Out to Protect (4 page)

He hit a nerve. Good. It served him right.

“Just checking on my partner to make sure he’s doing okay.” Grant walked away. He wished he could rewind time. If he could go back and change telling Ralph, he’d what? Not tell him? He knew confessing the truth was the right thing to do. He just wanted his former partner back, and to gain his acceptance.

Parker stayed behind, claiming he wanted to speak with some of the people in the crowd. Grant didn’t argue. He’d do his own investigating.

His mind kept wandering back to what Parker had stuck in his pocket. He had difficulty believing he’d be a dirty cop. Christ, he was afraid of being exposed as gay. But right now he had to question some of the neighbors. Yet another situation he knew was fruitless. These people didn’t hear or see anything, or if they did, they wouldn’t say. Fear of retaliation kept their mouths shut. The neighborhood was impoverished, and they protected their own. In an odd sort of way, Grant understood where they came from, but it wasn’t going to help him solve a murder.

He dragged his feet up the worn stairs of the dilapidated brick building. He pulled out a notebook and pen and rang the doorbell. No one responded. He looked over at the window to see if he could detect any movement.

None.

He rang the bell again. This time he rang the second- and third-floor bells too.

An elderly woman with gray hair wrapped in curlers and still dressed in her bathrobe leaned out of the window of the third floor.

“What you want, cop?”

Grant rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before speaking.

“I’m hoping you could answer a few questions for me, ma’am.”

“I ain’t speaking with no cops. I don’t know nothin’.”

“Are you sure you can’t come down and help me out?”

“I said no, and I ain’t changin’ my mind.” She slammed the window closed.

“Thanks for nothing,” he mumbled.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a slight movement of the curtain on the first floor.

“So someone is home. I wonder why they’re not answering.” Could be a drug dealer afraid of being busted.

“I’m here to ask if anyone knows who the guy is that’s lying dead on the corner. I’m hoping someone can give me some information about how he landed there.” Grant’s loud voice carried over a few houses. Windows started opening and heads peeked out. People wanted to see what he was talking about.

A young mother came out next door with a baby attached to her hip. The baby had a bottle in his hand and dried milk around his mouth. The mother wore a look of disgust for being interrupted.

There was something else in her eyes.

Fear.

Grant knew fear. He could taste it a mile away. He sensed it earlier with Parker, as he sensed it now with her.

“How’s it going?” Grant asked.

She shrugged.

“You say there’s another murder?”

“Sadly, yes.” Grant took the opportunity to descend the one staircase and stand at the bottom of hers. “It must be frightening with a small baby.”

“I ain’t afraid of nothing.”

Great, here we go again.

No fear, right. He knew it was bullshit.

“Glad to know the thought of a killer on the loose doesn’t scare you. He’s targeting women and all, but I’m sure you’re safe. You have a guy to protect you, right?”

She shook her head.

“You have good locks on your doors and a security system, right?” He knew the answer, but he continued feeding into her fear.

“I’m protected.”

He could see her growing more scared as he spoke. If he pushed too hard, she might flee into the safety of her home—however safe it really was.

“Good. So did you see anything out of the ordinary today?”

“No.”

“How about any sounds? Did you hear anyone arguing or a car peeling away?” If he were a betting man, he’d bet the killer dumped the body from a moving car and hightailed it out of there. He just needed someone to corroborate his theory.

“I didn’t hear nothin’.”

Another brick wall. He pulled out a business card.

“Can you call me if you think of something?”

She moved an inch toward him and backed off before rushing into her house. Grant glanced around to see if someone startled her. He didn’t see anyone, but that didn’t mean someone hadn’t been there. They could’ve been there long enough to give her a warning and disappear.

“Thanks.” He placed the card on the step and prayed she’d come back out for it before it blew away.

He headed north on the block. This was going to be a very long day.

Chapter Three

They broke for a bite to eat. Parker seemed to shake the ill feelings he had toward Grant sometime before they met up again. It brought Grant relief knowing that he wouldn’t have to fight with his partner to work on the case.

Grant was still bothered by whatever it was Parker had hidden in his pocket. There was nothing he hated more than fame seekers. They were a team, and that meant they worked together to crack the case.

“Any luck with the crowd?” Grant took a bite of his burger. He chewed slowly, watching Parker for any hint of deception.

He shrugged. “Not much. A few claimed to have seen a black car speeding off, but they couldn’t offer up a make or model.”

“No surprise,” Grant said in between bites.

“You know they protect their own; they don’t like talking to us.”

Grant smirked. He knew the neighborhood hated talking to the police. They were regarded as the enemy, not men and women there to protect them.

“With another murder, you’d think they’d be getting scared. I thought I had something with a young mother, but she clammed up. It was like she saw a ghost, got spooked, and fled to her apartment.”

“I hope your contacts are more open than the people here. They’re tough as nails.”

“Me too. I don’t want Stanley and Ralph cracking this case before us.”

“Speaking of them, I wanted you to know I’m really sorry about the whole Ralph thing. His remark was uncalled for.” He reached his hand over the table and patted Grant’s.

Something inside Grant stirred when Parker touched him. Grant clenched his teeth, trying to fight the hard-on stretching his pants. He’d be stuck in his seat until it decided to go away. There was no way he could stand right now.

His concern took Grant by surprise.

“Thanks, Parker. I couldn’t believe he brought it up either. There’s nothing I can do about it, though. He’s gonna take as many digs at me as he can. I just have to learn to ignore him.”

“You’re not alone. I’m here for you.” Parker’s hand retreated as quickly as it appeared. He seemed as if Grant’s skin burned him.

Parker would lose his mind if he saw his partner sporting a stiff cock for him. He didn’t need more pressure.

Grant closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on the dead guy.

“Meditating?”

Parker interrupted him, only adding flames to the fire. Grant stared at his mouth while he spoke. Every movement of his lips had Grant imagining Parker’s lips wrapped around his cock. Each word spoken felt like it was directed to his cock.

Christ, what am I thinking? This is my partner. My very in-the-closet partner.

“Something like that,” Grant said, trying to make light of this situation. Thank God he couldn’t see under the table.

“We should get moving. The chief isn’t going to appreciate us wasting time eating and bullshitting.”

Parker had a point.

“Just give me a minute.” Grant concentrated on the chief and Ralph. That quickly deflated him. He shook his head and wondered if he and his former partner would ever come to terms with what had happened today.

When he felt safe, Grant stood and tossed some money on the table. “Let’s go catch a killer.”

Grant thought the day would never end. They spoke to so many people he wasn’t sure he could remember half of what they said. Luckily, Parker had been smart enough to write most of it down. Grant wasn’t sure where his brain was. Oh, who the fuck was he kidding? His mind was on one thing and one thing only—Parker. The guy just didn’t understand the effect he had on Grant. If he did, he hid it well. By the time he’d dropped off Parker, he had sported a hard-on three or four times. The guy didn’t realize he oozed sexiness. Grant needed relief, and he wanted it now.

He grabbed his phone and punched in the familiar numbers.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Theo, what’s shaking?”

“Grant, I wondered when I’d hear from you again. Who’s the lucky guy?”

Grant hung his head in shame. Theo knew him too well. Grant always turned to Theo whenever he couldn’t be with the man he wanted.

“A new partner,” he mumbled.

Theo let out a low whistle. “That’s a bit dangerous, don’t you think?”

“You don’t know the half of it.” The longer they talked the better Grant felt about calling Theo. His longtime friend always had an ear to lend and a shoulder to cry on. He understood the demons Grant battled, because he battled them too.

“I’ll meet you at your place in say an hour?” Theo offered.

“Perfect.” That would give Grant enough time to drive home, shower, and rid his thoughts of Parker.

Grant ran the hot water while stripping his clothes from his body. He climbed in and let the hot jets pound his weak body. The day had drained him. Too much had happened in a short period of time.

He picked up the bar of soap and ran it over his skin. The suds grew and lathered his body. He ran the soap over his cock, and it stirred to life. It seemed to have a mind of its own today. He’d been hard more than not, all because of his new partner. He knew it was a dangerous game to get involved with a partner, not that Parker would.

Grant had to keep his feelings to himself. Sharing his sexuality had caused enough damage. He couldn’t risk everything by trying to hit on Parker.

He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of the water pelting his body. He dropped the soap and caressed his dick. His initial reaction was to find relief in the arms of Theo, but then he thought better of it. He had to steer clear of sex with anyone right now. His mind wasn’t in the right place. Taking care of business himself was the smartest thing to do.

As he stroked up and down the length of his penis, he felt the muscles in his neck ease. Images of Parker filled his mind. Dangerous, but he didn’t care. He could fantasize about him as long as he didn’t act on his desires.

He leaned against the tiled wall and continued stroking his cock. He moved with slow, measured strokes, pulling the skin over his mushroom cap and then back again. The delicate strokes became rushed as the need for release raced through his veins.

Unable to wait another moment, he tightened his grip and tugged. His hand jerked as his hot liquid jetted out into the shower.

He silently cursed as his orgasm pumped from his dick. It felt so fucking good to get the much-needed relief. If only it could have been Parker’s hand inside of his own.

* * * *

The hot shower worked wonders for Grant’s tired body. He walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of beer; he twisted the cap and tossed it in the garbage.

“Two points for me.” He took a long swig off the golden, heady liquid. “Perfect.”

He turned to head into the living room when the doorbell rang.

He quickly grabbed a second beer and rushed to answer the door. He couldn’t wait to see Theo. He’d give Grant a chance to talk out the events of the day. Maybe Theo could help him sort out the sexual tension he felt toward Parker. Deep down the guy was a decent partner. Grant hadn’t figured out what Parker put in his pocket, but tomorrow was another day. He yanked the handle, opening the door.

“Want a…?” Grant’s mouth practically fell to the floor. “Parker? What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I need to tell you something, and I was afraid to talk to you in the car or on the street.”

Fuck. This was not a good time. Theo would be arriving momentarily. He did not want the two crossing paths. One never knew what would come out of Theo’s mouth.

“Look, this really isn’t a good—”

“Don’t tell me this isn’t a good time. I really need to talk to you. It’s important.”

Grant struggled with what to do. He didn’t need Theo trying to size Parker up or playing matchmaker. On the other hand, Parker had hidden something from him, and it appeared he wanted to confess. Grant wanted to know what he was hiding.

“Come on in.” He stepped aside.

Parker stepped across the threshold, and Grant nudged the door closed with his elbow.

“I have company on the way, so if you don’t mind getting to the point.”

“I could really use a beer. What I have to say isn’t the easiest for me.”

The voice in Grant’s head told him to ask Parker to come back another time. Shit, Grant had just masturbated to images of Parker while he was taking a shower. Now Parker stood in Grant’s living room, looking worried yet sexy as all hell in the tight jeans and red T-shirt. Grant fought back the urge to take him in his arms and kiss him.

Knowing he had no other choice, Grant handed a beer to Parker.

“I still have someone coming soon.” He took a long swig off the beer, hoping to ease the tension that reappeared now that Parker was here.

Parker put the beer to his lips and tilted his head back, draining half the bottle.

“I found something at the crime scene I think you should take a look at.”

“I know. I watched you put it in your pocket. I wondered if you’d share, or if you were looking for a way to look good in the chief’s eyes.”

“I’m not a fame seeker, Grant. What the fuck is wrong with you? I don’t know who to trust. I’m the new guy, and with this evidence—” He hung his head.

“What new evidence?” Curiosity had Grant on guard.

“I’m not sure you’re going to like what you see. I need you to promise that if I show you, I can trust you.”

Grant closed the distance between them. He touched Parker’s face. Grant had expected him to recoil, but he didn’t. He stood rooted in his spot, his gaze piercing Grant’s.

“I can be trusted. You’re one of the only people who’s shown me kindness during this difficult time. I wouldn’t do anything to ruin that.”