversation which they had on every phone call.
"You're twenty-seven years old. You need to find a nice girl."
"Soon. If that's all you have to say..."
"It's not all I have to say! Don't be rude. Now, when are you coming by? I can make us all a nice dinner."
"I'll let you know. Probably next week some time."
"Don't let it go too long."
"I won't, Mom."
"Okay. I love you, sweetheart."
"You too. Say hi to Dad for me."
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"I will. You just be careful out there."
"Okay. Bye." He hung up and checked the time. It was nearing eight p.m.. He found that card with his info on it and dialed. When an answering service picked it up, he was about to hang up, then decided to leave his number. Once he hung up, he tried to decide if it was stupid to call or not.
"Too late now." He cleared up his plate and washed it in the sink, then took his beer with him to sit and watch the rest of the television shows from his den. Just as he began to doze off on the couch the phone rang. He jumped, startled, then hopped up to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hey, gorgeous."
Instantly his skin covered in goose bumps. Laughing nervously, he replied, "Hey, Robbie."
"You called? I just walked in and got my messages."
"I ... I just wanted to say hello. If you're busy—"
"Not busy at all. Hello."
Dave could hear the smile in his voice. He felt completely tongue tied and anxious. "So, uh, crazy case, isn't it?"
"You don't want to talk about that."
"I keep forgetting you can read my mind," Dave laughed, then sat down at the kitchen table and toyed with the phone cord nervously.
"I can't wait to get my hands on you. You are absolutely fantastic."
"Wow. I never thought I was."
"You are. Believe me. You lift weights, right?"
"Yeah ... a little."
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"A little," Robbie answered with skepticism in his voice.
"How much you bench press?"
"Two-eighty. Forget that. So, Monday night? After shift?
You want me to stop by?"
"I do. There's a parking garage under the building. As you get close, call me and I'll open the gate for you and show you where to park."
"Oh. Cool. Should I bring anything? Beer?"
"Beer ... rubbers ... lube ... and whatever else you like."
"Christ, I have to buy lube?" Dave laughed. "You buy the lube, I'll get the rubbers."
"Okay, babe. I know this is your first time."
"Not my first."
"No? You ever have a boyfriend before?"
Hating to be wrong about something like this, Dave didn't answer.
After a pause Robbie said, "You've had sex with women, you mean."
"Yes. That's what I meant. Stop reading my damn mind!"
Dave laughed again.
"I'll bet you can read mine."
At the seductive nature of the comment, Dave replied,
"Yeah. You want my cock."
"See. It's not that hard is it?"
"Wrong. It's very hard." When he heard Robbie burst out laughing on the other end, he wanted him tonight. Now.
"I would come, babe, but I'm very tired."
"Stop it!" Dave teased. "You know this can be very dangerous!"
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"I promise I won't intrude on your deepest darkest thoughts. Or at least I won't tell you about them."
"On that note," Dave smiled as he said, "Good night, Agent Taylor. See you Monday night."
"I'll be there. Hopefully we won't meet up at another scene earlier, but if we do, so be it."
Cringing at going to yet another massacre of a young man, Dave's good mood vanished. "Hopefully not."
"Don't worry. You won't dream about it. Get some sleep."
"Thanks. See ya soon." He hung up and stared at the phone. "I better not dream about it," he warned himself. Then he reclined again on the sofa and stared at the idiot box, trying not to think dreadful thoughts.
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"What was the deal about the word 'dragon'?" Officer Kurosawa asked Dave while they were seated in the roll call room together.
"No clue, Lisa. It was really fucking gross. I can't even think about it."
She leaned on his arm as he rested his elbows on the table. "I heard what they think he wrote it with. That's not for real is it?"
He cringed.
When she read his reaction she did as well. "No!"
"I told you it was gross."
"What the hell is wrong with this guy? Why does he hate these boys so much?"
"Well, it's supposedly shows hatred for himself, or something like that. I don't know. I'm no psychology major."
"You poor guy. I can't believe you keep getting primary on them all. You want me to take the next one? I mean, saying there will be one."
"It's all happening in my district. It's my problem."
"Oh, shut up. Your problem." She hit him, then blinked her eyes. "Wow. You're solid as a rock, David! Geezus! How did you get so big?"
He smiled sweetly at her and asked, "How come you're so petite?"
"Genetics!" she laughed, then smiled wryly at him. "No fair. You go to the gym."
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"So. So do you."
"Yeah, but I can't look like that. I'd look silly."
When she flexed her arm Dave pinched her tiny biceps muscle, humoring her. "Wow. Big strong girl!"
"Shut up!" she said again, laughing, then smacked his arm and it made a thud like she hit concrete. "Geez, Dave. I'm glad you're there to back me up!"
"Any time you need me, Lis, you just call." He winked at her.
"Oh? For any reason?"
"Down girl," he smiled sweetly, then he nodded to the front of the room. "Roll call is starting."
Two sergeants came in, then to his absolute astonishment, the three federal agents came in behind them. When he made eye contact with Robbie, they both made slight facial movements to communicate, but did nothing more to alert anyone they were friendly.
"All right, quiet down," Sgt. Casey said as he sat at the desk in front of the room. "We have three men from the FBI here who are going to brief us on the Dragon-killer case. So, listen up. After that we'll get to the car assignments."
Before they started the lieutenant and captain ushered the entire Anti-Crime Team in. A few homicide detectives who were active on the scene entered the already full room and stood behind the agents in front to add comments where appropriate.
All Dave could do was stare at Robbie. His suit was immaculate and expensive looking, his hair was shining 41
Naked Dragon
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chocolate brown and wavy, brushing his broad shoulders, and his blue eyes were electric when they connected to him.
* * * *
